MAY 2015
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Saturday 30 May 2015 |
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There was
one runner of interest this evening, at Stratford: Friendly
Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase [2
miles 5 ½ furlongs] (8 ran); he made too many jumping errors today. The ex-Alan King-trained Porters War finished
2nd! There’s
racing at Fakenham tomorrow but no runners of
interest. Here is a
photograph of Balthazar King chilling out at home whilst he recovers from his
rib injury: https://twitter.com/PJHobbs1/status/604551820103589888/photo/1 And a
lovely photograph of Menace ... he’s looking very handsome: https://twitter.com/s_alvyn10/status/604610099164889088/photo/1 I planted
some bedding plants this morning – Begonias and Osteospermum
(Cape Daisy). And added a couple of
beaded necklaces to pendants ... and deconstructed four old ones too! It has to be done if I’m no longer happy
with them. Two were too heavy, the
others slightly too long; I worry about heavy necklaces because of my neck
problems, and I’m fearful that the glass ones might break through wear and
tear if they bounce around too much – there’s not much space between my neck
and my boobs! The jury is still out as
to how I’m going to reconstruct them. This
afternoon I restarted my Aintree diaries ... but have only completed half of
what I’d hoped. However, as rain is
forecasted for tomorrow, I should have plenty of opportunity to make further
inroads into the backlog ... but I have all summer regardless! |
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Thursday 28 May 2015 |
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Here is
today’s result from Worcester for my runner of
interest: The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) finished a distant 2nd in the Novices’
Handicap Chase (14 ran); only two finished ... but at least he got
round. There were two fallers, one
unseated when hampered, and 9 pulled up! Mortleston (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) was a non-runner in the Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 4 furlongs] as the ground quickened up too much. It is
Hunter Chase finals evening at Stratford tomorrow, with two ‘normal’ races but no runners of
interest. I’m
running late with my blogs this week, as I’ve been watching Springwatch each evening.
It probably continues each Monday to Thursday for the next couple of
weeks too. |
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Wednesday 27 May 2015 |
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Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty)
was a non-runner in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle at Newton Abbot this evening. There is
National Hunt racing at Wetherby and Worcester tomorrow,
with two runners of interest at the latter: 14:40 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) – Novices’ Handicap Chase 17:10 Mortleston (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] |
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Tuesday 26 May 2015 |
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Paul
Nicholls tweeted a photo of the retired Celestial Halo; he has a new career: https://twitter.com/PFNicholls/status/602526804381999105/photo/1 And it’s
the lovely Menace too, back in training following his suspensory
problems: https://twitter.com/EPDS_Racing/status/602764182094753792/photo/1 EPDS’
Celtic Artisan, who is trained by Rebecca Menzies, won
a Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle at Huntingdon this evening under
Bridget Andrews. He’d had four runs on
the flat recently before going jumping again.
Bridget did well, as Sean Bowen and Nico de Boinville were also riding in the race! There is
one runner of interest tomorrow, at Newton Abbot: 20:00 Pattara (Noel Williams/Gerard Tumelty)
– Mares’ Handicap Hurdle And Lee
Mead will be appearing in Aladdin at the Birmingham Hippodrome this coming
Christmas; also Marti Pellow ... one of my colleagues
at work loves Marti Pellow! |
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Sunday 24 May 2015 |
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There were
four runners of interest this afternoon and this is how they fared: Fontwell Park: Chance
Taken (Noel Williams/Richard Johnson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles
6½ furlongs] (15 ran). Uttoxeter: Bobble Emerald (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won and Maldivian Reef
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle (8 ran); well
done to Team Keighley, their 2nd winner of the season. Fighter Jet
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up before 4 out in the Novices’ Chase
(7 ran); Dell’ Arca made a winning debut over the
larger obstacles having finally overcome a game effort by his main rival
Germany Calling who attempted to make all.
