AUGUST 2018

What’s new this month?

12 August 2018 – Cheltenham Festival Day 4 Diary (16 March 2018)

11 August 2018 – Cheltenham Festival Day 3 Diary (15 March 2018)

10 August 2018 – Cheltenham Festival Day 2 Diary (14 March 2018)

08 August 2018 – Cheltenham Festival Day 1 Diary (13 March 2018)

05 August 2018 – Royal Ascot Diary (21 June 2018)

05 August 2018 – Newmarket – visit to the National Stud and Palace House Diary (24 July 2018)

04 August 2018 – Photographs taken at Newmarket – National Stud and Palace House (24 July 2018)

02 August 2018 – Butlers Farm – An Alpaca Experience Diary (29 July 2018)

02 August 2018 – Photographs taken at Butlers Farm – An Alpaca Experience (29 July 2018)

Thursday 30 August 2018
There’s a winner to report today, at Fontwell Park: Mercers Court (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 210 yards] (6 ran); Wayne’s 20th winner of the season. Meanwhile, at Bellewstown, Miles To Memphis finished 8th in a Handicap Hurdle (13 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Bangor-on-Dee: 14:20 Shady Glen (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Chase [3 miles & 30 yards] Hamilton: 18:55 Zabeel Star (Karen McLintock/T Hamilton) – Handicap [1 mile 4 furlongs & 15 yards]
Wednesday 29 August 2018
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest, at Worcester: Enforcement (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 5th and Royal Household (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Juvenile Hurdle (10 ran). Another Drama (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 10th in the Maiden Hurdle (14 ran). Peggies Venture (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). There is one runner of interest tomorrow, at Fontwell Park: 18:05 Mercers Court (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 210 yards] I also note that Miles To Memphis is due to run in a Handicap Hurdle at Bellewstown tomorrow; off time 18:10. Bath racecourse has been given the go-ahead to resume racing, on 05 September, having been forced to abandon a number of fixtures in recent weeks because it has no watering facilities. I’ve more or less completed the draft of Monday’s stable visit diary J Here’s another photo taken during said visit – this lovely old gentleman, Grand Vision, has been enjoying a massage!
Tuesday 28 August 2018
There was no blog yesterday as it had been a busy day ... visiting Colin Tizzard’s Open Day in Somerset ... and I didn’t get back until 19:50!
Native River aka “Garfield”	Cyrus Darius aka “Darius”
Grand Vision aka “Terry”	Cue Card aka “Crackle”
Fox Norton aka “Foxy”	Elegant Escape aka “Dubai”
Thistlecrack aka “Cracker”	Ultragold aka “Gold”
So that’s a task to add to my diaries/photos list; hopefully there will also be a number of yard visits in the near future, organised by EPDS Racing. Anyway, there was one runner of interest yesterday (Bank Holiday Monday) at Cartmel: Fact Of The Matter (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 107 yards] (7 ran). Just one result today, from Stratford, as Ardamir was a non-runner at Chelmsford: Jamacho (Charlie Longsdon/Brian Hughes/raised by Apple Tree Stud) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 70 yards] (8 ran). And runners of interest tomorrow, at Worcester: 18:45 Enforcement (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) & Royal Household (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 19:15 Another Drama (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 19:45 Peggies Venture (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Wolfie is in training ... to be a footballer ... presumably for Liverpool FC: https://twitter.com/i/status/1034430114719838208 And I took a photo of my first proper crochet project too, which I completed earlier this month ... if you’ll pardon the pun, I’m hooked! And, of course, looking forward to the next one!!!
Sunday 26 August 2018
Here are the results from last Thursday for my runners of interest: Fontwell Park: Capsy De Mee (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 49 yards] (12 ran). Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (8 ran). Stratford-Upon-Avon: Primogeniture (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was pulled up and Leapt (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) finished 5th in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). Matravers (Martin Keighley/Mr A Hark) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle (for Amateur Riders) Div I (8 ran). Hartshorne Abbie (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished last in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (6 ran). Wolverhampton (AW): Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Cam Hardie/EPDS Racing) finished 2nd in the Handicap Div I [1 mile 1 furlong & 104 yards] (10 ran). Meanwhile, earlier in the afternoon, Noel Williams’ Percy Prosecco finished 3rd of 9 in the 1 mile 4 furlongs & 51 yards Handicap race. There’s one runner of interest tomorrow (Bank Holiday Monday) at Cartmel: 15:50 Fact Of The Matter (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 107 yards] Choc tweeted a photograph taken on his and Jennie’s wedding day (18 August): https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/1031245269223067648/photo/1 That looks like Timmy Murphy in the background ... Kalashnikov was happy with life on Friday … https://twitter.com/i/status/1032931687859200000 Dave Crosse introduces race-goers to the Champion Jockey: https://twitter.com/i/status/1031982207957696512 Stradivarius winning the Lonsdale Cup Stakes at York: https://twitter.com/i/status/1032983629163634690 Frankie celebrates after Stradivarius wins the £1,000,000 bonus … https://twitter.com/i/status/1032984978936811522 Mrs Prowting’s Desert Joe, formerly trained by Alan King, won his class at the RoR Championships at Aintree yesterday. Don Cossack enjoying show-jumping, as part of his new career as a RoR horse: https://twitter.com/i/status/1032940344042823680 Bobs Worth and his companion are led out to their field last night; https://twitter.com/i/status/1033429789556842496 There’s sad news that Mystifiable, who was in training with Fergal O’Brien, has passed away as a result of a twisted gut: RIP Mystifiable I had a nightmare trip back from Luton on Thursday; someone was hit by a train at St Albans station just before the rush-hour, after which services were suspended for a while. Once trains began running again, the timetable was severely disrupted and no trains were stopping at St Albans. I arrived at Luton station just before 17:15 and there was total confusion, with little information being imparted to waiting passengers. The 17:04 Littlehampton train appeared at 17:35ish, so I caught it to Harpenden, before heading out to the high street to catch a bus to St Albans city centre. Fortunately there was one at the bus stop, with a long queue of people waiting to get on; presumably the majority had the same plan as me. I got a seat too; always a bonus, as I’m not as steady on my feet as I once was as a result of my pelvis problems. Once I got back to St Albans, I had to catch another bus home, because I can’t walk that far at the moment. The train station remained shut until gone 19:00. So, instead of catching a train and then walking, I had to catch a train, then a bus, and then another bus; fortunately I had just enough cash on me to cover the unexpected cost of getting home ... although I later discovered I could probably have used my train ticket on said buses. Actor Robson Green was filming in St Albans recently: http://www.hertsad.co.uk/news/robson-green-grantchester-st-albans-1-5663242 Pity it wasn’t the lovely James Norton … he finished filming his final ever Granchester scenes last month. The contact dermatitis on my left palm has flared up again; I wonder if I’m allergic to metal shopping trolleys! I’ve been taking my mum supermarket shopping in recent weeks and have a tendency to guide the trolley with my left hand whilst she uses it for support. I’ll have to start wearing a white cotton glove again, whilst it heals. I’ve discovered that it’s possible to write race notes using RUK’s online recordings so, instead of having finished the current task with 4 races put on the backburner until Christmas, I’ve now got just two races to describe – the ‘Alder Hey’ and the Standard Open Bumper – before my ‘summer job’ is complete. J
Wednesday 22 August 2018
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest at Worcester today: Our Three Sons (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles & 110 yards] (5 ran). Comanche Chieftain (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th and Melody Of Scotland (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] (8 ran). Carntop (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the Novices’ Hurdle (11 ran); Jamie’s 9th winner of the season. Queens Cloak (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 8th and Skin Deep (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) won the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle; Alan’s 25th winner of the season Lady Vitesse (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) was pulled up and dismounted in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs] (15 ran); I hope she’s okay. And there are seven runners of interest tomorrow: Fontwell Park: 16:40 Capsy De Mee (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 49 