DECEMBER 2016
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Saturday
31 December 2016 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Newbury: Saint Contest (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 3rd in the Juvenile Hurdle (11 ran). Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
8th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 214 yards] (12 ran). Ami Desbois (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) finished 3rd
and Messire Des Obeaux (Alan King/Daryl
Jacob) won the Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (8 ran). RUK’s Jonathan Neesom
suggested that Ami Desbois was the best value in
the race and had taken a price on him, each way. Warwick: Coyaba (Richard Phillips/Ian
Popham) was pulled up in the Novices’ Handicap
Hurdle (14 ran). Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Charlie Poste/EPDS
Racing) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles] (12 ran). Handsome Sam (Alan King/William Featherstone)
finished 10th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) (12
ran). Skeleton Bob (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 10th
in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (17 ran). Uttoxeter: Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore)
finished 7th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (11 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Cheltenham: 12:50 Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs & 70 yards] 13:25 Briery Belle (Henry Daly/Tom O’Brien) – Dipper Novices’
Chase (Group 2) 14:35
Meister Eckhart (John O’Shea/Paul Moloney) &
Morning Herald (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 213 yards] 15:40
Spice Girl (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed) The card
also features the Grade 2 Relkeel Hurdle with 9
declarations – Camping Ground, Lil Rockerfeller,
Old Guard, Adrien Du Pont, Agrapart,
Leoncavallo, Protek Des Flos,
Cole Harden and L’Ami Serge. I think the most deserving winner would be
Lil Rockerfeller.
Catterick: 12:25
Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:45
Future Gilded (Jamie Snowden/Conor O’Farrell) –
Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 151 yards] EPDS
Racing’s Daliance would have headed to his
favourite racecourse, Fakenham, tomorrow but is
currently suffering from self-inflicted lameness! Evidently he lashed out at something during
exercise earlier in the week. The
catalogue of injuries continues for jockey Bryan Cooper; he broke his pelvis
today, at Punchestown. With so much time spent on the sidelines,
wouldn’t it be sensible to give up race riding, as his bones seem more
brittle than most? The Dan
Skelton-trained race favourite Robin Roe, which fell three out in the Challow Hurdle, was discovered to have broken a bone in
his knee; he will be out of action for the remainder of the season. Choc took
William to see the pantomine in Birmingham today,
Dick Whittington; he was one of the children invited to go up on stage ...
William not Choc that is!!! https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/815236815896584193/photo/1 I
undertook my regular Kipling website check today and, guess what? A handbag on my wish-list has been reduced
in price by 40% ... so I’ve ordered one!
I still have a QVC-exclusive handbag on my wish-list, but their price
reductions are far less than those available when ordering sale items from
the manufacturer’s website. I’m not
keen on the cold and damp weather we are experiencing at the moment; it
certainly doesn’t encourage one to venture out unless strictly
necessary. Yesterday morning’s walk to
work was a nightmare, with ice on the pavements and on the roads; I know,
because I tried walking along both! I
even saw people jogging – surely they risked the possibility of slipping
over? |
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Friday
30 December 2016 |
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Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Taunton: Forecast (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) was a
non-runner but The Unit (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle
(13 ran); Wayne’s 48th winner of the season. Altesse De Guye (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 2nd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (8 ran). Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) (6 ran). Kerrow (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the
Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 3 yards] (9 ran); Wayne’s 49th winner of the season.
Alan King has now surpassed the total of National
Hunt winners that he trained last season, with four months still to go. He has also been helped on his way by the
fact that he trained a number of summer NH winners this season too, and more
than usual. Newcastle (AW): Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) finished 9th in the Handicap
Div I [1 mile 5 furlongs] (11 ran); however, he was returning from a ‘holiday’ break! Haydock Park was
abandoned due to frozen ground. And a number of runners of interest tomorrow too: Newbury: 12:10 Saint Contest (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Juvenile Hurdle 13:15 Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 214 yards] 13:50 Ami Desbois
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) & Messire Des Obeaux (Alan
King/Daryl Jacob) – Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade
1) Warwick: 12:00 Coyaba (Richard
Phillips/Ian Popham) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 13:35 Dontminddboys
(Robin Dickin/Charlie Poste/EPDS
Racing) – Handicap Chase [3 miles] 14:10 Handsome Sam (Alan King/William
Featherstone) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) 15:20 Skeleton Bob (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Standard Open NH Flat Race Uttoxeter: 14:15 Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian
Moore) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase Having hurt one of his knees in a freak accident
at Wincanton on Boxing Day, Andrew Thornton has undergone keyhole surgery to
tidy up the cartilage. But, with no
thoughts of retiring before the end of this season, he promises that he will
be back in action in due course! It has been reported that the Nicky
Henderson-trained Captain Conan is now off the critical list, having
fractured his pelvis for a third time when competing at Ascot before
Christmas. I’ve
finished drafting my race notes as hoped so, as I have no plans for the
forthcoming extended weekend, I plan to finish the task off and upload my
Kempton Park photos too during the next three days. |
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Thursday
29 December 2016 |
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Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest; there were many non-runners today due to the good ground at
Doncaster. Doncaster: Giveaway Glance (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Fillies’ Juvenile
Maiden Hurdle (10 ran); Wayne’s 47th winner of the season. Briery Belle (Henry Daly/Tom
O’Brien) was a non-runner in the Mares’ Chase (Listed); Kalane
won the race and it was a very well deserved victory. Ami Desbois (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods) was a non-runner in the
Handicap Hurdle [3 miles & 84 yards] Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was
a non-runner in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 214 yards] Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 2nd in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) (5 ran). Kelso: Kumbeshwar (Lucinda
Russell/Derek Fox) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs
& 25 yards] (11 ran); I think it’s time for the old warrior to be retired,
he deserves it. Donald McCain trained his 1,000 career winner
today, when Lough Derg Jewel won at Kelso. It has been revealed that Coneygree
will not run again before the Cheltenham Gold Cup; evidently he was jarred up
due to running in the Betfair Chase and needs time
to recover. And, if he’s not ready for
the Festival, he’ll be aimed at Aintree or Punchestown
instead. Taunton: 14:00 Forecast (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore)
& The Unit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:30 Altesse De Guye (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:00 Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) 15:30 Kerrow (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 3 yards] Haydock Park: (subject
to an inspection at 07:30 tomorrow) 14:40 Viva Steve (Fergal O’Brien/Paddy Brennan) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles 3 furlongs & 57 yards] Newcastle (AW): 15:20 Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Div I [1 mile 5
furlongs] I didn’t
finish work quite so early today, but my diary is still on schedule for
completion. |
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Wednesday
28 December 2016 |
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Catterick was abandoned due to
frost, so no result to report from there. Leicester: Authorized Too (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase (Qualifier) [2 miles 4 furlongs & 45
yards] (9 ran). Timoteo (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 113
yards] (9 ran). Leopardstown: Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O’Neill/Aidan
Coleman) finished 5th in the Lexus Chase (Grade 1) (13 ran). Outlander won the race for trainer Gordon
Elliott; Don Poli finished 2nd and Djakadam 3rd. There are six runners of interest tomorrow: Doncaster: 12:55 Giveaway Glance (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Fillies’ Juvenile Maiden Hurdle 14:05 Briery Belle
(Henry Daly/Tom O’Brien) – Mares’ Chase (Listed) 14:40 Ami Desbois
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle
[3 miles & 84 yards] 15:10 Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 214 yards] 15:40 Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) Kelso: 13:05 Kumbeshwar (Lucinda
Russell/Derek Fox) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 25 yards] I understand that Jamie Moore lost two teeth when
Sire De Grugy unseated him yesterday at Kempton
Park. Ouch. But I’m sure Jamie will forgive his
favourite horse. As hoped,
my working day ended early today and I decided to take a long walk home
having been fairly inactive for the past four days. It has been raw cold though ... and the
same again is forecast for tomorrow evidently. And the
extra time spent at home today has enabled me to get stuck into drafting my
Kempton Park diary too; my current aim is to have it more or less ready to
proof-read by Saturday. I love a
deadline. |
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Tuesday
27 December 2016 |
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The finish of the 2016 King George VI Chase I was too tired to round-up my results yesterday
… I dozed off to sleep in the armchair instead … so here they are: Kempton Park: Elgin (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle
(7 ran); Wayne’s 46th
winner of the
season. Yanworth (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) won the Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1), beating the
evergreen The New One into second place (5 ran); the extreme outsider, mare
Gray Wolf River, completed 92 lengths behind the 4th placed horse and claimed
a prize of £2,680 – by far her biggest pay day! Big Chief Benny (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 10th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] (15 ran). Willy Twiston-Davies
rode his dad’s horse in this race, having gained his jump jockey licence as
hoped. The King
George VI Chase was won by the novice Thistlecrack; he jumped
extremely well and his far more experienced rivals could find no answer to
counteract his abundant talent. Cue
Card just held on to the runner-up spot, in a blanket finish from Silviniaco Conti and Tea For Two. Josses Hill completed in last place.
