- Sunday, 17 June 2018 08:33
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Percy Street - Royal Ascot Runner
There are just two flat cards today at Doncaster and Salisbury and it looks like everything is just building towards Royal Ascot which starts on Tuesday. In my opinion it is the best week in the flat racing calendar. I have been to Royal Ascot a few times. Pond House has had quite a few Royal Ascot winners over the years. David had Junior win the Ascot Stakes most recently and Percy Street will be the stable representative in the race on Tuesday with Oisin Murphy in the saddle. My only problem with Royal Ascot is that half of the people there never actually see any of the racing! They seem to be there to be seen in the champagne bar and restaurants. It is still a fantastic occasion with all the top horses and jockeys and I am very much looking forward to the week.
- Saturday, 16 June 2018 06:53
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Today we have seven meetings. Flat cards at York, Sandown, Chester, Bath and Leicester plus jumps cards at Hexham and Fontwell. David has one runner at Fontwell, Purple N Gold in the 6.25pm handicap chase over 2m2f. There are only four runners but it is a very open looking race. The favourite is 15/8 and we are the outsider of the field at 4/1. He won this race last year, is well handicapped on old form and will love the ground. He should be bang there at the finish with David Noonan on board.
- Friday, 15 June 2018 07:12
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are six meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from York, Sandown, Goodwood and Chepstow as well as jumps fixtures from Aintree and Newton Abbot. David has one runner today; Druide Premier who contests the amateur and conditional jockeys' bumper at Newton Abbot at 5.30pm. Our five year old is a full-brother to the stable's top class hurdler/chaser Dynaste and a half-brother to winning stablemate Dauphine Ereine. If he turns out anywhere near as good as Dynaste I think David (and his owners will be very happy indeed). Anyway, this is the first step along the road and he will learn plenty from this first experience of a racecourse. Stan Sheppard is in the saddle and is good value for his 3lbs claim. Meanwhile both Tom Scudamore and David Noonan have picked up outside rides and look to have some chances.
- Thursday, 14 June 2018 07:15
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Newbury, Nottingham, Yarmouth and Haydock while there is a jumps card from Uttoxeter. David has one runner this afternoon as Great Tempo (pictured above) contests the 3m novices' handicap chase at 6.40pm. Our five year old has taken well to fences, finishing in the frame on both his starts so far, including when a good second at Ffos Las last time out on good ground. A similar level of form would see him in with a good chance this evening in the hands of Tom Scudamore.
- Wednesday, 13 June 2018 07:19
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are five flat meetings taking place this afternoon so you are out of luck if you are a fan of the jumps (unless you can tune in to Punchestown on Attheraces). The action on these shores comes from Haydock, Chelmsford, Yarmouth, Hamilton and Kempton, but it is on the all-weather at Chelmsford City where the money is. They have three handicaps and two of them are worth £32,345 while the other has prize money of £25,576 - I am always having a go about the prize money on the all-weather, so credit where it is due and very well done to the team at Chelmsford. Looking at the Punchestown card, there are two maiden hurdles that have drawn 25 runner maximum fields while there are a further three reserves in each. There are always loads of runners at Irish fixtures - perhaps it is a sign that we have too much racing over here?
- Tuesday, 12 June 2018 07:30
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Salisbury, Thirsk and Lingfield as well as a jumps fixture from Southwell. There are no runners from Pond House this afternoon, although stable jockey Tom Scudamore has picked up some outside rides at Southwell. The best of our runners at Worcester yesterday afternoon was Kalifourchon who finished fifth in the handicap chase. He jumped well in the main on his first start since a fall and he can certainly improve and win races over fences.
- Monday, 11 June 2018 07:24
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with flat cards from Brighton, Pontefract and Windsor as well as a jumps card from Worcester. David has three runners at Worcester; Kalifourchon, Just Midas and Ardmillan. Kalifourchon (pictured above) contests the 2m7f handicap chase at 2.45pm and he is well treated on the best of his hurdle form. He fell last time out in a chase at Stratford but was still going well at the time and is capable of a big run with a clear round. Just Midas runs in the 2m4f maiden hurdle at 4.45pm. He has run creditably in a couple of bumpers but was disappointing in a hurdle race last time out and would need to improve on that effort to figure here. Our final runner is Ardmillan who is owned by David's partner Leanne. He is having his first start for the stable in the 2m7f handicap hurdle at 5.15pm. He is well handicapped on his old form so let's hope that the change of scenery has done him good.