yards] 18:50 Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller) – Novices’ Handicap Chase Stratford-Upon-Avon: 13:30 Primogeniture (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) & Leapt (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 16:20 Matravers (Martin Keighley/Mr A Hark) – Handicap Hurdle (for Amateur Riders) Div I 17:25 Hartshorne Abbie (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Wolverhampton: 19:10 Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Cam Hardie/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Div I [1 mile 1 furlong & 104 yards] I understand that Roaring Lion won the feature race at York today, beating Poet’s Word. I’ve overdone it this evening; I’ve just spent in excess of 3 hours slaving over my laptop, writing race notes ... my brain is now numb! And I’ve still got to do my physiotherapy exercises too, despite it being after 23:30 as I write today’s blog. There’s no rest for the wicked, or the righteous either!
Tuesday 21 August 2018
There was no blog yesterday as, now that I can see the winning post, I couldn’t resist spending my free time working on my Aintree diaries rather than writing a blog! Here are today’s results for my runners of interest, at Newton Abbot ... and they both won: Passing Call (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 167 yards] (7 ran); Alan’s 24th winner of the season and Wayne’s 19th winner of the season. Lord Topper (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller) won the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 2 furlongs & 105 yards] (9 ran); Jamie’s 8th winner of the season. There are seven runners of interest at Worcester tomorrow: 17:30 Our Three Sons (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller) – Handicap Chase [2 miles & 110 yards] 18:00 Comanche Chieftain (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Melody Of Scotland (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] 18:30 Carntop (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Hurdle 19:30 Queens Cloak (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) & Skin Deep (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 20:00 Lady Vitesse (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs] This was the venue for Jennie and Choc’s wedding reception last Saturday; it looks nice, and very intimate too: https://www.ashfarmcotswolds.com/ https://www.ashfarmcotswolds.com/en/746337/weddings-events These are old links I’ve found, but interesting none the less: https://www.racingpost.com/bloodstock/thornton-hoping-apple-tree-stud-venture-will-bear-fruit/278797 I recall I’ve published this link before: https://ownerbreeder.co.uk/features/laying-down-roots/ And one about the sale of Redicean earlier in the year: https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/racing/owners-who-paid-big-money-1434143
Sunday 19 August 2018
RIP Clondaw Kaempfer Sadly there were three fatalities at Perth yesterday, including 10-year-old Clondaw Kaempfer, pictured above having won at the Aintree Festival in 2014 when ridden by Wayne Hutchinson. The other two fatalities were 4-year-old Eastern Harbour and 7-year-old Le Dauphin. RIP The team of Gordon Elliott and Richard Johnson had a five timer at the track; there were 8 races, with the other three races won by Nicky Richards, Donald McCain and Lucinda Russell respectively. Here are yesterday’s results for my runners of interest at Market Rasen: Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 16 yards] (7 ran). Fleeting Visit (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 140 yards] (9 ran). Here are today’s results for my runners of interest, at Southwell: The Devils Drop (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Class 3 Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 209 yards] (7 ran); Alan’s 23rd winner of the season and Wayne’s 18th winner of the season. Cautorillo (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) was pulled up in the Class 5 Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 209 yards] (11 ran). There’s National Hunt racing at Bangor-on-Dee tomorrow, but no runners of interest. I’ve discovered that Gerard Tumelty is now Olly Murphy’s Assistant Trainer. Trainers are hoping that Towcester racecourse will be saved: https://www.racingpost.com/news/towcester-shock/trainers-call-for-towcester-to-be-saved-as-betfred-emerge-as-possible-buyer/342851 This weekend I started and completed the race notes for Aintree Grand National day … phew, that was a bit of a marathon! That leaves 14 races still to do, ten of which I can do ‘now’, courtesy of the terrestrial recordings my friend Sandra sent to me, and 4 of which I’ll have to complete at the turn of the year. I don’t currently have access to a recording (which I can pause, rewind, etc) of races 1 and 7 on Days 1 and 2 of the Aintree Festival; hopefully RUK will re-broadcast the Aintree Festival highlights at Christmas, to enable me to put the finishing touches to my diaries. I also completed my first proper crochet project late on Friday evening; I now have a scarf ... or should that be yet another scarf!!!
Saturday 18 August 2018
Warmest congratulations to Jennie and Choc on the occasion of their wedding today, Saturday 18 August Wishing the happy couple many years of joy and happiness together
Friday 17 August 2018
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest: Nottingham: Two Weeks (Clive Cox/Hector Crouch/Apple Tree Stud) finished 4th in the Fillies’ Handicap [6 furlongs & 18 yards] (9 ran). Newbury: Cliffs Of Dover (Paul Nicholls/Megan Nicholls) finished 3rd in the Handicap [1 mile 5 furlongs & 61 yards] (8 ran). And tomorrow’s runners of interest, at Market Rasen: 19:30 Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 16 yards] 20:00 Fleeting Visit (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 140 yards]
Thursday 16 August 2018
Here are yesterday’s results for my runners of interest: Newton Abbot: Cracker Factory (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) won and Ventura Magic (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle (6 ran); Alan’s 22nd winner of the season. Worcester: Dr Dunraven (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 5th in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (6 ran). Undisputed (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). Desirable Court (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Forecast (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] (10 ran). Cul De Poule (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won the Maiden Hurdle (12 ran); Martin’s 9th winner of the season. Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Nottingham: 14:00 Two Weeks (Clive Cox/Hector Crouch/Apple Tree Stud) – Fillies’ Handicap [6 furlongs & 18 yards] Newbury: 14:55 Cliffs Of Dover (Paul Nicholls/Megan Nicholls) – Handicap [1 mile 5 furlongs & 61 yards] There’s bad news for Jessica Harrington - Torcedor has been sold by his New Zealand-based owners Te Akau Racing for a ‘significant seven-figure sum’ and leaves the yard tomorrow to head to Germany; he will be trained by Andreas Wohler. There’s also bad news for Towcester Racecourse; the owners are taking steps to place the racecourse into administration due to trading difficulties. There’s been a racecourse at Towcester since 1876, and since 2014 there’s also been a greyhound track at the venue. AP McCoy rode his 4000th winner at the racecourse in November 2013. And, of course, Choc rode his 1000th winner at the track in March 2011.
Tuesday 14 August 2018
One result to report today, from Chelmsford: Three Weeks (William Haggas/Alan Kirby/Apple Tree Stud) finished 4th in the Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs] (5 ran); I’m sure he will improve following this run, having missed a considerable amount of time before today’s outing due to a gelding operation. National Hunt racing returns tomorrow following a short break and here are my runners of interest: Newton Abbot: 14:20 Cracker Factory (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) & Ventura Magic (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle Worcester: 17:50 Dr Dunraven (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Novices’ Handicap Chase 18:50 Undisputed (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 19:20 Desirable Court (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) – Novices’ Hurdle 19:50 Forecast (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] 20:20 Cul De Poule (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Maiden Hurdle I finally got to see the physiotherapist yesterday and I have a number of exercises to do; twice a day. I have to confess I’m only managing once a day so far and, actually, my pelvis is more painful today. It also doesn’t help that I’ve recently had to double the distance I’m walking each week – from over 6 miles to over 12 miles. As you can imagine, I’m very tired too, I even dozed off to sleep in the armchair just after 19:00 this evening!
Monday 13 August 2018
There was a second result to report from Windsor yesterday: Percy Prosecco (Noel Williams/Rob Hornby) won the Handicap Div II [1 mile 3 furlongs & 99 yards] (13 ran); he also won best turned out! https://mobile.twitter.com/noelwilliams03/status/1028756994809913347/photo/1 There is a result to report today, from Ayr: Zabeel Star (Karen Mclintock/Connor Beasley) finished 4th in the Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs] (11 ran) And one runner of interest tomorrow, at Chelmsford: 15:30 Three Weeks (William Haggas/Alan Kirby/Apple Tree Stud) – Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs]; the horse has been gelded since his last run. The Stobart Lesters return in 2018, having had a break last year. The event has moved location too, and will take place at the Westminster Bridge Park Plaza on Saturday 22 December ... although that makes it a little difficult for jockeys who are riding at Haydock Park or Newcastle that day!
Sunday 12 August 2018
This is today’s result for my runner of interest, at Windsor: Enforcement (Martin Keighley/Joey Haynes) finished 5th in the Handicap Div I [1 mile 3 furlongs & 99 yards] (10 ran). As far as I’m aware, there are no runners of interest tomorrow. I’ve now completed my Cheltenham diaries, which leaves just my three Aintree Festival diaries outstanding. J
Saturday 11 August 2018
There is no result to report today, as Three Weeks was a non-runner at Newmarket. There’s one runner of interest tomorrow, at Windsor: 17:05 Enforcement (Martin Keighley/Joey Haynes) – Handicap Div I [1 mile 3 furlongs & 99 yards] I’ve developed what a pharmacist describes as contact dermatitis on the palm of my left hand; it’s annoying, as I have a number of patches where the skin is tight and sore and peeling. Icky! I wonder what I’m suddenly allergic to ... when appropriate, I shall wear a cotton glove in the hope of avoiding further contact with the mystery allergen.
Friday 10 August 2018
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest: Wolverhampton: Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Cam Hardie/EPDS Racing) won the Handicap Div I [1 mile & 142 yards] (13 ran); good old Dylan! Musselburgh: Pantomime (Rebecca Menzies/Paul Hanagan/former EPDS syndicate horse) finished 5th in the Handicap [1 mile 7 furlongs & 217 yards] (7 ran). Haydock Park: Cliffs Of Dover (Paul Nicholls/Megan Nicholls) won the Handicap [2 miles & 45 yards] (5 ran). There is one runner of interest tomorrow, at Newmarket: 16:55 Three Weeks (William Haggas/Andrea Atzeni/Apple Tree Stud) – Handicap [1 mile]; his first outing on turf. I’ve no special plans for the weekend; so the diary proof-reading continues ...
Thursday 09 August 2018
There are three runners of interest tomorrow: Wolverhampton: 16:50 Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Cam Hardie/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Div I [1 mile & 142 yards] Musselburgh: 17:15 Pantomime (Rebecca Menzies/Paul Hanagan/former EPDS syndicate horse) – Handicap [1 mile 7 furlongs & 217 yards] Haydock Park: 19:55 Cliffs Of Dover (Paul Nicholls/Megan Nicholls) – Handicap [2 miles & 45 yards] Nicky Henderson has now trained 3000 winners, courtesy of Brave Eagle’s win at Worcester on 31 July.
Monday 06 August 2018
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest: Newton Abbot: Third Estate (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 122 yards] (13 ran). The Unit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Chase (4 ran); Alan’s 21st winner of the season and Wayne’s 16th winner of the season. Generous Chief (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) was pulled up and Little Windmill (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 170 yards] (13 ran); Wayne’s 17th winner of the season. And there is also one result from Carlisle: Tyrell (L A Mullaney/Paula Muir) finished 4th in the Handicap (Pro-Am Lady Riders) [2 miles 1 furlong & 47 yards] (8 ran). Having been retired earlier this year, Arctic Fire won at Cork today, his second run since his return to action. Formerly trained by Willie Mullins, the horse is now trained by Denis Cullen. There are no runners of interest tomorrow ... the brief NH break has definitely commenced now!
Sunday 05 August 2018
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest at Market Rasen: Parmenter (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Juvenile Hurdle (7 ran). Fields Of Fortune (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Maiden Hurdle (12 ran); Alan’s 20th winner of the season and Wayne’s 15th winner of the season. Canford Thompson (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle (Div I) [2 miles 2 furlongs & 140 yards] (10 ran). That’s strange, I thought there were no NH fixtures for at least a week ... but Newton Abbot has squeezed one in tomorrow: 14:20 Third Estate (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 122 yards] 15:50 The Unit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase 16:50 Generous Chief (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) & Little Windmill (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 170 yards] Along with proof-reading this weekend, I’ve actually begun my first proper crochet project, a scarf using King Cole Carousel Chunky cake yarn in a shade named ‘Twister’, which is pink, white and grey. It uses doubles, trebles, chains and chain spaces too – and it’s coming along really well! In fact I’m wondering why I didn’t learn to crochet sooner ... I’ll be glad when this hot spell breaks and I can get a good night’s sleep; I only managed 3 – 4 hours sleep last night and was flagging by lunch-time!
