- Monday, 07 July 2014 06:46
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a good day for the stable yesterday with all three of our runners performing creditably at Market Rasen, including fences debutant Ainsi Fideles (pictured above) who bolted up in the beginners' chase, scoring by an impressive 23 lengths. To my eye it looked as though he should little trouble following-up in this sphere. Although this was his first success in Britain, he had hinted at a good deal of ability several times over hurdles and the switch to fences clearly bought that talent to the fore. Meanwhile His Excellency ran well on his first attempt at 2m6f, finishing runner-up to The Nephew to whom he was trying to concede 15lbs. Weather Babe also finished runner-up in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle so all in all it was a productive day for the yard.
- Sunday, 06 July 2014 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are just two meetings taking place - one on the flat at Ayr, while there is a National Hunt meeting at Market Rasen. The stable sends two runners to the jumps fixture; His Excellency who carries top weight in the 2m6f handicap chase and Weather Babe (picture above) who competes in the 2m5f handicap hurdle. Former amateur jockey turned conditional Michael Heard takes the ride aboard the latter and claims a handy 8lbs allowance from our mare's back. With 11-2 to carry I wouldn't be at all surprised to see her run a big race. Meanwhile His Excellency has the talent to run well and it will be interesting to see how he gets on over this longer trip.
- Saturday, 05 July 2014 06:34
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Despite the lack of any jump racing It looks like a busy day on the fixture list with six meetings all taking place on the level. They come from Sandown, Leicester, Nottingham, Beverley, Carlisle and Haydock - the centrepiece is at Sandown with the Group One Coral Eclipse the feature race, with two Listed contests to back it up. Let's just hope that the ground is not too quick for the runners. The Fugue was very impressive last time out at Royal Ascot and the John Gosden team continues in good form so she looks to be the one to beat. There are no runners from the stable today, although we will have a couple at Market Rasen tomorrow including the talented chaser His Excellency (pictured above).
- Friday, 04 July 2014 06:42
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Dell'arca came from Deauville Sales 2013
Today we have five meetings on the flat at Sandown, Doncaster, Warwick, Haydock and Beverley. Away from racing, David had a good second day at Deauville sales yesterday and bought a few very nice horses including Alternatif for £180,000. He should have won at Auteuil last time out and has been bought for Professor Caroline Tisdall. The Professor certainly has some nices in our yard and it looks like it good be a very exciting season ahead. David has been busy in both Ireland and France in the past couple of weeks and as aquired some lovely young horses. David arrived back from France last night and our new horses are due to arrive back today so we are looking forard to meeting them.
- Thursday, 03 July 2014 06:44
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Luke Harvey on a visit to Pond House
Massannie ran well and finished second at Worcester yesterday. There was drama at the second last hurdle when AP on board Flemenson who was clear, fell when going like the winner. It looked a bad fall for both the horse and AP who was also kicked by one of the horses coming behind but the champ being who he is got up and rode the next winner! I did think Aalim had a good chance before the race and you do need a bit of luck in running. He won at 13/2. Massannie was on her best behaviour and ran another solid race off top weight and a mark of 130. There has surely got to be more races in her and it looks like she will jump a fence as well. She has returned safe and well this morning which is the main thing. In the rest of the racing action yesterday a horse called Wakea won a maiden at Kempton by lengths. I would keep an eye on this colt as he looks okay and is sure to win again.
- Wednesday, 02 July 2014 06:52
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Massannie runs today
David has one runner this afternoon, Massannie in the 3.50pm race at Worcester. She carries top weight of 11st 12lb and is 8/1 in the Racing Post. She was not beaten that far off this mark of 130 last time out on this track and although she made need to drop a few pounds in the handicap on her day, and on her best behaviour she is a pretty talented mare. Tom Scu rides. There are four other meetings as well as Worcester on today, three on the flat at Catterick, Kempton and Chepstow plus another jumps card at Perth. The prize money is poor at Chepstow. They have seven races competitng for total prize money of £25,000 where two of the races are worth under £2,000. This is the lowest I have seen so far but if owners keep letting thier trainers run them for this sort of money then the track will keep lowering their prize money on offer surely?!
- Tuesday, 01 July 2014 06:47
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Dr AP!
Today we have four meetings, three on the flat at Hamilton, Brighton and Bath plus a jumps card at Stratford this evening. I see that Brighton and Bath get away with just £27,000 in prize money on offer for their seven races which I think is a pretty poor effort. David does not have any runners today at Stratford. I see that AP got an Honorary Doctor of Science at the University of Ulster. He mad e a great acceptance speech - someone must have written it for him! He's already got an OBE and he was Sports Personality of the year in 2010 and also in 2013 he was RTE Sports Person of the Year. All of these accolades were well deserved and he is a great credit to racing. Mind you, beating MCP's total number of winners seems to be what he really wants to do!
