JUNE 2017
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Wednesday
28 June 2017 |
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Here
are today’s results for my runners of interest: Salisbury: Beringer
(Alan King/Fergus Sweeney) finished last in the Maiden Stakes [6 furlongs
& 213 yards] (13 ran). Ardamir
(Laura Mongan/Kieran Shoemark/formerly
owned by Apple Tree Stud) finished last, Rosa Damescena
(Alan King/Martin Harley) finished 4th and Buckle Street (Martin
Keighley/Richard Oliver) finished 6th in the Handicap [1 mile 6 furlongs
& 44 yards] (11 ran). Worcester: Cottersrock
(Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles
& 7 furlongs] (8 ran). Sporty Yankee (Martin Keighley/James
Nixon) finished 6th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Training Series Final
Handicap Hurdle (7 ran). There’s just one runner of interest
tomorrow, at Nottingham: 17:45 Pantomine
(Lucy Egerton/Gabriele Malune/EPDS
Racing) – Hands and Heels Apprentice Handicap I’ve been slaving over a hot laptop
for the past three evenings and have now finished diarising every race from
Aintree, apart from the Grand National.
J |
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Tuesday
27 June 2017 |
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Here
are yesterday’s results for my runners of interest: Southwell: Stynes (Graeme McPherson/Charlie Deutsch/EPDS Racing) won the Handicap Chase [1 mile 7
furlongs & 153 yards] (6 ran); the runner-up was Solar Impulse, although
he’s changed ownership and yard since he won at last year’s Cheltenham
Festival. Lerichi
Belle (Martin Keighley/James Nixon) finished 4th in the Conditional Jockeys’
Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). And
one at Chepstow: Whatalove
(Martin Keighley/Richard Oliver) finished 2nd in the Handicap for 3-year-olds
[7 furlongs & 16 yards] (10 ran). There
were no runners of interest today. I’ve
found a number runners of interest tomorrow: Salisbury: 14:10
Beringer (Alan King/Fergus Sweeney) – Maiden Stakes
[6 furlongs & 213 yards] 16:10
Ardamir (Laura Mongan/Kieran
Shoemark/formerly owned by Apple Tree Stud) & Rosa
Damescena (Alan King/Martin Harley) & Buckle
Street (Martin Keighley/Richard Oliver) – Handicap [1 mile 6 furlongs &
44 yards] Worcester: 15:50
Cottersrock (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles & 7 furlongs] 17:20 Sporty Yankee (Martin
Keighley/James Nixon) – Conditional Jockeys’ Training Series Final Handicap
Hurdle |
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Sunday
25 June 2017 |
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There were a number of runners of interest at Market Rasen on Friday and this is
how they fared: City Dreamer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was
pulled up in the Juvenile Hurdle (6 ran); he broke a blood vessel. Chance Taken (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 6th in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Canford Chimes (Philip
Kirby/Thomas Dowson/formerly owned by Apple Tree Stud) finished 9th in the
Standard Open NH Flat Race (11 ran); Samson The Man (Noel Williams/Wayne
Hutchinson) was withdrawn at the start when Wayne received a kick from one of
the other horses and had to seek medical attention. I wonder what the extent of the injury is
and whether Wayne will be on the sidelines for long. ITV Racing’s Oli Bell
was introduced to the Queen at Ascot: https://twitter.com/itvracing/status/878288517645778944 Alan King’s Top Tug finished 4th in the Duke Of
Edinburgh Stakes at Royal Ascot on Friday. There was one runner of interest yesterday
(Saturday) at Haydock Park: Suspect Package (James Fanshawe/Daniel
Muscutt) finished 3rd in the Handicap [1 mile 2
furlongs & 42 yards] (6 ran). Mattie Batchelor has
ridden his 300th winner but he’s not yet thinking of retirement: https://www.racingpost.com/news/batchelor-vows-to-keep-going-after-notching-300th-victory/290605 Plans are afoot to redevelop the closed
Folkestone racecourse for housing, and the neighbours aren’t happy: https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/residents-vent-anger-over-plans-to-build-on-folkestone-site Peace And Co made a winning debut over fences at
Hexham today: https://twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/878969393090187265 I was wondering recently what had happened to
Overturn, as he’s no longer racing, and Donald McCain has tweeted a photo: https://mobile.twitter.com/donaldmccain/status/878920924380246016/photo/1 There were two runners of interest today (Sunday)
at Worcester: Crown Theatre (Jamie Snowden/Sam Twiston-Davies) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase [2
