- Friday, 09 January 2015 08:21
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The good form of the yard continued yesterday when our only runner of the day, Bidourey absolutely bolted up in Leicester's novices' hurdle. He scored by eleven lengths easing down in the hands of Tom Scudamore and while the race probably didn't have an awful lot of strength in depth, it was a good bit of placement by David and Bidourey looks like a most exciting prospect. He was bought as an embryonic chaser and he will be smashing over fences one day, but in the meantime he looks likely to take high rank among the novices' over timber. I watched the race with David and I don't think I have ever known anyone so nervous! Approaching the second last I shouted 'I will take over from here!' but David responded 'He hasn't won yet.' He needn't have worried though as Scu always had things in hand and I hear some of the bookies quoting him in their Triumph Hurdle market - it will be interesting to see where David goes with him. Anyway, it was nice for owners Brocade Racing who were equalling their best ever season with eleven winners and the promise of more to come.
- Thursday, 08 January 2015 08:36
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable enjoyed another nice winner yesterday when Rathlin Rose landed the 3m maiden hurdle at Taunton in good style by six lengths. Our gelding jumped and travelled well and soon had his rivals in trouble and seemed only to be idling in front until joined by the loose horse - he picked up again well and looks like a nice staying prospect in the making - he could pick up a similar contest under a penalty. Bladoun didn't build on his reappearance success from a 13lbs higher mark, although he was still there two out, he jumped markedly to the left and we could be seeing him run the other way around next time.
- Wednesday, 07 January 2015 08:16
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Saint John Henry - Winner at Bangor
Saint John Henry won nicely at Bangor yesterday, his second win of the season. It looked like the longer trip and more testing ground suited our five year old and he kept galloping all the way to the line under a good ride from Tom Scu. He his not the biggest but carried 11st 12lb to victory well, off a mark of 106 and he looks a good staying prospect for the future. This was David's 72nd winner of the season. Today we have four meetings, two jumps cards at Taunton and Ludlow plus flat cards at Lingfield and Kempton. If you're in the North of England - bad luck! David runs Rathlin Rose, Courtlands Prince and Bladoun at Taunton and Good Value and A Hairy Koala at Ludlow.
- Tuesday, 06 January 2015 08:28
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are three meetings taking place this afternoon - two jumps cards from Bangor and Sedgefield as well as an all-weather flat meeting from Southwell. The stable has two runners at Bangor; Navanman and Saint John Henry (pictured above jumping, orange jacket, blue cap). Our five year old Saint John Henry steps up in trip to three miles having won over 2m5f on his seasonal debut at Plumpton before capsizing last time at Wincanton. Tom Scudamore is back aboard this afternoon and he looks to have a chance. Navanman is a 25/1 shot and looks as though he has it to do to figure this afternoon.
- Monday, 05 January 2015 08:31
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Although winnerless, the runners from the weekend provided plenty of good runs and promise of better to come. I thought that Rathealy posted a decent effort in the juvenile hurdle when runner-up to Arabian Revolution at Sandown - he looks like a winner waiting to happen and could be the type for handicaps later on. Meanwhile Classical Art did not seem to handle the ground and would appear to what conditions less testing than these. Meanwhile Balgarry returned to form with a very good second in the handicap hurdle, giving lumps of weight away to the bulk of his rivals while Sail By The Sea finished third yesterday in a hot looking novices' chase on his first start over fences - he can only improve for the experience and is another who should be winning before long.
- Sunday, 04 January 2015 09:05
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Sail by the Sea (nearside) on the Gallops
There are just the two meetings today at Plumpton and Southwell and David has just the one runner at Plumpton, Sail By the Sea. He runs in the 1.20pm novice chase and is making his chasing debut. There are only four runners but it looks very competitive and all three of our rivals have already won this season. Tom Scu rides our former point to point and hurdle winner and it will be interesting to see how he gets on. it is also the Sussex National at the track. It is run over 3m5f with £15,000 to the winner and I think it could be a bit of a slog this afternoon. Peter Bowen has he top weight, Ballybough Gorta and he also has Viking Blond lower down in the weights on 10st 8lb. With his in-form son Sean on board claiming a handy five pounds off this one looks to have a great chance.
- Saturday, 03 January 2015 08:13
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Volt Face on the Gallops
There are four meetings on today, three jumps cards at Sandown, Wincanton and Newcastle plus a flat card at Lingfield. David runs Volt Face in the 2.40pm at Wincantonn with Kieron Edgar on board taking off a handy five pounds. He ran well on his seasonal reappearance at Towcester to finish third and had he not stumbled at the last hurdle he might have won. This is a more competitive race but it will be interesting to see how he gets on. At Sandown David runs Classical Art and Rathealy in the juvenile hurdle and Balgarry in the 3.00pm handicap hurdle. Tom Scu rides Classical Art and Balgarry while young Michael Heard is on Rathealy. Balgarry is having only his of his life and it is just great to have him back on the track again. He ran okay last time in the competitive Ladbroke hurdle at Ascot and hopefully he can build on that and run a nice race this afternoon. Classical Art ran well on this course on his hurdling debut and finished fifth up at Wetherby last week. Rathealy was a good second on his hurdling debut at Plumpton before a costly mistake at Warwick last time ended any chance he had.
