Notus_De_La_Tour_Plumpton

This afternoon there are three meetings to look forward to - two over the jumps at Warwick and Uttoxeter and an all-weather flat meeting at Lingfield.  The stable has one runner, Notus de la Tour (pictured above) in the 2m4f handicap hurdle.  Notus has finished second at the Cheltenham Festival and third in a Tote Gold Trophy over hurdles and was Grade One placed over fences - he has been unlucky with injuries subsequently and would need to improve on recent form, although he is undoubtedly well-treated on the best of his form.  I could be wrong, but the last time I looked, there wasn't much distance between Warwick and Uttoxeter - another triumph for race planning!  Maybe 2014 will see a more balanced programme, although don't hold your breath!

Read more...

No_Secrets_Taunton_web

There are just three meetings to look forward to this afternoon, although judging by the weather around here this morning I wouldn't much fancy going to the races.  The jumps action is from Haydock and our local track Taunton, while there is also an all-weather flat meeting at Lingfield.  The stable has two runners at Taunton; Kilrye and previous course winner No Secrets (pictured above).  The ground is likely to be extrememly testing, although that should not inconvenience our runners.

Read more...

string_down_gallops_web

David does not have any runners today but there are two jumps meetings at Doncaster and Kelso as well as at Flat card at Southwell.  Tom Scu is in action at Doncaster.  It is amazing the amount of travelling that jockey's have to do.  You would not want to buy a car off a jockey!  Not only would it have high mileage I bet they tend to drive them quite quickly - just a suspicion!  I once travelled home from Cheltenham races with Hadden Frost driving.  I shouldn't tell tales but lets just say his hands were full and there was not a lot of contact with the steering wheel!  Mind you, he was only doing a little over the speed limit, he drives quicker than MCP!

Read more...

Goulanes_Newbury
  Goulanes - runs in the Welsh National

Today there are four meetings on, three over the sticks at Chepstow, Newbury, and Catterick plus a flat card at Lingfield.  David has one runner at Newbury in the 1.15pm, Shaking Hands.  He was disappointing on his seasonal reappearance but he won't mind the ground and Tom Bellamy takes a handy 7 pounds off his back.  David has six runners at Chepstow.  Tullyesker Hill kicks things off in the first race, a maiden hurdle.  He won a bumper impressively on his stable debut at Plumpton and finished fourth at Warwick last time.  This looks a competitive race so it will be interesting to see how he gets on.  We have three runners in the big race, the Coral Welsh National at 2.35pm.  Goulanes, Amigo and Ace High are the Pond House trio and all would have small chances.  This will be a real stamina test running over 3m5f on heavy ground and I would not think there will be many finishers.  All of ours should handle the ground so we shall just have to keep our fingers crossed!  This prestigious race, used to be Bonanza Boys race.  He was only small but he had a big heart.  This race also probably saw the best ever handicap performance by a horse.  Carvills Hill carried top weight to win in great style in 1991 and I think this will probably never be matched.

Read more...

His_Excellency_Cheltenham_web

Today we have five meetings to look forward to, three over the sticks at Kempton, Leicester and Wetherby as well as a couple of all-weather flat cards at Wolverhampton and Southwell.  The stable has just the one runner at Wetherby, the talented but enigmatic His Excellency (pictured above).  Our five year old has some very good form to his name, including when third behind Simonsig in this year's Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.  His last win came in 2012 and he appears to be in need of a little assistance from the handicapper.  The big race of the day is the Desert Orchid Chase at Kempton at 2.30pm and marks the eagerly awaited seasonal reappearance of top chaser Sprinter Sacre who was unbeaten in five starts last term.

Read more...

Dynaste041210
          Dynaste on the Gallops

Well I hope everyone enjoyed a great Christmas day, now to the serious business!  Lost of racing action to look forward to this afternoon,  all meetings are currently on (which weren't abandoned earlier in the week) but please be aware there is a 8.30am inspection at Sedgefield due to an overnight frost.  They are quite hopeful however so please just keep an eye out for news.  The other meetings we definitely have to look forward to of course are the big one at Kempton, Wetherby, Market Rasen, Fontwell, Towcester and Wincanton.  There is also a flat card at Wolverhampton.  The two meetings lost were Huntingdon and Ffos Las due to waterlogging.  Kempton has £420,000 in prize money up for grabs in a terrific card.  The feature race is of course the King George which looks a fantastic race.  Dynaste is on his way to the course and we are all hopeful of a good run.  After a career best performance last time in the Betfair Chase we are all excited to have a chance in this prestigious race.  Of course, Cue Card is the one we are all aiming at but you could not rule any of the nine runners out and it is should be a fascinating watch.  There is also the Christmas hurdle race to look forward to where The New One takes on My Tent or Yours.  Western Warhorse is making his chasing debut at the track.  He is the winner of an Irish point to point and has schooled well at home.  He ran well at Cheltenham on his seasonal reappearance and although slightly disappointing last time we are hopeful of a good run this afternoon.

Read more...

christmas_turkey

I have just been looking through today's edition of the Racing Post and the meetings for Boxing Day look mouth watering.  Sadly the meeting from Ffos Las has succumbed to the persistent rain, leaving nine meetings for Thursday (although Fontwell and Huntingdon could be up against it), the pick of which is obviously at Kempton.  The King George VI Chase is the big race and takes place at 3.10pm and I will be glued to the television.  Dynaste takes on his Betfair Chase conqueror Cue Card again and it promises to be a fantastic race with a really high quality field lining up.  With Ffos Las now off, the stable has runners at four meetings, including at Sedgefield - other than the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals, this is probably the best day's racing of the year.  Spare a thought for some of the jockeys though who will be 'doing light' on Boxing Day and therefore missing their Christmas dinners.

Read more...