MAY 2011
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Tuesday 31 May 2011 |
|
One result of interest from Ffos Las today: Victor Daly (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished last in the Handicap Chase (5 ran). Tomorrow, Choc has one riding engagement at Fontwell Park: 16:05 Hawk
Gold (Miss MP Bryant) – Handicap Hurdle |
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Monday 30 May 2011 |
|
No results to report today, as Choc wasn’t in
action. No riding engagements for Choc tomorrow; however,
Martin Keighley has one runner engaged at Ffos Las: 19:50 Victor Daly (Ian Popham)
– Handicap Chase I’ve spent
today at home; the weather was fine this morning, but it’s been raining this
afternoon. I’ve been working on my
Stratford diary, watching a video of the races and making handwritten notes
in preparation for typing them up. I
also need to ‘expand’ the first
draft of my Cheltenham Day 4 diary, as I’ve already watched the videos and
made rough notes. |
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Sunday 29 May 2011 |
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Choc had 2 riding engagements at Uttoxeter this afternoon, and this is how he fared: Cool Steel (Alan King) finished 4th in the Maiden
Hurdle (6 ran). Peqeno
Diablo (Miss C Dyson) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). There’s National Hunt racing at Cartmel and Towcester tomorrow,
but no riding engagements for Choc. Here is
the link to the photos I took at Stratford
yesterday. |
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Saturday 28 May 2011 |
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Choc and Nikos Extra at the start prior to the 2 miles 5½ furlongs Handicap Chase Choc was at Stratford this
evening (me too!), and this is how he fared: Looks Like Slim (Ben De Haan)
finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle (9 ran); but there was an owner’s prize
of £201 for finishing 5th. Nikos Extra (Alan King) finished 5th in the 2
miles 5½ furlongs Handicap Chase (10 ran); again there was an owner’s prize
of £246 for 5th. Rayavadee (Paul Green) finished 13th in the Maiden Open NH
Flat Race (14 ran). Fortunately it was dry at Stratford but, with
what seems to be an ever-present cold breeze these past few weeks, I was cold
by the time the 5th race of the evening had arrived. And that’s despite wearing a thermal vest,
a long sleeved knitted tunic, a fleece, a summer scarf and a winter
coat! And I missed the charity camel racing which took
place before the horseracing ... as I didn’t arrive until 16:25, after which
I sat in my car for a few minutes not realising I was missing something! I’d have set off earlier than 14:15 if I’d
known – so that gave me the hump (sorry!). I arrived back home at 23:25 after being diverted
from my original route, due to the northbound carriageway of the A41 from
Junction 9 of the M40 to Bicester being closed due
to road-works ... I always thought that stretch of road was part of the A34,
no wonder the motorway warning sign confused me! However, despite this, I choose the correct
action and remained on the M40 ... all the way to the M25! I didn’t think it was worth me trying to
cut across country via Aylesbury or Princes Risborough
or Amersham, especially after dark, although I do know the routes (in
daylight) from my days as a devoted rambler!
Although I love to see Choc ride ‘live’, I am prone to feeling a little
disappointed when he’s not made it to the Winners’ Enclosure, either as a
winner or placed horse, with any of his rides. Tomorrow, Choc has 2 riding engagements at Uttoxeter: 15:40 Cool Steel (Alan King) - Maiden Hurdle 16:10 Peqeno Diablo
(Miss C Dyson) – Handicap Hurdle I’ve lots of bits ‘n’ pieces to do tomorrow,
including uploading my Stratford photographs and making a start on the
initial draft of my Stratford diary ... before I forget any of the small
details. |
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Friday 27 May 2011 |
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Choc had one riding engagement at Stratford
this evening, and this is how he fared: Am I Blue (Mrs D Thomas) was pulled up in the
Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). Tomorrow, Choc will be at Stratford
once more, where he has 3 riding engagements: 17:50 Looks Like Slim (Ben De Haan)
– Handicap Hurdle 19:20 Nikos Extra (Alan King) – Handicap Chase 21:00 Rayavadee (Paul
Green) – Maiden Open NH Flat Race Another
Bank Holiday weekend and, typically, the weather is expected to be a little
damper and cooler than recently. Not sure of my plans ... although, of
course, I still have three diaries to complete. |
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Thursday 26 May 2011 |
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My Word application was having a ‘funny’ moment this evening ... I couldn’t
open this blog or my almost completed 6,000 word Cheltenham Day 2 diary
either ... thank goodness I can download the files from my website to recover
them. In the case of my diaries, I
knew it was a good idea to save my latest drafts onto the site just for safe
keeping! Phew! No results today, but Choc has one riding
engagement at Stratford tomorrow evening: 19:55 Am I Blue (Mrs D Thomas) – Handicap Hurdle
(and he’ll be sweating off the weight to do 10 stone 5 lbs!) Having said goodbye to a number of horses at the
Doncaster sales this week, Alan King has purchased a couple of chasers – Quotica de Poyans and Hold On
Julio. Epsom Derby and Prix de l’Arc
de Triomphe winner Workforce made a successful
return to action at Sandown Park this evening. More I have to say that Sandown’s Parade Ring
looks strange when surrounded by trees in full leaf ... when I visit the
track it’s always winter with no greenery in sight! And there’s a positive report regarding injured
amateur jockey Isabel Tompsett. More And, last
but not least, here is a link to the aforementioned Cheltenham Day 2 diary |
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Wednesday 25 May 2011 |
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Two runners of interest at Newton Abbot this afternoon: Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/AP McCoy) won the Beginners’
Chase on his first racecourse outing over the larger obstacles (5 ran). Martin’s 5th
winner of the
season. Won
More Night (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished
2nd in the Handicap Chase (6 ran). And at Southwell this evening: Jacko’s
Boy (Martin Keighley/Sam Thomas) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase (4 ran). Suburban
Bay (Alan
King/Choc) won the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (7 ran); Choc’s
7th winner of the season J The Fox’s Decree (Martin Keighley/Richard
Johnson) finished 4th in the same event. Suburban Bay wasn’t particularly fancied for the
race, a 9-1shot, because he is a very ‘fizzy’
type which has presumably prevented him from winning over hurdles before; although
he did win his only appearance in a bumper back in November 2008 after which
he was missing from action for 794 days!
Choc did a brilliant job with him today, as he was very much on his
toes as usual. No riding engagements for Choc tomorrow. The 2007 Champion Hurdler, Sublimity,
ran his final race this evening before hopefully a long and happy retirement.
More I’m just
putting the finishing touches to my Cheltenham Day 2 diary and will upload it
tomorrow. |
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Tuesday 24 May 2011 |
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Martin
Keighley had one runner at Huntingdon
this
evening: Celtic Ballad
finished a head 2nd in the Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle (10
ran); he was probably a little unlucky as the winner drifted across on the
run-in. Tomorrow afternoon there are runners of interest
at Newton Abbot: 14:40 Benbane Head (Martin
Keighley/AP McCoy) – Beginners’ Chase 15:40 Won More Night (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Chase And tomorrow evening at Southwell: 18:20 Jacko’s Boy
(Martin Keighley/Sam Thomas) – Handicap Chase 20:50 Suburban Bay (Alan King/Choc J);
The Fox’s Decree (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle There’s a progress report regarding injured
jockey Isabel Tompsett. More News today that Mtoto
has died, aged 28. As well as winning
the Eclipse twice, the King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes and
finishing as runner-up in the Prix De L’Arc De Triomphe he sired Presenting, who has been responsible
for many top class National Hunt horses, including War of Attrition, Denman
and Ballabriggs.
More Day 1 of the Doncaster sale has taken place and
there were a few ‘transfers’ of
interest: Enfant De Lune has gone to the David Pipe yard -
£18,000 Ravethebrave is now with Lawney
Hill - £23,000 Jubail
has moved to Donald McCain Jnr - £35,000 Old Benny wasn’t sold on the day! Nadiya
De La Vega was bought by Enda Bolger for £70,000 The top lot was Alaivan,
who was also purchased by Enda Bolger, for
£150,000! He also
purchased Chamirey for £30,000; the horse had been
with Donald McCain Jnr since leaving the Alan King
yard. |
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Monday 23 May 2011 |
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It’s still
very quiet on the ‘Chocolate’
front, with no riding engagements for the past 3 days and none tomorrow
either. However,
Martin Keighley is due to have one runner at Huntingdon tomorrow
evening: 19:15
Celtic Ballad – Conditional Jockeys’ Selling Handicap Hurdle (Ian Popham) I tuned
into the ATR coverage from Fakenham yesterday and saw
two horrendous falls, with the jockeys being badly hurt. The worst was poor Isabel Tompsett who was knocked unconscious and unable to
breathe, her condition today being described as serious but stable. More The other
jockey injured was Nick Scholfield, who broke a leg
and also suffered damage to one of his hands.
More I’d like
to take this opportunity to wish both jockeys a speedy recovery. It sales
time again and Alan King will be sending a number of horses to Doncaster to
be sold this week: The ones I
found listed are Old Benny, The Laodicean, No
Tears, Enfant De Lune, Quetzel, American Ladie, Ravethebrave, Jubail, Gilded Age, Swansbrook,
Asturienne and Union Island. Here is a
link to the full catalogue listing: http://www.dbsauctions.com/catalogue.aspx?saleId=218&saletype=Mixed I’m plodding
my way through my outstanding diaries but, hopefully, Cheltenham Day 2 will
be finished within the next few days! |
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Friday 20 May
2011 |
|
Choc was
at Towcester this evening, but he
was out of luck: Management
finished 2nd in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Mister Chancer finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran); Alan
King’s other declaration, Cool Steel was a non-runner. Ali Baba
finished 8th in the Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (13 ran). A very quiet weekend for Choc, with no National
Hunt racing tomorrow and no riding engagements at Fakenham
or Kelso on Sunday. And therefore
another quiet non-racing weekend for me too. |
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Thursday 19 May
2011 |
|
Choc was
at Wetherby this afternoon, where
he had two riding engagements, both for Brian Ellison: Dontpaytheferryman finished 4th in the
Novices’ Chase (5 ran). Film
Festival finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). As I
didn’t expect Choc to travel to North Yorkshire today, I didn’t log onto my
laptop yesterday evening to check for riding engagements. Besides, I’ve been feeling a little under
the weather for the past couple of days – either I’ve caught a summer cold
... or I’ve got hay fever for the first time ever! I gather numerous people who have never had
hay fever before have got symptoms this year due to the dry weather
conditions. Choc is
due to ride at Towcester tomorrow evening,
where he has 3 riding engagements for Alan King: 17:40
Management (Choc) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 18:40
Mister Chancer (Choc); Cool Steel (Charlie Huxley)
– Novices’ Hurdle 20:40 Ali Baba (Choc) – Intermediate Open NH Flat
Race |
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Tuesday 17 May
2011 |
|
Martin
Keighley had 3 runners at Southwell this afternoon and this is how they fared: Monty’s Revenge
(Sam Thomas) fell in the Handicap Chase Div I (11 ran). Sky Calling (Sam Thomas) won the
Handicap Hurdle (2 miles) (9 ran); Martin’s 4th
winner of the
season. Junior
Jack (Sam Thomas) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 4½ furlongs)
(10 ran). As Wayne
Hutchinson has been ‘missing’ for a
