AUGUST 2009

Monday 31 August 2009

Choc rode at Huntingdon today and, as it was a Bank Holiday, I decided to take a trip to the fixture too.

Unfortunately it was not one of his most successful days, as all his rides finished unplaced:

Choctaw Nation finished 8th in Division I of the Maiden Hurdle (12 ran)

King’s Jester finished 9th in the 2 mile 110 yard Handicap Hurdle (14 ran)

Tully Cross finished 12th in the 3 mile 2 furlong Handicap Hurdle (17 ran)

It was a shame that he didn’t visit the Winners’ Enclosure today, but I did take a few photos:

http://www.choc-thorntons-super-fan.co.uk/PHOTOS%20HUNTINGDON%2031%20AUGUST%2009.htm

Tomorrow Choc is scheduled to be at Newton Abbot, where he has two rides:

15:40 Carrolls Cross - Novices’ Hurdle (PA Roche)

16:40 Island Oscar – NH Flat Race (PA Roche)

Choc and Meally are hoping to take their honeymoon in September too.

Sunday 30 August 2009

I have news of Choc’s riding engagements at Huntingdon tomorrow (Bank Holiday), all for Northern Irish trainer Jimmy Lambe:

15:20 Choctaw Nation – Maiden Hurdle (Div I)

17:05 King’s Jester – Handicap Hurdle – 2 miles 110 yards

17:40 Tully Cross – Handicap Hurdle - 3 miles 2 furlongs

The weather forecast for Huntingdon is for sunny intervals tomorrow ... so it could be a nice day out, provided the sun-screen is slapped on! Although the weekend has been mainly sunny in Hertfordshire, it has definitely been feeling autumnal for the past couple of days L. But, looking on the bright side, it is only 6 weeks until the main National Hunt season kicks off!!! J

And, finally, wishing my sister-in-law Anita a Very Happy Birthday. Anita is married to my brother Nick, and my niece Lydia is their daughter. Anita accompanied me to Day 3 of this year’s Cheltenham Festival too.

http://www.choc-thorntons-super-fan.co.uk/DIARY%20-%20CHELTENHAM%2012%20MARCH%202009.htm

Saturday 29 August 2009

I watched the racing from Cartmel this afternoon, as two of Martin Keighley’s horses were competing:

Benbane Head finished a distant 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle (10 ran). The going was soft, possibly heavy in the back straight and, of course, the track is tight. The race was won on the line by Dunaskin, who has been campaigning on the flat this summer. I recall Choc bumped his head when he was unseated at Leicester last December by today’s winner. Dunaskin almost threw away this race too, with a blunder at the last.

Any Currency also finished 3rd in the Beginners’ Chase. He jumped well on his first course appearance over fences (8 ran).

No National Hunt racing in the UK tomorrow, Sunday.

Friday 28 August 2009

Choc had 4 rides at Ffos Las this afternoon, and this is how he fared:

Victory Parade finished 4th in the Novices’ Hurdle (15 ran)

Izita Star finished 13th in the Handicap Hurdle (17 ran)

Broadway Allstar completed in 7th in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (13 ran)

Irish Elk finished 11th in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (15 ran)

The feature Steeplechase was raided by Irish trainer Gordon Elliott, with Backstage winning under Tom Scudamore. Top weight Snoopy Loopy was pulled up before the last obstacle. The trouble with a horse like Snoopy running in a race of this nature is that it pushes down the weights to be carried by his competitors. As a result, jockeys like Choc (and AP) can’t get a ride in the race as they are too heavy, with most of the horses running off the minimum of 10 stone!

Ruby Walsh won the first race today, and AP rode a treble.

Two of Martin Keighley’s charges are travelling up to quaint and quirky Cartmel for tomorrow’s fixture:

14:10 Benbane Head – Maiden Hurdle

14:40 Any Currency – Beginners’ Chase

Both horses will be piloted by Warren Marston.

Choc has no riding engagements tomorrow. And will it be Alan King’s Owners’ Open Day at Barbury Castle on Sunday? If so, Choc would be in attendance. And there’s racing at Cartmel and Huntingdon on Bank Holiday Monday.

It’s just gone 19:00 and we have a thunderstorm overhead! But, luckily, the forecast for the weekend is very good in Hertfordshire J.