miles 4 furlongs] (7 ran). Miss Crick (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 3rd
in the Handicap Hurdle [2miles 4 furlongs] (9 ran). There are two runners of interest tomorrow, at Southwell: 19:10 Stynes (Graeme
McPherson/Charlie Deutsch/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Chase [1 mile 7 furlongs
& 153 yards] 21:10 Lerichi Belle
(Martin Keighley/James Nixon) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle And one at
Chepstow: 17:00 Whatalove (Martin Keighley/Richard Oliver) – Handicap for
3-year-olds [7 furlongs & 16 yards] I’m still obsessed
with completing my diary race notes as soon as possible, so much so that I’ve
been neglecting my blogs! Anyway, that
shouldn’t happen for much longer, as I’ve only four more races to diarise. Although, admittedly, one of those is the
Grand National! After that it will be
full steam ahead with my proof-reading and photographs too. |
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Thursday
22 June 2017 |
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Oli Bell and his dad
Rupert were over the moon when Michael Bell, uncle and brother respectively,
trained the winner of today’s Ascot Gold Cup with the very popular Big
Orange: And the race report from the Racing Post: There’s one result from yesterday, at Hamilton Park: Single Estate (Simon Waugh/Joe Doyle/raised by
Apple Tree Stud) finished 9th in the Handicap [1 mile 1 furlong & 35 yards]
(11 ran). There are three results to report today, firstly
from Ffos Las: Royal Plaza (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
2nd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 83 yards[
(8 ran). Londonia (Graeme
McPherson/Charlie Deutsch/EPDS Racing) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [1
mile 7 furlongs & 182 yards] (14 ran). And from Chelmsford: Jazzy (Martin Keighley/George Wood) finished 5th
in the Handicap [2 miles] (6 ran). There are a number of runners of interest
tomorrow, at Market Rasen: 13:40 City Dreamer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Juvenile Hurdle 14:10 Chance Taken (Noel Williams/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 17:10 Canford Chimes
(Philip Kirby/Thomas Dowson/formerly owned by Apple Tree Stud) & Samson
The Man (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Meanwhile Turn Over Sivola,
which was formerly trained by Alan King, runs in the Galway Plate Trial at
Down Royal tomorrow evening (20:30). In addition to Natalie Lowe deciding to leave Strictly
Come Dancing, so have Oksana Platero
and last year’s winning professional Joanne Clifton. Here is news regarding their replacements: http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/strictlycomedancing/entries/a8f6012a-b783-4fdb-ac7b-a995ef2cb4b7 I’m
relieved the very hot temperatures have now disappeared … although I felt
okay yesterday; I stayed in the office at lunch-time. I’ve also seen far too many garden spiders,
in the house, these past few days; they make a beeline for every open window
it seems. In fact I found a huge one
on the landing floor on Tuesday night which put me off sleeping in my
bedroom; despite the fact I put it out the window, minus a leg or two! I slept downstairs, in an armchair,
instead. Although in this weather,
that’s ‘sleeping’ in the loosest
sense of the word!!! |
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Tuesday
20 June 2017 |
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Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest at Stratford-Upon-Avon: Passmore (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Novices Hurdle (4 ran); Wayne’s 12th winner of the season. Our Three Sons (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller)
finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 70 yards] (9 ran). The Kvilleken (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 6th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 148 yards] (10 ran). Meanwhile, at Royal Ascot, Godolphin won three of today’s races – Ribchester won the Queen Anne Stakes (Group 1), Barney
Roy won the St James’ Palace (Group 1) and Sound And Silence triumphed in the
Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed). Their
fortunes appear to have changed since John Ferguson resigned as their Chief
Executive. Today was the 40th anniversary
of Sheik Mohammed’s first winner in Great Britain. Lady Aurelia won the King’s Stand Stakes (Group
1) for American trainer Wesley Ward. The Coventry Stakes (Group 2) was won by Rajasinghe for trainer Richard Spencer; the trainer, who
is based in Newmarket, started out with Peter Bowen, before moving to Barry
Hills and then becoming pupil assistant with Charlie Hills. Richard then moved from Lambourn
