- Sunday, 04 September 2011 00:00
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
We have three runners at Fontwell this afternoon, including two that make their debuts for us, Rainy Champion in the juvenile hurdle and Beattie Green in the National Hunt Flat race as well as last time out winner Surfboard. Rainy Champion showed ability on the flat when finishing runner-up in a couple of maidens for Gerard Butler, while Beattie Green is already a course and distance winner of a bumper last season. Surfboard was a ready winner at Newton Abbot last time out, but the handicapper has reacted by putting him up a whopping 13lbs - Tom Scudamore will be aboard all three runners.
- Saturday, 03 September 2011 07:02
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
It was good to see England win 3-0 in Bulgaria last night. I have to confess that I was a little concerned going into the match, but in fairness there were a number of young players wearing England shirts and they looked keen and happy to play for their country - what is more, they looked decidedly useful. One amazing statistic that I did learn, was that the last time England started a competitive game without Frank Lampard or Stephen Gerard was nine years ago. I thought it was a good performance from a younger, fresher looking England side - having said that, Bulgaria did defend like Arsenal!
- Friday, 02 September 2011 07:25
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
The stable hit the crossbar with both runners at Newton Abbot yesterday afternoon. Bathwick Scanno finished runner-up to favourite Dark Spirit in the juvenile novices' hurdle, although the winner did his best to throw the race away by carrying his head awkwardly and stuttering into each of the last two hurdle. Bathwick Scanno plugged on well to finish a length and a half behind in second and he should be able to find a little race before too long. Our other runner Tigger also finished second behind favourite King Benny in the 2m6f handicap hurdle - it was just a shame that there was quite a significant jockey change aboard the winner with A P McCoy taking over from Charlie Poste. I certainly think that Tigger has a race in him from this sort of mark - hopefully the handicapper will not stick him up in the weights again, but I am probably being optimistic!
- Thursday, 01 September 2011 07:48
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Unfortunately Vertige Dore fell at the ninth fence in the novices' chase at Hereford yesterday afternoon. It was one of those unlucky looking falls - he jumped the fence well enough but just crumpled on landing. He had jumped and travelled well enough up until that point to suggest that he would have been involved in the finish and hopefully compensation awaits before too long.
We have two runners at Newton Abbot this afternoon, Bathwick Scanno (Tom Scudamore) in the juvenile hurdle at 1.50pm and Tigger in the handicap hurdle at 4.00pm - he will be ridden by young Frank Hayes who is looking for his first winner over jumps.
- Wednesday, 31 August 2011 06:58
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
Prize money for today's five meetings (four flat and one jumps card) totals just £114,000 and that really doesn't seem like much to me. I wonder how much the greedy bookies will take (and make) across those cards? It would be interesting to know, although it is just one of those things that we are never going to find out about...it is a little bit like MP's expenses (and I'm not talking about Martin Pipe!).
- Tuesday, 30 August 2011 07:24
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
American Art received a typically cool and confident ride from Conor O'Farrell to win the selling hurdle at Huntingdon yesterday afternoon. The six year old certainly seems to have found his form with a vengeance now he has been eased in grade - he looks to be a class above these rivals, although he may still be a few pounds too high to be competitive in handicaps. The second, The Foxs Decree could be another to follow in similar grade next time.
- Monday, 29 August 2011 07:33
- Written by Chelsea Eggleton
A group of us have just returned from the north of France. We were staying in Deauville and I have to say that it is a beautiful place, although you would probably have to win the lottery to afford to live there - I think that it is the most expensive place that I have ever visited in the world! One thing that struck me was how clean the place was - the binmen would come around everyday...where I live, we're lucky if the binmen come once a fortnight! I couldn't even afford to get drunk - beer was €9 a pint in one bar, while langoustines were €24 per kilo - on my return, I couldn't help but notice that my local Morrisons were knocking them out at £10 per kilo...I sound like I am doing one of those price check adverts. By the way, at the local market I noticed that jumpers were €150 each...I rest my case!
