- Tuesday, 01 May 2012 07:29
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
I was pleasantly surprised to see Exeter give this afternoon's card the go-ahead following twenty millimetres of rain overnight. They passed an 8am inspection this morning, although I would imagine that the going will be bottomless and some of the hurdles are going to be bypassed. Qalinas and Diamond's Return (pictured above) run for the yard, with the latter bidding to complete a quick hat-trick under Conor O'Farrell.
- Monday, 30 April 2012 07:11
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable's runners continued to perform well right until the end of the season, with both Arab League and Dan Breen running creditably at Sandown on Saturday without quite managing to get their heads in front. Arab League finished a close second to Gibb River under young Frank Hayes, while Dan Breen finished third in the Grade 2 chase behind a couple of 160-rated rivals - let's hope that the official handicapper does not take the form too literally! Both horses are owned by Stuart Mercer (the one with the flambouyant ties!) who is a great character and has had horses with us for years.
- Sunday, 29 April 2012 08:39
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Lucy's Perfect
David's First Winner of the 2011/12 Season
Well the season finished yesterday with some great action at Sandown and today we start the new season at Ludlow. David had a great year and we shall reflect on some of that over the coming days. Trop Fort kicks off the new season with Tom Scu on board so lets hope it is a winning start!
I just have to say something about Edward Gillespie leaving Cheltenham after 32 years at the course. He is one of the few old school tie people I really get on with. Edward has always been very helpful and if we ever had a problem Edward was always the first to help with anything and I mean anything! I remember we were in America once and there was a big queue at the book in counter and the girl kept answering the phone so the queue was not ever getting any shorter! Edward was in the queue with us and he made a phone call to the girl behind the counter and booked us in over the phone! I also got pulled over while driving in America and they dragged me out of the car. He told me not to mess around and being me I said why not? He said they have got a gun out, he was not joking! Edward has done a great job at Cheltenham and he will be sadly missed.
- Saturday, 28 April 2012 07:04
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Diamonds Return Winning at Plumpton
David has runners today at Sandown the last day of the jumps season. Don't worry though follks we start the new one tomorrow! It is a mixed jump and flat card this afternoon and I always remember Lord Oaksey saying it was one of the best days racing of the year. The day finishes with a jump versus flat jockeys flat race and this is always and interesting contest! Star of Angels, Arab League and The Pier all run in a competitve handicap hurdle and it will be a great experience for young Francis Hayes on board Arab League. He has won on this horse twice already this season and he takes a handy ten pounds off of his back and I think he could run better than his big price suggests. Dan Breen has a hard task in the Grade 2 Competitive chase but he has run well at this course before and stranger thinsg have happened! Wishful Thinking is probably the one they all have to beat in this race. Swing Bill runs in the big race of the day the Bet365 chase. He ran a great race last time out in the Grand National and gave his jockey that day, Conor O'Farrell, the biggest thrill of his life when having is first ride in the big race. He has a tough task this afternoon but rarely runs a bad race and Timmy Murohy is back in the saddle.
- Friday, 27 April 2012 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Ashkazar
David has runners at Chepstow and Plumpton this evening on the penultimate day of the National Hunt Season. However, Chepstow are holding an 11.30am inspection to see if racing can go ahead after 10mm of rain overnight and this morning have left some parts of the track vulnerable to waterlogging. Ashkazar and Decoy run in the 7.00pm handicap hurdle and Barton stacey runs in the last race, a maiden hurdle. It is interesting that Ashkazar goes back over hurdles as remember he was a very impressive winner over fences last time at Cheltenham. He has a lot of weight to concede to other runners in the race but he is very classy on his day so we will just have to see what happens. Decoy has to leave a couple of disappointnig runs behind him but if he does return to form he could be interesting off of a light weight. Meanwhile at Plumpton, Diamonds Return will try to follow up his Wincanton win of few days ago. Conor O'Farrell rides this one for his dad who owns him and he does have a good chance if acting on the slower going.
- Thursday, 26 April 2012 07:38
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The Tracey Shuffle
At the moment there are five meetings left on for today, the flat at Beverley, Brighton and Wolverhampton and a jumps racing card at Perth. I am pleased to report that Punchestown goes ahead after an early morning inspection. David was due to have three runners at Uttoxeter this evening but the meeting was called off yesterday afternoon with a waterlogged track. Did anybody see the action from Punchestown yesterday? It ended up being a hurdle and bumper card and the Punchestown Gold Cup will now take place on Saturday. David's runner, Weekend Millionair ran a cracker to finish second in the handicap hurdle and got a good front running ride from our young conditional Tom Bellamy. He led all the way until approaching the last and kept battling on all the way to the line. The track had lots of water lying around and the horses seemed to be splashing through it okay. Let's just hope the rain eases off a little so we do not lose anymore fixtures this week. We have had another 14mm of rain at Pond House in the last 24 hours but it is fairly bright and not raining at the moment! David is due to have runners at Chepstow and Plumpton tomorrow and both meetings are hopeful of going ahead.
- Wednesday, 25 April 2012 07:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Weekend Millionair
Weather permitting, David has runners in Wales, Ireland and France today. Just keep an eye out ont he weather however as they are holding a 9.30am inspection at Hereford this morning to see if racing can go ahead. It certainly has rained a lot overnight, indeed we have had 25mm of rain at Pond House and everywhere is looking fairly soggy at the moment although it has eased off slighty as I am writing this! David has one runner at Hereford if racing goes ahead. Diamonds Return is looking to follow up his win at Wincanton on Sunday and Conor O'Farrell is once again in the saddle, riding for his father Seamus. Our young conditional Tom Bellamy has travelled over to Punchestown this morning and he is having his first ride over there on our runner in the 3.40pm race, Weekend Millionair. It will be a good experience for our young pilot and he was not without a chance as our gelding was an impressive winner at Ffos Las last time out. This is a fiercely competitive 28 runner handicap hurdle however so we will just have to see how he gets on.