to Newmarket to become the assistant to Michael Bell. He gained his trainer’s licence in March
2016. The remaining race was the long-distance
handicap, the Ascot Stakes. It was won
by the favourite, Thomas Hobson, trained by Willie Mullins and owned by the
Ricci’s. You just can’t get away from
them!!! Alan King’s horses – Who Dares
Wins, Rainbow Dreamer and Oceane finished 3rd, 4th
and 10th respectively. There’s just one runner of interest tomorrow, at Hamilton Park: 17:10 Single Estate (Simon Waugh/Joe Doyle/raised
by Apple Tree Stud) – Handicap [1 mile 1 furlong & 35 yards]. I know it
wasn’t quite as warm today as yesterday, and I’ve felt okay. I stayed in at lunch-time; it’s best not to
venture out between 11:00 and 15:00 when it’s very hot. I’m not looking forward to tomorrow, as it
is forecast to be even warmer than yesterday. L |
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Monday
19 June 2017 |
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Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Carlisle: Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Paula
Muir/EPDS Racing) finished 5th in the Handicap [1 mile 1 furlong] (8 ran). Nottingham: Tyrell (Alan King/Fergus Sweeney/Apple Tree Stud)
finished 3rd in the Handicap [1 mile 6 furlongs] (6 ran). There are three runners of interest tomorrow, at Stratford-Upon-Avon: 14:20 Passmore (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Novices Hurdle 16:05 Our Three Sons (Jamie Snowden/Page Fuller)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 70 yards] 17:20 The Kvilleken
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 2 furlongs & 148 yards] Just a quick nod to Royal Ascot which commences tomorrow – Alan King has three
runners engaged in the Ascot Stakes (Handicap); the distance being 2 miles 3
furlongs & 210 yards. They are Oceane, Who Dares Wins and Rainbow Dreamer. There are a number of National Hunt
trainers with entries in this one, namely David Pipe, Willie Mullins, Paul
Nicholls, Tim Vaughan, Nicky Henderson, plus dual purpose trainer Ian
Williams. The
excessive summer heat is making me feel unwell; it must be old age, as I
never had any problems before last year.
I’ve obviously now got a faulty body thermostat! L |
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Sunday
18 June 2017 |
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Here is today’s result for my runner of interest
at Salisbury: Cecilator (Noel Williams/Liam Keniry/EPDS Racing) finished last in the Handicap [1 mile
4 furlongs & 5 yards] (8 ran). Authorized Too, which is also trained by Noel,
had an outing on the flat yesterday, at Sandown Park – he finished last of 7
but was not disgraced. There are two runners of interest tomorrow: Carlisle: 15:30 Celtic Artisan (Rebecca Menzies/Paula
Muir/EPDS Racing) – Handicap [1 mile 1 furlong] Nottingham: 20:30 Tyrell (Alan King/Fergus Sweeney/Apple Tree
Stud) – Handicap [1 mile 6 furlongs] There’s further controversy surrounding Labaik, winner of the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the
Cheltenham Festival: I’ve finished drafting the race notes for day one
of the Aintree Festival. It did,
however, take a little longer than expected due to the ongoing ‘robin’ watch and a surprise visit from
my cousin Anne. Having seen the robins whizzing in and out of the
shed window for the past couple of weeks, yesterday I discovered where their
nest is. It’s located behind a
triangular-shaped board above the door; I noticed a few leaves poking out and
then saw one of the robins hop onto the edge of the board. Later, a fledgling was spotted on the floor of
the shed; it doesn’t appear able to fly properly yet, but was preening
itself. The only escape would have
been through the garage door during the day, because it was unable to flutter
up to the window. I shut the door
last night to provide protection. Today the parents were busy once more, flying in
and out of said window; they were also fluttering around and landing upon my
car beneath the carport. The fledgling
has been calling out for much of the time and, this evening, I noticed it
sitting on a brick which is lying on the ground close to the rear of my car;
I had intended to check the vehicle for bird poo! It must have hopped or fluttered quite a
distance to get to this spot. It’s
worrying though, with night approaching; I hope there are no rats about at
the moment. But at least no cats or
magpies can attack it. Peas in a pod:
https://mobile.twitter.com/HannahBishop79/status/875794306669436928/photo/1 The news
is that Irish Cavalier fractured a hind-leg at Newton Abbot on Friday. He’s undergone surgery and three screws
have been inserted into the bone.