Thursday 27 August 2009

It’s Ffos Las’ Official Opening tomorrow afternoon, and Choc has 4 rides scheduled:

14:10 Victory Parade – Novices’ Hurdle (Rebecca Curtis)

15:55 Izita Star – Handicap Hurdle (Mrs ALM King)

16:55 Broadway Allstar – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (VT Keane)

17:25 Irish Elk - Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Coln A Murphy)

I notice that Richard Johnson retains the ride aboard Quivvy Bridge in the 16:55, having won aboard the mare at Stratford a couple of weeks ago. Both Ruby Walsh and Barry Geraghty will be in action at the track tomorrow, as is David Casey aboard a number of Charlie Swan runners. And Snoopy Loopy, owned by Dai Walters (the owner of Ffos Las) is back in action in the £50,000 Steeplechase event at 16:25.

Both of my nieces received their GCSE results today – Kim (my younger brother Neil’s daughter) gained 5 A*’s and 6 A’s; and Lydia (my older brother’s daughter) gained an equal amount of C’s and D’s (which is the equivalent of ‘O’ Level Grade C and CSE Grade 2 and I’ve got a number of those and still went on to attain a 2:2 Honours Degree in Computer Science!). So many congratulations to Kim and Lydia.

And finally wishing my brother Neil a Happy Birthday for today too.

Tuesday 25 August 2009

Choc was at Sedgefield this afternoon to ride two Jimmy Lambe trained horses.

Friendly Giant finished a tailed off 9th in the 2 mile 1 furlong Novices’ Hurdle (11 ran).

Sad news regarding Come Back to Me who ran in the 2 miles 4 furlongs Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Having bucked and kicked on his way to the start, and at the beginning of the race too, he ran disappointingly to finished 4th. After completing, Choc obviously knew the horse was distressed, as he dismounted to lead the animal back to the course exit point. But before he reached it, Come Back to Me collapsed and died of a suspected haemorrhage.

Choc seems to have been dogged by misfortune for the past few days. L But at least Choc has returned safe from all these mishaps.

The next National Hunt meeting is Ffos Las on Friday afternoon, which is the official opening too. Hopefully on Thursday I’ll have news of rides.

I’m a fan of Strictly Come Dancing and the 16 competitors were announced today ... with a National Hunt interest too in the shape of Richard Dunwoody! The other 15 competitors are:

Joe Calzaghe (Boxer)

Lynda Bellingham (Actress)

Rav Wilding (TV Presenter)

Natalie Cassidy (Actress)

Ricky Whittle (Actor - Hollyoaks)

Martina Hingis (Retired Tennis Player)

Craig Kelly (Actor)

Jade Johnson (Athlete)

Chris Hollins (Sports Presenter)

Ali Bastin (Actress – The Bill)

Laila Rouass (Actress – Footballers’ Wives)

Ricky Groves (Actor – Eastenders)

Zoe Lucker (Actress)

Phil Tufnell (Retired Cricketer)

Jo Wood (Model and Entrepreneur, estranged wife of Ronnie Wood)

The show starts on Friday 18th September, with a further edition on Saturday 19th September.

Monday 24 August 2009

Choc will be travelling to Sedgefield tomorrow, where he has 2 rides for Northern Irish trainer Jimmy Lambe.

14:15 Friendly Giant – Novices’ Hurdle (2 miles 1 furlong)

15:45 Come Back to Me – Novices’ Hurdle (2 miles 4 furlongs)

That’s a journey of 225 miles each way! Let’s hope he gains some reward ...

Sunday 23 August 2009

An unlucky day for Choc and mixed fortunes for the Alan King stable.

Ceasen Desist was pulled up before 2 out in the Novices’ Chase (5 ran). Alan King’s horse, ridden by Jack Doyle (whose father retains an interest in the horse), won the event at 3-1, beating the Paul Nicholls favourite Just Amazing.

In the feature event (Handicap Hurdle), Santia fell at the penultimate flight when definitely still in with a chance against the David Pipe trained winner Raslan (17 ran). Star of Germany, also trained by David Pipe, took yesterday’s feature event. A very successful weekend for the trainer. Choc and Santia were both fine after their mishap.

Cloak of Silence finished 5th in the NH Flat Race Div I (10 ran).

Alan King’s Sadler’s Star also fell 2 out in the Conditional Jockeys’ Maiden Hurdle. The horse and his jockey, Gerard Tumelty, were okay.