Thistlecrack parades before returning to the stables Fontwell Park: Rainbow Dreamer (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) won the Juvenile Hurdle (7 ran). Baraymi (Jamie Snowden/Ciaran Gethings) finished 3rd
and Bastien (Alan King/William Featherstone) won the Novices’ Hurdle
(14 ran). Major Milbourne (Jamie
Snowden/William Featherstone) was a non-runner in the Handicap Chase [2 miles
1 furlong & 96 yards]. Spellbound (Alan King/Tom Cannon) was pulled up
and Wildehearted Woman (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield/EPDS Racing) was pulled up in the Mares’
Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Huntingdon: Viking Mistress (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles
& 104 yards] (6 ran). Pattara (Noel Williams/Thomas
Garner) finished 7th, last of the finishers, in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles
4 furlongs & 145 yards] (11 ran). Kapgarde King (Jamie Snowden/Miss
Paige Fuller) won the Handicap
Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 129 yards] (7 ran). Ballymountain Boy (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won the
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (12 ran). Many congratulations to the team; it
was their 13th winner of the season and also Martin’s 200th jumps
winner overall. Wincanton: Three Ways (Jamie Snowden/Micheal
Nolan) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 5 furlongs
& 82 yards) (11 ran). Mollyanna (Jamie Snowden/Micheal Nolan) finished 2nd, last of the finishers, in
the Mares’ Novices’ Chase (4 ran). Meanwhile the race in which Ardkilly
Witness (Jamie Snowden/Micheal Nolan) took part, a
Handicap Chase (Qualifier), was voided due to a pile-up involving 8 runners;
no runners finished. He was leading at the time and refused; his trainer
could offer no explanation apart from possibly being distracted by glare from
the sun. Sadly, two horses lost their lives as a result of
the melee, namely Velator (Neil Mulholland) and
Saint Raph (Robert Walford);
the former was injured when another runner jumped and landed upon him, and
the latter was assessed but put to sleep.
RIP. There were ten runners in
the race, one of which had already departed, which left just Nigel Twiston-Davies’ Hollow Blue Sky to continue. However, he proved recalcitrant when racing
alone and refused later in the race; it was not a pretty sight to see the
jockey’s endeavours trying to force the horse to continue. It was not a day to remember at Wincanton, as
Seamus Mullins’ Western Cape had already suffered a fatal injury when falling
at the final hurdle whilst running in the Pertemps
Qualifier earlier in the afternoon.
RIP However, Andrew Thornton did ride two winners – Somchine and Kentford Myth – so
was able to celebrate his 1000th career victory. But, he also twisted his knee once dismounted
and had to give up his two remaining rides yesterday, and his ride today
too! That’s the trouble with getting
old, innocuous movement can cause major issues! I overlooked Godsmejudge
when trawling through the race-cards … he finished 3rd of 10 in his chase at Market Rasen. There was also a fatality at the
Lincolnshire track, when Nicky Richards’ Ping suffered a fatal injury between
hurdles in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle event. RIP. Definitly Red won Wetherby’s Rowland Merrick
Handicap Chase, from Wakanda and Blaklion. And today’s results: Kempton Park: Master Blueyes (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd in the Introductory Juvenile Hurdle (9 ran). Altior (Nicky Henderson/Noel Fehily) won
the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase impressively (Grade 2) (4 ran). Sire De Grugy (Gary
Moore/Jamie Moore) unseated at the 2nd, which left jockey Jamie Moore with a
bloody face, in the Desert Orchid Chase (Grade 2) (4 ran); Special Tiara took
the prize. William H Bonney (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (12 ran). Noel Fehily rode a
4-timer at the track today, and it could have been a 5-timer had Drumcliff not been hampered in the home straight. Chepstow: Billy No Name (Colin Tizzard/Paddy
Brennan) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 131
yards] (17 ran). Dino Velvet (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
4th in the Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) (5 ran). Native
River (Colin Tizzard/Richard Johnson) won the Welsh Grand National under top weight (20 ran). Sadly Onenightinvienna,
which was pulled up having sustained an injury on the first circuit, was put
to sleep. RIP Wetherby: Money Maid (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods/EPDS Racing) finished a very close 2nd in the Mares’ Handicap Chase (6 ran);
she would probably have won but for a mistake at the final fence. Meanwhile Turn Over Sivola,
now trained by Gordon Elliott, ran at Leopardstown
but finished 16th of 20 in a Handicap Hurdle. And there are four runners of interest tomorrow too: Catterick: 13:05 Asuncion (Rebecca Menzies/Jamie
Hamilton/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 51 yards] Leicester: 14:00 Authorized Too (Noel Williams/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase (Qualifier) [2 miles 4 furlongs & 45 yards] 15:40 Timoteo (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 113 yards] Leopardstown: 15:00 Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O’Neill/Aidan
Coleman) – Lexus Chase (Grade 1) I’ve seen a photograph taken yesterday of Medermit and Blazing Bailey, ridden by Gerard Tumelty and Sarah Welford respectively, at a local
Cotswold Boxing Day Hunt. I believe it will be Choc’s
turn to have William for his birthday on 30 December; as his son didn’t spend
Christmas at AppleTree Stud year. Never mind, William will have a little
brother soon and they can celebrate Christmas as a larger family next
year. I’ve not
got much done today, as I’m still feeling tired, my neck muscles are tender
too. I return to work tomorrow but,
hopefully, the workday will end early afternoon for the next three days, as
it has done during the period between Christmas and the New Year in all
previous years. |
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Saturday
24 December 2016 |
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Merry Christmas Firstly I need to tidy up the results for my
runners of interest at Bangor-on-Dee
on Thursday: Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield) finished 7th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 4
furlongs & 72 yards] (8 ran). Fortified Bay (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 10th in the Novices’ Hurdle (18 ran). Kaspian Tern (Jamie
Snowden/Daryl Jacob) was pulled up in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Pique Rock (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
5th in the Mares’ Maiden Open Standard NH Flat Race (15 ran). Krackatoa King, which was
formerly trained by Noel Williams but is now trained by Kerry Lee, finished
4th in his long distance Handicap Chase race at Bangor. However, the race was won by the John
Spearing-trained Barton Gift and the horse provided Andrew Thornton with his
998th career winner. Andrew has a full
book of rides at Wincanton on Boxing Day, provided by one each from Mick Channon, Paul Nicholls, Polly Gundry and Victor Dartnell, and 3 for his regular trainer Seamus
Mullins. The veteran is 44 now, and
this will be his final season, so all being well he should manage to reach
this milestone in the not too distant future. https://mobile.twitter.com/Andrew_Dietz/status/811981164227526656/photo/1 John Buckingham, who rode Foinavon
to victory in the 1967 Grand National, passed away earlier this week, aged
76. RIP http://www.racinguk.com/news/article/47930/death-of-foinavon-jockey-john-buckingham-aged-76 If you get the opportunity to read ‘Foinavon: The Story of the Grand National’s
Biggest Upset’ by author David Owen, I can highly recommend the
book. Noel Williams has outlined the plans for his
stable star Briery Queen: http://www.racinguk.com/news/article/47946/noel-williams-hoping-briery-queen-can-earn-festival-entry The Minch, which finished a promising 3rd in
Aintree’s Grade 2 bumper, has been put to sleep having dislocated a stifle at
home. RIP
I had a late night last night, because I stayed
up to manually record RUK’s Aintree Festival highlights from Day 1 and 2; I
wasn’t going to leave it to chance, just in case my Skybox failed in its
mission. Although I did record it on
the planner too, as a back-up.
