- Tuesday, 09 April 2013 07:26
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Well, our recent dry spell looks as though it has come to an end...it is proper miserable here this morning following four millimeters of rain overnight. I know, it doesn't sound like very much but it is enough to make everything damp and the sky looks full of more of the wet stuff! There are three meetings taking place this afternoon with two flat cards at Pontefract and Southwell as well as a jumps fixture at Carlisle. The stable has no runners today.
- Monday, 08 April 2013 07:17
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are three meetings, one over the sticks at Kelso as well as two all-weather cards at Kempton and Wolverhampton. It all has a bit of an anti-climactic feel to proceedings today following the highs of the Grand National at the weekend. Swing Bill ran a fantastic race in the Aintree spectacular, finishing a very creditable sixth, in the process giving his young jockey Conor O'Farrell the thrill of a lifetime. The amazing part is that Swing Bill is twelve years old now. Indeed, five of the first six home were either eleven or twelve years of age so I guess a little bit of experience went a long way on Saturday. The best news of all of course was that all the horses came back safe and sound, thus avoiding the annual slating from the press. Anyway, congratulations to connections of Aurora's Encore, particularly trainer Sue Smith - a terrific performance and a day she is never likely to forget.
- Sunday, 07 April 2013 00:32
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are just two jumps cards at Ascot and Hexham and David does not have any runners. There is a good card at Ascot with lots of prize money on offer on Countryside day although it is back to normal life after an amazing three days of racing at Aintree. More reflections on the last few days tomorrow. I see that owner Andy Stewart phoned Sir Peter O'Sullevan from Mexico to wish him well but Sir Peter said he is on a pay as you go contract and the cost of an International calls are high, the conversation wiped out all of my £50 top up!
David has broken through the magic million pounds in prize money for the season. It is only a number but trainers like to get through that as it is an amazing feat. Now we just need to make it to 100 winners for the season, we just need three more, fingers crossed!
- Saturday, 06 April 2013 06:51
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Swing Bill setting off on the Lorry
The big day is finally here, it's National day and there is a buzz about the yard. Our runners set off at 5.30am this morning for Aintree so they will be up there nice and early. War Singer runs in the flat charity race at 1.10pm and Tony Dobbin rides. There are a lot of top former jockeys in the race, both flat and jump boys and it should be an exciting watch. It will be shown live of Channel 4 so make sure you tune into see Marcus Armytage, Kevin Darley, Richard and Michael Hills, Carl Llewellyn and Adrian Maguire to name a few so it will not be competitive at all!! Grands Crus returns to action over hurdles and after a largely disappointing season so far with the exception of his good third in the King George we are just hoping he shoes his old spark. Problema Tic and Garynella both run in the 3.25pm handicap chase and have to improve on disappointing efforts last time and then we have Swing Bill in the National. Our gallant twelve year old ran well in the race last year and finished 10th after being quite badly hampered at the Chair. He was a winner earlier in the season and was also a close fourth in the Becher Chase over the Grand National fences in November. He seems to love the Aintree track, he is in flying form at home and Conor O'Farrell is sure to get a fantastic ride.
- Friday, 05 April 2013 07:21
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Today there are four meetings taking place with two jumps cards at Aintree and Sedgefield as well as flat fixtures at Leicester and Wolverhampton. The stable has had four runners at Aintree - Dynaste (pictured above), Gevrey Chambertin, Broadway Buffalo and Centasia. It is good to see Dynaste run again after finishing runner-up at the Cheltenham Festival. The step up in trip should suit him and the slightly better ground should be okay. Broadway Buffalo puts his unbeaten record on the line as he steps up in grade to contest the Listed handicap hurdle - he certainly looks worth his place in the line-up having won his previous five starts.
- Thursday, 04 April 2013 07:28
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
*Garryleigh - N/R 2.45pm Taunton*
*Close House - N/R 5.25pm Aintree*
Today there are four meetings taking place, two over the sticks at Aintree and Taunton as well as two all-weather flat cards at Lingfield and Wolverhampton. Unsurprisingly the big meeting of the day is at Aintree as the first day of the 2013 Grand National fixture gets underway. The stable has just one runner at Aintree, Arkle third His Excellency (pictured above) who has now pocketed over £100,000 in prize money by contesting all the big races. We have plenty of runners at Taunton - Garryleigh, Zaynar, Water Garden, Weekend Millionair and Palace Jester. It certainly looks like an interesting day, full of wide-open competitive races.
- Wednesday, 03 April 2013 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable enjoyed a welcome winner at Exeter yesterday afternoon as Bygones Sovereign benefitted from a positive ride from Tom Bellamy to avoid the chaos in behind and hold on for a tenacious success in the handicap hurdle. Part-owner Alan Kaplan had told David to make more use of the seven year old and those instructions were passed onto the young jockey who carried them out to perfection. Maybe the better ground also helped him?
