Horses for Sale
- Saturday, 07 March 2015 08:44
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three jumps fixtures from Sandown, Ayr and Chepstow as well as an all-weather flat card at Wolverhampton. The big event of the day is without doubt The Imperial Cup at Sandown and it is a race that is held dear to everyone at Pond House, not least because it carries with it a cool £100,000 bonus to any horse that can win here en route to Cheltenham victory next week. Martin achieved the double with Olympian and Blowing Wind, while David has also accomplished it with Gaspara - between them they have won the Imperial Cup nine times with David taking it with Ashkazar and Baltimore Rock (as well as the aforementioned Gaspara).
David has two runners in today's renewal - the unbeaten Bidourey and Heath Hunter. Bidourey (pictured above), who is bidding to extend his unbeaten sequence to six has a mark of 140 and bookies make him an 8/1 chance, while Heath Hunter was a ready winner at Ffos Las on heavy ground last time and is available to back at 20/1. I would expect a big run from both of our charges.
Meanwhile, Sandown also host the final of the EBF novices' race and it is always a competitive affair - not really surprising as it is a valuable race. The stable runs Skylander and Mount Haven - Skylander has been very consistent this term and won under today's jockey Michael Heard at Taunton on his penultimate start. Michael claims a handy 7lbs off his back and his mount sports blinkers for the first time. Tom Scudamore is aboard our other runner, bumper winner Mount Haven, who is also in the first time headgear. They should both go well, but it is another fiercely competitive race. Our only other runner of the day is Molo over at Chepstow and she is ridden by Liam Heard.
I was fascinated to read Willie Mullins' article in the Racing Post. It left me asking the question, is there any point in the other trainers turning up at Cheltenham next week?! He certainly has some very good horses and we could be eyeing a record haul. He says that Douvan is the nicest horse he has ever taken to Cheltenham, so there is the winner of the Supreme Novices' Hurdle for you! This punting game is easy...and if you believe that then you will believe anything! Anyway, it all kicks off next Tuesday and I can't wait.
Brilliant as my video interview was yesterday, I guess the person you are really wanting to hear from is the trainer himself! Below you will find Mike Vince's interview with David and the pair of them talk about the Pond House maestro's best chances and aspirations for next week's Cheltenham Festival. You will also find an interview with conditional jockey Kieron Edgar about jump racing's greatest four days...
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It is the 96th birthday of Captain Charles Radclyffe today. Charles used to school plenty of Martin's horses back in the early days. I will always remember him giving me one of the largest vodka's I have ever drunk - even the tonic water had vodka in it! Many happy returns Charles.
Every time I see a horse called Ravens Tower it brings back painful memories of a horse that I used to own of the same name. My horse once managed to get loose in the paddock and nearly knocked the Queen over! It's lucky I wasn't taken to the tower myself - or unlucky depending on your opinion!
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There is some exciting football action to look forward to this weekend and I will be have a little interest on Derby at 8/13, Inverness at 2/5 and Dunfermline at 8/11.
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There were some extraordinary scenes in the golf yesterday as Rory McIlroy put one his shots in the water. It was soon followed by his club as the world number one completely lost it (and I am not talking about his ball or club!).
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A grandmother of 83 was held for selling illegal alcohol in Lake Worth, Florida recently. You could say she was an old beer!
