DECEMBER 2017
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Sunday
31 December 2017 |
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Unfortunately the list of equine casualties grows
… with Rebecca Curtis reporting that Irish Cavalier has been put to sleep
following health complications resulting from an injury sustained last June.
RIP Irish Cavalier Poor Irish Cavalier, it demonstrates why horses
rarely recover from such a serious injury as a broken leg; it was a hind-leg
in this instance. I remember watching
the race on TV, run at Newton Abbot in June; he was pulled up on the
flat. RIP
RIP Lessons In Milan Sadly the Nicky Henderson-trained and Trevor Hemmings-owned Lessons In Milan died at Haydock Park yesterday, when he fell during The Last
Fling Handicap Chase at Haydock Park. The race is named in honour of Trevor’s
horse which died during the 2002 Grand National; his grandson reported that ‘Lessons’ had broken his neck in the
fall so fortunately didn’t suffer. With many race fixtures, point-to-points and even
hunting outings taking place in recent days, there have been a number of
fatal accidents to racehorses or former racehorses: http://theracingforum.co.uk/forums/forum/memorials/ Here are yesterday’s
results for my runners of interest: Newbury (going
described as heavy): Nayati (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle
(7 ran); it was Alan’s 38th winner of the season and Wayne’s 27th winner of the season. Sir Antony Browne (Alan King/Tom Cannon) was
pulled up but Wilde Blue Yonder (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a very
respectable 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 118 yards]
(7 ran). It was an excellent comeback
run from Wilde Blue Yonder, so fingers crossed he can remain sound. Dans Le Vent (Jamie
Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 5th in the Challow
Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (6 ran). Poetic Rhythm won the Challow;
it was trainer Fergal O’Brien’s first Grade 1 victory: Taunton (going
described as soft): Cranbrook Causeway (Graeme
McPherson/Conor Shoemark)
was pulled up and Stockburn (Alan King/Tom Bellamy)
finished 6th in the Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). Rio Bravo (Graeme McPherson/Richard Condon)
finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 104 yards] (5 ran). Dr Dunraven (Martin
Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 9th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap
Hurdle (13 ran). And today’s
results (Sunday) for my
runners of interest too; the going was heavy at both tracks: Warwick: Ask Alice (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) was pulled up, Oscar World (Martin
Keighley/Tom Bellamy) finished 5th and Sensulano
(Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Mares’ NH Novices’
Hurdle (9 ran). I’m sure Noel’s horse
would have won but for a couple of bad errors and lack of experience – this
was her first hurdle race following outings in bumpers. Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Adrian Heskin/EPDS
Racing) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs] (7 ran); he
was unlucky not to have collared the 2nd when finishing with a flourish. Uttoxeter: Chequered View (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock)
finished 4th in the Mares’ Maiden Open NH Flat Race (8 ran). Miles From Memphis finished 3rd in a 13-runner
Handicap Hurdle at Punchestown
today. And here are the scheduled runners of interest
for New Year’s Day; Wayne
Hutchinson is heading to Exeter tomorrow, as Noel Williams has booked him to
ride one of owner David Sewell’s horses.
Paddy Brennan takes the ride aboard Ami Desbois
– he’s ridden Ami at home. Cheltenham: 12:15 My Charity (Graeme McPherson/Daryl Jacob) –
Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) 13:25 Ami Desbois
(Graeme McPherson/Paddy Brennan/EPDS Racing) & Yanworth
(Alan King/Barry Geraghty) Dipper Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) – their
rivals are Willoughby Court, Sizing Tennessee and Ballyandy. 14:00 Theinval (Nicky
Henderson/Jeremiah McGrath) – Handicap Chase (2 miles 4 furlongs & 166
yards) 14:35 Skipthecuddles
(Graeme McPherson/Daryl Jacob) & Buckle Street (Martin Keighley/Harry
Stock) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 213 yards] Exeter: 12:40 Another Crick (Noel Williams/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) Catterick: 13:35 Three Ways (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) –
Novices’ Chase 14:10 Kalahari Queen (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 14:45 Weyburn (Martin
Keighley/Conor Shoemark)
– Handicap Chase (Qualifier) [2 miles 3 furlongs & 51 yards] Musselburgh: 12:30 Jamacho (Brian
Ellison/Conor O’Farrell/raised by Apple Tree Stud)
– Juvenile Hurdle My diary race note drafts are outside of my set
schedule now … as I cannot put my knitting down! But I have done 10 out of 14 races, so
progress hasn’t been that bad. And, last
but not least, a belated happy birthday to Choc’s eldest, William, who was 7
yesterday. |
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Friday
29 December 2017 |
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There was no racing at Doncaster today as
northern England was struck by further snow … I know a wetter than usual
winter had been forecasted and, I guess, snow is wet too! Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Newbury (going
currently described as heavy): 12:05 Nayati (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 13:50 Sir Antony Browne (Alan King/Tom Cannon)
& Wilde Blue Yonder (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 4 furlongs & 118 yards]; Wilde Blue Yonder is rising 9! 15:00 Dans Le Vent
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Challow Novices’
Hurdle (Grade 1) Taunton (going
currently described as soft): 12:50 Cranbrook
Causeway (Graeme McPherson/Conor Shoemark) & Stockburn (Alan
King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:00 Rio Bravo (Graeme McPherson/Richard Condon)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 104 yards] 15:45 Dr Dunraven
(Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle So far, nothing has come to light regarding Faugheen’s disappointing run at Leopardstown
today: Meanwhile, Sizing John is reported to have been
suffering from Hyperthermia when he disappointed yesterday; in other words,
he got too hot. Kielan Woods will be on the
injury sidelines for more than a few days – he broke his foot at Market Rasen on Boxing Day.