Friday 03 August 2018
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest at Bangor-On-Dee: Skin Deep (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (8 ran) ... but that doesn’t tell half the story – she jumped right at the 1st, wasn’t fluent at the 2nd, was baulked at the 3rd, after which her saddle slipped and she was pulled up! Shady Glen (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 7th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles & 30 yards] (11 ran). Passing Call (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran); Alan’s 19th winner of the season and Wayne’s 14th winner of the season There are three runners of interest at Market Rasen on Sunday: 13:30 Parmenter (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 14:00 Fields Of Fortune (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 16:15 Canford Thompson (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle (Div I) [2 miles 2 furlongs & 140 yards] Leighton Aspell returned from the injury sidelines today and rode Captain Peacock to victory at Bangor. After Sunday, National Hunt racing takes a break until Wednesday 15 August when there are meetings at Newton Abbot and Worcester. I’ve nothing planned for the weekend, so I shall endeavour to proof and upload a number of my diaries. I’m also raring to go with respect to trying out my new crochet skills; I just need to buy some more yarn. Yes, I know I have a SABLE situation with regard to wool ... Stash Acquisition Beyond Life Expectancy ... but, currently, the suitable yarn is already matched to existing knitting patterns. I have my eye on Sirdar Colourwheel, Caron Cakes and Caron Big Cakes at the moment ... I just wish they didn’t manufacture them in so many lovely colours. Resistance is futile as far as wool is concerned!
Thursday 02 August 2018
And are today’s results for my runners of interest at Stratford-Upon-Avon: Comanche Chieftain (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Handicap Chase (8 ran); Wayne’s 13th winner of the season. Regulation (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 70 Yards] (9 ran). Alexander The Grey (Graeme McPherson/Max Kenrick) finished 3rd and Next Level (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 6 furlongs & 125 yards] (11 ran). Visage Blanc (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 8th in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (13 ran). And these are tomorrow’s runners of interest at Bangor-On-Dee: 13:30 Skin Deep (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 14:35 Shady Glen (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Chase [3 miles & 30 yards] 15:10 Passing Call (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle
Wednesday 01 August 2018
Here are yesterday’s results for my runners of interest: Perth: Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 20 yards] (9 ran). Worcester: Carntop (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the Maiden Hurdle (11 ran); Jamie’s 7th winner of the season. Carntop is jointly owned by HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and Sir Chips Keswick. And one result today, from Perth: Single Estate (S Waugh/Callum Bewley/raised by Apple Tree Stud) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (4 ran); the race was won by the Aintree Bumper winner, Portrush Ted (aka Super Ted). Lil Rockerfeller won an extended 2 miles 4 furlongs Handicap today at the Goodwood Festival; Jessica Rabbit’s half-brother Cool Sky finished 4th and Couer De Lion finished 8th in the same race. http://www.attheraces.com/news/2018/August/01/lil-rockerfeller-trounces-rivals-on-flat-return-at-goodwood Meanwhile, Clarcam won today’s Galway Plate for owner Dreary O’Leary! And here are my runners of interest at Stratford-Upon-Avon tomorrow: 14:35 Comanche Chieftain (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Handicap Chase 15:10 Regulation (Neil King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 70 Yards] 15:45 Alexander The Grey (Graeme McPherson/Max Kenrick) & Next Level (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 6 furlongs & 125 yards] 16:55 Visage Blanc (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle