DECEMBER 2013
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Tuesday 31
December 2013 |
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It’s a winner ... a dead-heat winner!!! One runner
of interest today, at Warwick: Tickity Bleue
(Alan King/Choc) dead-heated for first with the Kim Bailey-trained Molly’s A
Diva in the Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran); Choc’s
18th winner of the season. It may
have been a dead-heat, but a winner is a winner, especially after a barren
December with Alan King’s horses out of form, the cause of which remains a
mystery to the trainer. In fact when RUK’s
Stewart Machin earwigged Alan’s
post race conversation with the press, the trainer said he was going to ‘lock-down’ the yard for a week or so
while they continue their investigations; Kumbeshwar
being their sole runner tomorrow and expected to be the last during this upcoming
period. It is
reported that Dynaste is having physiotherapy treatment
following his disappointing run in the King George VI Chase. More Cheltenian won a Maiden Hurdle
at Uttoxeter today with the ease expected from a
previous Cheltenham Festival bumper winner. More Cappa Bleu is described by
his trainer Evan Williams as only 50-50 for a run in this season’s Grand
National having knocked himself. Looks
like I’ll have to find another horse to place my winning bet upon, having won
each-way in 2012 and 2013! Tomorrow
there are runners of interest, as follows: Cheltenham: 12:10 Flementime (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Novices’ Hurdle 14:30 Kumbeshwar (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Pickamus (Henry Daly/Choc)
– Handicap Chase 15:40 Coyaba (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
& Looks Like Power (Mrs DA Hamer/Choc) – ‘Junior’ Standard Open NH Flat Race [Listed]. Exeter: (subject to an
inspection) 15:30 Mauricetheathlete (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap
Chase [3 miles]. There’s also National Hunt racing at Catterick, Musselburgh and Fakenham. |
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Monday 30
December 2013 |
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Happy Birthday William 3 today
One runner
of interest today, at Haydock Park, and this is how he
fared: Dundee
(Alan King/Choc) finished 6th in
the Fixed Brush Handicap Hurdle (7 ran). Again, tomorrow,
just one runner of interest, at Warwick: 14:50 Tickity Bleue (Alan King/Choc)
– Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Choc has
tweeted a photo of his dad out hunting: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/417424836865310720/photo/1?screen_name=Choc_Thornton Baby Run
was retired today, following his run at Haydock
Park. I wish him a long and happy
retirement. More I’m working again tomorrow; but hopefully we’ll
finish at 13:00 as opposed to the 14:00 end time today. Then it’s back to normal hours from
Thursday. |
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Sunday 29
December 2013 |
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Four
runners of interest at Doncaster this afternoon and
this is how they fared: Turn Over Sivola (Alan King/Choc)
finished 3rd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (8 ran). No
Substitute (Alan King/Choc)
finished 7th and The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Ian
Popham) finished 11th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (21
ran); a promising run from No Substitute following 715 days off the track
through injury. Havingotascoobydo (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase (9 ran). Wayne Hutchinson rode his 34th
winner of the
season when partnering Mart Lane to victory for Dr Richard Newland at Doncaster
this afternoon. One runner
of interest tomorrow, at Haydock Park: 15:35
Dundee (Alan King/Choc) – Fixed
Brush Handicap Hurdle Sprinter Sacre is on his way home again, the heart problem
seemingly having righted itself for the present. More It’s
William’s third birthday tomorrow, and hopefully Choc will get to see his
little boy at some point during the day.
It’s always an anti-climax to have one’s birthday close to Christmas,
and I’m sure it’s worse just after than just before ... I know this from
experience, as my birthday is next Sunday.
I’ve been
chilling out a little bit since Boxing Day, but I have topped and tailed my
diary draft; Tuesday or Wednesday should see its completion. Hopefully it will be just a half day at work
tomorrow and Tuesday, as in previous years.
I need to buy a slim-line calendar for 2014, as I didn’t receive one
for Christmas this year, so will probably pop up to the shops before I head
home tomorrow afternoon. I hope the
shop will have a horses or Country Companions or Winnie
The Pooh calendar on offer! |
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Saturday 28
December 2013 |
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Here are
today’s results for my ‘runners of
interest’: Newbury: Ronaldinho (Alan King/Choc) finished 4th in the Juvenile
Hurdle (5 ran). Faultless
Feelings (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) jumped like a
stag and was unfortunate to be overhauled on the run-in to finish 2nd in the
Mandarin Handicap Chase (7 ran). Creepy
(Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) unseated in the Challow Novices’ Hurdle [Grade 1] (6 ran). Wilde Blue
Yonder (Alan King/Choc) blundered
two out then fell at the last in the Introductory Hurdle ... when he may or
may not have won (5 ran). Only two
finished. Two unseated in the home
straight, the winner blundered badly three out and
the other finisher didn’t put in a clear round either. Poodles ... I’d hoped to add this one to my
winners’ list, not the mishaps list which I keep. L But at
least both horse and jockey walked away from the incident. Chepstow: Mortlestown (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) finished 9th in the Maiden Hurdle (15 ran). Seventh
Sign (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle (3
miles); I notice that Ugly Bug, handsome is as handsome does, finished a neck
2nd (10 ran). Chocala (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) was a non-runner in the Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle
[Grade 1]; it was reported on The Morning Line that the reason was a
respiratory problem. The
Richard Lee-trained Mountainous won the Welsh Grand National. More And Bobs
Worth proved he is no back number when winning the Lexus Chase at Leopardstown. More There’s
also further news regarding Sprinter Sacre. More Four
runners of interest at Doncaster tomorrow: 12:40 Turn
Over Sivola (Alan King/Choc) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 13:45 No
Substitute (Alan King/Choc) &
The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 14:20 Havingotascoobydo (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – Handicap Chase Oh well, let’s hope for better luck tomorrow ... |
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Friday 27
December 2013 |
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With the
ground remaining soft or heavy, all of today’s ‘runners of interest’ were non-runners! Kempton Park: Memberof (Alan King/Choc) was a non-runner in the
Juvenile Hurdle Valdez
(Alan King/Choc) was a non-runner
in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase [Grade 2] Leicester: Oh Crick
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a non-runner in the Handicap Chase Wetherby: Flementime (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was a non-runner in the Mares’ Novices Hurdle Tomorrow,
however, Alan King is more hopeful that his intended runners will take up
their engagements, as he states that at least three (Ronaldinho,
Seventh Sign and Chocala) prefer soft ground! Newbury: 12:15 Ronaldinho (Alan King/Choc) – Juvenile Hurdle 13:15
Faultless Feelings (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) -
Mandarin Handicap Chase 13:45
Creepy (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Challow Novices’ Hurdle [Grade 1] More 15:25
Wilde Blue Yonder (Alan King/Choc)
– Introductory Hurdle Chepstow: 12:30 Mortlestown (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall)
– Maiden Hurdle 13:30
Seventh Sign (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle (3 miles) 14:00 Chocala (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Future Champions
Finale Juvenile Hurdle [Grade 1] More Good luck
to one and all tomorrow, and it would be nice if Choc could ride a winner too
after a very disappointing December with no victories whatsoever. I thought
my ‘weather watch’ might result in
an abandonment ... but the weather, although rough overnight, was fine for
racing but not for my particular runners of interest, so I’ve spent the day
at home! I did, however, get as far as
showering and washing my hair, applying my make-up (solely foundation and
mascara on this occasion) and getting partially dressed for a day out at the
races. But, having caught the end of
the non-runners listing on ATR (ie. Oh Crick at
Leicester) I decided to check teletext and
discovered that Choc’s intended rides at Kempton
were also non-runners ... so my trip was called off at 09:10 this
morning. The ideal
scenario today would have been good to soft ground, dry, little wind and
resulting in a day out at Kempton Park ... but in light of the prevailing
weather conditions, I’m relieved that I didn’t have to turn out! Every cloud has a silver lining I suppose
... Check out
Martin Keighley’s blog today Martin Keighley It was a shame that Sire De Grugy’s
victory in today’s Desert Orchid Chase has been overshadowed by Sprinter Sacre’s health scare – but credit where credit is due,
for turning up with seemingly no chance against the odds-on favourite. More I didn’t take as many photos as I usually do at
Kempton Park yesterday, having remained beside the course-side rails for the
majority of the time. But Click here to view a selection
of them. |
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Thursday 26
December 2013 |
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The star of the
day is Annacotty, trained by
Martin Keighley and ridden by Ian Popham, who won the
Grade 1 Kauto Star Novices’ Chase Kempton Park: Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) won the Kauto Star
Novices’ Chase [formerly the Feltham Novices’ Chase] [Grade 1] (5 ran);
Martin’s first Grade 1 winner and his 13th
winner of the
season. Well done to the team. Grumeti (Alan King/Choc) finished 5th in the Christmas
Hurdle [Grade 1] (6 ran). Champion
Court (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) unseated in the
King George VI Chase [Grade 1] having been hampered when Riverside Theatre
unseated Barry Geraghty ... that darn Riverside
Theatre is a nuisance! (9 ran). Ourmanmassini (Miss S Smith/Choc) was pulled up & Georgian
King (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 2nd in
the Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). It did
cross my mind to have a £2.50 each way bet on the latter (I’m the last of the
big spenders as far as betting is concerned), and I should have done seeing
as his starting price was 25-1! Here is a
link to the report about Annacotty’s victory. More And the
Christmas Hurdle. More Also the
King George VI Chase. More I think
it gets boring when the same two stables carve up the prize year after year
... Market Rasen: Hail
Tiberius (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) finished 7th
in the Selling Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). Merlin’s Wish (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) won the Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase (6
ran); Martin’s 14th winner of the season. Towcester: Fred Le
Macon (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson replaced Gerard Tumelty)
finished 4th in the Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (7 ran). There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow: Kempton Park: 13:00 Memberof (Alan King/Choc)
– Juvenile Hurdle 13:30
Valdez (Alan King/Choc) – Wayward
Lad Novices’ Chase [Grade 2]; but he is up against both Dodging Bullets and Grandouet. The big ‘event’ of the day is the Sprinter Sacre vs. Sire De Grugy clash
in the Grade 2 Desert Orchid Chase ... although for me it would be the 13:30
race! Leicester: 13:40 Oh
Crick (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase Wetherby: 12:15 Flementime (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Mares’ Novices Hurdle I’m currently on ‘weather watch’, as the next spell of stormy weather is forecast
overnight tonight ... so, depending on what occurs, I may or may not venture
out to Kempton Park tomorrow. Today’s journey to Kempton went well, as I left
home just before 09:00 and arrived at around 09:45 when there was little
race-day traffic on the roads in the Sunbury area. Then, after racing, I returned to my car
and set off as soon as I’d taken off my coat and boots – traffic was queuing
to reach the M3 but I was on my way down the motorway by 16:10! Excellent.
