OCTOBER 2015
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Saturday 31 October 2015 |
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I enjoyed
my day out at Ascot; not only was it a beautiful day, but I saw Choc (above
top) as hoped and said hello to him as he was on his way out at the end of
the day ... as you do! He was sporting
facial hair, as he does most of the time these days ... but it didn’t put me
off kissing him on the cheek!!! I actually
spent the time just pre-race, and just post-race, trying not to bump into
him. Because of the direction of the
sun, I stood on the ‘bridge’ above
the Parade Ring horse exit point to view the horses therein. So, to find my way to the grandstand
viewing steppings, I had to cross the path of
connections making their way to the Owners and Trainers box. So I hung back a bit in order to let his
group go first; I’d already noticed that he had to be shown the way by his
companions – very endearing; it must be very different from the jockeys’ eye
view of the racecourse! Then,
following the race, I actually got ahead of his group and had to take a
diversion from my intended route to the ‘also
ran’ unsaddling enclosure. I’m
trying hard not to ‘stalk’ him at
the races, but confess I did pay my first ever visit to the Ascot Pre-Parade
Ring, to see Ned Stark (above) being saddled and, of course, caught my first
glimpse of Choc there today. I still
get butterflies in anticipation of seeing him! Ascot: Ned Stark
(Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished 6th in the Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3) (15 ran). The race
was won by Pendra, for Charlie Longsdon,
JP McManus and Barry Geraghty. Wetherby: Grumeti (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th in the
West Yorkshire Hurdle (Grade 2) (9 ran). The race
was won by Kilcooley, again for trainer Charlie Longsdon; he had an across the card treble, with Masterplan also winning at Ascot. But it was not all good news for Charlie
today, as his yard lost Boogie In The Barn which took a heavy fall at Wetherby; the horse was returning from 564 days
absence. RIP. Noel Fehily rode a treble at Wetherby,
Paddy Brennan a double. Meanwhile
Aidan Coleman rode three winners at Ascot, Barry Geraghty
a double. Nicky Henderson trained two
winners at Ascot too. Trainer Harry
Fry had two winners at Wetherby, as did Colin Tizzard; the latter included Cue Card which won the
Charlie Hall Chase from Dynaste and Ballynagour. And,
last but not least, Lucinda trained two winners at Ayr! Baby Mix
finished lame having passed the winning post in 3rd in the Byrne Group
Handicap Chase and didn’t return to the Winners’ Enclosure; I hope he’s okay. Wayne
Hutchinson rode his 20th winner of the
season aboard Katachenko at Wetherby. Another
horse sadly lost this week was Kauto Stone; trained
by Ben Pauling, he died after a heavy fall at Stratford having been off the
racecourse for a year due to injury.
RIP. One runner
of interest tomorrow, at Huntingdon: 13:50 Duke
Of Sonning (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile
Hurdle I’ve no
particular plans for tomorrow, apart from having my hair trimmed and
beginning my post-Ascot website update.
I’ve fallen in love with my old purple coat all over again ... it will
be worn to the races again ... and my new Hotter black Danielle ‘shoe’ boots too. |
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Friday 30 October 2015 |
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There were
four runners of interest today and this is how they fared: Wetherby: Sceau Royal (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished a
nose 2nd in the Juvenile Hurdle (Listed) (5 ran). Uttoxeter: Marley Joe
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 11th and
Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) was pulled
up in the Novices’ Hurdle (14 ran). Lady
Persephone (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) finished 4th
in the Mares’ Maiden Hurdle (14 ran). There are
runners of interest tomorrow: Ascot: 15:25 Ned
Stark (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Sodexo Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3); he is a Dunkley
& Reilly Partnership owned horse and their Racing Manager is Choc! He
currently has 14 rivals – Houblon Des Obeaux, Virak, Fox Appeal,
Double Ross, Le Reve, Royal Player, Present View,
Lost Legend, Bennys Mist, Pendra,
What A Warrior, Leo Luna, Cantlow and No Buts; only
Pendra downwards carry less weight on this
occasion. Wetherby: 14:00 Grumeti (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – West Yorkshire
Hurdle (Grade 2); he’s being tried over 3 miles having won the Cesarewitch and rivals include Rock On Ruby, Splash Of Ginge and The Druids Nephew. I notice
that Ma Filleule is running in the Mares’ Listed
Hurdle at 14:30; it’s her final season prior to heading to the breeding
paddocks. The Grade
2 Charlie Hall Chase takes place at 15:05 and Grand National winner Many
Clouds will take on Menorah, Sam Winner, Holywell, Ballynagour, Cue Card and Dynaste. Meanwhile
the ex-Alan King-trained Uriah Heep is due to run
in the 16:00 Handicap Hurdle at Ayr. I’ve
discovered the name of the iron grey horse I saw when I visited Noel
Williams’ yard earlier this month – it’s Cinderfella: https://mobile.twitter.com/noelwilliams03/status/659695749899374592/photo/1 It appears
that I have plans for tomorrow ... namely a day out at Ascot races! Can’t image why ... LOL! But fingers crossed that I may see the
lovely Choc too. J I must be out
of practice, as it took me around an hour to decide upon what to wear
tomorrow. The current weather forecast
for Ascot is for some sunshine during the afternoon, with a high of 15
degrees – positively tropical for National Hunt racing! But, despite this, I’m still going to wear
two thermal t-shirts, a sweater and a fleece underneath my coat. You can never take too many chances at the
Berkshire track, as I’ve experienced some of my coldest race days at the
course! |
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Thursday 29 October 2015 |
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Three
runners of interest at Stratford-Upon-Avon this afternoon and
this is how they fared: Johnny Og (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won the Novices’ Limited
Handicap Chase (9 ran); Martin’s 11th
winner of the
season. Well done to the team. Brod Na Heireann (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 4th and Right On Roy (Martin Keighley/Killian
Moore) was pulled up in the Maiden Hurdle (14 ran); only 5 completed the
race, the remainder were pulled up. There are
four runners of interest tomorrow: Wetherby: 14:50 Sceau Royal (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile
Hurdle (Listed) Uttoxeter: 13:15
Marley Joe (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) &
Mille Nautique (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Novices’
Hurdle 13:50 Lady
Persephone (Alan King/Denis O’Regan) – Mares’
Maiden Hurdle Despite
holding an entry at Carlisle on Sunday, Mark Bradstock
is hoping that ground conditions will be suitable for Coneygree
to make his seasonal debut at Sandown Park a week Sunday instead. That will be an excellent crowd draw for
the Esher track. |
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Wednesday 28 October 2015 |
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Just one
runner of interest tomorrow, at Fakenham, and this
is how she fared: Mystery Code (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle (9 ran); Wayne’s 19th
winner of the
season. Three runners
of interest tomorrow, at Stratford-Upon-Avon: 14:40
Johnny Og (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 15:10 Brod Na Heireann (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Right On Roy (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) –
Maiden Hurdle I thought
I heard fireworks this evening so looked out of the window only to see what I
presume were numerous Chinese lanterns flying over the roofs of my near
neighbours. Either that or they were
UFOs! They were being released a road
or two away from where I live by, presumably, total idiots! I can’t believe the stupidity of people who
would release burning objects into the air not knowing when or where they
would land; all I can say is that they were heading in a northerly direction,
across residential areas in the first instance. |
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Tuesday 27 October 2015 |
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There were
three runners of interest today, at Bangor-on-Dee, and it was a bit of
an up and down (or should that be a down and up) day for Wayne Hutchinson: Fred Le
Macon (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) finished 3rd in the Conditional Jockeys’
Handicap Hurdle (7 ran); the maiden having survived a bad blunder mid-race. Precision
Five (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) unseated at the second flight in the
Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). She stepped
on the flight and stumbled because she was unsighted; the field was bunched
up because they were travelling too slowly. Criq Rock (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Standard Open NH Flat Race (14 ran); Wayne’s 18th
winner of the
season. Just one runner
of interest tomorrow, at Fakenham: 14:10
Mystery Code (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle I decided
