- Sunday, 11 May 2014 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are just two jumps cards at Ludlow and Plumpton this afternoon. The stable has one runner at each meeting; Barton Stacey (pictured above) makes his chasing debut at Ludlow under Conor O'Farrell in a decent looking contest worth £12,000. Unsurprisingly it has attracted a decent field but our runner has some experience over larger obstacles as a winning point-to-pointer - the Nicholls runner Sin Bin looks like the one to beat in this novices' handicap chase. Meanwhile, A Hairy Koala makes his racecourse debut in the bumper at Plumpton and he will be partnered by Tom Scu. There is some excellent prize money up for grabs considering the size of the tracks - Ludlow have races worth £18,000, £12,000 (twice) and £10,000, while Plumpton's cards features a boys' race worth £15,000. A big pat on the back for both courses!
- Saturday, 10 May 2014 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is a bumper day of action this afternoon with seven meetings to look forward to - there is a jumps fixture at Hexham and five flat cards from Ascot, Lingfield, Nottingham Thirsk and Warwick, not to forget the mixed meeting at Haydock. The stable has three runners at Haydock this afternoon; Broadway Buffalo (pictured above), Swing Bowler and Shotavodka and I am expecting a big run from the former who goes in the Long Distance hurdle at 1.50pm. The conditions should suit our six year old and he will be partnered by Tom Scudamore. Mikey Ennis claims a valuable 7lbs off the back of Swing Bowler in the feature Swinton hurdle - she has run well in many of the top handicaps, but as you would expect for a £60,000 handicap it is a fiercely competitive affair and horses with light weights tend to do well here.
- Friday, 09 May 2014 07:06
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was another good day for the yard yesterday with David sending out a winner at Wincanton with Guess Again (pictured above) under Tom Scudamore. It was a good performance from the nine year old over this 3m1 1/2f trip under a good positive ride. He jumped really well and stayed on tenaciously and looks the type to score again in the coming months. Scu was recording a double following an earlier success at Newton Abbot where the ground was extremely testing - his mount; the David Bridgwater trained Nomadic Prince clearly appreciated the heavy going, while it appeared to catch out a number of his rivals who were clearly expecting some traditional summer ground.
- Thursday, 08 May 2014 07:11
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
We are sorry to bring you the terribly sad news of the passing of leading owner Brian Kilpatrick who has died of a heart attack at the age of 83. Brian had been a great supporter of the stable since the 1980's, providing both Martin and David with a whole host of top class horses running in his famous green and red colours. Among them was the fabulous Sabin du Loir who was probably the best 2 1/2 miler that Martin ever trained - I remember travelling to Huntingdon to see him beat Gold Cup winners Nortons Coin and Desert Orchid in the 1991 Peterborough Chase under a great front-running ride from Peter Scudamore. Brian (pictured above with his last winner, Count Danilo) was a true gentleman and I fondly recall all the times we would have a little side bet about who would finish higher in their respective leagues; his beloved Rochdale or my Hammers...I paid Brian out quite a few times! Our sport will be a lot poorer for his loss this morning.
- Wednesday, 07 May 2014 06:54
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It is good to see with the new season under way that the Pond House string continues in good form. Last night it was the turn of Makadamia (pictured above) to add to our total with success in the mares' novices' hurdle at Exeter under Tom Scudamore taking our tally for the new campaign to three. I did say that I thought she had a sound chance and so it proved as she hung on gamely to score by a neck. The handicapper should not be too harsh on her for this hard fought success. Meanwhile our other runners Our Chief and Courtlands Prince both showed some promise in finishing fourth in their respective races and will have learned plenty for the experience - you would fancy David to find a suitable opening for them over the coming months.
- Tuesday, 06 May 2014 07:27
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Yesterday was another good day for the yard with another success courtesy of another of our stable amateurs. This time it was the turn of David Noonan to score his first success under rules aboard Purple 'N Gold (pictured above) at Kempton. I have said all along that I thought a sharp track like Kempton would suit our versatile five year old down to the ground. David gave him a good ride to prevail by 3/4 length so very well done to him, let's hope it is the first of many. Over at Ffos Las Vif Argent was unable to follow-up last week's course victory under French amateur Thomas Viel, but he ran well nevertheless to finish second over thee miles. He looked the likely winner two out but was run out of it by Moss Of The Mill - he seemed to stay this longer trip okay and has the ability to score again.
- Monday, 05 May 2014 07:20
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are six meetings taking place - four on the turf at Windsor, Bath, Beverley and Warwick as well as jumps fixtures at Kempton and Ffos Las...anyone would think it was a Bank Holiday or something! The stable has two runners this afternoon; Purple 'N Gold runs at Kempton and Vif Argent competes at Ffos Las. Vif Argent won very well over the course last week and he is reunited with winning jockey Mr Thomas Viel (pictured above) and a similar level of form should give him every chance even under a 7lbs penalty. Meanwhile, young amateur jockey David Noonan has his first ride under rules in this country at Kempton and Purple 'N Gold looks to have fair prospects in the amateur riders' handicap hurdle.
