OCTOBER 2017
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Tuesday
31 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Bangor-on-Dee: Gibralfaro (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished last in
the Novices’ Chase (3 ran). Stylish
Moment (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Standard Open NH Flat
Race Div I (10 ran). Chepstow: Canelo (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd in the Maiden
Hurdle (16 ran). Fairmount
(Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 3rd in the Standard Open NH Flat Race
(Conditional Jockeys & Amateur Riders) (16 ran). I’ve
decided upon three runners of interest tomorrow: Fakenham: 13:40
Alexander The Grey (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs] Taunton: 15:50
Generous Chief (Graeme McPherson/Danny Hiskett) –
Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 3 yards] 16:20 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs
& 198 yards] Cue Card
and Coneygree are due to clash in this Saturday’s
Charlie Hall Chase run at Wetherby. Former
trainer Mary Reveley, mother of former trainer
Keith, and grandmother of jockey James, has passed away aged 77. I guess Cab On Target was her most
well-known charge. RIP Tomorrow
is the 9th anniversary of me setting up this website ... and I’m still
hanging on in there!!! |
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Monday
30 October 2017 |
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I’m sorry
there was no blog yesterday evening; I went to London with my friend Lesley,
to see Lee Mead perform at The Pheasantry in Kings
Road, Chelsea. The venue is actually
in the basement of a Pizza Express outlet, so you can eat, drink and enjoy
the show too. As always, Lee was
brilliant; he is a wonderful singer and funny too. Lee’s guest star, Stephen Rahman-Hughes, sang two songs. Stephen was also filming segments for a
documentary to celebrate Lee’s 10th anniversary tour in 2018; I
presume that’s 10 years of concert touring, it’s a lot more than 10 years in
show-business as Lee is now 36! We had
planned to alight from the tube at Sloane Square but, unfortunately, the westbound
platform of the station was closed due to remedial work being carried
out. As a result we had to continue to
South Kensington; if we’d known that at the time, we’d have travelled via the
Piccadilly Line from St Pancras, instead of the Circle Line from
Farringdon! It meant that we had to
walk, in the direction we thought was Chelsea, without a map – the street
guide outside the station didn’t cover the Kings Road! Always up for a challenge, I decided upon
Pelham Street, followed by Sloane Avenue and, strangely enough, it took us to
the Kings Road. There was
a slight hiccup at that point, as Lesley wasn’t quite sure which direction we
then needed to head – we turned left, but it took us to Sloane Square. But after heading back in the direction from
whence we’d come, along the Kings Road, we eventually found the venue. Fortunately we’d left plenty of time in our
schedule and arrived at 17:50; doors were supposed to open at 18:00 but the
musicians was still rehearsing, so we had to wait in the stairwell for a
while. Anyway, as
mentioned earlier, the show was brilliant, the food good, and I didn’t get
home until 23:50! So here
are yesterday’s results for my runners of interest: Aintree: Perfect
Harmony (Alan King/Ian Popham) finished 4th in the Maiden
Hurdle (10 ran). Inner
Drive (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 4 furlongs] (15 ran). Smad Place (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Old Roan Chase (Grade 2) (12 ran); Alan’s 25th
winner of the
season and Wayne’s
19th winner of the
season. The
Romford Pele won the Veterans’ Chase. Wayne rode
his 18th winner of the season aboard
Vic De Touzaine, trained by Venetia Williams, at
Carlisle on 19 October. Wincanton: Forgotten
Gold (Tom George/Mr Noel George) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles
2 furlongs & 162 yards] (10 ran). Cloud
Hopper (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) finished 8th in the Juvenile Hurdle
(11 ran). Ned Stark
was a non-runner at Wexford; he had a temperature. Here is the Racing Post’s report regarding Smad Place’s heart-warming victory in the Old Roan Chase: This is the stewards’ report relating to Wayne
Hutchinson’s 2-day suspension: An enquiry was held to consider interference on the run to the final
fence when the winner, SMAD PLACE (FR), ridden by Wayne Hutchinson, drifted
left hampering CLOUDY DREAM (IRE), placed second, ridden by Brian Hughes,
which was carried off its intended line. The riders were interviewed and
shown recordings of the incident. Hutchinson was suspended for 2 days for
careless riding in that he allowed his mount to shift left for several
strides without timely correction. Although
Smad Place holds an entry in the Ladbrokes Gold Cup
(ex-Hennessy Gold Cup), which he won in 2015, connections are thinking of a
different programme this year; his next target may
be Huntingdon’s Peterborough Chase: Another
brilliant photo, of Smad Place and his stable lad
Jamie Insole, from Michael Harris: https://mobile.twitter.com/mjyharris/status/924755932567035908/photo/1 It has
just come to light that Big Fella Thanks was put
down following the injury he sustained during Cheltenham’s annual hunter
chase evening in May. Connections had
intended to retire him after that particular race, but he fractured a cannon
bone when jumping the eighth fence.
Efforts were made to save him, as he was taken home in a horse
ambulance with high expectations of a recovery, but complications set in and
he was later put to sleep.
RIP Big Fella
Thanks Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Bangor-on-Dee: 13:25 Gibralfaro (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase 15:35
Stylish Moment (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Div
I Chepstow: 13:15 Canelo (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Maiden Hurdle 16:30
Fairmount (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Standard Open NH Flat Race
(Conditional Jockeys & Amateur Riders) |
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Saturday
28 October 2017 |
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Kincora
Fort |
Drunken Pirate |
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I’ve been
out and about again, this morning paying a visit to Noel Williams’ yard in Blewbury. The
visit was arranged in order for syndicate members to see Kincora
Fort (aka Brian) on the gallops; he’s been on the injury sidelines since
winning a hurdle race at Kempton Park in May 2015. He injured one tendon then, having been on
the verge of a racecourse run last autumn, he injured the other one. I loved
Drunken Pirate, one of Mrs Prowting’s home-breds. He’s by
Black Sam Bellamy out of Peel Me A Grape, which makes him a half-brother to
Midnight Merlot, Coyaba and Letsby
Avenue. ‘Big Sam’, as he’s known by his connections, is very kind and
friendly and, as the name suggests, huge! Having
left the yard at 11:20 I arrived home before the first Cheltenham race
commenced, so was able to watch coverage on TV. And here
are today’s results for my runners of interest at Cheltenham: The Tourard Man (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) finished 11th and
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) was a non-runner in the
Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Qualifier) [2 miles 7
furlongs & 208 yards] (17 ran); the first six qualified for the final
which will be run at the Cheltenham Festival. Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the Novices’ Chase (6
ran); Jamie’s 12th winner of the season.
He was a 9-1 shot today and disputed the lead for most of the way
until 3 out; at which point he drifted back through the field. But he rallied and regained the lead at the
last, and galloped up the hill to win by 3¾ lengths at the line. Ballymountain Boy (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 3rd in the
Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). Samson The
Man (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th and Oscar World (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 4th in the
Standard Open NH Flat Race (14 ran). Nigel Twiston-Davies’ horses were in top form – with Cogry (Sam Twiston-Davies),
Foxtail Hill (Sam Twiston-Davies) and Calett Mad (Daryl Jacob) winning their respective races. Aidan
O’Brien trained the winner of today’s Racing Post Trophy, run at Doncaster,
and claimed his 26th Group 1 triumph of the season; a new World Record. The horse, Saxon Warrior, was ridden by
Ryan Moore. Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Aintree: 12:40
Perfect Harmony (Alan King/Ian Popham) – Maiden
Hurdle 14:25
Inner Drive (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4
furlongs] 15:00 Smad Place (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Old Roan Chase
(Grade 2) There’s
also a well-subscribed Veterans’ Chase, to be run at 13:50. Wincanton: 14:45
Forgotten Gold (Tom George/Mr Noel George) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 2
furlongs & 162 yards] 15:20
Cloud Hopper (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) – Juvenile Hurdle Wexford: 15:45 Ned
Stark (Gordon Elliott/Davy Russell/formerly owned by Paul Dunkley of Apple
Tree Stud) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs] |
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Friday
27 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Cheltenham: Brillare Momento (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) won the Novices’ Hurdle
(5 ran); Martin’s 11th winner of the season. Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) finished 2nd in the
Novices’ Chase (7 ran); he was beaten by the Skelton runner, North Hill
Harvey. Buckle
Street (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished
6th and Cottersrock (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock)
finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 26 yards] (21
ran). Thady Quil (Martin
Keighley/Mr A Hark) finished 11th, last of the finishers, in the Amateur
Riders’ Handicap Chase (17 ran). Dans Le Vent (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished
2nd in the Maiden Hurdle (8 ran); the race was won by Slate House whose
reputation preceded him! Instant
Karma (Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) finished 9th and Bobble Emerald (Martin
Keighley/Harry Stock) won the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
(Challenger Series) (14 ran); Martin’s 12th winner of the season. Many
congratulations to Team Keighley, upon their Cheltenham double today. And also
many congratulations to trainer Tim Vaughan, he trained the winner of the
15:10 Handicap Hurdle – Master Dancer – and it was his first ever Cheltenham
winner! This was his 152nd attempt to
win a race at the Gloucestershire track! Here are
Saturday’s runners of interest, at Cheltenham: 15:45 The Tourard Man (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) & Solstice Star
(Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps
Qualifier) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 208 yards] 16:20
Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Chase 16:55 Ballymountain Boy (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Novices’ Hurdle 17:30
Samson The Man (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) & Oscar World (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Standard Open NH Flat
Race |
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Thursday
26 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Southwell: Thomas
Shelby (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Limited
Handicap Chase (4 ran). Awesome
Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 4 furlongs & 62 yards] (8 ran). Ludlow: Cautorillo (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 7th in
the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). And,
tomorrow, racing returns to Cheltenham for the
first day of their Showcase meeting: 14:00 Brillare Momento (Martin
Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:35 Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) – Novices’ Chase 15:10
Buckle Street (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) &
Cottersrock (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 26 yards] 16:20 Thady Quil (Martin Keighley/Mr
A Hark) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase 16:55 Dans Le Vent (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Maiden
Hurdle 17:30
Instant Karma (Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) & Bobble Emerald
(Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle
(Challenger Series) I’ve got a
long weekend; 4 days. J Although my time is pretty much booked up,
one way or the other, I will be watching the racing from Cheltenham on TV
tomorrow and Saturday. It’s about time
I took some annual leave, as I’ve only taken one full day and two half days
leave since the Aintree Festival! |
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Wednesday
25 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Worcester: Follow The
Swallow (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) was pulled
up in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs] (9 ran). Daydream Aulmes (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 4th, Mystical Clouds (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
7th, Sammylou (Graeme McPherson/Danny Hiskett) finished 13th and Stockburn
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 10th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (16
ran). My Charity
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing)
finished 2nd in the Maiden Hurdle Div I (11 ran); he was a 25-1 shot
today. He did, however, win the best
turned-out prize! Peggies Venture (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a
short-head 2nd and Queens Cloak (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 12th
in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran); another near-miss for Alan! Here is
the link to ATR’s recording of My Charity’s race: http://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Worcester/25-October-2017/1630 If you’ve
read my blog and stable visit diary, you’ll know that Graeme is very keen on
his new yard inmate; the well-bred My Charity, formerly owned by Trevor Hemmings and trained by Oliver Sherwood, had only managed
one racecourse appearance prior to changing hands – he trailed in last in a Ffos Las bumper, although in atrocious ground. Graeme surmises that earlier problems are
linked to the horse’s flat feet; this can result in corns and infections
within the hoof. But, if they can keep
him sound, he may be a very good investment! Sedgefield: Jamacho (Brian Ellison/Danny Cook/raised by Apple Tree
Stud) finished 4th in the Juvenile Hurdle (9 ran). And there
are three runners of interest tomorrow: Southwell: 14:40 Thomas
Shelby (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 16:15
Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4
furlongs & 62 yards] Ludlow: 15:35 Cautorillo (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’
Novices’ Hurdle There was
very sad news today; this year’s Champion Bumper winner, Fayonagh,
suffered a fatal injury on the gallops this morning. She broke a hind-leg. RIP If you are
seeking a new job role as a Stud Hand/Assistant Stud Groom, Apple Tree Stud
currently has a job vacancy: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/923146160759599106 |
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Tuesday
24 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Exeter: Harefield (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
Novices’ Hurdle (17 ran). Forgetthesmalltalk (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 25
