- Tuesday, 23 July 2013 07:33
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
My goodness, wasn't it hot yesterday? The temperature in London reached in excess of 33ºc and the forecast storms never materialised...although we had thunderstorms around the yard in the early hours of this morning, we had only 1/2mm of rain. Today there are four meetings to look forward to with two on the flat at Musselburgh and Ffos Las as well as two jumps cards at Southwell and Bangor - the stable has one runner at each National Hunt meeting and young Kieron Edgar is going to be kept busy as he travels from one meeting to the other to ride both Darcey Diva and Vapiano. Darcey Diva (pictured above) has her first run over hurdles at Southwell, our mare had some fair form in bumpers so let's hope she can translate that ability to obstacles, while Vapiano makes his debut for the stable at Bangor.
- Monday, 22 July 2013 07:02
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings to look forward to this afternoon with three on the level at Ayr, Windsor and Beverley as well as a jumps card at Cartmel. The stable has no runners this afternoon. I remember taking a trip to Cartmel on a Bank Holiday Monday years ago - the whole area comes to a complete standstill and it is impossible to park your car without getting blocked in. I am not painting a great picture of the track, but it has a fabulous atmosphere and is a great place to visit if only the once! The ground at Ayr looks pretty lively - there are races that have only three and four runners, as well as a five runner affair so four of the races have attracted only sixteen runners.
- Sunday, 21 July 2013 07:38
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Bathwick Man -
Winner of this race 12 months ago
Today there are three race meetings, a flat card at Redcar and two jumps meetings at Newton Abbot and Stratford. David has one runner at each jumps meeting both for owner Sarah Clifford. Bathwick Man runs at Stratford and Waterunder at our local track. Bathwick Man was the winner of this race 12 months ago. He does have to step up on recent form to have a chance this afternoon with Conor O'Farrell in the saddle. Tom Scu rides Waterunder. He was the winner of a hurdle race at Ffos Las this season but does have to give a lot of weight away this afternoon. The flat card at Redcar has terrible prize money on offer. The biggest prize to the winner is £6,409. All the rest are worth £3000 and two of them are worth £1900. Mind you, if the trainers and owners run them the courses will get away with it.
I would like to say a special happy birthday to a trio of our owners today. Wayne Clifford, Malcolm Denmark and Gino Paletta all share their birthday's today so I hope they all enjoy a great day.
- Saturday, 20 July 2013 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Massannie goes for four timer
David has four runners at Market Rasen this afternoon on their feature summer card. Massannie is looking to maintain her unbeaten record since joining Pond House in her first handicap hurdle. Street Entertainer and War Singer contest the competitive feature hurdle race. War Singer is relatively unexposed over obastacles and is open to improvement while Street Entertainer was running a big race in the Swinton hurdle when an error cost him any chance. Both have each way chances in a tough race. Problema Tic runs in the big valuable chase. He was the good winner of the Perth Gold Cup on his penultimate start but was disappointing at Uttoxeter last time so does have to bounce back to form. Decoy is our only other runner of the day at the Cartmel. He has been slightly disappointing of late and Kieron Edgar goes up to ride. There is also some good prize money on offer for this race so there is some great action to watch both over jumps and on the flat today. There are five flat meetings at Newbury, Newmarket, Ripon, Haydock and Lingfield.
- Friday, 19 July 2013 07:01
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Today we are all going to London for David Johnson's memorial service. MCP is going to say a few words and I have no doubt there will be a large number of people there and a lot from the world of racing. Matt Chapman is also going to say a few words, so if you are anywhere near the home counties you may hear him! It will be an extremely emotional day but no doubt a fitting tribute to a wonderful man. Today there are six meetings, all on the flat at Hamilton, Haydock, Newbury, Newmarket, Nottingham and Pontefract. David has just one runners at Newbury, Togiak who runs in the 4.35pm 10 furlong handicap. It looks a competitive race as you would expect for the prize money and our runner does have to improve his form to have any chance of taking a hand in the finish.
- Thursday, 18 July 2013 07:02
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Purple N Gold - winning debut over hurdles
David had a nice winner at Uttoxeter yesterday courtesy of Purple 'N Gold in the novice hurdle. He won first time out over hurdles in a three way photo finish. Our four year old jumped well in the main and despite getting tired in the final 100 yards battled on bravely to hold on. Keith and Lynne Webb own him and they used to have horses with MCP and they went racing with David yesterday. They interviewed David after the race and it looked like he was at a pop concert! I think they celebrated well and enjoyed their day! High Ville ran okay but could not follow up his win from last week. He was beaten by Salpierre with AP at his strongest. The pair pulled 50 lengths clear of the third so it was probably not too bad a run from our gelding.
- Wednesday, 17 July 2013 07:02
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Basil Fawlty on the gallops
David has six runners spread across the two jumps meetings at Worcester and Uttoxeter. There are five meetings on in total today, three on the flat at Lingfield, Catterick and Sandown plus jumping at Uttoxeter this afternoon and Worcester tonight. Purple 'N Gold is our first runner of the day and he is making his hurdling debut in the 2.50pm race. He is a 76 rated flat performer who ran well to finish fourth on his latest start at Nottingham earlier this month. He has been schooling well at home but the one they all have to beat is the Fergal O'Brien's Thunder Sheik who has won his last two starts and the form looks solid. High Ville was a winner at Uttoxeter last week and runs with a seven pound penalty this afternoon. He won with any amount in hand that day and though is form is a bit in and out and similar level of form would give him sounds claims. Basil Fawlty kicks off our evening runners at Worcester in the 6.20pm race. He was the winner at the track on his latest start and he looks to have a fair chance while Prime Location and Hugo Drax will have to improve on recent runs. Laustra Bad in the last runner of the day in the 9pm race. He was a good third at Uttoxeter last time and if he reproduces that form he would have a chance in the handicap hurdle. We look to have some fair chances today so fingers crossed!