to try out my new contact lenses for work today, and the toric
one was fine once my eye had adjusted to the slightly thicker than normal lense. I used to
wear hard lenses, before the disposable ones came into common usage, so it
would have been a surprise if it had not suited. Disposable daily
lenses are so much easier, when I recall all the faffing
about with the cleaning solutions that the hard lenses required! And they are not expensive for me
personally, because I probably use fewer than 30 a year anyway. And I
think I’m finally regaining control over my acid reflux; colds and flu can
cause symptoms, even when I don’t use any virus busting drugs. It’s a month since I had a cold, but it
takes 4-6 weeks to get back to normal again ... so I don’t want any more
colds this winter. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr! And, hopefully, my flu jab will prevent me
getting flu. |
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Monday 26 October 2015 |
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There are
three runners of interest tomorrow, at Bangor-on-Dee: 13:55 Fred
Le Macon (Alan King/Kevin Dowling) – Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle 15:00
Precision Five (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 16:30 Criq Rock (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Standard Open NH
Flat Race Looking
ahead to the weekend, Ned Stark holds an entry in Ascot’s Sodexo
Gold Cup Handicap Chase and also in Sunday’s Colin Parker Memorial
Intermediate Chase at Carlisle. Following further
investigations close to the St Albans sink hole, a survey has revealed the
likelihood of another void beneath the surface ... and indications are that
it may be up to three times the size of the first one and extends under the
houses. Very worrying times for those
with homes in Fontmell Close. More |
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Sunday 25 October 2015 |
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RIP Radjhani Express National
Hunt racing lost one of its better known horses today, when Radjhani Express broke a hind leg upon landing over the penultimate
open-ditch during today’s Grade 2 Monet’s Garden Old Roan Chase at
Aintree. He was a Cheltenham Festival
winner and also the winner of last season’s Topham
Chase over the Grand National fences. Sound
Investment won today’s race, beating last year’s victor, Wishfull
Thinking. Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Aintree: Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) finished 4th in the Veterans’
Handicap Chase (8 ran); last year’s winner, the popular Lie Forrit, was pulled up shortly after halfway – it was not
a going day for him. Wincanton: McCabe
Creek (Alan King/Jamie Insole) finished 3rd in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5
furlongs & 82 yards] (11 ran). Theatre
Goer (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle (8 ran). Cahill
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Juvenile Hurdle (6 ran). But my old
favourite Forgotten Gold won the Handicap Chase for the Desert Orchid Silver
Cup! (8 ran). Choc spent
yesterday shooting in Leicestershire, with son William, girlfriend Jennie,
his parents, brother Richard and Richard’s two sons. There are
no runners of interest tomorrow. |
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Saturday 24 October 2015 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest: Chelmsford: Baltic
Histoire (Jamie Osborne/Timmy Murphy) finished 8th in the Nursery for
2-year-olds [5 furlong handicap] (8 ran). Cheltenham: Turn Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the
Handicap Chase [1 mile 7 furlongs & 199 yards] (12 ran). Karezak (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Hurdle for 4-year-olds (8 ran). Champion
Court (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 8th
in the Handicap Chase [3 miles & 1 furlong], but the position does not
reflect how well he ran (12 ran). Cheltenham
got some rain, but they also got some sunshine and had to bypass a hurdle
later in the day. Whereas Newbury,
which I don’t think were expecting too much wet weather, was absolutely dire! Sadly, My
Lad Percy sustained a tendon injury when finishing lame at Cheltenham
yesterday, so will need to spend a year on the sidelines. Having
watched The Morning Line, I wish I’d put a bet on my fancy for the big race
at Doncaster ... Marcel won at 33-1! There are
also runners of interest tomorrow: Aintree: 14:30 Any
Currency (Martin Keighley/Aidan Coleman) – Veterans’ Handicap Chase; the
popular Lie Forrit also runs in this race. Wincanton: 13:40
McCabe Creek (Alan King/Jamie Insole) – Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs
& 82 yards] 14:15
Theatre Goer (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Novices’ Hurdle 16:16
Cahill (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle And old
favourite Forgotten Gold is due to take part in the Handicap Chase to be run
at 14:45. I’ve not
done much today, apart from watch the racing on TV, and Strictly Come
Dancing; I’ve also knitted two Katia Big Bang loopy
scarves – one in navy and one in bright red – they don’t take long to do. |
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Friday 23 October 2015 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Cheltenham: My Lad
Percy (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 8th in the Pertemps
Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) (11 ran); he ran well for a long way but
faded badly after the last and was reported to have finished lame. So I hope
he is okay. Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Mr Joshua Newman)
finished 10th in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase (14 ran). There are
four runners of interest tomorrow: Cheltenham: 14:10 Turn
Over Sivola (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap
Chase [1 mile 7 furlongs & 199 yards] 14:45 Karezak (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Hurdle for
4-year-olds 15:20
Champion Court (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles & 1 furlong] Chelmsford: 18:05
Baltic Histoire (Jamie Osborne/Timmy Murphy) – Nursery for 2-year-olds [5
furlong handicap] The
current weather forecast for Cheltenham tomorrow is heavy rain around 09:00,
light rain between 10:00 to noon, cloudy for an hour after midday, then light
rain again between 13:00 to 15:00, followed by heavy rain between 15:00 to
18:00. I think it’s succeeded on
putting me off going tomorrow, having hoped for pleasant weather and the
company of my friend Lesley too. I
also get apprehensive these days, when I’ve not been out to the races for a
while. What a bummer. But at least there’s a 50/50 possibility of
a trip to Ascot next Saturday although, knowing my luck, Ned Stark will run
at Wincanton the weekend after!!! Choc and
Jennie have got William staying with them this weekend; Choc’s
one of my friends on facebook. There were
a number of photos taken at Cheltenham racecourse tweeted today: The first
is of Freddie and Harry Keighley enjoying an afternoon out with their school
friends, and with the new walkway in the background: https://mobile.twitter.com/belindakeighley/status/657549095909855232/photo/1 Belinda
Keighley with sons Freddie and Harry standing on the new Owners’ and
Trainers’ balcony overlooking the racecourse: https://mobile.twitter.com/belindakeighley/status/657550330855620608/photo/1 Trainer
Fergal O’Brien has tweeted a couple of photos taken from the walkway, overlooking
the Winners’ Enclosure: https://mobile.twitter.com/FOBRacing/status/657551981985296388/photo/1 From
another angle: https://mobile.twitter.com/FOBRacing/status/657554639508914176/photo/1 And again,
this time, a photo courtesy of the racecourse: https://mobile.twitter.com/FOBRacing/status/657554639508914176/photo/1 I like the
idea of steppings on the walkway although,
personally, all my viewing takes place at ground level! And here
is a view of the new grandstand, taken from the track itself: https://mobile.twitter.com/Channel4Racing/status/657579344131444736/photo/1 The horses
in the foreground are those taking part in the first race of the day, number
5 being Penglai Pavilion, trained by John Ferguson
and ridden by Aidan Coleman; they won this novices’ hurdle race. I think
I’ve enjoyed my day off ... although it always proves to be expensive when
I’m not at work! I almost cannot
remember the last time I went shopping to Colney
Fields retail park; it might even have been the day before I set off to
Aintree in April! Anyway, I bought two
pairs of faux sheepskin hand-warmers (one pair black and one pair grey), a
pair of ‘penguin’ fingerless
gloves/mittens, two packs of 40 denier tights (my favourite triple packs of
grey, black and purple), and a pack of 5 ‘Percy
Pig’ Christmas socks! And it’s
really crazy that it cost a total of £69 for just those small items!!! I then
went into Next, to have a look at their handbags, and found a navy blue one –
I have very specific criteria for handbags; they need to hold the proverbial
‘kitchen sink’, have an across the
body strap and possibly handles too, plus secure zip fastenings. I dislike those which have just a small
zipped compartment in the centre and a large press-stud at the top edge,
because not all of one’s valuables will fit in the secure section and they
are not particularly weatherproof either.