yards] (11 ran). Yanworth (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) won the Beginners’ Chase (6 ran); Alan’s 24th winner of the NH season. Newcastle (AW): Zabeel Star (Karen Mclintock/P
McDonald/ex-Graeme McPherson trained) finished 7th in the Claiming Stakes [1
mile 2 furlongs & 42 yards] (14 ran). Martin
Keighley also had a runner on the all-weather at Kempton Park this
evening; Enforcement finished 8th of 9 in the Novices’ Stakes Div II. These are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Worcester: 13:35
Follow The Swallow (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods)
– Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs] 15:20
Daydream Aulmes (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) & Mystical Clouds (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) & Sammylou (Graeme McPherson/Danny Hiskett) & Stockburn (Alan
King/Tom Bellamy) – Standard Open NH Flat Race; Sammylou
also holds an entry in the Intermediate Open NH Flat Race at Sedgefield. 16:30 My
Charity (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing)
– Maiden Hurdle Div I 17:40 Peggies Venture (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Queens
Cloak (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Sedgefield: 14:00 Jamacho (Brian Ellison/Danny Cook/raised by Apple Tree
Stud) – Juvenile Hurdle Here is the Racing Post’s report regarding Yanworth chasing debut: https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/yanworth-off-the-mark-over-fences-with-cosy-victory/305932 AP McCoy, John Francome,
Peter Scudamore, and Richard Dunwoody have been
given a show-jumping lesson by Graham Fletcher; it’s in preparation for a
show-down against the flat jockeys at the pre-Christmas show held at
Olympia. Here’s a sensible new rule regarding the
qualifications required by amateurs to ride at the Cheltenham Festival: Choc has posted a video on twitter, it shows a
couple of Apple Tree Stud’s recently broken yearling fillies being ridden in
their manège: |
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Monday
23 October 2017 |
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Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest, at Plumpton: Lexington
Law (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Maiden Hurdle (13 ran). Miss Crick
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a non-runner and Adrrastos
(Jamie Snowden/Aidan Coleman) was pulled up in the Novices’ Limited Handicap
Chase (7 ran). There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow, including the chasing debut of one
of Alan King’s stable stars: Exeter: 14:50 Harefield (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:50 Forgetthesmalltalk (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 25 yards] 16:50 Yanworth (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
– Beginners’ Chase; please look after him Barry ... Newcastle (AW): 14:10 Zabeel Star (Karen Mclintock/P
McDonald/ex-Graeme McPherson trained) – Claiming Stakes [1 mile 2 furlongs
& 42 yards] Jockey
Nick Scholfield has left Paul Nicholls’ yard in
order to go freelance; I guess it’s difficult to retain one’s place in the
hierarchy when Paul can call on the services of their first jockey Sam Twiston-Davies, along with youngsters Sean Bowen, Harry
Cobden and Bryony Frost. |
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Sunday
22 October 2017 |
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Here are yesterday’s results for my runners of
interest: Market Rasen: Lostnfound (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) finished 5th in the Mares’ Novices Hurdle (8 ran). Paddys Runner (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods/ex-Alan King) finished a
nose 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 139 yards] (7 ran). Graeme’s Hey Bill went lame and was pulled up
during a later race, and Shady Glen finished 3rd of 9 in a Handicap Chase. Stratford: Giveaway Glance (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished a short-head 2nd in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). Meanwhile at Ffos Las, The New
One won the Welsh Champion Hurdle (a Limited Handicap) and Sire De Grugy finished 3rd (6 ran). The weather wasn’t as bad as had been forecast,
but the ground conditions still threw up a couple of surprises during The Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot. This
included my local trainer, Dean Ivory, winning the Champions Sprint with Librisa Breeze. And today, at Kempton Park: City Dreamer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) was a
non-runner in the Juvenile Hurdle Saint Contest (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
unseated shortly after the first fence as his saddle slipped during the
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (11 ran). Oops! Pearls Legend (John Spearing/Jamie Moore)
finished 5th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 2 furlongs] (8 ran). Old Guard won the Listed Hurdle, with San Benedeto 2nd and Rayvin Black
5th (6 ran). Paul Nicholls won 4 of today’s 7 races at
Kempton; Sam Twiston-Davies rode a treble – two for
Paul and one for his dad Nigel. Harry
Cobden won aboard Old Guard, and Bryony Frost won the last aboard Present
Man. I was watching (Nick) Luck on Sunday on RUK this
morning and they showed live racing during the show from Sha
Tin. A horse named Gold Mount won one
of the handicap races – in fact he’s the renamed Primitivo
which won at Royal Ascot for Alan King in June 2016 before being sold to race
in Hong Kong. He won £110,000
today. Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest, at Plumpton: 14:30
Lexington Law (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 16:00 Miss
Crick (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Adrrastos
(Jamie Snowden/Aidan Coleman) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase I’ve
finished and uploaded my stable yard diary, and also uploaded the associated
photos; another snood has almost been completed too! A productive weekend J |
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Friday
20 October 2017 |
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Here are today’s
updates for my runners of interest at Wincanton: Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was a non-runner in the
Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 35 yards]; the ground didn’t suit. Lord Huntingdon (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 65 yards] (10
ran). Here are Saturday’s runners of interest: Market Rasen: 13:10 Lostnfound (Jamie
Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices Hurdle 14:50 Paddys Runner
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/ex-Alan King) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 139 yards] Graeme also has two other runners at the meeting,
namely Hey Bill and Shady Glen; love the name Hey Bill (hay bill). I have to mention that Shady Glen is
difficult to win with, according to his trainer, as he has been known to
throw a race away despite the efforts of his jockey! Stratford: 14:30 Giveaway Glance (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Meanwhile at Ffos Las, The New One and Sire De Grugy are
two of the intended runners in the Welsh Champion Hurdle; it’s a Limited
Handicap race. The Qipco British
Champions Day takes place at Ascot, weather permitting. And on Sunday, National
Hunt racing returns to Kempton
Park with
their opening fixture of the season: 14:10 City Dreamer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Juvenile Hurdle 14:40 Saint Contest (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase Also, Rayvin Black and
San Benedeto are due to run in the Listed Hurdle
which takes place at 16:20. Having visited Jamie Snowden’s yard yesterday,
someone has tweeted a photo of Pride of Pemberley;
he’s chilling out in a paddock whilst beginning his recovery from suspected
tendonitis: https://mobile.twitter.com/GlennParsons5/status/921008032724799488/photo/1 I’ve no plans for the weekend, as I decided that
it would be foolish to venture out to Warwickshire tomorrow morning whilst
storm Brian is battering the country.
However I will be proof reading my yard visit diary and uploading
photos from last Saturday’s visit to Graeme McPherson’s
yard near Stow-on-the-Wold. And, of
course, doing some knitting!!! I’m now
getting into the swing of buying Christmas presents; I love Etsy. The only
trouble about searching the internet is I always end up buying items for me
too! |
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Thursday
19 October 2017 |
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Here is
today’s result for my runner of interest at Carlisle: Bingo D’Olivate (Gemma Anderson/Steven
Fox/ex-Noel Williams-trained) finished 7th in the Conditional Jockey’s
Handicap Hurdle (13 ran). Also, Red Admirable, trained by Graeme McPherson, finished 2nd of 14
in the 17:00 Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter. There are
two runners of interest tomorrow, at Wincanton: 14:15
Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 35 yards] 14:50 Lord
Huntingdon (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs
& 65 yards] |
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Wednesday
18 October 2017 |
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Here are today’s results from my runners of
interest at Wetherby: Amadeus Rox (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle (12 ran). Keep In Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 2nd and Tyrell (Micky Hammond/Henry Brooke/ex-Apple
Tree Stud) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] There’s a
runner of interest at Carlisle tomorrow: 14:10
Bingo D’Olivate (Gemma
Anderson/Steven Fox/ex-Noel Williams-trained) – Conditional Jockey’s Handicap
Hurdle; I still like Bingo despite the fact that his form has tailed off
since early promise. Wayne
Hutchinson is travelling to Carlisle to ride two for Venetia Williams. I also
notice that Red Admirable, who I saw at Graeme McPherson’s
yard on Saturday, is running in the 17:00 Handicap Hurdle at Uttoxeter. Ascot is
battening down the hatches in preparation for Saturday’s Qipco
British Champions Day; high winds are forecast, and rain. There is a
yard visit to Robin Dickin’s, scheduled for Saturday
morning but, with a strong likelihood of bad weather, I’m going to pass up
the opportunity on this occasion. Good
sense tells me not to venture out on a long journey with the risk of
encountering fallen branches or worse. There’s
news regarding a current and a former EPDS horse: “Pride of Pemberley
has been scanned today and his leg appears to be healing well. He will start
having a little controlled exercise and the aim will be to build him up to
being turned out in the next month or so.” Also, news
of our former leased and now retired Twitterati
horse: “Rockchasebullett has settled in well at his new home,
where his box rest continues, but he’s happy and being an excellent patient.” |
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Tuesday
17 October 2017 |
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The triviality of my blogs pales into
insignificance with the desperately sad news I have to impart today. Choc’s mum Sally passed away
yesterday, at home surrounded by her family, following a brave battle against
cancer.
RIP Sally Thornton It’s so very sad that Sally won’t get to see
William and Wolfie, or Choc’s
nephews grow up, but she must have been very proud of her sons and their
achievements and happy in the knowledge that Choc is now settled with a new
lady, a second son and plans to marry soon.
Sincere condolences to Choc’s
dad Martin, his brother Richard and of course Choc, and their families. * *
* * *
* * Today’s results: Huntingdon: Inn The Bull (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs
& 171 yards] (9 ran). Desiremoi D’Authie
(Alan King/Noel Fehily) finished 2nd in the
Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). Cajun Fiddle (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 4th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs &
189 yards] (8 ran). Dingo Dollar (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 4th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs &
129 yards] (7 ran). Worcester: Viking Mistress (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson)
finished 4th in the Mares’ Handicap Chase (8 ran). Three runners of interest tomorrow, at Wetherby: 14:10 Amadeus Rox (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 17:25 Keep In Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
& Tyrell (Micky Hammond/Henry Brooke/ex-Apple
Tree Stud) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] It has been discovered that our Twitterati horse, Galactic Power, has an abscess in his
foot; not a bone bruise. It’s now
burst, so he should be okay soon. Also, Ami Desbois had a throat abscess, it burst today; no wonder
he’s not been sparkling on the gallops these past few days ... he’s been
recovering from a breathing operation too. |
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Monday
16 October 2017 |
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Here are
yesterday’s results for my runners of interest at Chepstow: Kozier (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a non-runner in
the Juvenile Hurdle Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Chase (6 ran); Alan’s 23rd
winner and Wayne’s 17th winner of the season. The mare was impressive. Ballymountain Boy (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 6th in the
Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (9 ran). Forgotten
Gold (Tom George/Mr Noel George) was pulled up in the Veterans’ Handicap
Chase (Qualifier - Leg 6) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 131 yards] (14 ran). Bob Ford won the race, with Double Ross
running well to finish 4th. Elgin
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th but Minella
Charmer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles
& 11 yards] (12 ran). Fortunately
both horse and jockey were okay; although the horse did lose his bridle, with
Tom having to refit it. Deyrann De Carjac (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Standard Open NH Flat Race Div I
(11 ran); Kateson won this division and he’s the
4-year-old son of Silver Kate. Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the
Standard Open NH Flat Race Div II (9 ran). When
interviewed after Mia’s Storm’s victory, Alan King said Saturday’s ground
hadn’t been quite right for this runners and they probably just ‘needed the run’. Village Vic took a horrible tumble during the
16:35 but, fortunately, both he and jockey Richard Johnson live to fight
another day. Sadly it wasn’t to be for
Arthur’s Oak who took a fatal fall 5 out in the same race; he had moved from
Venetia Williams to Dan Skelton since his last run. RIP His first ever run, in a National
Hunt Flat Race at Huntingdon, took place on 28 April 2013 when trained by
Alan King and ridden by Gerard Tumelty. There were two runners of interest today and this
is how they fared: Great Yarmouth: Lady Volante (Rebecca Menzies/Martin Harley/EPDS Racing) finished last in the
Handicap [1 mile 3 furlongs & 104 yards] (12 ran). Musselburgh: Sexy Legs (Rebecca Menzies/Rowan
Scott/EPDS Racing) finished 8th in the Handicap Div II [7 furlongs & 33
yards] (10 ran). Tomorrow’s runners of interest are as follows: Huntingdon: 14:20 Inn The Bull
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 171
yards] 15:20 Desiremoi D’Authie (Alan King/Noel Fehily)
– Novices’ Hurdle 15:50 Cajun Fiddle (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 189 yards] 16:20 Dingo Dollar (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 129 yards] Worcester
(substituting for the abandoned Hereford): 14:40 Viking Mistress (Martin Keighley/Richard
Johnson) – Mares’ Handicap Chase I gather Hereford couldn’t water, because they’d
use up too much of their annual water quota in one fell swoop! Here is confirmation of the tragic news which
emerged from Kempton Park on Saturday night: It is
reported that Sire De Grugy and The New One could
clash in next Saturday’s Welsh Champion Hurdle run at Ffos
Las. The Racing
Post is running a competition to design one of their Christmas jumpers; here
is the form to transfer your design onto and the closing date is next Sunday,
22 October. http://images.racingpost.com/pdfs/jumpers4racing2017.pdf Fortunately,
as I live in the southeast, it’s not been particularly windy today; although,
as reported, the sky did turn a strange hue due to Saharan sand being drawn
up by the remnants of Hurricane Ophelia.
I clearly remember the storm of 1987 – I woke up and switched on the
TV, only to find there were no broadcasts.
As train services were seriously affected, I asked my dad to drive me
to work because I didn’t drive in those days.
Windows had been blown in at my office, and a number of ceiling tiles
had fallen down too; it was a modern office block in Borehamwood
and we were situated on the 4th floor.
I finished
drafting my yard visit diary yesterday afternoon, so just need to proof it
and select and upload my photographs.
I don’t think there’s any particular hurry to complete it, as next
weekend is currently forecast to be stormy too, so I’ll probably remain at
home rather than venturing out. |
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Saturday
14 October 2017 |
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I’ve been on a stable visit today, to Graeme McPherson’s yard near Stow-on-the-Wold. Graeme currently has five of EPDS Racing’s
syndicate horses in his yard – the admirable Ami Desbois,
Londonia, My Charity, Stynes
and an unnamed unraced filly which they call “Rabbit”. My Charity is currently deputising for the
injured Stynes, and also for Pride of Pemberley. Graeme
was very pleased with My Charity’s bumper run at Market Rasen
last month; the horse, formerly owned by Trevor Hemmings,
was sold on due to foot issues – he has flat feet and suffers from corns but,
provided these can be managed, the future could be bright for this King’s
Theatre horse. |
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My Charity |
Ami Desbois |
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I was told an interesting story today regarding
Galactic Power – evidently trainer Robin Dickin was
expecting a delivery of four horses from an Irish dealer, but five arrived in
the shipment. It was buy four, get one
free; that free horse was Galactic Power ... definitely a bargain! Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Chepstow: Blue Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)
finished 6th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). Kalahari Queen (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)
finished 7th in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). Finian’s Oscar (Colin Tizzard/Bryan Cooper) won the Novices’ Chase (Listed) (4
ran); but that wasn’t the whole story, with second favourite Alcala slipping
on the bend into the home straight.
Fortunately both the horse and his jockey Sam Twiston-Davies
were fine after the incident. Fidux (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 4th and Dino Velvet (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
5th in the Limited Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 11 yards] (10 ran). River Frost (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
finished 5th and Wishing and Hoping (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell two out
in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) [2 miles 3 furlongs & 100
yards] (18 ran). Wayne was stood down
for the remainder of the day, with Tom Cannon deputising in the next. Label Des Obeaux (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) finished 8th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs &
131 yards] (13 ran). I must ascertain that Alan King’s horses aren’t
quite ‘wound up’ yet ... Kempton Park: Tazmania (Clive Cox/Hector
Crouch/Apple Tree Stud) finished last in the Handicap [1 mile] (14 ran). The final two races at Kempton Park were
abandoned following a serious incident in the stable yard, reported to
involve a groom. Alan King was out of luck in the Cesarewitch - First Mohican finished 29th, Who Dares Wins
finished 10th and Oceane finished 15th. The race was won by Withhold, trained by
Roger Charlton and ridden by Silvestre De Souza; 34 ran. Just to
recap tomorrow’s runners of interest, at Chepstow: 13:40 Kozier (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 14:15
Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase 14:50 Ballymountain Boy (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 15:25
Forgotten Gold (Tom George/Mr Noel George) – Veterans’ Handicap Chase
(Qualifier - Leg 6) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 131 yards]; as the name
suggests, many well known ‘older’
chasers are taking part, including Double Ross and Loose Chips. 16:00
Elgin (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Minella
Charmer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 11 yards] 17:10 Deyrann De Carjac (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Div I 17:40 Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open
NH Flat Race Div II It’s been
a long day, starting at 04:15 this morning; I must be tired this evening, as
I dozed off and missed two of the dancers’ routines on Strictly – Joe and
Ruth. |
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Friday
13 October 2017 |
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Just one result to report today, from Newton Abbot: The Unit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
2nd in the Novices’ Chase (6 ran). The first ‘proper’
National Hunt fixture of the season commences tomorrow, at Chepstow: 13:55 Blue Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) –
NH Novices’ Hurdle 14:30 Kalahari Queen (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 15:05 Finian’s Oscar
(Colin Tizzard/Bryan Cooper) – Novices’ Chase
(Listed) 15:35 Fidux (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) & Dino Velvet (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Limited
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 11 yards] 16:10 River Frost (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) & Wishing and Hoping (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) [2 miles 3 furlongs
& 100 yards] 16:45 Label Des Obeaux
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 131
yards] Kempton Park: 19:45 Tazmania (Clive
Cox/Hector Crouch/Apple Tree Stud) – Handicap [1 mile]; it’s her handicap
debut. Also, Alan King has three runners engaged in
tomorrow’s Cesarewitch at Newmarket – First Mohican ridden by Hollie
Doyle, Who Dares Wins ridden by Tom Marquand and Oceane
ridden by Georgia Cox. Just in
case I don’t have the inclination to write a blog tomorrow evening ...
because I will have become engrossed in Strictly Come Dancing ... here are
Sunday’s runners of interest, also at Chepstow: 13:40 Kozier (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 14:15
Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase 14:50 Ballymountain Boy (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 15:25
Forgotten Gold (Tom George/Mr Noel George) – Veterans’ Handicap Chase
(Qualifier - Leg 6) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 131 yards]; as the name
suggests, many well known ‘older’
chasers are taking part, including Double Ross and Loose Chips. 16:00
Elgin (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Minella
Charmer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 11 yards] 17:10 Deyrann De Carjac (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Div I 17:40 Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open
NH Flat Race Div II |
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Thursday
12 October 2017 |
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Due to unexpected
going conditions at Worcester, which was described as good, good to firm in
places, races were decimated by a raft of non-runners – 30 of the 33 due to
its unsuitability. The Clerk of the
Course had been caught out because forecasted rain hadn’t arrived on
Wednesday and, instead, the course had subsequently dried out due to sunshine
and a breeze. There were eight races
– with 8, 8, 3, 6, 2, 2, 7 and 6 runners respectively. Oh well, better safe than sorry when
dealing with racehorses’ fragile legs.
Anyway,
here are today’s results for my runners of interest: Worcester: Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’ Chase (8 ran). Deyrann De Carjac (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a non-runner in
the Standard Open NH Flat Race Div I; 3 ran in this race, with 8 non-runners. Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) was a non-runner in the Standard Open NH Flat Race Div II; 6 ran,
with 5 non-runners. Exeter: Good Man Pat (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 3rd
and Young Phoenix (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 8th in the Novices’ Hurdle Div II (10 ran). Hidden Cargo (Alan King/Tom Cannon) was pulled up
before two out in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 111 yards]
(14 ran). Cup Of Ambition (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) was
pulled up and Minella Treasure (Noel
Williams/Leighton Aspell) was also pulled up in the
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (15 ran). The Kvilleken (Martin
Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 11th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap
Hurdle (14 ran). Just one runner of interest tomorrow, at Newton Abbot: 14:35 The Unit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Chase ATR has published their annual online National
Hunt stable tours and here is the link to Alan King’s: |
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Wednesday
11 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest ... and it includes two winners!!! Towcester: Ask Alice
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 7th and
Oscar Star (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 5th in the Mares’ Maiden
Hurdle (10 ran). Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Charlie Poste/EPDS
Racing) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles & 102 yards] (9 ran).
The race was won by Copperfacejack who deserved a
win; he’s a perpetual runner-up! Raving Bonkers (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) won the Newcomers’
Standard Open Flat Race (6 ran); well done team Keighley, their 10th winner of the season. Sadly the Christian Williams-trained
favourite, Esther Du Clos, suffered a fatal injury
in the home straight. RIP Ludlow: Presenting Pearl (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) won the Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (9
ran); Jamie’s 11th winner of the season. The National Hunt season is beginning to move up
a gear, with nine runners of interest tomorrow, across two jumps fixtures: Exeter: 14:45 Good Man Pat (Alan King/Tom Cannon) &
Young Phoenix (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Novices’ Hurdle Div II 15:15 Hidden Cargo (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 111 yards] 16:50 Cup Of Ambition (Martin Keighley/Harry
Stock) & Minella Treasure (Noel
Williams/Leighton Aspell) – Novices’ Handicap
Hurdle 17:20 The Kvilleken
(Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Worcester: 13:50 Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Mares’ Novices’ Chase 14:55 Deyrann De Carjac (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH
Flat Race Div I 15:25 Mahlermade (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Div II Richard Kelvin-Hughes, owner of Trull House Stud and also Dusky Legend, will be
dispersing his National Hunt bloodstock early in the New Year: http://www.goffsuk.com/news/trullhousestud I’ve only
five more rows to knit before casting off my current snood. Hurray.
I was
watching 8 out of 10 cats does Countdown on Sunday evening and one of the
letters rounds produced the word ‘snoods’
and I didn’t even spot it, despite the fact that I was knitting one whilst
viewing ... Doh! |
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Tuesday
10 October 2017 |
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There’s
one result to report from yesterday, at Windsor: Whatalove (Martin Keighley/Mr A Hark) finished 3rd in the Amateur
Riders’ Handicap Div II [6 furlongs & 12 yards] (10 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Towcester: 14:05 Ask
Alice (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) & Oscar
Star (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 16:10 Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Charlie
Poste/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Chase [3 miles &
102 yards]. Robin will walk the course before deciding if ‘Casper’ can take his chance; he
doesn’t want to risk him if the ground is too firm. 16:45
Raving Bonkers (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Newcomers’ Standard Open Flat
Race Ludlow: 17:10
Presenting Pearl (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Intermediate Open NH
Flat Race Gavin
appears to be riding at Towcester before dashing
across country to Ludlow. It
transpires that Galactic Power has a bone bruise, for which he’s received
medication. It’s now just a matter of
waiting until the drug has cleared his system before he’s allowed to race; a
minimum of 10 days has been quoted.
It’s believed to be just a minor setback at present. Robin Dickin will be consolidating his entire string of
racehorses at the redeveloped Hill Farm before the end of the month; the
adjacent property, including the large country house which has been run as a
B&B by Robin and his wife for the past few years, has been sold by his
landlord to Dan Skelton. It’s been
announced that Bryan Cooper has been appointed as first choice jockey by Alan
Potts, for his British-based horses.
Robbie Power will concentrate on riding those based in Ireland. Here is a
photo of Chosen Path jumping his way to victory at Fontwell
Park on Saturday: https://mobile.twitter.com/FontwellPark/status/916695413822025728/photo/1 And Lunar
Flow winning at Uttoxeter too: https://mobile.twitter.com/jamiesnowden/status/917075692550008832/photo/1 Also a photo
of the ill-fated Mega Fortune RIP: https://mobile.twitter.com/GirloftheSummer/status/917107920743141376/photo/1 |
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Sunday
08 October 2017 |
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Here are
this weekend’s results for my runners of interest: Fontwell Park: Azzerti (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished last in
the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 49 yards] (7 ran). Pearls
Legend (John Spearing/Jamie Moore) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [2
miles 1 furlong & 165 yards] (8 ran). Chosen Path (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (13 ran); Alan’s 22nd
winner of the
season and Wayne’s
16th winner of the
season. The horse was purchased for
£60,000 at the Tattersalls Ireland Sale held at the
end of Day 3 of the Cheltenham Festival in March. When
interviewed after the race regarding his prospects for the remainder of the
NH season, Alan King confirmed that the Munir/Souede-owned Messire Des Obeaux is out for the season (which has already been
reported) having broken down at Aintree, but he also said that the horse has
returned to France and may never be able to race again due the severity of
the injury. L Redcar: Lady Volante (Rebecca Menzies/Rowan
Scott) finished 6th in the Selling Stakes [1 mile 2 furlongs & 1 yard]
(10 ran). And on
Sunday, at Uttoxeter: Solstice
Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 3rd in the Beginners’ Chase (9
ran). Lunar Flow (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) won the Handicap Chase [3
miles 2 furlongs] (7 ran); Jamie’s 10th winner of the season. Miles To
Memphis finished 4th of 24 in the Irish Cesarewitch
at Navan today. Ruby Walsh
won the Munster National run at Limerick today, aboard Total Recall trained
by Willie Mullins. There was
a horrific incident during the first race of the day at Limerick, when
Triumph Hurdle runner-up Mega Fortune took a fatal fall at the
penultimate. RIP Jockey
Felix de Giles, who is now based in France, rode the runner-up in today’s Velka Pardubice; his mount, Urgent De Gregaine
trained by Emmanuel Clayeux, won the cross-country
event run at Cheltenham on Trials Day in January. There’s
one runner of interest tomorrow, at Windsor: 17:45 Whatalove (Martin Keighley/Mr A Hark) – Amateur Riders’
Handicap Div II [6 furlongs & 12 yards] I’ve
bought 20 new pansy plants to replace those which I purchased last autumn; 10
of which have died off only recently.
However, because I don’t know the colours yet, apart from two or
three, I’ve potted them out from their ‘plugs’
into flower-pots for the moment and will replant in the troughs at the
appropriate time; I don’t want all of the purple ones grouped together. I’ve also
made progress on the snood I’ve been knitting, having restarted it late last
Sunday; I now done more than I did last weekend before I trashed it to start
again! However, I have wasted further
time due to the need to unknot the yarn because the ‘cake’ fell to pieces towards the end. Having purchased two ‘cakes’, I should have enough left over to knit a pair of matching
wrist-warmers or gloves. The
trouble with doing lots of knitting is that it upsets my eyesight and makes
it more difficult to read my PC screen subsequently; although it does seem to
readjust itself in time and often varies depending on how dry my eyes are. |
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Friday
06 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Fontwell Park: Kozier (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Juvenile Hurdle (9 ran). Paddys Runner (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 1 furlong & 162
yards] (13 ran). Shockingtimes (Jamie
Snowden/William Featherstone) fell 3 out, when leading, during the
Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (7 ran). Chelmsford (AW): Celtic
Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Oisin
Murphy/EPDS Racing) finished 3rd in the Handicap [1 mile] (10 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Fontwell Park: 15:05 Azzerti (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 3 furlongs & 49 yards] 15:40 Pearls
Legend (John Spearing/Jamie Moore) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 1 furlong &
165 yards] 16:15
Chosen Path (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle Redcar: 14:45 Lady
Volante (Rebecca Menzies/Rowan
Scott/EPDS Racing) – Selling Stakes [1 mile 2 furlongs & 1 yard] And on
Sunday, at Uttoxeter: 15:30
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Beginners’ Chase 16:35
Lunar Flow (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 2
furlongs] I’ve no
particular plans for the weekend, apart from doing further knitting! Although I may have picked up some sort of
bug, as my nose has been bunged up today and I’ve been clearing my throat
more than usual. A colleague reported
similar symptoms a few days ago – a raspy voice and catarrh, but no sore throat
as such. |
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Thursday
05 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Warwick: Herewego Herewego (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
won the NH Novices’
Hurdle (15 ran); Alan’s 20th winner of the season.
Sadly there was a fatality during the race, with the Jonjo O’Neill-trained Shackleton
being brought down and suffering a serious injury when an aptly named rival
(Unsafe Conduct) clipped heels and fell on the flat. RIP Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl
Jacob) won the
Novices’ Chase (5 ran); it was a stylish victory I gather. Alan’s 21st winner of the season. Sego
Success (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [3
miles] (7 ran). Huntingdon: Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 3rd in the
Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 189 yards] (8 ran); the ex-Alan
King-trained Royal Plaza finished 2nd. Dans Le Vent (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished
3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (12 ran). Cloud
Hopper (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) finished 12th in the Junior Standard
Open NH Flat Race (13 ran). As
mentioned yesterday, the ex-Alan King-trained McCabe Creek and Pemba
ran in the 15:40, a Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – they finished 1st and 2nd respectively (5 ran) ... a forecast!!! Chelmsford: Lady Volante (Rebecca Menzies/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) was a non-runner in the
Handicap Div I [1 miles 2 furlongs] There are
four runners of interest tomorrow: Fontwell Park: 14:10 Kozier (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 15:20 Paddys Runner (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 1 furlong & 162 yards]; the ex-Alan
King-trained horse changed ownership recently. 16:30 Shockingtimes (Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) –
Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase Chelmsford (AW): 20:45
Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Oisin
Murphy/EPDS Racing) – Handicap [1 mile] Lucinda
Russell reports that Grand National winner One For Arthur is out for the
season due to a tendon issue. Dan
Skelton has reported that promising hurdler Captain Forez
has died. RIP. Dan’s charge finished as runner-up to Finian’s Oscar in Aintree’s Grade 1 Mersey Novices’
Hurdle in April; Alan King’s Messire Des Obeaux finished 3rd in that race. Further
news from Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sale; Apple
Tree Stud’s Dansili colt also remained unsold at
£65,000. He is now listed as ‘make offer’. Godolphin
outbid Coolmore for a Galileo filly out of
Breeders’ Cup winner Dank; the winning bid was 4 million guineas. It’s obscene. The filly has already been named Gloam. I went to
see Rip it Up at the St Albans Arena yesterday evening. The touring show is fabulous and stars one
of Strictly Come Dancing’s ex-professionals Natalie Lowe, gymnast Louis Smith
who won Strictly in 2012 and The Wanted vocalist Jay McGuiness who also won
Strictly, in 2015. The show features
very familiar music from the 1950’s, along with appropriate dance routines. I just loved it; and I’ve finally warmed to
Louis Smith too! Whilst I
was waiting for my friend Lesley to arrive ahead of the show, I noticed an
advertisement for a ‘talk’ show
featuring Frankie Dettori. However, it takes place on the evening of
Saturday 18 November and I’ve already got plans for that particular evening;
I’ll be driving back from Cheltenham following Day 2 of their November
fixture! |
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Wednesday
04 October 2017 |
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Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Warwick: 14:15 Herewego Herewego (Alan
King/Barry Geraghty) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 15:20 Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) – Novices’ Chase 16:25 Sego
Success (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles] Huntingdon: 14:00
Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 189 yards]; I notice that Royal Plaza is also
an entry – he’s still in the same ownership but has been transferred from
Alan King’s yard to the trainer of the moment, Olly
Murphy! 14:35 Dans Le Vent (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’
Hurdle; Gavin now rides many of Jamie’s horses, having been demoted from his
role as first choice jockey for Warren Greatrex. 17:15
Cloud Hopper (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) – Junior Standard Open NH Flat
Race I also see
that two former Alan King-trained horses – McCabe Creek and Pemba – run in
the 15:40, a Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase EPDS
Racing’s Galactic Power was expected to be declared for Huntingdon too, but
he’s not listed on the racecard; no doubt the
reason will come to light in due course.
I understand Exeter is also an option, on 12 October. Chelmsford: 19:45 Lady
Volante (Rebecca Menzies/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Div I [1 miles 2
furlongs] OMG ...
Doctor Foster series 2 has been fabulous; the characters are so dysfunctional,
but it’s brilliantly written and acted ... the final episode was broadcast
yesterday evening, and I wonder if there can be a 3rd! |
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Tuesday
03 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Sedgefield: Our Three
Sons (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles & 178 yards] (8 ran). Between
The Waters (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase
(Qualifier) [2 miles 3 furlongs & 65 yards] (14 ran). Southwell: Cottersrock (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) was a non-runner
in the Conditional Jockeys’ Training Handicap Hurdle Bobble Emerald (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
won and Wild Murphy (Noel
Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle Div I [2 miles
4 furlongs & 62 yards] (10 ran); congratulations Team Keighley, their 9th winner of the season. And here
is Bobble Emerald returning to the winners’ enclosure at Southwell
today: https://mobile.twitter.com/Southwell_Races/status/915256360681517056/photo/1 There’s
National Hunt racing at Bangor On Dee tomorrow but no runners of interest. I’ve just
checked the Tattersalls website and Lot 99 in their
October Yearling Sale Book 1, Apple Tree Stud’s bay colt by Distorted Humor out of Midnight Thoughts, is listed as unsold today
at £190,000, offers invited. I wonder
how their Dansili colt will get on tomorrow or
Thursday (Lot 346). |
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Monday
02 October 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Newton
Abbot: Cautorillo (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 4th in
the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Hogan’s
Height (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (6
ran). Stratford: The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 70 yards] (13 ran). Thady Quil (Martin
Keighley/Mr A Hark) finished 7th in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (11
ran). I notice
that Souriyan, formerly trained by Jamie Snowden,
won for the Bowens today. Bath: Her Terms
(Clive Cox/Adam Kirby/Apple Tree Stud) finished 5th in the Fillies’ Handicap
[5 furlongs & 10 yards] (7 ran). And
tomorrow ... Sedgefield: 16:10 Our
Three Sons (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles &
178 yards] 16:40
Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Chase (Qualifier)
[2 miles 3 furlongs & 65 yards] Southwell: 15:45 Cottersrock (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Conditional
Jockeys’ Training Handicap Hurdle 17:25
Bobble Emerald (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
& Wild Murphy (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle Div I [2
miles 4 furlongs & 62 yards] Juddmonte Farms have tweeted a photo of Enable, as a foal:
https://mobile.twitter.com/JuddmonteFarms/status/914552078399307778/photo/1 My knitting
project went totally pear-shaped yesterday evening ... and I’ve now had to
start all over again. Grrrrrrrr. It all began when I encountered a
manufacturer’s knot in the yarn, which meant I needed to take it back to the
beginning of the current row; but I dropped a stitch in the process. Under normal circumstances that wouldn’t
have been an issue as I would have easily picked it up again, but it was one
from the end of said row and the design involved a half fisherman’s rib
stitch. So I decided to take it back a
few rows; but having taken all 141 stitches off the needle and picked them
all up again, it proved impossible to reinstate the pattern. So, now, it transpires that I wasted all of
my knitting hours over the weekend. L |
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Sunday
01 October 2017 |
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Here are
yesterday’s results for my runners of interest: Market Rasen: City Dreamer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) won and Amadeus Rox (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
Juvenile Hurdle (9 ran); Alan’s 19th winner of the NH season. Ask Alice
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished last in
the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran). My Charity
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing)
finished 5th and Lord Condi (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 8th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (11 ran). It was a
promising run from My Charity; he led for much of the race and only lost out
on 4th place at the line. He’s by
King’s Theatre out of a Beneficial mare; his half-brother is a point to point
and hurdle winner which has won over 3 miles.
His only previous run was at Ffos Las in a
slowly run bumper on very bad ground. Gowran Park: Ned Stark
(Gordon Elliott/Davy Russell/formerly owned by Apple Tree Stud) finished 10th
in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] (14 ran). There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow: Newton
Abbot: the
going is currently heavy and will be subject to an inspection at 07:00
tomorrow. 13:50 Cautorillo (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’
Novices’ Hurdle 14:50
Hogan’s Height (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Hurdle Stratford: 15:00 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 70 yards] 16:30 Thady Quil (Martin Keighley/Mr
A Hark) – Amateur Riders’ Handicap Hurdle Bath: 14:40 Her
Terms (Clive Cox/Adam Kirby/Apple Tree Stud) – Fillies’ Handicap [5 furlongs
& 10 yards] Enable,
ridden by Frankie Dettori, won today’s Prix de L’arc de Triomphe in
style. The home team was annihilated,
with every winner at Chantilly being trained in either the UK or
Ireland! Wild Illusion (Charlie
Appleby), Happily (Aidan O’Brien), Enable (John Gosden),
Rhododendron (Aidan O’Brien), Battaash (Charlie
Hills) and Aclaim (Martyn
Meade). Even the Arab race was won by Gazwan for trainer Mr J Smart. Aidan O’Brien has now trained 22 Group 1
winners this season and has the world record firmly in his sights. It has
been quite a weekend for Martyn Meade; the
Newmarket-based trainer won yesterday’s Cambridgeshire with a 50-1 shot
Dolphin Vista. His other runner
Chelsea Lad finished 4th in the race. I gather
that Alan King trained the winner (Who Dares Wins) and the runner-up (Coeur
De Lion) in last weekend’s Cesarewitch Trial; his
third runner Oceane finished 8th. I missed it, as I was out last Saturday and,
as you know, I’m not a great follower of flat racing. Drat, I
meant to record the 1960 film The Lost World which was broadcast on the
Horror Channel this evening; I love that film, despite the special effects
being very dated. As much as
I like professional dancer Pasha, I’m glad that his partner Chizzy was the first celebrity to be voted off Strictly
this year. There are a number of poor
celebrity dancers on the show, although only to be expected as it’s just week two, but at least the others have the
saving grace of being mildly amusing. Tomorrow,
one year will have passed since I last saw Choc. L I
noticed, on twitter, that the Cheltenham and Gloucester Hospitals held their
annual fundraising walk today; I saw him at the 2016 event. With regards to walking, I’m currently a
little lame having been suffering from pain along the inside of my left foot
for a number of weeks; I know I need to lose some weight, but I rarely suffer
from any prolonged issues like this. L Despite
being at home all weekend, I don’t seem to have made much progress with my
knitting, which is disappointing; especially as it might not be very long
before I need to turn my attention back to this website once more. |
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