That leaves a dilemma as regards a rider for Ami Desbois
at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day … how about Wayne Hutchinson? He’s ridden and won on him before … Today I ventured out for the first time since
Christmas Day; I wanted to buy a lotto ticket! I also have to visit Halfords at some
point, because one of my car’s sidelights needs to be replaced. However, I
have finished drafting my Cheltenham race notes today; so that’s a task I can
cross off my list. |
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Thursday
28 December 2017 |
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It’s been a dreadful day for racecourse equine
fatalities … and these are just those which I know about … The first was the death of the reigning
Cheltenham Stayers’ Hurdle Champion, Nichols
Canyon, at Leopardstown:
RIP Nichols Canyon With both Sizing John and Yorkhill
failing to impress during Leopardstown’s feature
chase, the next recorded fatality was the death of Zabana
having unseated Davy Russell during said event:
RIP Zabana And then, when I thought it couldn’t get much
worse, Martin Keighley reported that Cottersrock
had suffered a fatal injury as a result of a fall at Catterick. RIP Rocky Sadly I don’t have a photo of ‘Rocky’, so here is a link to one
taken by the Keighley’s on Christmas Day: https://mobile.twitter.com/belindakeighley/status/946438183117623299/photo/1 Racing is so cruel at times … L Here are
today’s unfortunate results from Catterick: Cup Of
Ambition (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) fell two out in the Handicap Chase [2
miles 3 furlongs & 51 yards] (9 ran). Cottersrock (Martin
Keighley/Harry Stock) fell during the Handicap Chase (Qualifier) [3 miles 1
furlong & 54 yards] and suffered a fatal injury. L In hindsight, it’s a shame that Catterick wasn’t abandoned too, like Leicester … Racing is scheduled for Doncaster tomorrow: 12:25 Passing Call (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) 14:05 Chato (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) I got a copy of Weekender today and Alan King
reports that Wilde Blue Yonder is due to be back in action on Saturday, at
Newbury. He’s not raced for 616 days
and, before that, he’d been off the track since April 2014 when Choc rode him
at Aintree! Still catching up on the Christmas action, here
are some links: Interestingly, The New One has now won over a
million pounds in prize money following his runner-up spot in the Christmas Hurdle: A report regarding yesterday’s Desert Orchid
Chase won by Politologue: And news of Altior’s
progress towards a racecourse return: The report following Min’s disqualification which
resulted in the promotion of Simply Ned: Richard Johnson will be out of action until next
Tuesday having suffered concussion at Wetherby: Also, confirmation that Chepstow has rescheduled
the Welsh Grand National: I’ve finally got around to drafting a number of
race notes for my Cheltenham diary; I’ve now got 4 days to complete the
remainder, along with those from Newbury, fingers crossed. Having missed
Kempton Park because of my head cold, I’m not as far behind schedule as I
might have been! And I’m still finding
time to undertake a new knitting project too. J I’m
informed via someone’s tweet, that it’s only 75 days until the Cheltenham
Festival commences … |
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Wednesday
27 December 2017 |
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Christmas
didn’t quite go to plan ... I didn’t travel to Kempton Park yesterday,
despite having a ticket, as my cold was making me feel under the weather. L My cold
had been streaming on Christmas Day so at around 06:30 yesterday, I switched
off my alarm clock having decided it would be foolish to stand out in the
cold for around 6 hours. Although I
may have felt differently if I’d not been attending the fixture alone. Anyway,
here are Boxing Day’s results for
my runners of interest: Kempton
Park: Mia’s
Storm (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell five out in the Kauto
Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (7 ran). The race was won by the very
consistent Black Corton, ridden by Bryony Frost;
her first Grade 1 victory. Minella Charmer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
6th and Midnight Maestro (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] (14 ran). Buveur D’Air scooted away
with the Grade 1 Christmas Hurdle against three rivals, as Old Guard was a
non-runner. The Grade
1 King George VI Chase was won by Might Bite; with outsiders Double Shuffle
and Tea For Two filling 2nd and 3rd respectively. Thistlecrack
showed more sparkle than on his comeback hurdle run and completed in 4th. Huntingdon: Leriche Belle (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 2nd
in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Minella Whisper (Richard Phillips/Ian Popham) finished 6th and Ballina
Lady (Graeme McPherson/Mr J Nailor) was pulled up
in the Novices’ Hurdle (11 ran). Pandy Wells (Graeme McPherson/Richard Condon) finished
4th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 189 yards] (9 ran). Galactic
Power (Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS Racing Club
Syndicate) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 145
yards] (15 ran); our little horse is very game. J Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/Tom Garner/EPDS Racing) finished
2nd in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (9 ran); an excellent start to his chasing
career. Lady Vitesse (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished last in
the Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (14 ran). Market Rasen: Lord Heathfield (Graeme McPherson/Bridget Andrews) was pulled
up in the Lincoln National Handicap Chase [3 miles 3 furlongs & 123
yards] (13 ran); Bridget replaced Kielan Woods who
was stood down following an earlier unseat. Tyrell (Micky Hammond/Alain Cawley/formerly
owned by Apple Tree Stud) finished 8th and Alexander The Grey (Graeme
McPherson/Charlie Poste) finished last in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 140 yards] (11 ran); Charlie
replacing Kielan on this occasion. Fontwell Park: Undisputed
(Noel Williams/Jamie Moore) finished 7th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (9
ran). Wincanton: Blue
Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Handicap
Hurdle (9 ran). Passing
Call (Alan King/Brendan Powell) and Presenting Pearl (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) were both non-runners in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) Bastien (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) fell at the last in
the Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Qualifier) [2 miles 5
furlongs & 82 yards] (11 ran); he was in 3rd position at the time. RIP Honest
Intent who died as a result of a fall at Wetherby
yesterday. L And today’s results too ... it appears
that Apple Tree Stud retains an interest in National Hunt racing, albeit not
from a breeding prospective: Kempton
Park: Redicean (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson/Apple Tree Stud) won the
Juvenile Hurdle (6 ran); Alan’s 37th winner of the season and Wayne’s 26th winner of the season. Here is Redicean
photographed today: https://mobile.twitter.com/Steven_Cargill/status/946079409936748545/photo/1 Midnight
Tour (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) finished 4th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (6
ran). Azzerti (Alan King/Adrian Heskin)
finished 3rd and Chatez (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (10 ran). Meanwhile,
Politologue won the 4-runner Grade 2 Desert Orchid
Chase. His main rival Special Tiara
fell 5 out; there was spontaneous applause when Noel Fehily
rode the uninjured Irish challenger back past the grandstands. The Paul
Nicholls-trained Cyrname won the Wayward Lad
Novices’ Chase; The Unit was a non-runner in this also 4-runner race due to
unsuitable ground. Wetherby: Cyrus
Darius (Malcolm Jefferson/Brian Hughes) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [1
mile 7 furlongs] (6 ran). Jamie
Snowden’s Three Ways was a non-runner in his Wetherby
event due to travel difficulties – Lambourn got hit
by the snow. Simply Ned
won today’s feature race at Leopardstown, the Grade
1 Paddy’s Rewards Club Chase ... albeit in the Stewards’ Room after his main
rival Min had caused significant interference in the closing stages. The Nicky Richards-trained runner had
finished as runner-up in this race in 2015, and 3rd in both 2014 and 2016. Chepstow
hopes to hold today’s abandoned card, including the Welsh Grand National, on
Saturday 06 January. And
tomorrow, Thursday: Catterick: (subject to an 08:00 inspection) 13:05 Cup
Of Ambition (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3
furlongs & 51 yards] 14:40 Cottersrock (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Handicap
Chase (Qualifier) [ 3 miles 1 furlong & 54 yards] Leicester: (subject to an 08:00 inspection ... currently there’s snow covering
the track!) 13:25 Criq Rock (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 14:30 Harefield (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:05
Three Ways (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Chase Fortunately,
my cold is now improving ... despite the fact I never use drugs to combat the
symptoms, apart from First Defence when trying to avoid colds
altogether! I didn’t have a sore
throat with this particular virus, nor the previous cold virus I had; perhaps
that’s the benefit of using First Defence.
Anyway, I’ll settle for that, as having a sore throat is definitely
the most depressing part of catching a cold.
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Sunday
24 December 2017 |
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Merry Christmas And here are the results for yesterday’s runners
of interest at Ascot: Forgetthesmalltalk (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) dead-heated for 2nd and Capsy De Mee (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 13th in the
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (14 ran). Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O’Neill/Aidan
Coleman) finished last in the Reve De Sivola Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1) (8 ran). Sam Spinner won the race, for Jedd O’Keeffe and Joe Colliver,
having made all. Elgin (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th
in the Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 152 yards] (17 ran). The race was won by the Olly
Murphy-trained Hunters Call ridden by Jack Kennedy; it was the horse’s first
run in the UK having been imported from Ireland. There was a sad postscript
too, with the filly Evening Hush losing her life as a result of injuries
sustained when she fell two out. L RIP Here are
the runners of interest which will be in action on Tuesday, Boxing Day: Kempton
Park: 13:55
Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) -
Kauto Star Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) 15:40 Minella Charmer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) &
Midnight Maestro (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] The Grade
1 Christmas Hurdle takes place at 14:30 with Buveur
D’Air, Chesterfield, Mohaayed,
Old Guard and The New One declared. The Grade
1 King George VI Chase will be run at 15:05 with Bristol De Mai, Double
Shuffle, Fox Norton, Might Bite, Tea For Two, Thistlecrack,
Traffic Fluide and Whisper being the eight horses
declared. EPDS
Racing’s Ami Desbois isn’t quite back to 100% following
his most recent run, so bypasses the Grade 1 Kauto
Star Novices’ Chase; connections are hopeful he will be ready to go again by
Cheltenham’s New Year’s Day fixture, where he holds an entry in the Dipper
Novices’ Chase instead. Huntingdon: 11:40 Leriche Belle (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Conditional
Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 12:10 Minella Whisper (Richard Phillips/Ian Popham)
& Ballina Lady (Graeme McPherson/Mr J Nailor) – Novices’ Hurdle 12:40 Pandy Wells (Graeme McPherson/Richard Condon) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 189 yards] 13:15
Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS
Racing Club Syndicate) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 145 yards] 13:50 Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/Tom Garner/EPDS Racing) –
Novices’ Handicap Chase 15:35 Lady
Vitesse (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) –
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race I notice
that Jeremiah McGrath is back in action at the fixture, following a spell on
the injury sidelines. Market Rasen: 14:15 Lord
Heathfield (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Lincoln National Handicap Chase [3 miles 3 furlongs & 123 yards] 15:25
Tyrell (Micky Hammond/Alain Cawley/formerly
owned by Apple Tree Stud) & Alexander The Grey (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs &
140 yards] Fontwell Park: 15:45
Undisputed (Noel Williams/Jamie Moore) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Wincanton: 12:25 Blue
Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 12:55
Passing Call (Alan King/Brendan Powell) & Presenting Pearl (Jamie
Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 13:30 Bastien (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) – Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Qualifier) [2 miles 5 furlongs & 82 yards] I had been
searching for Apple Tree Stud’s Tapit colt earlier
in the year, not knowing if they’d retained ownership following his
withdrawal from one of the yearling sales.
It’s difficult to track them without a name and a racecourse
appearance ... but here is news – he’s called Three Weeks and won on the
all-weather at Lingfield Park last Wednesday; his
second race. I’ve now added him to my
ATR Tracker. Anyway,
here is a photo of Three Weeks as a yearling: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/943466514275094529/photo/1 And one
taken last week at Lingfield Park: https://mobile.twitter.com/Steven_Cargill/status/943595264497082368/photo/1 This is a
link to the recording of his race: http://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Lingfield/20-December-2017/1140 Apple Tree
Stud also has a filly named Two Weeks ... she won a 6 furlong fillies’ race
at Wolverhampton last month – I overlooked that one! I seem to
have a few snuffles today ... hopefully it’s not the start of a cold; that
would be all I need on Christmas Eve. L I’ve been using First Defence regularly for
a number of weeks, as my office regularly sounds like a doctor’s surgery with
people coughing and sneezing all over the place! |
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Friday
22 December 2017 |
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It is
catch-up time again ... yesterday I was worn out and dozed off to sleep in
the armchair; after which I just didn’t have the energy to write a blog! So here are yesterday’s results for my runners of
interest: Towcester: Red Admirable (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 7 furlongs & 211 yards] (16 ran). Kayf Blanco (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 3rd in the
Novices’ Chase (4 ran). Twentyoneblackjack (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) pulled up in the Novices’
Hurdle (9 ran). Somewhere To Be (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy)
finished 6th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (14 ran). Midnightreferendum (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (14 ran). Exeter: Diva Du Maquis (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) finished 5th and Floral
Bouquet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 6th in the Mares’ Novices’
Hurdle (10 ran). On Wednesday,
I forgot to list Cloud Hopper (Jamie Snowden/Max Kendrick) who ran in the
Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury; he finished 11th of 12. Here are today’s results for my runners of interest: Ascot: Good Man Pat (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 4th in the Maiden Hurdle (10 ran). Finian’s Oscar was the
short-head runner-up in the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase. The Gary Moore-trained Benatar
triumphed; he’s three out of three from novice chases. Benatar finished
4th in last season’s Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at the Aintree, behind Finian’s Oscar, the ill-fated Captain Forez,
and the now sidelined Messire Des Obeaux. Southwell (AW): Pantomime (Rebecca Menzies/Phil
Dennis/EPDS Racing) finished 6th in the Handicap [1 mile 3 furlongs] (13
ran). And here are Saturday’s
runners of interest, all at Ascot: 12:40 Forgetthesmalltalk
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Capsy De Mee (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Handicap
Hurdle 14:25 Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O’Neill/Aidan
Coleman) – The Reve De Sivola
Long Walk Hurdle (Grade 1); his rivals are due to be Agrapart,
L’Ami Serge, Lil Rockerfeller,
Sam Spinner, The Worlds End, Thomas Campbell, Ubak
and Unowhatimeanharry 15:35 Elgin (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 152 yards]; having won two
big handicaps on his previous two outings, he’s top weight tomorrow. The final
Christmas knitting project is finished, apart from sewing up the seam. Phew!