The next National Hunt fixtures are Sedgefield on Tuesday afternoon, and then Ffos Las on Friday afternoon (which is their official opening).

Saturday 22 August 2009

As I’ve been out all day I’ve checked Choc’s Newton Abbot results on the internet, and talk about the ups and downs of horse racing.

Rathrockscourt won the Selling Hurdle, giving Choc his 18th winner of the season (12 ran).

Piano Star was a non-runner in the Handicap Chase (Listed)

According to the race notes, Golden Hare became short of room and slipped and fell approaching the fifth flight in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle; I presume that Double Spectre was also affected and unshipped his rider in the same incident (13 ran). Fortunately Choc was okay after this mishap, as he then went on to ride in the 16:45.

The Tinker Murray was pulled up before the ninth obstacle having made jumping errors in the Handicap Hurdle (17 ran).

Tomorrow is the second day of the Newton Abbot fixture, and Choc is scheduled for 3 rides:

14:30 Ceasen Desist – Novices’ Chase (S Donohoe). Alan King runs his own King Troy in this race, ridden by usual pilot Jack Doyle.

15:00 Santia – Handicap Hurdle (Alan King)

16:30 Cloak of Silence – NH Flat Race Div I (Mrs D Hamer)

Another Alan King runner, Sadler’s Star, is engaged in the Conditional Jockeys’ Maiden Hurdle, Gerard Tumelty taking the ride.

I’ve had a wonderful day out in Eastbourne, my friend Fay and I meeting up with our ex-work colleague, Angy, and her daughter Rebecca (below). We went for lunch at a local ice-cream parlour, where I ordered a ‘Casablanca’ ice cream as my dessert (it contained chocolate and lots of cream) and then we went for a walk along the seafront. It was a beautiful sunny day, with just the right amount of sea breeze!

Our journey took us via Brighton, and I couldn’t resist visiting one of my favourite bead shops en route http://www.beadsunlimited.co.uk/ as they sell my favourite glass beads – very useful for a beading fanatic like me! And that wasn’t the end of my bead purchasing as, on the way back to Eastbourne station, we discovered another bead shop where I bought a few more beads!!!

The remainder of my evening will be set aside for watching the video of tapes of today’s races at Newton Abbot!

Friday 21 August 2009

Choc has 4 rides booked at Newton Abbot tomorrow afternoon:

14:30 Rathrockscourt – Selling Hurdle (Aidan Howard)

15:05 Piano Star – Handicap Chase (Listed) (Michael Cunningham)

15:40 Golden Hare – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Aidan Howard)

16:45 The Tinker Murray – Handicap Hurdle (Aidan Howard)

Trainer Aidan Howard hails from County Meath in Ireland, and Irish-based Michael Cunningham is famous for training For Auction to win the 1982 Champion Hurdle.

Ruby Walsh has a couple of rides for Paul Nicholls at tomorrow’s fixture (Roby De Cimbre in the 15:05 and Sizing Asia in the 16:15).

Christian Williams takes over the ride on the Peter Bowen trained Coq Hardi in the 15:05 Listed Handicap Chase, Choc’s last 2 rides aboard the horse having been disappointing. Perhaps Christian will get a better tune out of the horse!

As mentioned yesterday, I will be visiting Eastbourne tomorrow ... but I will definitely set my video tape to record the Newton Abbot fixture so that I can watch the racing when I get home!

Thursday 20 August 2009

It was Ladies Evening at Fontwell Park ... and the old ‘Premier’ grandstand is no more, having been demolished to make way for a new £6.5 million re-development. It was a sunny evening, but very windy near the south coast!

With 5 rides, this is how Choc fared:

Another frustrating run from Black Jacari, who finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran).

Potemkin was pulled up before the last in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (11 ran).

Tosula was pulled up before 4 out in the Handicap Chase (12 ran).

I’m A Legend finished 4th in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (8 ran).

John Charles was rewarded with a 3rd place in the Handicap Hurdle, Choc having worked hard aboard his mount from the off (11 ran).

Oh well, no winners but at least there were 5 riding fees, plus a little place money!

No National Hunt racing tomorrow. There’s Newton Abbot on Saturday afternoon, and Market Rasen on Saturday evening, then the second day of the Newton Abbot meeting on Sunday afternoon. No news of any weekend riding engagements for Choc yet, although he has one provisional ride already booked at Sedgefield for next Tuesday!

My friend Fay and I will be travelling to the south coast on Saturday to visit our friend Angy, who lives in Eastbourne with her husband Alex and baby daughter Rebecca. We’ve not had the opportunity to meet up with Angy since last Autumn, so it will be the first time we’ve met Rebecca, as she was born on Grand National Day, 4 April 2009. I’m so looking forward to our trip. I’ll take my camera, so hopefully will have some pictures for my blog too.

Wednesday 19 August 2009

Choc will be riding at Fontwell Park tomorrow evening. He has 5 rides scheduled, which means he’s booked for every race apart from the ladies only event!!!

17:05 Black Jacari – Novices’ Hurdle (Alan King)

17:40 Potemkin – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Alan King)

18:15 Tosula – Handicap Chase (Neil Mulholland)

19:20 I’m A Legend – Novices’ Handicap Chase ( Neil Mulholland)

19:50 John Charles – Handicap Hurdle (Ben de Haan)

Following today’s beautiful weather, there is a band of rain moving in from the west, but Fontwell Park currently looks set for a fine evening tomorrow.

Tuesday 18 August 2009

Choc was in action at Worcester this evening and this is how he fared:

Victory Parade opened as a 33-1 shot backed down to 18-1 and won the Novices’ Hurdle! Running prominently from the off and, despite having run in point-to-points, it didn’t look promising over the first obstacle (brush hurdles) as the horse made a mistake and Choc had to regain one of his irons. He wasn’t too fluent over the next couple either. Having led between the 6th and 9th, he was overtaken by the first and second favourites and it looked as if he would have to settle for 3rd place. But Choc galvanised him into action up the home straight and went on to win by 5 lengths (9 ran). Choc’s 17th winner of the season. J

His second mount of the night, Rapide Plaisir, finished 5th in the Handicap Chase (9 ran).

Jockey Donal Fahy will be out of action for a week or two, having broken a collarbone when The Snail fell in the Handicap Chase.

The next National Hunt action will be on Thursday, when Stratford Upon Avon hold an afternoon fixture and Fontwell Park an evening meeting.

Meally’s much awaited first post-wedding Eclipse diary appeared today. She tells us all about their special day (the celebrations lasted 3 days), and there are a number of photos too ... the bride looks very beautiful and the groom is very handsome too! Here is the link:

http://thenagwagdiaries.wordpress.com/2009/08/18/the-nagwag-diaries-18-august-2009/

Monday 17 August 2009

Choc is scheduled to be in action at Worcester tomorrow evening, where he has 2 rides:

18:10 Victory Parade – Novices’ Hurdle (Miss R Curtis)

19:40 Rapide Plaisir – Handicap Chase (Richard Lee)

There’s been more news regarding Jamie Moore, who was injured when his mount Marsam fell at Southwell yesterday. He suffered a displaced fracture of his right ankle and is expected to be in plaster for 6 weeks. Being a close-knit community in the Weighing Room, AP McCoy travelled to the hospital after racing to spend time with his injured colleague. Here’s wishing Jamie a speedy recovery.

Sunday 16 August 2009

Unfortunately there was carnage in the first two steeplechases at Southwell today. Only 4 of 8 completed the first race; and 3 of 8 the second race. Sadly one of Tim Vaughan’s horses had to be destroyed. And a couple of the jockeys were in the wars too – Richard Johnson gave up his remaining rides having fallen aboard the ill-fated Burgess Hill in the first, and Jamie Moore suffered a lower leg injury when Marsam fell in the second event. AP was unseated during both of the first two races, and Choc’s first mount fell too. Fortunately both Choc and AP were okay, and I presume the other ‘fallen’ jockeys were too. AP went on to ride a double on the card.

So here are more details of Choc’s races:

Emerald Wilderness fell at the final obstacle in the Novices’ Chase having been 2nd in running following the departures of both Marsam and Noticeable at the penultimate fence. He had already made jumping errors and was well held at the time (8 ran).

Aconitum didn’t jump particularly fluently in the ‘NH’ Novices’ Hurdle and finished a distant 6th (10 ran).

The next National Hunt fixture will be held at Worcester on Tuesday evening.