Nor do I like those with just a shoulder strap; or at least not these
days. I also
visited Accessorize, looking for a burgundy handbag I’d seen on the internet
but, instead, bought a large black and tan one which also fitted my
criteria! |
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Thursday 22 October 2015 |
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Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Southwell: Marley Joe
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was a non-runner
in the NH Novices’ Hurdle The Pier
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was pulled up in
the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 153 yards] (11 ran). Ted’s Lad
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th and Weyburn
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 7th in
the Maiden Open NH Flat Race (13 ran). It’s Day
One of Cheltenham’s Showcase fixture tomorrow, and there are a
couple of runners of interest: 15:20 My
Lad Percy (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Pertemps
Handicap Hurdle (Series Qualifier) 17:05 Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Mr Joshua ‘Midnight Prayer’ Newman) – Amateur
Riders’ Handicap Chase There’s news
that Menace is back to his old self, following a quiet couple of weeks
following his run at Exeter. The
current plan is to run him at Uttoxeter in a 2
miles 4 furlongs handicap hurdle race on Saturday 14 November; that clashes
with Paddy Power day at Cheltenham’s Open.
I got a
nice surprise today, when I went into WH Smith’s to get three old lotto
tickets checked; I won £25 on Wednesday 07 October’s draw. Sadly, that was the final day of the old
style draw, with 1 to 49 numbers, so my chances of winning another £25 (or
more, as if) have greatly decreased since then. But I did get one free lucky dip ticket
too, for having two numbers last Saturday; mind you, the numbers on that
ticket are three sets of two consecutive numbers, which doesn’t seem very
random to me! My ticket
for Pasha’s dance show cost £25.75, so my outlay is almost covered by my win;
apart from the fact I’ve already paid out goodness knows how much just to win
back that amount. But I only spend £4
a week on lotto; yes, I know that’s over £200 a year. Ouch!
Although I have actually won back £125 whilst each line has cost £2. |
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Wednesday 21 October 2015 |
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Otherwise
known as Back To The Future Day!!! There were
four runners of interest today and this is how they fared: Worcester: 16:00 Avispa (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
finished 2nd in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (5 ran). Fontwell Park: Board Of
Trade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Novices’ Hurdle (8
ran). Friendly
Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) unseated in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 5
furlongs & 31 yards] (4 ran); the ex-Alan King-trained Frizzo finished 2nd in this race. Miss Crick
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Mares’ Intermediate Open NH
Flat Race (7 ran). Meanwhile Calipto won on debut over the larger obstacles: https://mobile.twitter.com/FontwellPark/status/656892166619418624/photo/1 And Alla Svelta continues to make a
recovery following his Fontwell Park fall a number
of weeks ago: https://mobile.twitter.com/jess_galletta/status/656861483620548608/photo/1 Tomorrow
there are runners of interest at Southwell: 15:00
Marley Joe (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – NH
Novices’ Hurdle 16:05 The
Pier (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap
Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 153 yards] 16:35
Ted’s Lad (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & Weyburn
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Maiden Open NH
Flat Race I have to
mention that I’m now dithering regarding an outing to Cheltenham on Saturday,
especially as it’s supposed to be a wet day.
It appears that rain now has the ability to put me off; it wasn’t like
that in Choc’s day!
The Apple
Tree Stud’s Baltic Histoire holds an entry for Chelmsford on Saturday evening
so, whilst I’d be heading west, Choc might be heading east and vice versa on
the return journey! There are
quite a few changes going on at Cheltenham, now that their redevelopment work
has been completed. Punters heading in
from the north and east are now expected to park in the north car park; this
is to ease traffic congestion around the racecourse. Personally, the only time I’ve had a
problem escaping from the town is when the traffic police have intervened to
force me to take an unexpected route.
I have a horrible feeling that I’ll now get trapped in a long tailback
through Prestbury when I leave the racecourse. Besides, it’s taken me 7 years to perfect
my routes! Races at
the Festival will now take place every 40 minutes, as opposed to the current
35 minutes; this is to give connections more time to prepare their horses and
get them to the pre-parade and parade ring in sufficient time for racegoers to see them.
It also allows everyone more time to use the racecourse facilities
between each race, presumably to spend more money in the bars too ... but I
now have to stand doing nothing for an extra five minutes between each race,
often in the freezing cold. The new
mares’ novices’ hurdle has been registered as the Dawn Run Novices’ Hurdle,
although it will bear the name of the sponsor. Qualification for the Pertemps
Final has been tweaked, and Festival’s Cross-Country race will now be a
conditions event, not a handicap – that will be of advantage to Balthazar
King and disadvantageous to last year’s winner Rivage
D’Or. Any Currency is currently rated
at 132, so I guess it’s ‘swings and
roundabouts’, as Balthazar King may not be the same horse since the
injury he sustained in the Grand National; besides Martin Keighley is happy
with this change of classification as his charge is a specialist in this
race. The Open Cross-Country race will
now be a handicap, and the December race a conditions race. The Relkeel
Hurdle has been moved from the December fixture to New Year’s Day. As I’m on
the lookout for tickets going on sale for Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang at Milton Keynes next May, I thought I’d also take a
look at our local arena. I discovered
that Pasha Kovalev is appearing in his own dance
show also next May, so I’ve booked a ticket for that. From experience last June, I know it’s
impossible to see the dancers’ feet if you sit too close to the stage but,
regardless and because it was available, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to
book the centre seat in the front row! Tomorrow
is my ‘Friday’ as I’ve booked the
day after tomorrow as annual leave.
It’s the first of 12 days’ annual leave that I need to take before the
end of the year, and my first working day off since early July ... and only
my second working day off since I went to Aintree!!! |
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Tuesday 20 October 2015 |
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The Racing
Post published the Alan King stable tour today, so I was up early and waiting
outside the local supermarket in anticipation of purchasing a copy when they
opened at 08:00! So, having
read the details, I can relay some information regarding a number of the 120
horses in his charge this season. Of
course Uxizandre
is on the sidelines this term; Carraig Mor currently also.
Starting
with the Dunkley and Reilly horses of course; Ardamir, which won in France
in May, had a break at the Apple Tree Stud so is now just getting going and should
be ready to run by the end of November.