Connections are hopeful that he will be okay. |
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Friday
16 June 2017 |
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Here are a
number of results from Wednesday: Fontwell Park: Dynamo
(Jamie Snowden/Sam Twiston-Davies) finished 9th in
the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 139 yards] (12 ran). Lord
Topper (Jamie Snowden/Sam Twiston-Davies) finished
6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 33 yards] (8 ran). Between
The Waters (Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) finished 2nd in the Handicap
Chase [2 miles 5 furlongs & 31 yards] (9 ran). Uttoxeter: Brass
Monkey (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished
8th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs 207 yards] (10 ran). Ask Alice
(Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson not Lizzie Kelly) finished 4th in the Mares’
Standard Open NH Flat Race (9 ran). Nottingham: Pantomine (Lucy Egerton/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) was a non-runner in the
Handicap [1 mile 6 furlongs]. There is
one result today, from Newton
Abbot: Midnight Cowboy
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 4
furlongs & 216 yards] (6 ran). The
race was worth over £14,000 to the winner and he had five rivals, three of
which were greys like him! The greys
finished first, second and third.
Unfortunately the other grey, Irish Cavalier, was pulled up and
dismounted; he was loaded into the horse ambulance and further news is still
awaited. There are
no runners of interest tomorrow, but there is one on Sunday, at Salisbury: 14:15 Cecilator (Noel Williams/Liam Keniry/EPDS
Racing) – Handicap [1 mile 4 furlongs & 5 yards] I’ve no
special plans for the weekend ... so I guess I will commence drafting my
Aintree race notes! Belinda
Keighley will be appearing on ITV’s Opening Show tomorrow morning; she’s
taking part in a charity race at York later in the day. Belinda is fundraising for Macmillan Cancer
Support and she has raised an amazing £25,000+ so far! Very well done, and for a great cause
too. |
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Wednesday
14 June 2017 |
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Just one
result to report today, from Worcester: Twentyoneblackjack (Martin
Keighley/Harry Cobden) finished last in the Standard National Hunt Flat Race
(Conditionals & Amateurs) (9 ran).
