- Sunday, 17 November 2013 10:53
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Dell'arca & Count Danilo on the Gallops
It is the final day of the Paddy Power meeting at Cheltenham this afternoon so we have that to look forward to as well as racing at Fontwell. As you would expect, it is a cracking card at Cheltenham and David has plenty of runners, nine in fact plus one runner, Alderluck at Fontwell. The runners at Cheltenham include, Western Warhorse, Home Run, The Liquidator, My Brother Sylvest, His Excellency, Tanerko Emery, Dell'arca, Count Danilo and Red Sherlock. I am particularly looking forward to seeing Punchestown bumper winner The Liquidator running over hurdles for the seconod time and Red Sherlock running in the Bumper. The Liquidator made a promising start over hurdles at Carlisle and alhtough only a small but select field of four runners this afternoon he is a lovely young horse who we are very hopeful for. Red Sherlock is two from two in bumpers. Our four year old out of Lady Cricket has been quite impressive so far so it will be interesting to see how he gets on stepping up in class with Timmy Murphy on board. The feauture race of the day is the Greatwood hurdle and we run Tanerko Emery and Dell'arca. Tanerko Emery had a great season last year and ran very well on his seasonal debut over fences at Uttoxeter last time. He was of course second in the Imperial cup and fifth in the county hurdle at the Festival so he does have an each way chance this afternoon. Dell'arca is an unkown quantity having his first run in England. His French form is good and it will will be interesting to see how he gets on in a very competitive race.
- Saturday, 16 November 2013 07:55
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Ballynagour
There are five meetings on around the country today, three over jumps at Cheltenham, Uttoxeter and Wetherby plus flat cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton. It is a fantastic card at Cheltenham and David has seven runners. Azza, Goulanes, Ballynagour, Close House, Edmund Kean, Legacy Gold and Vilja. Azza has won both of her starts over jumps, her first in France at Auteuil and then she won on her stable debut at Carlisle. This is a step up in class and she takes on the boys but it will be interesting to see how she gets on. The feature race, the Paddy Power handicap chase is a 20 runner ultra competitive handicap as you would expect for the prize money up for grabs. Ballynagour is making his seasonal debut and won on his yard debut at Warwick last season. His overall profile is a bit in and out but on a good day he is very good! I think I might buy a lottery ticket, it is that sort of race! Goulanes is a lovely young staying chaser who has not had many runs and should hopefully run well while Edmund Kean is a future chaser who will hopefully run okay over hurdles this afternoon. In a very competitive mares bumper, the final race of the day we have two runners. Legacy Gold is three wins from three starts while Vilja is making her rules debut after winning an Irish point to point on her only start to date. It looks like they all have the Willie Mullins trained Supreme Ballerina to beat. Winners are hard to come by at Cheltenham but we shall keep everything crossed and enjoy watching the fantastic racing.
- Friday, 15 November 2013 08:14
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
What an exciting day of racing with the first day of Cheltenham's Paddy Power meeting to look forward to. There are three other meetings taking place as well at Newcastle over the stickas and two all-weather flat fitures at Lingfield and Wolverhampton. The stable has three runners at Cheltenham - Standing Ovation (pictured above), Consigliere and Top Gamble. Standing Ovation takes in the amateur riders' handicap chase (a race that we have won for the past two years with Swing BIll) and Steven Clements is in the saddle. He has now won four of his last six races and was most impressive when landing the Listed Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton last weekend. He is 6lbs ahead of the handicapper and looks most progressive. Top Gamble is another nice young horse to look forward to this winter - he was a winner of his last two starts last season, so let's hope he can extend that to three under Conor O'Farrell.
- Thursday, 14 November 2013 08:17
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was another good day for the stable yesterday at Exeter with a winner coming courtesy of Waterunder (pictured above) for our sponsors Bathwick Tyres. Maybe the soft ground proved beneficial to our gelding as he produced his best performance yet to defy topweight of 11-12 under Tom Scudamore. Our other runners also performed creditably with Shotavodka finishing second at Bangor, while Sir Frank produced his best performance in a while when finishing third on this switch back to hurdles - I thought that he wanted better ground, so this has to be considered encouraging.
- Wednesday, 13 November 2013 08:40
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It looks like being an exciting day of action with four meetings taking place this afternoon at Exeter and Bangor over jumps while there are all-weather flat meetings at Lingfield and Kempton. The stable has runners at both National Hunt fixtures; Bladoun, Sir Frank and Waterunder at Exeter and Shotavodka at Bangor. The ground at Bangor is currently soft and Shotavodka has twice won on heavy going, so he won't mind a bit of cut underfoot, while he also gets maximum assistance from the saddle with a certain A P McCoy booked to ride. A P has won his only start aboard our gelding (above), so let's hope that he can maintain their 100% record this afternoon. Bangor have done a good job in securing the most prize money on offer today, even including the Irish meeting at Dundalk so very well done to them.
- Tuesday, 12 November 2013 08:21
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
There are four meetings taking place this afternoon, three over the sticks at Huntingdon, Sedgefield and Lingfield as well as a flat card at Wolverhampton. The stable has just the one runner, Broadway Buffalo (pictured above) who participates in the 2.10pm race at Huntingdon. It's a good race with £15,000 in prize money up for grabs and our runner is 1lbs higher than when finishing a close fourth in the ultra competitive Silver Trophy at Chepstow last time. A similar level of form will see him go close under Tom Scudamore.
- Monday, 11 November 2013 08:22
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
What a fantastic performance from Standing Ovation to land the Badger Ales Chase at Wincanton on Saturday. David has now won the race three times in the last six years following the successes of Abragante and The Package and our fast improving six year old put up his most impressive performance to date in landing this Listed contest from a mark of 120 under Conor O'Farrell. He is in an amateur riders' race at Cheltenham on Friday and he could run there - I bet Conor (who has been aboard for his four successes) was crying when he heard that news! Of our other runners, I thought that Heath Hunter ran well on his hurdling debut to finish second and he looks a sure-fire future winner to me.