Unusually, RUK even omitted a few seconds of the Topham
Chase, to save viewers from seeing the aftermath of poor Gullinbursti’s
and Minella Reception’s fatal falls at Becher’s Brook. I had been hoping to draft at least a couple of
the race notes which are missing from my Aintree diaries (there are four in
total) but, in the end, all I’ve been doing this afternoon is dozing in the
armchair whilst endeavouring to watch episodes of Escape to the Country on Really. The only trouble with old episodes of
Escape to the Country is that I’ve seen all of them at least twice; however,
regardless, I still love the show and wish I could escape to the country too. I drew another blank this year in my employer’s
advent calendar draw; the prizes being 23 x £10 Amazon vouchers, and 1 x £50
Amazon voucher on Christmas Eve. I
would have welcomed a voucher, as I have at least half a dozen books on my
wish list, along with a number of DVDs and CDs. Mind you, I did win three £10 vouchers
between 2011 and 2014. I’m so glad I bought the plum purple coloured
Kipling Defea handbag a couple of weeks ago, in
their sale, as this particular colour is now sold out in this style. Phew! I believe Gerald Tumelty
and his partner Sarah Welford went hunting today, with the North Cotswolds
Hunt, presumably riding Medermit and Blazing Bailey
respectively. Anyway, here are my runners of interest on Boxing
Day: Kempton Park: 12:55 Elgin (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Hurdle 14:40 Yanworth (Alan
King/Barry Geraghty) – Christmas Hurdle (Grade 1);
sadly only 5 runners, his rivals being Ch’Tibello,
My Tent Or Yours, The New One and extreme outsider Gray Wolf River. 15:45 Big Chief Benny (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] The King George VI Chase has also garnered only 5
runners … although they are all very classy and include the UK’s best 3-mile chaser, and last year’s winner, Cue Card and also our
best 3-mile novice chaser, Thistlecrack; both trained
by Colin Tizzard!
The other runners being Peterborough Chase winner Josses Hill, dual
winner Silviniaco Conti, and Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase winner Tea For Two. Fontwell Park: 12:35 Rainbow Dreamer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Juvenile Hurdle 13:10 Baraymi (Jamie
Snowden/Ciaran Gethings)
& Bastien (Alan King/William Featherstone) –
Novices’ Hurdle 13:45 Major Milbourne
(Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 1 furlong
& 96 yards] 14:50 Spellbound (Alan King/Tom Cannon) & Wildehearted Woman (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield/EPDS Racing) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Huntingdon: 13:20 Viking Mistress (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Chase [2 miles & 104 yards] 13:55 Pattara (Noel
Williams/Thomas Garner) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 145
yards] 15:05 Kapgarde King
(Jamie Snowden/Miss Paige Fuller) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs &
129 yards] 15:40 Ballymountain Boy
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Intermediate
Open NH Flat Race Wincanton: 14:15 Three Ways (Jamie Snowden/Micheal Nolan) – Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 5
furlongs & 82 yards) 14:50 Mollyanna (Jamie
Snowden/Micheal Nolan) – Mares’ Novices’ Chase 15:25 Ardkilly Witness
(Jamie Snowden/Micheal Nolan) – Handicap Chase
(Qualifier) [3 miles 1 furlong & 30 yards] I can’t find any specific runners of interest at
Market Rasen, Sedgefield or Wetherby,
but the latter features the Rowland Merrick Handicap Chase with Blaklion, Seventh Sky, Yala Enki, Wakanda, Henri Parry
Morgan, Definitly Red, Our Kaempfer,
Ballyculla, Silver Tassie
and Actinpieces making up the competitive
field. Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas |
|
Wednesday
21 December 2016 |
|
Here are the results for today’s runners of
interest: Ffos Las: Primo Blue (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished
6th in the Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Ludlow: Cottersrock (Martin
Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Chase (7 ran); only 3
completed. Tara View (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won but Brillare Momento (Martin
Keighley/Daryl Jacob) unseated two out when having every chance in the Mares’
NH Novices’ Hurdle (12 ran); it was Wayne’s 45th winner of the
season Tomorrow
is the final day of racing before Boxing Day and there are a number of
runners of interest at Bangor-On-Dee: 12:35
Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield) –
Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 72 yards] 13:35
Fortified Bay (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:10 Kaspian Tern (Jamie Snowden/Daryl Jacob) – Mares’ Handicap
Hurdle 15:40
Pique Rock (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Maiden Open Standard NH Flat
Race I notice
that Krackatoa King is having his first racecourse
outing tomorrow since leaving Noel Williams’ yard; he runs for trainer Kerry
Lee in the 13:05 Handicap Chase over a distance of 3 miles 5 furlongs &
142 yards |
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Tuesday
20 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Taunton: City Never Sleeps (Martin Keighley/Mr A Hark)
finished 14th in the ‘Hands and Heels’
Handicap Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys and Amateur Riders) (15 ran). Zipple Back (Alan King/Noel Fehily) finished 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle Div I (11 ran). Buckle Street (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle Div II (12
ran). Kempton Park: Zabeel Star (Graeme
McPherson/Liam Keniry) won the Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs] (14 ran). Suspect Package (James Fanshawe/Daniel
Muscutt/AppleTree Stud)
finished 6th in the Nursery Handicap [1 mile] (14 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Ffos Las: 12:50 Primo Blue (Noel Williams/James Banks) –
Novices’ Hurdle Ludlow: 13:05 Cottersrock
(Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Novices’ Chase 14:10 Tara View (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
& Brillare Momento
(Martin Keighley/Daryl Jacob) – Mares’ NH Novices’ Hurdle Willy Twiston-Davies
has applied for his jump-jockey licence again, in order to stay busy and to
keep his weight down during the winter months. Evidently he’s six feet tall now, and his
dad is thinking that he’ll have to change codes at some point in the future
anyway. Willie will reassess the
situation in March. I’ve now
finished and uploaded my yard visit and Hennessy Gold Cup Day diaries. |
|
Monday
19 December 2016 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Hereford: Chance
Taken (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) finished 8th and Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Chris Ward/EPDS Racing) finished 11th in the
Novices’ Handicap Chase (14 ran); Galactic Power was the last of the
finishers, but did have the misfortune to be hampered by a faller at the
first fence. Cybelle Colombe (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 15th in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race
(16 ran). Chelmsford: Her Terms
(William Haggas/Georgia Cox/AppleTree
Stud) finished 5th in the Nursery Handicap [5 furlongs] (9 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Taunton: 12:45 City Never Sleeps (Martin Keighley/Mr A
Hark) – ‘Hands and Heels’ Handicap
Hurdle (Conditional Jockeys and Amateur Riders) 13:15 Zipple Back (Alan
King/Noel Fehily) – Maiden Hurdle Div I 13:45 Buckle Street (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Maiden Hurdle Div II Kempton Park: 14:10 Zabeel Star
(Graeme McPherson/Liam Keniry) – Handicap [1 mile 2
furlongs] 16:10 Suspect Package (James Fanshawe/Daniel
Muscutt/AppleTree Stud) –
Nursery Handicap [1 mile] It is envisaged that Pride of Pemberley’s
next outing will be towards the end of January, and Avealittlepatience
is being aimed at a race for 4-year-old fillies at Wetherby
on 14 January. Choc retweeted an ‘on this day’ photo from 2008 ... I was
there too, when Medermit won: https://mobile.twitter.com/PAracing/status/810760386404352000/photo/1 Nicky Henderson has reported that it is currently
touch and go for Captain Conan, who fractured his pelvis at Ascot on
Saturday. He’s been in the equine
hospital since suffering the injury, and the trainer hopes to provide an
update soon; the horse is much loved within the yard, so they will endeavour
to save him if at all possible. Meanwhile jockey Conor
Smith has suffered a fracture in his lower back, having been involved in a
car accident over the weekend. I’ve been
plagued by intermittent neck and back ache today, which is annoying. But I have put up the Christmas decorations
this evening; I finished my niece’s bobble hat yesterday evening. This being the case, I plan to proof-read
and upload my stable visit diary tomorrow evening. |
|
Sunday
18 December 2016 |
|
Here is today’s result for my runner of interest
at Fakenham: Daliance (Noel
Williams/William Featherstone/EPDS Racing) finished 3rd in the Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 95 yards] (7 ran). There are
four runners of interest tomorrow: Hereford: 15:10
Chance Taken (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) & Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Chris Ward/EPDS Racing) – Novices’ Handicap Chase 15:40 Cybelle Colombe (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race Chelmsford: 13:45 Her
Terms (William Haggas/Georgia Cox/AppleTree Stud) – Nursery Handicap [5 furlongs] Coneygree has been ruled out of the King George VI chase,
having failed to sparkle during a gallop yesterday. In contrast, the Peterborough Chase winner
Josses Hill is to be supplemented for the race; Noel Fehily
will ride him. I’ve
washed my car, I’ve sewn up the bobble hat, and proof-read my Newbury diary
today. That leaves me to proof-read the
Noel Williams yard visit diary before uploading both, make a bobble for the
aforementioned hat, before wrapping three additional Christmas presents
(including the finished hat) and put up a few Christmas decorations if I have
the time and inclination! There’s no
rest for the wicked ... or the righteous either. And I must
remember to keep a lookout for RUK’s Aintree Festival repeat highlights next
weekend, as I still need a copy of four of the races – Races 1 & 7 on day
1 and 1 & 7 on day 2. RUK’s schedule
informs me that this will be shown at 22:00 on Friday and again at 06:00 and
22:00 on Christmas Day too. |
|
Saturday
17 December 2016 |
|
Watching today’s racing proved to be a challenge,
with thick fog at both Ascot and Haydock Park. Anyway, here are today’s results for my runners
of interest: Ascot: Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore)
finished last in the Graduation Chase (5 ran). Johnny Og (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 9th in the
Handicap Chase [2 miles 2 furlongs & 175 yards] (15 ran). Annacotty (Alan King/Ian Popham) finished 8th and Fletchers Flyer (Harry Fry/Noel Fehily) finished 7th in the Listed Handicap Chase [2
miles 7 furlongs & 180 yards] (14 ran). The race was won by Regal Encore,
which suddenly returned to form. However, the race was marred by a fatal
injury to Eduard which broke a leg on the flat early on the second circuit;
he was ridden by Wayne Hutchinson today.