The race was won by Drumlynn which is owned
by Luke Harvey; he’d already expressed his delight on social media that he’d
actually got a horse in training with Nicky Henderson! There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow: Fontwell Park: 13:50
Dynamo (Jamie Snowden/Sam Twiston-Davies) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 139 yards] 14:55 Lord
Topper (Jamie Snowden/Sam Twiston-Davies) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 33 yards] 16:40
Between The Waters (Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) – Handicap Chase [2
miles 5 furlongs & 31 yards] Uttoxeter: 20:30
Brass Monkey (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs 207 yards] 21:00 Ask
Alice (Martin Keighley/Lizzie Kelly) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race Nottingham: 14:45 Pantomine (Lucy Egerton/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) – Handicap [1 mile 6
furlongs]; however, she won’t run if the ground is too firm. EPDS
Racing’s Our Reward is now on the injury sidelines, having been diagnosed
with a slight tear in a suspensory ligament. Earlier in
the week I received a notification from Cheltenham to say they will be
increasing the price of their 2018 Festival tickets after 05 July; that’s far
earlier in the year than I can ever recall the incremental increases
commencing. I usually book in
September or October but will have to rethink. And today
I was sent an email by Newbury regarding a special ‘early bird’ price for their Ladbrokes Winter Carnival which takes
place on 01 and 02 December this year; the deadline to take advantage of this
is 30 June. Oh well,
if I buy them now, I won’t need to buy them later! I expect that the Aintree Festival tickets
will go on sale at the end of July/beginning of August too. The next few weeks may prove expensive. L |
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Tuesday
13 June 2017 |
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I hate it
when I have very sad news to report ...
RIP Paloma’s
Prince Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Southwell: Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 5th in the
Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 62 yards] (8 ran). Paloma’s Prince (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) was
pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 153 yards] (14
ran); he ‘went wrong’ on the
flat. I didn’t watch the race, but
also understand a number of hurdles were omitted due to low sun. I hate Southwell. Horses
are injured there on a regular basis; more so than elsewhere it seems. Choc too of course, shortly before the 2013
Cheltenham Festival. There’s
one runner of interest tomorrow, at Worcester: 15:20 Twentyoneblackjack (Martin Keighley/Harry Cobden) –
Standard National Hunt Flat Race (Conditionals & Amateurs). The next
two stable visit dates have been announced – Graeme McPherson on 01 July and
Robin Dickin on 08 July. |
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Monday
12 June 2017 |
|
There are
two runners of interest tomorrow, at Southwell: 18:30
Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 62 yards] 21:00 Paloma’s Prince (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 153 yards] There’s
further ‘robin’ news ... the pair which
nested in the garage a few weeks ago, have now set up home in the connecting
shed to raise a second brood. Every
day they can be spotted in my garden, busily collecting insects for their new
babies. It takes 12 to 14 days for the
youngsters to fledge, but hopefully they will be okay despite the high
temperatures forecast for later this week; the shed can become very warm on
hot summer days because it’s more like a greenhouse. Not only
has Choc shaved off his beard, he’s also shaved off his hair; well
almost. Gone is the short at the
sides, long on top, fashionable style of recent times. I’m glad, because I don’t like that style
at all. Hopefully he’ll grow it a bit,
to a sensible length all over. |
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Sunday
11 June 2017 |
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It’s time
for a brief update, as I’ve not written a blog entry since Thursday ... There’s
one result from Friday to report, at Goodwood: Sam
Missile (James Fanshawe/Daniel Muscutt/Apple
Tree Stud) finished 5th in the Handicap [1 mile 6 furlongs] (10 ran). There is
one result from yesterday to report, at Stratford: Spice Girl (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) won the Maiden Open NH