I’m not sure if I’ll be carrying out work on another outstanding
knitting project this weekend or, perhaps, working on my website updates ...
or both! |
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Wednesday
20 December 2017 |
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And here
are today’s results for my runners of interest ... and there are three
further winners ... two seconds, a third, two fourths, a fifth ... and,
finally, a fifteenth from ten runners!
Newbury: Doctor Bartolo (Alan King/Ian Popham)
finished 2nd and The Blues Master (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd
in the Juvenile Hurdle (12 ran). Filemon (Jamie Snowden/N G Nolan) finished 15th and Potterman (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in
the Maiden Hurdle (21 ran). Dingo Dollar (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Limited
Handicap Chase (7 ran); Alan’s 35th
winner of the season and Wayne’s 25th winner of the
season. Voie Dans Voie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the NH
Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). Wilde
Spirit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Fillies’ ‘Junior’ Standard Open Flat Race (10
ran). Ludlow: Hogan’s Height (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the ‘Confined’ Novices’ Chase (8 ran); Jamie’s 19th winner of the season. Inn The Bull (Alan King/Miss L M Pinchin)
finished 4th in the Amateur Lady Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Harambe (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) won the Standard Open NH
Flat Race (14 ran); Alan’s 36th
winner of the season. And tomorrow’s runners of interest: Towcester: 13:25 Red Admirable (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs &
211 yards] 13:55 Kayf Blanco
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Novices’ Chase 14:25 Twentyoneblackjack
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:00 Somewhere To Be (Martin Keighley/Tom
Bellamy) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:35 Midnightreferendum
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race Exeter: 12:35 Diva
Du Maquis (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) & Floral
Bouquet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle |
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Tuesday
19 December 2017 |
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Sorry
there was no blog yesterday but I was feeling unwell when I arrived home from
work and subsequently went to bed at 19:30!
A colleague reported she’d felt something similar yesterday evening
too ... so perhaps there is a bug going around ... or maybe it’s ‘sick building syndrome’! Anyway,
here are yesterday’s results for my runners of interest ... and the good form
continues: Plumpton: Havisham (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 6th and Lisp (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle
(13 ran). Alan’s 34th winner of the season and Wayne’s 24th winner of the season. Hollywood
All Star (Graeme McPherson/Richard Condon) finished 6th in the Handicap
Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 195 yards] (8 ran). Ffos Las: Fairmount (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won the Novices’ Hurdle (6
ran); Martin’s 16th winner of the season. Solstice
Star (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle
(Qualifier) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 182 yards] (6 ran). Mister
Valentine (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 5th in the ‘Newcomers’ Standard Open NH Flat Race
(7 ran). And here
are today’s results for my runners of interest too: Catterick: Buckle Street (Martin
Keighley/Harry Stock) won the
Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 1 furlongs & 71 yards] (11 ran); Martin’s 17th
winner of the
season. Raving
Bonkers (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 5th in the Intermediate NH
Flat Race (9 ran). Fakenham: Rosa Damascena (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in
the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Scooby
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 3rd and Shinooki (A M Hales/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 95 yards] (8 ran). William
Hunter (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Maiden Hurdle (9
ran). And
runners of interest tomorrow, Wednesday: Newbury: 12:30 Doctor
Bartolo (Alan King/Ian Popham)
& The Blues Master (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 13:00 Filemon (Jamie Snowden/N G Nolan) & Potterman (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 13:30
Dingo Dollar (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:15 Voie Dans Voie
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 15:45
Wilde Spirit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Fillies’ ‘Junior’ Standard Open Flat Race Ludlow: 12:50
Hogan’s Height (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – ‘Confined’ Novices’ Chase 15:05 Inn The Bull (Alan King/Miss L M Pinchin)
– Amateur Lady Riders’ Handicap Hurdle 15:35 Harambe (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Standard Open NH Flat
Race Following Starchitect’s sad demise, owner Paul Rooney has paid
tribute to his horse: Jockeys will get a pay rise for 2018: Frankel has now sired his first jumps winner: If you enjoy reading racing-related books, I know
I do, here are suggestions for stocking fillers or treats for yourself: Reporter Lee Mottershead
has been to visit Folkestone racecourse, five years after it closed: Having
suffered a bad fall on Saturday, Liam Treadwell is reported to have broken
his left shoulder. So here’s wishing
him a speedy recovery. |
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Sunday
17 December 2017 |
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Here are
yesterday’s results for my runners of interest: Doncaster: City
Dreamer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle
(Grade 2) (6 ran). Sego
Success (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Handicap Chase [2
miles 7 furlongs & 214 yards] (9 ran). Cheltenham: Pearls
Legend (John Spearing/Paddy Brennan) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase [2
miles & 62 yards] (7 ran). Brillare Momento (Martin
Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 8th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (13 ran).
RIP Starchitect I wasn’t
home yesterday afternoon, so missed the live coverage from Cheltenham ... by
all accounts I’m glad I did, with Starchitect
sustaining a horrendous and fatal injury during the closing stages of the
feature chase, when victory appeared to be his for the taking. L But there was good news for Sire De Grugy; he’s been retired following yesterday’s run and
will live out his days at the Moore’s yard: No-one can begrudge My Tent Or Yours’ victory at
Cheltenham yesterday. Despite being
placed in numerous Champion Hurdles, ‘Tent’
had never previously won at the Gloucestershire track: And there is a further report regarding
yesterday’s action at Cheltenham: The jump jockeys and flat jockeys have been
fighting it out at Olympia once more: I appear
to have had a very successful Sunday with regards to runners of interest at Southwell: Weyburn (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won the Handicap Chase [2
miles 4 furlongs 62 yards] (8 ran); congratulations to the team, Martin’s 15th
winner of the
season Midnight
Chill (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 10th in the Maiden Hurdle (12
ran). Midnight Silver (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the Mares’ Handicap
Hurdle (Qualifier) (6 ran); Jamie’s 17th winner of the season Oscar Star (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the Mares’ Novices’
Hurdle (5 ran); Jamie’s 18th winner of the season. Well done Team Snowden on their double
today. It has
just been reported that Douvan is out for the
season ... he’d recovered from the issue that kept him out of the Tingle
Creek but has been intermittently lame this past week. As a result, connections have decided to ‘pull up stumps’ for the season. |
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Suri
alpaca Brian wearing the coat, along
with three of his Huacaya alpaca friends |
My favourite alpaca friend ... it’s Sir Keith; I
asked to walk him again |
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Yesterday
afternoon I undertook a return visit to Abbotts View Alpacas in
Buckinghamshire. Fortunately the
weather cleared during the actual walk, although there was sleet on the
outbound drive, and fairly heavy rain on the homebound one. That’s my
pre-Christmas adventures completed ... the outstanding Christmas knitting
project now takes priority. I was a
little disappointed that Joe won Strictly Come Dancing; he is very good, but
I’d been rooting for Debbie, as she represents women of a certain age ... my
age in fact!!! And there
are a number of runners of interest tomorrow: Plumpton: 12:20 Havisham (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) & Lisp (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:25
Hollywood All Star (Graeme McPherson/Richard Condon) – Handicap Hurdle [1
mile 7 furlongs & 195 yards] Ffos Las: 14:05
Fairmount (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Novices’ Hurdle 14:40
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)
[1 mile 7 furlongs & 182 yards] 15:45
Mister Valentine (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – ‘Newcomers’ Standard Open NH Flat Race |
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Friday
15 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Cheltenham: Spice Girl
(Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 6th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier) (8 ran). Viking
Mistress (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished 5th in the Mares’
Handicap Chase (Qualifier) (9 ran). Today’s
Cross Country Chase was won by Bless The Wings, formerly trained by Alan
King. Present trainer Gordon Elliott
had been contemplating retiring the 12-year-old because he’d been pulled up
on both runs this season, admittedly in conventional handicaps. Presumably he’ll yet again be aimed at the
Festival’s Cross Country event, having made the frame on each of his previous
runs over Cheltenham’s cross country course.
