- 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!
- Tuesday, 11 March 2014 08:11
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The Liquidator
I was going to say there are four meetings today, but really it is only Cheltenham that counts for the jump racing fans! Time seems to get quicker as we get closer to the meeting and after all the excitement and build up we are all set to go. We had our usual meet down the local pub last night. It's routine for all our family and friends and it is a great start to the week. It looked a very easy Cheltenham card last night, or it certainly did after the two bottles of wine that I drank! David has five runners today, The Liquidator, Western Warhorse, The Package, Standing Ovation and Close House. Every race, as you would expect looks so competitive. Mind you, having said that it seems that Willie Mullins and Ruby Walsh have strongly fancied runners right through the card. I think The Package might run better than is last form figures of PP. He won't mind the drying ground and this is his first run of the season. He seems in good form at home and Tom Scu rides. This is a race however that could turn the form book inside out!
- Monday, 10 March 2014 08:23
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was a great weekend for the stable with the successes of Baltimore Rock (Tom Scudamore, pictured above) in the valuable Imperial Cup at Sandown as well as grand old veteran Consigliere at Chepstow. Event organisers might as well run the Imperial Cup on our gallop, the stable has won it so many times (9 including Martin's six wins) - Baltimore Rock is only in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham and looks like he needs quite a few to come out above him to get into the race. There is a £100,000 bonus up for grabs for the winner of the Imperial Cup if he can follow-up at the Festival - I reckon David could be having a few sleepless nights between now and then!
- Sunday, 09 March 2014 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It really is a case of the calm before the storm with two jumps cards taking place at Warwick and Market Rasen and the yard being represented by just The Wealerdealer at Market Rasen in the conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle. He ran respectably when third at Wincanton last time out and can hopefully build on that in the hands of Matt Griffiths. I bet there will be a few Irish punters at the track ahead of the Cheltenham Festival - they seem to take the entire week off of work to pay homage to Cheltenham. I see the first race is sponsored by Lincs Loos - I hope your bets don't go down the pan! It's probably a little early to be doing those kind of jokes.
- Saturday, 08 March 2014 08:09
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Although there are only three days until the start of the Cheltenham Festival, there is still an abundance of good racing taking place today including the Imperial Cup at Sandown. As well as Sandown there are two other jumps meetings at Chepstow and Ayr and an all-weather flat card at Wolverhampton. The stable is represented by Swing Bowler and Baltimore Rock (pictured above) in the big race and I'm sure David (and a few other trainers) will be eyeing the £100,000 bonus up for grabs for any horse winning this race and then following up at next week's Festival. Martin completed the double with Olympian and Blowing Wind, while David also achieved it in his first season with a licence courtesy of Gaspara.
- Friday, 07 March 2014 08:12
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
In the final build-up to Cheltenham it is good to see that the yard is still among the winners. Red Seventy put up a game performance to win the two mile handicap hurdle under a well judged front-running ride from Tom Scudamore. Considering he only raced at distances of up to a mile on the level, he certainly stays well enough over hurdles and showed a likeable attitude to hold on here despite being taken on for the lead from an early stage. He looks as though he will be better on a sounder surface too, so this was a good effort. Meanwhile despite there being only seven runners, I thought that Our Chief ran okay to finish fourth in the concluding bumper. It looked like a decent contest on paper and he is bound to learn from this racecourse debut and it appears as though a stiffer track will suit.
