News Archive: September 2008

 Week Beginning - 01.09.08
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contemplate: stalls practice with a disruptive influence

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 1st September:

  Text Box: There’s an entry for CONTEMPLATE down at Lingfield on Tuesday. She joins a host of other 2 year old maidens in this 6 furlong contest.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 3rd September:

 

 

 

 

Plans hatched for a raid on Wolverhampton on Saturday evening with PAINTED SMILE engaged in the first race and DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE in the third.
Text Box: Plans hatched for a raid on Wolverhampton on Saturday evening with PAINTED SMILE engaged in the first race and DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE in the third.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thursday 4th September:  CONTEMPLATE returns to the practice stalls, this time without the disruptive influence of big bad BOBBY CHARLES. Accompanied by a more amenable assistant, she loads well and jumps out nicely.

 

 

Saturday 6th September: As most of the day's racing gives way to floods, I am reminded of an incident many years ago that proves, without a shadow of a doubt, that stewards have no sense of humour. We had a horse declared to run in the Cambridgeshire, this being in the days long before veterinary self-certification for withdrawal. On the big day it teemed down and the resulting ground was unsuitable for our runner. The trainer went to the weighing room to withdraw the horse. He was asked by the stipendiary steward whether he had a VC in order to avoid a fine. 'He deserves a VC, it's like the Battle of the Somme out there', was the riposte. He was fined.

Week Beginning - 08.09.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 8th September

    

 

 

                                                            

Text Box:   On Sunday, CONTEMPLATE is duly declared for Lingfield on Tuesday with a good draw and jockey (12 and Joe Fanning respectively). However, we are put on hold for 24 hours while the BHA decides whether to switch from the turf track to the all-weather and therefore re-open the race. Sometimes, it seems, it’s perfectly ok to have 24 hour declarations! In the event, the status quo remains and it’s on the grass that she will debut.

 

 

 

 

                                                                                                         

 

Wednesday 10th September: Perfectly aware that it never stops raining and that he is unlikely to get his favoured ground, SILENT APPLAUSE is entered at Yarmouth next Tuesday. You just never know in this life!

 

Thursday 11th September: The assault on Great Yarmouth continues with entries for DEFECTIVEDETECTIVE and FLIGHT OF FASHION on Wednesday.

 

 Week Beginning - 22.09.08
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 22nd September: BIG NOISE  may have another tilt at a big Ascot handicap with an entry in a valuable 7 furlong contest at the track this coming Saturday.

 

Wednesday 24th September: LADY ANGELICA is declared for Friday's race at Ascot and just squeezes in! She is carrying a feather weight and David Kinsella is booked to ride.

DEADLY SILENCE is given his first entry for a little while with a possible return to Southwell on Tuesday to run in a 12 furlong handicap.

 

Thursday 25th September: A second day out at Ascot looms with the declaration of BIG NOISE in the 7 furlong handicap on Saturday and, would you 'adam and eve' it....he has exactly the same draw as last time he ran there, 18!

And it was 'D' day for DOLLY COUGHDROP as the vet arrived with her long rubber glove to check that there was still a foal inside the gargantuan belly! Thumbs up on that one!

 

Sunday 28th September: No joy for our 2 contenders at Ascot this week but, nevertheless, two very pleasant days at a beautiful venue staging high-class racing.

Week Beginning 29.09.08

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday 29th September:

 

 

 

Text Box:   Tuesday sees DEADLY SILENCE return to Southwell to contest a competitive 12 furlong handicap. He is pitched against eight opponents, all of them winners, but has the able assistance of jockey Steve Drowne on board. The pair ambled home to an impressive victory at the Nottinghamshire track earlier in the year.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday 1st October:

 

An uneventful day at Southwell yesterday with DEADLY SILENCE performing below his best. The surest bet of the day guaranteed that he was summoned to the dope box. He has been a regular visitor...and his carnivorous reputation had preceded him, making him an unwelcome guest!

 

Saturday 4th October:

 

Cambridgeshire day and decidedly autumnal to boot. We're beginning to give in to the elements and horses were turned out with their big, warm overcoats on.