- Saturday, 02 December 2017 08:02
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are five meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Newbury, Newcastle, Doncaster and Bangor and an all-weather flat card from a very cold Wolverhampton. The big race of the day is undoubtedly the Ladbroke Trophy handicap chase from Newbury which has a first prize of £142,375. It is good of Ladbrokes to step in to sponsor the race as they have big shoes to fill - I am sure people will still be referring to the race as the Hennessy years from now. It is a very tricky contest to try to solve with the bookies going 5/1 the field. Stable jockey Tom Scudamore heads north to Newcastle where he has picked up a few outside rides, including in their feature, the Fighting Fifth.
- Friday, 01 December 2017 08:18
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It is another chilly start to the day at Pond House. There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Newbury and Doncaster as well as all-weather flat cards from Southwell and Chelmsford City. David does not have any runners today. Stable jockey Tom Scudamore heads to Newbury for just one ride, but what a ride it is...the return of Thistlecrack in the Grade 2 Long Distance hurdle at 3.00pm. It looks like a thriller with Unowhatimeanharry in opposition, even though that one is not favoured by the weights. The remainder of the card looks pretty exciting too, but if you are going make sure you wrap up - it is going to be cold!
- Thursday, 30 November 2017 08:11
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Taunton, Towcester and Musselburgh and an all-weather flat meeting from Newcastle. David runs Timeforben at Towcester in the 1m7½f maiden hurdle at 2.40pm. Our five year old won an Irish point-to-point and she finished a creditable third at Exeter on her hurdling debut last time. This stiff track should suit her and she has place claims under Tom Scudamore. Closer to home, at Taunton we have Tis What It Is (pictured above) in the 2m novices' hurdle at 12.20pm. He showed decent form but would need to improve on his most recent outing at the track to figure here.
- Wednesday, 29 November 2017 08:20
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps cards from Hereford and Wetherby as well as flat action from Wolverhampton and Kempton. David has three runners at Hereford; Bear Spirit, Lady Of Longstone and Irish Prince. Bear Spirit contests the 3m1½f maiden hurdle at 1.35pm - our four year old is having his first ever run and faces more experienced rivals. He has schooled well at home and we will know more about him after this run. Lady Of Longstone (pictured above) takes in the 2m3½f handicap hurdle at 3.15pm and she is well handicapped on the pick of her form, she will like the ground and is partnered by regular rider Michael Heard who claims a handy 5lbs. Irish Prince makes his second start in the closing bumper at 3.45pm. He ran respectably in what was probably quite a deep bumper at Newbury and he is entitled to have come on for it and a big run is expected. Tom Scu is in the saddle.
- Tuesday, 28 November 2017 08:55
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with jumps action from Lingfield and Sedgefield while there is an all-weather flat card from Southwell. David has one runner today as Saint John Henry contests the 3.00pm race from Lingfield; a 2m7½f handicap chase. He won over 3m2f at Chepstow in good style on his chase debut and he should enjoy the testing ground. He runs from a mark of 128 which is 6lbs higher than his run at Chepstow and if he replicates that effort he could go close under Tom Scu.
- Monday, 27 November 2017 08:35
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There was a very good day at Exeter yesterday as not only did David enjoy a winner with You Say What, there was also the Gail Harrison A Lifetime In Racing handicap hurdle. She picked out the best turned out (which went on to win the race) and presented the prize to the winning owners. Afterwards David and Martin presented her with an award before compere Robert Bellamy set her a few posers. When asked about who was the better to work for, Martin or David, she replied "they are as bad as each other!" I'm sure she meant as good as...Anyway, the day was completed when You Say What ran out a ready winner of the staying chase from a mark of 114. He jumped well and looked the likeliest winner from some way out. Mister Drifter finished sixth in the staying hurdle, weakening only after the last and can be winning before too long.
- Sunday, 26 November 2017 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are just two meetings taking place this afternoon with Exeter and Uttoxeter hosting jumps fixtures. David has two runners at each meeting; Mister Drifter and You Say What at Exeter and Ilovemints and Virtuel d'Oudon at Uttoxeter. The first race at Exeter is called the 'Gail Harrison, A Lifetime In Racing handicap hurdle' and commemorates her 34 years at Pond House and her time at the Walwyn's prior to that. The press gave her the nickname 'Boycott' as nothing used to get past her and I can even recall her riding out in her hair net - that will surprise a few of the current staff. She was very bossy and put everybody in their place (that won't surprise any of the staff!). Seriously though, she has done a great job for Martin and David and is richly deserving of this recognition.