Flat Race (6 ran); Team Keighley’s 4th winner of the season. And I
missed this one ... Wayne Hutchinson has ridden 11 winners this season,
having won aboard Court Dismissed, trained by Donald McCain, at Fakenham last Sunday. There are
no runners of interest tomorrow. Stepping
up in distance, L’Ami Serge won the French Champion
Hurdle today, run at Auteuil. Having
looked like a wild woodsman for some time, Choc has shaved off his beard. J I’ve spent
much of today proof-reading, having spent yesterday visiting my friend Denise
who lives in Berkshire. |
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Thursday
08 June 2017 |
|
Here are
yesterday’s results for my runners of interest at Uttoxeter: Lerichi Belle (Martin Keighley/James Nixon) finished 2nd
in the Conditional Jockeys’ NH Maiden Hurdle (6 ran). Minella Whisper (Richard Phillips/Ian Popham/Mrs Prowting) finished last
in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Rockchasebullett (Fergal O’Brien/Paddy
Brennan/EPDS Twitterati Racing Club) finished 5th
in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 70 yards] (8 ran). Baraymi (Jamie Snowden/Micheal
Nolan) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 105
yards] (5 ran). Madame
Fiona (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) refused to
race in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (11 ran). There’s a
result from Carlisle
today: Jamacho (Brian Ellison/Tom Eves/raised by Apple Tree
Stud) finished 3rd in the Maiden Stakes [1 mile and 1 furlong] (5 ran). Meanwhile
at Bangor-on-Dee, Twentyoneblackjack was a
non-runner in the Standard Open NH Flat Race There’s
one runner of interest tomorrow, at Goodwood: 19:40 Sam
Missile (James Fanshawe/Daniel Muscutt/Apple
Tree Stud) – Handicap [1 mile 6 furlongs] It’s going
to be a long old night ... as I’m addicted to watching election results,
etc! Elections, Scottish Independence,
Brexit, you name it! |
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Tuesday
06 June 2017 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Fontwell Park: Holy Street (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Mille Nautique (Alan
King/Tom Bellamy) was a non-runner in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 5 furlongs
& 31 yards] Southwell: Viking Mistress (Martin
Keighley/Richard Johnson) won the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (6 ran); Martin’s 3rd winner of the season Our Three Sons (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller)
was a non-runner in the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 153 yards] Ask Alice (Martin Keighley/Lizzie Kelly) was a
non-runner in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race Chepstow: Whatalove (Martin
Keighley/Richard Oliver) finished 2nd in the Handicap [7 furlongs & 16
yards] (11 ran). Cecilator (Noel Williams/Liam Keniry/EPDS Racing) finished last in the Fillies’
Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs] (9 ran); the ground was totally unsuitable. Royal Sunday (Alan King/Fergus Sweeney) finished
6th in the Maiden Stakes Div I (9 ran). Lexington Law (Alan King/Tom Marquand) finished
3rd in the Maiden Stakes Div II (8 ran). And here
are tomorrow’s runners of interest at Uttoxeter: 14:00 Lerichi Belle (Martin Keighley/James Nixon) – Conditional
Jockeys’ NH Maiden Hurdle 14:30 Minella Whisper (Richard Phillips/Ian Popham/Mrs
Prowting) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 15:30 Rockchasebullett (Fergal O’Brien/Paddy Brennan/EPDS Twitterati Racing Club) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7
furlongs & 70 yards] 16:00 Baraymi (Jamie Snowden/Micheal
Nolan) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 105 yards] 17:00
Madame Fiona (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race |
|
Monday
05 June 2017 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest at Newton
Abbot today: Thady Quil
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 5th in
the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 122 yards] (12 ran) Royal Plaza (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a
non-runner in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase due to unsuitable ground Passmore (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 3rd and Undisputed (Noel Williams/Tom Scudamore) won the Mares’ Maiden
Hurdle; Noel’s 2nd
winner of the
season. The Kvilleken (Martin
Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 8th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap
Hurdle (12 ran). Meanwhile, on the flat at Windsor: Jazzy (Martin Keighley/Tom Queally)
finished 6th in the Handicap (1 mile 3 furlongs & 99 yards] (8 ran). Suspect Package (James Fanshawe/Daniel
Muscutt/Apple Tree Stud) finished 3rd in the
Handicap for 3-year-olds [1 mile & 31 yards] (13 ran). I was thinking that I probably didn’t need to do
a blog this evening … but then I found a variety of runners of interest at a
number of venues tomorrow: Fontwell Park: 18:50 Holy Street (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Hurdle 19:20 Mille Nautique
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 5 furlongs & 31 yards] Southwell: 20:05 Viking Mistress (Martin Keighley/Richard
Johnson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 20:35 Our Three Sons (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page
Fuller) – Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 153 yards] 21:05 Ask Alice (Martin Keighley/Lizzie Kelly) –
Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race And on the flat at Chepstow … I found
more horses than I bargained for when searching for details of Cecilator! 15:00 Whatalove (Martin
Keighley/Richard Oliver) – Handicap [7 furlongs & 16 yards] 16:00 Cecilator (Noel
Williams/Liam Keniry/EPDS Racing) – Fillies’
Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs] 16:30 Royal Sunday (Alan King/Fergus Sweeney) –
Maiden Stakes Div I 17:00 Lexington Law (Alan King/Tom Marquand) –
Maiden Stakes Div II The Racing Post has been delving more deeply into
the background story of this year’s Derby winner, Wings Of Eagles: And I’ve
now completed the race notes for every day of the Cheltenham Festival. I’m going to give myself a break from these
until Saturday/Sunday 17th/18th June, at which point I hope to commence them
for Aintree. But that doesn’t mean I
won’t be working on other updates for my website in the interim. J |
|
Sunday
04 June 2017 |
|
There were five runners of interest yesterday and
this is how they fared: Hexham: City Dreamer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle (5 ran). Worcester: Cul De Poule (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 5th in the Intermediate Open NH Flat Race Miss Crick (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) finished 3rd
and Breaking Bits (Jamie Snowden/Adrian Heskin)
finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] (10 ran). Lingfield Park: 19:50 Denver Spirit (Luca Cumani/Shane
Kelly/Appletree Stud) finished last in the Maiden
Fillies’ Stakes (7 ran). There was one runner of interest today, at Fakenham: Stynes (Graeme
McPherson/Paddy Brennan/EPDS Racing) finished as the runner-up in the
Novices’ Handicap Chase (2 ran). He
did, however, win £2,480 … although the first prize of £8,447 would have been
much better! And I presume the winner
would have taken home the 3rd and 4th prizes too, as the other two declared
runners didn’t turn up. This is an interesting article regarding the sire
of yesterday’s Derby winner. Alan
King’s Coeur De Lion is a Pour Moi and, of course
Scorpion, sire of Might Bite, is a son of Montjeu
also. I wonder what Noel Williams decided as regards to
which stallion should sire Theatre Goer’s first foal. Annie Power is currently in foal to Camelot,
whose sire is also Montjeu. It seems the Saddler’s Wells great
grandsire/Montjeu grandsire bloodline is a far most
interesting one than the Saddler’s Wells/Galileo one, due to the quirkiness
of the product! It was reported towards the end of last week that
Well Chief had lost his life following a bout of colic; he was 18-year-old
and lived at Tim Murphy’s establishment.
The very popular chestnut won the 2004 Arkle
Trophy. RIP https://mobile.twitter.com/TheJockeyClub/status/870199395840659456/photo/1 Following last night’s terror attack in London,
Choc expressed his concern for the safety of everyone’s children, including
his own; this is his 3-month old son Wolfie: https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/871126725748457475/photo/1 Here is Triolo D’Alene
enjoying time out in the spring sunshine whilst recovering from his
career-ending injury: https://mobile.twitter.com/wickhamwicks/status/870921261404311552/photo/1 And this is a photo of Rockchasebullett
on the gallops at Fergal O’Brien’s yard; he’s the EPDS Twitterati
Racing Club’s second leased racehorse: https://mobile.twitter.com/FOBRacing/status/871274180691599360/photo/1 There are a number of runners of interest at Newton Abbot tomorrow although, with heavy rain promised for
much of the UK, I wonder how many will run. 14:10 Thady Quil (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs & 122 yards] 14:40 Royal Plaza (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 16:10 Passmore (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Undisputed (Noel Williams/Tom Scudamore) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 17:15 The Kvilleken
(Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Meanwhile, on the flat at Windsor: 19:10 Jazzy (Martin Keighley/Tom Queally) – Handicap (1 mile 3 furlongs & 99 yards] 20:40 Suspect Package (James Fanshawe/Daniel
Muscutt/Apple Tree Stud) – Handicap for 3-year-olds
[1 mile & 31 yards] I’ve cleaned my car and have also been slaving
over a hot laptop this weekend. I will
liken my Cheltenham race notes to a 3 mile 4 furlong race, with each furlong
represented by one race. This being
the case, I’m just two furlongs from the winning post. J Although there are still 21 races from
Aintree to be completed. L |
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Friday
02 June 2017 |
|
It’s been very quiet with regard to National Hunt
horses of interest for the past few days, hence no blogs … so this is now my
first blog of June. Mind you, I have been side-tracked by my diaries
this week and haven’t been getting to bed before midnight regardless! Admittedly my proof reading and uploading
has stalled currently, but that’s because I’m ploughing on with my race
notes. And I’ve finished another snood this week – a
purple one. I do have one diversion at the moment though, and
that is watching Djokovic play at the French Open –
whether it be live or recorded highlights – solely
to catch glimpses of Andre Agassi ... I really don’t like the Serb. There are three results to report, from the flat
however: Wednesday – Kempton Park: Tyrell (Alan King/Fergus Sweeney/Apple Tree Stud)
finished 3rd in a Handicap [1 mile 7 furlongs & 218 yards] (9 ran). Wednesday – Beverley: Single Estate (S Waugh/Joe Doyle/raised by Apple
Tree Stud) finished 6th in a Handicap for 3-year-olds [1 mile 4 furlongs
& 23 yards] (8 ran). Thursday – Lingfield Park: Dalavand (Laura Mongan/Ollie Jago/ex-Apple Tree
Stud) finished last in a Handicap [1 mile 3 furlongs & 133 yards] (9
ran). Today was Epsom Oaks Day and the race was won, in
a record time, by Enable. She’s owned
by Khalid Abdullah, is trained by John Gosden and
was ridden by Frankie Dettori. It was John’s 2nd success in the race and
Frankie’s 4th. The filly is a daughter
of Nathaniel. There were storms in the area and thunder and
lightning frightened the American runner, Daddys
Lil Darling, and she bolted to the start.
Approaching the stalls, Olivier Peslier
decided to bail out but escaped uninjured; his mount was withdrawn at the
start. That was really disappointing,
as I was looking forward to seeing how she fared in the big race having seen
RUK’s Lydia Hislop interview the trainer last
week. And it wasn’t plain sailing, or should I say ‘plane flying’, for Aidan’s O’Brien’s
runners either. They were delayed in
transit, and didn’t arrive on course until just before 14:00. There had been a problem when fuelling the
plane and then they were diverted to Farnborough and, as a result, travelled
via the M25 … not a joke on a Friday afternoon! Meanwhile, Highland Reel was able to overcome all
obstacles and won the Coronation Cup. Tattersalls Ireland held a sale
at Cheltenham yesterday and, amongst others, Martin Keighley, Alan King and
Jamie Snowden made purchases. Martin bought Oscar World for £20,000; as the
name suggests she’s by Oscar. Alan purchased a filly named Tillythetank
for £30,000; she’s a Stowaway – Alan likes that sire. And Jamie Snowden bought a gelding by Kalanisi named Grange Ranger, for £48,000. Meanwhile Willie Mullins splashed the cash and
bought Carefully Selected for £100,000 and Ifyoucatchmenow
also for £100,000. Here is the run-down of the sale results: http://www.tattersalls.ie/ascot-cheltenham/sales/cheltenham-may-sale/4DCGI/Sale/CMY%2017/Main There are five runners of interest tomorrow: Hexham: 14:05 City Dreamer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Juvenile Hurdle Worcester: 15:30 Cul De Poule (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Intermediate Open NH Flat Race 16:05 Miss Crick (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) &
Breaking Bits (Jamie Snowden/Adrian Heskin) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] Lingfield Park: 19:50 Denver Spirit (Luca Cumani/Shane
Kelly/Apple Tree Stud) – Maiden Fillies’ Stakes I’ve nothing planned for this weekend … so I
guess I’ll be diary writing, whilst taking time out to watch the Derby, the
tennis and to wash my car! |