number of weeks, I’d been presuming that his injury was more serious than
reported. Evidently he’d cracked a
number of vertebrae, so it was good to read in Martin Keighley’s blog that
Wayne is back riding out and hopes to return to action by the end of next
week. And there
is another progress report regarding Peter Toole,
who is continuing to recover from his Aintree fall. More There is National Hunt racing taking place at Worcester and Sedgefield tomorrow evening but
no rides for Choc or runners for Martin Keighley. |
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Monday 16 May
2011 |
|
Today
there were 2 runners of interest at Newton Abbot: Franklino (Alan King/Choc)
finished 4th in the Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). Celtic
Ballad (Martin Keighley/Choc) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). Sky
Calling (Martin Keighley) was a non-runner in the Handicap Chase With the
dry weather continuing, Choc is suffering a riding engagement drought too; he
has no riding engagements tomorrow. However,
Martin Keighley is due to have 3 runners at Southwell tomorrow afternoon: 14:40
Monty’s Revenge (Sam Thomas) – Handicap Chase Div I 16:40 Sky
Calling (Sam Thomas) – Handicap Hurdle (2 miles) 17:10 Junior Jack (Sam Thomas) – Handicap Hurdle
(2 miles 4½ furlongs) |
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Sunday 15 May
2011 |
|
Choc was
at Bangor On Dee yesterday afternoon
and this is how he fared: Dineur (Alan King/Choc) won the
NH Maiden Hurdle; stable companion Night Rose (Alan King/Charlie Huxley)
finished 3rd. Choc’s
6th winner of the season. (11 ran) Mickytaker (Alan King/Choc)
finished 3rd in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (6 ran) Veteran
Marked Man (Richard Lee/Choc) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase (6 ran). A couple
of other interesting results from yesterday: Yorgunnabelucky, who was tried over
hurdles last season, and is currently trained by Mark Johnston, won a one
mile six furlong handicap at Newmarket yesterday. This was the horse Choc rode in the one
race which took place at Newbury’s abandoned meeting in February. And
ex-Martin Keighley trained King Ozzy who, having
gone to the sales is now trained by Lawney Hill,
won a Handicap Hurdle at Bangor. Choc’s one intended ride at
Market Rasen today was a non-runner. Tomorrow
there are 3 runners of interest at Newton Abbot: 14:20 Franklino (Alan King/Choc) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:50 Sky
Calling (Martin Keighley/Sam Thomas) – Handicap Chase 16:20
Celtic Ballad (Martin Keighley/Choc!) – Handicap Hurdle Sorry
there was no blog yesterday but, having been invited to ‘tea’ at my brother’s house, after which I attended my niece Kim’s
final appearance in a Dance Show at her local village hall in Silsoe – she’s 18 now and off to University in the autumn
– I didn’t arrive back home until gone 23:00.
Kim has done ballet, tap and modern dance for the past 12 years and
played the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker last evening; she
also took part in a tap routine and a modern dance routine in last night’s
show. At the end of the evening she
received two medals, having achieved the best dance school exam results in
two categories, including tap. We had some rain yesterday evening but, despite it
clouding over on a regular basis, we never seem to get much. Not that I like rain, but it would
definitely help the National Hunt racing programme! |
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Friday 13 May
2011 |
|
A number
of runners of interest at Aintree this evening and this
is how they fared: Victor
Daly (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) was pulled up; and as for Patsy
Finnegan (Alan King/Choc) ‘mid-div,
numerous mistakes, fell 12th’ in the Handicap Chase; Choc’s
first fall of the season. Fortunately
both horse and jockey were fine following the mishap. (10 ran) Looks Like
Slim (Ben De Haan/Choc) finished 2nd in the
Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Gilded Age
(Alan King/Choc) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). Frizzo (Alan King/Choc)
finished 5th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (8 ran). Choc may
not have had any winners on Friday the thirteenth ... but he was not as
unlucky as trainer Peter Bowen – in the first race Tout Regulier
fell at the last when clear; in the second race Quattrocento
(the favourite) slipped up on the grandstand bend and unseated Jamie Moore;
in the third race Big Time Billy (also the favourite) over-jumped and fell;
and in the final race Forever My Friend was beaten by a head. A day Peter will surely wish to forget. Choc will
be at Bangor On Dee tomorrow afternoon
(with no evening engagements at Uttoxeter): 14:25 Dineur (Alan King/Choc); Night Rose (Alan King/Charlie
Huxley) – NH Maiden Hurdle 15:00 Mickytaker (Alan King/Choc) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 16:10
Marked Man (Richard Lee/Choc) – Handicap Chase And I’ve
completed and uploaded Part II of my Grand National Day diary. Click here to read Just a ‘mere’ four diaries now to
complete! Days 2, 3 and 4 of this
year’s Cheltenham Festival and 10 April at Ascot. With Choc
due to ride at Market Rasen on Sunday, where his
sole engagement is in the bumper, it means I’m going to have yet another
quiet non-racing weekend at home. L |
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Thursday 12 May
2011 |
|
Just one riding
engagement for Choc today, at Ludlow: Marleybow (Richard Lee)
finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase (11 ran); Choc having jumped the last
upsides the winner. I saw my
friend William Bonney (the horse that is) run in
the Hunters’ Chase tonight – he finished 5th. There was
fun and games at Ludlow late in the evening, when the low sun caused all the
hurdles in the home straight to be omitted.
Logic finally came into play though, as initially the hurdles were solely
dolled off ... and then someone suddenly realised that the following and only
other race of the day was a bumper ... so they then took the hurdles away;
but the process took ages as they also had to fill in the holes where the
flights had been secured and all this took place while the horses were
waiting at the start! The novices
jumped 5 flights in all, instead of 11. Tomorrow,
there are a number of runners of interest at Aintree: 18:00
Victor Daly (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson); Patsy Finnegan (Alan
King/Choc) – Handicap Chase 18:35
Looks Like Slim (Ben De Haan/Choc) – Novices’
Hurdle 19:05
Gilded Age (Alan King/Choc) – Handicap Hurdle 20:40 Frizzo (Alan
King/Choc) – Standard Open NH Flat Race |
|
Wednesday 11 May
2011 |
|
Choc had
just a single ride at Fontwell Park this afternoon, as Batonnier and Suburban Bay were non-runners. No Tears
finished 5th in the Handicap Chase (7 ran). Meanwhile
at Wincanton: American Ladie (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) finished 2nd in the Mares’
Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). Just one
riding engagement for Choc tomorrow, at Ludlow: 18:30 Marleybow (Richard Lee) – Handicap Chase Good news regarding an injured jockey, Rodi Greene is making good progress from severe spinal
bruising sustained at Lingfield Park on 21 March
and hopes to leave hospital soon. More |
|
Tuesday 10 May
2011 |
|
There were
a couple of runners of interest at the Hunter Chase/Amateur Riders’ evening
at Sedgefield: Ponchatrain (Martin Keighley/Mr
Tom Bellamy – son of Robert) won the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (6
ran). Martin’s 3rd winner of the season, and Tom’s first winner under rules
too. Congratulations to everyone! The Fox’s
Decree (Martin Keighley/Mr Danny Hiskett) finished
9th Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). And Gonzo
(Rodrigo Gonzales) has been retired following his disappointing run last Sunday. Tomorrow
Choc is due to ride at Fontwell Park, with
three riding engagements for Alan King: 15:10 No
Tears – Handicap Chase 15:45 Batonnier – Maiden Hurdle 16:55
Suburban Bay – Handicap Hurdle Meanwhile
at Wincanton where, due to the prevailing
dry conditions, there will be a solely hurdles card (plus a NH Flat race): 14:20
American Ladie (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) – Mares’
Novices’ Hurdle I forgot to add a blog link to my completed Aintree Grand National Day Diary Part I, which I uploaded
late on Sunday. Part II is my current
project. |
|
Monday 09 May
2011 |
|
Both of Choc’s riding engagements at Towcester
this evening where non-runners, so no results to report today. 15-years
young Keltic Lord finished 3rd in the Jacardo Retirement Handicap Chase at the course this
evening. I’ve been
searching for more photographs of Choc’s 1000th
winner and have found these from Graftonwood 1 & The next
instalment of Meally Thornton’s Eclipse diary
appeared today. She writes about her
Easter trip to Scotland, and the impending birth of her niece or nephew. And there are piccies
of cute little William with his pals and another with his Auntie Sarah. More News that
injured jockey Richard Hawkins is making good progress on the road to
recovery. More No
National Hunt racing tomorrow, apart from the Hunter Chase evening at
Sedgefield; but there are a couple of runners of interest at the fixture,
both trained by Martin Keighley: 18:45 Ponchatrain (Mr Tom Bellamy) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap
Chase 19:45 The
Fox’s Decree (Mr Danny Hiskett) – Amateur Riders’
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle |
|
Sunday 08 May
2011 |
|
Today, Choc
was at Uttoxeter, where he had 3 riding engagements: Iron
Chancellor (Alan King) finished 3rd in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran); a
little embarrassing as he went off as 2/13 on favourite, a blunder 3 flights
from home put paid to his chance. Hightown (Don Cantillon) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Ruby Kew
(Alan King) finished 5th in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (12 ran). Meanwhile
at Worcester: Shrewd
Investment (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) finished 10th in the Handicap Hurdle
Div I (14 ran). The Laodicean (Alan King/Peter Hatton) finished 4th; Mauricetheathlete (Martin Keighley/Felix de Giles)
finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle Div II (12 ran). Sky Calling (Martin Keighley/Sam
Thomas) won the Handicap Chase, easily (8 ran); Martin’s 2nd winner of the season. Rodrigo
Gonzales (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) was pulled
up in the Handicap Chase (9 ran); however, Martin did mention in his blog
that ‘Gonzo’ was still a little
overweight for his first run of the season. Whilst at Plumpton: Celtic
Ballad (Martin Keighley/Jimmy Derham) was a
non-runner in the Handicap Hurdle due to a bruised foot. Alan
King’s website has a nice write-up about Kumbeshwar’s
exploits, including his outing at Punchestown
yesterday. http://www.alankingracing.co.uk/news/news1.php Tim
Vaughan is hoping to aim Punchestown winner Spirit of Adjisa at Royal Ascot’s Ascot
Stakes. And Aidan
Coleman has been sidelined following a fall on Friday at Punchestown.. More Tomorrow
evening Choc is due to ride at Towcester, where he
has two riding engagements, both for Alan King: 18:00
Lucky Mix – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 20:30 Frizzo – Maiden Open NH Flat Race I notice
that a Handicap Chase is being run in honour of recently retired ‘standing dish’ Jacarado;
and 15-year-old veteran Keltic Lord is due to run
in the race. As my Grand National day diary seems to be taking
an age to complete, I’ve decided to split it into two instalments; the first of
which I hope to finish and upload this evening. |
|
Saturday 07 May
2011 |
|
Choc was
at Punchestown today, where he had one riding engagement for
Alan King: The
consistent Kumbeshwar finished as runner-up in the Champion
Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (7 ran); The Nicky Henderson trained, Barry Geraghty ridden, Grandouet won. A very
good day for the combination; as Bellvano won the 2
miles 2 furlongs Novices’ Chase; and Shakalakaboomboom
won the 3 miles 1 furlong Handicap Chase.
There were
also a couple of runners of interest at Haydock Park, where there was a ‘mixed’ card: Benbane Head (Martin
Keighley/Jimmy Derham) finished 8th in the Long
Distance Handicap Hurdle (17 ran). Jubail (Alan King/Charlie
Huxley) finished 13th in the Swinton Handicap
Hurdle (22 ran); The race was won, for the second year running, by the Nicky
Henderson trained Eradicate. So an extremely good day for the yard! Tomorrow,
Choc will be at Uttoxeter, where he has 3 riding engagements: 14:00 Iron
Chancellor (Alan King) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 14:30 Hightown (Don Cantillon) –
Novices’ Hurdle 17:00 Ruby
Kew (Alan King) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race Meanwhile
at Worcester: 13:50 Shrewd
Investment (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) – Handicap Hurdle Div I 14:20 The Laodicean (Alan King/Peter Hatton); Mauricetheathlete
(Martin Keighley/Felix de Giles) – Handicap Hurdle Div II 14:50 Sky
Calling (Martin Keighley/Sam Thomas) – Handicap Chase 16:20
Rodrigo Gonzales (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) –
Handicap Chase And at Plumpton: 15:40 Celtic Ballad (Martin Keighley/Jimmy Derham) – Handicap Hurdle |
|
Friday 06 May
2011 |
|
Choc had 4
riding engagements at Aintree this evening, all for
Alan King: Cool Steel
finished 4th in the Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Norman The
Great finished 3rd in the Novices’ Chase (5 ran). Raya Star
finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). Awesome
Bella finished 5th in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (12 ran). Alan King
also had a runner in the Fillies Premier Bumper at Punchestown
– Golden Firebird, ridden by Mr J T Carroll,
finished 3rd. (25 ran). Having won
our 2011 Champion Hurdle, today Hurricane Fly won the Grade 1 Irish Champion
Hurdle too. More Spirit of Adjisa, who was trained by Alan King for a spell, and is now
trained by Tim Vaughan, won the Grade 1 Champion Novice Hurdle. More Wishfull Thinking won the
Novices’ Handicap Chase and Newbury survivor Kid Cassidy won the Novices’
Hurdle. Tomorrow,
Choc will be at Punchestown, where he has one riding engagement for Alan King: 16:25 Kumbeshwar – Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (Grade 1) There are
also a couple of runners of interest at Haydock Park, where there is a ‘mixed’ card: 15:05 Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Jimmy Derham)
– Long Distance Handicap Hurdle 15:40 Jubail – (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) – Swinton
Handicap Hurdle Another quiet weekend at home for me, as Choc
will be at Uttoxeter on Sunday. |
|
Thursday 05 May
2011 |
|
Here are
today’s results: Newton Abbot: Won More Night (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
won the Handicap Chase (2 miles ½ a furlong); Martin’s 1st winner of the season.
Many congratulations to the team. (6 ran). Balerina (Alan King/Choc)
clobbered a hurdle and almost unseated Choc in the Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 3
furlongs) – they finished tailed off in 11th (12 ran). Brimham Boy (Martin
Keighley/Sam Thomas) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase (2 miles 5½ furlongs)
(9 ran). Monty’s
Revenge (Martin Keighley/Sam Thomas) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle (2
miles 6 furlongs) (13 ran). Wincanton: Looks Like Slim (Ben De Haan/Choc) won the Novices’ Hurdle at a price of 1-10! (4
ran); Choc’s 5th
winner of the
season. J Lidar had an outing on the
flat at Goodwood today, finishing 4th of 10;
although he would probably have been 5th had Camporosso
not been injured just over a furlong from home. Captain
Chris won the Grade 1 Novices’ Chase at Punchestown
today. More Top class
mare, Quevega, won the World Hurdle. More Following yesterday’s
disappointment, Paul Nicholls is keen to point out that no decision will be
made until the autumn regarding Kauto Star’s
future. More It has
been very damp at Wetherby this evening, so someone
is getting the rain, even if it’s only North Yorkshire! And there was drizzle at Chester too, late
in the afternoon. Tomorrow Choc
has 4 riding engagements at Aintree, all for Alan King: 17:15 Cool
Steel – Novices’ Hurdle 17:45
Norman The Great – Novices’ Chase 20:00 Raya
Star – Handicap Hurdle 20:35
Awesome Bella – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race Alan King also has a runner in the Fillies
Premier Bumper at Punchestown tomorrow – Golden
Firebird – ridden by Mr J T Carroll (in Ireland, bumpers are for amateur
riders only). |
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Wednesday 04 May
2011 |
|
Hopefully Choc
will have two riding engagements tomorrow, one at Newton Abbot, the other at
Wincanton: Newton Abbot: 14:30 Won
More Night (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) - Handicap
Chase (2 miles ½ a furlong) 15:05 Balerina (Alan King/Choc) – Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 3
furlongs) 15:35 Brimham Boy (Martin Keighley/Sam Thomas) – Handicap Chase
(2 miles 5½ furlongs) 16:40
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Sam Thomas) – Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 6
furlongs) Wincanton: 19:20
Looks Like Slim (Ben De Haan/Choc) – Novices’ Hurdle Alan King
intends to send two runners to the Punchestown
Festival which is taking place this week; one being my current favourite
horse - Kumbeshwar.
More Although I’m still
hoping that Walkon will vie for my ‘affections’ when he returns as a
Novice chaser in the autumn. Kauto Star was pulled up in
today’s Guinness Gold Cup at Punchestown having not
shown any ‘spark’. Does retirement beckon? We’ll have to wait and see. He’s been a grand servant and doesn’t owe
anything to anyone. More The Donald
McCain Jnr trained Overturn won today’s Chester
Cup; ridden by Lambourn Open Day Puissance winner
Eddie Ahern! More Also news
today that injured jockey Peter Toole has made
sufficient progress to enable him to be moved to a hospital in Dublin. More Willie Twiston-Davies was at Cheltenham this evening, attending
the Hunter Chase event. He hopes to
return to the saddle in July. Jockey Dave Crosse has updated his ‘Love the Races’ blog with the results
from last Saturday’s Da Jesters (Comedy Lesters) awards. More |
|
Tuesday 03 May
2011 |
|
The Punchestown Festival got underway today: Big Zeb got the better of his Cheltenham conqueror Sizing
Europe More And
another victory for Aintree winner, Quito De La Roque More Kauto Star is due to take
part in the Guinness Gold Cup tomorrow More Jockey,
soon to be trainer, Kieran Burke has been in the wars, suffering an accident
at home More Just
Sedgefield and Kelso National Hunt fixtures tomorrow (plus Hunter Chase
evening at Cheltenham); so Choc has no riding engagements. The 2011/2012 Jockeys Championship league table
has been compiled ... Choc is currently in 4th position ... and no guesses as
to who is already in the lead! More |
|
Monday 02 May
2011 |
|
With no
change to the unseasonably dry and warm weather conditions, Choc has no
riding engagements tomorrow; National Hunt racing taking place at Exeter and Fakenham. The
5-day Punchestown Festival starts tomorrow. Da Jesters (the comedy Lesters) took place in Lambourn
on Saturday night, and Choc was nominated for the Ride Of Da
Year – the very embarrassing one where he was unseated from Invictus at Leicester in January. He’s referred to as Choc (I look like ET)
Thornton ... and if last autumn you saw the film of Choc on an exercise bike
in the gym at Oaksey House, you’ll know why! Shamefully, that’s exactly what I thought
at the time too!!! But he’s still the
most gorgeous jockey ever and I adore him in all his guises! More Hopefully
jockey and organiser Dave Crosse will provide a write-up of the event, once
he’s recovered from that and from Warren Marston’s ‘retirement do’ too, which took place at the Plough Inn in Ford
last evening! This
weekend I seem to have spent hours watching video tapes of races ... but have
only completed two diaries ... so 2 down ... 5 to go: Grand National Festival 2011 – Ladies Day Back to
work tomorrow ... L |
