OCTOBER 2014
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Friday 31 October 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Uttoxeter: Avispa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (15 ran). Dardanella (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished last in the
Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (8 ran). Ted’s Lad
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchison) finished 5th in the Standard Open National Hunt
Flat Race (14 ran). Wetherby: My Lad
Percy (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 4th in the Handicap Chase [3
miles 1 furlong]; he’d have been much closer had it not been for a bad
blunder at the last. Dont Call Me Oscar (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore)
finished 9th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). It’s
action on all fronts at the weekend, with a number of runners of interest
tomorrow, Saturday: Wetherby: 12:55
Smart Motive (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 13:30 Turn
Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Limited Handicap Chase 14:40 Medinas (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Hurdle (Grade 2);
just two rivals in this one, At Fishers Cross and Cole Harden 15:15 Medermit (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Charlie Hall
Chase (Grade 2); his rivals – Menorah, Silviniaco
Conti, The Giant Bolster, Double Ross, Taquin Du Seuil and Wayward Prince. 15:50 Shadarpour (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4 furlongs] Ascot: 12:40
Money For Nothing (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 14:20 Manyriverstocross (Alan King/Jamie Moore) – Byrne Group
Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 15:00
Laser Blazer (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle (Listed) 15:35
Midnight Appeal (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – United House Gold Cup Handicap
Chase (Grade 3) 16:05 Kincora Fort (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Standard Open
NH Flat Race And Kumbeshwar runs in the 15:25 Handicap Chase at Ayr! This warm
weather is so wrong, 24 degrees in London today; it’s really strange walking
home in the dark having been basking in the warm sunshine during the
day. Or at least I would have done,
had I not been working from 08:30 until 17:45 without a break! I’ve got
another long weekend, with Monday booked as leave; originally this was to
coincide with a Monday jumps fixture at Kempton Park. This blog
completes the sixth year of my website being in existence ... thus year seven
begins tomorrow! |
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Thursday 30 October 2014 |
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Here are
the results for today’s runners of interest at Stratford: L’Amiral David (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th
in the NH Novices’ Hurdle Qualifier (13 ran). Always
Bold (Martin Keighley/Mr Harley Cornock) finished
2nd in the Handicap Hurdle for Amateur Riders (11 ran). And
tomorrow there are five runners of interest: Uttoxeter: 13:20 Avispa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Maiden
Hurdle 15:00 Dardanella (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap
Hurdle 16:10
Ted’s Lad (Alan King/Wayne Hutchison) – Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race Wetherby: 15:25 My
Lad Percy (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1
furlong] 16:00 Dont Call Me Oscar (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) –
Conditional Jockeys’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle I don’t
like these dark nights but at least there are plenty of good TV programmes to
watch during the autumn and winter months.
I currently love Grantchester and, starting this
week, Intruders. Unfortunately their
broadcast times clashed on Monday, and I actually dozed off to sleep whilst
watching the second episode of Intruders, which followed on immediately after
episode one. However, I discovered the
BBC was replaying both episodes late yesterday evening and I actually managed
to stay awake throughout – and I’m now hooked! But I have been feeling tired today, having
stayed up so late and I still haven’t adjusted to the change from BST to GMT. |
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Wednesday 29 October 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Worcester: Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell and Westerly
Breeze (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) was pulled up in the Novices’
Limited Handicap Chase (15 ran). Bulfin Island (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd
in the Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Two
National Hunt fixtures again tomorrow, Sedgefield and Stratford, with
runners of interest at the latter: 14:40 L’Amiral David (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’
Hurdle Qualifier 16:10
Always Bold (Martin Keighley/Mr Harley Cornock) –
Handicap Hurdle for Amateur Riders Rocky
Creek, Ma Filleule and First Lieutenant are heading
to Down Royal on Saturday; however Silviniaco Conti
will be running in the Charlie Hall Chase. More And Cue
Card will be making his return from injury in the Haldon
Gold Cup at Exeter next Tuesday. http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=4333124&category=0 Simply A
Legend has suffered an injury and will spend this season on the
sidelines. Steve
Ayres has tweeted a lovely photograph of Balder Succes,
all wrapped up in his stable. |
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Tuesday 28 October 2014 |
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There are
two National Hunt fixtures tomorrow, at Taunton and Worcester, with
three runners of interest at the latter: 13:20
Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) &
Westerly Breeze (Martin Keighley/Christopher Ward) – Novices’ Limited
Handicap Chase 14:50 Bulfin Island (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Hurdle Annacotty is scheduled to run
in a Graduation Chase at Kempton Park on Monday; with plans also in place for
Creepy to run at the Cheltenham Open in mid-November. More Today I
received a letter from Racing UK to remind me that many of their weekday
fixtures are now free entry, provided I take my Racing UK metal members’
badge with me; let’s hope I can take advantage of this offer soon. |
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Monday 27 October 2014 |
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News that
Wayne Hutchison could be back in action on Wednesday, having suffered bruised
ribs when McCabe Creek fell at Southwell last
Thursday. And Choc
is due to have his neck scanned at the end of this week; fingers crossed the
news will be good. http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm And Ian Popham will be on the sidelines for a little while,
having broken his collarbone at Wincanton yesterday. There are
11 confirmed entries for this coming Saturday’s Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby; with Medermit likely
to run here rather than at Ascot. More More Of
That is one of 10 entries for Wetherby’s feature
hurdle race, as is Medinas. More Restless
Harry is due to begin his campaign in the United House Gold Cup at Ascot on
Saturday. More And Bobs
Worth may begin his season with an outing over hurdles. More Newbury
has reverted back to being ‘Newbury
Racecourse’, as opposed to ‘The
Racecourse Newbury’ as has been the case in recent times. More There’s
National Hunt racing at Ffos Las tomorrow but no
runners of interest. |
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Sunday 26 October 2014 |
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I went for
my regular Sunday early morning walk; above is one of the Oaklands
College sheep herds waiting for the ‘breakfast
van’ to arrive! Wincanton: Pantxoa (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) won the Desert Orchid Handicap Chase [3 miles 3½
furlongs] (9 ran); he gave ‘Pancho’ an excellent ride, so I’ll give Tom lots of credit
following yesterday’s lapses. Smart
Motive (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was a non-runner in the NH Novices’ Hurdle Ronaldinho (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was a non-runner in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] Naughty
Nikos Extra, who is now trained by Alex Dunn, refused to race at Aintree
today; prior to this he’d won three of his last four races. However there must have been a possibility
that this might happen, as the trainer went to the start! The sole
National Hunt fixture tomorrow is at Ayr, so no runners of interest. Geoff
Lester has also given a brief overview of the Stable Tour which appeared in
the Racing Post last Wednesday: http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm Valdez is
fine ... here is ATR’s tweet following yesterday’s fall. https://mobile.twitter.com/AtTheRaces/status/526039580344975362/photo/1 I’m being
driven crazy by font problems, as I take a great pride in my website
presentation. I presume that Arial
Bold, which I never select but sometimes the font reverts to, is not a True
Font and thus I end up with Times New Roman headings scattered within my blog
instead. They should be Bold Arial not
Arial Bold if that makes sense, and I try to correct these whenever I
can! Today I’ve
bought some beads and pendants, online, to make Christmas presents, and I’ve
also ordered my Cheltenham Festival tickets ... crack on regardless! I’ve also
proof-read and uploaded my Cheltenham diary and photographs. Click here to read the diary and view the photographs. |
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Saturday 25 October 2014 |
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Things
didn’t quite go to plan today ... Aintree: Handazan (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 5th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 1 furlong] (9 ran). Roberto
Pegasus (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) finished 6th in the Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 4 furlongs] (10 ran). Uxizandre (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
finished 4th in the Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap);
he couldn’t dictate the running today, as Kie
stormed off in front. The race was won
impressively by NH stalwart Wishfull Thinking, who
is now rising 12. And it was good to
see Lie Forrit win the Veterans’ race too. More Chepstow: Primo Capitano (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
finished 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle (9 ran). Sego
Success (Alan King/Jack Doyle) finished 4th in the Novices’ Chase; he may
have finished closer had he jumped better (6 ran). The
Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished
3rd in the Persian War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (8 ran); she now sports the Medermit orange and black silks. L’Unique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) unseated her rider 4 out
in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (12 ran). Valdez
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) fell two out in the Handicap Chase when challenging
for the lead (2 miles & ½ a furlong) (12 ran); there were fears that the
horse had been injured ... it was very scary for a few minutes ... but they
think he may have just got a foreleg caught through his reins. Phew.
Alan King adores the horse; he’s very much a favourite of the
trainer. I’m not
sure that Tom Bellamy is quite ready to assume the mantle handed to him today
because of the injury to Wayne, and through Choc’s
continued absence. Sorry Tom. A number of
National Hunt stars took part in a racecourse gallop at Chepstow prior to
racing, namely More Of That, Silviniaco Conti, Zarkandar, Lac Fontana, Rocky Creek and At Fishers Cross
... plus two unnamed companion horses. More Seeing these
well-known jumps horses again is why National Hunt racing wins hands-down
over flat racing every time! No contest!!! And a
recap of tomorrow’s runners of interest: Wincanton: 14:55 Pantxoa (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Desert Orchid Handicap
Chase [3 miles 3½ furlongs] 15:30
Smart Motive (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 16:40 Ronaldinho (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles] Another
lotto win for me ... this time on Euromillions ...
reported as £2.90 for my £2.00 stake!
We got together a mini-syndicate at work too – our stake £6.00 for 3
lines, we again got two numbers ... so a loss of £3.10. Oh well, if you aren’t in it you can’t win
it. Talking of
money, there have been a series of thefts from jockeys’ bank accounts, both
earlier this year and recently. It
seems no-one is safe from thieves or from pick-pockets these days, or has it
always been thus? More I watched
both the recordings of Strictly and Dr Who this morning; and have been
viewing the racing this afternoon. It
will be time for another dose of same this evening followed, hopefully, by
the task of finalising and uploading my Cheltenham photographs. The clocks go back early tomorrow morning,
but I tend not to waste the hour in bed; I plan to use it wisely. |
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Friday 24 October 2014 |
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National
Hunt steps up a gear this weekend with racing from Aintree, Chepstow and
Stratford tomorrow, and runners of interest at the first two. You’ll also notice that Wayne Hutchison
remains on the sidelines following yesterday’s fall at Southwell;
in contrast, AP McCoy returns. More Aintree: 14:00 Handazan (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 1 furlong] 14:30
Roberto Pegasus (Alan King/Aidan Coleman) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 4
furlongs] 15:00 Uxizandre (Alan King/Barry Geraghty)
– Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase (Grade 2 Limited Handicap). More Chepstow: 13:55
Primo Capitano (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Maiden Hurdle 14:25 Sego
Success (Alan King/Jack Doyle) – Novices’ Chase 15:35 The
Pirate’s Queen (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Persian
War Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) 16:10 L’Unique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Silver Trophy Handicap
Hurdle (Grade 3) 16:45
Valdez (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase (2 miles & ½ a furlong) Then on
Sunday there’s National Hunt racing at Aintree and Wincanton, with runners of
interest at the latter: Wincanton: 14:55 Pantxoa (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Desert Orchid Handicap
Chase [3 miles 3½ furlongs] 15:30
Smart Motive (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – NH Novices’ Hurdle 16:40 Ronaldinho (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles] When Tom
Bellamy was interviewed following his win at Ludlow yesterday he said he was
looking forward to busy Saturdays when he’d get an opportunity to ride at
Alan’s ‘third-string’ fixture – he
was expecting to go to Stratford tomorrow.
Things have certainly changed with Wayne having become sidelined
again. Alan’s horses are ‘flying’ but his jockeys certainly
aren’t at present ... Here is a
link to the latest news blog on Alan King’s website: http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm Choc’s mate Xavier Aizpuru
has been visiting from America. https://mobile.twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/525672764871815168/photo/1 I’ve got a
busy home-based weekend – I need to watch last Saturday’s Strictly which I
recorded, also Doctor Who. And format
and upload my Cheltenham photographs, plus proof-read my extensive diary! Plus, hopefully, I’ll have time to go for a
walk on Sunday morning too. |
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Thursday 23 October 2014 |
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Mixed
fortunes for my runners of interest today: Ludlow: Uriah Heep (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) won the Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (5 ran). My Lad Percy
(Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) fell in the Handicap Chase [3 miles] (8
ran). Southwell: McCabe
Creek (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) fell in the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle
(14 ran). And Wayne
must have sustained some sort of injury too, as he was replaced aboard the ‘infamous’ Say When: Say When
(Alan King/Leighton Aspell) finished 11th in the
Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] (14 ran). There’s
National Hunt racing tomorrow at Fakenham but no
runners of interest. Having
taken over 10 months to win any money on lotto following the price increase
last year (I won £25 on 27 August), I won another £25 last night! Let’s hope these wins come in threes ...
the jackpot would be very nice! |
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Wednesday 22 October 2014 |
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Another very
good day for my runners of interest: Fontwell Park: Miles To Memphis (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). Dusky Legend (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat Race Div I (7
ran). They were
Wayne’s 10th and 11th
winners of the
season. Worcester: Dueling Banjos (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
won the Newcomers’ Standard Open NH Flat Race (11 ran); well done to the
team, their 8th winner of the season. Seymour
Star (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 6th in
the Maiden Hurdle Div II (10 ran). Timmy
Murphy’s shoulder injury is still causing a problem and he doesn’t expect to
return to the saddle before the end of this year. More
Choc,
William and girlfriend Jennie spent time at Timmy’s last Friday; photos
suggested that the latter had been left in charge of his two sons for the
day, so William had some playmates too. The
current plan is for Taquin Du Seuil
to head to Wetherby for the Charlie Hall Chase on
01 November. More And Dynaste bypasses both Aintree’s Old Roan Chase and the
Charlie Hall Chase to head straight to Haydock’s Betfair Chase. More I was up
early this morning as hoped and arrived at the local supermarket a couple of
minutes before opening time. I was
rewarded with the opportunity to purchase the one and only copy of the Racing
Post! Though, of course, someone else
must have missed out ... And I
thought it was a really good idea for Morrisons to
be playing a recorded announcement warning shoppers to keep an eye on their
purses and valuables whilst in the shop.
I guess the retailer must have experienced the same problem with
pickpockets as my mum had when she was in M & S back in August. Anyway,
back to the Alan King stable tour pullout ... The yard
has well over 120 horses in training this season and, after being stronger in
the hurdles department for many years, he feels the strength now lies with
their chasers. They have good stayers such as Godsmejudge and
Midnight Prayer, and novices such as Ned Stark and Carraig
Mor; not to mention Balder Succes
and Uxizandre who won Grade 1s last year. Of those
whose names we know, Mares’ Aintree Bumper winner, Avispa,
is to be aimed at mares’ novice hurdles.
Carraig Mor is to
go novice chasing; Chatez, who has been running on
the flat and is in the same ownership as Smad
Place, will now go hurdling following a disappointing run at Ascot on Qipco Champions Day.
Desert Joe, owned by Liz Prowting, is back
after two years of injury; Dundee will go handicap chasing, as will Fine
Words. Godsmejudge
will be aimed at the Grand National.
Balder Succes is expected to begin his
campaign in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter. Hurricane
Vic surprised Alan on how well he did last season in bumpers, considering
he’s a huge horse (with big ears!).
Alan says he has a great attitude and, although the horse was a little
backward at Exeter yesterday on his hurdling debut, his trainer hopes that he
is above average. L’Unique may commence her campaign at Chepstow on
Saturday, after which she will concentrate on mares’ races with the aim of
returning to run in the David Nicholson’s Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham
Festival; she was third in that race last season. Manyriverstocross
will concentrate of good handicap chases.
Teeny weeny Medinas
will continue to compete in hurdle events, as Alan feels he is too small to
go chasing. Medermit
will begin his campaign this season by running in the Charlie Hall Chase at Wetherby; 3 miles is now his distance. Miles To
Memphis (who won today) had a Hobday operation last
year which delayed his racecourse debut.
A Hobday operation involves surgically
removing a piece of laryngeal tissue (laryngeal saccule)
to encourage a scar to form to ‘tighten’
the larynx in a more open position and thus aid breathing. Alan thinks the horse is one of their
better novices. Montbazon had a late summer break and is ready to school
over fences; his distance will be 2 miles 4 furlongs having lost a bit of his
‘zip’. Alan thinks highly of Ordo Ab Chao who won over
hurdles at Huntingdon recently. Salmanazar is fit again following a set-back last
December and will go novice chasing later in the year. Simply A Legend, again owned by Liz Prowting, has been schooled over the larger obstacles and
will go novice chasing at 2 miles 4 furlongs. Alan is
hoping to run The Pirate’s Queen in either the Persian War at Chepstow on
Saturday or the Mares’ Listed race at Wetherby on
01 November. Smad
Place will make his seasonal reappearance in the Hennessy Gold Cup; and will
be lightly-raced as usual. The ground
at Newton Abbot was too soft for Turn Over Sivola
on his seasonal reappearance, and he may also go to Wetherby
on the same day to run in a novices’ handicap. Ulzana’s Raid will stay over hurdles for the time being
as he’s still improving and Alan won’t be over-racing him this season. Valdez had a full MOT following his
disappointing run at Ayr in April, when he jumped badly right; this resulted in
him undergoing an operation on his back for a kissing spine. He may run at Chepstow on Saturday if the
ground is not too testing. Walkon won’t be entered for this season’s Grand
National, as Alan knows he doesn’t stay extreme distances. However, he may return for the Topham instead, as he loves the fences and finished
runner-up in the event in 2013.
Finally, Uxizandre is to begin his season by
running in the Old Roan Chase on Saturday, before possibly taking part in the
Paddy Power at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting.
Although he has shown a preference for left-handed tracks, they may
try him out on a right-handed one too. I love it
now that the winter horses are back and plans are being made. Fingers crossed that they all remain safe
and sound. And, finally,
here are my runners of interest tomorrow: Ludlow: 15:10
Uriah Heep (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’
Limited Handicap Chase 16:20 My
Lad Percy (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles] Southwell: 15:00 McCabe
Creek (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle 16:10 Say
When (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] |
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Tuesday 21 October 2014 |
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Here are
today’s results from Exeter: Fred Le Macon
(Alan King/Mr L Ferguson) finished 8th and The Tourard
Man (Alan King/Mr H Teal) finished 3rd in the Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Hurdle
(11 ran). Hurricane
Vic (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 8th in the Novices’ Hurdle (17
ran). Miss Minx
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Junior Standard Open NH Flat
Race (10 ran). Tomorrow
there is National Hunt racing from Fontwell Park
and from Worcester: Fontwell Park: 13:55
Miles To Memphis (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle; another of
my favourite horses 17:15
Dusky Legend (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat
Race Div I Worcester: 15:25 Dueling Banjos (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Newcomers’ Standard Open NH Flat Race; his stable name is ‘Pickle’. 17:35
Seymour Star (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Maiden
Hurdle Div II Talented
Deputy Dan is due to make his chasing debut at Fontwell
Park tomorrow too. Paul
Nicholls has admitted that he is struggling to get his horses to peak fitness
ahead of their first runs this season.
http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd?event_id=4150924&category=0 It was definitely apparent at the
Cheltenham Showcase meeting. The Alan
King stable-tour pullout is featured in tomorrow’s edition of the Racing Post
– I will need to ensure that I arrive at the supermarket at opening time to
guarantee a copy, as sometimes there is only one! And the
2015 fixtures list was published yesterday and is available from the British
Horseracing Authority’s website to print if required. http://www.britishhorseracing.com/resource-centre/fixture-list/ My mood has
lifted slightly today; strange really, as it was a work day and I really
don’t like my job! I can
purchase my Cheltenham Festival tickets now, but don’t feel an urgent need
yet; perhaps at the weekend. |
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Monday 20 October 2014 |
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There are
four runners of interest at Exeter tomorrow: 14:40 Fred
Le Macon (Alan King/Mr L Ferguson) & The Tourard
Man (Alan King/Mr H Teal) – Amateur Riders’ Novices’ Hurdle 14:40
Hurricane Vic (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle; I like Hurricane
Vic, he has big ears! 17:10 Miss
Minx (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race News today
that Grands Crus has been
retired. More And news
regarding Long Run’s intended programme this season too. More I’ve spent
much of my day’s leave working on my website.
I’ve completed my draft, including the race descriptions, it just
needs to be proof-read ... which won’t be the quickest task, as there are two
parts consisting of 6123 and 6095 words respectively; I got carried
away! I haven’t begun the photograph
files yet. However,
I’m finding it very hard to lift my current mood ... L |
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Sunday 19 October 2014 |
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The New
One won the big hurdle race at Kempton Park today. More I’ve been
watching the racing from the Sunbury track this afternoon. Poor The Last Night died following a
horrendous fall in front of the packed grandstands; I couldn’t believe the
horse was still alive let alone running having suffered a bad fall at
Huntingdon just two weeks ago when, on that occasion, I thought he had died
having shown all the tell-tale signs of a broken neck. Earlier this afternoon and well prior to
today’s run, I’d even checked back to see if he was the horse I’d remembered
on that occasion. It was
déjà vu today, the same signs, but this time his luck ran out with the worst
possible outcome. Poor boy. Definitely not what Kempton Park would have
wanted on a day advertised as family orientated. This was the third time The Last Night had
fallen in his last four runs, after a promising start of two wins over the
larger obstacles; but something must have been amiss and surely he deserved a
confidence boost back over hurdles for a while. RIP The Last Night. There’s
National Hunt racing at Plumpton tomorrow, but no
runners of interest. News that
St Leger and Ascot Gold Cup winner Leading Light may have run his last race
having picked up a double-injury at Ascot yesterday as a result of being
badly hampered during the first race. More I’m on
annual leave again tomorrow; so far I’ve copied yesterday’s races onto DVD,
uploaded photographs and selected which ones I’m going to use but not actually
sized or copied them into a document to upload onto the website yet. I’ve also set up the template to write my
diary and have both topped and tailed it.
There are a number of good programmes being shown on evening TV at the
moment which I’d like to watch so, to fit in with this, my current goal is to
complete my diary by the end of next weekend.
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Saturday 18 October 2014 |
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Ulzana’s Raid, trained
by Alan King and ridden by Wayne Hutchinson, wins the Handicap Hurdle (2
miles 5 furlongs) There were
four runners of interest at Cheltenham today and this is how
they fared: Champion
Court (Martin Keighley/Tom Scudamore) finished 7th
in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs] (11 ran). Midnight
Appeal (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 9th in the Handicap Chase [3
miles 1 furlongs] (13 ran). Ulzana’s Raid (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won and Seymour Eric (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 7th in the Handicap Hurdle (2 miles 5
furlongs] (13 ran); it was Wayne’s 9th winner of the season. There’s
National Hunt racing at Kempton Park tomorrow but no runners of interest ...
so I wouldn’t have gone, and I don’t feel quite so bad after all! Love this
cartoon by Darren Bird, following Noble Mission’s triumph in today’s Champion
Stakes at Ascot. https://mobile.twitter.com/DarrenBirdie/status/523583514567249920/photo/1 Here is
the Champion Stakes report from the ATR website. More |
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Friday 17 October 2014 |
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Just one
runner of interest at Cheltenham today and this is how
he fared: Benbane Head (Martin
Keighley/Sam Waley-Cohen) fell 4 out in the Amateur
Riders’ Handicap Chase (13 ran); tweets confirmed that Benny was fine
following the incident. Classic Colori (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) was a non-runner
in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Here is a
link to a round-up of today’s action at Cheltenham on the ATR website. More Tomorrow
there are four runners of interest at Cheltenham: 14:35
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Tom Scudamore) –
Handicap Chase [2 miles 4 furlongs] 15:45
Midnight Appeal (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [3 miles 1
furlongs] 16:25 Ulzana’s Raid (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Seymour
Eric (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Handicap Hurdle
(2 miles 5 furlongs] The plaza
below Cheltenham’s Parade Ring is looking good: https://twitter.com/CheltenhamRaces/status/523045066638913536 My Tent Or
Yours will spend this season on the sidelines having sustained a tendon
injury. More Loving the
Racing UK weekday racing initiative, so let’s hope I have a reason to go
weekday National Hunt racing soon ... namely Choc: http://www.racinguk.com/winterseasonticket There’s an official update on Alan King’s website
regarding the horses he spoke about yesterday at Wincanton: http://alankingracing.co.uk/news.htm |
|
Thursday 16
October 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Uttoxeter: L’Amiral David (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier) (6 ran). Monty’s
Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 5th
in the Handicap Chase [3 miles] (6 ran). Scarlett O’Tara (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
finished 7th in the Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Wincanton: Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). Hollow Penny (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) won the Handicap Chase [2 miles 4½ furlongs] (10 ran). It was not
a good day at Wincanton, with stalwart Dark Energy a fatality, along with a
mare named Ruby Glow. L Just two
runners of interest tomorrow, at Cheltenham: 17:00 Benbane Head (Martin Keighley/Sam Waley-Cohen)
– Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase 17:35
Classic Colori (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) –
Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Following
Hollow Penny’s win today, the RUK raceday presenter
interviewed Alan King. He asked about
the plans for three of the stable stars, namely Uxizandre,
Midnight Prayer and Balder Succes. Uxizandre won’t run at
Cheltenham this weekend, bypassing the fixture to run in Aintree’s Old Roan
Chase next weekend instead. The aim
for Midnight Prayer is to run in the Welsh Grand National with one warm-up
race beforehand. Alan wasn’t sure if
the owners wished their horse to run in the Aintree Grand National, saying it
might not be ‘their cup of tea’; he
said he wasn’t sure it was his either!
Balder Succes may run in the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter, or possibly the Schloer Chase on the Sunday of the Cheltenham Open
meeting; although the presenter did point out that maybe Sprinter Sacre and/or Sire De Grugy were
going to run in the latter! There’s
news that Irish Cheltenham Festival victor Vautour
is going steeple-chasing this season, with Faugheen
remaining over hurdles. More My weekend has officially begun J |
|
Wednesday 15
October 2014 |
|
There are
five runners of interest tomorrow: Uttoxeter: 14:30 L’Amiral David (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – National
Hunt Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 15:00
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles] 15:30
Scarlett O’Tara (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) – Novices’ Hurdle Wincanton: 14:20 Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’
Handicap Hurdle 15:50
Hollow Penny (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 4½ furlongs] On Monday,
Choc went to see Frankel, who stands at the Banstead
Manor Stud in Suffolk. https://twitter.com/Choc_Thornton/status/522105227940745216 Tomorrow is my ‘Friday’, as I have booked the ‘real’ Friday as annual leave, along with next Monday too. I’ve not taken much leave during recent
months, in fact just two days since Aintree and I have 12 days which I must
use before the end of the year, with five to carry over into January or
February too. |
|
Tuesday 14
October 2014 |
|
Two
runners of interest today at Huntingdon and this is how they
fared: Ordo Ab Chao (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Novices’
Hurdle by 15 lengths (3 ran); Wayne’s 8th winner of the season. Solstice
Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 3rd in the Standard Open NH
Flat Race (8 ran). There’s
National Hunt racing at Wetherby tomorrow but no
runners of interest. Join
Together is out for the season due to injury and Gwanako,
who I believe has been pointing with Megan Nicholls, has been retired. Former St
Leger winner Encke was lost today, having sustained
a fatal injury during exercise. More I think we’ve been pretty fortunate with the
weather in Hertfordshire today, with just a bit of drizzly rain at lunchtime;
reading Martin Keighley’s blog it sounds like it’s been very wet in the
Cotswolds. Mind you it was extremely
wet here yesterday; I got soggy walking to work and soggy walking home
yesterday evening too. I find this
kind of weather very depressing ... |
|
Monday 13
October 2014 |
|
Two
runners of interest tomorrow, at Huntingdon: 15:20 Ordo Ab Chao (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 17:20
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Standard Open NH Flat Race Wayne
Hutchison rode in the Alderbrook Handicap for
professional National Hunt jockeys at Goodwood
yesterday ... his mount finished a neck second to that of Richard
Hughes. Have I missed something? Does that mean Richard holds a dual
licence? But isn’t it a bit unfair
letting him ride in the race? Oaks and
King George heroine Taghrooda’s retirement has been
confirmed. More Mukhadram has also been retired
and Estimate will be retiring after her Champions Day engagement on Saturday.
More Captain Cee Bee has been retired aged 13. He won the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at
Cheltenham in 2008 ridden by Choc. More Lady
flat-racing jockey Kirsty Milczarek has been forced to retire
following a neck injury sustained at Brighton last October. More The Alan King-trained horses currently listed as ‘resting’ due to injury are – Bull And Bush, Chocala,
Genstone Trail, Herod The Great, Hung Parliament,
Meister Eckhart, Midnight Luca, Reyamour, The Mumper, Tickity Bleue, Vendor and Wilde Blue Yonder. I’ve
received a flyer from the PJA (Professional Jockeys Association) advertising
tickets for The Stobart Lesters
being held on Monday 22 December at the Hilton Metropole
in Birmingham. Tickets are £145 each;
not only is that very expensive but I really don’t think I’d like to play
gooseberry to Choc and his new girlfriend, Jennie, if they attend the event! |
|
Sunday 12
October 2014 |
|
No results
today, as Solstice Star was a non-runner at Ffos
Las. There’s
National Hunt racing at Sedgefield tomorrow but no runners of interest. Early this
morning I took a walk, through the local Agricultural College en-route. One of the College workers was feeding the
sheep in the field alongside the driveway, they rushed over to the gate when
he arrived and followed him all the way to the feeding station –
breakfast! There were a few animals in
the small pens further along my route – a handful of sheep, two pigs and a
couple of emus! Signs had been
attached to the fencing around their enclosures to say that many of the
animals had now been moved to their winter quarters and that the pens would
be rebuilt ahead of next spring. I
always look forward to seeing the animals.
I even
sprinted a few yards on three occasions; my upper back was a little numb when
I arrived home but it has returned to normal now. I then cleaned my car before lunch. I also
watched ATR’s Sunday Forum and two of their topics were the early retirement
of flat racehorses and the farcical race at Chepstow yesterday ... déjà vu in
light of yesterday’s blog! Evidently
the stewards didn’t even hold an enquiry into the running of the race. However,
plans went slightly awry this afternoon when there was no parking space
available at the churchyard due to an afternoon event at the church. The intention was for mum and me to remove
the dead flowers from the family’s grave and clean up ahead of the winter; we
aborted our plan, so will have to do it next weekend instead. Finally I spent 90 minutes on the phone to my
friend Denise, putting the world to rights!
I feel like I’m just marking time before my
racing programme begins ... please mend soon Choc, I miss you! L This is
the longest period of time I’ve not seen him for since I became a mega-fan in
March 2008. |
|
Saturday 11 October
2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Chepstow: Karezak (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle (12 ran); Wayne’s 7th
winner of the
season, as he rode Our Maimie to victory at Newton
Abbot yesterday to claim his 6th winner of the season. Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 7th in the Standard Open NH Flat Race
(10 ran). Forgotten
Gold finished 9th, last of the finishers, in the Handicap Chase at 17:30 (15
ran). The farce of
the day happened in the Limited Handicap Hurdle, won by the Skelton team’s Bertimont. The
race description from the point of view of the winner is as follows: “Took
20 seconds from walking through start until gallop started, made all, clear
until steadied pace after 1st, quickened pace up before next, soon clear, at
least 20 lengths ahead from 4th, eased towards finish” In other
words, he stole a march on the field because no-one wanted to make the
running, they let him go and no-one could catch him! It’s not the first time it’s happened in a
race and it won’t be the last either! There was
also an ex-jockey charity race run at Chepstow today; it was won by Graham
Bradley riding Danandy. Jimmy McCarthy finished 2nd riding the Alan
King-trained Ronaldinho. Carl Llewellyn rode the third. Martin Keighley’s Don’t Call Me Oscar was
also a participant, ridden by Jimmy Frost. Bless The
Wings won for his new trainer Gordon Elliott at Hexham today; a Handicap
Hurdle race. The Philip
Hobbs-trained Big Easy won the Cesarewitch at
Newmarket today. More Tomorrow
there’s just one runner of interest at Ffos Las: 17:30
Solstice Star (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) - Maiden Open NH Flat Race Australia,
winner of this season’s Derby, has been retired to stud slightly earlier than
expected due to a problem with one of his hooves which resulted in
lameness. More The flat
racing scene is just not ‘where it’s at’
for the true racing fan – all these horses being retired very young to go to
stud, leaving everyone wondering what might have been. Although I find it far easier to spot a
flat racing horse which will run well, than a National Hunt horse! Perhaps there are too many imponderables
with jump racing. As you know I don’t
bet, but I like to watch the horses whilst they are waiting at the start,
prior to being loaded into the stalls.
Those which look calm not sweaty and are interested in what is going
on around them, ears pricked, are the ones to follow! And you’re
not going to believe this but I was watching the Cesarewitch
trial race from Newmarket on TV three weeks ago and my pre-race pick for that
event using my tried and trusted method was ... Big Easy. He finished 2nd that day at 16-1 but, of
course, went one better today and won the big handicap!!! He was the 10-1 second favourite
today. But there
is good news for Treve fans, the owners have
back-tracked and she will remain in training with the aim of winning a
historic third Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. More Customs
have charged me £3.33 VAT for a dichroic pendant I
ordered from the USA, the item having entered the UK from outside the
EU. It was classed as a ‘gift’ item evidently, being worth over
£15 in value ($27 actually). However,
I seriously object to the additional £8.00 handling charge levied by the
Royal Mail before they would release the package to me. As the postage was paid before despatch and
it got no further than the local delivery office from where I collected it,
how can they categorise it as a handling charge? I’d call it blackmail ... £8.00 to walk 5
yards to collect it from the shelf in the delivery office perhaps? If only I could charge that for a job which
took just 30 seconds. I can only
presume that the problem arose because the item was described on the outside
of the package. So instead of costing £22.92
including postage, it cost me £34.25. Rather a shame really as, although I
like to and do buy many jewellery-related items from here in the UK,
sometimes it’s nice to purchase something a little different from further
afield. I forgot
to mention that my Hennessy Gold Cup Day ticket arrived yesterday. J |
|
Friday 10
October 2014 |
|
Here is
today’s result for my one runner of interest today, at Newton Abbot: Turn Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) trailed in a distant 3rd
and last in the Novices’ Chase (3 ran). Wonderful
Charm won the feature race under Sam Twiston-Davies. The race comments indicate an incident
packed race – poor old Double Ross fell having been unsighted when the always
wayward Colour Squadron jumped across him.
Despite
now taking a few days off following yesterday’s painful mishap, AP McCoy was
on hand at Newton Abbot to unveil a bronze bust of himself. More Tomorrow
there is National Hunt racing at Hexham and Chepstow with runners of
interest at the latter: 14:00 Karezak (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile
Hurdle. The horse sports the McNeill
colours. 18:00 Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Standard Open NH Flat Race In
addition, one of my favourites Forgotten Gold runs in the Handicap Chase at
17:30. I always look
upon this particular Chepstow fixture as being the start of the National Hunt
season proper! Yet another quiet weekend for me ... I’ve had a
really tiring week, so perhaps that is not a bad thing. Too much work and not enough time to do
it. But I have a long weekend next
weekend, with both Friday and Monday as annual leave. J It’s
about time I had some time off – I think I may have taken just one full day
and two half days’ leave since the Aintree Festival!!! |
|
Thursday 09
October 2014 |
|
It seems
my runners of interest did really well today! Exeter: Shadarpour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3
furlongs] (8 ran); Wayne’s 5th winner of the season. Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom Bellamy)
won the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (11 ran). Worcester: Castle
Cheetah (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) finished 2nd in the Maiden Hurdle
(10 ran). AP McCoy
took a battering in the final race at Worcester this afternoon; he was unseated
and brought down another runner, receiving a kick for his troubles. He’s gone for precautionary x-rays. More Just one
runner of interest tomorrow, at Newton Abbot: 14:50 Turn
Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’
Chase; he keeps his Novices tag this season as his first win over fences
didn’t happen until 27 May this year.
Prior to that, TOS had one of the worst cases of seconditis
you’re ever likely to come across!!! Black
Thunder, the beautiful Taquin Du Seuil, Wonderful Charm, Double Ross and Colour Squadron
make their seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot tomorrow. More I’m feeling exhausted, struggling to keep up with
the workload in my job yet again – 10.25 hours without a break today. I can’t stop yawning ... |
|
Wednesday 08
October 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Ludlow: My Lad
Percy (Martin Keighley/Sam Twiston-Davies) was
brought down in the Handicap Chase [3 miles 1½ furlongs]
(10 ran). Towcester: The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 2nd in
the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (5 ran). Galiotto (Noel Williams/Jamie
Moore) finished 8th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 3½ furlong] (11 ran). Georgian King (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) won the Handicap Chase [3 miles & ½ a
furlong] (9 ran); Well done to the team, their 7th
winner of the
season. And pleasing for the horse
too, after a run of three 2nds. There are
three runners of interest tomorrow: Exeter: 14:20 Shadarpour (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 3 furlongs] 16:50 Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Conditional
Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle Worcester: 17:00
Castle Cheetah (Martin Keighley/Richard Johnson) – Maiden Hurdle Unfortunately
Wilde Blue Yonder has picked up a tendon injury and is out for the season. L Sad news
today that Spirit Son has been put to sleep, his health having deteriorated
over the summer. He’s been living at Greatwood following retirement at the age of 6. I remember reading a fascinating article
about him in Horse and Hound when he was originally diagnosed with the health
problems which have now claimed his life. More Retired American racehorse legend Cigar has
passed away following complications after surgery to relieve symptoms caused
by arthritis in his neck. I can
sympathise there. More |
|
Tuesday 07
October 2014 |
|
There are
four runners of interest tomorrow: Ludlow: 15:00 My Lad
Percy (Martin Keighley/Sam Twiston-Davies) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles 1½ furlongs] Towcester: 14:10 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Novices’
Handicap Hurdle 16:10 Galiotto (Noel Williams/Jamie Moore) – Handicap Hurdle [2
miles 3½ furlong] 16:45
Georgian King (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles & ½ a furlong] I’m in a bad mood today and feeling totally fed
up L |
|
Monday 06
October 2014 |
|
Here is
today’s result from Stratford regarding my one
runner of interest: Mystery
Drama (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 2nd in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (6
ran). There’s no
National Hunt racing tomorrow. I guess I
should have called Treve a ‘Super-filly’ not a ‘Super-mare’
as she’s only 4 and, whereas any other breed of horse is a mare at 4, a
thoroughbred is not, due to their ‘official’
birthdays falling on 01 January each year!
Here is a link to another article regarding her, published today on
the ATR site. More After a very soggy day, I’m feeling quite shivery
this evening and will be changing to my winter-weight quilt before I turn in
tonight! |
|
Sunday 05
October 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Uttoxeter: Fighter
Jet (Alan King/Richard Johnson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [3 miles]
(7 ran). Huntingdon: Say When
(Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished 4th in the Novices’ Hurdle (7 ran). Gimme Five (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle (6 ran); Wayne’s 4th
winner of the season,
and his first since returning to action last Thursday following an injury
sustained on 18 May. Also, at
Kelso, Kumbeshwar made his debut for the Lucinda
Russell yard but completed in 4th, last of the finishers. Super-mare
Treve returned to brilliant form to win the Prix de
l’Arc de Triomphe for the
second year running. More There’s
National Hunt racing at Stratford tomorrow, with one
runner of interest: 15:30
Mystery Drama (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle It’s been
a very quiet weekend for me, I’ve spent a lot of time watching racing on
TV. Yesterday I ironed my winter work
wardrobe consisting of 11 skirts, and today I went for an early morning route
march. It took me around one hour and
ten minutes, which suggests I walked at least 3 and a half miles in distance;
it was slightly further than last Sunday morning. I felt really good at the end of today’s
walk, and I think I could have done a second circuit without bother! My ‘fuel’
of choice being ‘porridge power’! The
weather forecast for the coming week is wet and windy, so I’m not
particularly hopeful that I’ll be able to take a walk during many of my
lunch-breaks this week. Donny Osmond is on his way to the UK to promote
his new album, his 60th evidently!
During his stay he will be appearing on Pride of Britain, the Alan Titchmarsh Show, Loose Women, the One Show and Strictly
Come Dancing amongst other things. More |
|
Friday 03
October 2014 |
|
Here are
the results for today’s runners of interest at Fontwell Park: Kudaa Huraa
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2½
furlongs] (7 ran). Hollow
Penny (Alan King/Richard Johnson) blundered and unseated in the Handicap
Chase [2 miles 2 furlongs] (6 ran). There’s
National Hunt racing at Fontwell Park again
tomorrow but no runners of interest. On Sunday
there are three National Hunt fixtures with runners of interest at two of
these: Uttoxeter: 15:20
Fighter Jet (Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Hurdle [3 miles] Huntingdon: 13:50 Say
When (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’ Hurdle 15:00 Gimme Five (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle This
evening I had the opportunity to look back at Creepy’s
race via the ATR website archive service and, I must say, he was absolutely
brilliant as had been eluded to in all the tweets I’d read regarding his
run. I also watched Hollow Penny’s
race today; Dickie Johnson had absolutely no chance
of staying aboard but the members of the partnership appeared okay following
their mishap. I also
took a look back at that misty evening at Chepstow when Choc had his
accident; I think he was short of room on the inside and appeared to be fired
into the ground as Say When fell. No
wonder he was badly injured as a result.
There was nothing to see on my DVD recording, as it doesn’t copy in
widescreen format and he was nearer last than first at the time. Sad news
today that the 2012 Triumph Hurdle winner Countrywide Flame has been put down
aged just 6; he had been suffering from a degenerative bone disease which had
resulted in an enforced early retirement. No surprise that, once again, I have no
particular plans for the weekend. |
|
Thursday 02
October 2014 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Southwell: Once again
naughty Bold Tara (Martin Keighley/Conor Smith)
refused to race so didn’t take part in the Conditional Jockeys’ Training
Series Handicap Hurdle, thus making it a 2-runner match race. Warwick: Uriah Heep (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd and Laser Blazer (Alan King/Richard Johnson) won the Handicap
Hurdle [2 miles] (5 ran). There’s
National Hunt racing at Hexham and Fontwell Park
tomorrow, with runners of interest at the latter: Fontwell Park: 15:15 Kudaa Huraa (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2½ furlongs] 15:50 Hollow Penny (Alan King/Richard Johnson) –
Handicap Chase [2 miles 2 furlongs] |
|
Wednesday 01
October 2014 |
|
There are
three National Hunt fixtures tomorrow – Bangor, Southwell
and Warwick, with runners of interest at the latter two. And Wayne Hutchinson is back in the saddle
tomorrow also. Southwell: 16:40 Bold
Tara (Martin Keighley/Conor Smith) – Conditional
Jockeys’ Training Series Handicap Hurdle; hopefully the mare will have got
out of the right side of her bed tomorrow, having refused to race on the last
two occasions! Warwick: 14:40
Uriah Heep (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Laser
Blazer (Alan King/Richard Johnson) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles] The
refurbishment of the Cheltenham Weighing Room has been completed: https://twitter.com/CheltenhamRaces/status/517342425941958656 |