Who Dares Wins (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 17th in the Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 152
yards] (19 ran); Brain Power won for trainer Nicky Henderson and owner
Michael Buckley. Grand National winning jockey David Mullins came over from
Ireland to pilot the winner. It has been reported that Captain Conan, which
was pulled up early in race 3, broke his pelvis (again). It wasn’t Richard Johnson’s day, as he ended up
on the deck three times before giving up the ride aboard Sternrubin
in the last. The Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle was won by the
favourite Unowhatimeanharry; Lil Rockerfeller finished 2nd, with Ballyoptic
falling at the last. Haydock Park: My Khaleesi (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) (6 ran). And tomorrow there is one runner of interest, at Fakenham: 13:10 Daliance (Noel
Williams/William Featherstone/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7
furlongs & 95 yards] My proposed knitting project didn’t get off the
ground until 16:15 … but I’d finished it by 18:15! So all I need to do now is sew up the seam
and make a pom pom. J I also finished formatting my Newbury photos this
morning and had uploaded them by lunchtime.
I love it when my plans come together … I’m very pleased with the Strictly Come Dancing result;
Ore was definitely the best dancer on the night and fully deserved to
win. I don’t vote during the series, I
leave that until the final. Tonight I voted 8 times … all for Ore! I’ve only been disappointed with the winning
celebrity on three of the previous series – namely Darren Gough, Tom Chambers
and Louis Smith, when the best dancer didn’t win. Chris Hollins
wasn’t the best either but, as he’s a nice guy, I’ll overlook that one! And it’s been statistically proved that
they weren’t the best dancers either, having earned fewer total points during
their respective series than their main rival! William
has been playing the part of one of the three wise men/kings in his school
nativity play: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/809760084582666240/photo/1 And Choc
proving to someone that he’s trimmed his beard recently: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/809762124092370944/photo/1 |
|
Friday
16 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Ascot: Criq Rock (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 2nd and Somewhere To Be (Martin Keighley/Richard
Johnson) finished 7th in the NH Maiden Hurdle (8 ran). Keep In Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 3rd in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial (Group 2) (6 ran). Morning Herald (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock)
finished 10th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). Chato (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (12 ran). Uttoxeter: Midnight Merlot (Alan King/Ian Popham) finished 4th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (6
ran). And here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Ascot: 13:15 Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian
Moore) - Graduation Chase 13:50 Johnny Og (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Chase [2 miles
2 furlongs & 175 yards] 15:00 Annacotty (Alan
King/Ian Popham) & Fletchers Flyer (Harry
Fry/Noel Fehily) – Listed Handicap Chase [2 miles 7
furlongs & 180 yards] 15:35 Who Dares Wins (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 152 yards]; this race
used to be the Ladbroke Hurdle. The Grade 1 Long Walk Hurdle, off time 14:25, has
11 horses declared, including a French raider – Alex De Larredya,
Ballyoptic, Lil Rockerfeller,
Ptit Zig, Reve De Sivola, Shelford, Unowhatimeanharry, Un
Temps Pour Tout, West Approach, Zarkandar and Surtee Du Berlais. Haydock Park: 14:05 My Khaleesi (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) And on Sunday there’s one runner of interest, at Fakenham: 13:10 Daliance (Noel
Williams/William Featherstone) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 95
yards] I’m hoping
to finish off my Newbury diary and photos this weekend. I want to wash my car on Sunday, and I
still need to knit a woollen hat for my niece Kim for Christmas; I think I
shall do the latter whilst the racing is on tomorrow afternoon. It shouldn’t take long to knit, as the yarn
is chunky and the needles are size 10mm!
Although I have to make a bobble too.
Needless to
say, I shall be watching the final of Strictly Come Dancing tomorrow
evening. |
|
Thursday
15 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Towcester: Azzerti (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Maiden Hurdle (11 ran); Wayne’s 44th winner of the season. Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS Racing) finished 2nd in the
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (14 ran). Desert Joe (Alan King/Ian Popham)
finished 6th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 102 yards] (9 ran). Thomas Shelby (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 5th in the Novices’ Hurdle (15 ran). Exeter: Cajun Fiddle (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 4th
in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (18 ran). Paddys Runner (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 111
yards] (11 ran). Major Milborne (Jamie
Snowden/Mr H Hunt) finished 10th and Lunar Flow (Jamie Snowden/Miss P Fuller)
finished 7th in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (13 ran). And here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Ascot: 12:45 Criq Rock (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Somewhere To Be (Martin Keighley/Richard
Johnson) – NH Maiden Hurdle 13:55 Keep In Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial (Group 2) 15:05 Morning Herald (Martin Keighley/Harry
Stock) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 15:40 Chato (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Uttoxeter: 15:30 Midnight Merlot (Alan King/Ian Popham) – Standard Open NH Flat Race As Nico de Boinville is not yet
fully fit having broken his arm in three places in mid-November, the Bradstocks are hoping that Richard Johnson will be
available to partner Coneygree in the King George
VI Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.
They’ve left the booking with agent Dave Roberts as riding plans
aren’t set in stone yet but, if the Champ is available on the day, he will
ride. |
|
Wednesday
14 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Newbury: Cosmeapolitan (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
won the Juvenile Hurdle
(9 ran); Wayne’s 43rd
winner of the
season. Midnight Jitterbug (Noel Williams/Ian Popham) finished 10th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier) (15 ran). Lingfield Park (AW): Dalavand (Laura Mongan/Pat Cosgrave/Ex-AppleTree
Stud) finished 5th in the Selling Stakes [1 mile 2 furlongs] (7 ran). Pinkie Brown (Neil Mulholland/Dougie
Costello) finished 3rd in the Maiden Stakes [1 mile 4 furlongs] (9 ran). And tomorrow … Towcester: 12:10 Azzerti (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 12:40 Dontminddboys
(Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS Racing) – Novices’
Limited Handicap Chase 13:40 Desert Joe (Alan King/Ian Popham) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 102 yards] 14:10 Thomas Shelby (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Novices’ Hurdle Exeter: 12:30 Cajun Fiddle (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 13:00 Paddys Runner
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 111 yards] 15:45 Major Milborne
(Jamie Snowden/Mr H Hunt) & Lunar Flow (Jamie Snowden/Miss P Fuller) –
Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle Ryan
Hatch, who suffered a serious fall at Cheltenham last Friday, has sustained a
fractured C6, C7 and T6, plus a fractured sternum. He remains in hospital for the foreseeable
future. Get well soon Ryan. |
|
Tuesday
13 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Catterick: Blue Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Harry Skelton)
finished 2nd in the Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (10 ran). Wincanton: Hidden Cargo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (18 ran). Wishing And Hoping (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
fell two out in the Beginners’ Chase (8 ran); only 2 horses finished, 2 were
pulled up, 2 fell, 1 unseated its rider, and 1 was brought down! For the record, Connetable
beat Robinsfirth to claim the prize. Chocala (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Maiden Hurdle (14 ran). However, Wayne rode his 42nd winner of the season, aboard Soupy Soups for Neil
Mulholland. Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Newbury: 12:20 Cosmeapolitan
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle; as the name suggests, the
gelding is a son of Cosmea who was also trained by
Alan. Choc rode her three times,
during 2008/2009, including winning twice.
