- Tuesday, 18 March 2014 08:28
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are three meetings taking place this afternoon - two over the sticks at Exeter and Wetherby as well as an all-weather flat meeting at Southwell. The thing that struck me was that a track like Wetherby can only put up £30,000 in prize money for their seven race card, while Exeter are offering £44,000 for their fixture. I always thought of Wetherby as one of the top tracks...maybe I have it wrong about them? Surprisingly considering there is a local meeting taking place, the stable does not have any runners today.
- Monday, 17 March 2014 08:28
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
As if the week could not get any better, David goes and lands the Midlands National at Uttoxeter for the fourth consecutive year, this time with Goulanes ridden by Richard Johnson. He was given a great hold-up ride and jumped brilliantly bar gettting in too close to the third last - he always looked likely to win and he looks to have a live chance in the Crabbies Grand National at Aintree next month. I reckon this race should be renamed the Pipe Midland National following David's previous successes with Minella Four Star, Master Overseer and Big Occasion!
- Sunday, 16 March 2014 10:04
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Dynaste - Part of a Great Cheltenham Week
We have just two jumps cards today at Carlisle and Ffos Las. Quite a few of the Cheltenham jockey's are riding at these tracks today, it must be a bit like after the Lords Mades Show! There is a race worth just £1500 and the jockeys would pick up less than £150 for riding the winner. Just think, Davy Russell got nearly £32,000 for winning the Gold Cup on Friday. Talking about the Gold Cup, I am not sure it was a strong a Gold Cup on form as you might think. Only a couple of lengths separated the first four home. At one point during the race, the commentator said "the only on out of it is Lord Windermere" who was detatched at one point. I wonder what the commentator thought after the race - I bet he got some stick! David does not have any runners today but we are all planning a little get together later on down the local pub to celebrate a great week at Cheltenham. There could be a few sore heads tomorrow!
- Saturday, 15 March 2014 08:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Legacy Gold (n/s) on the gallops
Today we have five meetings, jumps cards at Uttoxeter, Kempton, Fontwell and Newcastle plus a flat card at Wolverhampton. David has four runners in the one race at Kempton, the 2.55pm, Prideofthecastle, Home Run, Bygones Sovereign and Legacy Gold. This is a competive hurdle race as you would expect for the prize money on offer. The is a new iniative by the BHA where only horses balloted out of the Cheltenham Festival this week were eligible to run. There is also a chase on the card with the same conditions so it will be interesting to see how it all goes. Prideofthecastle is in good form and with young Tom Bellamy taking seven pounds off he looks nicely weighted on 11st2lb. Legacy Gold is having her first run in a handicap after winning three novice hurdles and she is in good form with inform Tom Scu in the saddle. David has two runners in the Midlands Grand National at Uttoxeter as well, Goulanes and Junior. Richard Johnson is on board Goulanes while Conor O'Farrell rides Junior. This race has been pretty lucky for the yard, in fact David has won the last few runnings of the race including Big Occasion last year. Again this is a competitive looking race but both horses have small chances.
- Friday, 14 March 2014 08:13
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Dynaste - Winner of the Ryanair
What a day, what a night! Dynaste was fantastic, coming back to form to win the Ryanair chase and £156,612.50. It was great for his owners, the White family who have long been assccoiated with the yard dating back to the great Beau Ranger. Ballynagour was also fantastic in winning the Byrne Group chase for owner Allan Stennett. The was a fantastic training performance by David as the horse has his problems and is not the easiest to train. In fact, he won that well that he probably won too far in the end off a mark of 140! Please be kind Mr handicapper! David says he connot remember a lot about last night or how he got home! It was certainly a great celebration back at Pond House and down at the local pub. It was great for jockey Tom Scu as well. Before this week he had only ridden two festival winners and now he has had three at this one! I think he is the most improved jockey riding at the moment and looks a class act. Hopefully this will keep me in his Mrs' good books, mind you she does wear the strangest of clothes does Lottie! Tom is joint top of the jockey's table with three wins alongside Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty while David is sharing the trainers leaderboard with Willie Mullins and Jonjo O'Neill who are also have great weeks. Trouble is Willie Mullins has had a lot of placed horses so will be on top.
- Thursday, 13 March 2014 07:45
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Kings Palace on the gallops this week
There are three meetings today, of course the big one at Cheltenham and then two others at Hexham and Towcester plus a flat card at Wolverhampton. David has nine runners at Cheltenham today, Top Wood, Broadway Buffalo, Dynaste, Ballynagour, Wetak, Our Father, Buddy Bolero, Swing Bill and Problema Tic. I just hope Dynaste comes back to his best form as if he does then you would have to say he is a good thing. The Racing Post have him as 3/1 joint favourite so they are expecting a big run. He is working well at home so fingers crossed. I am looking forward to the World hurdle and seeing Annie Power and Big Bucks. The mare is only six years old and is still on the upgrade. She has been very impressive and unbeaten in all her starts. Big Bucks will need to show his best form but there has been some big talk from jockey Sam Twiston-Davies. He is a very good young jockey with a lot of pressure on his shoulders but it should be a very good race.
- Wednesday, 12 March 2014 08:11
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Champagne Fever & Western Warhorse do battle
What a day for the yard at Cheltenham yesterday. Western Warhorse won the Arkle! What a ride Tom Scu gave the six year old and his celebration reaction coming past the post was brilliant. It was officially a photo finish but Tom's eyes must be good as he knew he had won! It was definitely not expected but any Cheltenham winner is fantastic and settles the nerves for the rest of the week. The first time hood seemed to do the trick on the horse who is not the easiest character to manage and he jumped fantastically and battled on really well up the Cheltenham hill. It was great for owner Roger Brookhouse who is a great supporter of Pond House and has already had a great week after winning the Imperial Cup with Baltimore Rock on Saturday. There were great celebrations in our marquee afterwards and there a few sore heads this morning! The Package ran a cracker, having his first run for a year to finish third at 16/1. It was our each way bet in the marquee so everyone was pretty happy with this although I don't think many people actually backed our winner at 33/1!