Alan states that the horse has plenty of size and scope, so will be
more than just a juvenile hurdler, and says he’s an interesting prospect! And,
secondly, Ned Stark – his seasonal
debut will be either Ascot on 31 October or Wincanton a week later, with a
view to running him in the Hennessy or another good 3-mile handicap chase ...
so that’s a 50/50 date for my diary for a trip to Ascot! I’ve not been there for ages. Annacotty is being
aimed at the Paddy Power; Grumeti will return to hurdling to see if he enjoys it and
can be competitive, and may run at Wetherby on 31
October – otherwise he’ll be put away for the next flat season; no more
steeplechase fences for him! Despite
his age, 10-year-old Manyriverstocross
is back in training and in good form. Miles To Memphis has been given a
good break following a disappointing period and will be aimed at 2½ mile
hurdle races, or thereabouts. There
are plans for fragile Montbazon
to go novice chasing, but they need to tread carefully due to his past injury
problems. Ordo Ab Chao is due to go chasing, but Alan will wait for the
rain to arrive before risking him, as he is quite a heavy horse. Midnight
Prayer was withdrawn from last season’s Welsh Grand National on the
morning of the race because they weren’t happy with his legs but, after
having the remainder of last season off, and doing lots of road work, he’s
back cantering and seems to be okay.
They will look for a 3-mile chase on soft ground at the end of next
month for him, although Alan’s not sure if he will be ready in time to take
part in this season’s Welsh Grand National renewal. Sego Success got a little tired
towards the end of his seasonal debut at Chepstow earlier this month, and
Alan thinks he will probably run at the Cheltenham Open meeting, in a 3½ mile
handicap chase; the horse doesn’t mind soft ground but heavy is not
ideal. The trainer admits to making
rather a mess of Smad Place’s 2014/2015 season, by sending
him to the Hennessy Gold Cup without a run, and that put him out of sorts for
the entire campaign. The horse has
been given a good break, and has undergone a minor wind operation, so is
around a fortnight behind schedule but is now in good form. Having won just two chases, he qualifies
for graduation chases so may take up that option. The Tourard Man ... having been given a run over hurdles at
Chepstow, he will now go novice chasing over 3 miles; he’s been placed in
hunter chases in Ireland and Alan thinks he will do well. Turn
Over Silvola may start off at Cheltenham this
weekend if it’s decent ground. Ulzana’s Raid is currently on box rest,
having suffered a small stress fracture of a cannonbone,
so he won’t be seen until after Christmas; once he returns, he will run over
2 miles 5 or 6 furlongs. Valdez won’t be ready to run
until December, having returned from a leg problem; he’ll remain at 2 miles
for the time being. Wilde Blue Yonder also returns from
injury, and will remain over hurdles, contesting valuable 2-mile hurdle
races, although he will stay up to 2 miles 4 furlongs if required. Alan likes Winner Massagot, but admits it was a
step too far to run him at Aintree in Grade 1 company; he fell. The horse prefers good ground at the moment,
and will be campaigned in handicap hurdles.
Alan is
very excited about Yanworth,
owned by JP McManus; he’s bigger and stronger following a summer at his
owner’s stud farm and, with improved home work since returning, he’ll begin
over 2 miles. He’s also been sent
three rangy 4-year-olds by JP, as yet unnamed, including a half-brother to
Puffin Billy. All-in-all,
Alan thinks they will be strong in the novice hurdle division, last year’s
good bumper horses having moved into this sphere. They also have a lot of useful fillies and
mares to run in bumpers and novice hurdles, although they don’t have many for
the big mares’ races, as a number have been retired to stud (that includes
Apple Tree Stud’s The Pirate’s Queen).
There are
runners of interest tomorrow: Fontwell Park: 14:25
Board Of Trade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Hurdle 16:10
Friendly Society (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 5
furlongs & 31 yards] 17:15 Miss
Crick (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat Race Worcester: 16:00 Avispa (Alan King/Denis O’Regan)
– Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle |
|
Monday 19 October 2015 |
|
There were
two runners of interest at Plumpton today: Wishing And Hoping (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Maiden Hurdle (9 ran); Wayne’s 17th
winner of the
season. It was an incident-packed
race, with the leader running out and a loose horse taking out another runner
at the same flight! Gone Too
Far (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 7th in the Novices’ Limited
Handicap (8 ran); he blows hot and cold, so you never quite know whether it
will be a going day or not – he was the 100/30 favourite today! There’s
National Hunt racing at Exeter tomorrow, but no runners of interest. It looks
like I’ll be ‘Norman No-Mates’ on
Saturday for a trip to Cheltenham, as my friend Lesley has hurt her back;
although she had also forgotten to put the date in her diary, thinking that I
wouldn’t be venturing out to the races except on feature days now that Choc
has retired! However,
we may be heading to Milton Keynes to see Lee Mead in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang next May! Pontefract
seems to be featuring on TV these past two days, with licorice
growing returning to the town as featured on yesterday’s Countryfile
programme (I love licorice); then Most Haunted
featured Pontefract’s Black Monk poltergeist – with part 2 next week; and
then there was racing from Pontefract today, their final fixture of the
season. |
|
Sunday 18 October 2015 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Kempton Park: Oceane (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle (4 ran); Wayne’s 16th
winner of the
season. Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Handicap Chase [3 miles] (7 ran). The New
One won the feature hurdle event for the third year in succession. There are
two runners of interest at Plumpton tomorrow: 14:30
Wishing And Hoping (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Maiden Hurdle; for the same
connections as Smad Place. 16:00 Gone
Too Far (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Novices’ Limited Handicap I’ve
completed and uploaded the diary and photos relating to my visit to Noel
Williams’ yard last weekend. More |
|
Saturday 17 October 2015 |
|
Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Market Rasen: Desert Joe
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was pulled-up in the Handicap Chase [2 miles 7
furlongs & 191 yards) (10 ran). Presenting Lisa (Alan
King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle (6 ran); Wayne’s 15th
winner of the
season. And a
reminder of tomorrow’s runners of interest at Kempton Park: 14:15 Oceane (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) - Juvenile Hurdle 15:50
Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles] I am glad
I bought those Hotter ankle boots last weekend, as I checked online today and
all three colours in size 8 are now sold out.
Phew! |
|
Friday 16 October 2015 |
|
I know I’m
back online now ... Firstly
here are today’s results for my runners of interest at Wincanton: The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) finished 3rd in
the Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (4 ran). Laser
Blazer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the Handicap Hurdle [1
mile 7 furlongs 65 yards] (8 ran). Tomorrow
there are runners of interest at Market Rasen, both for owner Liz Prowting: 15:55
Desert Joe (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs
& 191 yards) 16:26
Presenting Lisa (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’ Handicap Hurdle Then, on
Sunday, at Kempton Park: 14:15 Oceane (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) - Juvenile Hurdle 15:50
Midnight Cataria (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles] The main
draw is The New One making his seasonal debut in their Listed Hurdle race. There are lots
of bits and bobs of racing news today: Richard
Johnson rode his 100th winner of the season at Wincanton when piloting He’s A
Bully to victory; he rode a double on the card. Noel Fehily rode
a treble on the same card! Balthazar
King is fit again and will be aimed at the Cheltenham Festival’s Glenfarclas cross-country race. Cole
Harden has undergone another wind operation. Zarkandar and Caid Du Berlais are out for the season due to injury. Did I hear
a discussion on ATR’s ‘Get In’ show
saying that Silviniaco Conti will be aimed at this
season’s Grand National? Jack
Sherwood sustained a suspected broken arm in a fall at Fakenham
today. And there
will be a late decision regarding Gleneagles’ participation at Ascot
tomorrow; any rain equals a no-show ... yawn, yawn, yawn. Sorry
there is a shortage of web links these days but, since ATR updated their
website, it’s a problem to find links which will remain live. There’s
news today that Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is going on tour; but there’s good news and bad news
regarding the casting – Lee Mead and Jason Manford
are to share the role of Caractacus Potts – I love
Lee but can’t stand Jason! However,
Jason will be in the show from 10 February 2016 to 24 April 2016, Lee from 4
May 2016 to 18 September 2016; Jason returns from 05 October 2016. Martin Kemp is to play the Child
Catcher. I shall speak to Lesley when
I see her next week and keep my fingers crossed that Lee’s stint will
coincide with a suitable theatre location.