And wishing Belinda Keighley a happy birthday today and I hope she, Freddie and Martin enjoyed their day out at Longleat.

Saturday 15 August 2009

So how did Choc fare in Lincolnshire today?

Sadler’s Star finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle, running much better than his last appearance over hurdles at Southwell, but he had no chance with the winner today (10 ran).

Tomorrow Choc has 2 rides at nearby Southwell:

14:50 Emerald Wilderness – Novices’ Chase (Alan King).

Former stable-mate Noticeable, now trained by Andy Haynes, also runs in this race.

15:50 Aconitum – ‘NH’ Novices’ Hurdle (Neil Mulholland)

There’s news regarding last Wednesday’s charity cricket match, Adlestrop vs. Richard Phillips’ XI. The latter team triumphed this year, with team stalwart Warren Marston receiving a special mention for his excellent bowling!

http://www.richardphillipsracing.com/stable_news.html

And last but not least, many happy returns of the day to my friend Lesley ... who is ?? today!

Friday 14 August 2009

As Alan King has one runner at Market Rasen, early evening tomorrow, Choc will be riding there.

18:10 Sadler’s Star – Novices’ Hurdle

Choc originally had a couple of engagements tomorrow afternoon at Bangor On Dee but, as it takes over 3 hours to drive from there to Market Rasen, there would have been insufficient time to reach the latter venue by 18:10!

And here is a picture of Martin Keighley’s Hareem in the Parade Ring at Stratford yesterday evening:

Choc has a couple of riding engagements at Southwell on Sunday, and I’ll give details of those tomorrow.

Thursday 13 August 2009

As it was a warm sunny day and Choc had 4 rides booked at Stratford, I decided to take a trip to the races. I wasn’t the only one, as Meally came along to the meeting to support her hubby too. However, there was no camel racing!

And this is how Choc fared this evening:

Danetime Panther won the Novices’ Hurdle, giving Choc his 16th winner of the season (15 ran).

Stepchange didn’t jump fluently and was pulled up in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (14 ran).

Trotsky finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase, having looked like the winner when jumping the last. The horse does not respond to the whip, as he just swishes his tail and tries to pull himself up! (8 ran).

Rhinestone Ruby finished 7th in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran).

I omitted to mention that Martin Keighley had a runner at Stratford today too, with Hareem finishing 9th of 17 (although tailed off) in the Handicap Hurdle. The race was marred by the death of Richard Johnson’s mount, Something Inside, which broke its neck when falling heavily at the 2nd last flight when challenging for the lead. Fortunately Richard was fine, and recorded a victory aboard Jimmy Lamb’s Quivvy Bridge in the last event, the race in which Choc had chosen to ride Rhinestone Ruby.

No National Hunt racing tomorrow ... but there is a busy programme over the weekend – Bangor on Dee on Saturday afternoon, Market Rasen on Saturday evening, and Southwell on Sunday.

Wednesday 12 August 2009

I’ve been suffering from blog withdrawal symptoms for the past few days ... and it’s great to have news of Choc’s return to the saddle following his wedding last weekend. Having read trainer Martin Keighley’s blog, it sounds like it was quite some wedding party and went on for hours and hours and hours!!!

Choc will be riding at Stratford tomorrow evening, where he has the following rides:

17:40 Danetime Panther – Novices’ Hurdle (Ian Williams)

18:40 Stepchange - Novices’ Handicap Chase (JJ Lambe)

19:40 Trotsky – Handicap Chase (JJ Lambe)

20:10 Rhinestone Ruby – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Neil Mulholland)

There’s a note in the 19 July Stratford race-card to say that there will be a chance to participate in the BBC’s Blue Peter programme prior to tomorrow evening’s racing, as the filming of a camel race is due to take place at the course at around 16:40. I wonder if a number of the jockeys (and Choc of course) will come out onto the course to watch too?

I’ve not found any definitive information as to whether Choc was a member of trainer Richard Phillips’ Invitational Cricket XI, when they played their annual charity match against Adlestrop this afternoon. He’s played in the past, including last year, but perhaps I’ll find out in due course ...

Saturday 08 August 2009 – Y Y Y CHOC AND MEALLY’S WEDDING DAY Y Y Y

No more sleeps to go ... the big day is finally here. And it’s a beautifully sunny day too!

Choc and his fiancée Meally get married today, at their local village church in Guiting Power.

