NOVEMBER 2017
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Thursday 30 November 2017 |
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Here are yesterday’s results for my runners of
interest at Towcester: The Devils Drop (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Bastien (Alan King/Kevin
Dowling) won the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs &
217 yards] (12 ran); Alan’s 31st winner of the season. Floral Bouquet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)
finished 3rd and Spice Girl (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) won the Mares’ NH Maiden
Hurdle (14 ran). Harry replaced
Richard Johnson who had been stood down following a fall in the first race; Martin’s 14th
winner of the
season. Well done team Keighley. Hogan’s Height (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)
finished 2nd in the Novices’ Chase (7 ran). We are spoilt for choice with regards to National
Hunt racing tomorrow although, unfortunately, one is broadcast on RUK, the
other on ATR; channel hopping time! Newbury: 12:20 Second Time Around (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – National Hunt Maiden Hurdle 12:50 Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 13:50 Yanworth (Alan
King/Barry Geraghty) – Novices’ Chase (Grade 2).
Willoughby Court is one of his rivals, Modus wasn’t declared, the Alan King
runner having got the nod over the other JP McManus-owned horse. 15:00 Taquin Du Seuil (Jonjo O’Neill/Aidan Coleman) – Long Distance Hurdle
(Grade 2); his rivals are due to be Unowhatimeanharry,
Wholestone, Beer Goggles, Thistlecrack
and Colin’s Sister. 15:35 Beneficial Joe (Graeme McPherson/Noel Fehily) & Beneagles (Wayne
Hutchinson/Alan King) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 52 yards] Doncaster: 12:00 Talkischeap (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) & My Charity (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods/ex-EPDS Racing syndicated horse) – Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier). 13:00 Peggies Venture
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) & Rio Bravo (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 13:30 Hey Bill (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:10 Delirious Love (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Standard NH Flat Race (Conditional
Jockeys and Amateur Riders) I’ve been
working on the scarf I’ve been knitting every day since Saturday ... but it’s
still not finished, maybe tomorrow. L I’ve still got another project to do ...
how many days until Christmas? At this
rate, I’ll be spending the entire Christmas break catching up on my racing
diaries. Oh well ... |
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Wednesday 29 November 2017 |
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Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Wetherby: Doctor Bartolo (Alan
King/Ian Popham) finished 2nd and The Blues Master (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (11 ran);
however, The Blues Master made a bad error two out, so the outcome may have
been different if he’d jumped a clear round! Three Ways (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished
2nd in the Novices’ Chase (2 ran). King Vince (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished
7th and Pantomime (Rebecca Menzies/Tony Kelly/EPDS
Racing) finished last in the Novices’ Hurdle (11 ran). Oscar World (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock)
finished 2nd in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Div I) (10 ran). Hereford: Young Phoenix (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle (7 ran). Silva Samourai (Graeme McPherson/Danny Hiskett)
finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 147 yards] (15
ran). And tomorrow’s runners of interest, all at Towcester: 12:40 The Devils Drop (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 13:40 Bastien (Alan
King/Kevin Dowling) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 217 yards] 14:40 Floral Bouquet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) & Spice Girl (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Mares’ NH
Maiden Hurdle 15:10 Hogan’s Height (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) – Novices’ Chase Alan King is keen on Yanworth’s
chances in this Friday’s Grade 2 Novices’ Chase at Newbury: It seems to me that day one of Newbury’s
Ladbrokes meeting has more than its fair share of stars, with Thistlecrack due to make his comeback in the Grade 2 Long
Distance Hurdle, before attempting to defend his King George VI Chase crown
on Boxing Day. The beautiful Taquin Du Seuil is also entered
for the aforementioned race. And not
to mention Yanworth, who is due to take on Modus
and Willoughby Court in the Grade 2 Novices’ Chase. I’d attend on Friday if it wasn’t for the
fact that the journey home is an atrocious one on a weekday due to traffic
issues; it was a nightmare in 2015 – it took me almost 3 hours, although I
did travel across country rather than via the M25. I did some
more gardening this morning, clearing the dead begonias; also an unscheduled
task ... an unknown ‘critter’ had
disturbed a number of the pansies which I planted yesterday. I recall that this isn’t the first time a
similar thing has happened to plants in that particular trough. I’ve now placed pebbles around the pansies,
so wait to see in the morning if anything has occurred. I also topped up the compost in one of the
nearby tubs yesterday and that had been disturbed too. |
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Tuesday 28 November 2017 |
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Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Lingfield Park: Fairmount (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 6th in the Novices’ Hurdle (16 ran). Madame Fiona (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 6th and Naranja (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) won the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (8 ran); Jamie’s 15th
winner of the season. Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson)
finished 4th in the Intermediate Handicap Chase (7 ran). Naranja winning at Lingfield Park today: https://mobile.twitter.com/jamiesnowden/status/935537320471814146/photo/1 Hexham: Harry Hunt (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs & 59 yards]
(8 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Wetherby: 12:25 Doctor Bartolo
(Alan King/Ian Popham) & The Blues Master (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Maiden Hurdle 12:55 Three Ways (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) –
Novices’ Chase 13:25 King Vince (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)
& Pantomime (Rebecca Menzies/Tony Kelly/EPDS
Racing) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:05 Oscar World (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) –
Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (Div I) Hereford: 13:35 Young Phoenix (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Maiden Hurdle 15:15
Silva Samourai (Graeme McPherson/Danny Hiskett) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 147
yards] Here is a link to the official photographs of
Galactic Power’s successful outing to Ludlow yesterday: http://www.onlinepictureproof.com/officialphotographersonline/albums/Ludlow/644842_265701/browse/ I planted
out the remaining pansies today, and there was no sign of the woodlice which
infested the trough compost earlier in the year; I changed it regardless, as
it had supported last year’s fuchsias, last winter’s pansies and this
summer’s fuchsias also. I saved one of
the fuchsias too, as it is a hardy variety and has now been transplanted to
the back garden instead. |
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Monday 27 November 2017 |
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GP does it again!
Winner, winner, chicken dinner J Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Kempton
Park: Potterman (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the
NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (12 ran). Winter Escape
(Alan King/Barry Geraghty) finished 3rd in the
Novices’ Chase (4 ran). Midnight
Tour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Mares’ Hurdle (Listed)
(6 ran); the race was won by La Bague Au Roi who rallied after the last having been headed by Jer’s Girl. Good Man
Pat (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles
& 110 yards] (9 ran). Ludlow: Cranbrook Causeway (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 6th in the NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (8 ran). Pearls
Legend (John Spearing/Jamie Moore) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [1 mile
7 furlongs & 212 yards] (8 ran). Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Tom
O’Brien/EPDS Twitterati Racing Club ... that’s me) won the Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 5 furlongs & 55 yards] (8 ran); the first prize was £6,498. I donate my share of winnings to the
Yorkshire-based charity New Beginnings, who retrain and re-home
former racehorses; Mister McGoldrick is one of
their permanent residents. In fact I’m
now a four-time winning syndicate member, with three wins for Galactic Power
(at Catterick, Exeter and Ludlow) and one for the
now retired Rockchasebullett (at Fontwell Park).
There was
a sad postscript to Galactic Power’s race, however, with the Tim
Vaughan-trained Number One London collapsing when pulled up before three out;
he passed away. L RIP Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Lingfield Park: 13:30 Fairmount (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:30 Madame Fiona (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) & Naranja (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) – Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 15:00 Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Richard
Johnson) – Intermediate Handicap Chase Hexham: 13:20
Harry Hunt (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs & 59 yards] |
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Sunday 26 November 2017 |
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Here are yesterday’s results for my runners of
interest: Ascot: Perfect Harmony (Alan King/Ian Popham) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran). Smad Place (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (9 ran). Top Notch won the race impressively, by 8
lengths. When interviewed after the
race, winning training Nicky Henderson said that Top Notch was his favourite
horse, in fact probably everyone in the yard’s favourite horse, despite all
the stars within it. Top Notch is
lovely, I have to agree. Sire de Grugy (Gary
Moore/Joshua Moore) finished last in the Handicap Chase [2 miles & 167
yards] (8 ran); Sir Valentino won it. Stockburn (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (15 ran). It was also great to see the popular and very
game Lil Rockerfeller win the Grade 2 Ascot Hurdle. Haydock Park: Cyrus Darius (Malcolm Jefferson/Brian Hughes)
finished 4th in the Graduation Chase (6 ran). On his favourite track and with going conditions
to suit, Bristol De Mai was a very impressive winner of the Grade 1 Betfair Chase; the winning distance was 57 lengths. Cue Card finished 2nd and Outlander
completed in 3rd. Interesting,
Haydock Park has scrapped their fixed brush hurdles
and will now run all races over the standard type hurdles. According to the Clerk of the Course,
trainers had become ambivalent about running their horses over the fixed
brush ones, and the upkeep of the obstacles was also becoming too
expensive. Huntingdon: Mahlermade (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 5th in the Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Miss Crick (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 3rd in
the Mares’ Novices’ Chase (5 ran). Tyrell (Micky
Hammond/Miss Becky Smith/ex-Apple Tree Stud) finished last in the Lady
Riders’ Handicap Hurdle (7 ran). And one result today, from Uttoxeter: Lostnfound (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) won Mares’ NH Novices’ Hurdle (3 ran); she was the
outsider of the field, at 8-1. They always say to back the outside of
three! It was Jamie’s 14th
winner of the
season. It was a brilliant ride from Gavin Sheehan who
switched his mount to the inside of the favourite, when rival jockey Richard
Johnson was looking over his right shoulder expecting the challenge on his
outside! Lostnfound
had hung badly to her left when finishing 5th in a race at Market Rasen last month, so this manoeuvre was ideal on this
left-handed track. Happily Ilovemints who
fell two out was just winded and, after a few minutes recovery time, was led
back unharmed. Here is the race replay: http://www.attheraces.com/racecard/Uttoxeter/26-November-2017/1315 There are some evil people in this world; I blame
parents for negating their responsibility regarding their children’s
upbringing: A delivery
of wool arrived yesterday, including that for a couple of Christmas presents,
so I’m sidelining my Cheltenham diary for the next few days (or so) and
switching my attention to knitting!
And it’s not proving easy, because the scarf I’m knitting uses a
stitch design from a sweater, so I’ve had to select column ‘blocks’ and make them narrower! Basically it’s an Aran design, with
diamonds, honeycombs and a trellis, and using a cable needle; I’m using ‘Mill Blue’ coloured yarn. I must have had at least four false starts,
tweaking the design, but the issues are now sorted and the scarf is growing
by the hour That’s the problem with
being a perfectionist! Cable knitting
and lace knitting used to be my specialities, so there shouldn’t be any
issues from here on in ... fingers crossed! However, I
have found time to upload the photos taken last Saturday, at Cheltenham, although the weather was definitely against me
with regards to the quality thereof. L I popped
out this morning to a local garden centre and to Dunelms
to buy a number of new Christmas baubles, as many of those I have are now
showing their age ... a bit like me! I
don’t have a Christmas tree, but suspend the baubles from tinsel garlands
which hang around the walls. I also
couldn’t resist buying six more pansy plants – orange/purple ones – to add to
the 20 I already have. Having
discovered the colours of many, I also planted them out in a trough and a
round flowerpot. I have
just seven pansies remaining for the trough in the front garden, although I’d
originally put aside 10. Mind you, there
is a woodlouse problem in the front garden trough, too damp, so I need to
remove the fuchsias and change the compost before planting them out; I’ll
also add some vermiculite to help it drain.
Another outstanding task is to remove the dead begonias from the wall
surrounding the patio. The last
of the underwhelming dancers has been voted off Strictly Come Dancing, with
comedian Susan Calman’s departure this weekend; she
was the humour element this seasson. The remaining six competitors range from
being very good to excellent; Alexandra Burke, Debbie McGee, Davood Ghadami and Joe McFadden
are brilliant, with maybe Gemma Atkinson and Mollie
King slightly weaker at present. These
two sometimes lack confidence. There are
also rumours that Gemma Atkinson is romantically
linked with professional dancer Gorka Marquez; he’s
partnering Alexandra Burke this series.
Plus, that Mollie King and her professional dance partner AJ Pritchard
are also a couple!
It transpires that AJ (Alex Joseph) has a younger brother Curtis, who
is also a professional dancer; Curtis toured with Natalie Lowe, Louis Smith
and Jay McGuiness in Rip It Up, which I saw early last month! Personally
I’d like to see Debbie McGee or Joe McFadden win; Debbie is 59 and amazingly
fit and supple for her age! But, with
such a talented bunch of celebrity dancers now left in the competition, it
will be down to their popularity as a person from now on. Here are Monday’s runners of interest: Kempton
Park: 12:50 Potterman (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’
Hurdle (Qualifier) 13:25
Winter Escape (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) – Novices’
Chase 14:00
Midnight Tour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Hurdle (Listed); declared
rivals are La Bague Au Roi,
Rons Dream, Irish challenger Jer’s
Girl, Morello Royale and Treackle
Tart 15:05 Good
Man Pat (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles & 110
yards]; he sports David Sewell’s yellow and red colours. Ludlow: 13:40 Cranbrook Causeway (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 14:15
Pearls Legend (John Spearing/Jamie Moore) – Handicap Chase [1 mile 7 furlongs
& 212 yards] 14:45
Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Tom O’Brien/EPDS Twitterati Racing Club ... that’s me) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 5 furlongs & 55 yards] Ayr’s
fixture was abandoned. Note to
self ... I really shouldn’t put off writing a blog at this time of the year
because it takes ages to do the resultant catch-up! |
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Friday
24 November 2017 |
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Here are today’s
results for my runners of interest: Ascot: William
Hunter (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Introduction Hurdle
(6 ran). Midnight
Maestro (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) finished 10th in
the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 152 yards] (12 ran). Ffos Las: Midnight
Silver (Jamie Snowden/Bryony Frost) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 5 furlongs & 192 yards] (8 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Ascot: 12:20 Perfect Harmony (Alan King/Ian Popham) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:05 Smad Place (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – 1965 Chase (Grade 2); his rivals are scheduled to be
Josses Hill, Royal Regatta, Frodon, Sizing Granite,
Flying Angel, Top Notch, Double Shuffle and Top Gamble 15:15 Sire de Grugy (Gary
Moore/Joshua Moore) –Handicap Chase [2 miles & 167 yards] 15:50 Stockburn (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Haydock Park: 13:15 Cyrus Darius (Malcolm Jefferson/Brian
Hughes) – Graduation Chase The Grade 1 Betfair
Chase takes place at 15:00 with Bristol De Mai, Cue Card, Outlander, Shantou
Flyer, Tea For Two and Traffic Fluide declared. Huntingdon: 12:00 Mahlermade (Alan
King/Tom Cannon) – Novices’ Hurdle 12:30 Miss Crick (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Mares’
Novices’ Chase 13:40 Tyrell (Micky
Hammond/Miss Becky Smith/ex-Apple Tree Stud) – Lady Riders’ Handicap Hurdle There’s just one runner of interest on Sunday, at Uttoxeter: 13:15 Lostnfound (Jamie
Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ NH Novices’ Hurdle. Ilovemints runs
in this race too, she’s now trained by David Pipe having transferred from
Warren Greatrex; she’s very sweet, I met her during
my yard visit on Lambourn Open Day. Retired footballer Michael Owen took part in a
charity race at Ascot today; he finished as runner-up: I’m on holiday
next week; Yippee J It’s my first full week off since the
Cheltenham Festival in March. |
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Thursday
23 November 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Market Rasen: Dans Le Vent (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) won the NH Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran); Jamie’s 13th
winner of the
season. Undisputed
(Noel Williams/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
(Qualifier) (7 ran). River
Frost (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) was a non-runner
in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 139 yards] Norman
Stanley (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished
3rd in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (9 ran). Wincanton: Canelo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Novices’ Hurdle (11 ran). Newcastle (AW): Zabeel Star (Karen McLintock/Tom
Eaves/ex-Graeme McPherson) finished 4th in the Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs
& 42 yards] (11 ran). And
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Ascot: 14:05
William Hunter (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Introduction Hurdle 15:50 Midnight
Maestro (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) – Handicap
Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 152 yards] Ffos Las: 14:50
Midnight Silver (Jamie Snowden/Bryony Frost) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5
furlongs & 192 yards] Apple Tree
Stud has sold a colt yearling foal via Race Horse Trader; he’s Our
Pollyanna’s son. https://mobile.twitter.com/RaceHorseTrader/status/933349659497689088/photo/1 As
mentioned in the previous tweet, Our Pollyanna is also for sale; here she is,
currently in foal to Norse Dancer.
She’s by Flemensfirth. https://mobile.twitter.com/RaceHorseTrader/status/932988303292452865/photo/1 It’s sad
there’s no money in National Hunt racing for Apple Tree Stud to continue with
their jumping-bred broodmares; as it wins hands down for sporting
interest. I wonder if they’re going to
sell or have sold The Pirate’s Queen? |
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Wednesday
22 November 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Warwick: Harefield (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the NH Novices’ Hurdle (12 ran); Alan’s 29th
winner of the
season and Wayne’s 22nd
winner of the
season. Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl
Jacob) won the Novices’ Chase (2 ran); Alan’s 30th winner of the season. Inn The Bull (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled
up two out in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs] (8 ran). Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS Racing) finished 2nd in the
Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 100 yards] (6 ran). Wilde
Spirit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Fillies’ Junior
Standard Open NH Flat Race (11 ran). Chepstow: Monbeg Theatre (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) fell at
the 2nd fence in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 98 yards] (11
ran). Hexham: Bingo D’Olivate (Gemma
Anderson/Steven Fox) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs
& 28 yards] (13 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Market Rasen: 12:10 Dans Le Vent (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – NH Novices’
Hurdle 12:40
Undisputed (Noel Williams/Tom Cannon) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) 13:10
River Frost (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 139 yards] 15:20
Norman Stanley (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) –
Standard Open NH Flat Race Wincanton: 14:35 Canelo (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle Newcastle (AW): 15:30 Zabeel Star (Karen McLintock/Tom
Eaves/ex-Graeme McPherson) – Handicap [1 mile 2 furlongs & 42 yards] Following Sceau Royal’s
win today, Alan King has commented upon the lack of runners in novice
races. Sizing John won’t be making his seasonal debut at
Haydock on Saturday after rain has been
forecasted. Jessica Harrington also
reveals that the Potts’ horses will continue to run in their colours and will
see out their careers until retirement under the partnership banner of Ann
and Alan Potts Limited. It has been announced that, from 19 January, the
BHA will be forcing trainers to reveal if their charges are running for the
first time since a breathing operation.
It will be signified by a ‘WS’
against the horse’s name: I’ve bought a copy of Weekender and Alan King
writes that he was very impressed with the excellent ride the conditional
jockey Mitch Bastyan gave William H Bonney in the Greatwood Hurdle
on Sunday. He got the ride because
none of Alan’s usual team was able to do the weight; Alan says he’s a
mannerly young man and will be riding out at Barbury
Castle tomorrow. Richard Hoiles
contributes a weekly article too, and this week he writes about Bryony Frost,
Tom Bellamy and Brendan Powell Junior, who rode winners at Cheltenham on
Saturday, all being the progeny of successful jockeys. Being pretty old myself, I suppose it
should have occurred to me at the time, as I remember all of their fathers
when they were riding! In a side
story, Richard also writes about James Bowen, son of trainer Peter and
brother of jockey Sean and point-to-point trainer Mickey, who rode Thomas
Campbell to victory at Cheltenham on Saturday. He thinks one of the highlights of the
season will be the Conditional Jockeys’ Championship between James Bowen and
Mitch Bastyan. |
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Tuesday
21 November 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Southwell: Scooby
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 3rd and
Midnight Merlot (Noel Williams/Ian Popham) was
pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 62 yards] (14
ran). Passing
Call (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle
(7 ran). Diva Du Maquis (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in
the Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (13 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Warwick: 12:35 Harefield (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’
Hurdle 14:10 Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) – Novices’ Chase 14:45 Inn The Bull (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs] 15:20 Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/Jack
Quinlan/EPDS Racing) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong & 100 yards] 15:50
Wilde Spirit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Fillies’ Junior Standard Open NH
Flat Race Chepstow: 15:30 Monbeg Theatre (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 98 yards] Hexham: 15:40
Bingo D’Olivate (Gemma
Anderson/Steven Fox) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 28 yards] Sam Twiston-Davies underwent an operation yesterday to mend
his fractured elbow, and he is writing a regular blog for the IJF while he
recuperates: http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk/articles/op-done-recovery-starts-364.asp It
transpires that Jeremiah McGrath has broken his arm; it happened when Theinval fell at Cheltenham on Saturday ... and despite
the fact that he rode Follow The Bear in the next race! A bit like Sam really, who also rode in the
following race at Sandown despite having injured his elbow when unseated from
Double Ross! Jerry is undergoing an
operation tomorrow and hopes to return by Christmas; wishing him a speedy
recovery. |
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Monday
20 November 2017 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest, at Plumpton: Saint
Contest (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell at the 10th fence and Mr Muddle
(Gary Moore/Jamie Moore) finished 2nd in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 3
furlongs & 164 yards] (8 ran). The
Rooney-owned Saint Contest took an awful looking tumble at the downhill fence
at the top of the back straight, but I’m pleased to say that both horse and
jockey seemed fine following the mishap. Tomorrow
there are runners of interest at Southwell: 13:30
Scooby (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) &
Midnight Merlot (Noel Williams/Ian Popham) –
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 62 yards] 14:30
Passing Call (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 15:30 Diva
Du Maquis (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race This is a
link to an article about the award winning ‘Many Clouds’ film; the video is also embedded within: The Racing Post has produced an overview of this
past weekend’s 3-day fixture at Cheltenham: I’m not
sure about it being described as ‘exhilarating’
... it was just damn right soggy as far as I was concerned! |
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Sunday
19 November 2017 |
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Bryony Frost and Black Corton win the
Novices’ Chase I attended
Day 2 of Cheltenham’s November fixture, it having been on my bucket list for
a while ... the day that is, not the fixture, as I’d been to the Sunday back
in 2008 – my first ever visit to Cheltenham racecourse in fact. Yesterday had to rank alongside Gold Cup
Day in 2013 and Grand National Day in 2016 as the soggiest ever! It’s very annoying, regarding the weather,
as both Day 1 and Day 3 have been lovely; okay, so it’s November ... but I
was spoilt last season, with no wet days out of 10! The nearest it got to dampness was after
racing on Gold Cup Day. By the end
of this season I’m aiming to surpass a total of 200 racecourse visits since
my first in April 2008. I’ve counted
the infamous Newbury ‘electrocution’
fixture in February 2011 because, although abandoned, there was one race that
day, but not included the abandoned trip to Cheltenham in December 2008 when
racing was called-off mid-morning due to water-logging (although I did walk
the course with Choc that day J). I’m currently standing on 190, with plans
for Newbury (x1), Kempton Park (x1), the Cheltenham Festival (x4), the
Aintree Festival (x3) and Sandown Park (x1).
Yesterday,
my coat sleeves were saturated, the polo-neck of my sweater was soggy, my hat
was soggy, the back of my hair was soggy, my gloves were soggy, both of my
snoods were soggy, and I’ve discovered that Kipling handbags aren’t
waterproof either – my race-card and badge were ruined. I take a plastic wallet for storing my
tickets, but the race-card was too large for it; damn – I need to find a
slightly larger one – it needs to be at least 10 inches wide (B5 perhaps). I always keep my driving licence and
insurance details, etc, in a plastic wallet too. I woke up
with a headache this morning, possibly dehydration, and sore feet and legs;
fortunately both of these issues disappeared during the morning. Age is catching up with me. L Anyway,
here are yesterday’s results for my
runners of interest: Cheltenham: Double
Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 7th but Theinval
(Nicky Henderson/Jeremiah McGrath) fell at the first fence in the Betvictor Gold Cup (Grade 3) (17 ran); Theinval was fine fortunately, as was Jerry McGrath. Presenting
Pearl (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 5th in the Mares’ Standard Open
NH Flat Race (9 ran). Wetherby: Ami Desbois (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods/EPDS Racing) won the Novices’ Chase (6
ran). Keep In
Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle
(Qualifier) (8 ran). Uttoxeter: Balli Martine (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) finished 3rd
and Daydream Aulnes finished 2nd (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (14 ran);
I really should have had an each-way bet on Balli
Martine ... his price was 66-1, especially as Noel had spoken of his high
hopes for the horse during one of my stable visits! Doh! Also Sunday’s results for my runners of
interest: Cheltenham: Buckle
Street (Martin Keighley/Ciaran Gethings)
finished 5th and Cottersrock (Martin Keighley/Harry
Stock) finished 12th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)
(19 ran). Simply Ned
(Nicky Richards/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Schloer
Chase (Grade 2) (5 ran). The race was
won by last year’s winner Fox Norton. Elgin (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won and William H Bonney (Alan King/Mitchell Bastyan)
finished 5th in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle
(Group 3) [2 miles & 87 yards] (13 ran); Alan’s 28th winner of the season and
Wayne’s 21st winner of the season. There was
very sad news following the Greatwood Hurdle, with Cesarewitch runner-up and Elite Hurdle winner London
Prize losing his life following a fall at the penultimate flight. L RIP. And it was handbags at dawn for jockey Brian
Hughes and Clerk of the Course Simon Claisse: Fontwell Park: Dahills Hill (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 7th in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). Cloud
Hopper (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) finished last, Fields of Fortune
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was a non-runner but Lisp (Alan King/Tom Cannon)
finished 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle (8 ran). I gather
that Kamikaze Walsh ... sorry I mean Ruby Walsh ... broke his leg yesterday;
It happened as a result of his third fall of the day. The man is positively crazy! Meanwhile
still in Ireland, today, Faugheen won the Morgiana Hurdle under Paul Townend;
he was impressive evidently and is now as short as 2-1 for the Champion
Hurdle, displacing Buveur D’Air. It was 665 days since he’d last run. https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/fantastic-faugheen-brushes-rivals-aside-with-ease/309161 I have to
mention another couple of equine fatalities, which occurred at Cheltenham in addition
to Need To Know and London Prize; namely JP McManus’ Counter Shy trained by Jonjo O’Neill, he was pulled up injured during Friday’s
Novices’ Handicap Hurdle and the Harry Whittington-trained Glenmona who went wrong during yesterday’s Mares’ Bumper. RIP L Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest, at Plumpton: 15:10
Saint Contest (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Mr Muddle (Gary Moore/Jamie
Moore) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 3 furlongs & 164 yards] I’ve been
busy today, having begun drafting my Cheltenham diary; nearly 3,000 words so
far, topped and tailed. The clothes I
wore yesterday have now dried out. And,
finally, a bit of fun from the Racing Post: Last time
around I was Un De Sceaux; I’m now Altior! I must be a
speedy two miler, in any guise! |
|
Friday
17 November 2017 |
|
Here are yesterday’s results for my runners of
interest, at Taunton: Red Admirable (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) won the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs &
198 yards] (14 ran). Lexington Law (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 104 yards] (15 ran). Peggies Venture (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier)
(10 ran). Court Out (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished
8th and Zaydanides (Tim Pinfield/Wayne
Hutchinson) finished last in the Maiden Open NH Flat Race (9 ran). There
weren’t any horses which I could specifically class as ‘runners of interest’ today – but there was National Hunt racing
at Cheltenham and Newcastle. However, Finian’s Oscar won Cheltenham’s Steel Plate and Sections
Novices’ Chase although, at one point, it seemed that Movewiththetimes
might cause an upset. And it was
a family affair in the Cross Country Handicap Chase, with the Michael Scudamore-trained Kingswell
Theatre ridden by brother Tom, seeing off the French-trained pair trained by
Emmanuel Clayeux.
Sadly the 9-year-old Irish-trained Need To Know slipped up on landing
over the raised bank and broke a hind-leg.
RIP. Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Cheltenham: 14:25
Double Treasure (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) & Theinval
(Nicky Henderson/Jeremiah McGrath) – Betvictor Gold
Cup (Grade 3) 16:00
Presenting Pearl (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat
Race Wetherby: 13:05 Ami Desbois (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods/EPDS Racing) – Novices’ Chase.
Making his chasing debut, connections have decided to start their
horse in what appears to be an easy race, although the distance of 1 mile 7
furlongs & 36 yards is not ideal for this proven stayer. 14:50 Keep
In Line (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) Uttoxeter: 15:40 Balli Martine (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) & Daydream Aulnes (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Standard Open NH Flat Race; both trainers think their charges have
talent. And
Sunday’s runners of interest too: Cheltenham: 13:15
Buckle Street (Martin Keighley/Ciaran Gethings) & Cottersrock
(Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) - Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) 14:25
Simply Ned (Nicky Richards/Wayne Hutchinson) – Schloer
Chase (Grade 2); his opponents are Fox Norton, Sir Valentino, Special Tiara, Vaniteux and Cloudy Dream 15:00
Elgin (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & William H Bonney
(Alan King/Mitchell Bastyan) – Greatwood
Handicap Hurdle (Group 3) [2 miles & 87 yards]; Alan has obviously
noticed the very talented conditional jockey, Mitch Bastyan,
who is attached to the Evan Williams yard.
Fontwell Park: 12:20 Dahills Hill (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 12:55
Cloud Hopper (Jamie Snowden/Miss Page Fuller) & Fields of Fortune (Alan
King/Tom Bellamy) & Lisp (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Juvenile Hurdle I’ve been
on annual leave today, doing exciting things like shopping, washing my car,
washing clothes, ironing and sewing up another snood (in shades of purple
this time)! |
|
Wednesday
15 November 2017 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Exeter: Forgetthesmalltalk (Alan King/Tom Cannon)
finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 25 yards] (12
ran). Azzerti (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 175 yards] (6
ran). Dingo Dollar (Alan King/Tom Cannon) fell 3 out in
the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (10 ran). Yanworth (Alan King/Barry Geraghty) fell at the 7th fence but Briery Queen (Noel Williams/Leighton Aspell)
won the Novices’ Chase (4
ran); Noel’s 3rd
winner of the
season. Tillythetank (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) finished 6th in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (15 ran). Bangor-on-Dee: Follow The Swallow (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 8th in the Handicap Chase [2 miles
4 furlongs & 72 yards] (11 ran). Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 2nd in the Mares Novices’ Chase (Listed) (5 ran). Equus Millar (Nigel Twiston-Davies/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
Novices’ Hurdle (13 ran). Midnight Tour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 123 yards] (9
ran). Pageburg (Alan King/Daryl
Jacob) finished 7th in the Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (9 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest, at Taunton: 14:05 Red Admirable (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs &
198 yards] 14:35 Lexington Law (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 104 yards] 15:10 Peggies Venture
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) 16:10 Court Out (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan)
& Zaydanides (Tim Pinfield/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Maiden Open NH Flat Race It has
been reported that Yanworth is okay following his
mishap ... phew. I hope Dingo Dollar is okay too, following his
mishap in an earlier race. Altior won’t be making his seasonal
debut in Sandown Park’s Tingle Creek Chase after all, as he is to undergo a
breathing operation: https://www.racingpost.com/news/news/wind-problem-rules-electric-altior-out-of-tingle-creek/308768 Following the death of Alan Potts, plans are up
in the air regarding Colin Tizzard’s Cheltenham
entries this weekend: I’m in a
very bad mood this evening ... severe frustrations at work, which are
preventing me from completing tasks within the prescribed deadlines ...
Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr |
|
Tuesday
14 November 2017 |
|
Here are today’s
results for my runners of interest: Lingfield Park: Voie Dans Voie (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 3rd in the NH
Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) (14 ran) Somewhere To Be (Martin Keighley/Leighton Aspell)
won the Novices’ Handicap
Chase (12 ran). He’s Zara Tindall’s horse and the race was sponsored by EPDS
Racing; Martin’s 13th winner of the season. Amadeus Rox (Alan King/Martin Harley) finished 3rd in the
Professional Flat Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (5 ran – only 3 completed) Worcester: My Lad
Percy (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) finished 5th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 4 furlongs] (10 ran). Cup Of
Ambition (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 5th in the Novices’
Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Huntingdon: Myboysam (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race (14 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Exeter: 12:50 Forgetthesmalltalk
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 25 yards] 13:25 Azzerti (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 175 yards] 14:30 Dingo Dollar (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:00 Yanworth (Alan
King/Barry Geraghty) & Briery
Queen (Noel Williams/Leighton Aspell) – Novices’
Chase 15:35 Tillythetank
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle Bangor-on-Dee: 12:40 Follow The Swallow (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs &
72 yards] 13:10 Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Mares Novices’ Chase (Listed) 14:20 Equus Millar
(Nigel Twiston-Davies/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Hurdle 14:50 Midnight Tour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs & 123 yards] 15:20 Pageburg (Alan
King/Daryl Jacob) – Juvenile Maiden Hurdle It has
been announced today that Alan Potts, owner of Cheltenham Gold Cup winner
Sizing John, also Fox Norton, Finian’s Oscar, Supasundae, Sizing Codelco, and
Pingshou to name but six of his current horses, has
died having suffered a heart attack. No doubt,
in due course, we will discover what the future lies for his string of
racehorses; perhaps they will continue under the administration of trustees,
rather than being sold. Evidently
the correct date for the visit to Jamie Snowden’s yard is Saturday 09
December ... so I can go after all. J |
|
Monday 13
November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Kempton Park: Three Ways
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Chase (2 ran). Who Dares
Wins (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 3rd in the Pertemps
Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 5 furlongs] (7 ran). There are
a number of runners of interest tomorrow ... and they are all over the place! Lingfield Park: 13:20 Voie Dans Voie
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) – NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 13:50
Somewhere To Be (Martin Keighley/Leighton Aspell) –
Novices’ Handicap Chase 14:20
Amadeus Rox (Alan King/Martin Harley) –
Professional Flat Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Worcester: 14:30 My
Lad Percy (Martin Keighley/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4
furlongs] 15:00 Cup Of
Ambition (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Huntingdon: 15:40 Myboysam (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Junior Standard
Open NH Flat Race Following yesterday’s unseating from Double Ross
at Sandown Park, Sam Twiston-Davies has announced
that he’s broken an elbow; he hopes to return to action at Newbury in early
December. It has also been suggested
that it may disrupt Harry Cobden’s plans to ride Cue Card at Haydock, as the young rider is now deputising as number
one rider for Sam. Here’s wishing Sam
a speedy recovery. Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have commented
regarding the lack of runners at Kempton Park today; there were two ‘match’ races – the Novices’ Chase and
the Graduation Chase. My
Cheltenham Festival tickets arrived today, via special delivery. J |
|
Sunday
12 November 2017 |
|
Here are yesterday’s results (Saturday) for my
runners of interest: Wincanton: Tara View (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled
up in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). Coeur De Lion (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) finished
5th in the Elite Hurdle (Grade 2 Limited Handicap) (7 ran); the race was won
by the Ian Williams-trained London Prize.
The winner had finished as runner-up in last month’s Cesarewitch. Fletchers Flyer (Harry Fry/Noel Fehily) was pulled up, Vic De Touzaine
(Venetia Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled up and Fact Of The Matter
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) was also pulled up in the Badger Ales Handicap
Chase (Listed) [3 miles 1 furlong] (16 ran).
Only 6 completed (there were prizes for the first 6). The race was won by the Paul
Nicholls-trained Present Man ridden by Bryony Frost; her dad Jimmy had won
the race 21 years ago (1996), aboard Coome
Hill. She beat Leighton Aspell into second place yesterday, and Leighton had won
the race 20 years ago aboard Lively Knight! Happy retirement to Melodic Rendezvous who was
retired following the Elite Hurdle; a race he won in 2013. He also won Wincanton’s Kingwell
Hurdle in 2014, beating Zarkandar and Grumeti that day. Aintree: Top Notch (Nicky Henderson/Daryl Jacob) finished
last in the Class 2 Hurdle (3 ran). Unowhatimeanharry won, from Value At Risk. Wolverhampton: Sexy Legs (Rebecca Menzies/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) finished last in the
Fillies’ Conditions Stakes [7 furlongs & 37 yards] (6 ran). However, there were 6 prizes, so she did
win £222.30! Meanwhile Alan King’s Top Tug finished 12th in
the November Handicap at Doncaster (23 ran).
Trainer Ian Williams also won that race, with Saunter ridden by Jim Crowley. And here are today’s results for my runners of
interest (Sunday): Sandown
Park: Bastien (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) finished 3rd and Paddys Runner (Graeme McPherson/Charlie Deutsch/ex-Alan King)
finished 5th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). Second
Time Around (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Maiden Hurdle (9
ran). Label Des Obeaux (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the
Intermediate Chase (Listed) (4 ran).
Might Bite won well, displaying no foibles today! Fidux (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) unseated at the last
and Ardamir (Laura Mongan/Tom
Cannon/ex-Alan King & Apple Tree Stud) was a non-runner in the Handicap
Hurdle (Qualifier) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 216 yards] (12 ran). Fidux may or may not have won; it’s difficult to say, as
he was not much more than a length behind the winner at the time and staying
on when he hit the swinging hurdle. Sammylou (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 4th in the Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (10 ran). Houblon Des Obeaux won the
Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier - Leg 8), with Third Intention the
runner-up. Double Ross unseated Sam Twiston-Davies at the second fence. Creevytennant and
It’s A Gimme were non-runners
due to unsuitable ground. Just two
runners of interest tomorrow, at Kempton Park: 14:25
Three Ways (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Chase; he has just one
rival, trained by Paul Nicholls. 14:55 Who
Dares Wins (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Pertemps
Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 5 furlongs] There are
only two runners in the Graduation Chase too – Nicky Henderson’s Whisper and
Paul Nicholls’ Clan Des Obeaux. |
|
Friday
10 November 2017 |
|
Here are today’s
results for my runners of interest: Warwick: Fields Of
Fortune (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) unseated at the last when holding 4th
position and Whatalove (Martin Keighley/Wayne
Hutchinson) was pulled up in the Juvenile Hurdle (15 ran). Inn The Bull (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished
3rd and Blue Bullet (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 6th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (11 ran). Lunar Flow
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1
furlong & 100 yards] (7 ran). Chequered
View (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 4th, Hurricane Millie (Alan
King/Tom Bellamy) finished 10th, Kimberley Point (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson)
finished 2nd and Sensulano (Noel Williams/Gavin
Sheehan) finished 3rd in the Mares’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (18 ran). There was
a very sad postscript to the Juvenile Hurdle, with Martin Keighley reporting
that Whatalove had severed a tendon. The injury was so severe that there was no
other option than to put her to sleep. Commiserations to all her
connections. RIP Fontwell Park: Miss Crick
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 3rd in the Mares’ Beginners’ Chase (5 ran). Hexham: Bingo D’Olivate (Gemma Anderson/Derek
Fox/ex-Noel Williams) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 48
yards] (16 ran). Newcastle (AW): Zabeel Star (Karen McLintock/Barry
McHugh/ex-Graeme McPherson) finished 6th in the Handicap [1 mile & 5
yards] (14 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Wincanton: 13:50 Tara View (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’
Handicap Hurdle 15:00 Coeur De Lion (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) –
Elite Hurdle (Grade 2 Limited Handicap); he has 6 opponents, currently, Charbel, Lough Derg Spirit,
London Prize, Flying Tiger, Zubayr and Melodic
Rendezvous. 15:35 Fletchers Flyer (Harry Fry/Noel Fehily) & Vic De Touzaine
(Venetia Williams/Wayne Hutchinson) & Fact Of The Matter (Jamie
Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Badger Ales Handicap Chase (Listed) [3 miles 1
furlong] Aintree: 14:50 Top Notch (Nicky Henderson/Daryl Jacob) –
Class 2 Hurdle; just two rivals, Unowhatimeanharry
and Value At Risk Wolverhampton: 18:50 Sexy Legs (Rebecca Menzies/Dougie Costello/EPDS Racing) - Fillies’ Conditions Stakes
[7 furlongs & 37 yards] Meanwhile Alan King’s Top Tug runs in the
November Handicap at Doncaster. Having
sustained a tendon injury over a year ago and unable to race again, Jeans
Lady has been retired. Trained by
Martin Keighley, the very pretty and sweet-natured mare is now looking for
her forever home.
Happy retirement Jeans Lady I
understand that the Overbury Stud has two new
stallions for next year, one of which will be Jack Hobbs. Their current outstanding stallion in
residence is Kayf Tara. And just in
case I don’t get around to writing a blog tomorrow evening ... here are
Sunday’s runners of interest: Sandown
Park: 12:45 Bastien (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) & Paddys Runner (Graeme McPherson/Charlie Deutsch/ex-Alan
King) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 13:50
Second Time Around (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 14:20
Label Des Obeaux (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Intermediate Chase (Listed); he has three rivals – Frodon,
Might Bite and As De Mee. I’m a fan of Might Bite ... 14:55 Fidux (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) & Ardamir
(Laura Mongan/Tom Cannon/ex-Alan King & Apple
Tree Stud) – Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 216 yards] 16:00 Sammylou (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Also, all
of the horses due to run in the Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Qualifier - Leg 8)
which takes place at 15:30 – Double Ross, Third Intention, Loose Chips, Houblon Des Obeaux, Creevytennant, Vino Griego, It’s a Gimme and Pete
The Feat. I love the veteran chases; it’s
great when you ‘know’ every one of
the horses taking part. |
|
Thursday
09 November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Newbury: Filemon (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 8th in
the Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran). Beneagles (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 3rd in the
Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [3 miles & 52 yards] (12 ran). Rosa Damescena (Alan King/Adrian Heskin)
finished last in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). Market Rasen: Briery Belle (Henry Daly/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 4th and Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Chase (Listed) (6 ran); it was Alan’s 27th
winner of the
season and Wayne’s
20th winner of the
season. Shady Glen (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) won the Handicap
Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 191 yards] (6 ran). Although Shady Glen is quirky, his trainer
reports that his charge has completed 19 races and been placed in the first
four on every one of those 19 occasions! Ludlow: Primo Blue
(Noel Williams/Tom Bellamy) finished 9th and Lerichi
Belle (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 5 furlongs & 55 yards] (12 ran). Another
Crick (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) finished 6th in the Standard Open NH Flat
Race (11 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Warwick: 12:50
Fields Of Fortune (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Whatalove
(Martin Keighley/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle 14:20 Inn The Bull (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Blue Bullet
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] 14:50
Lunar Flow (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1 furlong
& 100 yards] 15:50
Chequered View (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) & Hurricane Millie (Alan
King/Tom Bellamy) & Kimberley Point (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Sensulano (Noel Williams/Gavin Sheehan) – Mares’ Standard
Open NH Flat Race Fontwell Park: 14:00 Miss
Crick (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Mares’ Beginners’ Chase Hexham: 14:40
Bingo D’Olivate (Gemma
Anderson/Derek Fox/ex-Noel Williams) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles & 48
yards] Newcastle (AW): 19:15 Zabeel Star (Karen McLintock/Barry
McHugh/ex-Graeme McPherson) – Handicap [1 mile & 5 yards] Choc has
tweeted a video of their three filly foals – by Frankel, Sea The Moon and
Oasis Dream: https://twitter.com/twitter/statuses/928209312710873089 Alan King
has two new flat-bred inmates in his yard which were purchased at last week’s
Tattersalls sale – namely Redicean
from David O’Meara and Crushed from William Haggas. In
contrast, Gibralfaro was sold for £28,000 to Stroud
Coleman Bloodstock/Sean Clancy at today’s Ascot sale; Thomas Shelby was also
sold, for £18,000 to Alice Vaughan Jones. I can feel
my fitness is already improving, as I’m walking further each day and climbing
far more steps and stairs too; my employer’s office has recently
relocated. However, I’m still
suffering from the niggling pain on the inside of my left foot, which I’ve
had for three or four months now. |
|
Wednesday
08 November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest, at Chepstow: Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
NH Maiden Hurdle (14 ran). Capsy De Mee (Jamie Snowden/Gavin
Sheehan) finished 6th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (9 ran). The Devils
Drop (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Maiden Hurdle (16 ran). Hey Bill
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 8th in the
Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 131 yards] (11 ran). Telson Barley (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) finished 15th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race (16 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest: Newbury: 12:40 Filemon (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Hurdle 13:10 Beneagles (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Handicap Hurdle
(Qualifier) [3 miles & 52 yards] 14:10 Rosa
Damescena (Alan King/Adrian Heskin)
– Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle The
McNeill Family, who own Rosa Damescena, has now
engaged Adrian Heskin to ride their horses
regardless of trainer. Market Rasen: 14:00 Briery Belle (Henry Daly/Andrew Tinkler)
& Mia’s Storm (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Chase (Listed) 14:35
Shady Glen (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap
Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 191 yards] Ludlow: 14:20
Primo Blue (Noel Williams/Tom Bellamy) & Lerichi
Belle (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs
& 55 yards] 16:05
Another Crick (Noel Williams/Tom Garner) – Standard Open NH Flat Race There’s
news today that Harry Cobden is set to take over from Paddy Brennan aboard
Cue Card; the very popular veteran has fallen twice during his past three
runs, so connections have decided that a new pair of hands may be beneficial.
Members of
the Aussie press were not happy that their premier race was hijacked by Irish
trainers ... although the winner was owned by an Australian! Strangely enough, I’m never pleased when
overseas runners win our races either!
And I could never bet on non-GB-based horses, it’s not patriotic. The good
news is that another yard visit has been arranged, to Jamie Snowden’s; the
bad news is that the date suggests it has been arranged for a Friday, and I’m
working that particular day. L That means I won’t get to see the sidelined
Pride of Pemberley ... I’m gutted. |
|
Tuesday
07 November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Exeter: Rio Bravo
(Graeme McPherson/Paddy Brennan) was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 7 furlongs & 25 yards] (13 ran). Galactic
Power (Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS Racing’s Twitterati Racing Club) finished 5th and Silva Samourai (Graeme McPherson/Charlie Deutsch) finished 7th
in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 111 yards] (17 ran). Politologue won the Haldon Gold Cup for trainer Paul Nicholls; he also
trained the runner-up San Benedeto ... and 5th
placed Vibrato Valtat. The grey deserved that win, having tripped
up after the last on Grand National Day when sure to triumph in the Grade 1 Maghull Novices’ Chase.
San Benedeto benefitted from that particular
mishap. There were
numerous horses pulled up at the Devon track today ... and, in the Novices’
Hurdle, there was a melee at the first flight – two horses unseated and three
were brought down; the favourite still won though, for Paul Nicholls. And one
result from Redcar: Pantomime
(Rebecca Menzies/Graham Lee) finished 5th in the
Handicap Div I [1 mile 5 furlongs & 218 yards] (11 ran). Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest, at Chepstow: 13:25 Mahlermade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Maiden
Hurdle 14:00 Capsy De Mee (Jamie
Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 14:35 The
Devils Drop (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 15:10 Hey
Bill (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap
Hurdle (Qualifier) [2 miles 7 furlongs & 131 yards] 16:15 Telson Barley (Graeme McPherson/Kielan
Woods) – Standard Open NH Flat Race The Irish
contingent annihilated the opposition in today’s Melbourne Cup – the race was
won by Rekindling trained by Joseph O’Brien; the runner-up was Johannes
Vermeer trained by his father Aidan, and third was Max Dynamite trained by
Willie Mullins. |
|
Monday
06 November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Plumpton: King Vince
(Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 3rd and William Hunter (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Maiden Hurdle (8 ran); they were
thwarted by a Skelton runner. Naranja (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) finished 3rd and Oscar
Star (Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’
Hurdle (10 ran); again, these two were thwarted by a Skelton runner. Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/James Nixon/EPDS Racing) finished 3rd in the
Novices’ Handicap Chase (6 ran). Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson/EPDS
Racing) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 114
yards] (8 ran); a promising return following 908 days on the injury
sidelines. Fingers crossed he will
have suffered no ill effects following today’s effort. Here are a
couple of photos of Kincora Fort: https://mobile.twitter.com/JoeWheildon/status/927577957660536834/photo/1 https://mobile.twitter.com/BenjoEvans/status/927564402680877057/photo/1 One of
Nicky Henderson’s daughters, Sarah, has been out hunting aboard the retired
Hunt Ball; it looks like he has found an excellent forever home. https://mobile.twitter.com/sarahlhendo/status/926867103138942977/photo/1 There are
three runners of interest at Exeter tomorrow: 15:35 Rio
Bravo (Graeme McPherson/Paddy Brennan) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs
& 25 yards] 16:10
Galactic Power (Robin Dickin/Jack Quinlan/EPDS
Racing’s Twitterati Racing Club) & Silva Samourai (Graeme McPherson/Charlie Deutsch) – Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 111 yards] It’s Haldon Gold Cup day at the Devon track, with 8
declarations – Ar Mad, Sir Valentino, Forest Bihan, Garde Le Victoire, San Benedeto, Politologue, Vibrato Valtat and
Gino Trail. Also, one
runner of interest at Redcar: 14:55 Pantomime
(Rebecca Menzies/Graham Lee) – Handicap Div I [1
mile 5 furlongs & 218 yards] |
|
Sunday
05 November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Huntingdon: Amadeus Rox (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Juvenile
Hurdle (9 ran). Cogburn (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
Novices’ Hurdle (6 ran). The Unit
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Chase (5 ran). Willoughby Court won the race, but he did
make a number of jumping errors, as well as jumping out markedly to his left
over a number of fences. Generous
Chief (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 3rd
in the Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). Carlisle: Solstice
Star (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished a gallant 2nd and Hogan’s
Height (Jamie Snowden/Sam Twiston-Davies) finished
7th in the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (13 ran). Ocean
Eleven (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) finished 10th in the Novices’ Handicap
Hurdle (12 ran). There’s
National Hunt racing at Southwell and Plumpton tomorrow, with runners of interest at the latter: 13:40 King
Vince (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) & William Hunter (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle 14:10 Naranja (Jamie Snowden/Gavin Sheehan) & Oscar Star
(Jamie Snowden/William Featherstone) – Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle 14:40 Dontminddboys (Robin Dickin/James
Nixon/EPDS Racing) – Novices’ Handicap Chase 15:10 Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/Wayne Hutchinson/EPDS Racing)
– Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs & 114 yards] |
|
Saturday
04 November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Ascot: Desiremoi D’Authie
(Alan King/Sean Bowen) finished 6th in the Novices’ Hurdle (9 ran); he ran
far too free having led for much of the race. Elgin (Alan King/Tom
Cannon) won and
Midnight Maestro (Alan King/Brendan Powell) finished 6th in the Handicap
Hurdle (Listed) [1 mile 7 furlongs & 152 yards] (14 ran); he was the 6-1
joint favourite. A very nice prize for
the owners, the Elite Racing Club, with over £34,000 to the winner ... and
£804 to the 6th! It was Alan’s 26th winner of the season. Ayr: Harry Hunt (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) won the Handicap Chase
(Qualifier) [2 miles 5 furlongs & 110 yards] (8 ran); a 13-2 winner. Cyrus
Darius (Malcolm
Jefferson/Brian Hughes) won the
Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 110 yards], although it didn’t look
likely until shortly before the winning post having made a number of jumping
errors and been initially outpaced (9 ran); he was the 5-2 favourite. Skipthecuddles (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) was pulled up, along with five others, in
the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles & 70 furlongs] (11 ran); the tongue-less
horse was sent off as joint-favourite. Wetherby: Giveaway Glance (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was
pulled up in the Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) (8 ran); the race was won by La Bague Au Roi. The Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase didn’t work out as
expected, with Coneygree suffering an overreach
before being pulled up, and Cue Card falling at the final open-ditch due to a
low sun issue. There were the punters
who questioned the validity of this ‘excuse’
because it didn’t appear to affect the other horses. However, Colin Tizzard’s
charge does have a tendency to carry his head higher than many other equines,
so he might have been more susceptible to low sun. Besides, Nico de Boinville also reported that Coneygree’s
error at the first open-ditch was a result of the same issue. After the demise of Coneygree
and Cue Card, it left the two Nigel Twiston-Davies
runners Bristol De Mai and Blaklion to fight out
the finish, with the grey prevailing.
Double Shuffle and Virgilio were
non-runners. Here is the Racing Post’s report regarding the
low sun problem at Wetherby yesterday: A member of the Press Association tweeted a photo of Coneygree’s
over-reach on his near-fore. Ouch. L https://mobile.twitter.com/ValueRacingPlus/status/926835562564108288/photo/1 But the best news is that both Coneygree and Cue Card live to fight another day. J Meanwhile Colin’s Sister won the Grade 2 West
Yorkshire Hurdle [3 miles & 26 yards], from Wholestone
and Lil Rockerfeller. Here are
tomorrow’s runners of interest ... and Wayne Hutchinson is back in the
saddle: Huntingdon: 13:15
Amadeus Rox (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile
Hurdle 13:45 Cogburn (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 14:50 The
Unit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Chase. Willoughby Court makes his chasing debut in
this one; he’s to be ridden by Nico de Boinville 15:20
Generous Chief (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) –
Handicap Hurdle Carlisle: 13:30
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) & Hogan’s Height (Jamie
Snowden/Sam Twiston-Davies) – Novices’ Limited Handicap
Chase 14:00
Ocean Eleven (Martin Keighley/Harry Stock) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Today has
been a knitting day; the current project is a snood knitted in Caron Cakes
Aran-weight yarn, the colour is ‘Cherry
Chip’ – which, as the name suggests, is shades of pink for a stripe
effect. I also proofed and uploaded my
yard visit diary this morning. However
I still managed to dose off to sleep mid-afternoon, so missed the race
featuring Colin’s Sister and also the Listed Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot
won by Exitas!
But at least I did see the Charlie Hall and Elgin’s victory too. |
|
Friday
03 November 2017 |
|
Here are today’s results for my runners of
interest: Uttoxeter: Passing Call (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 2nd
in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (12 ran). Cranbrook Causeway (Graeme
McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished last in the
Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). Weyburn (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 6th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 7 furlongs & 70 yards] (8 ran). Wetherby: City Dreamer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd
in the Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) (4 ran). Tyrell (Micky
Hammond/Henry Brooke/ex-Apple Tree Stud) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles] (8 ran). Newcastle (AW): Sexy Legs (Rebecca Menzies/Ben
Sanderson/EPDS Racing) finished 11th in the Apprentice Handicap [6 furlongs]
(14 ran). And here
are Saturday’s runners of interest: Ascot: 12:40 Desiremoi D’Authie (Alan King/Sean Bowen) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:00 Elgin (Alan King/Tom Cannon) & Midnight
Maestro (Alan King/Brendan Powell) – Handicap Hurdle (Listed) [1 mile 7
furlongs & 152 yards] Ayr: 13:00 Harry Hunt (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Chase (Qualifier) [2 miles 5
furlongs & 110 yards] 13:35 Cyrus Darius (Malcolm Jefferson/Brian Hughes)
– Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs & 110 yards] 14:10 Skipthecuddles
(Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Handicap Hurdle
[3 miles & 70 furlongs] Wetherby: 14:05 Giveaway Glance (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) –
Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) Also at Wetherby tomorrow
is the 14:40 Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle [3 miles & 26 yards] featuring
Fountains Windfall, Wholestone, Gayebury,
Lil Rockerfeller, Missed Approach, Ptit Zig and Colin’s Sister. Plus the 15:15 Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase [3
miles & 54 yards] featuring Bristol De Mai, Cue Card, Definitly
Red, Shantou Flyer, Vieux Lion Rouge, Blaklion, Coneygree, Double Shuffle, Village Vic, and Virgilio. I’m not sure why Wayne Hutchinson isn’t riding at
present; the two day suspension relating to his victory aboard Smad Place last Sunday is scheduled for 12 and 13
November. He’s not fallen off during a
race ride in recent days but, I guess, he may have when schooling or even be
the subject of an earlier suspension. Jockey George Baker has announced his retirement
following the very serious head injuries he sustained on the ice in St Moritz
in Switzerland last winter. He wishes
to remain in racing; George is a very nice bloke, and I would imagine the
world in now his oyster with regards to finding a new niche within the sport. Earlier in the week another flat race jockey
George Chaloner announced his retirement; this was
following a succession of serious falls and subsequent injuries. In light of
this, no-one can blame him for never wanting to sit on a horse again. The lovely Tom Stanley has been out and about,
visiting NH yards for Racing UK. He
visited Fergal O’Brien this week and, of course, he took with him a cake: https://mobile.twitter.com/FOBRacing/status/926032528301060097/photo/1 Smad Place has enjoyed a
few days off following his win in the Old Roan Chase last Sunday; his lad,
Jamie Insole, has tweeted a photo of his charge returning to work: https://mobile.twitter.com/JamieInsole/status/925990154531213312/photo/1 |
|
Thursday
02 November 2017 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Sedgefield: Beneficial
Joe (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 2nd in
the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 3 furlongs & 9 yards] (7 ran). Visage
Blanc (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished 12th
in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (13 ran). Stratford: Good Man Pat
(Alan King/Tom Cannon) finished 2nd in the Maiden Hurdle (6 ran). Here are tomorrow’s runners of interest: Uttoxeter: 13:00 Passing Call (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) –
Mares’ Maiden Hurdle 13:35 Cranbrook
Causeway (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) – Novices’
Hurdle 15:20 Weyburn (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles
7 furlongs & 70 yards] Wetherby: 14:00 City Dreamer (Alan King/Tom Cannon) –
Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) 15:10 Tyrell (Micky
Hammond/Henry Brooke/ex-Apple Tree Stud) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] Newcastle (AW): 17:45 Sexy Legs (Rebecca Menzies/Ben
Sanderson/EPDS Racing) – Apprentice Handicap [6 furlongs] EPDS, in partnership with trainer Graeme
McPherson, purchased a new horse at Tattersalls
today; the 3-year-old bay gelding, by Nathaniel, was consigned by Richard
Hughes. He’s called Leapt. It’s November and Alan King’s column has returned
in the latest edition of Weekender; he kicks off with a 4-page review of his
string for the forthcoming National Hunt season. He even gives a mention to Wilde Blue
Yonder and Valdez, who he hopes may return this season after injury. Alan is very keen on a youngster named Desiremoi D’Authie, who
recently finished 2nd at Huntingdon having pulled very hard. And Mrs Prowting
has a new horse with Alan, off the flat, a grey named Doctor Bartolo. I finished
drafting my latest yard visit diary yesterday, so will proof and upload it on
Saturday. On Sunday I’ll select and
upload my photos. |
|
Wednesday
01 November 2017 |
|
Here are today’s
results for my runners of interest: Fakenham: Alexander
The Grey (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) finished
3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3 furlongs] (14 ran). Taunton: Generous
Chief (Graeme McPherson/Danny Hiskett) finished 6th
in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs & 3 yards] (7 ran). The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Conor
Shoemark) finished 9th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 7 furlongs & 198 yards] (12 ran). And here
are tomorrow’s runner of interest: Sedgefield: 14:35
Beneficial Joe (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) –
Handicap Hurdle [3 miles 3 furlongs & 9 yards] 15:40
Visage Blanc (Graeme McPherson/Kielan Woods) –
Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Stratford: 13:40 Good
Man Pat (Alan King/Tom Cannon) – Maiden Hurdle Nigel Twiston-Davies hopes to run both Blaklion and Bristol De
Mai in Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase; Cue Card and Coneygree
are also expected to compete. |