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Tuesday 24
December 2013 |
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Just one
more sleep ... Merry Christmas And just
two more sleeps ... before the Boxing Day racing! Kempton Park: 14:00 Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Kauto Star Novices’ Chase [formerly the Feltham
Novices’ Chase] [Grade 1] 14:35 Grumeti (Alan King/Choc)
– Christmas Hurdle [Grade 1] 15:10
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – King
George VI Chase [Grade 1] 15:45 Ourmanmassini (Miss S Smith/Choc) & Georgian King (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Hurdle Market Rasen: 12:25 Hail
Tiberius (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – Selling
Handicap Hurdle 14:10
Merlin’s Wish (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) –
Lincolnshire National Handicap Chase Towcester: 15:40 Fred
Le Macon (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) – Intermediate
Open NH Flat Race Fontwell Park, Sedgefield, Wetherby and Wincanton are also okay at the moment, but
Huntingdon and Ffos Las are not so fortunate having
been abandoned. More Wayne
Hutchinson will be gutted, as he may have had as many as six rides lined up,
including two for Alan King, at Huntingdon. Alan King
is hoping that the yard’s horses will soon be back in form, the Racing Post
reports that each prospective runner is scoped before being allowed to take
their chance at the moment with, last week, as many as two thirds failing to
make the grade. Evidently a few in the
yard have had snotty noses but there has been no coughing - Alan hopes for a
cold snap soon to get rid of all the bugs.
It looks like Thursday’s weather will be fine,
although a little colder than recently, but the storms and high winds are due
to return at the end of the week ... which could make travelling difficult on
Friday, we shall see. |
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Sunday 22
December 2013 |
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Here are
yesterday’s results: Ascot: Bless The
Wings (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase
(Listed) (7 ran). Haydock Park: Cabaret
Girl (JG O’Neill/Choc) was pulled
up in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) (8 ran). And
today’s results: Lingfield: Simmi’s Tiger (A Carson/Choc) finished 5th in the Junior
Standard Open NH Flat Race (6 ran). Bugsy’s
Girl (Jim Best/Choc) finished 2nd
in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (5 ran). Bangor-On-Dee Unknown
Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 4 furlongs] (7 ran). Genstone Trail (Alan
King/Stephen O’Donovan) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] (11
ran). And things
are looking up on the Choc front for Boxing Day ... Grumeti,
ridden by my favourite jockey, appears on the entries for Kempton’s Christmas
Hurdle. Wayne’s engagements currently
reflect Huntingdon on Boxing Day and Leicester the day after; which is fine
by me! Sad news
relating to Countrywide Flame, who has been retired following diagnosis of a
degenerative bone disease. More Also more
sad tidings with news arriving via twitter that Chatterbox was put to sleep
following his outing in yesterday’s Ladbroke Hurdle. Valet Phil
Taylor tweeted to say there would be a lot of sore heads in the morning as
it’s the jockeys’ Christmas party tonight at the Bell At Stow; today being
the last day of racing before Christmas.
My
Christmas holiday doesn’t begin until lunchtime on Tuesday and ends when I
return to work the following Monday, 30 December. I’m
pleased with the outcome of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing, as I wanted
either Natalie or Abbey to win. Both
are excellent dancers, with Abbey having gone on the biggest ‘journey’ during the course of the
series. I did vote, equally, for both
of them, as it would have been an injustice if either Sophie or Susanna had
won. I didn’t agree with last year’s victory by Louis
Smith (his show dance was a gymnastics routine) – I preferred both Kimberley
Walsh and Denise Van Outen, nor Chris Hollins (2009) when Ricky Whittle should have won, Tom
Chambers (2008) when Rachel Stevens deserved to win and Darren Gough (2005)
when Colin Jackson was the best dancer.
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Friday 20
December 2013 |
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Choc was
at Ascot this afternoon and
this is how he fared: Raya Star
(Alan King/Choc) finished 2nd in
the Novices’ Chase (4 ran). Valid
Reason (Dean Ivory/Choc) finished 9th
in the Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). Another
very quiet day tomorrow, with just one Alan King runner, at Ascot: 15:00
Bless The Wings (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase (Listed) Meanwhile
at Haydock Park: 13:00
Cabaret Girl (JG O’Neill/Choc) –
Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) Too much
rain has resulted in Lingfield’s Sunday card being
amended; two all-weather National Hunt bumper races now begin the fixture,
followed by flat code races: 12:30 Simmi’s Tiger (A Carson/Choc) – Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race 13:00
Bugsy’s Girl (Jim Best/Choc) –
Standard Open NH Flat Race Bangor-On-Dee 14:10
Unknown Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4
furlongs] 15:10 Genstone Trail (Alan King/Stephen O’Donovan) – Handicap
Hurdle [3 miles] News today
that Simonsig has been ruled out for the remainder
of the season. More With many of the Alan King horses currently under
the weather, resulting in a lack of runners, I’m far from hopeful that I’ll
see Choc at the races over the Festive period ... I will be at Kempton Park
on Boxing Day but it’s beginning to look like he may be elsewhere. L |
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Thursday 19
December 2013 |
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The Epidemic of Seconditis continues ... Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Towcester: Dustland Fairytale (Ian
Williams/Choc) was pulled up in
the Maiden Hurdle (14 ran). Castle
Cheetah (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 4th
in the Novices’ Hurdle (11 ran). Typhon De Guye (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] (9 ran). Carli King (Caroline
Bailey/Choc) finished 2nd in the
Handicap Chase [2 miles 3½ furlongs] (9 ran). Exeter: Lidar (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Graduation Chase (4 ran). Tomorrow,
Choc heads to Ascot where he has two
riding engagements: 14:35 Raya
Star (Alan King/Choc) – Novices’
Chase 15:10 Valid Reason (Dean Ivory/Choc) – Handicap Hurdle; Harper Lodge
Farm, where Dean trains, is my local training yard! |
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Wednesday 18
December 2013 |
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Choc had
five riding engagements at Newbury today and this is how
he fared: Luckster (PD Evans/Choc) finished last in the Juvenile
Hurdle (14 ran). Midnight
Prayer (Alan King/Choc) finished
2nd in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (7 ran). Etania (Ian Williams/Choc) finished 12th in the Maiden
Hurdle (22 ran). Fine Words
(Alan King/Choc) finished 7th in
the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (14 ran). May Hay (A
Carson/Choc) finished 2nd in the
Fillies’ Junior Standard Open Flat Race (14 ran). It appears
that Choc still has ‘seconditis’ ... Meanwhile,
at Ludlow: Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the
Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). And
tomorrow: Towcester: 12:40 Dustland Fairytale (Ian Williams/Choc) – Maiden Hurdle 13:40
Castle Cheetah (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Novices’ Hurdle 14:40 Typhon De Guye (Martin
Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] 15:10 Carli King (Caroline Bailey/Choc) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3½ furlongs] Exeter: 13:50 Lidar (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Graduation Chase |
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Tuesday 17
December 2013 |
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Choc is
busy tomorrow, with five riding engagements at Newbury: 12:10 Luckster (PD Evans/Choc)
– Juvenile Hurdle 12:40
Midnight Prayer (Alan King/Choc) –
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 13:10 Etania (Ian Williams/Choc)
– Maiden Hurdle 14:45 Fine
Words (Alan King/Choc) – National
Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 15:20 May
Hay (A Carson/Choc) – Fillies’
Junior Standard Open Flat Race Meanwhile,
at Ludlow: 15:00
Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Mares’ National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Looking ahead once more, and with Wayne’s regular
partner Bless The Wings scheduled to run at Ascot on Saturday, indications
are that Choc will be heading to Haydock Park to
ride Turn Over Sivola. That being the case, my next visit to the
races is likely to be Kempton Park on Boxing Day, as I’m not sure that I feel
inclined to brave the M25 and M4 on the Friday before Christmas! Sprinter Sacre has been
confirmed as a runner in Kempton Park’s Desert Orchid Chase to be run on
Friday 27 December. More Is Valdez pencilled-in
to run in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase on that day? If so, I expect I will be heading back to
Kempton on 27 December too. |
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Monday 16
December 2013 |
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Four
runners of interest this afternoon and this is how they fared: Plumpton: Sudden
Light (Jim Best/Choc) was pulled
up in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 1½ furlongs] (12
ran). Crannaghmore Boy (Jim Best/Choc) finished 2nd in the Handicap
Chase (13 ran). Our Phylli Vera (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (11 ran); Wayne’s 33rd
winner of the
season. Ffos Las: Seymour Eric
(Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was pulled up in the
Handicap Chase (5 ran). No runners
of interest at Catterick or Fakenham
tomorrow. Looking ahead, Choc is scheduled to ride at Ascot
on Friday where his rides include Raya Star.
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Sunday 15 December
2013 |
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Just one
runner of interest this afternoon, at Southwell: Bold Tara
(Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle (12 ran);
the Keighley’s frustrating run of seconditis
continues. Four
runners of interest tomorrow: Plumpton: 14:20
Sudden Light (Jim Best/Choc) –
Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 1½ furlongs] 14:55 Crannaghmore Boy (Jim Best/Choc) – Handicap Chase 15:30 Our Phylli Vera (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles] Ffos Las: 14:40
Seymour Eric (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Handicap Chase Willie Twiston-Davies takes over as Mick Channon’s
first jockey on the flat next season. More You have
to admit it, they are a very talented horseracing
family. I gather
it was Alan King’s staff Christmas party last evening; the Keighley’s
too. My department’s Christmas lunch
takes place this coming Thursday afternoon; I don’t attend my employer’s
evening event, which takes place early in the New Year. I don’t
think of myself as a particularly lucky person, but on Friday I won a £10
Tesco voucher in this year’s Advent Calendar raffle. And the strange thing is that, having
almost never been one of the lucky 24 before 2009, I won again in 2010 and
2011, not last year but again this!
Excellent. I no
longer have a Christmas tree, but I have put up tinsel garlands today and
I’ve hung the old tree baubles upon them. My Sandown Park diary is finished and
uploaded. Click here to read. |
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Saturday 14 December 2013 |
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Here are
today’s results of specific interest: Cheltenham: Burgoyne
(C Von Der Recke/Choc) finished a tailed off last in
the Triumph Hurdle Trial (for Juveniles) (6 ran). French
Opera (Nicky Henderson/Choc)
finished 2nd in the Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase (11 ran); he was the
best of the four Nicky Henderson runners, and Choc got on very well with Frenchie who was giving 10lbs to his conqueror. Cantlow (Paul Webber/Choc) finished 2nd in the Stewart
Family Thank You Gold Cup (13 ran); giving 15lbs to the winner. More Isn’t that
the third year running that Choc has finished 2nd in this race? With Walkon last
year and Medermit in 2011. How frustrating must that be? Lingfield Park: Seymour
Eric (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was a non-runner
in the RSA Novices’ Trial Chase. Meanwhile,
Wayne Hutchinson rode his 32nd winner of the season, aboard Timesishard, at Doncaster. One runner
of interest tomorrow, at Southwell: 15:35 Bold
Tara (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap Hurdle The writing of my Sandown diary is drawing to a
close, as I just need to put the final touches to it and then proof it. So hopefully I will be able to upload the
finished article before close of play tomorrow. J |
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Friday 13
December 2013 |
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Friday the
thirteenth ... Three
runners of interest today and this is how they fared: Cheltenham: Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) ran another excellent
race to finish 2nd in the Cross Country Chase, this time beaten by Sire Collonges (13 ran).
But frustrating for the Keighley yard, with yet another runner-up
spot. More Noel
Williams’ first Cheltenham runner, Friendly Society, ridden by Tom Garner
finished 7th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (16 ran); despite making
a number of jumping errors during the race. Bangor-On-Dee: Goohar (Henry Daly/Choc) finished 2nd in the National
Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (15 ran). It’s the
second day of Cheltenham’s December fixture tomorrow and, with Smad Place not fulfilling an engagement at Lingfield Park, Choc will be at his local racecourse
after all, with three rides for outside yards ... including a German one! Cheltenham: 12:10
Burgoyne (C Von Der Recke/Choc) – Triumph Hurdle Trial (for
Juveniles) 13:15 French
Opera (Nicky Henderson/Choc) –
Jenny Mould Memorial Handicap Chase [2 miles ½ a furlong]; Nicky has 4
runners in this race, commemorating the late first wife of owner/patron
Raymond Mould. 14:25 Cantlow (Paul Webber/Choc)
– Stewart Family Thank You Gold Cup; Choc riding JP McManus’ second string,
AP having chosen to partner Colour Squadron.
Lingfield Park: 13:55
Seymour Eric (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – RSA
Novices’ Trial Chase Wayne
Hutchinson goes to Doncaster; Alan King having no runners tomorrow. Martin
Keighley has outlined his tentative plans for Champion Court, following
yesterday’s gallant effort in the Peterborough Chase. More And Creepy heads to
the Racecourse Newbury for their Grade 1 Challow
Hurdle. More Here is a
link to Martin Keighley’s weekly column in the Gloucestershire press. More News that
lady jockey Lucy Alexander has sustained a fractured jaw when unseated at
Newcastle yesterday. More Catterick has also now revealed
plans to install an all-weather surface; but they do plan to retain the jump
racing track. Talk about down-grading
racing fixtures – ie. greyhound
racing for horses – it might be okay for people who’ll bet on anything, but
not for people who follow racing solely as a sport, like myself. Having been racing on three occasions within the
past three weeks, I’m at home tomorrow; Cheltenham is just a little too far
away for a trip during December, as it will be on New Year’s Day too. However, I will definitely consider
Festival Trials Day at the end of January, weather permitting. I also need to catch my breath ahead of the
busy Christmas period, with Ascot a possibility next Saturday, followed by Kempton
a definite on Boxing Day and maybe the day after too! |
|
Thursday 12
December 2013 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Huntingdon: Kyles Faith (Martin
Keighley/Tom Siddall) finished 8th in the Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 5½ furlongs] (9 ran). Roberto Pegasus
(Alan King/Choc) finished 7th in
the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles ½ a furlong] (10 ran). Champion
Court (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 2nd in
the Peterborough Chase [Grade 2] (7 ran). Simply A
Legend (Alan King/Choc) finished
half a length 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (16 ran). Taunton: Sequoia
Forest (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) finished 10th & Maldivian Reef
(Alan King/Stephen O’Donovan) finished 3rd in the Newcomers’ Standard Open
National Hunt Flat Race (11 ran). Champion Court
ran an excellent race to finish a close second to Riverside Theatre in the
Peterborough Chase; the former was very unlucky as Ian Popham’s
saddle slipped. This was compounded by
the fact that Barry Geraghty performed miracles to
galvanise his mount to actually remain in contention having jumped poorly
latterly and appearing to be beaten by the end of the back straight. More Choc
tweeted a photo of himself at Oaksey House, when he
met up with one of the guys from TORQ Fitness to talk about nutrition: https://mobile.twitter.com/TORQfitness/status/410869392453279744/photo/1?screen_name=TORQfitness Alan King
confirmed that Invictus has indeed run his last
race, but they will endeavour to ‘patch
him up’ and find a suitable role for him somewhere. That’s good, as I have a soft spot for
him. Following
last Saturday’s disappointing showing in the Grade 1 Novices’ Chase at
Sandown, Balder Succes will be given a short break,
and Manyriverstocross will step up to two and a
half miles next time out. Also, Godsmejudge will undergo an MOT following his
uncharacteristically poor showing in the London National. More No runners
for Alan King tomorrow, but two other runners of interest: Cheltenham: 14:40 Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Cross
Country Chase Bangor-On-Dee: 14:20 Goohar (Henry Daly/Choc)
– National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle I’ve another day’s leave tomorrow ... but
sometimes I don’t think it’s worth having single days off, as the day prior
to it is usually a nightmare and it invariably takes two or three days to get
the work back under control again afterwards.
In fact, today, I had more work come in than I managed to turn around
and get out again. So I’m not looking
forward to Monday. L |
|
Wednesday 11
December 2013 |
|
A couple
of runners of interest at Leicester this afternoon and this is how they fared: Frizzo (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 7th and Fountains Flypast (Anthony Honeyball/Choc) finished 6th in the Handicap
Hurdle (11 ran). A number
of runners of interest tomorrow: Huntingdon: 12:30 Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5½ furlongs] 13:30
Roberto Pegasus (Alan King/Choc) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles ½ a furlong] 14:00
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Peterborough Chase [Grade 2] 15:00
Simply A Legend (Alan King/Choc) –
Novices’ Hurdle Taunton: 15:40 Sequoia
Forest (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) & Maldivian Reef (Alan King/Stephen
O’Donovan) – Newcomers’ Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race News yesterday that Bostons
Angel has also been retired, having been pulled up in last Saturday’s Becher Chase. He
finished his career safe and sound, his current trainer David Pipe stating
that the horse just didn’t seem to enjoy racing any more. |
|
Tuesday 10
December 2013 |
|
National
Hunt racing at Fontwell Park and Uttoxeter today and this is how my runners of interest
fared: Fontwell Park: Wooly Bully (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th in the Juvenile Hurdle (12 ran). Forresters Folly (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
(9 ran). Bull And
Bush (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd and Lily Waugh (Anthony Honeyball/Choc)
finished 3rd in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (13 ran). Swincombe Stone (Anthony Honeyball/Choc)
finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). Uttoxeter: Flementime (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (15
ran). Bold Tara
(Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) was a non-runner in the Handicap Chase Tomorrow
just a couple of runners of interest
... in the same race at Leicester: 15:10 Frizzo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Fountains
Flypast (Anthony Honeyball/Choc) – Handicap Hurdle Looking
ahead, Alan King has no entries on Cheltenham’s card on Saturday; however he
does have one entry at Lingfield Park – Smad Place in the Grade 2 RSA Novices’ Trial Chase with
Choc engaged to ride. From being ‘on fire’ last month, Alan’s horses
currently seem to be suffering from a lull in form; I hope the winners pick
up again soon. The 2010 Champion Hurdler Binocular has been
retired due to a slight heart complaint and will live out his days at JP
McManus’ stud in Ireland. More |
|
Monday 09
December 2013 |
|
National
Hunt racing at Fontwell Park and Uttoxeter tomorrow: Fontwell Park: 12:40 Wooly Bully (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile
Hurdle 13:10 Forresters Folly (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Limited Handicap Chase 13:40 Bull
And Bush (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Lily Waugh (Anthony Honeyball/Choc)
– Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 14:40 Swincombe Stone (Anthony Honeyball/Choc) – Handicap Hurdle Uttoxeter: 12:20 Flementime (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 14:50 Bold
Tara (Martin Keighley/Ollie Garner) – Handicap Chase Kempton
Park is looking forward to the possibility of Sprinter Sacre
and Sire De Grugy going head-to-head on 27
December. More There’s
also news about the entries for Boxing Day’s King George VI Chase. More It’s Donny Osmond’s birthday today, he’s 56. I must write out my Christmas cards soon ... I’m
always ahead of the game with Christmas presents, but the same cannot be said
about my cards!!! Or the Christmas
decorations for that matter. And, finally, I must remember to take my Hunters
into work tomorrow, as colleagues Michelle and Steph
have invited me to go down to the stable yard at lunchtime to visit their ‘time-share’ horses – Ruby and
April. |
|
Sunday 08
December 2013 |
|
Three
runners of interest at Warwick this afternoon and
this is how they fared: Duroble Man (Alan King/Choc) finished 8th in the Juvenile Hurdle;
he pulled hard, lit up travelling down the hill, made a jumping error shortly
thereafter; very disappointing on this occasion and surely can’t be a true
running (11 ran). Ulzana’s Raid (Alan King/Choc) finished 3rd in the Maiden
Hurdle (18 ran). Choc picked up a spare ride aboard Yazdi in the Handicap Hurdle for Henry Oliver, he
finished 9th (13 ran). Fine
Moment (Kevin Frost/Choc) finished
3rd in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (10 ran). National Hunt
racing at solely Musselburgh tomorrow, so no runners of interest. Artist/Illustrator
Darren Bird has captured perfectly Leighton Aspell’s
‘scary moment’ aboard the winning
Deep Trouble in yesterday’s listed hurdle at Sandown: https://mobile.twitter.com/DarrenBirdie/status/409335341381091328?p=v Unlike
poor Plein Pourvoir who
lost his life at Aintree yesterday, there is good news regarding Michel Le
Bon who pulled up in yesterday’s London National. Having made a bad error midway through the
race at the open-ditch in the home straight, he looked in some discomfort
when dismounted, not wishing to put any weight upon his off-fore. The diagnosis is a muscle injury, so he was
taken home having suffered no broken bones. J Tigresse Bleue picked up an injury in her hindquarters in the
Mares’ race, but it was not fatal. J But there
was very bad news regarding the fate of Nunthorpe
winner Jwala; she lost her life when she fell
having been squeezed up during a race in Hong Kong. RIP little girl. L Back to
work tomorrow, for yet another 4-day week, as I must use up 2 days’ leave
before year-end ... with a further five days’ of holiday to be taken before
the end of February J I’ve uploaded the photos I took at yesterday’s
Sandown fixture. Click here to view my photo
gallery index. |
|
Saturday 07
December 2013 |
|
Sire De Grugy clears the last and wins the
Tingle Creek Chase I took
over 100 photos today but it was so overcast that many are fuzzy around the
edges. Damn. Many runners
of interest today and this is how they fared: Sandown Park: Money For
Nothing (Alan King/Choc) finished
7th in the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran). Tante Sissi
(Alan King/Choc) finished 8th in
the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). Salmanazar (Alan King/Choc) finished 13th in the Handicap
Hurdle [Qualifier] (16 ran). Balder Succes (Alan King/Choc)
finished 5th & Manyriverstocross (Alan
King/Dominic Elsworth) finished 6th in the Henry
VII Novices’ Chase [Grade 1] (6 ran). Godsmejudge (Alan King/Choc) was pulled up in the Handicap
Chase (London National) (13 ran). Aintree: Mystery
Drama (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Fillies’ Juvenile
Hurdle [Listed] (5 ran); she lost out to a Willie Mullins raider. Dundee
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fnished 2nd in the
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Walkon (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) was a non-runner in the Becher Handicap
Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs]. Midnight
Appeal (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 10th, last of those who
finished, in the Grand Sefton Handicap Chase [2
miles 5½ furlongs] (16 ran); he had disagreements with a number of fences so
it wasn’t a case of ‘like a duck to
water’. Another of my favourites,
Forgotten Gold, took part and completed in 8th. Poor Plein Pouvoir was lost when he fell heavily and fractured his
right elbow. RIP. Chepstow: Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 2nd and Midnight Prayer (Alan
King/Gerard Tumelty) was hampered and unseated in
the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (7 ran). Havingotascoobydo (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase (7 ran). Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard
Tumelty) finished last in the Standard Open NH Flat
Race (8 ran). Sire De Grugy won the Tingle Creek at Sandown Park. More Hinterland
took the Henry VII Novices’ Chase. More And Chance
Du Roy triumphed in the Becher Chase at Aintree,
despite Baby Run’s best efforts. More Choc
seemed down in the dumps when he tweeted earlier; it has been a disappointing
day for the yard, so it must affect his mood.