There’s
National Hunt racing at Cartmel tomorrow but no
runners of interest. There were
a few bit and bobs of news ... Grumeti ran on the flat at Goodwood
yesterday; he finished 7th of 11 in a one mile six furlong handicap race. Veteran
Victory Gunner has been retired at the ripe old age of 17; he was trained by
Richard Lee. And
Balthazar King returned home on Friday, to his owners, following the injuries
sustained during last month’s Grand National. I’ve been
slaving over a hot laptop this weekend and have almost completed my Day 4
Cheltenham diary as a result. However,
both this and my Sandown Park diary need to be proof read ... and that kind
of depends on my eyesight. For,
having been fine since last Tuesday, the focus in my right eye was again wonky
when I woke up yesterday morning ... however it has gradually been righting
itself and by Sunday evening had almost returned to my new prescription
level. With this in mind, I wonder
what the situation will be on Monday!
|
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Friday 22 May 2015 |
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There were
three runners of interest at Worcester this evening and this
is how they fared: Awesome Rosie (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (11 ran);
Wayne’s 1st winner of the
season. Galactic
Power (Robin Dickin/Joseph Palmowski)
finished 3rd and Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] (9 ran). So that is
more winnings in the kitty from the super-sub, Galactic Power. I know there are approximately 140 people
in our syndicate, but he won almost £1,000 at Newton Abbot a couple of weeks
ago, and today he won £381.60! He’s
actually got a nice way of going – sort of ‘terrier-like’! The race
was a dawdle to begin with and he was outpaced once
they quickened up, but he stayed on and was beaten just half a length and two
lengths. There’s
National Hunt racing at Ffos Las tomorrow but no
runners of interest. However
there are four runners of interest on Sunday: Fontwell Park: 17:35
Chance Taken (Noel Williams/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 6½
furlongs] Uttoxeter: 14:00
Bobble Emerald (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
& Maldivian Reef (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 14:30
Fighter Jet (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase I’ve no
special plans for the weekend, except diary writing. And the eye drops are working, because my
vision when wearing my long distance and PC glasses has been okay since
Tuesday. But I do need to order a pair
of reading/craft glasses because, for the first time ever without glasses, I
can’t focus on close objects with my right eye. |
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Thursday 21 May 2015 |
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There are
three runners of interest tomorrow evening, at Worcester: 19:20
Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat
Race 20:50
Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Joseph Palmowski) & Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] Richard
Johnson tweeted to say he’d sold two home-bred store horses at the Goffs/DBS sale earlier this week – one to Ben Pauling and
the other to Brian Ellison. |
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Wednesday 20 May 2015 |
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I couldn’t
resist checking the Goffs/DBS website again today
to see which ‘store horse’
purchases had been made by Alan King. They
have yet to receive a registered name, but here is an overview: Gelding by
Black Sam Bellamy, out of Shayaza, purchased for
£24,000 Filly by
Network (GER), out of Sismaelle, purchased for
£20,000 Gelding by
Sendawar, out of With Conviction, purchased for
£15,000 Gelding by
Malinas (GER), out of Queen Bruere,
purchased for £13,000 Alan seems
to like the German sires! And Noel
Williams also made a purchase: Gelding by
Fair Mix out of Amaretto Rose purchased for £11,000 ... and he is now looking
for an owner or owners! I was
thinking that I knew the name of Amaretto Rose; but she retired prior to my ‘Choc’ days, in February 2008. In fact her final race was against Katchit in the Kingwell
Hurdle! So that was a connection with
Noel! When racing, the mare was
trained by Nicky Henderson. Choc’s mum was acting a ‘false-start’ flag waver at Southwell
this evening ... how do I know? ... Because Derek Thompson was commentating
and he said so! And, from a distance,
it did look like Sally so must have been her! I really
don’t like Southwell, as they had another fatality
this evening – namely Walter De La Mare who fell at the first flight and
appeared to damage his off-side shoulder.
‘Mr Nobody’ was written by
Walter De La Mare – a poem I remember from childhood. And, last
but not least, there were two runners of interest today, at Warwick: Georgian
King (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [3
miles & ½ furlong] (8 ran). Nyanza
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the 4-year-old Handicap Hurdle
(5 ran); Wayne is still seeking his first winner of the season. There’s
National Hunt racing from Wetherby tomorrow, but no
runners of interest. After an
illustrious career, Sizing Europe has finally been retired at the age of 13. More |
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Tuesday 19 May 2015 |
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Having read
on Alan King’s website that Pain Au Chocolat has
been sold to Dan Skelton at the Goffs/DBS Horses in
Training Sale this week, I thought I’d have a look to see which other horses
have been sold: Money for
Nothing was sold to Tom Malone/Harriet Bethell for
£16,000 Kuda Huraa also to Tom
Malone/Harriet Bethell for £10,000 Our Phylli Vera went to Jo Foster for £4,000 Vendor was
sold to Harvey Smith for £24,000 Bulfin Island sold for just £2,000 to a C Ash Midnight
Appeal went to Leech Racing for £17,000 Handazan to Kevin Ross Bloodstock for £26,000 Gimme Five was sold to Anthony Stroud/Sean Clancy for
£18,000 Obviously
it was no surprise that Pain Au Chocolat was sold,
as he was a Million In Mind horse ... and he went for £135,000! There were
389 lots listed - sold, unsold or withdrawn.