15:10 Midnight Jitterbug (Noel Williams/Ian Popham) – NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) Lingfield Park (AW): 13:50 Dalavand (Laura Mongan/Pat Cosgrave/Ex-AppleTree
Stud) – Selling Stakes [1 mile 2 furlongs] 15:00
Pinkie Brown (Neil Mulholland/Dougie Costello) –
Maiden Stakes [1 mile 4 furlongs] |
|
Monday
12 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Plumpton: Ya Hafed
(Sheena West/Mattie Batchelor) was
pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 217 yards] (9 ran). Ffos Las: Sporty Yankee (Martin Keighley/Andrew
Tinkler) won the Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (6 ran); Martin’s 12th winner of the season. Bingo D’Olivate (Noel
Williams/Tom Scudamore) was pulled up in the
Handicap Hurdle (Q) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 182 yards] (8 ran). Dalton Glance (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 10th in the Handicap Hurdle [ 2 miles & 4 furlongs] (13 ran). Pride Of Pemberley (Jamie Snowden/Richard Johnson/EPDS Racing)
finished 5th in the ‘Newcomers’
Standard Open NH Flat Race (14 ran). Hopefully
this link to the race will function okay: 15:50 | Ffos
Las | Monday 12th December 2016 | At The Races Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Catterick: 14:20 Blue Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Harry Skelton) –
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race Wincanton: 13:10 Hidden Cargo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Hurdle 14:10 Wishing And Hoping (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Beginners’ Chase 15:40 Chocala (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle Warren Greatrex’s Aloomomo suffered a fractured shoulder when he fell at
Cheltenham on Saturday; however, he’s still with us, and will undergo surgery
to repair the damage with the expectation that he’ll be able to return to
action once he’s recuperated. But there are two sad events to report today … Firstly, jockey Walter Swinburn,
most famous for partnering Shergar to Epsom Derby
glory in 1981, has died aged 55. RIP. http://www.racinguk.com/news/article/47728/shergar-rider-walter-swinburn-dies-aged-55 And Lord Gyllene,
winner of the 1997 Grand National, has passed away aged 28. RIP. He’s the fourth Grand National winner we’ve
lost this year, joining Rough Quest (1996), Red Marauder (2001) and Comply Or
Die (2008).
Lord Gyllene pictured with Red Marauder Aintree 2015 But this
will cheer you up ... Menace has found himself a girlfriend and she’s none
other than Presenting Lisa: https://mobile.twitter.com/HannahBishop79/status/808364381922848769/photo/1 Evidently
Hannah hadn’t been able to find a field companion to suit Presenting Lisa,
until she met our little chap! The
mare obviously has good taste! |
|
Sunday
11 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Southwell: Undisputed (Noel Williams/Leighton Aspell) finished 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle (12 ran). Martha McCandles (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) was pulled up in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (8 ran). Laser Light (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) finished 2nd
in the Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). Carlisle: Naranja (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Standard Open NH
Flat Race (12 ran). I forgot to mention that Delegator has passed
away; the stallion was only 10 years old but was found dead in his paddock
having suffered a suspected heart attack.
RIP. EPDS has an unnamed
Delegator filly currently in training with Noel Williams. I know they intend to name her early in the
New Year and am wondering if connections will be asking for suggestions ... I
have two names in mind, both associated with Beatrix Potter, as her dam is
Cecily Parsley! And here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Plumpton: 14:30 Ya Hafed (Sheena West/Mattie Batchelor)
– Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 217 yards] Ffos Las: 12:45 Sporty Yankee (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Juvenile Maiden Hurdle 14:20 Bingo D’Olivate
(Noel Williams/Tom Scudamore) – Handicap Hurdle (Q)
[1 mile 7 furlongs & 182 yards] 14:50 Dalton Glance (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Hurdle [ 2 miles & 4 furlongs] 15:50 Pride
Of Pemberley (Jamie Snowden/Richard
Johnson/EPDS Racing) – ‘Newcomers’
Standard Open NH Flat Race; he has 14 rivals and, when I looked at the Racing
Post website at 21:00, he was priced at 9-1. And to think, the racehorse I named is being
ridden by the Champion Jockey! I know
there are no jumps as it’s a bumper but, fingers crossed, I hope ‘Colin’ comes back safe and sound.
I
travelled up to London to see ex-Strictly Come Dancing professionals Gleb Savchenko and Kristina Rihanoff perform in their own show called ‘One More Dance’. They performed at the Adelphi in the Strand;
I know the venue well from the days when Lee Mead performed in Joseph, as I
went a number of times. Today’s show
was good although, I’m not sure it was worth the inflated ticket price just
because it was London! The dancers did
mention they might consider a UK tour, so that would probably be better value
for money. At the
moment, the show which I consider to be the best value is Pasha’s 2017 tour –
firstly, if you book early and also arrive at the venue early, there’s a
questions and answers session and, secondly, Pasha is doing a meet and greet
after the show too ... all for the princely sum of approximately £35. Many meet and greet sessions are an
additional £20 on top of the ticket price, Pasha’s just £10. J I’m still
waiting for my Janette and Aljaz tickets to arrive,
also my Aintree Festival tickets. |
|
Saturday
10 December 2016 |
|
It was an excellent day’s racing, although very
soggy for the punters at Cheltenham, and here are today’s results: Cheltenham: Coeur De Lion (Alan King/Richard Johnson)
finished 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle (5 ran). Ami Desbois (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) finished a
length 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (6 ran); he jumped for fun and
led until after the last … and has demonstrated that he loves the course
too. So I guess, if he stays sound, a
Festival entry in the Albert Bartlett must be on the cards! Midnight Tour (Alan King/Richard Johnson)
finished 5th; Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Jamie Moore) finished 9th; Morning
Herald (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) was a non-runner; but Briery Queen (Noel Williams/Barry Geraghty)
won the Mares’ Handicap
Hurdle (13 ran). It was Noel’s first Cheltenham winner, and the
mare’s first outing over obstacles having been a very successful bumper
horse. It was a second success this
week for the Plumbly’s homebred ‘Briery’ horses;
the part-owners have been breeding horses for 40 years, and Briery Queen is fourth generation. There is one more ‘Briery’ still to come,
currently in training with Tom Symonds.
Both Briery Queen and Briery Belle are by King’s Theatre, the former out of Briery Gale and the latter out of Briery
Ann. Helen and Simon Plumbly had been contemplating retirement from breeding
horses but said they might have to reconsider. Heartwarmingly The New One, with
Richard Johnson aboard deputising for the injured Ryan Hatch, won the Grade 2
International Hurdle (aka the Bula Hurdle) for the
third time. At one point it seemed
that it would be touch and go as to whether the runner-up My Tent Or Yours
would take his place due to the ground; I personally think he had to run,
having got the nod over Yanworth. Four-year-old Frodon
won the Grade 3 Caspian Caviar Gold Cup Handicap Chase (aka the Massey
Ferguson) for Sam Twiston-Davies and Paul
Nicholls. Doncaster: Passmore (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 9th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 128 yards] (9
ran). Sego Success (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 4th
and Ziga Boy (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 3rd
in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 214 yards] (11 ran); it was
an exciting finish, with No Duffer beating Long Lunch by a nose. Ardamir (Alan King/Tom
Cannon/AppleTree Stud) finished 5th in the Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles & 128 yards] (10 ran); I’m unsure whether this was
promising or not … but it’s a beginning, having been running on the flat
since disappointing at the Festival.
He’s had breathing issues. Timoteo (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 5th and Cliffs Of
Dover (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) won
the Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) (7 ran).
The winner was a 1-3 shot but you have to admire the youngster’s
tenacity to run up a sequence of 5 straight wins, 6 wins in total from 7
outings over hurdles. Wolverhampton: Her Terms (William Haggas/Pat
Cosgrave/AppleTree Stud) finished 2nd in the Maiden
Stakes [5 furlongs & 20 yards] (10 ran); frustrating. Ned Stark was a non-runner at Navan.
There are four runners of interest tomorrow: Southwell: 13:20 Undisputed (Noel Williams/Leighton Aspell) – Maiden Hurdle 13:50 Martha McCandles
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 14:55 Laser Light (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) –
Novices’ Hurdle Carlisle: 15:15 Naranja (Jamie
Snowden/Nick Scholfield) – Mares’ Standard Open NH
Flat Race I didn’t get a lot done today, although I did
transfer recordings to DVD, and have gone through my latest batch of photos
to identify every horse in preparation for updating my website. I also discovered that the recording I’d
made of Tyrell’s race, from a RUK highlights programme, turned out to be
solely a blue screen … I knew I should
have recorded it manually on Thursday evening, rather than set the planner to
record it. Strictly has been turned on its head tonight,
with Ore rising to the challenge after a ‘disappointing’
dip in form. Louise wasn’t as good as
I’d hoped she’d be; Claudia wasn’t suited by a rumba, but did an excellent
quickstep. Danny’s American smooth was
amazing … but is he just too good? In
most instances it’s difficult to distinguish him from a professional dancer. Anyway, we
find out tomorrow night who the three Strictly finalists will be and, in the
final, the winner will be selected solely by the general public, with only
guidance provided by the judges. That
means it’s not always just the best dancer; sometimes it’s a very good
dancer, but also the one who is the most popular personality-wise with the
public which, social media may suggest, could be Louise. |
|
Friday
09 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of interest: Cheltenham: Label Des Obeaux (Alan
King/Richard Johnson) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Chase (6 ran). Bobble Emerald (Martin Keighley/Sam Twiston-Davies) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles & 179 yards] (13 ran). Midnight Maestro (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) finished 9th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier) (12 ran). Doncaster: Future Gilded (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield) fell at the first fence in the Handicap Chase
[2 miles 3 furlongs & 31 yards] (6 ran); fortunately the horse was okay
and galloped after the field following his mishap. Primo Blue (Noel Williams/James Banks) also fell
at the first fence and Winner Massagot (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) finished a distant and weary 3rd in the Novices’ Chase; last
of the finishers (5 ran). Again Primo
Blue was fine and headed after the others following his fall. Big Chief Benny (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished
2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 88 yards] (6 ran). Godsmejudge (David Dennis/Mr Z
Baker) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs & 1 yard]
(7 ran). Midnight Cowboy (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) won the
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). Theatre Goer (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished
4th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (7 ran). Bangor-On-Dee: Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles & 30 yards] Kayf Mariner (Alan
King/William Featherstone) – Intermediate Open NH Flat Race NH Flat Race And here are my runners of interest for Saturday: Cheltenham: 12:05 Coeur De Lion (Alan King/Richard Johnson) –
Juvenile Hurdle 14:25 Ami Desbois
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) –
Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 15:35 Midnight Tour (Alan King/Richard Johnson)
& Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Jamie Moore) & Morning Herald (Martin
Keighley/Aidan Coleman) & Briery Queen (Noel
Williams/Barry Geraghty) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle The Grade 2 International Hurdle takes place at
15:00; 6 runners are due to go to post – Old Guard, The New One, Court
Minstrel, Mister Miyagi, Melodic Rendezvous and My Tent Or Yours. Ryan Hatch was injured today, so Richard
Johnson takes the ride aboard The New One.
Also, Yanworth bypasses the race in favour
of My Tent Or Yours but, hopefully, the Alan King-trained horse will go to
Kempton Park on Boxing Day instead. Doncaster: 12:20 Passmore (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 128 yards] 12:55 Sego Success (Alan King/Tom Cannon) & Ziga Boy (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase [2
miles 7 furlongs & 214 yards] 13:30 Ardamir (Alan
King/Tom Cannon/AppleTree Stud) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles & 128 yards] 15:15 Timoteo (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) & Cliffs Of Dover (Paul Nicholls/Harry Cobden) –
Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2); the small field includes two Joseph
O’Brien-trained runners. Wolverhampton: 17:15 Her Terms (William Haggas/Pat
Cosgrave/AppleTree Stud) – Maiden Stakes [5
furlongs & 20 yards] Meanwhile, ex-Dunkley & Reilly Partnership
horse Ned Stark has his first outing for new trainer Gordon Elliot, when he
runs in the 14:20 at Navan, a Handicap Chase. Yesterday’s
winner Jazzy was definitely Martin
Keighley’s 11th winner of the season. It’s Donny
Osmond’s birthday today; he’s 59. But
he’s just a spring-chicken when compared to actor Kirk Douglas who is
celebrating his 100th birthday! |
|
Thursday
08 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Warwick: Tyrell (Alan King/Tom
Cannon/AppleTree Stud) won the Juvenile Hurdle
(14 ran); he ran all bar one rival into the ground when leading all the
way. Dingo Dollar (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 14th
in the Maiden Hurdle (18 ran). Briery Belle (Henry Daly/Tom
O’Brien) won the Mares Novices’
Chase (Listed) (6 ran); she’s now got that all important black type Cogburn (Alan King/Tom Cannon)
finished 3rd in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (13 ran). Here is a piccie of
Tyrell returning to the Winners’ Enclosure today: https://mobile.twitter.com/WarwickRaces/status/806842739803439104/photo/1 Newcastle: Money Maid (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods/EPDS Racing) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (12 ran). Kumbeshwar (Lucinda
Russell/Derek Fox) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase [2 miles & 75 yards]
(7 ran). Skipthecuddles (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 4th in the Standard Open NH Flat
Race (13 ran). Taunton: Forecast (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (5
ran). Jazzy (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won the Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles & 104 yards] (8 ran); that’s either Martin’s 10th or 11th winner of the season ... it
all depends whether the pro flat jockey race counted – I shall check the
stats again tomorrow. Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest, and there’s still no
sign of Wayne Hutchinson, so he’s probably on the injury sidelines as a
result of Tuesday’s fall at Fontwell Park. This means that Tom Cannon takes the bulk
of the Alan King rides, which are three at Doncaster. Cheltenham: 12:20 Label Des Obeaux
(Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Novices’ Chase 15:15 Bobble Emerald (Martin Keighley/Sam Twiston-Davies) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 179
yards] 15:45 Midnight Maestro (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) – NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) Doncaster: 12:00 Future Gilded (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 31
yards] 13:05 Primo Blue (Noel Williams/James Banks)
& Winner Massagot (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Novices’ Chase 13:40 Big Chief Benny (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 88 yards] 14:15 Godsmejudge
(David Dennis/Mr Z Baker) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs & 1 yard] 14:50 Midnight Cowboy (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 15:25 Theatre Goer (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Mares’
Handicap Hurdle Bangor-On-Dee: 13:15 Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles & 30 yards] 15:35 Kayf Mariner
(Alan King/William Featherstone) – Intermediate Open NH Flat Race I had meant
to record Warwick’s card in its entirety but, having felt off-colour late
yesterday evening, I went to bed and thus put off setting the Skybox until
this morning ... but then I forgot! There are
currently 28 entries in Monday’s bumper at Ffos
Las, Pride Of Pemberley being one of them. Oh dear
... Kipling notified regular customers of a money saving offer on selected
handbags and, guess what? One of those
is my favourite style, Defea, in the colour which
has been on my wish list since August, namely Plum Purple. It transpires that the saving is 40%, so I
had to buy one. Slap wrist. I still have two handbags on my wish list –
both made by Kipling, one from the retailer itself and one from QVC. I was also
‘forced’ to buy a bra from Bravissimo earlier in the week ... again an item on my
wish list. I look at the website
regularly, to see if stocks of any wish list items are running low; on
Tuesday this became a reality, so I bought one before stocks sold out. Low stock is indicated when the warehouse
has run out and stock is solely available in one or more of their shops; Bravissimo then ask the relevant shop to return the item
to the warehouse, and it is despatched to the customer from there. I still have two bras on my wish list! The
knitting wool for my niece’s bobble hat arrived yesterday, so that is a
project to complete before Christmas, along with finishing off my Noel
Williams/Newbury diary and photos. But
I won’t have much spare time this weekend; I’m also going to see Strictly’s ex-professional dancers Gleb
and Kristina at the Adelphi on Sunday.