Many congratulations to the happy couple and may they have a long and happy future together.

I’m looking forward to reading all about the event in the next instalment of Meally’s Eclipse diary.

And, hopefully, the low-down on the evening reception in Martin Keighley’s blog too!

http://www.martinkeighleyracing.com/Martins_blog.php

Thursday 06 August 2009

Just a couple of days to go until Choc and Meally’s wedding on Saturday and, as Meally promised last week, her next and much awaited diary blog has appeared on the Eclipse website today and it looks like they will be fortunate with the weather too:

http://thenagwagdiaries.wordpress.com/

Not surprisingly, and with just 24 hours to go, Choc won’t be riding at Worcester tomorrow afternoon!

Wednesday 05 August 2009

I received a lovely surprise today – a card signed by Richard Dunwoody thanking me for my donation in connection with his recent 1,000 mile fundraising walk in Newmarket. I sent my donation via Belinda and Martin Keighley, who accompanied Richard on a leg of his walk on Monday 29 June 2009. http://www.martinkeighleyracing.com/Martins_blog.php

I shall store the card with my ever-growing collection of horseracing memorabilia. J

Tuesday 04 August 2009

More dire summer weather ... Chepstow’s flat-race card was abandoned after their second race due to the arrival of unexpected rain, causing the going to be changed to heavy with some water-logging. The rain was not confined to the west country, as Catterick was abandoned too, after 5 races.

Newton Abbot was again wet and murky.

Choc’s only ride of the afternoon, Black Mogul, finished a very tired 4th in the Selling Hurdle, flattening the second last flight and just clambering over the last (10 ran).

There was carnage in the 16:00 when one horse fell at the second last flight, bringing down 3 others in the process. Fortunately all horses and jockeys were fine after the incident. I think that’s the third time I’ve seen a multiple pile-up at Newton Abbot races this summer.

The next National Hunt fixture is Worcester on Friday.

I was doing a Google search late yesterday and discovered Choc was scheduled to take part in the annual Jockeys’ High Jump Challenge at the Bicester and Finmere Show last Saturday. Now I know about this event, I must remember it for next year!

http://www.buckinghamtoday.co.uk/local/Top-riders-the-at-50th.5491718.jp

I think it’s fabulous that Choc takes part in lots of different events ... I just wish I found out about more of them before they had already happened!

However, I have discovered that trainer Richard Phillips is holding his annual Charity Cricket Match next Wednesday, the 12th August ... and I wonder if Choc will be taking part? Although Choc is getting married on Saturday, I recall reading in his Horse and Hound column earlier this year that he expected to be back in riding action next week (Tuesday?), saving his honeymoon until a little later in the year. Martin Keighley’s stable jockey, Warren Marston, is a regular member of the Richard Phillips Cricket XI. http://www.richardphillipsracing.com/adlestropclub.latestnews.html

The weather is expected to improve by next week, but let’s hope it’s nice for Choc and Meally’s wedding on Saturday too.

Monday 03 August 2009

So how did Choc fare at a wet and murky Newton Abbot today?

Garafena was pulled up in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (6 ran).

Rapide Plaisir finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle (10 ran).

Tomorrow is the second day of the Newton Abbot meeting and Choc has just one ride scheduled:

15:00 Black Mogul – Selling Hurdle (Reg Hollinshead)

Sunday 02 August 2009

The start of a new month, and I’ve decided to add a wedding theme ... as it’s now less than a week until Choc and Meally’s big day on Saturday 8th August! Meally has been keeping everyone up to date with the preparations in her fortnightly Eclipse blog: http://thenagwagdiaries.wordpress.com/

Choc was riding at Market Rasen this afternoon, and this is how he fared:

Stepping up in trip, Black Jacari finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle.

Dipity Doo Dah was a non-runner in the NH Flat Race.

The fixture appeared to have attracted a good crowd ... I attended on the equivalent day last year, when I took my first ever trip to Market Rasen.

Martin Keighley’s Sky Calling was withdrawn from the Handicap Hurdle at 15:40, due to the change in going. http://www.martinkeighleyracing.com/Martins_blog.php

Tomorrow afternoon Choc will be at Newton Abbot, where he has 2 rides scheduled, both for Richard Lee:

16:00 Garafena – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle

16:30 Rapide Plaisir – Handicap Hurdle