Doncaster: Cajun
Fiddle (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Handicap Chase
(Qualifier) [2 miles 3 furlongs & 31 yards] (7 ran). Keep In
Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 3 furlongs & 88 yards] (10 ran). Stonecoldsoba (Denis Quinn/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 7th in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). Bangor-on-Dee: Champagne
James (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 2nd in the ‘Confined’ Novices’ Chase (2 ran). Monbeg Theatre (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished
2nd in the Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 32 yards] (5
ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Cheltenham: 14:20
Pearls Legend (John Spearing/Paddy Brennan) – Handicap Chase [2 miles &
62 yards]; Sire De Grugy is the top weight in this
race. 15:40 Brillare Momento (Martin
Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Sam Twiston-Davies returns to action in the 15:05 when he
partners The New One in the Grade 2 International Hurdle; his mount is
attempting to win the race for the fourth time, having won in 2013, 2014 and
last year too. He takes on Melon, John
Constable, Old Guard, Ch’Tibello, Dell’ Arca and My Tent Or Yours. Meanwhile
at Doncaster: 14:45 City
Dreamer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) 15:20 Sego
Success (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs
& 214 yards] There are
no runners of interest at Hereford. And on Sunday at Southwell: 12:55 Weyburn (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs 62 yards] 13:30
Midnight Chill (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Maiden Hurdle 14:35
Midnight Silver (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
(Qualifier) 15:05
Oscar Star (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle My
knitting project has been commenced ... but I’ve probably completed only a
quarter of it thus far ... |
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Thursday
14 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results from Taunton for my runners of
interest: Desiremoi D’Authie (Alan
King/Noel Fehily) finished 12th in the Novices’
Hurdle Qualifier [2 miles 104 yards] (14 ran). Canelo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the
Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier [2 miles 7 furlongs & 108 yards] (11 ran). Primo Blue
(Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 104 yards] (15 ran). Hidden
Cargo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 3 furlongs & 1 yard] (13 ran). Mr Muddle
(Gary Moore/Jamie Moore) finished 5th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 2
furlongs & 40 yards] (6 ran). Top Notch
won the Peterborough Chase, with Josses Hill as runner-up; a one-two for
trainer Nicky Henderson. Ptit Zig
completed in 3rd, with Vaniteux last; Max Ward was
a non-runner due to unsuitable ground. Warwick
was abandoned, as was Newcastle. Tomorrow’s
runners of interest are as follows: Cheltenham: 12:10
Spice Girl (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 13:55 Viking
Mistress (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Mares’ Handicap Chase
(Qualifier) Doncaster: 11:50
Cajun Fiddle (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase (Qualifier) [2
miles 3 furlongs & 31 yards] 13:35 Keep
In Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs
& 88 yards] 14:45 Stonecoldsoba (Denis Quinn/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Handicap Hurdle Bangor-on-Dee: 12:00
Champagne James (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – ‘Confined’ Novices’ Chase 14:20 Monbeg Theatre (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap
Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 32 yards] Today was
my ‘Friday’ and I’m looking forward
to having a little bit of a lie-in in the morning! However I mustn’t get complacent, as I’ve
not begun the second Christmas knitting project yet! |
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Wednesday
13 December 2017 |
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There is
one result to report today, on the all-weather at Lingfield Park: Ardamir (Laura Mongan/Fran Berry/ex-Apple
Tree Stud) finished 5th in the Handicap [1 mile 4 furlongs] (15 ran). The thaw
having set in, National Hunt racing returns tomorrow: Taunton: 12:00 Desiremoi D’Authie (Alan
King/Noel Fehily) – Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier [2
miles 104 yards] 13:05 Canelo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle
Qualifier [2 miles 7 furlongs & 108 yards] 13:35
Primo Blue (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 104
yards] 14:10
Hidden Cargo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3
furlongs & 1 yard] 15:15 Mr
Muddle (Gary Moore/Jamie Moore) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 2 furlongs & 40
yards] The
re-arranged and relocated Grade 2 Peterborough Chase takes place at 14:45;
five runners are scheduled to take part – Josses Hill, Top Notch, Vaniteux, Max Ward and Ptit Zig. Warwick: (this fixture is
subject to an 08:00 inspection; the going is heavy) 14:30 Blue
Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Gaving Sheehan) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] It rained
here yesterday evening and the ice and snow has almost disappeared ... I like
snow but I hate ice, so it is a relief.
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Tuesday
12 December 2017 |
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There are
no results to report from yesterday, as both Oscar Star and Rosa Damascena were non-runners at Fontwell Park. There is one
runner of interest tomorrow, on the all-weather at Lingfield Park: 13:00 Ardamir (Laura Mongan/Fran
Berry/ex-Apple Tree Stud) – Handicap [1 mile 4 furlongs] There’s
news regarding entries for Boxing Day’s King George VI Chase at Kempton Park: And
possible plans for EPDS Racing’s star performer Ami Desbois: I’ve
survived the icy conditions on the pavements thus far, although I chickened
out of walking to the station this morning and took the bus instead. The bad news was that I just missed two
buses in quick succession but the good news is that I didn’t have to pay for
my journey on the one I caught ... because the ticket machine wasn’t working;
I was in time to catch my usual train too.
