MAY 2013

Friday 31 May 2013
A couple of runners of interest at Market Rasen today and this is how they fared: Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Beginners’ Chase (7 ran); Grandads Horse was an impressive winner of this race on his first outing over the larger obstacles. Kauto The Roc (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) finished 7th in the Handicap Chase (14 ran). The Ralph Beckett trained Talent won today’s Epsom Oaks, with a one-two for the yard. And another English Classic winner for jockey Richard Hughes who won his first when riding Sky Lantern to 1000 Guineas glory earlier this month. It’s like buses I guess, none for ages then two come along at once! More No specific runners of interest tomorrow, although Wayne Hutchinson has the opportunity to add to his seasonal tally with a number of rides at Worcester. One runner of interest at Southwell on Sunday: 16:15 Compton Blue (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle With no special plans for the weekend, I shall be tuned in to the Epsom Derby coverage tomorrow.
Thursday 30 May 2013
Just one result from Wetherby today, as both Kauto The Roc & Compton Blue were non-runners due to the soft going. Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran); Wayne’s 11th winner of the season. A couple of runners of interest at Market Rasen tomorrow: 14:30 Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Beginners’ Chase 16:55 Kauto The Roc (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) – Handicap Chase Crazy, crazy, crazy ... it appears that tickets for the 2014 Grand National go on sale on Monday 10th June, with valued customers (that includes me evidently!) being able to purchase 2 or 3 day badges from next Monday 3rd June. And I was hoping I’d have another couple of months to save up before the 2013/2014 ticket buying frenzy began!
Wednesday 29 May 2013
One runner of interest today, at Fontwell Park: Jojabean (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran); it is Wayne’s 10th winner of the season. Three runners of interest tomorrow, at Wetherby: 19:00 Willoughby Hedge (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 19:35 Kauto The Roc (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) – Handicap Chase 20:10 Compton Blue (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle
Tuesday 28 May 2013
One runner of interest tomorrow, at Fontwell Park: 14:10 Jojabean (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle Choc has tweeted a new photograph of William today ... he’s been ‘making a mess’ with his toys and the furniture! https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/339354675503562752/photo/1 Still no sign of the photographs from my New Forest riding adventure; hopefully Michelle and/or Steph will have time to forward copies to me soon! Following yesterday’s walk, I’m feeling tired and achy ... I’m getting old. I’ve also felt off-colour today, with acid reflux symptoms, so I’ve now decided to begin the new drug treatment regime to see how I get on.
Monday 27 May 2013
The big news today is that Ruby Walsh has decided to end his association as first jockey to Paul Nicholls, choosing instead to concentrate on his career in Ireland. More I can understand that being able to spend more time with his family must take priority and I guess the fact that Paul’s yard is currently undergoing a phase of re-generation will also have made his decision easier, although he won’t say as much. And the Willie Mullins yard is definitely on the up at the present time, so it makes sense. And Andy Stewart, owner of Big Buck’s, has paid tribute to Ruby too. More National Hunt racing takes place at Newton Abbot tomorrow, but no runners of specific interest. I’ve just seen Jacksons of Reading featured on BBC1’s One Show; presenter Marty Jopson (who reminds me a little of Choc) visited the store as part of an item about pneumatic transportation systems – they still use old-fashioned pneumatic pipes to transport cash around the building. I was gutted to learn that Jacksons will be closing at the end of this year, as I endeavour to pay a visit to the shop whenever I go shopping in Reading. More The weather has been fabulous in Hertfordshire today; we’ve been far luckier than further north and west. But it’s due to rain here tomorrow; it won’t matter as I’m back to work after the Bank Holiday weekend. I decided to take a walk this morning, to the retail park in London Colney; a 6-mile round trip, more or less. It was difficult to ‘get going’ at the start and a little tiring at the end, but I put that down to the fact that I’m still suffering from the tail-end of the cold virus I’ve had for the past couple of weeks. And I’m ‘between’ courses of two different types of acid reflux tablets too, my original ones having begun to give me side-effects. I’m sure eating less and losing weight will help this problem too.