Springboks
and Tiger Feat were withdrawn from the sale. Other
horses of interest were Call The Cops who sold for £220,000!!! Sign Of A
Victory wasn’t sold on the day – his reserve was £145,000. And, finally,
Pure Science was sold by the Nigel Twiston-Davies’
yard to Harvey Smith for just £2,000.
He’s the horse with near hind ‘leg-warmer’!
Alan King
has been shopping for new horses too ... and no doubt all will be revealed in
due course! Following Ballynagour’s victory in Saturday’s Prix la Barka, David Pipe intends to run his charge in next
month’s French Champion Hurdle. More The EPDS Twitterati syndicate’s super sub, Galactic Power, holds
an entry for Worcester on Friday. And
trainer John Berry has been elected as Mayor of Newmarket! Now this
is crazy weird ... I frequently have problems with my wi-fi
printer actually ‘agreeing’ to
print items when requested, so I wasn’t surprised that absolutely nothing
happened when I tried to print the results from Aintree ... around a month
ago! Then, today, when I restarted my
laptop following an update ... and it’s not the first update it has done in
recent days ... the printer suddenly sprang into life and printed the results
I’d asked for all that time ago! I returned
to the optician today and had my eyes retested – the prescription is still the
same, but the tentative diagnosis for my problem is that it’s related to my
dry eye syndrome, because the blurry ghosting in my right eye comes and
goes. And you won’t be surprised to
learn that whenever I spend too much time on my computer at work and my
laptop too, my vision deteriorates! It
was bad yesterday morning having spent time over the weekend working on my
Sandown diary (which is almost complete), but this morning it was clear
having spent just a short time on my laptop last evening. I have some ‘heavy duty’ eyes drops to use now, and I’m testing them out to
see if they improve the situation.
Although I’m not too happy, because they are of a type I can taste ...
because eye drops drain down the nasolacrimal duct into the throat. And, last
but not least, there are two runners of interest tomorrow, at Warwick: 15:10
Georgian King (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles
& ½ furlong] 16:10
Nyanza (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – 4-year-old Handicap Hurdle |
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Saturday 16 May 2015 |
|
There was
one runner of interest today, at Uttoxeter: Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished a very good 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4½ furlongs] (7
ran). There’s
National Hunt racing at Market Rasen and Stratford
tomorrow, but no runners of interest. Internet
links have led me to the coverage of Any Currency’s race in France on
Thursday: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgo6fcgEiQA Since when
has it been acceptable for television presenters to smoke cigarettes whilst
speaking to camera? Only in France ...
and probably other countries too; absolutely crazy. Martin
Keighley writes about Woody’s race in his blog too: http://www.martinkeighleyracing.com/Martins_blog.php Meanwhile,
Ballynagour has been successful in France today,
winning the Prix la Barka at Auteuil. More And Choc
has arrived back home following a whistle-stop trip this week to Kentucky,
via Orlando.
He was visiting a stud farm to see a new arrival belonging to the
Apple Tree stud. Talking of
studs, Quevega is now a mummy, having given birth
last night to a filly foal by Beat Hollow at the Irish National stud. I need to
return to the opticians next Tuesday, as the sight in my right eye has
changed yet again; my new glasses were fine on Tuesday when I collected them
and fine until late Wednesday when, having dozed off to sleep in the armchair
and woken again, I discovered that the vision through the right lense was no longer clear. I think it has become less long-sighted ...
so I now have three pairs of new long vision glasses and one pair of new PC
vision glasses where the right lense is out of
focus again. My old pairs are no
better either. I have no pain but it
is mystifying; or perhaps I have CVS – Computer Vision Syndrome from overuse
of my PC at work combined with the hours spent on my laptop at home. Oh well,
regardless, I have begun further work on my Sandown Park diary ... because I
have nothing else planned at present. |
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Thursday 14 May 2015 |
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Good news
has arrived from France that Any Currency (Woody) finished third in Europe’s
longest race, the listed cross-country Anjou Loire Challenge at Le Lion-d’Angers; the distance being 4 miles and 4½
furlongs. The race was won by Kick On,
trained by Philippe Cottin and ridden by his son
David; the winning distance 8 lengths.