I didn’t manage
to finalise my contact lenses purchase yesterday because I’m not totally
satisfied with the vision in my right eye when wearing them. The optician has now given me a trial pack
of toric lenses; I will wear a normal lense in the left eye and the toric
lense in the right eye; they are intended to
correct astigmatism, but not everyone gets on with them. Trust me to have astigmatism in just one
eye! I shall return to see her in early
November and make a decision about the lenses then. I’ve no
plans for this weekend except to, hopefully, complete and upload my ‘Menace’ diary. I’m
looking forward to ‘The Returned’
returning tonight on More4 ... and a new series of ‘Most Haunted’ starting at 22:00 on Sunday on Really too! |
|
Thursday 15 October 2015 |
|
There were
runners of interest at Uttoxeter today and this is how
they fared: Duke Of Sonning (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Maiden Hurdle (10 ran); Wayne’s 14th
winner of the
season. Board Of Trade
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) was a non-runner in the NH Novices’ Hurdle
(Qualifier) Double Chocolate (Martin
Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) won the Handicap Chase [3
miles 2 furlongs] (10 ran); Martin’s 10th
winner of the
season, well done to the team. Despite
rising 13, there’s obviously still life in the old horse yet! Cearys (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
was pulled up in the Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 168 yards] (11
ran). I gather
owner Max McNeill lives in Sonning, hence the name
given to the horse. I know the Thamesside village well ... although I didn’t enjoy my
trip through it last Saturday when it took me over 15 minutes to travel
around one mile in distance! But it
was lunchtime, and is always a bottle-neck due to the single track traffic-light
controlled ancient bridge over the river.
Reading do actually want to built a new bridge crossing to the east of
the town, but the problem is the landing side on the north bank of the river
will need to be in Oxfordshire ... and they are not keen! There are
two runners of interest tomorrow, at Wincanton: 14:25 The Kvilleken (Martin Keighley/Killian Moore) – Novices’
Handicap Hurdle 15:35
Laser Blazer (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7
furlongs 65 yards] There’s also
further news from Tattersalls Book 2 sale – Apple
Tree Stud has purchased two bay fillies in addition to the chestnut Pivotal
filly purchased from Book 1. They are
Lot 992 from Highclere Stud, by Invincible Spirit
out of Leavingonajetplane - £90,000; and from Crimbourne Stud Lot 1223, by Helmet out of Red Fuschia - £36,000. So, not
only am I a lover of National Hunt racing, I also follow flat racing in
respect to the Apple Tree Stud runners, and now bloodstock too! Don
Cossack won on his seasonal debut at Punchestown
today; a Grade 3 chase. He’s a
stunning looking horse. Buttevant Boy is featured in this week’s ‘The horse that made me’ column in
Horse and Hound; purchased for just £180 (although that would have been worth
considerably more in real terms in around 1970) and, of course, ridden by
Graham Fletcher. That’s certainly a
blast from the past! I’ve not
pressed the ‘upgrade’ button yet,
to move from Zeus to Apache ... but, hopefully, will do so any time now! And you’ll know when I have, because you’ll
then be able to read this!!! |
|
Wednesday 14 October 2015 |
|
Here are
the results for my runners of interest today: Kempton Park: Baltic
Histoire (Jamie Osborne/Tom Queally/Apple Tree
Stud) was a non-runner in the Nursery Handicap. Nottingham: Jazzy
(Martin Keighley/Jamie Spencer) finished 3rd in the Maiden Stakes Div I (11
ran). Worcester: 15:25 The Barbury Queen (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 6th
in the Mares’ Intermediate Open NH Flat Race (8 ran). 16:00
Quantum Of Solace (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 6th in the Novices’
Hurdle (9 ran). I notice
that Uriah Heep, who is now trained by R Mike
Smith, finished 3rd in a Handicap Hurdle at Wetherby
today. There are
runners of interest at Uttoxeter tomorrow: 14:20 Duke
Of Sonning (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile
Maiden Hurdle 14:55
Board Of Trade (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – NH Novices’ Hurdle (Qualifier) 15:30
Double Chocolate (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles 2 furlongs] 16:05 Cearys (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– Handicap Hurdle [1 mile 7 furlongs & 168 yards] Many
Clouds will begin this season’s campaign with a run in the Charlie Hall Chase
at Wetherby on 31 October. Micheal Nolan suffered concussion at Worcester, also an injury
to his right arm, and has been taken to Worcester Royal Infirmary to be
checked out. My ‘Menace’ diary is progressing well, and
I’ve almost completed the initial draft.
|
|
Tuesday 13 October 2015 |
|
Concern had
been growing on my part regarding my website blog updates for the past few
days; it wasn’t that I hadn’t written them ... as you can see below ... but
the fact that, despite me uploading them, nothing was appearing online! Anyway,
having realised that I would have to investigate the unknown problem this
evening, I then received an email in my work inbox late this afternoon from
my provider telling me that, as their vendor no longer supported their Zeus
platform, all web hosting would be moved to their new Apache platform ... at
this point I take a brief pause to make Red Indian noises ... oops, I suppose
I should say Native American in order to be politically correct! My
provider also sent me a link to a preview of the new website – the functionality
appeared to be okay – but there was a problem with text characters such as
apostrophes, exclamation marks, dashes, and spaces marked by little boxes
instead of just space! The latter a
problem between sentences when I use two blank spaces as taught during my
secretarial course many moons ago – I gather it’s just one space now, but I
cannot change a habit of a lifetime.
Besides, I find it a lot easier to read with two spaces as opposed to
one. So, having
arrived home, I phoned up the support team and a member thereof loaded a
small file onto the system and it seems to have done the trick as
promised. As I write this, I’ve not
taken the plunge to upgrade ahead of schedule but I’m ‘on the end of the springboard’ and expect to do so tomorrow! I really cannot wait until the actual
scheduled date of 27 October – that’s miles away – as, although I can upload
my blog updates, they cannot be viewed until I do so!!! But I gather it’s now just a matter of
updating my DNS records so everyone can see it once more! Now, back
to the racing ... There is a
horse from each of my ‘yards/owners of
interest’ tomorrow: Kempton Park: 17:45
Baltic Histoire (Jamie Osborne/Tom Queally/Apple
Tree Stud) – Nursery Handicap Nottingham: 13:30
Jazzy (Martin Keighley/Jamie Spencer) – Maiden Stakes Div I Worcester: 15:25 The Barbury Queen (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Mares’
Intermediate Open NH Flat Race 16:00
Quantum Of Solace (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Novices’ Hurdle; she lives in
the stable next door to Menace and she’s nice-natured too! Talking of
Noel, the injured Kincora Fort (aka Brian) is
reported to be eating him out of house and home! I think
Menace has been given a mark of 104 for his handicap debut. Seymour
Eric is back in training with Martin Keighley: https://mobile.twitter.com/martinkeighley7/status/653538657320701952/photo/1 And Quevega’s filly foal is due to be sold at Tattersalls Ireland National Hunt Sale in November: https://mobile.twitter.com/rpbloodstock/status/653976957617618948/photo/1 Once again,
The New One will make his seasonal debut at Kempton Park on Sunday but, as
there are no runners of interest for me – in other words, Dunkley and Reilly
jumpers – I won’t be venturing out.
But I do have a trip planned for Cheltenham’s Showcase Saturday
regardless, with my friend Lesley. |
|
Monday 12 October 2015 |
|
Day one of
the Book 2 Tattersalls sale was running quite late
this evening and I was able to watch the Apple Tree Stud’s Tamayuz/Duo de Choc colt go through the ring, at
19:45. He fetched a good price -
£45,000 - having been sold to bloodstock agent Jeremy Brummitt
who purchased on behalf of Sir Mark Prescott.
With the flat season close to reaching its
conclusion, there’s news regarding three National Hunt stars. Faugheen is expected
to return to action in the Morgiana Hurdle at Punchestown; meanwhile Vautour
is due to head to Ascot for the Amlin 1965 Chase;
and Rock on Ruby is being aimed at the Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby. Not good news for Donald McCain; one of his
owners has removed 50 horses from his yard: There are no runners of interest tomorrow,
despite there being one National Hunt fixture, at Huntingdon. I was just
thinking I would be having a quiet evening ... before I remembered that I
have a diary to write, about Saturday’s visit to see Menace! |
|
Sunday 11 October 2015 |
|
I very much
enjoyed my visit to White Shoot Stables yesterday morning, to see Menace
(above). He’s ‘resting’ following Thursday exertions, and Noel has been putting
a massage rug on him to ease any aches and pains and speed recovery. Little
known facts ... Menace is not a ‘trencher’,
in fact he barely touches his food during the day, preferring to eat up in
the evening when the stables are quiet.
But he does like polos, and a carrot fed to
him by admirers yesterday! His pet
name, given to him by his breeder, was ‘Hayden’. When searching for his racing name, Noel’s
partner Clare asked a friend in the hunt service if they had any examples of
names given to naughty hounds and ‘Menace’
was one of the suggestions. Noel will
be moving to Churn Stables in a few months’ time – it’s still in Blewbury, about a mile away from his current
location. I presume it offers more
space as currently, three of his charges are housed within a small hay barn –
Midnight Merlot, Theatre Goer and AN Other unnamed (an iron grey). All being
well, and having run on his merits in his three hurdles outings, Menace
should be given a handicap mark on Tuesday.
Connections are hoping for 100, but fear it may be 105. Once handicapped, his next outing is likely
to be over 2 miles and 3 or 4 furlongs ... I shall be
uploading a diary/photo album of my day in due course.
Well done Grumeti
(pictured with Choc above) and the Alan King team, who snatched the Cesarewitch from favourite, and top-weight, Oriental Fox
yesterday. Always a good race for
National Hunt trainers, with Philip Hobbs, Nicky Henderson, Tony Martin,
Martin Pipe and Mary Reveley having won it in the
past. He was carrying a light weight
(he was number 31 of 34), and was returned at 50-1. Alan and owner Max McNeill were at
Chepstow, not Newmarket, where they saw Karezak
take 2nd place in the Limited Handicap Hurdle; I gather Max’s brother was
representing the owner at the East Anglian
track. Grumeti
was ridden by Adam Beschizza, who also rode the
winner of the Cambridgeshire a couple of weeks ago. Grumeti is a multi-talented horse, although Alan has
switched him back to the flat because he felt he ‘wasn’t man enough’ for steeplechasing. But you can’t mind when the winning prize
yesterday was £155,625.00! Anyway,
here is the round-up from Chepstow yesterday: Marley Joe
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 3rd in
the NH Novices’ Hurdle (10 ran). Karazak (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Limited Handicap Hurdle (12 ran). L’Unique (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 13th and
The Tourard Man (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) finished
11th in the Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3); The Tourard
Man raced prominently but got tired towards the end of the race and
faded. Sego
Success (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 5th in the Handicap Chase [2
miles 7 furlongs & 131 yards] (13 ran). Georgian
King (Martin Keighley/Conor Smith) finished 3rd in
the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase (11 ran). It was
local trainer Evan Williams’ and stable jockey Paul Moloney’s
weekend, with Tea in Transvaal winning the Limited Handicap Hurdle, and Court
Minstrel the valuable Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at 40-1 yesterday. Then, today, Roadie Joe won the Grade 2
Persian War Novices’ Hurdle for the same team! I must
also give a mention to Martin Keighley’s My Lad Percy, who won the Bob
Champion Legends charity race under Conor O’Dwyer. Meanwhile,
on Sunday, at Chepstow again: Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) just clung on to
win the Juvenile Hurdle but was demoted in the stewards’ room! That meant Paul Nicholls and Sam Twiston-Davies were awarded the race, their
representative being Adrien Du Pont. Some you win ... some you lose ... it takes
me back to Cheltenham Trials day in January 2012 when yesterday’s hero, Grumeti, was awarded the JCB Triumph Hurdle
Trial having been interfered with by Pearl Swan; the latter was trained by
Paul Nicholls at the time. Meanwhile,
going forward, there’s National Hunt racing at Hexham tomorrow but no runners
of interest. Apple Tree Stud’s Book 2
colt is due to be sold tomorrow at Tattersalls, and Baltic Histoire holds an entry for Kempton Park on
Wednesday. I found
this Racing Post photo of Alan King with Choc at Leicester when Tyrell ran
early last month: I wore my new contact lenses for over
12 hours yesterday and they don’t appear to have had an adverse affect on my
eyelid, so it’s onwards and upwards with those! As I was in the Oxfordshire/Berkshire
area yesterday, I dropped by to see my friend Denise; we had lunch, along
with her husband Terry, at Wetherspoons in Caversham. I then
walked into Reading town centre to visit Bravissimo,
as I wanted to have a bra fitting; their nearest shop to me is normally
Milton Keynes. Strangely enough, I was
already wearing the same size as the two I purchased; I’m now hopeful that
the guidance offered will hold me in good stead for buying bras at either Bravissimo or Marks and Spencers
in the future. I returned to Den’s house after my
shopping trip, and I have to recount a funny story about what happened whilst
we were watching Strictly Come Dancing.
Our viewing was disturbed by a loud knocking at the front door – Terry
went to answer and found a couple of firemen on the doorstep. Evidently there had been a fire at a house
down the road earlier in the week and they were visiting neighbours to ensure
every householder had smoke alarms fitted; they were giving out two free
alarms to those who had not – that included Terry, because he’d not replaced them
after decorating around 10 years ago!
This included the fire brigade members fitting the alarms too. Anyway, as we couldn’t see into the
hallway, Den asked her husband to check if they had any identification on
them; he told them it was because they get all kind of weirdo’s in the
area! No, they didn’t have any
identification but pointed out that their fire-engine was parked
outside!!! We burst out laughing when
we heard this, and they probably heard us too. Terry later told us they were also dressed
in uniform, bar their helmets. To cut
a long story short, they handed over the alarms for Terry to fit himself,
saying they were short of time ... or, I wonder, was it because they thought
they had encountered one of those aforementioned Caversham
weirdo’s!!! Whilst on the subject of Strictly ...
wasn’t Jay and Aliona’s Pulp Fiction jive
absolutely amazing? I also enjoyed
Kellie and Kevin’s Star Wars routine, and Anita and Gleb,
plus Helen and Alijaz and Jeremy and Karen, and
Peter Andre was okay; the others were disappointing this week. I am reliably informed that, by those who
watch EastEnders, Kellie lives close to the office
where I work and has been previously spotted walking along the road beside
it! Whilst watching the Chepstow highlights
this morning on ATR, I saw a Lidl advert for Singer
Sewing machines and overlockers ... the latter is
being offered for just £129; the sale starts tomorrow. It’s a shame I’ve spent all my money this
month L ... but my Cheltenham Festival tickets and
parking labels have arrived as a result!
J I’ve been
very naughty ... yes, again, as I also bought a pair of Hotter ankle boots –
flint-coloured Danville style – I didn’t want to, yet, but they were already
beginning to sell out. It’s weird, as
size 8 in many styles normally remains in stock until their sale ... but not
this autumn. I’m wondering if they are
not manufacturing so many in that size, hence the shortage. Damn.
I’m also not surprised that there are
calls to boycott Lotto ... I didn’t get even one number this weekend, with
the numbers increased to 59. Poo. |
|
Friday 09 October 2015 |
|
For the
record, EPDS’ Our Reward finished 3rd of 9 at Newton Abbott this afternoon. There are
runners of interest at Chepstow tomorrow; it’s the first
day of what I consider to be the ‘proper’
National Hunt season. 14:10
Marley Joe (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – NH
Novices’ Hurdle 15:55 Karazak (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Limited Handicap
Hurdle 16:30 L’Unique (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) & The Tourard Man (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Silver Trophy
Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 17:05 Sego
Success (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Handicap Chase [2 miles 7 furlongs
& 131 yards] 17:40
Georgian King (Martin Keighley/Conor Smith) –
Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase Meanwhile,
on Sunday, at Chepstow again: 14:15 Sceau Royal (Alan King/Daryl Jacob) – Juvenile Hurdle I was up
at 05:15 this morning and, upon discovering my right eyelid was puffy once more,
I spent time bathing it with warm water before I got ready to go to
work. Having a dry eye is a pain in
the rear end ... I normally get problems with the lower lid but, this time,
it’s the upper one. I’m meant to be
trialling new contact lenses before a return appointment next Thursday but,
as yet, daren’t put them in. However,
whilst carrying out that task, I read the local newspaper. A reporter has been investigating the
background behind our now infamous sink hole – evidently old maps show clay
pits in the area where the land collapse occurred and, according to one
pensioner, he remembers a dell and landfill taking place in that spot when he
was a child. It just goes to show that
more care must be taken by the planners when giving permission to build
dwellings on what may be unstable ground.
All being
well, I shall be visiting Noel Williams’ yard tomorrow morning to see Menace,
and the other horses too, hopefully.
Evidently our little pony is a bit stiff following his run, so he will
be on light duties for a few days. |
|
Thursday 08 October 2015 |
|
Guess who?
It’s Menace as a foal with his
mummy! Here are
today’s results for my runners of interest at Exeter: Fred Le
Macon (Alan King/Jamie Insole) finished 2nd and The Kvilleken
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) finished 3rd in
the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 2 furlongs & 111 yards] (10 ran). Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
finished 3rd in the Handicap Chase [3 miles & 54 yards] (7 ran). Menace (Noel Williams/James
Banks) finished 3rd in the Novices’ Hurdle [2 miles 175 yards] (7
ran). Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom
Bellamy) finished 6th in the Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle (10 ran). There was
much discussion on RUK about the start of Menace’s race, with the favourite
diving away to his left and the other jockeys just waiting for Sam Twiston-Davies to send his mount forward rather than
anyone taking advantage of the incident.
Mind you, having said that, he would have won anyway! Menace won
£477.00 today; one of the RUK pundits is always rude about our little pony,
saying that he could never fancy a horse named ‘Menace’ – believing it refers to his character. He might be a little tinker, but he’s
definitely not a menace; characterful, never nasty
... he doesn’t bite. They also pointed
out that three of today’s runners were bought for a total of £2,000 ... with
change to spare! Menace was purchased
for £600, but handsome is as handsome does. There’s
National Hunt racing from Newton Abbott tomorrow, with a horse named Our
Reward making its debut for EPDS Racing in the Standard Open NH Flat Race at
17:05; he’s trained by Jamie Snowden and ridden by Brendan Powell
Junior. |
|
Wednesday 07 October 2015 |
|
Here are
today’s results from Towcester for my runners
of interest: Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
finished 4th in the NH Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (9 ran). Monty’s
Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) finished 8th
in the Handicap Chase [3 miles & 102 yards] (11 ran). Jeans Lady
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) was a non-runner
in the Mares’ Handicap Hurdle There’s
National Hunt racing at Worcester and Exeter tomorrow, with runners of interest at the latter: 14:25 Fred
Le Macon (Alan King/Jamie Insole) & The Kvilleken
(Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) – Handicap Hurdle
[2 miles 2 furlongs & 111 yards] 15:30 Kyles Faith (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham)
– Handicap Chase [3 miles & 54 yards] 16:40
Menace (Noel Williams/James Banks) – Novices’ Hurdle [2 miles 175 yards] 17:10 Prettyasapicture (Alan King/Tom Bellamy) – Conditional
Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle I’ve
checked the sale details for the Apple Tree Stud Book 2 yearling – he’s lot
790 and is due to be sold at Tattersalls next
Monday 12 October. But he will be one
of the later lots, as 514 to 818 are scheduled on that day. |
|
Tuesday 06 October 2015 |
|
Gerard Tumelty has tweeted a photograph of Apple Tree Stud’s new
purchase – a chestnut filly by Pivotal out of a mare named Best Terms: https://mobile.twitter.com/Gertumeltynew/status/651408020002447360/photo/1 Not a
cheap purchase, even by Tattersalls Book 1 yearling
standards, at 330,000 guineas! There’s
National Hunt racing at Ludlow and Towcester tomorrow, with runners
of interest at the latter: 14:20 Darnitnev (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler)
– NH Novices’ Handicap Hurdle 14:55
Monty’s Revenge (Martin Keighley/Ian Popham) –
Handicap Chase [3 miles & 102 yards] 16:35
Jeans Lady (Martin Keighley/Andrew Tinkler) –
Mares’ Handicap Hurdle EPDS’
Agent Gibbs won again today, this time a one and a half mile handicap at
Leicester. That’s four firsts and a
second on his last five starts! Apart from
my not particularly liking wet weather anyway, I seem to get woodlice
entering the house when it’s damp outside.
Strange really, as I thought these crustaceans like damp and
darkness! And, even more annoying,
most of them seem to like my bedroom, especially crawling up the wall behind
my bed ... so I will probably be sleeping with my feet against the headboard
again tonight! |
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Monday 05 October 2015 |
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Here are
today’s results of interest from Windsor and, as an avid
National Hunt racing fan, you didn’t think you’d
ever see me write that did you?
Although, of course, I remember the days when there was jumps racing
from the Berkshire track! Tyrell
(Alan King/Tom Queally) finished 3rd and Jazzy
(Martin Keighley/Joe Fanning) finished an excellent 2nd in the Maiden Stakes
Div I (1 mile 67 yards) (10 ran). Alan
King’s Master Blueyes finished 6th of 11 in the Division II. Not only
has Jazzy been cantering up the gallops with one of the Apple Tree Stud’s
other 2-year-olds, he’s part-owned by Nick Whittle who has been Choc’s commercial agent for a number of years. I understand he is the grandson of the late
Tommy Whittle, a long-time director at Haydock Park
after whom one of their feature races is named. There are
no runners of interest tomorrow. Choc and
Gerard Tumelty have travelled up to Newmarket ahead
of the Tattersalls Book 1 Yearling Sale which takes
place over the next three days. Next
week, 12 to 14 October, one of the Apple Tree Stud yearlings is due to be
sold at the Book 2 Yearling Sale. And,
if you have time and patience, you can probably view the proceedings on Tattersalls’ website – I viewed a few lots being sold
during the recent DBS/Goffs sales on their
respective website. The Racing
Post has tweeted a photo of Treve chilling out
today: https://mobile.twitter.com/RacingPost/status/651064447671234561/photo/1 I prefer
this one, courtesy of Darren Bird: https://mobile.twitter.com/DarrenBirdie/status/651120714523643904/photo/1 I was a numpty last night, as I dozed off to sleep with my head
resting against a soft pillow and woke up this morning with a splitting
headache and intermittent nausea. That
will teach me not to ensure I use my support pillow every night. I was
correct in my assumption that Iwan Thomas and Jamelia would be in yesterday’s Strictly dance off; the
judges decided to save Jamelia, so Iwan and Ola are gone.
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Sunday 04 October 2015 |
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Two
results from Huntingdon today: Cahill
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 3rd in the Juvenile Hurdle (6 ran). Passmore (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) finished 2nd in the
Junior Standard Open NH Flat Race (10 ran) ... but she was beaten by Walpole,
who was a very expensive flat racing purchase and is trained by Hugo
Palmer. Hugo trained filly Covert Love
to win the Grade 1 Prix De L'opera at Longchamp today! Talking of
Longchamp, Frankie Dettori
rode a brilliant race aboard Golden Horn to win the Prix de l‘Arc de Triomphe this
afternoon: I just
love it when we beat the Frenchies!!! The Nicky
Henderson-trained Forgotten Voice has been retired. There are
no runners of interest at Market Rasen tomorrow ...
but there are on the flat at Windsor: 14:20
Tyrell (Alan King/Tom Queally) & Jazzy (Martin
Keighley/Joe Fanning) – Maiden Stakes Div I (1 mile 67 yards) Alan King
also has a runner in Div II, namely Master Blueyes
ridden by Fergus Sweeney. I’ve not
got as much done this weekend as I’d hoped; yesterday due to last minute
visitors, who interrupted a jewellery-making session. I didn’t go for a walk this morning,
despite another beautiful early autumn day.
I cleaned my car, and then transferred recordings onto DVD – this
consisted of Menace and Apple Tree Stud runners; sadly there was no sign of
Choc but there was a brief item on 21 September from RUK mentioning his
retirement. Besides, I need to free up
space to record going forward – and starting tomorrow! Having
watched the Gigginstown-bred Tyrell again, I’m
thinking that he would probably make a good juvenile hurdler next season;
he’s a galloper, stepping up in trip tomorrow. Presumably that is why he’s with Alan King
not Jamie Osborne like the other Apple Tree Stud horses. Another thing I learnt was that Baltic
Histoire was a breeze-up purchase - she’s speedy, but doesn’t
see out the 5 furlongs at the moment.
I did a little
bit more jewellery-making this afternoon, whilst watching the racing. I was glad I didn’t book a St Albans
Cathedral tower tour for yesterday morning, as I had a painful right knee
which hurt particularly when going up and down stairs. The odd thing was that I was fine when I
went to bed on Friday, woke up with it yesterday morning and it continued all
day then, this morning, I was perfectly fine again. Very weird. It’s clear
that there are six very talented dancers on this season’s Strictly Come
Dancing – Peter Andre, Anita Rani, Jay McGuiness,
Helen George, Kellie Bright and Katie Derham. Georgia Foote might improve to join this
elite group but the remainder will only progress to the latter stages if it
becomes a personality contest. I
don’t think Iwan Thomas or Jamelia
will get far ... Iwan because he’s awful and Jamelia because she’s not someone you can warm to. I’m always
amazed that Claudia and Tess wear such awful outfits – especially as the
dancers’ costumes, and Darcey too, always look so
nice. I thought Claudia’s dress looked
like it had a piece of misshapen cardboard stuck in the top ... but perhaps
it was useful for writing her grocery shopping list upon when she had a free
moment backstage! |
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Friday 02 October 2015 |
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One runner
of interest today, at Fontwell Park: Oceane (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) won the Juvenile
Maiden Hurdle (8 ran); Wayne’s 13th winner of the season. There are
no runners of interest tomorrow, but there are two on Sunday, at Huntingdon: 15:05 Cahill
(Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Hurdle; owned by the McNeill Family,
as was today’s winner. 17:10 Passmore (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Junior Standard
Open NH Flat Race; a very interesting runner, as she’s the daughter, by
Passing Glance, of Call Me A Legend. Exuberant
grey, Australia Day, has been retired today. With It
Takes Two beginning at 18:00 this evening for an hour long programme, as it
will be each Friday of this season’s run, I ensured that I left work just
after 17:30 today. I don’t get paid
for overtime, so I really don’t know why I sometimes stay after my contracted
hours; besides, today, I worked through my lunch break as I also did
yesterday. A cyclist
nearly collided with me as I was walking to work this morning; he sped around
a blind corner and I was within a stride or two of being knocked over. The stupidity of cyclists never fails to
amaze me – you never hear them approaching from behind, and how on earth they
expect you to see around a corner I just don’t know. And I’ve lost count of the number of times
they ignore red lights when it’s a pedestrian’s turn to cross the road. Besides, with my advancing years, I don’t
fancy my chances of surviving a collision without sustaining some sort of
injury – I’ve already been diagnosed as at risk from osteoporosis, with small
areas of my spine already just within the osteoporosis category. Rant over,
I’m going to watch the second episode of BBC2’s Patagonia: Earth’s Secret
Paradise this evening – it is narrated by none other than Santiago Cabrera,
in other words, Aramis from The Musketeers ... he’s
my favourite! I’m over
the worst of my cold now, which is pretty quick really, as it only came out
on Wednesday. They say ‘three days coming, three days here and
three days going’, but I began to feel better yesterday evening ... and
that’s without taking any cold remedies!
But, as the virus made a beeline for my throat, my voice is still
croaky. |
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Thursday 01 October 2015 |
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There were
three runners of interest today and this is how they fared: Bangor-On-Dee: Paddys Runner (Alan King/Wayne
Hutchinson) won the Juvenile Hurdle (5 ran); Wayne’s 12th
winner of the
season. Warwick: Shadarpour (Alan King/Will Featherstone) finished a neck 2nd
in the Handicap Hurdle [2 miles 5 furlongs] (7 ran). Theatre
Goer (Noel Williams/James Banks) finished 3rd in the Maiden Hurdle (5 ran). There’s
National Hunt racing at Hexham and Fontwell Park tomorrow, with one
runner of interest at the latter: 14:10 Oceane (Alan King/Wayne Hutchinson) – Juvenile Maiden
Hurdle There was
a bit of excitement overnight in St Albans, with a huge sink hole opening up
in a residential road over the other side of the City: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/oct/01/sinkhole-opens-in-st-albans-street I know
there was talk of sink holes a few weeks ago in relation to a residential road
on the Jersey Farm estate, where the road surface breaks up on a regular
basis; but that must be at least a mile away from this Fontmell
Close incident. I had a
rough night but still ventured out to work today; we’ve taken on extra work
just recently and, as a result, the next few days will be the busiest of the
month. Mind you, my concentration
certainly wandered on a number of occasions and, around lunchtime, I could
easily have dozed off to sleep at my desk!
I’m not feeling too bad this evening so, hopefully, the worst of this
virus is already over. |