That’s what I call a result! |
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Sunday
10 December 2017 |
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Our Reward ... in friendly ‘furry
pony’ mode whilst on the injury sidelines ... he’s due to be back in racecourse action in the spring |
Pride of Pemberley ... resting for the
season as a result of tendonitis |
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I was out
and about yesterday, starting with an early morning visit to Jamie Snowden’s
yard in Lambourn – I wanted to see Our Reward and,
especially, the beautiful Pride of Pemberley. And it wasn’t easy yesterday ... I
discovered, less than an hour before I left home, that the M4 motorway was
closed between junctions 12 and 13. I
was due to arrive at the yard by 08:00 but didn’t get there until 08:20 ... I
wasn’t the last, as the EPDS MD John Powell and his son arrived after
me. But I was more intrepid than some,
as the ‘party’ consisted of one of
Our Reward’s syndicate owners, me, John and son Alfie! Mind you, it was reported that around 25
EPDS members had trekked up to Wetherby instead, to
see Ami Desbois run. I understand four people who were expected
in Lambourn, didn’t make it. Personally,
I didn’t head via the M4, using the M40 instead, before driving down the A420
towards Swindon and into Lambourn from the other
direction! The journey took around 2¼
hours, rather than the usual 90 minutes ... it didn’t help that I got lost on
the Oxford southern bypass and ended up re-tracing my route to use the very
familiar northern bypass instead!
That’s the problem when I make a last-minute change without sufficient
research into the road layout; once again I had a brief 2-minute spell when I
wished I had a satnav ... but, as usual, that
desire soon passed. Instead of
returning directly home, I dropped in to visit my friend Denise in Caversham. So,
once again, my route would normally have taken me back via the M4 to
Reading. Instead I headed back via the
A420 and A417 to Wantage, then onwards to Blewbury and Streatley, before
heading over the Thames at Goring. I
had intended to continue via Cray’s Pond, but the road was closed with access
only; typical. Having turned around
within the car park at Goring station, I then headed through South Stoke and
North Stoke, to reach the A4074. I
could have cut through in order to reduce the distance but, not being
familiar with the back roads and especially with icy conditions, thought it
best to stick to the main thoroughfares.
In hindsight, Didcot and Wallingford would
have been a shorter route. Anyway, it
took me around two hours to travel from Lambourn to
Caversham, although I’m sure the A4 situation would
have been very bad too because of the motorway closure. Here are
yesterday’s results from around the country for my runners of interest: Sandown Park: Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Handicap
Hurdle (Qualifier) (8 ran); Alan’s 32nd winner of the season and Wayne’s 23rd winner of the season. An excellent result, as the mare hadn’t won
since Boxing Day 2015. Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl
Jacob) won the Henry
VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1) (5 ran).
He was absolutely brilliant; with both Capitaine
and Brain Power already beaten when they departed at the penultimate and
final fences respectively. Alan’s 33rd
winner of the
season. I think we can safely say that
Finian’s Oscar isn’t a two miler, as he trailed in
last behind North Hill Harvey. William H Bonney (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th and Fidux (Alan
King/Kevin Dowling) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle (Listed) [1 mile 7
furlongs & 216 yards] (11 ran). Fletchers Flyer (Harry Fry/Noel Fehily) finished 7th in the London National Handicap
Chase [3 miles 4 furlongs & 166 yards] (10 ran); Zack Baker, brother of
George, was noticeably delighted to win this race aboard the veteran Benbens. The Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase was won by Politologue, with Fox Norton as the runner-up. There was a very sad postscript to the
race, with Sir Valentino a fatality having fallen at the final fence. The fall appeared innocuous but, despite
the best efforts of the veterinary team, he didn’t recover. Connections remained with their horse
throughout the ordeal, including jockey Adrian Heskin
who missed his ride in the final race as a result.
RIP Sir Valentino Here are the Racing Post’s reports regarding
yesterday’s Tingle Creek Chase: And Sceau Royal’s
victory in the King Henry VIII Novices’ Chase: And a loose horse’s adventures having ‘escaped’ the confines of Sandown Park
yesterday: Meanwhile, at Wetherby: Ballina Lady (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished last in the
Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). Ami Desbois (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) won the Novices’ Chase (2
ran); due to the unsuitable ground, his main would-be rival Jonniesofa was a non-runner. Serpico (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [3
miles & 26 yards] (13 ran). A report about Tony Kelly’s amazing feat to
remain in the saddle and win at Wetherby aboard
Captain Mowbray: Aintree: Viva Steve (Fergal O’Brien/Jonathan Burke) was
pulled up in the Becher Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs]
(15 ran); he broke a blood vessel. Blaklion, ridden by Gavin Sheehan and, of course, trained
by Nigel Twiston-Davies, won the Beecher
Chase. Meanwhile, Gas Line Boy won the
Grand Sefton, again run over the Grand National
fences. And the online report, from Aintree: Renowned former trainer Peter Walwyn
passed away on Friday: I watched Jamie Snowden’s horses heading up the
Peter Walwyn gallop yesterday: I recall watching the famous Grundy vs Bustino battle in the 1975
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Diamond Stakes: We’d
missed the snow ... until today; 3 - 4 inches fell during the morning. Not looking forward to travelling to work
tomorrow, as I now not only have a 20 - 25 minute walk to the station,
there’s a train journey and a 5-minute walk at the other end too. I’ve ordered a pair of ‘stud attachments’ to wear over my snow-boots,
although the horse may already have bolted with regards to my safety in
dangerously icy conditions. The
thought of slipping over now fills me with dread, as my bones are becoming
more brittle due to my age and the fact I’ve also inherited the osteoporosis
gene.
Kelso
having already been lost, it will come as no surprise that Huntingdon was
also abandoned today. Highland
Reel won today’s Hong Kong Vase and has now been retired. Sizing
John made his seasonal debut today, with a win in the Grade 1 John Durkan Chase at Punchestown. Meanwhile, at Cork, Un De Sceaux won the Grade 2 Hilly Way Chase. There’s
due to be racing at Fontwell Park tomorrow and these
are my runners of interest: 13:45
Oscar Star (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) & Rosa Damascena
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) - Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle |
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Friday
08 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Exeter: Chosen Well
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3
furlongs & 48 yards] (5 ran). Lunar Flow
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 8th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 6
furlongs & 153 yards] (17 ran); all of the fences in the back straight (8
in total) were omitted due to low sun Sandown
Park: Lunar Flow
(Jamie Snowden/Ms Page Fuller) was a non-runner in the Amateur Riders’
Handicap Chase as he ran at Exeter!