Sunday 26 May 2013
Just one result of specific interest today, at Uttoxeter: Hail Tiberius (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) finished 10th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4½ furlongs] (14 ran). Wayne Hutchinson has ridden another couple of winners this weekend – one at Cartmel yesterday and one at Uttoxeter today. That’s 9 so far this season, and he has a number of riding engagement at Cartmel again tomorrow. Choc has tweeted a picture of ‘Licklewillie’ saying hello to a group of hound puppies: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/338254576258019328/photo/1 Trainer Noel Chance, who is Richard Johnson’s father-in-law, has decided to retire. More And the enigmatic Mad Moose refused to race yesterday, on the flat at York! The weather has been beautiful in the southeast this weekend and I gather it will continue in the same vein in Hertfordshire tomorrow, Bank Holiday Monday, too. I visited my friend Denise, who lives in Caversham, yesterday. Having set off a little later than planned (09:25), because at the last minute I decided my car desperately needed cleaning, I almost got caught up in long holiday tailbacks on the M25 between Junctions 20 and 17. Fortunately, having joined the motorway at Junction 21A, I was able to leave again at Junction 20, instead travelling along the A41 to exit at the Chesham turning. My ‘scenic’ route through the Chilterns then took me through Amersham, Beaconsfield, Wooburn Green, Bourne End and the outskirts of Maidenhead, before heading along the A4, through Sonning to re-cross the Thames and enter Caversham. I was far more fortunate than my brother Nick; he travelled down to Southampton yesterday and it took over twice as long as would normally be expected. Having played a round of golf, he set off after 11:00 and by that time the M25 traffic was queuing and travelling at around 15 mph almost non-stop between the M1 and M3, with queues encountered further down the M3 too. The perils of travelling on the Saturday of the Whitsun Bank Holiday weekend. Having been to lunch at the Wetherspoon’s in Caversham, Denise and I spent the afternoon looking around the shops in Reading. It included a trip to Hobby Craft, and I didn’t escape unscathed. We also visited Jacksons, an old-fashioned department store in the town centre, where I purchased a tapestry ‘Grand National/Royal Ascot’ bag, and four spools of ‘material’ scarf yarn. We also took a look around the town’s large M & S store ... I can’t believe that none of the items of clothing appealed to me, and many of the items were revolting. No wonder their clothes sales have hit rock bottom recently; what on earth are their buyers thinking of? And I’m normally a very big fan of M & S. The 2013 Herts Show has been taking place this weekend. I’m pleased they’ve had good weather on both days and perhaps soon I’ll pay a visit to the show as I’ve not been for many years.
Friday 24 May 2013
A number of runners of interest at Towcester this evening and this is how they fared: Henry San (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3½ furlongs] (5 ran). Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 3rd in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (4 ran). Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was a non-runner in the Handicap Chase [3 miles ½ furlong] Viking Mistress (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 8th in the Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (10 ran). No runners of specific interest at Ffos Las or Cartmel tomorrow. And at Uttoxeter on Sunday: 16:15 Hail Tiberius (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4½ furlongs] Sky Calling is a doubtful runner in the 17:20 Handicap Hurdle It’s so quiet ...
Thursday 23 May 2013
A couple of runners of interest at Wetherby today and this is how they fared: The Wicked Kipper (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 5th in the Novices’ Hurdle (11 ran). Pollystone (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 7th in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (12 ran). A number of runners of interest at Towcester tomorrow evening: 18:25 Henry San (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3½ furlongs] 18:55 Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 20:25 Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Chase [3 miles ½ furlong] 20:55 Viking Mistress (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat Race
Wednesday 22 May 2013
I’ve been ‘wiped out’ since Sunday night ... hence the lack of blogs since then. I’m having difficulty in shaking off this bug, it just goes on and on and on ... and it doesn’t help that the Day Nurse capsules I’ve taken to help me combat the symptoms make me feel ‘spaced out’! Anyway, both the Alan King runners (Henry San and Willoughby Hedge) were non-runners at Worcester this evening; the infamous Hell’s Bay (who is currently trained by Keiran Burke) won the 2 mile 4 furlong Handicap Chase. Tomorrow there are a couple of runners of interest declared at Wetherby: 17:05 The Wicked Kipper (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) - Novices’ Hurdle 17:40 Pollystone (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle Paul Nicholls’ Travelling Head Girl, Donna Blake, tweeted this photograph of Celestial Halo following his victory on Sunday: https://mobile.twitter.com/DonnaBlake75/status/336168380430155776/photo/1 Good news. Following last week’s DBS sales, Uxizandre has, in fact, been purchased by JP McManus and will continue his racing career at Barbury Castle. But I was sad to read on the Racing Forum Memorials page that, amongst others, Counsel, Henry Hook and Snap Tie have lost their lives on the racecourse during the past few days. L
Sunday 19 May 2013
Firstly, here are the results from Aintree on Friday evening: Shady Lane (Alan King/Brendan Powell) finished 4th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (5 ran). Vendor (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 11th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] (17 ran). Midnight Prayer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th & Mauricetheathlete (Martin Keighley/Mr N Slatter) finished 19th in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles ½ furlong] (22 ran). One from Uttoxeter yesterday evening: Letsby Avenue (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). And three from Market Rasen this afternoon: Iolith (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle (7 ran). Volcan Surprise (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Handicap Chase (7 ran). Say When (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (9 ran). No runners of special interest at Newton Abbot tomorrow. Celestial Halo won the Grade 2 Prix La Barka at Auteuil this afternoon. More Just one Choc-related photograph of interest tweeted over the past few days: https://mobile.twitter.com/CatchBissett/status/335329892495413248/photo/1 My work colleagues, Michelle and Steph, and I set out for the New Forest on Friday evening after work for our two-day stay. On Saturday morning we went on a two hour western riding adventure through the New Forest – it did feel far safer than English style riding, not that any horse-riding is completely safe. The horses were slow riding school animals which helped ... The stirrups are long, the rein length is long – my piebald horse, Concho, preferred little mouth contact and would pull them out of my hands if I tried to shorten them too much. We walked and jogged; the latter being very painful without a sports bra! Concho was a tame old thing, apart from when he spooked at a passing horsebox; but I styled it out like a pro!!! Yesterday afternoon we visited Burley, walking around the village before visiting the Queens Head for a meal. We then went for a brief walk in the Forest before returning to the caravan. We watched the newly released Les Miserables DVD in the evening. Yesterday’s weather was bright and sunny for much of the day, but it rained overnight and was overcast this morning with showers. However, despite the weather, we thought we should pay a brief visit to the nearby coast so decided upon Hengistbury Head. We walked over the headland and around to the end of the sand-spit, after which we returned to the car park aboard the little train. We ate lunch back at the caravan before tidying up and heading for home. By the time we’d reached Winchester, it was sunny. I got home at 14:45. Hopefully I’ll have photos of us aboard our trusty steeds soon. I thoroughly enjoyed my weekend in the New Forest but it was slightly marred by the fact that I caught a chest cold last week which has resulted in me having numerous coughing fits during the past few days ... where is the cough mixture?
Mares and foals in the New Forest	One of the same mares and foal later in the afternoon
Hengistbury Head	Looking west from Hengistbury Head towards Southbourne
The Isle of Wight and the Needles in the gloom	Not sun and sand today ... gloom and sand
On the other side of the estuary - Mudeford	Michelle and Steph enjoying their Mr Whippy ice creams
Thursday 16 May 2013
A number of runners of interest at Aintree tomorrow evening: 17:20 Shady Lane (Alan King/Brendan Powell) – Conditional Jockeys’ Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 19:05 Vendor (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] 20:15 Midnight Prayer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Mauricetheathlete (Martin Keighley/Mr N Slatter) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles ½ furlong] AP McCoy has kicked off his 2013/2014 campaign with a winner. More I’m drugged up on Ibuprofen this evening, having been suffering from a headache all day at work. I really don’t need this virus which I’ve picked up, as I’m going away on a Western Riding adventure this weekend. With this in mind, there won’t be a blog tomorrow evening or on Saturday; all being well, normal service will be resumed on Sunday.
Wednesday 15 May 2013
Runners of interest at Uttoxeter this afternoon and this is how they fared: Any Currency (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was pulled up in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran). Custer Of The West (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a non-runner in the Handicap Hurdle, as he ran at Wincanton yesterday. Merlin’s Wish (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase (7 ran). There are no runners of interest tomorrow; but AP McCoy is due to return from injury to ride at Ludlow. Hunt Ball never made it to the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales today; he’s been sold privately and will now race in the USA. More Ardlui, Franklino, Ali Baba, Cold Knight and Kauto The Roc were withdrawn from the sale; Iron Chancellor was sold to Chris Popham for £5,800; Champagne N Caviar to Charlie Mann for £12,000; Miss Exhibitionist to Nabill Elmurabet for £1,000; Soixante Six to Highflyer Bloodstock for £26,000; and Awesome Bella to Dai Rees for £4,000. And, finally, Uxizandre to John O’Byrne for £100,000. And here is a photograph of the ‘Sedgefield duck’ mentioned a couple of days ago. More Choc has tweeted a photograph of young William wearing a new hat, presumably one which Choc bought in America: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/334670740135755776/photo/1 I discovered white pustules on my right tonsil today ... I’ve got tonsillitis! And I’ve almost lost my voice too. It’s been the bane of my life over the years – I had it 5 times as a child, once in my late teens, and then a couple of times around a decade or so ago. And I’ve still got those pesky tonsils!
Tuesday 14 May 2013
Four runners of interest today and this is how they fared: Wincanton: Fairyinthewind (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Mares Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran). Custer Of The West (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 6 furlongs] (10 ran). Southwell: The Mumper (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle (12 ran) Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was a non-runner in the Maiden Hurdle The Alan King yard was suffering from ‘sixthitis’ today! Runners of interest at Uttoxeter tomorrow: 13:55 Any Currency (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 15:25 Custer Of The West (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [ran at Wincanton today] 16:00 Merlin’s Wish (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) - Handicap Chase
Monday 13 May 2013
Many runners of interest at Towcester this evening and this is how they fared: The Fox’s Decree (Martin Keighley/Mr C Dee) finished 3rd in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (18 ran). Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 5th in the Handicap Chase (9 ran). Up In Flames (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) finished 6th in the Selling Hurdle (8 ran). Sky Calling (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) ran at Worcester yesterday & Hail Tiberius (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 13th in the Handicap Hurdle (14 ran). The Wicked Kipper (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was a non-runner in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 7th & Ulzana’s Raid (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Maiden Open NH Flat Race (13 ran); Wayne’s 7th winner of the season. Four runners of interest tomorrow: Wincanton: 14:20 Fairyinthewind (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares Novices’ Hurdle 15:50 Custer Of The West (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 6 furlongs] Southwell: 19:30 The Mumper (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) – Handicap Hurdle 20:00 Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Maiden Hurdle Choc caught a late evening flight back from the USA yesterday and is now home. J And I gather AP McCoy is due to return to the saddle at Aintree on Friday evening. I understand that two fences will be omitted at Sedgefield tomorrow ... one because it’s under repair ... and the other because of nesting ducks! I’ve been in contact with someone who has a cold ... and now my throat feels sore and my voice is croaky; damn.
Sunday 12 May 2013
Lots of runners of interest this afternoon and this is how they fared: Kempton Park: Gold Ingot (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] (10 ran); Wayne’s 4th winner of the season. Fair Trade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson won the Novices’ Hurdle [2 miles] (8 ran); Wayne’s 5th winner of the season. Court In Session (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 8th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles] (12 ran); but, following problems with the starting tape, he was away extremely slowly and gave the others many lengths at the start. Dalavar (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell 2 out when in with a winning chance in the Handicap Chase [3 miles] (8 ran); very unlucky, as he’d jumped better than usual until that point and it was more of a slipped upon landing rather than hitting the fence. The horse was stepping up in trip today and has changed ownership too; he no longer sports the orange and black Medermit colours. Johnny Og (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 6th & Gone Too Far (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Standard Open NH Flat Race (8 ran). Wayne’s 6th winner of the season. So, today, Wayne Hutchinson doubled his number of winners this season from 3 to 6 ... and it could have been a 5-timer if in addition to his mishap aboard Pantxoa, his deputising ride aboard Lemon Drop Red had not gone awry two out when he was unseated whilst challenging for the lead! Hurry back Choc!!! With AP McCoy still on the sidelines, Jason Maguire currently leads the way in the title race this season. But it almost derailed today when he was unseated in the second race and was taken to hospital to have his shoulder x-rayed as a precautionary measure. Fortunately the prognosis was good. Other results today: Plumpton: Star Hill (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) was pulled up in the Maiden Hurdle (9 ran). Worcester: Sky Calling (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (10 ran). Typhon De Guye (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs] (11 ran). Tomorrow there are many runners of interest at Towcester: 17:25 The Fox’s Decree (Martin Keighley/Mr C Dee) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle 18:00 Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Chase 18:30 Up In Flames (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – Selling Hurdle 19:00 Sky Calling (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) & Hail Tiberius (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap Hurdle 19:30 The Wicked Kipper (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 20:30 Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) & Ulzana’s Raid (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Open NH Flat Race
Saturday 11 May 2013
A mixed card at Haydock Park this afternoon and this is how the runners of interest fared: Araldur (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th & Midnight Appeal (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) finished 17th in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] (20 ran). Turn Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 14th in the Handicap Hurdle (formerly the Swinton Hurdle) [2 miles] (16 ran); Barizan won the race. More Lots of runners of interest tomorrow, including seven at a newly-arranged National Hunt fixture at Kempton Park: 14:20 Gold Ingot (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] 15:20 Fair Trade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson – Novices’ Hurdle [2 miles] 15:50 Court In Session (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Chase [2 miles] 16:20 Dalavar (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle 16:50 Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles] 17:20 Johnny Og (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) & Gone Too Far (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Plumpton: 14:00 Star Hill (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) – Maiden Hurdle Worcester: 16:10 Sky Calling (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] 17:40 Typhon De Guye (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs] Having been referred to as a ‘crazy old nag’ by Channel 4, Mad Moose is now on twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/MadMooseNTD/status/333276211323228160/photo/1 This amusing tweet is doing the rounds ... fortunately the sign has now been repainted: https://mobile.twitter.com/wellbelove/status/332924723564515328/photo/1
Friday 10 May 2013
A couple of runners of interest at Market Rasen today and this is how they fared: Midnight Sail (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was withdrawn from the Handicap Chase Fred Le Macon (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (9 ran). The ‘fourthitis’ continues ... The enigmatic Mad Moose finished second in the Ormonde Stakes at Chester today! More Never too far away from the horses ... Choc’s USA adventure continues: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/332613253077270530?p=v And eating out at the local Hooters restaurant chain: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/332598822935097344?p=v I’ve got a pair like that ... but I didn’t have to buy them! There’s a mixed card at Haydock Park tomorrow and three runners of interest: 13:50 Araldur (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Midnight Appeal (Alan King/Charlie Huxley) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] 15:30 Turn Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle (formerly the Swinton Hurdle) [2 miles]
Thursday 09 May 2013
Three runners of interest at Southwell this evening and this is how they fared ... a touch of ‘fourthitis’ it appears: Secret Edge (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Beginners’ Chase (9 ran). Jojabean (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Maiden Hurdle (13 ran). Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Mr Joshua Newman) finished 4th in the Mares’ Maiden NH Flat Race (13 ran). A couple of runners of interest at Market Rasen tomorrow: 15:30 Midnight Sail (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase 17:15 Fred Le Macon (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race I was reading the Badminton Horse Trials report in this week’s Horse and Hound and noticed that the best British first-timer completion (19th) was by Tom McEwen aboard Dry Old Party; I knew the horse’s name rang a bell and that I’d seen him taking part in one of the ROR (Re-training of Racehorses) parades. So I checked back and, yes, he paraded pre-racing on Day One of the Cheltenham Festival in 2012. It’s good to see that his eventing career is going well.
Wednesday 08 May 2013
National Hunt racing at Newton Abbot, Wincanton and Southwell tomorrow, with three runners of interest at the latter: 18:05 Secret Edge (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Beginners’ Chase 19:35 Jojabean (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 20:35 Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Mr Joshua Newman) – Mares’ Maiden NH Flat Race
Tuesday 07 May 2013
Yesterday Choc played golf for the first time in 16 years ... and doesn’t intend to do so again for at least another 16 years! https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/331582535635177473/photo/1 "Golf is a good walk spoiled." My older brother, Nick, is a keen golfer. It has been confirmed that Bryan Cooper has sustained a broken leg and will be out of action for some time. More No runners of interest tomorrow, the sole National Hunt fixture being Kelso. Now that I’ve finished my diaries, I think I shall do some knitting this evening.
Monday 06 May 2013
Choc has been to a baseball game in Philadelphia: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/331243996192071680/photo/1 Up and coming star National Hunt jockey Bryan Cooper has sustained a suspected broken leg as a result of a fall at Down Royal this afternoon. More Veteran trainer Reg Hollinshead has passed away. More New Zealander Jonathan ‘Jock’ Paget won the Badminton Horse Trials aboard Clifton Promise; the overnight leader Michael Jung having knocked down the final fence in the show-jumping. The event is very popular with the racing fraternity – Wayne Hutchinson, Andrew Tinkler, and the Keighleys to name but a very few – attended the cross-country section yesterday; following on from the huge success of the equestrian events at London 2012, Badminton had a record crowd this year. Just one runner of interest this afternoon, at Ffos Las: Simply A Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (8 ran). No runners of specific interest tomorrow.
Sunday 05 May 2013
Choc has tweeted a photograph of himself, together with his mate Xavier Aizpuru, at the Virginia Gold Cup in the USA. He flew to America a few days ago for a holiday. https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/331045963345059840/photo/1 It looks like Choc has been enjoying his food whilst he’s been away from racing! Here is an article I found about Xavier who, despite his ‘exotic’ name, was raised in the Cotswolds and began his career at the David Nicholson yard, as did Choc. http://www.chronofhorse.com/article/xavier-aizpurus-confidence-has-carried-him-top Sky Lantern won today’s 1000 guineas; surprisingly, it was jockey Richard Hughes’ first British classic winner. More Our Phylli Vera, whose fall at Southwell resulted in a broken arm for Choc, returned to the flat at Chepstow on Friday evening for a confidence boosting run and duly won a Fillies’ Handicap event. With solely a proofing job to complete on my website before it is up-to-date once more, I’ve been spending time doing other things today. I wanted to purchase an item from one of the local branches of Argos, so instead of driving to the store I decided to walk because it was such a nice day. The walk there and back took me around 90 minutes, so it must have been around 4 miles in distance. I then tuned into the TV coverage of the cross country section of the Badminton Horse Trials, being shown on the ‘red button’ service on BBC2. Then, early afternoon, I went with mum to put flowers on dad’s grave, and also to visit one of the local garden centres as she wished to buy two or three fuchsias for her garden. Evidently, hares like to eat carnations (do rabbits like them too?), so we are not sure if animals have previously ‘vandalised’ the flowers on the grave or if it is local hooligans! I arrived back just in time to watch the 1000 guineas, after which I tuned in to see the later competitors at Badminton. Just one runner of interest tomorrow, at Ffos Las: 17:25 Simply A Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race And, finally, I’ve completed and uploaded the final section of my diary this evening. Click here to read.
Saturday 04 May 2013
A number of runners of interest at Uttoxeter this afternoon and this is how they fared: Jetnova (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4½ furlongs] (12 ran). Patsy Finnegan (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won & Always Bold (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 4th in the Novices’ Handicap Chase (10 ran). It was Wayne Hutchinson’s 3rd winner of the season. Ukrainian Star (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] (13 ran). No National Hunt racing tomorrow. Always interested to see which horses might be going to the sales at the end of a season, I’ve been looking through those currently entered in the DBS Horses in Training sale which takes place the week after next: Uxizandre (the Million In Mind partnership horses are always sold at season’s end), Ardlui, Iron Chancellor, Champagne N Caviar, Miss Exhibitionist, Franklino, Soixante Six, Ali Baba, Awesome Bella, Cold Knight and Kauto The Roc. I’ve already finished knitting my ‘material’ scarf, and I’ve also completed the draft of my Cheltenham diary with solely the final proofing to do. So, once done, my time is my own until the lovely Choc returns to the racecourse once more!
Friday 03 May 2013
One runner of interest this evening at Bangor: Dundee (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). A number of runners of interest at Uttoxeter tomorrow: 15:40 Jetnova (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4½ furlongs] 16:15 Patsy Finnegan (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Always Bold (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Novices’ Handicap Chase 16:50 Ukrainian Star (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] Here is a link to Martin Keighley’s round-up of the 2012/2013 season in this week’s Gloucestershire press. More
Thursday 02 May 2013
Three runners of interest at Taunton this evening and this is how they fared: Forresters Folly (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Ulys Du Charmil (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). The Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat RaceurdleHur (9 ran); Wayne’s 2nd winner of the season. One runner of interest tomorrow, at Bangor: 18:45 Dundee (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle Choc has tweeted a couple of photographs of young William helping out at Richard Phillips’ yard: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/329957896425197568/photo/1 https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/329967227312959488/photo/1 Nothing planned for the Bank Holiday weekend, so am hopeful that I will complete Part II of my Day 3 Cheltenham diary and maybe find time to knit one of those ‘material’ frill scarves ... this is the one I chose to purchase: http://www.knitandsew.co.uk/Desire+Floral+Purple+Flower+267+Knitting+Fabric/0_CAHA102_CAHA951/PRPL005.htm
Wednesday 01 May 2013
Three runners of interest at Taunton tomorrow evening: 17:50 Forresters Folly (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 18:50 Ulys Du Charmil (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle 20:20 The Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat RaceurdleHur