- Monday, 08 July 2013 07:21
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There is terribly sad news following the sad passing of owner and friend David Johnson from cancer on Saturday. David was an East-end lad and a West Ham supporter and one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet. He was a fearless punter and never complained, even if the good things managed to get beaten. I always enjoyed our chats about the Hammers and how they would one day win the league. He was MCP's biggest and most successful owner for a number of years and we will all miss him. Our thoughts are with his widow Shirley and children, Lisa and Stephen...we have lost a good one.
- Sunday, 07 July 2013 08:25
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Today there are just two race meetings, a flat card at Ayr and jumping at Market Rasen. David does not have any runners but Tom Scu goes to Market Rasen to ride a couple, Mister Wiseman and Local Hero. Both look outsiders in the betting but you never know! They do have a couple of nice prize money races on the card with £9000 and £8000 up for grabs in two. However, I see that one of the races at Ayr is worth just £1976 to the winner which is a joke in this day and age. With expenses so high there won't be a lot left for the owner after everything is taken away!
- Saturday, 06 July 2013 07:03
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
Purple N Gold after winning at Kempton
Today there are six meetings all on the flat at Sandown, Haydock, Leicester, Beverley, Nottingham and Carlisle. David's only runner of the weekend is at Nottingham this evening, Purple N Gold runs in the 8.00pm race. Our four year old has been running on the all weather at Kempton recently but he is still seven pounds higher than his last winning mark. He has run well off a mark of 74 on the all weather and he is only two pounds higher this evening but he does needs to bounce back from a disappointing run last time. There is good racing at Sandown this afternoon with a Group 1 and a Group 3 plus two Listed races. All eyes will be on the 3.50pm race with Al Kazeem taking on Declaration of War who comes over from Ireland. The good news is all these races are on Channel 4 for us all to enjoy.
- Friday, 05 July 2013 07:05
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It sounds as though David had a good time in France at the Arqana Deauville sales over the last few days. Indeed, he finished up with six new horses including the top lot of the entire event, an exciting four year old called Dell'Arca who was knocked down to him for €280,000. Dell'Arca (pictured above) boasts some good form over hurdles and was also a winner on the flat - Irish trainer Willie Mullins was underbidder. With four horses from last week's sale in Ireland and further sales at Newmarket next week, it looks as though David has some exiciting new stock to go to war with.
- Thursday, 04 July 2013 07:14
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
This afternoon there are five meetings taking place, four on the level at Haydock, Yarmouth, Epsom and Newbury as well as a jumps card at Perth. The stable did not enjoy any success yesterday at Worcester although the majority of our runners performed with credit. Most Eligible narrowly failed to concede a stone in weight to the winner of the bumper and he could be aided by a return to faster ground. Decoy finished fourth in the handicap hurdle, staying on well in the closing stages and Garryleigh jumped okay en route to finishing third in the 2m7f novices' hurdle.
- Wednesday, 03 July 2013 07:04
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
It's a busy day with five meetings taking place today, three on the flat at Catterick, Kempton and Chepstow as well as two jumps cards at Worcester and Perth. The stable has four runners at Worcester - Most Eligible, Bathwick Man, Decoy and Garryleigh. The most interesting won would appear to be Most Eligible (pictured above) who won a bumper at the course last time out. Our six year old has to shoulder a penalty today but he looks decidely useful, so let's hope that he can keep his unbeaten record intact.
- Tuesday, 02 July 2013 06:54
- Written by Chelsea Morgan
There are four meetings this afternoon with three fixtures on the flat at Bath, Brighton and Hamilton as well as a jumps card at Stratford. The stable has no runners today.
I cannot see how the judge Dave Smith managed to get the photo finish so badly wrong at Kempton last week. He gave the result of the seven furlong two year old maiden as a dead heat, even though he deliberated for less than a minute. You can see from the print that Extra Noble was the winner - maybe someone else should take a look at photo finishes? Let's hope that the bookies pay out on the real result...I wouldn't hold my breath though as they will already claim to have paid out on two results (albeit split stakes with one result being the rank outsider!). I wonder if the judge will get a ban like the jockeys do if they get something wrong?!