However, 13-year-old Pete The Feat won this race! Here are tomorrow’s
runners of interest ... although nothing is guaranteed due to weather issues;
there are due to be a number of inspections. Sandown Park: 12:40 Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) 13:45 Sceau Royal (Alan
King/Daryl Jacob) – Henry VIII Novices’ Chase (Grade 1); his rivals are due
to be Brain Power, Capitaine, Finian’s
Oscar and North Hill Harvey. 14:20 William H Bonney
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Fidux (Alan
King/Kevin Dowling) – Handicap Hurdle (Listed) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 216
yards] 15:30 Fletchers Flyer (Harry Fry/Noel Fehily) – London National Handicap Chase [3 miles 4
furlongs & 166 yards] The Tingle Creek Chase takes place at 14:55, with
Ar Mad, Charbel, Fox
Norton, Politologue, San Benedeto
and Sir Valentino due to take part; Irish representative Ordinary World is a
doubtful runner. Meanwhile, there are also runners of interest at Wetherby: 11:45 Ballina Lady
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Novices’ Hurdle 12:15 Ami Desbois
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) –
Novices’ Chase; he stepping up to 2 miles 3 furlongs & 85 yards for his
second outing over the larger obstacles. 12:45 Serpico (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles
& 26 yards] Aintree: 13:30 Viva Steve (Fergal O’Brien/Jonathan Burke)
– Becher Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs] There’s also racing at Chepstow but no specific
runners of interest. And on Sunday,
again weather permitting, Huntingdon: 12:55 Telson Barley
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:00 Chatez (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 171 yards] 15:00 Sensulano (Noel
Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed) The Grade 2 Peterborough Chase is due to take place
at 14:30; declared are Josses Hill, Top Notch, Charbel
(also declared for the Tingle Creek Chase), God’s Own, Kylemore
Lough, Ptit Zig and Sire
De Grugy. It’s going
to be another busy weekend, so I may not have time to begin my second
Christmas knitting project ... oh dear, time is running out ... and I wonder
if it will snow in Hertfordshire on Sunday. |
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Thursday
07 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Leicester: Sporty
Yankee (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 3rd in the Conditional Jockeys’
Selling Hurdle (6 ran). Dahills Hill (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) unseated at the third flight in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Cup Of
Ambition (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 5th and Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Jack
Quinlan/EPDS Racing) won the Novices’ Handicap Chase (7 ran). ‘Casper’
is a very consistent type, having been placed 8 times in his last 11 runs
before today; this is his first win and so well deserved. Robin had a double at Leicester today, as Vocaliser won the 2-mile chase. Visage
Blanc (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished last
in the Handicap Hurdle (1 mile 7 furlongs & 113 yards] (8 ran). Market Rasen: Iona Days
(Julian Smith/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 5
furlongs & 89 yards] (7 ran). Just a
couple of runners of interest tomorrow, one of which is double-declared ... Exeter: 14:05
Chosen Well (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs
& 48 yards] 15:15
Lunar Flow (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 6 furlongs
& 153 yards] Sandown
Park: 12:50
Lunar Flow (Jamie Snowden/Ms Page Fuller) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase I feel
worn out this week ... or at least I have ever since I
route-marched to the station on Tuesday morning! I’m now wearing orthotic inserts in my
boots, hoping to rectify my fallen arches and reduce the pressure on my
bunion. My foot is hurting less, but
my legs, hips and back are now aching instead! I’m wondering if I need to engage
professional specialist assistance with this, as my doctor wasn’t
particularly helpful when consulted. |
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Wednesday
06 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Ludlow: Giveaway Glance
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (6
ran). Chequered
View (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 3rd and Hurricane Minnie (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th and Touch Of Velvett
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 9th in the
Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (13 ran). There’s
one further result today, from Newcastle on the all-weather: Zabeel Star (Karen McLintock/Tom
Eaves) finished 2nd in the Handicap [1 mile 4 furlongs & 98 yards] And
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Leicester: 13:10
Sporty Yankee (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Conditional Jockeys’ Selling
Hurdle 14:15 Dahills Hill (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 14:50 Cup
Of Ambition (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) & Dontminddboys
(Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS Racing) – Novices’
Handicap Chase 15:25
Visage Blanc (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) –
Handicap Hurdle (1 mile 7 furlongs & 113 yards] Market Rasen: 13:20 Iona
Days (Julian Smith/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 5 furlongs
& 89 yards]
RIP Crystal D’Ainay As it is
Wednesday, there’s a new edition of Weekender. Alan reveals that his former charge,
Crystal D’Ainay, passed away last Friday as a
result of the dreaded colic. The horse
had been enjoying his retirement with Alan’s PA Charlotte Burke. During this career, Crystal D’Ainay beat Hardy Eustace in Cheltenham’s Cleeve Hurdle and finished 3rd in the Stayers’
Hurdle too. Alan
reports that Yanworth is currently on antibiotics
having returned from Newbury with a couple of over-reaches; they hope to have
him back in action over Christmas or the New Year – it hasn’t been decided if
he will continue at 2½ miles or step up to 3 miles. Having
discussed plans for Dusky Legend with her owners, it has been decided that
she’ll revert back to hurdles – their view is that she’s too small to make a
chaser. She needed stitches in a cut
under her eye following Friday’s fall, so they’ll take their time with her
and hope she’ll make it back to the Cheltenham Festival having been placed in
the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle for the past couple of years. Valdez is
still on track to return to racecourse action, in the New Year. It’s a
small world ... I was minding my own business, waiting on the platform for a
train to work this morning when who should walk by but my old friend
Mark! I’ve not seen him since, maybe,
2008 or 2009. Coincidently, he’s also
working in Luton at the present time. |
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Tuesday
05 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Southwell: Skipthecuddles (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 5th and Tara View (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 7
furlongs & 209 yards] (13 ran). Lingfield Park: Another
Crick (Noel Williams/Thomas Garner) finished 2nd and Mystical Clouds (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) finished 4th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (All weather)
(7 ran). Kalahari Queen (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the Mares’ Novices’
Hurdle (9 ran); Jamie’s 16th winner of the season Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest at Ludlow: 13:30 Giveaway
Glance (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 15:40
Chequered View (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) & Hurricane Minnie (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Touch Of Velvett
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Mares’ Standard
Open NH Flat Race I’ve more
or less finished drafting the top and tail of my Newbury diary, so that can
be put on the back-burner whilst I continue with my outstanding Christmas
knitting project. I also
wrapped a number of Christmas presents this evening; I really don’t enjoy
wrapping presents! |
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Monday
04 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Plumpton: Havisham (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 5th in
the Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). It’s Fine
Wine (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 4th
and Samson The Man (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (14 ran). And
tomorrow: Southwell: 13:50 Skipthecuddles (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) & Tara View (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle
(Qualifier) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 209 yards] Lingfield Park: 13:00
Another Crick (Noel Williams/Thomas Garner) & Mystical Clouds (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) – Standard Open NH Flat Race (All weather) 13:30
Kalahari Queen (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Willy Twiston-Davies
has decided to retire from race-riding and will be concentrating on
bloodstock before taking over the training operation when his dad
retires. I spotted Willy and brother Sam in the Parade Ring
at Newbury on Saturday:
I understand that Coneygree
is due to undergo a breathing operation this week: https://www.racingpost.com/news/coneygree-could-be-facing-wind-operation-after-ladbrokes-trophy-flop/310783 |
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Sunday
03 December 2017 |
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Winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy Total Recall trained by Willie Mullins and ridden by Paul Townend Needless to
say, I was disappointed with the result of yesterday’s feature race at
Newbury! It’s such a shame that
Whisper couldn’t quite hold on to win ... was it or was it not, a result of
the infamous 4lb penalty for winning the graduation chase at Kempton Park
early last month? Evidently Smad Place had taken the same route to the Hennessy in
2015 but without a penalty due to the vagaries of the calendar! Newbury: Different Gravey (Polly
Gundry/Wayne Hutchinson) unseated at the 13th fence (cross fence) in the Sir
Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase [2 miles 6
furlongs & 93 yards] (12 ran). Coeur De Lion (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) finished
11th and Dino Velvet (Alan King/Brendan Powell) finished 5th in the Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 118 yards] (12 ran). Cosmeapolitan (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) finished a close-up last in the Intermediate Limited Handicap Hurdle
(aka the Gerry Feilden Hurdle) (Listed) [2 miles
& 69 yards] (7 ran). Label Des Obeaux (Alan
King/David Mullins) was pulled up after the 16th fence in the Ladbrokes
Trophy (Grade 3) [3 miles 1 furlong & 214 yards] (20 ran). Having been stood-down following his unseat from
Different Gravey, Wayne Hutchinson was replaced by
Tom Bellamy aboard Cosmeapolitan and by Grand
National winning jockey David Mullins aboard Label Des Obeaux. I knew there was an issue when I heard a
broadcast announcement asking Alan King to report to the Weighing Room ...
and I also had a strong suspicion that it would be David Mullins who would
take the ride in the feature race, his original mount Pleasant Company having
been declared a non-runner. David
often visits these shores to ride horses owned by Michael Buckley, such as
Brain Power who won at Kempton Park on Monday. Here is the post-race report, from the Racing
Post: Doncaster: Deyrann De Carjac (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 3rd in the NH
Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (8 ran); Amy Murphy’s Kalashnikov won, with Emma
Lavelle’s Irish Prophecy finishing in runner-up spot. It was a hot race! Lord Huntingdon (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished
6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 128 yards] (8 ran). Paddys Runner (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 6th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 88 yards] (10 ran). Bangor-on-Dee: Stylist Moment (Alan King/David Bass) finished
6th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (10 ran). Meanwhile Buveur D’Air strolled away with the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth
Hurdle: There were
runners of interest at Leicester today and this is how
they fared: Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/Kielan
Woods/EPDS Racing) finished 6th and Primo Blue (Noel Williams/Tom Bellamy)
finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 110 yards] (15
ran). Meanwhile,
The Romford Pele won the Veterans’ Chase.
Kielan Woods replaced the sidelined Wayne Hutchinson
aboard the EPDS runner today. Wayne
also missed a winning chase ride aboard the Donald McCain-trained Kilronan Castle. There are
three runners of interest tomorrow, at Plumpton: 14:10 Havisham (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:40 It’s
Fine Wine (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) &
Samson The Man (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Intermediate Open NH Flat
Race Despite
still feeling that I need to catch up on my sleep, even bearing in mind that
I could afford to lie in for the past week, I was up at 06:20 this
morning. There’s no rest for the
wicked. I’ve begun
drafting my Newbury diary, I’ve washed my mum’s car, I’ve put up the majority
of my Christmas decorations, done my washing, watched the racing from
Carlisle and Leicester, written this blog and am now flagging once more! |
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Friday
01 December 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Newbury: Second Time Around (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
6th in the National Hunt Maiden Hurdle (13 ran). Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell 2
out in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (5 ran); she was travelling okay
at the time and, fortunately, appeared to be fine following her mishap. Yanworth (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (5
ran). At present, the winner
Willoughby Court appears to be more of a natural jumper than Yanworth; today’s distance of approximately 2½ miles also
suited him better. Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O’Neill/Aidan
Coleman) finished 3rd in the Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2) (6 ran). The race was won by the 40-1 outsider Beer
Goggles for trainer Richard Woollacott and jockey
Richard Johnson. Unowhatimeanharry
was 2nd and Thistlecrack a disappointing 5th on his
comeback run. Beneficial Joe (Graeme McPherson/Noel Fehily) finished 10th and Beneagles
(Wayne Hutchinson/Alan King) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 52
yards] (11 ran). Doncaster: Talkischeap (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 4th and My Charity (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods/ex-EPDS Racing syndicated horse) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier) (11 ran). Peggies Venture (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd and Rio Bravo (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 5th in the Novices’ Handicap
Hurdle (11 ran). Hey Bill (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 4th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (8 ran). Delirious Love (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 10th in the Standard NH Flat Race (Conditional
Jockeys and Amateur Riders) (11 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Newbury: 13:20 Different Gravey
(Polly Gundry/Wayne Hutchinson) – Sir Peter O’Sullevan
Memorial Handicap Chase [2 miles 6 furlongs & 93 yards] 13:50 Coeur De Lion (Alan King/Kevin Dowling)
& Dino Velvet (Alan King/Brendan Powell) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4
furlongs & 118 yards] 14:25 Cosmeapolitan
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Intermediate Limited Handicap Hurdle (aka the
Gerry Feilden Hurdle) (Listed) [2 miles & 69
yards] 15:00 Label Des Obeaux
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Ladbrokes Trophy (Grade 3) [3 miles 1 furlong
& 214 yards] ... formerly the Hennessy Gold Cup Doncaster: 12:05 Deyrann De Carjac (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – NH Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier); he takes on Emma Lavelle’s hot-pot Irish Prophecy. 13:15 Lord Huntingdon (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 128 yards] 14:20 Paddys Runner
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 3 furlongs & 88 yards] Bangor-on-Dee: 15:45 Stylist Moment (Alan King/David Bass) –
Standard Open NH Flat Race Meanwhile, Buveur D’Air takes on Flying Tiger, Irving, Katgary
and Mirsaale in Newcastle’s Grade 1 Fighting Fifth
Hurdle. I’ve not seen any snow whatsoever, not even a
flurry. But you can tell the weather
has become a lot colder because the back of my hands are now sore; it’s
probably because I had wet hands for prolonged periods whilst gardening
earlier in the week. Where’s my hand
cream? I’m actually useless when it
comes to keeping my hands moisturised, because I don’t want them to be greasy
when I knit, etc. Talking of knitting, I’ve finally finished the
scarf I was knitting. J |
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