NOVEMBER 2014
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Sunday 30 November 2014 |
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Just one
result to report today, from Leicester: Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Jack Doyle) finished 10th in the Handicap
Chase [2 miles 7½ furlongs] (11 ran). And one
National Hunt fixture tomorrow, at Plumpton, but no runners of interest. Alan King
confirmed via his website that all of his Hennessy Day runners returned home
safely bar the odd cut or scratch. He
confesses that there had been talk of retiring Medinas
at the end of last season, because he’s too small to make a chaser, and
cannot lump around loads of weight in a handicap; he falls just short of top
class for graded races. However, yesterday
he benefitted from the type of ground he loves and may now be aimed at Ascot’s
Long Walk Hurdle. http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm I was
watching RUK’s ‘Breakfast’ show
this morning and the topic of Choc was brought up in relation to his prolonged
absence through injury, as they were talking about jockeys deputising aboard Alan
King’s horses. They were mulling over
when and if ... and the journalists thought they may ask questions of him
sometime this week. I’m not going
there, because it’s not fair to press him for information at this worrying
time. Choc always tells me not to
worry when I’ve asked following past injuries, but needless to say I do. Smokers
generally have a lower bone density than non-smokers and fractures in smokers
also take longer to heal ... just saying ... There’s
been a set-back on the recording front – I transferred a snippet of Agassi vs Connors from the 1989 US Open and RUK’s ‘This Racing
Life’ Hennessy preview, deleted the items from the hard drive due to lack of
space, then recorded RUK’s Hennessy highlights onto the same disk, finalised
it ... only to discover my ancient ‘play
only’ recorder wouldn’t read it.
Poodles! Luckily though, it’s a
faulty disk as I transferred the latter again and it worked. But I hate it when technology lets me
down. Obviously
I still have many website-related jobs to do, namely transfer the full
coverage to disk, choose and upload photographs taken yesterday, and add the
race comments to my diary too. However,
I’ve already drafted the top and tail of my diary. |
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Saturday 29 November 2014 |
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Winner of the Hennessy Gold
Cup, Many Clouds ridden by
Leighton Aspell Newbury: Avispa (Alan King/Richard Johnson) finished 2nd in the
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Turn Over Sivola (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
finished 3rd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (7 ran). Midnight
Appeal (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 6½
furlongs] (12 ran). Medinas (Alan King/Richard
Johnson) won the Long Distance Hurdle [Grade 2], beating Cole
Harden and More Of That (6 ran); Lac Fontana was a non-runner. More Smad Place (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
finished 5th, Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Gavin
Sheehan) was pulled up and Midnight Prayer (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished
9th in the Hennessy Gold Cup (19 ran); only 9 finished due to the going
conditions. The race was won by Many
Clouds. More Top jockey
over the 3-day Festival was Tom Scudamore with 4
winners, and top trainer was Alan King, also with 4 winners.
The Alan
King trained Medinas, ridden by Richard Johnson, wins the
Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle Towcester: Flementime (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
was a non-runner in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase having run at
Doncaster yesterday. Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 2nd in
the NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (8 ran). Monty’s Revenge (Martin
Keighley/Christopher Ward) won the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (3
ran); he was the only finisher, the other two having unseated during the
race! It was Martin’s 10th winner of the season. Morning
Herald (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was a
non-runner in the ‘Junior’ Standard
Open NH Flat Race. Meanwhile
at Newcastle, the Paul Nicholls trained Irving won the Fighting Fifth Hurdle;
it was the trainer’s 100th Grade 1 winner. More I enjoyed
my day out at Newbury races ... and, weather-wise, it was definitely the
warmest Hennessy Festival I’ve attended (today was my 7th consecutive
Hennessy Gold Cup). Although, having
said that, I still wore three lightweight thermal vests! And, on my way home, I visited my friend
Denise, so didn’t arrive home until 22:00.
This evening it was a little misty in the Thames Valley, although
visibility on the motorways was slightly better; however, St Albans was
foggy. There are
two National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, Carlisle and Leicester, with one runner of
interest at the latter. 13:45
Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 7½ furlongs] |
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Friday 28 November 2014 |
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There were
a number of runners of interest this afternoon and this is how they fared: Newbury: Karezak (Alan King/Richard Johnson) finished a neck 2nd
in the Juvenile Hurdle (7 ran). Coyaba (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished 6th
and Mirkat (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 7th
in the NH Maiden Hurdle (10 ran). Meanwhile Coneygree won the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase having been
denied a run at Plumpton recently; favourite Saphir Du Rheu blundered and
unseated his jockey at the first fence in the back straight. More Doncaster: Dundee
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd and Primo Capitano
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was pulled up in
the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (10 ran). Flementime (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 3rd in the Novices’ Chase (4 ran). Westerly
Breeze (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [3
miles & ½ a furlong] (12 ran). The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) finished 3rd in
the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). Tomorrow
there are four National Hunt fixtures - Bangor, Newcastle, Newbury and Towcester. I think
Bangor is a fixture too many, as they have just 33 declarations and will, no
doubt, have a number of non-runners prior to racing getting under way. Even Towcester
has just 39 runners, barring any defections.
Anyway,
there are a number of runners of interest: Newbury: 12:20 Avispa (Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Mares’ Novices’
Hurdle 12:50 Turn
Over Sivola (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
– Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 13:20
Midnight Appeal (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 6½
furlongs] 14:25 Medinas (Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Long Distance
Hurdle; rivals include More Of That, Cole Harden and Lac Fontana 15:00 Smad Place (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
& Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Gavin Sheehan)
& Midnight Prayer (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Hennessy Gold Cup Towcester: 13:45 Flementime (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (but she ran today at Doncaster) 14:15 Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/James Banks) – NH Novices’
Hurdle (Qualifier) 14:50
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) – Conditional Jockeys’
Handicap Chase 15:25
Morning Herald (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – ‘Junior’ Standard Open NH Flat Race There’s
excellent news for jockeys regarding non-runners, whereby if their intended
mount becomes a non-runner after 09:00 then they are paid 40% of their riding
fee, currently £64.60 for a jumps jockey.
This new ruling comes into effect on 01 January 2015. There’s
further news regarding Wayne Hutchinson’s injury in Geoff Lester’s news blog
on Alan King’s website. Wayne has
strained a medial knee ligament and needs to give it three or four weeks to
heal. He initially injured his knee in
a fall at Southwell last month (McCabe Creek?) and
compounded it as a result of a fall at Doncaster last week. It is mentioned that both Wayne and Choc
are unsure of exactly when they will be passed fit to ride again. http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm I have to
say that I’ve not had a very relaxing week off work, as I feel in a constant
state of apprehension. I’ve been
unable to settle. I’ve been out to
lunch last Sunday, shopping on Monday ... I was very naughty having taken
advantage of the last day of the 3 for the price of 2 offer from Hotter shoes
(a navy blue pair of wedge heel shoes, a pair of brown boots, and a pair of
teal/midnight metallic comfy shoes with Velcro fastenings). I had my heart set on the navy blue shoes
anyway and would have bought them regardless.
I visited
one of my local garden centres on Tuesday, accompanied by my mum, I wanted to
buy a gardening voucher for a friend for Christmas and she wished to ask the
in-house experts a question. On
Wednesday I went with mum to do her weekly food shopping, and again
yesterday, as she’s still a little nervous having been targeted by
pickpockets in August. I also
collected the Hotter boots yesterday morning, as they had to order a pair of
size 8s from their warehouse. I need
to have big feet, as I’d probably topple over with the weight of my boobs if
they were any smaller ... LOL! And, of
course, I also went to Milton Keynes to see Calamity Jane on Wednesday
evening. And today I trotted along to
the bank. But where
has the sunshine gone? Saturday and
Sunday were wet; Monday was cold but pleasantly sunny, Tuesday dull,
Wednesday damp and foggy in places, just two hours of sunshine yesterday and
none today. Okay, I know it is
November but there was some sunshine promised in addition to Monday. I believe sunshine is expected tomorrow
with a temperature high of 11 degrees.
So I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
If you
fancy attending Sandown Park’s fixture on Saturday 03 January, then they have
a ‘Black Friday’ offer of
Grandstand tickets for £3 each if you purchase them before midnight on Sunday
30 November. I don’t get this Black
Friday retail sales thingy ... it would be one of my
worst nightmares to queue up and fight over sale items in a shop! https://twitter.com/Sandownpark Sadly with
Choc’s extended absence, I have very few plans to
go racing at present. L |
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Thursday 27 November 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results ... and you couldn’t go far wrong if you followed Alan King’s
runners!!! With the ground soft, heavy
in places, National Hunt bred horses are ideal for the prevailing conditions. Newbury: Carraig Mor (Alan King/Noel Fehily) won the Novices’ Chase (registered as Worcester
Novices’ Chase) [Grade 2] (3 ran); he settled in front and jumped better than
the 4-11 favourite Southfield Theatre. Ned Stark (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) won the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (8 ran). Yanworth (Alan King/AP McCoy)
won the Standard Open NH Flat Race (4 ran). And here
is an overview of the day, courtesy of At The Races. More The luck
of the Irish raiders was out today ... and hopefully that will continue!!! Uttoxeter: Altesse De Guye (Martin
Keighley/Tom Bellamy) fell when joined for the lead at the last in the Mares’
Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran); hopefully she is okay following her mishap. Mortlestown (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle (6 ran). Primo Blue
(Noel Williams/Dougie Costello) finished 2nd in the
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (4 ran). I decided
to splash out on a copy of this week’s Racing Post Weekender. Alan King relays that the jockey situation is
that Wayne has been advised to rest for a few weeks because he’s got an
ongoing problem with strained ligaments in one of his knees. And Denis O’Regan
has an agreement to ride for the Dunkley & Reilly Partnership, owners of Medermit, Ned Stark and The Pirates Queen. When interviewed on RUK earlier, the
trainer mentioned that Denis has been in to school the yard’s horses for the
past couple of weeks and, having the necessary big race experience, has
picked up the ride aboard Smad Place in the
Hennessy. Jamie
Insole, who came to grief aboard the ‘cursed’
Say When at Wincanton last Thursday, fractured his jaw in the incident. To hold his jaw together, plates and screws
have been inserted and he can’t eat solid food at the moment. It was his first ride since becoming a
conditional jockey. Alan also
confirmed that two of the stable’s star equines are out for the season –
namely Montbazon and Valdez; both have sustained
tendon injuries, their opinion is that the latter’s problem is not related to
his fall at Chepstow. News on
Martin Keighley’s website that Gavin Sheehan will ride Annacotty
in the Hennessy, as Ian Popham feels that he hasn’t
quite reached 100% fitness. But he
will be back in action next week. It
must be so disappointing for all these injured stable jockeys to have to miss
such promising rides in big races. Sprinter Sacre won’t be ready in time to run in Sandown’s Tingle
Creek Chase a week on Saturday. More With both Sprinter Sacre and Sire De Grugy not
competing, that will make Balder Succes the race
favourite. And presumably a missed
opportunity for Wayne Hutchinson, who always rides the horse. And Nicky
Henderson is also non-committal as to whether Simonsig
will run in Boxing Day’s King George VI Chase. More There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow: Newbury: 12:25 Karezak (Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Juvenile Hurdle 15:45 Coyaba (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) & Mirkat (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – NH Maiden Hurdle Doncaster: 12:15
Dundee (Alan King/Tom Cannon) & Primo Capitano
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Novices’ Limited
Handicap Chase 13:20 Flementime (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Novices’ Chase 13:55
Westerly Breeze (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles
& ½ a furlong] 15:05 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’
Handicap Hurdle Tom Cannon
has been mentioned as a young talented jockey to follow ... A few weeks
ago Choc visited the stud where Frankel is based and yesterday he visited Tattersalls, so I’m wondering if his post-jockey career
will go in the direction of horse breeding, rearing or ‘bringing on’. Yesterday’s
trip to Milton Keynes to see Calamity Jane didn’t quite go to plan, time
wise. In fact we arrived ten minutes
late. I’d researched the time it would
take me to drive from my home to collect Lesley from her workplace in Watford
– on Monday Google told me in current traffic conditions it would take 42
minutes if I set out at 16:45. It took
me 55 minutes yesterday. And I didn’t
want to journey up to Milton Keynes via the M1 in case there were any
accidents to delay us, so we decided upon the A41 to Tring,
then across country via Ivinghoe and the Leighton
Buzzard bypass. Unfortunately it took
ages to escape from Watford, which would have happened whether we’d gone for
the A41 or M1 option, because she works the other side of the town. It also
didn’t help that it became foggy as we approached the Tring
area; darkness and reduced visibility ... that’s all I needed! I only have a vague recollection of the
road from Tring to Ivinghoe,
dating back to when I used to go rambling with Mark. And the road from Ivinghoe
to Leighton Buzzard was completely new to me; although I did know there was a
sharp right-hand bend followed by a sharp left-hand bend respectively before
and after the hamlet of Horton. The
road also passes close to the site of the 1963 Great Train Robbery. The Milton
Keynes Theatre is to the eastern end of the shopping centre, the A5 to the
west of it. This being the case, we
had to drive to the far end, before entering the inner road circuit
surrounding the shops. I wasn’t keen
to park in the multi-storey car park close to the theatre, instead choosing a
ground-level one but, unfortunately, there were no spaces to be found even
after 19:15! It was ridiculous; I
thought there were acres and acres of car parking space available in Milton
Keynes. So we set off around the block
once more and parked in the multi-storey after all! Having
arrived in the foyer a young man escorted us to entrance 1 of the
auditorium. We apologised for being
late – we couldn’t find anywhere to park.
“Christmas shoppers”, he said.
It hadn’t even occurred to me that this might be the case in late
November, as I’ve already completed my Christmas shopping! We were shown to our seats once the cast
had completed their first singing number – The Deadwood Stage. Luckily we were sitting at the end of a
row, four back from the stage; although this was a distinct disadvantage
during the interval when all and sundry wished to leave their seats. Anyway, we
really enjoyed the show, which starred Jodie Prenger
as Calamity Jane and Tom Lister as Wild Bill Hickok. I gather Tom spent a number of years
playing the part of Carl King in Emmerdale. Jodie won I’d Do Anything in 2008, which
gave her the opportunity to play the part of Nancy in the west end production
of Oliver. I went to see that show. Having
left the theatre at the end of the performance, we had to queue for a number
of minutes to pay our parking charge because so many others were doing the
same. I needed to drop Lesley off in
her home village and thus set off down a misty/foggy A5 once more. I was hoping to travel via the southern
section of the Leighton Buzzard bypass, rather than retrace our route around
the northern and western sections thereof.
However, upon reaching our turning, we discovered that it was closed
for repairs. This being the case, we
continued to Dunstable, only to be held up due to more road-works. Having
reached the base of Dunstable Downs I set off down my usual route to Totternhoe and Church End. The lane between there and Eaton Bray was
foggy, 20 mph the maximum speed possible.
I dropped Lesley off at 23:00; this was actually the time I’d hoped to
be home myself! I retraced my route,
it was very spooky driving back to Church End alone; I’m so glad no animals
... or ghosts ... decided to cross my path!
Having returned to Dunstable I drove through the housing estate – 20
mph and speed bumps all the way. Having
exited onto the A5 once more, the fog turned to rain and it was wet for the
remainder of my journey home. I
believe I arrived back at 23:40. I’m
now paranoid about lateness, and am worrying about getting stuck in traffic
jams on my way to Newbury on Saturday.
The website states a gate opening time of 10:30, although in previous
years it has been 09:30. |
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Wednesday 26 November 2014 |
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Two runners
of interest this afternoon and this is how they fared: Fontwell Park: Always
Bold (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) was a non-runner in the Handicap Hurdle [3
miles 3 furlongs] Wetherby: Sego Success (Alan King/Aidan
Coleman) won the Beginners’ Chase (6 ran). L’Amiral David (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 10th in
the NH Novices’ Hurdle (15 ran). Aidan was
cleared to ride ... although, evidently, he was sporting a few stitches in
his head! And AP
returned to action with a winner at Fontwell Park. More There are
three National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, Newbury, Taunton and Uttoxeter, with runners of interest at two of these: Newbury: 14:10 Carraig Mor (Alan King/Noel Fehily) – Novices’ Chase (registered as Worcester
Novices’ Chase) [Grade 2] – there are three declared runners for this race,
including Southfield Theatre. More 14:45 Ned
Stark (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Novices’ Limited
Handicap Chase 15:45 Yanworth (Alan King/AP McCoy) – Standard Open NH Flat
Race; this is a JP McManus owned horse. Uttoxeter: 12:15 Altesse De Guye (Martin
Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 14:30 Mortlestown (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Handicap Hurdle 15:35
Primo Blue (Noel Williams/Dougie Costello) –
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race I’ve been
checking regularly for jockey news ahead of the Hennessy Gold Cup and it’s
been confirmed that, with both Choc and Wayne injured, Denis O’Regan will take the ride aboard Smad
Place. Tom Bellamy will partner the
yard’s other runner, Midnight Prayer. And should
Ian Popham not be fit enough to ride Annacotty, also in the Hennessy, following his recent
injury, then Gavin Sheehan is the first choice as deputy if available. |
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Tuesday 25 November 2014 |
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Just one
runner of interest this afternoon, at Lingfield Park: King Louis
(Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) finished 6th in the ‘Junior’ Standard Open NH Flat Race
(All-weather) (9 ran). Classic Colori ran on the all-weather at Southwell
today, finishing 7th of 8 in his race. Three
runners of interest tomorrow: Fontwell Park: 14:45
Always Bold (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 3
furlongs] Wetherby: 12:50 Sego
Success (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Beginners’ Chase 13:20 L’Amiral David (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – NH Novices’
Hurdle There’s
still no sign of Wayne Hutchinson returning, and Aidan Coleman may be
doubtful having taken a heavy fall at Lingfield
Park today, in which his mount Golan To War died; he was stood down for the
remainder of the afternoon. AP McCoy
returns to action tomorrow, following his recent break due to injury. More However,
Grand National winning jockey Ryan Mania has decided to quit riding due to
weight issues and having to spend too much time away from his family. More Seven
jockeys were awarded 10-day bans following a void race at Sedgefield; and all
because a wrong-coloured flag was waved in error to notify them to bypass a
fence. More I don’t
seem to be having a very relaxing week; I feel strangely apprehensive. I’m not sure whether it’s because I have to
drive to Milton Keynes this week and don’t quite know where I’m going ...
even though Lesley is travelling with me and she does know the town ... or
because I’ve not been racing for a while, alone. Or both!!!
I’m out of practice! I’m trying
to keep active this week; having been unable to walk at the weekend due to
the bad weather. I walked to the shops
and back yesterday, and today I went for a brisk walk of around 2.8
miles. This afternoon I watched the
racing on ATR and wrapped a number of Christmas presents. Christmas is a month today ... I’ve had
strange dreams for the past couple of nights too, in which I’m looking for
Choc ... I didn’t find him, although I did meet Richard Johnson in last
night’s dream, visiting his home which turned out to be a huge mansion! I recall entering a room where photographs
and paintings depicting his career were displayed. But hopefully Choc will turn up in real life
again soon!!! |
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Monday 24 November 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Kempton Park: Tiger Feat
(Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) fell two flights from
home when out of contention in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (9 ran). L’Unique (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 3rd in the
Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) (6 ran); L’Unique is a
Spring horse; the race was won by the 11-1 shot Carole’s Spirit. More Hurricane
Vic (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). Just one
runner of interest tomorrow, at Lingfield Park: 15:30 King
Louis (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) – ‘Junior’ Standard Open NH Flat Race
(All-weather) It was a
beautiful late autumn day; frosty but sunny.
Mind you, the paths were a little bit treacherous, not with frost but
with slippery leaves following the weekend’s heavy rain. I slipped once, on my walk to the
City-centre shops. The pavements along
one stretch of my route were diabolical too – comprising of very uneven
bricks; tree and shrub roots from the adjacent park having undermined them. They were squelchy too where the rain had
seeped through the gaps between them.
One of my pet hates is stepping on a ‘rocking’ brick or paving stone following rain, only for the
dirty water to splash up through the gap surrounding it and hit my legs or
clothes. There was
low lying mist early morning at Kempton Park (I’ve seen a photo) and, after a
cold but clear sunny afternoon, it became ‘spooky’ misty when the sun began to set ahead of the final race
of the day; with fingers reaching out from the racecourse’s lake where the
mist had reformed. |
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Sunday 23 November 2014 |
|
Here is
the result from Towcester: Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty)
finished 5th in the Mares’ NH Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Friendly
Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) was one of three non-runners in the Handicap
Chase [3 miles & ½ a furlong]. I’m
not surprised, as it was an absolutely foul day weather-wise. There are
two National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, at Ludlow and Kempton Park, with
runners of interest at the latter: 12:35
Tiger Feat (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) – NH Novices’
Hurdle (Qualifier) 14:10 L’Unique (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Mares’ Hurdle
(Listed) 15:15
Hurricane Vic (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’ Hurdle Vautour, winner of last season’s Cheltenham Festival
Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, won impressively on his chasing debut today. More
He’s yet
another of the Rich Ricci-owned battalion of horses; the owner having been
the head of the Corporate and Investment division of Barclays Bank before his
retirement. The
weather in the southeast this weekend has been far from conducive to walking,
so I’ve had no exercise. In fact I
received a last-minute invite to spend lunch today with my younger brother
and his family in Bedfordshire. It was
absolutely no fun driving up the M1 in the heavy rain, or driving through a
number of enormous puddles on other main roads either. It’s going
to be clear, cold and frosty tonight in many places; I far prefer it to the
horrible dank conditions of the past few days. I hate November, my least favourite month
of the year. And I’m on
leave from work this week too; I’ve not had a whole week off since March. J |
|
Saturday 22 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Haydock Park: Araldur (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 14th, last of
the finishers, in the Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle (16 ran). Medermit (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
finished 6th, last of the finishers, in the Betfair
Chase [Grade 1] (9 ran). Midnight
Appeal (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1
furlong] (11 ran); and, for the record, Forgotten Gold finished 4th. Huntingdon: Money For Nothing
(Alan King/Jack Doyle) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (6
ran); the ex-Alan King trained Frizzo won, having
put in an excellent round of jumping.
Sadly the race was marred by the death of Mission To Mars, who broke a
leg when he fell at the first fence.
Ballochmyle (Alan King/Jack Doyle) finished 5th in the
Maiden Standard Open NH Flat Race (8 ran). Al Ferof won the feature Amlin
Chase at Ascot, having also won this race last season. More Faugheen was an impressive winner of Ascot’s Coral
Hurdle; a race won last year by Annie Power. More The New
One triumphed at Haydock Park. More And Silviniaco Conti won the Grade 1 Betfair
Chase, having also won this event back in 2012. More The Fixed
Brush Handicap Hurdle was won by Aubusson, ridden
by the trainer’s step-daughter, Lizzie.
More Two
runners of interest tomorrow at Towcester: 12:45 Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty)
– Mares’ NH Novices’ Hurdle 14:15
Friendly Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Handicap Chase [3 miles &
½ a furlong] |
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Friday 21 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Ascot: Kotkiri (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 7th, Solstice
Star (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) finished 12th and Springboks (Alan
King/Jack Doyle) finished 10th in the NH Maiden Hurdle (13 ran). There are three
National Hunt fixtures tomorrow – Ascot, Haydock
and Huntingdon – with runners of interest at the latter two: Haydock Park: 14:25 Araldur (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Fixed Brush Handicap
Hurdle 15:00 Medermit (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
– Betfair Chase [Grade 1] 15:35
Midnight Appeal (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong];
and Forgotten Gold too! Huntingdon: 13:10
Money For Nothing (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:25 Ballochmyle (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Maiden Standard Open
NH Flat Race So that’s
my three most frequently mentioned jockeys, all absent due to injury – in
other words Choc, Wayne Hutchinson and Ian Popham. The New
One also runs at Haydock Park tomorrow, in the
2-mile hurdle race. More I guess
the highlight of the Ascot card will be the appearance of Faugheen
in the Coral Hurdle; Ruby Walsh will be riding him and he has also picked up
a number of outside rides, including Al Ferof in
the Amlin 1965 Chase. More I’ve been
watching AP on ATR’s Get In show this evening, and the guys were taking the mickey out of Ruby’s dress sense ... I image AP will get
a bit of stick when he gets home, as Ruby is staying at his house as he
always does when he visits the UK! I’ve no
plans for this weekend, but I will be going to see Calamity Jane at the
theatre next week and to Newbury races for the Hennessy Gold Cup next
Saturday. |
|
Thursday 20 November 2014 |
|
Here are today’s
results for my runners of interest: Chepstow: Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 6th in the Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). Always
Bold (Martin Keighley/Jason Maguire) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [3
miles] (9 ran). Market Rasen: Hindon Road (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 5th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] (6 ran). Kerrow (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 2nd in the
Standard Open NH Flat Race (8 ran). Wincanton: Say When
(Alan King/Mr Jamie Insole) veered badly right and unseated at the first in
the Hands & Heals Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (Amateurs and Conditionals)
(10 ran). I understand the horse he
hampered and brought down, Admirable Duque, lost his life as a result. I’m sure Say When is jinxed. Handazan (Alan King/Richard Johnson) finished 3rd and
Roberto Pegasus (Alan King/Jamie Moore) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 4 furlongs] (8 ran). There are
three National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, at Ascot, Ffos
Las and Haydock Park. Also three runners of interest and they are
all running in the same race at Ascot! 13:00 Kotkiri (Alan King/Tom Cannon) & Solstice Star
(Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) & Springboks (Alan King/Jack Doyle) –
NH Maiden Hurdle Nine runners
have now been declared for Saturday’s Betfair
Chase, namely Cue Card, Dynaste, Silviniaco Conti, Menorah, Taquin
Du Seuil, Double Ross, Medermit,
Harry Topper and The Giant Bolster. More |
|
Wednesday 19 November 2014 |
|
#NationalJockeyDay Betfair has launched National Jockey Day to raise money
for the Injured Jockeys’ Fund. Click here to read more. Three
runners of interest this afternoon, at Warwick, and
Wayne Hutchinson remains out of action too. Smart
Motive (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 6th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (18
ran). Monty’s
Revenge (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) finished 5th in the Handicap Chase
[3 miles 2 furlongs] (6 ran). Lady Persephone (Alan King/Richard
Johnson) won the Fillies’ ‘Junior’
Standard Open Flat Race (6 ran). There are
three National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, with runners of interest at all of
them: Chepstow: 12:40 Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Novices’ Hurdle 14:50
Always Bold (Martin Keighley/Jason Maguire) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] Market Rasen: 14:40 Hindon Road (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 5 furlongs] 15:40 Kerrow (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Standard Open NH Flat
Race Wincanton: 12:50 Say
When (Alan King/Mr JJ Insole) – Hands & Heals Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
(Amateurs and Conditionals) 14:25 Handazan (Alan King/Richard Johnson) & Roberto
Pegasus (Alan King/Jamie Moore) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] Alan King
is mulling over whether to allow Medermit take his
chance in Saturday’s Betfair Chase. More There’s an
update regarding Sire De Grugy following today’s
scan; he’s not suffered a fractured pelvis or a stress fracture either, but
he does have some heat in his hip area and won’t run before the turn of the
year at the earliest. More |
|
Tuesday 18 November 2014 |
|
RIP Invictus L I was
reading the latest news blog on Alan King’s website and it was mentioned that
Invictus is no longer with us; he couldn’t be saved
following the serious injury he sustained in last season’s Hennessy Gold
Cup. Poor horse, I really liked him
and had hoped he might survive to undertake a career outside of racing. I’m very sad now, but I knew I’d discover
his fate sooner or later and it’s best that I know. Anyway,
here is a link to the aforementioned news blog: http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm And here
is the article relating to the racecourse gallop which has been published on
the ATR website. More More Of
That also visited Newbury today for a racecourse gallop. More Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Doncaster: The Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) won the Mares’ Maiden
Hurdle (8 ran). Uriah Heep (Alan King/Richard Johnson) fell in the Handicap
Chase [2 miles 4½ furlongs] (9 ran); note the change of jockey. Monksgold (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 5th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3½ furlongs] (9 ran); again note the change of
jockey. I presume
Wayne Hutchinson went to Newbury instead, for the racecourse gallop. Three
runners of interest tomorrow, at Warwick: 14:40
Smart Motive (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 15:10
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) – Handicap Chase [3 miles
2 furlongs] 15:40 Lady
Persephone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Fillies’ ‘Junior’ Standard Open Flat Race |
|
Monday 17 November 2014 |
|
Here are today’s
results for my runners of interest: Leicester: Nyanza
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Juvenile Fillies’ Hurdle (8
ran). Mystery
Drama (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles] (10 ran). Gone Too
Far (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished last in the Beginners’ Chase (6
ran). Miles To
Memphis (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (12
ran); he started at odds of 2-13 ... but was reported to have hated the
ground. Plumpton: Krackatoa King (Noel Williams/Leighton Aspell)
finished 2nd in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Fred Le
Macon (Alan King/Mr L Ferguson) finished 3rd in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap
Hurdle (9 ran). Tomorrow
there are runners of interest at Doncaster: 14:20 The
Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Mares’
Maiden Hurdle 14:50
Uriah Heep (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 4½ furlongs] 15:20 Monksgold (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 3½ furlongs] There are currently
9 horses confirmed for the Betfair Chase at Haydock on Saturday, namely Cue Card, Dynaste,
Silviniaco Conti, Taquin
Du Seuil, Medermit, The
Giant Bolster, Menorah, Double Ross and Harry Topper. More Martin
Keighley reports that Creepy is fine following his mishap on Saturday, and
that the horse hated the very soft ground.
|
|
Sunday 16 November 2014 |
|
Just one
runner of interest today, at Cheltenham, and he
was a winner! Uxizandre (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) won the Schloer Chase
[Listed] (6 ran). Uxizandre jumped like a stag throughout the race; he is an
admirable and very likeable horse.
When interviewed after the race, Barry Geraghty
described him as a ‘gorgeous horse’. More The Open
turned out to be an excellent fixture for Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson;
with six winners for the trainer, and seven for the jockey, who also rode a
winner for Steve Gollings. More There is
further news regarding Sire De Grugy. More Hurricane
Fly beat Jezki in the Morgiana
hurdle run at Punchestown today. More Dessie Hughes, trainer and ex-jockey, and father of
Richard, has passed away. More As part of
a tribute to Dessie, one of the racing channels
re-played the finish of the 2005 Champion Hurdle when Hardy Eustace, trained
by Dessie, beat Harchibald. One of the jockeys back in the field caught
my eye, he was wearing predominantly orange silks and I thought I recognised
his riding style. So I looked it up on
the ATR website and discovered it was a 20-1 shot named Self Defense ridden by none other than R Thornton! There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow, including Miles To Memphis: Leicester: 12:45
Nyanza (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Fillies’ Hurdle 14:20
Mystery Drama (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] 14:50 Gone
Too Far (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Beginners’ Chase 15:50
Miles To Memphis (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle Plumpton: 14:00 Krackatoa King (Noel Williams/Leighton Aspell) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 15:30 Fred
Le Macon (Alan King/Mr L Ferguson) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle Although a
gloomy dampish day, I went for a walk this morning. However, because it had been a little misty
first thing, I didn’t go via the quiet local College grounds, instead
deciding upon a route through the City centre. The main road had been closed off, with
fairground attractions being set up ... it looked very tacky ... really not
the sort of image our City should be promoting. I understand the Christmas lights were
switched on late afternoon, by Steve McFadden; he’s starring in Jack and the
Beanstalk at the City Hall this year. |
|
Saturday 15 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Cheltenham: Creepy (Martin
Keighley/Richard Johnson) fell at the 15th fence in the Novices’ Chase (5
ran); surprising after his stag-like display at Chepstow. Champion
Court (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Paddy Power Gold
Cup Chase (18 ran); he ran really well.
Fighter
Jet (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle [Listed]
(12 ran). Dusky
Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Mares’ Standard Open
NH Flat Race (14 ran); Noel Williams had a runner in this one too, 66-1 shot Briery Queen ridden by Leighton Aspell,
and she finished a very good 4th! I
really liked the look of the winner, Bitofapuzzle,
trained by Harry Fry. The Paddy
Power Gold Cup was won by the Paul Nicholls-trained Caid
Du Berlais, who narrowly denied last year’s winner
Johns Spirit; the latter carried equal top-weight this year. The favourite, Present View, finished a
close third. More It was
good to see Sam Winner triumph in the Murphy Group Handicap Chase. I usually prefer the smaller yards to win
races (ie. not Nicholls or Henderson) but I was
pleased on this occasion; the horse had an unsuccessful initial foray into
chasing back in late 2011, before reverting back to hurdling, then returning
to chasing again at the Open last season.
More Just one
runner of interest tomorrow, at Cheltenham: 14:40 Uxizandre (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
– Schloer Chase [Listed] It’s been
another quiet, not much to do kind of day for me today. Just a few household chores, followed by a
bit of jewellery making and re-vamping plus, of course, watching the
horse-racing from Cheltenham and Wetherby on
TV. I’ll be watching Strictly Come
Dancing later; unfortunately the Dr Who series has now ended with just a
Christmas special to look forward to.
I really didn’t think I’d end up watching Dr Who, but I’ve so enjoyed
Peter Capaldi’s portrayal of the character. I know one
thing ... there won’t be a single thing to watch on ITV in the evenings for
the next few weeks ... because that totally awful programme Get Me Out Of
Here is back! |
|
Friday 14 November 2014 |
|
The One Show’s Rickshaw Challenge team, with
presenter Matt Baker, head to Elstree for
this evening’s Children In Need programme I spent
this morning logged onto my laptop to track the progress of The One Show’s Rickshaw
Challenge team. I knew they’d left
Great Missenden a little later than scheduled due to an appearance on the
BBC’s Breakfast programme but, having reached Bedmond,
they also took a detour into Hemel Hempstead to visit a Children In Need
project where they stayed for around an hour.
This meant they reached St Albans after 14:00 but, as you can see
above, I got a snapshot of the team as they rode by. Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Cheltenham: The Wexfordian (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 5th
in the Novices’ Chase (6 ran). Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 4th in the Cross Country
Chase (7 ran); Balthazar King won the race, however this particular
incarnation is not the usual handicap version so favours the horse. More It’s a
fairly quiet weekend, with three National Hunt fixtures, Uttoxeter,
Wetherby and Cheltenham, and four runners of
interest at the latter: 13:15
Creepy (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Novices’ Chase 14:30
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) – Paddy Power Gold Cup
Chase 15:00
Fighter Jet (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [Listed] 16:05
Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race I am so
looking forward to seeing Creepy again, after his excellent win at Chepstow a
few weeks ago. With
fences having to be omitted from the feature novices’ chase today due to low
sun, Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse approached
the BHA with the suggestion that tomorrow’s feature be re-scheduled during
the afternoon to avoid this problem.
The BHA declined and RUK reported back that they can, in fact, only
change race times up to an hour before declarations are made, so it is too
late to change the time of the feature race tomorrow to negate this problem. Personally
I’d prefer to have more winter daylight hours when I go racing, because I
like to wait until after the final race before I depart and it would be nice
to get a little bit of a head-start before the light goes completely. The older you get the worse your night
vision becomes, and it also gets bloomin’ cold
later in the afternoon. So I’d love it
if racing began an hour earlier each day.
That’s the
only problem with being a fan of National Hunt racing; you spend hours in the
freezing cold during the autumn and winter months and then have to drive home
in darkness! Mind you, in the summer,
sunburn must be a problem. I’ve
actually been advised not to wear sun-block, as I need plenty of vitamin D to
help negate the fact I’ve inherited the osteoporosis gene. And
there’s just one runner of interest at Cheltenham on Sunday, none at Fontwell
Park: 14:40 Uxizandre (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
– Schloer Chase [Listed] As
mentioned earlier in the week, I have no plans for the weekend. I may go for a walk or two, depending on
the weather. I went for a walk last Sunday
morning; I spotted plenty of sheep, a few ducks but no alpacas. And I missed seeing a steam train by just a
minute or two, which was disappointing ... mind you, that was because I
decided to risk walking to the next bridge along my route only to discover I
couldn’t see over the parapet; I then set off for the following one which was
just a short distance away but didn’t reach it in time! All I saw was the steam! Damn. |
|
Thursday 13 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Ludlow: Kuda Huraa (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (10 ran). Taunton: Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) fell two out in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (5 ran). Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty)
finished 7th in the Novices’ Hurdle (13 ran). There are
two runners of interest tomorrow at Cheltenham: 14:25 The Wexfordian (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Novices’
Chase 15:35 Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Cross Country Chase Sire De Grugy is due to undergo a scan next week to discover the
extent of his injury. More Not surprisingly,
The Young Master has been disqualified following his win in last Saturday’s
Badger Ales Trophy. More St Albans
is on the route of this year’s BBC1 One Show Rickshaw Challenge to raise
money for Children in Need. So I’ll be
watching out for them at around noon tomorrow to donate. Apart from
purchasing a gardening voucher, I’ve finished my Christmas present
shopping! Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
|
Wednesday 12 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Bangor: Dundee
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) blundered and unseated 4 out in the Novices’
Limited Handicap Chase (8 ran). Chatez (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (6 ran); Wayne’s 16th
winner of the
season. The horse sports the Smad Place colours.
Exeter: Desert Joe
(Alan King/Jack Doyle) slipped on landing after the 4th fence and unseated in
the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (7 ran). Three runners
of interest tomorrow: Ludlow: 15:00 Kuda Huraa (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase Taunton: 13:40 Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Mares’
Handicap Hurdle 14:40 Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty)
– Novices’ Hurdle Having
announced that Sire De Grugy was an intended runner
in the Schloer Chase, he returned lame from a
workout today so is now a non-runner. More However, Uxizandre is a definite starter in the event, having
side-stepped the Paddy Power option. More Here are
some interesting Timeform facts and figures
regarding influences on fallers and unseated riders in handicap chases; it’s
no surprise that Aintree (Midlmay and Grand
National course combined) has the most fallers, but Sandown Park the least
and that is a surprise. Mind you,
there was a faller at the Pond Fence last Saturday and someone came up with
the obscure fact regarding the last time this happened ... and it was ages
ago! Evidently
Choc parts company with his mount on fewer occasions than predicted in
handicap chases; Wayne has a slightly worse ratio, although still less than
the prediction. I am so not surprised
that Barry Geraghty experiences only around
two-thirds of the predicted mishaps, and that Ruby Walsh is actually unseated
or falls aboard exactly the number of horses that would be expected! Today is
my ‘Thursday’ ... as I’ve booked
Friday as leave. I’ve got no plans
however, as a trip to Cheltenham is a bit too far at this time of the
year. I have actually been to the Greatwood Day in the past and to their December fixture
too, but only when accompanied. |
|
Tuesday 11 November 2014 |
|
There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow: Huntingdon: Ned Stark (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (8 ran);
Wayne’s 15th winner of the season. Ned runs in the same colours as Medermit, and he caught the long-time leader on the
run-in, winning by a head at the line.
Our Phylli Vera (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in
the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (6 ran). Elkstone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
‘Junior’ Standard Open Flat Race (13 ran); the horse ran keen for a long way! Lingfield Park: Solstice
Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 3rd in the NH Novices’ Hurdle
(8 ran). Jamie Spencer
didn’t win the hurdle race for flat jockeys, he finished last of the 4 that
completed. Tomorrow
there are three runners of interest: Bangor: 13:30
Dundee (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:30 Chatez (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Maiden
Hurdle Exeter: 14:10 Desert Joe (Alan
King/Jack Doyle) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase; I hope all goes well for
the horse, as he’s been nursed back to fitness following an absence of 746
days. There are
ten entries for the Schloer Chase at Cheltenham on
Sunday, including Sire De Grugy. More I’m
already a Schloer convert, as I begin a bottle most
Sundays with my lunch! The apple and
white grape flavour is my favourite, although I do drink the red grape
variety, the rosé, and the white grape and
elderflower too. Alcohol holds no attraction
whatsoever for me; if I visit a pub I always drink a J2O. |
|
Monday 10 November 2014 |
|
There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow: Huntingdon: 14:40 Ned
Stark (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:10 Our Phylli Vera (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’
Handicap Hurdle 15:40 Elkstone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – ‘Junior’ Standard
Open Flat Race Lingfield Park: 14:00
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – NH Novices’ Hurdle The card
also includes a Handicap Hurdle race for flat jockeys, in which Jamie Spencer
is taking part. More The Young
Master saga continues, following his controversial
win in last Saturday’s Badger Ales Chase.
More And
Champion Court and Always Bold went hunting with the Heythrop
on Saturday: https://twitter.com/ChampionCourt/status/531107094247006210/photo/1 |
|
Saturday 08 November 2014 |
|
Here are today’s
results for my runners of interest; another unlucky day: Sandown Park: Gone Too
Far (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) crumpled on landing
over the first, having over-jumped in the Novices’ Chase (3 ran). Mystery
Drama (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) unseated at the first in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles & ½ a furlong] (11 ran). Wincanton: McCabe
Creek (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished last in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (4
ran). Hollow
Penny (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Chase (3
ran); but it was no disgrace to finish 2nd to Southfield Theatre. More Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in
the Badger Ales Trophy Handicap Chase (18 ran); the ground has gone against
him and he needs his winter holiday. The Badger
Ales Trophy ended in controversy, it having been discovered that the easy
winner, The Young Master, was not qualified to run in the race! It has been referred to the BHA. More The Elite
Hurdle was won by the John Ferguson-trained Purple Bay, Irving having fallen
at the last flight when having the race possibly at his mercy. Irving was fine following the incident;
Paul Nicholls thanked everyone via twitter for their concern and applause
when the horse rose to its feet having been prostrate for a while. More For the
record, First Mohican finished 7th and Kings Bayonet 22nd in the November
Handicap at Doncaster (23 ran). Well
that’s the end of the flat season, with Richard Hughes winning his third
successive jockeys’ title. More There’s
National Hunt racing at Market Rasen and Ffos Las tomorrow but no runners of interest. |
|
Friday 07 November 2014 |
|
RIP Solwhit, winner of the 2013 World Hurdle Sad news
today that Solwhit has been put to sleep following
a training accident. More Martin
Keighley reports that Midnight Thomas is fine following yesterday’s slip-up
at Towcester. Tomorrow’s
runners of interest are as follows: Sandown Park: 13:20 Gone
Too Far (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Novices’ Chase 15:05
Mystery Drama (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & ½ a
furlong] Wincanton: 12:20
McCabe Creek (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 13:30
Hollow Penny (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase 14:40 Pantxoa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Badger Ales Trophy
Handicap Chase And First
Mohican and Kings Bayonet run in the November Handicap at Doncaster; the last
day of the flat racing season. Here is
the inside story regarding Alan King’s runners tomorrow. http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm I’ve no
special plans for the weekend, although I may go for a walk or even two
depending on the weather. I still need
to buy a few Christmas presents but plan to do that during the final week of
November when I’ve actually booked an entire week off work! Shock, horror! |
|
Thursday 06 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results from Towcester and, all
in all, a bit of an unlucky day apart from one winner: Midnight
Thomas (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) slipped up on the bend in the Handicap
Chase [2 miles ½ a furlong] (8 ran). Gabriella Rose (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won & Pattara (Noel
Williams/Gerard Tumelty) unseated at the first
flight in the Mares’ NH Maiden Hurdle (13 ran); Wayne’s 14th
winner of the
season. Monty’s Revenge
(Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) finished a neck 2nd in the Handicap Chase
[2 miles 6 furlongs] (9 ran). Lady
Persephone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a short-head 2nd in the ‘Junior’ Fillies’ Standard Open Flat
Race (13 ran). There’s National
Hunt racing at Fontwell Park, Hexham and
Musselburgh tomorrow but no runners of interest. AP McCoy
is sidelined again, having again aggravated the injury he received at
Worcester a few weeks ago. I winced
when he was unseated from If In Doubt at Exeter on Tuesday and wondered if
he’d have problems again. More It’s all downhill
from 50 for most of us, but for jockeys it happens at least ten years sooner
due to all the bumps and knocks they get.
Mad
Moose’s ban has been lifted and he’s free to race again; mind you, I really
don’t know why he’s not been retired! More Annacotty is being aimed at the
Hennessy Gold Cup at the end of the month. More And
Richard Johnson is Horse and Hound’s new racing columnist, following on from
Choc and Daryl Jacob. |
|
Wednesday 05 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Chepstow: Right On
Roy (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 10th in the Maiden Hurdle (11
ran). Westerly Breeze
(Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles]
(6 ran). Warwick: Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (11 ran); she led for
most of the way, only headed in the final 50 yards, the race comment
distances suggest a blanket finish. Grumeti (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
Novices’ Chase (5 ran). The Tourard Man (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in
the Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Georgian King (Martin Keighley/Tom
Bellamy) won the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (7 ran); well done to
the team, their 9th winner of the season. There is
National Hunt racing at Musselburgh, Fakenham and Towcester tomorrow, with
runners of interest at the latter: 14:10
Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Handicap Chase [2 miles ½ a
furlong] 15:10
Gabriella Rose (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Pattara
(Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty) – Mares’ NH Maiden
Hurdle 15:40
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) – Handicap Chase [2 miles
6 furlongs] 16:10 Lady
Persephone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – ‘Junior’ Fillies’ Standard Open Flat Race In Greek
mythology, Persephone
is the queen
of the underworld. I always fancied
calling a daughter Persephone, along with Rhiannon, and Francesca (although
I’m not Italian or a Catholic). The
entries for Boxing Day’s King George VI Chase at Kempton Park have been
announced: http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=4486424&category=0 |
|
Tuesday 04 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Exeter: Balder Succes (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Haldon Gold Cup Steeplechase (7 ran); Alan King’s charge
blundered 3 out and also carried 7 lbs more than the winner, God’s Own. More Carraig Mor (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Chase (5 ran). Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Sam Twiston-Davies)
finished a close 3rd and Ziga Boy (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles] (12 ran); all the
fences in the back straight were omitted due to the low sun. Galiotto (Noel Williams/Jamie Moore) finished 14th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs] (17 ran). Two National
Hunt fixtures tomorrow, with runners of interest at both: Chepstow: 13:40
Right On Roy (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Maiden Hurdle 14:40
Westerly Breeze (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] Warwick: 13:00 Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles] 14:30 Grumeti (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase 15:05 The Tourard Man (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Hurdle 15:40 Georgian
King (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase Here is
the lowdown on Alan’s recent runners, and also on those running tomorrow: |
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Monday 03 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Kempton Park: Coyaba (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a
promising 2nd in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished 3rd
in the Graduation Chase (4 ran); just 5 lengths behind the dead heating
winners, Theatre Guide and Fox Appeal.
The race was run over 2 miles 4½ furlongs, therefore short of his
preferred 3 miles. Ronaldinho (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 6th in the
Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). There’s
National Hunt racing from Exeter tomorrow, including
the Haldon Gold Cup: 14:15
Balder Succes (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Haldon Gold Cup Steeplechase; his rivals will be Cue
Card, Somersby, God’s Own, Pepite Rose, Hinterland
and Oscar Hill. More 14:45 Carraig Mor (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase 15:15 Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Sam Twiston-Davies)
& Ziga Boy (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles] 16:15 Galiotto (Noel Williams/Jamie Moore) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 3 furlongs] I finally
got around to taking my weekly long-distance walk this morning, if I can
refer to about 4 miles as being that.
I timed it well too, as I didn’t get wet; it had rained overnight, and
was raining at lunchtime too, before clearing this afternoon. It was also very wet during the early
afternoon at Kempton Park. I also saw
a variety of creatures, as my route also took me through the local College
grounds – two magpies, three herds of sheep, two alpacas having their mid-morning
feed, two horses being ridden at the equestrian centre and a rat! The rat wasn’t at the College I hasten to
add; it ran down a sloping grass roadside verge, hastily retreating to the
undergrowth once more as I walked by. |
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Sunday 02 November 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Huntingdon: Nyanza (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle (11 ran); Wayne’s 12th
winner of the
season. Classic Colori (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 9th in
the Claiming Hurdle (13 ran). Shady Lane
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) blundered badly two out and was pulled up in the
Handicap Chase [2 miles & ½ a furlong] (8 ran). Ordo Ab Chao (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (12 ran);
Wayne’s 13th winner of the
season. Tomorrow
there is National Hunt racing at Kempton Park and Plumpton, with three runners of interest at the former: 13:35 Coyaba (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’
Hurdle; his hurdling debut. 15:10 Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Graduation
Chase. More 16:15 Ronaldinho (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Conditional Jockeys’
Handicap Hurdle Le Bec struck into a tendon during yesterday’s feature race
at Ascot and his career hangs in the balance.
More It’s
really weird with the racing starting before ‘lunch’ and finishing around 16:00 ... I know it happens every
year but it just seems weird! I’ve not
been for a walk this weekend; yesterday morning started damp, although the
sun soon came out. But, by that time,
I’d not psyched myself up to go. It
was raining first thing this morning too, followed by sunshine, but that
didn’t last long before it rained again.
It cleared away before lunch but, unless I go early, I don’t go at
all! |
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Saturday 01 November 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Wetherby: Smart
Motive (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Novices’ Hurdle (17
ran). Turn Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (6 ran). Medinas (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Hurdle (Grade 2) (3 ran). The race was
won by Cole Harden. More Medermit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
Charlie Hall Chase (Grade 2) (7 ran); the race was won by Menorah. More Shadarpour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] (10 ran). Ascot: Money For
Nothing (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 11th in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle
(14 ran). Manyriverstocross (Alan King/Jamie
Moore) finished 7th in the Byrne Group Handicap Hurdle (Listed) (9 ran). Laser
Blazer (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle (Listed)
(11 ran). Midnight
Appeal (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 5th in the United House Gold Cup
Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (15 ran). The
race was won by What A Warrior. More Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 4th in
the Standard Open NH Flat Race (12 ran). And Kumbeshwar finished last in his Handicap Chase at Ayr (5
ran). Meanwhile,
in France, Zarkandar won a Grade 1 hurdle. More Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest at Huntingdon: 12:45 Nyanza
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 13:50
Classic Colori (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Claiming Hurdle 14:20
Shady Lane (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles & ½ a
furlong] 14:55 Ordo Ab Chao (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle |
