Sunday, 26 May 2013 00:00 Written by Chester Barnes

Today there are just three National Hunt meetings taking place at Fontwell, Kelso and Uttoxeter.  The stable runs Laustra Bad at Fontwell, while Mr Trilby and Massannie represent the yard at Uttoxeter.  Conor O'Farrell takes the ride aboard Laustra Bad and while he is back on a feasible mark, our ten year old needs to recapture some of his old form.  Over at Uttoxeter Tom Scudamore is aboard our other two runners - Mr Trilby won a point-to-point in Ireland and could go well on his hurdling debut now up in trip, while bumper winner Massannie makes her debut for the yard.

Read more...

Saturday, 25 May 2013 06:52 Written by Chester Barnes

It looks like being an entertaining day's racing with six meetings taking place - four of them on the flat at Haydock, Goodwood, York and Chester as well as two jumps cards at Cartmel and Ffos Las.  David is going to be kept busy tonight at Ffos Las when he saddles five runners at the Welsh track, Third Of The Third, Waterunder, Franklin Roosevelt, Kid Wizzard and Lola Galli.  Third Of The Third looks interesting to me - the six year old has run four good races and made an encouraging debut for the yard last time out and should appreciate this good ground.  He is owned by Walters Plant Hire Ltd and Dai certainly enjoys a winner on his own track.  It will also be interesting to see how our bumper runners Lola Galli and Kid Wizzard get on on their first start for the yard.

Read more...

Friday, 24 May 2013 07:01 Written by Chester Barnes

It looks like being a busy day of action this afternoon as there are no less than six meetings taking place - five on the level at Goodwood, Haydock, Yarmouth, Musselburgh and Catterick as well as a fixture over the jumps at Towcester.  The stable doesn't have any runners today.  Yesterday Junior finished fifth in the competitive staying handicap chase at Wetherby, a serious blunder at the second last not helping his cause although he was beaten at the time - I am sure there will be other days for him.  A P McCoy was aboard the winner of that race, Lost Glory and he has already ridden eight winners since returning from injury, meaning that he is now only 11 winners behing Jason Maguire.

Read more...

Thursday, 23 May 2013 07:30 Written by Chester Barnes

The stable has one runner this afternoon, former Royal Ascot and Cheltenham Festival winner Junior at Wetherby.  Our ten year old produced a good effort when second at Huntingdon last time out and he looks feasibly treated from a mark only 1lb higher than his best winning mark.  Conor O'Farrell gets on well with the top-weight, who has to concede upwards of 17lbs to his rivals today as he shoulders 11-12.  I thought that Midnight Tuesday ran a decent enough race at Worcester last night, he seemed to drop away before staying on again in the closing stages to finish fourth in the handicap chase.

Read more...

Wednesday, 22 May 2013 07:31 Written by Chester Barnes

There are five meetings taking place this afternoon - three on the level at Southwell, Lingfield and Kemtpon and a couple of jumps cards at Huntingdon and Worcester.  The stable has one runner at Worcester, Midnight Tuesday (pictured above) who will be ridden by Kieron Edgar who takes a handy 7lbs off his back.  Midnight Tuesday looks reasonably treated on the pick of his form as he is 6lbs lower over fences compared with his current hurdles mark - he could run creditably with a clear round.

Read more...

Tuesday, 21 May 2013 07:32 Written by Chester Barnes

There are five meetings taking place today, four on the flat at Newcastle, Nottingham, Brighton and Pontefract as well as a jumps meeting at Towcester.  The stable has three runners at Towcester - Garryleigh didn't run at Newton Abbot yesterday as the ground was a bit quick so if he takes his chance he should go well, especially with this stiff track likely to suit.  Our other runners are Diamonds Return (pictured above) and Smooth Classic.

Read more...

Monday, 20 May 2013 07:44 Written by Chester Barnes

It was a good weekend for the yard with Prideofthecastle on the mark on his debut for the yard with a battling success in the bumper at Stratford.  He was giving a stone in weight to the runner-up The Road Ahead, who gave our runner a good bump in the final fifty yards - the first three home all look to be decent prospects so this was doubtless a good performance under Tom Scudamore.

Read more...