Toutancarmont, who ran (and ran out!) in
Cheltenham’s Cross Country race, fell less than a mile from home and hampered
Any Currency but, even so, he ran on to claim third place, just missing out
to runner-up Kapville by a short-head. There is a
quote from jockey Aidan Coleman: “I am delighted, he ran really well. The French horses were just a little better
at the banks but you couldn’t knock him and it was brilliant fun.” There’s
National Hunt racing at Aintree tomorrow evening ... but no runners of
interest. |
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Wednesday 13 May 2015 |
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There were
four runners of interest at Kempton Park and this is how they
fared: McCabe
Creek (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles]
(10 ran). Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles] (5 ran). Pride In
Battle (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) was pulled up but Kincora Fort ... aka
Brian (Noel Williams/James Banks) won the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5
furlongs] (12 ran); this was his first run since having a wind operation and Noel’s
1st winner of the
season. Alan King
is still waiting for his first winner of the 2015/2016 National Hunt season
... although most of his jump horses have now been turned out for their
summer holidays. Brightwells
hold a sale at Ascot in early June; it will be interesting to see which
horses are entered this year. There are
no runners of interest tomorrow, as there is National Hunt
racing solely at Perth and a Hunter Chase evening at Fontwell Park. I’ve
finished uploading my Aintree photographs this evening, so now have just five
diaries to complete before I’m up-to-date once more. There’s
news today that Rupert Everett has joined the cast of Series III of The
Musketeers; he is to play Phillippe Achille, corrupt Governor of Paris, head of the Red Guard
and who is also King Louis’ illegitimate brother. |
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Tuesday 12 May 2015 |
|
RIP Seventh Sign The
ex-Alan King trained Seventh Sign lost his life at Killarney yesterday; he was
running in a Hunters’ Chase but fell at the last when leading the race and
sustained an injury. He was in the
ownership of Mastersons, as was Balder Succes, and currently trained by Adrian Maguire;
yesterday he was ridden by the ex-jockey’s son Finian. Steve Ayres described Seventh Sign as a
gentle giant. Any
Currency is in France, travelling to Thursday’s Prix Anjou-Loire Challenge at
Le Lion D’Angers; being a little highly-strung, Freddie’s pony Thomas has
gone along to keep him company. Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Southwell: Howwrongcanyoube (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4½ furlongs] (12 ran). Daydreamer
(Alan King/Aidan Coleman) was pulled up in the Maiden Hurdle (12 ran). There are
four runners of interest tomorrow, at Kempton Park: 15:35
McCabe Creek (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] 16:05
Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Handicap Chase [3 miles] 16:35
Pride In Battle (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) & Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] |
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Monday 11 May 2015 |
|
There were
three runners of interest at Towcester this evening: The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished 6th in
the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (9 ran). Cearys (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
was pulled up in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (9 ran). Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished
5th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles & ½ a furlong] (8 ran). There’s National
Hunt racing at Sedgefield, Wincanton and Southwell tomorrow, with runners of interest at the latter: 18:55 Howwrongcanyoube (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 4½ furlongs] 19:55
Daydreamer (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Maiden Hurdle Timmy
Murphy rode his first winner on the flat today, for former weighing room
colleague Jamie Osborne. More |
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Sunday 10 May 2015 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Plumpton: Ronaldinho (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) unseated at the
second last in the Maiden Hurdle, having been cannoned into by a loose horse (7
ran); he would probably have finished 4th otherwise. Tiger Feat
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (7
ran). Ludlow: Laughingalltheway (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was pulled up in the
Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). There are
three runners of interest tomorrow, at Towcester: 18:00 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles] 18:30 Cearys (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 19:00 Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap
Chase [3 miles & ½ a furlong] Following
yesterday’s disappointing run, Spanish Arch has been retired. The M25
anti-clockwise carriageway was closed between Junction 22 and 21A this evening
and Lee Mead tweeted to say that he’d pulled off the motorway at Junction 23
just in time, but had still missed the sound-check for tonight’s Charity
concert at Dunstable’s Grove Theatre; fingers crossed that he gets there in
time to perform along with all the other guys booked to appear. |
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Saturday 09 May 2015 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Handazan (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs] (6 ran). Ugly Bug
(Mrs Dunn/Robbie Dunne) finished 5th and Springboks (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] (9 ran). Spanish
Arch (Martin Keighley/Archie Bellamy) was pulled up in the Conditional
Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (10 ran). Sugar Mix
(Martin Keighley/Archie Bellamy) finished 13th in the Standard Open NH Flat
Race (16 ran). Tomorrow
there are three runners of interest: Plumpton: 14:00 Ronaldinho (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 15:30 Tiger
Feat (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] Ludlow: 16:45 Laughingalltheway (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Novices’ Hurdle I’ve had a
break away from my laptop today; I’ve been to London with my friends Lesley,
Fay and Angy.
We took in a matinee musical too – Women on the Verge of a Nervous
Breakdown – starring Tamsin Greig
and Haydn Gwynne. It closes later this
month but we weren’t disappointed, which has occasionally been the case with
last minute bookings in the past. I rather
fancied going to see either Jersey Boys or Riverdance
... but Fay has recently seen the former and Lesley has already booked to see
the latter, so they were ruled out, unfortunately. But the
good news is that we dropped into the Garrick Theatre to buy tickets for the
final show of Lee Mead’s Some Enchanted Evening Tour; it’s on Sunday 06
December and called, appropriately, Some Enchanted Christmas! I understand Lee is appearing at a charity
concert in nearby Dunstable tomorrow evening. |
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Friday 08 May 2015 |
|
There’s
National Hunt racing at Warwick and Hexham tomorrow, plus a mixed card at Haydock Park which includes the former ‘Swinton Hurdle’; however, the only fixture
with runners of interest is Warwick: 17:55 Handazan (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 3 furlongs] ... I recall Handazan will
shortly be heading to the sales. 18:55 Ugly
Bug (Mrs Dunn/Robbie Dunne) & Springboks (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] 19:25 Spanish
Arch (Martin Keighley/Archie Bellamy) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase 20:25
Sugar Mix (Martin Keighley/Archie Bellamy) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Steve
Ayres (@orse_racing_lad) tweeted to say that Balder Succes’ body was returned to Wiltshire today and he will
be buried alongside Katchit at Barbury
Castle, which is a really nice touch; and it’s good that Steve will be able
to visit his best friend whenever he likes. #teambalderforever There’s
Menace news too ... “Menace is on the improve,
sound and trotting at the moment, and hopefully next week we’ll have a
clearer picture of where he is at when he starts cantering again. He appears
to have strengthened up still further, so I’m very much looking forward to
getting him back on track!” Here is a
‘blast from the past’ photo of
Choc, from the early noughties, showing a fall from
one of Mrs Prowting’s horses, Windross. https://twitter.com/AnaglogsDaughtr/status/596736932392108033/photo/1 I stayed
up for most of the night, to watch the election results; mind you, I am
paying for it today, as my neck and shoulders have been aching, along with
the associated headache. I now really
need my sleep and my excellent support pillow too. I was
surprised, like everyone, that the Conservatives got a majority, but very
pleased too! My local result was that
the Conservatives got 46.6%, Labour 23.3%, Lib Dem 18.5%, UKIP 7.8% and the
Green Party 3.7%. In the
local Council election for my particular ward, I have to vote Lib Dem in
order to keep Labour out! But, having
said that, they are very good at grassroots level. But, as it happens, the Conservatives now
have overall control of my Council anyway! I had my
eyes tested yesterday and, although the optician could find nothing wrong, my
right eye has changed within a short period of time from being short-sighted
to being more longer-sighted. It’s a
sign of old age, but unusual that it happened so quickly, and with my left
eye remaining almost the same as before.
|
|
Thursday 07 May 2015 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Newton Abbot: Thady Quil (Martin
Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the NH Maiden Hurdle (7 ran); the
result was a surprise, with a 40-1 shot beating a 50-1 shot! Midnight
Thomas (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Handicap Chase
[2 miles & ½ furlong] (5 ran). Galactic
Power (Robin Dickin/Joseph Palmowski)
finished 2nd in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (4 ran); so my syndicate horse
did just fine! He’s chestnut, with a
blaze and two white stockings on his hind-legs, plus a white sock or stocking
on his near-fore too. Consult
(Richard Phillips/Alain Cawley) finished a distant
last in the Selling Handicap Hurdle (6 ran). Wincanton: The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Archie Bellamy) finished a
close 3rd in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (6 ran). So, all in
all, my horse was the best placed of my runners of interest today. J There’s
National Hunt racing at Market Rasen tomorrow, but
no runners of interest. I may
watch the coverage of the election overnight ... I want to know as soon as possible
if we will be keeping afloat with the Conservatives or going down the
plug-hole, as always, thanks to Labour! |
|
Wednesday 06 May 2015 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Uttoxeter: Bobble
Emerald (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) finished last in the Conditional
Jockeys’ NH Maiden Hurdle (3 ran). Awesome
Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Standard Open
NH Flat Race (12 ran). Unbelievably
there are four National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, Carlisle, Newton Abbot,
Wincanton and Worcester, with runners of interest at a couple of them: Newton Abbot: 14:00 Thady Quil (Martin
Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Maiden Hurdle 14:30
Midnight Thomas (Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles
& ½ furlong] 16:10
Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Joseph Palmowski) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle; this is the Twitterati Syndicate ‘Menace
substitute’ for the time being ... in other words I now have a 140th
share in this horse! He’s no superstar
and the ground is not ideal, but he has only 3 rivals! 16:45
Consult (Richard Phillips/Alain Cawley) – Selling
Handicap Hurdle; he’s been off the track for 1062 days but is a sweetie! Wincanton: 20:20 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Archie Bellamy) – Conditional
Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Archie
Bellamy, brother of Tom and son of Robert, had his first ride as a
Conditional jockey today, at Uttoxeter ... and he
won! High winds
caused the abandonment of Brighton this afternoon ... so Timmy Murphy will
have to wait until Thirsk on Saturday to begin his
new career. More From 01 June,
all National Hunt races will be advertised at their exact distance; for
instance the Grand National has shrunk to 4 miles 2 furlongs and 74 yards! More
I’m not
looking forward to this change, as I often list distances to distinguish
races when my runners of interest are engaged in a Handicap Hurdle or
Handicap Chase. But the good
news is that I’ve now completed and uploaded all of my photographs from
Aintree’s Ladies Day; with just Grand National Day to complete before I
recommence my diary writing. |
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Tuesday 05 May 2015 |
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There’s
been too much rain at Sedgefield, so both Kyles
Faith and The Kvilleken were non-runners. However,
Hunt Ball made all to win at Fakenham. There are
two runners of interest tomorrow, at Uttoxeter: 18:00
Bobble Emerald (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) – Conditional Jockeys’ NH
Maiden Hurdle 20:30
Awesome Rosie (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat
Race The big
story tomorrow will be the return of Timmy Murphy; he was two rides on the
flat at Brighton. I closed
down my laptop at 19:30 yesterday ... then spent 30 minutes twiddling my
thumbs whilst wondering why I hadn’t continued later into the evening ...
before dozing off to sleep on the sofa for a couple of hours; time
wasted. So, this evening, I’ve
continued until 23:30 before turning in, with the hope of uploading all bar
my Grand National Day photos by close of play Thursday. |
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Monday 04 May 2015 |
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I was up
at 06:00 this morning ... ahead of an early visit to the graveyard and garden
centre! I spent the remaining time this
morning transferring programmes to DVD and working on my website too; the
latter continued all afternoon whilst I tuned into today’s racing on
RUK. But, despite this, I still
haven’t finished uploading photographs taken at Aintree ... it just takes soooooooooooooooooooooooooo long! Anyway,
here are the results for today’s runners of interest: Kempton Park: Elkstone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the
Novices’ Hurdle (12 ran). Champion Court (Martin
Keighley/Richard Johnson) won the Handicap Chase [3 miles] (10 ran); Martin’s
1st winner of the season. Warwick: Chance
Taken (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle [3
miles 1 furlong] (15 ran). Tomorrow
there are two runners of interest at Sedgefield: 15:40 Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 6 furlongs] 17:10 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 1 furlong] As an
aside, Hunt Ball is engaged in a 4-runner Handicap Hurdle at Fakenham tomorrow. And last
but not least, it’s AP McCoy’s 41st birthday today. Happy Birthday AP. |
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Sunday 03 May 2015 |
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Choc got a
mention on today’s ATR Sunday Forum.
They rebroadcasted part of Matt Chapman’s interview from his visit to see
Robbie McNamara in hospital this week and the conversation led on to Jason
Maguire’s and Choc’s prolonged absences. Evidently
there was a headline in Tuesday’s Racing Post stating ‘Riding Careers of Maguire and Thornton hang in the balance’ ...
The strap line was ‘As Jason Maguire
underwent back surgery in Bristol in a last-ditch attempt to save his career
yesterday, another leading jump jockey, Robert Thornton, denied a press
report suggesting injury had forced his retirement.’ I don’t have access to the Racing Post
Club website to read stories exclusive to the newspaper as it’s too expensive
for my particular requirements to subscribe so, as a result, I don’t have a
copy of the article – I wonder what it contained. Personally I prefer the ‘no news is good news’ option where
possible. The
members of today’s Forum also discussed long-time injured Timmy Murphy’s
re-incarnation as a flat race jockey. Progress
on my website was slowed down today because I slept in until 09:00 this
morning, which is unusual for me.
Also, today, I’ve been experiencing near-sighted ghosting in my right
eye, which I am led to believe is all part and parcel of the dry eye syndrome
I’ve had in that eye for the past few years.
Needless to say, it doesn’t help me when I’m trying to work on my
website! Strangely the long-distance
sight in that eye has suddenly improved, which is a little disorientating; my
brain now needs to catch-up I think! I own a
variety of spectacles – 4 pairs for long-distance, a pair for crafting and a
pair for using on my computer at work.
Normally I don’t need to wear any at all for my laptop ... not true
today; I discovered the best pair for my current problem is my crafting
pair. Although it seems that all the
lenses are now mismatched, with me still being able to see clearly out of the
left lense, but not so the adjoining one or vice
versa! I will book a visit to the
optician this week to update my prescription. But,
regardless, I have now uploaded the photographs I took at Sandown Park last week
and have begun sorting through my Aintree photos too. More Being a
Bank Holiday tomorrow, I have another whole day to make further inroads into my
website backlog; it just takes so much longer than scheduled to get
up-to-date at the end of the season. Meanwhile
Ryan Moore and the Irish sidled off with today’s 1,000 Guineas; adding to the
jockey’s and owner’s triumph in yesterday’s feature. More Meanwhile
Cirrus Des Aigles won Longchamp’s
Prix Ganay for the third time. More There are
three runners of interest tomorrow: Kempton Park: 13:30 Elkstone (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:10
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles] Warwick: 14:20
Chance Taken (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 1
furlong] |
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Saturday 02 May 2015 |
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Here is today’s
result from Punchestown: Pain Au Chocolat (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the
Champion Four-Year-Old Hurdle (Grade 1) (10 ran); as for the other British
representatives, Stars Over The Sea finished 4th, Qualando
7th and Matorico 8th. It was a
one two for Willie Mullins ... no surprise there then! More And Annie
Power won the Mares’ Champion Hurdle. More Willie
Mullins beat his previous Punchestown winners’
record at a single Festival; he won a total of 16 races out of 37 available,
10 of which were Grade 1 ... and I don’t think such dominance is a good
thing. And Aidan
O’Brien’s Gleneagles galloped away with our 2,000 Guineas. More I didn’t
watch any of the TV coverage from Newmarket, I tuned into ATR for Punchestown and Uttoxeter! I got
sidelined from my website this morning; I’d promised to restring or re-clasp
three necklaces for Lesley, so I did that.
Then, whilst I had my findings to hand, I also revamped two of my own
necklaces. I have one more to do, but
need to order a number of gold-plated items to complete the task. But,
despite this, I found time to transfer last Saturday’s Sandown Park action to
DVD and complete the selection and formatting of my Jump Finale photos
too. I hope to upload them first thing
tomorrow. |
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Friday 01 May 2015 |
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No surprise
that Faugheen won the Punchestown
Champion Hurdle today. More Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Fontwell Park: Friendly
Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [2
miles 6 furlongs] (6 ran). Kuda Huraa (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2½ furlongs] (6 ran). Timmy
Murphy has decided to continue his riding career, but this time as a flat
race jockey! https://twitter.com/nwagency/status/594066815032102912/photo/1 There is one
runner of interest tomorrow, at Punchestown: 16:25 Pain
Au Chocolat (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Champion
Four-Year-Old Hurdle (Grade 1) Paul
Nicholls runs Qualando, winner of the Cheltenham
Festival’s Fred Winter Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, in this race; he will be
ridden by Sam Twiston-Davies. There are
no runners of interest on Sunday. The Twitterati syndicate substitute horse for May, the Robin Dickin-trained Galactic Power, has an entry in the 16:10
at Newton Abbot next Thursday; the race is a Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. |
