Entries & Recent Form
- Sunday, 03 April 2011 00:00
- Written by James C Smith
The Grand National meeting starts this Thursday and I will be up there each of the three days on my annual pilgrimage with David. Most of my mates want to come too - well on Friday at least...I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that it is ladies day?! The girls go all-out (in some cases quite literally) in their finery and always have their spray tans topped up to tangerine colour! The thing that makes me laugh however, is that you often see the girls walking down the roads in a pair of flip flops before changing into their high heels when they are on the track!
- Saturday, 02 April 2011 06:59
- Written by James C Smith
This time next week our old friend Gino will be getting our breakfast ready before we fly off to the Grand National. Gino and Jeanette have played host to myself and David for the last few years now during the Grand National meeting and I'm hoping that we don't wear out our welcome this year. It is always a great atmosphere at Aintree and I am getting goosebumps just thinking about the big race - I can't wait!
- Friday, 01 April 2011 08:41
- Written by James C Smith
See David's Update for exclusive audio
interviews with David & Tom Scudamore
ahead of the Grand National meeting
I see that Paddy Brennan has quit his position as stable jockey to Nigel Twiston-Davies. It isn't really the biggest surprise in the world, with Nigel's son Sam rising through the jockey's ranks at a rate of knots, and as Paddy rightly said...blood is thicker than water. Paddy is still going to be aboard some of Nigel's horses, including former Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander. I guess that Nigel is going to have the same headache when his other son Willie leaves school and wants to turn professional, Paddy Brennan will now turn freelance and I am sure that he will get plenty of rides - he is a top-class jockey, but it is not the same as being a retained stable jockey.
- Thursday, 31 March 2011 07:16
- Written by James C Smith
I can't believe that E Street Boy was allowed to go off at odds of 5/6 when winning at Hereford yesterday afternoon. He couldn't have been any more impressive when landing a conditional jockey's handicap hurdle at Wincanton on Sunday and he was turned out again without a penalty. The Racing Post forecast he would be a 4/9 shot and he certainly won like one, scoring by a comfortable 2 1/2 lengths, in the process giving Tom Scudamore a much needed winner. I would imagine that David will have to turn him out again quickly before the handicapper has his say.
- Wednesday, 30 March 2011 07:34
- Written by James C Smith
David & Tom Scudamore talk exclusively about their Aintree hopes
- See David's Update for details
It's the start of the flat season on turf this afternoon and they are really kicking off with a fizzle rather than a bang at Catterick! Having said that it does look to be a tricky card. To me the flat season really starts with Doncaster and the Brocklesby. I have already had one of my contacts tell me about a flying two year old that is entered at Donny - I love the early part of the flat season as they always seem to be able to sort out which are the best of the youngsters.
- Tuesday, 29 March 2011 07:05
- Written by James C Smith
Congratulations to Robert Thornton who rode his 1000th winner yesterday at Towcester. He now has Richard Dunwoody and Peter Scudamore well within his sights on 1678 and 1699 winners respectively - he says that he hopes to be riding until he is forty...that is another eight years. It would be some achievement if he could match those multiple champions in terms of races won, although at the head of the list, A P McCoy and Richard Johnson look to be well out of reach. In order for Choc to reach AP, he would probably have to ride until he's 100!
- Monday, 28 March 2011 07:08
- Written by Chester Barnes
Conor O'Farrell's hot streak continued yesterday when he won on E Street Boy at Wincanton. The official winning distance was 2½ lengths but he did win fairly comfortably so I think the handicapper will raise our five year old quite a lot. It was a Conditional jockeys race however so he can potentially run without carrying a penalty again before the handicapper has his say. Our only other runner yesterday, Choumakeur had one off his off days. He can be a little quirky and although he did finish a well beaten third there will be another day for him. Buena Vista also went to Wincanton to parade. Wincanton had assembled and eight strong team of horse who performed well at the Cheltenham Festival and included Al Ferof, Big Buck's, Denman, Kauto Star, Captain Chris, Holmwood Legend and Oiseau De Nuit. It was a great idea by the course so the public could see the stars of the National Hunt Season and Buena Vista really enjoyed his day out!