|
|
Wednesday
07 December 2016 |
|
There were two runners of interest today, at Leicester, and this is how they fared: Heronry (Jamie Snowden/Micheal
Nolan) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 110
yards) (7 ran). Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/William
Featherstone) finished 3rd in the Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle (8
ran). My ATR tracker eluded to the fact that there would
be at least 7 runners of interest tomorrow and, for good measure, I’ve an
additional number too: Warwick: 12:20 Tyrell (Alan King/Tom Cannon/AppleTree Stud) – Juvenile Hurdle 12:50 Dingo Dollar (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Maiden Hurdle 13:20 Briery Belle (Henry
Daly/Tom O’Brien) – Mares Novices’ Chase (Listed); I was impressed by her win
at Carlisle when debuting over the bigger obstacles. 15:35 Cogburn (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) – Standard Open NH Flat Race I presume Wayne Hutchinson was injured when My Khaleesi fell yesterday. Newcastle: 13:45 Money Maid (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) – Novices’ Handicap Chase 14:50 Kumbeshwar
(Lucinda Russell/Derek Fox) – Handicap Chase [2 miles & 75 yards] 15:25 Skipthecuddles
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Standard Open NH
Flat Race; the ‘tongue-less’ horse! Taunton: 13:00 Forecast (Martin Keighley/Conor Shoemark) – Novices’
Hurdle 13:35 Jazzy (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 104 yards] Being Wednesday, there was a new Weekender column
from Alan King. Sadly he’s lost a couple of horses recently; one
newly arrived youngster broke a leg on the gallops a couple of weeks ago, and
Alaskan Poet collapsed and died having finished 3rd in the bumper at Plumpton last week.
Also, Board Of Trade has undergone colic surgery. Tara View, who was withdrawn from a Mares’ race
at Catterick last week having been kicked at the
start, was still lame the following day.
However, Minella Charmer is fine after this
fall on Saturday. With the JP McManus-owner Unowhatimeanharry
bolting up in Newbury’s Long Distance Hurdle, Yanworth’s
targets have now changed. So, instead
of heading to Ascot for the Long Distance Hurdle, he will have an entry in
Cheltenham’s International Hurdle.
However, he’s still only the back-up runner on Saturday at the
Gloucestershire track because if My Tent Or Yours runs, then Yanworth may be switched to Kempton’s Christmas Hurdle
instead! It’s just a shame there’s not
a 2½ mile Grade 1 all age hurdle race at the Cheltenham Festival … although,
of course, there is the Aintree Hurdle in April. The fact that Evening Hush won impressively at
Aintree on Saturday didn’t go unnoticed by Alan, so he’s hopeful AppleTree Stud’s Tyrell will run well tomorrow on his
second outing over hurdles. Meanwhile Martin Keighley’s Any Currency is set
to miss Cheltenham’s cross-country race on Friday, with the mid-course ground
still described as good to firm, firm in places. Ummmmmmmmmmmm … not sure about the
news that Native River will head to the Welsh Grand National. Okay he’s got stamina in abundance but he’s
also classier than that. At Hexham today, Henry Brooke rode his first
winner since returning from injury; it was the racecourse where he sustained
his injuries. He’s a nice guy, and
thanked everyone for the care he received at the racecourse when waiting to
be transferred to hospital; he took along chocolates for the medical staff
too. Menace has been chilling out with the help of a
therapy blanket: https://mobile.twitter.com/HannahBishop79/status/805794974340096001/photo/1 I could do with one of those for my annoying
aches and pains! Yesterday
I forgot to add a link to a piccie of Avealittlepatience, so here she is: https://mobile.twitter.com/EPDS_Racing/status/805889019913637890/photo/1 I’ve added Pride Of Pemberley
to my ATR Tracker, as his name has finally appeared on the extensive list of
racehorses. As planned, I visited my bank again today and it
was a completely different story.
Despite it being market day, the customer services area was almost
deserted when I arrived and, ten minutes later, everything was sorted
regarding my Twitterati standing order for
2017. The customer services assistant
said that Monday had been horrendously busy, the worst she’d ever seen, and
Tuesday almost as bad! I’d obviously
picked the wrong day for my first trip to the bank. Yesterday’s bed-time was the complete opposite
from Monday; I didn’t turn in until 00:30 and, even then, I didn’t feel like
I was ready to go to sleep. But I’m
tired again tonight, so expect to be out for the count almost as soon as my
head hits the support pillow! |
|
Tuesday
06 December 2016 |
|
There were no results to report yesterday, as
Ludlow was lost to the frost. However, that wasn’t the reason I didn’t write a
blog yesterday. Unfortunately I’d
succumbed to a stonking headache by the time I left
work yesterday and, although it disappeared for a short while once I’d
reached home, it then returned, so I went to bed before 20:00. There are a number of results to report today: Fontwell Park: Rainbow Dreamer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle (9 ran); Wayne’s
41st winner of the season. Corrie Loch (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 6th
but My Khaleesi (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
unseated at the second flight in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran). Uttoxeter: Altesse De Guye (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 2nd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (9 ran). Ballymountain Boy (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 2nd in the
Standard Open NH Flat Race (10 ran). There are two runners of interest tomorrow, at Leicester: 13:25 Heronry (Jamie Snowden/Micheal
Nolan) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 110 yards) 14:25 Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/William
Featherstone) – Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Hurdle Sam Thomas trained his first winner under rules
today when Jamrham won a Handicap Chase at Fontwell Park. As expected, it has been confirmed that Hennessy
has sponsored their final Gold Cup; being an independent track, plans are
afoot for Ladbrokes/Coral to take over Newbury’s flagship NH race, as the
BHA’s sponsorship policy does not apply to the Berkshire course. There are plans afoot to run the two Twitterati horses and Pride of Pemberley
before Christmas. Galactic Power will be entered to run at Hereford
on 19 December, a novices’ handicap chase.
Avealittlepatience will probably run in a
bumper at Bangor on 22 December and Pride of Pemberley
will be entered in a newcomers’ bumper at Ffos Las
on 12 December (next Monday). It’s a
shame that they are all due to run at racecourses ‘over the back of beyond’ for myself in Hertfordshire! As the EPDS Twitterati
racing club will be running two horses next year, the cost has increased to
£20 per month but, as this also includes visits to a variety of stable yards
(Noel Williams, Graeme McPherson, Jamie Snowden, Robin Dickin,
Rebecca Menzies and Fergal O’Brien), it is well worth the investment. I hope to carry on indefinitely, finances
permitting of course. Yard visits commence again early in the New Year,
and EPDS hopes a visit to Fergal O’Brien’s yard in Naunton
will be first on the list. I shall endeavour to make that one, despite it
being in Gloucestershire; I rambled from Bourton-on-the-Water
to Naunton and back one Good Friday a few years
ago; pre-Choc! It began misty and continued to be damp and murky
all day but, despite this, I decided I should pop to town this lunchtime to
sort out my Twitterati standing order for another
year. In hindsight I wished I hadn’t
bothered, because I waited in my bank’s customer services department for 40
minutes to see someone … only to run out of time and have to return to
work. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. What is the matter with banks these days? Surely they realise that working people
have a finite period in which to conduct their business, so why don’t they
have sufficient staff in their branches between noon and 14:00 to cater for
this need? And it doesn’t help when
account holders who aren’t restricted by working hours decide to visit the
bank at the same time as people who are.