I hate it when I return from the races and haven’t seen Choc in the
Winners’ Enclosure at least once, like today (that’s winner or placed). L Three
runners of interest tomorrow, at Warwick: 12:40 Duroble Man (Alan King/Choc) – Juvenile Hurdle 14:10 Ulzana’s Raid (Alan King/Choc) – Maiden Hurdle 15:40 Fine
Moment (Kevin Frost/Choc) –
Standard Open NH Flat Race With next Saturday being Cheltenham, it gives me
at least two weeks to complete a diary about my visit to Sandown today. A positive luxury! And, starting tomorrow, I’m going to have a
little bit of a lie-in!!! |
|
Friday 06
December 2013 |
|
Today
there was just one runner of interest, at Exeter: Sea Tiger
(Alan King/Choc) finished 4th in the
Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race (7 ran). Many
runners of interest tomorrow: Sandown Park: 12:20
Money For Nothing (Alan King/Choc)
– National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle 12:50 Tante Sissi (Alan King/Choc) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 13:20 Salmanazar (Alan King/Choc) – Handicap Hurdle [Qualifier] 13:50
Balder Succes (Alan King/Choc) & Manyriverstocross (Alan
King/Dominic Elsworth) – Henry VII Novices’ Chase
[Grade 1] More 15:35 Godsmejudge (Alan King/Choc) – Handicap Chase (London National) Aintree: 12:30
Mystery Drama (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle
[Listed] 13:30
Dundee (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 14:05 Walkon (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Becher
Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs] 15:15
Midnight Appeal (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Grand Sefton
Handicap Chase [2 miles 5½ furlongs] Chepstow: 12:55 Annacotty (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
& Midnight Prayer (Alan King/Gerard Tumelty) –
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 14:00 Havingotascoobydo (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – Handicap Chase 15:45 Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty)
– Standard Open NH Flat Race No runners
of interest at Wetherby. Here is a
link to this week’s Martin Keighley column in the Gloucestershire Echo. More A deserved
win for Bally Legend at Exeter today, Ian Popham
riding, having run an excellent race to finish second to Giorgio Quercus when I was at Kempton Park a couple of weeks
ago. Jumping is his forte and today he
managed to hold off the determined challenge of the Paul Nicholls runner Domtaline. There’s
news that Baby Run returns from injury tomorrow, to take part in the Becher Chase. More It has
been announced that the schedules on Day 1 and Day 2 of the Cheltenham
Festival have been revised to better fit in with the Channel 4 TV coverage,
thus permitting the Mares’ Hurdle (probably featuring Quevega)
to be shown on the main channel. More Plans are
afoot to introduce all weather racing at Newcastle. More News that
the Lesters will be held on 22 December next year,
due to there being racing on Good Friday which would interrupt the jockeys’
celebrations had it remained in its usual slot in the calendar. Whilst I
was procrastinating earlier today, prior to recommencing my Newbury diary
write-up, I thought I’d take a look at the Racing Post photos page! I’m loving the
photos taken at Huntingdon last month ... I want one ... the photo and the
jockey! Here is a
picture of the Victorian carousel tweeted by Sandown Park earlier: https://mobile.twitter.com/Sandownpark/status/409020421762064384/photo/1?screen_name=Sandownpark In
addition to the Victorian carousel, three retired David Johnson horses will
be parading in the paddock at 11:40 tomorrow, the first race of the day being
named in honour of the late David Johnson – I’m looking forward to seeing
Comply Or Die, Well Chief and Ashkazar again. I’m
looking forward to my day out at Sandown ... and I’ve finished and uploaded
my Newbury diary too! Click here to read. |
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Thursday 05
December 2013 |
|
Two runners
of interest this afternoon, at Wincanton, and this is how they
fared: Havingotascoobydo (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) fell at the 3rd fence in the Handicap Chase (7
ran). The horse was fine, but will be
checked over by the trainer’s physio tomorrow; Tom
was okay too. McVicar (Alan King/Choc) finished 4th in the Handicap
Hurdle (9 ran). Tomorrow
there’s just one runner of interest, at Exeter: 15:45 Sea
Tiger (Alan King/Choc) – Junior
Standard Open NH Flat Race Wibberly wobberly
camera shots at both Market Rasen and Wincanton
today, the wind was certainly blowing hard!
My ears were aching by the time I’d reached work this morning so, at
lunchtime, I visited the shops and found a very warm trapper hat in BHS ...
it may be worn at Sandown this Saturday.
It’s about this time of the year that I regret having very short hair
and exposed ears!!! Sprinter Sacre has been ruled out of making his seasonal
reappearance in the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown on Saturday. More There will
be a big field for Saturday’s Becher Chase at
Aintree, with 24 horses standing their ground, including Walkon. More A nine day
ban has been metered out to Timmy Murphy following his altercation with
Dominic Elsworth at Newbury last Friday. More There’s
going to be a Victorian carousel at Sandown Park this weekend, with free
rides for all ... I love carousels, there was one on Walton-On-The-Naze pier that I loved to ride on when I went on day
trips to the seaside town as a youngster. Another day’s leave tomorrow ... I could get accustomed
to this! Having been with my employer
for donkey’s years, I get 27 days annual leave, not including Bank
Holidays. |
|
Wednesday 04
December 2013 |
|
One runner
of interest today, at Ludlow and this is how he
fared: Faultless
Feelings (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) was pulled up
in the Handicap Chase (9 ran). Two
runners of interest tomorrow, at Wincanton: 14:10 Havingotascoobydo (Martin Keighley/Tom Siddall) – Handicap Chase 14:40 McVicar (Alan King/Choc)
– Handicap Hurdle And it’s now time to get on with my Newbury diary
... there’s no rest for the wicked! |
|
Tuesday 03
December 2013 |
|
Four
runners of interest today and this is how they fared: Southwell: Sego Success (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran); Wayne’s 31st winner of the season. Lotus Pond
(Alan King/Choc) finished 6th in
the Maiden Hurdle (14 ran). Say When
(Alan King/Choc) finished 6th in
the Standard Open Flat Race (7 ran). Sedgefield: Mauricetheathlete (Martin
Keighley/Nicky Slatter) finished last in the
Novices’ Chase (3 ran).
Today it
was announced that Invictus has broken down so
badly that it is unlikely he will ever race again. More It is a
terrible shame for a talented horse; he has such a ‘kind eye’. And here is the
announcement on Alan’s website. More I checked
out Alan King’s website yesterday evening and noticed that Invictus had been moved across to the ‘Resting’ section of the website,
reserved for horses currently on the sidelines due to injury; Herod The Great
is also now listed in this section.
Another of the Alan King horses, Letsby
Avenue, had his tendon implanted with his own stem cells today; the injury
occurred whilst turned out. He will be
on the sidelines for a year. But better
news for Alan King, he trained his 1,000th jumps winner today when Sego
Success won at Southwell. Next
Saturday’s Henry VIII Novices’ Chase has attracted a number of talented
horses, including Balder Succes and Manyriverstocross.
More Upon checking
Choc’s and Wayne’s riding engagements for Saturday, my favourite jockey is
listed against Balder Succes’ name at Sandown, with
Wayne heading to Aintree to ride Mystery Drama, Walkon
and Midnight Appeal, the latter two over the Grand National fences. Looks like it will be ‘winter draws on’ for me on Saturday, with temperatures due to
drop later this week! I will probably
have to resort to wearing my purple jodhpurs under my long black skirt, as my
thick brown leggings are waiting to be washed!
RIP Madison du Berlais It was
reported today that 2008 Hennessy Gold Cup hero Madison du Berlais has died following a bout of colic. More Jockey
Charlie Huxley, who won the Scottish Grand National in 2008 on 66-1 shot Iris
De Balme, has confirmed that he has decided to
retire.
More Following
yesterday’s announcement that Rishi Persad will be taking part in the charity race at the
Cheltenham Festival, it transpires that he’s not ridden for 20 years and is
allergic to horses! One runner
of interest tomorrow, at Ludlow: 14:10 Faultless Feelings (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Chase |
|
Monday 02
December 2013 |
|
A number of
runners of interest tomorrow: Southwell: 13:15 Sego
Success (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:20
Lotus Pond (Alan King/Choc) –
Maiden Hurdle 15:20 Say
When (Alan King/Choc) – Standard
Open Flat Race Sedgefield: 13:30 Mauricetheathlete (Martin Keighley/Nicky Slatter) – Novices’ Chase With no
riding engagements today, Choc spent the day looking after William and has
tweeted a couple of photos: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/407513342400413696/photo/1?screen_name=Choc_Thornton https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/407525822955028480/photo/1?screen_name=Choc_Thornton My
favourite racehorse, Walkon, is heading to Aintree
for this weekend’s Becher Chase. More Sprinter Sacre is by no means certain to run in Saturday’s Tingle
Creek at Sandown following an unsatisfactory routine scope. More And TV presenter Rishi Persad will be taking part in the charity race at the
Cheltenham Festival next March. More |
|
Sunday 01
December 2013 |
|
Two
runners of interest this afternoon, at Leicester, and this
is how they fared: Dealing
River (Caroline Bailey/Choc)
finished 5th in the Selling Hurdle (8 ran). Hot
Whiskey (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase (6
ran). Racing at Plumpton tomorrow, but no runners of specific
interest. As an aside, Plumpton may have been the real life inspiration for Trumpton in the children’s TV series. More
Alan King has outlined his immediate plans for
Balder Succes, Manyriverstocross
and Raya Star. More I’ve selected and uploaded the photos I took at
Newbury yesterday. Click here to view the photo index. |