Anyway, I
shall try again tomorrow and, if I still can’t get it sorted within my
lunch-break, I shall be even less amused than I was today! |
|
Sunday
04 December 2016 |
|
There were a number of runners of interest at Huntingdon this afternoon and this is how they fared: Pattara (Noel Williams/Thomas
Garner) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 145
yards] (13 ran). Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap
Chase (6 ran). Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
dead-heated for 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 171
yards] (10 ran). Top Tug (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd
in the Novices’ Hurdle (16 ran). Peggies Venture (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race
(Listed) (10 ran). Art Mauresque and
Ratify were non-runners in the Grade 2 Peterborough Chase, which left Josses
Hill to put in an excellent round of jumping to win decisively from Tea For
Two, More Of That, Dodging Bullets and Volnay De Thaix. The most heartening win of the day was when The Jugopolist finally won a race at his 29th attempt! He won the Novices’ Handicap Chase for
trainer John Cornwall and jockey Ben Poste. Ex-stable inmate Apple’s Jade, beat Willie
Mullins’ Vroum Vroum Mag by a short-head in today’s Grade 1 Hatton Grace
Hurdle at Fairyhouse. With low temperatures forecast for overnight,
there is to be an inspection ahead of tomorrow’s Ludlow card but,
if racing goes ahead, there are two runners of interest: 14:05 Midnight Tour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 15:40 Cybelle Colombe (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard
Open NH Flat Race I completed
my Newbury racing notes this morning and have been chilling out this
afternoon. I shall take a leisurely
outlook when finishing everything off, including the uploading of my photos,
as I’ve still got three weeks until the next outing. |
|
Saturday
03 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Aintree: Rosa Damscena (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (Listed)
(8 ran). However, Evening Hush was a
very impressive winner of this race and she won the race which Tyrell
finished 4th in at Exeter on his hurdling debut! Midnight Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 9th but Ziga Boy (Alan King/Tom Bellamy)
was badly hampered at the first fence and unseated as a result when the former
Grand National runner-up Saint Are fell in the Becher
Chase (Grade 3) ((22 ran). Another surprise was that Alvarado fell at the
2nd! Alan King was hoping to find out whether Ziga Boy would take to the Aintree fences, so it was very
bad luck that he was taken out at the first fence. However, he did jump four further fences
without a jockey before bypassing the Chair and then deciding he’d rather
like to return to the warmth of his stable!
Sensible horse! The Becher Chase was
won by the 8-1 favourite Vieux Lion Rouge, ridden by Tom Scudamore,
who ran down last year’s winner Highland Lodge in the final few strides to
win by a short-head; so no fairytale win for Henry Brooke who returned from
the injury sidelines this week. The Last Samuri,
carrying top weight, was just a length behind these in 3rd. Two disappointments for their connections must
have been Viconte Du Noyer
who trailed in to finish 12th and The Young Master who capsized two out when
also trailing; I presume the latter is envisaged to be Sam Waley-Cohen’s Grand National ride this season. Meanwhile the 4-1 favourite As De Mee won the shorter in distance Sefton
Chase, also run over the Grand National fences, for Paul Nicholls and Sean
Bowen. The fancied Seefood
completed in 2nd. Jamie Snowden trains
As De Mee’s younger half-brother Capsy De Mee. Many Clouds won the Listed Chase; he would have
won despite Minella Rocco capsizing at the
last. Chepstow: Kerrow (Alan King/Brendan
Powell) finished 6th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (10 ran). Kayf Mariner (Alan
King/William Featherstone) was a non-runner in the Standard Open NH Flat Race Wetherby: Minella Charmer (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) fell four out when travelling well in the Novices’ Chase (4
ran); he was perhaps a little too fresh today, so hopefully is okay to fight
another day. Its’afreebee
won, with Cole Harden a disappointing 2nd. Passing Call (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 4th
in the Fillies’ Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race (7 ran). Annoyingly, Un De Sceaux
won Sandown’s Grade 1 Tingle Creek
Chase, but Sire De Grugy put up a very brave fight
when finishing 2nd. Ar Mad ran well after setting off like a tornado,
frightening himself with an error at the second open ditch, not being fluent
at the water and making a mistake at the first of the railway fences too …
and he still finished a close 4th! It was Ruby’s 4th victory in Sandown’s feature
but Willie Mullins’ first. Altior, after a few minor
jumping glitches early on due to his inexperience, was an impressive winner
of the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase.
It was only his second outing over the larger obstacles and his first
‘proper’ race. Did you notice that Sandown re-directed their
hurdles races today, with two hurdles before they crossed between the
open-ditch and water-jump and then two further hurdles before the far turn,
instead of three hurdles before crossing between the water-jump and the first
of the railway fences and then one further hurdle before the far turn? Today’s route followed their flat racing
line. Although I wonder if they change
the route during the season to avoid poaching the ground at the crossing
points too much. There are a number of runners of interest at Huntingdon tomorrow: 12:30 Pattara (Noel
Williams/Thomas Garner) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 145
yards] 13:00 Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Nick Scholfield) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 13:30 Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 171 yards] 14:30 Top Tug (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Hurdle 15:00 Peggies Venture
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Listed) The headliner race is the Grade 2 Peterborough
Chase at 14:00 featuring Josses Hill, Tea For Two, Art Mauresque,
More Of That, Dodging Bullets, Ratify and Volnay De
Thaix. Just in case you’ve not seen Asuncion’s amazing
win at Market Rasen earlier in the week, here it
is: http://www.thejockeyclub.co.uk/video/20161201/2648229/15824105 RUK is making their coverage of Newbury’s New
Year’s Eve fixture, which features the Challow
Hurdle, free to air, as Channel 4 is ending their racing coverage on 27 December
with the Welsh Grand National and the second day of Kempton Park’s Christmas
meeting. ITV begin their contract on
01 January. I’ve made
good progress on my race notes today and have completed 5 of the 7 events! |
|
Friday
02 December 2016 |
|
Exeter was abandoned, so here are the results for
my runners of interest at Sandown
Park today: Ardkilly Witness (Jamie
Snowden/Mr H Hunt) finished 3rd in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (9
ran). Buckle Street (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 2nd and Dino Velvet (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle
(10 ran); with Exeter abandoned, Wayne went to Esher instead and thus claimed
his 40th winner of the season. Messire Des Obeaux (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) won the Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (7 ran); Ballyandy
finished 2nd. Saturday’s runners of interest are as follows: Aintree: 12:00 Rosa Damscena
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) 13:35 Midnight Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
& Ziga Boy (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Becher Chase (Grade 3) In addition, Irish Cavalier, Many Clouds, Le Mercurey, Minella Rocco and
Cocktails At Dawn run in the Listed Chase at 14:40. Chepstow: 13:55 Kerrow (Alan
King/Brendan Powell) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:50 Kayf Mariner
(Alan King/William Featherstone) - Standard Open NH Flat Race Wetherby: 12:40 Minella Charmer
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Novices’ Chase 15:25 Passing Call (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Fillies’ Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race; she’s a daughter of Call Me A
Legend There aren’t any runners of interest at Sandown
Park for the trainers I follow, but the Grade 1 Tingle Creek Chase takes
place at 15:00 and features Ar Mad, God’s Own, Sire
De Grugy, Sir Valentino, Un De Sceaux
and Vibrato Valtat.
Prior to that, at 13:55, the Grade 1 Henry VIII
Novices’ Chase features Altior, Charbel,
Marracudja and Max Ward. The good news is that I’ve now drafted the
majority of my yard visit/Newbury diary, apart from adding the race notes, so
that’s a task to begin this weekend. My niece
Kim has asked me to knit her a bobble hat for Christmas so, once I’ve bought
the wool online, that’s another task when I’ve taken delivery thereof. |
|
Thursday
01 December 2016 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Market Rasen: Asuncion (Rebecca Menzies/Jamie Hamilton/EPDS Racing) won the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 34 yards] (6
ran); if you get the chance to watch the replay, you will be amazed with her
last gasp charge to the line! Wincanton was abandoned … Chelmsford (AW): Her Terms (William Haggas/Pat
Cosgrave/AppleTree Stud) finished 4th in the Maiden
Stakes (9 ran). Dalavand (Laura Mongan/Liam Keniry/Ex-AppleTree Stud) was a non-runner in the Handicap [1 mile
2 furlongs] Both Sandown Park and Exeter face inspections
tomorrow but, if racing goes ahead, here are my runners of interest: Sandown Park: 12:40 Ardkilly Witness
(Jamie Snowden/Mr H Hunt) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase 13:15 Buckle Street (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) & Dino Velvet (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Juvenile Hurdle 14:25 Messire Des Obeaux (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) – Novices’ Hurdle (Grade
2) Exeter: 12:55 Wishing And Hoping (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 48 yards] 15:15 Primo Blue (Noel Williams/James Banks) –
Novices’ Chase; Noel knows how to pick his races … and admits it too … rivals
include Frodon, Rock The Kasbah and The New One! I watched the Catterick
highlights late yesterday and have now added Laissez Dire to my ATR
Tracker. As the name suggests, the
horse is a French import; he’s owned by JP McManus and looks to have lots of
talent and jumping ability ... and a pennant tail! |
