Brookhill Steeplechase Preview, May 3
The first race, the Maiden Claimer, looks a great spot for Ranahan, a horse I have been second on in his last two starts. The capable Dave Bentley takes the reigns. River Bed will also be there abouts. The second race, the Maiden Hurdle, I like Yorkin, who I watched win at the Middleburg point to point. The third race looks a nice opportunity for Master Rasper with the Ricky Hendricks, Dave Thiel and Dave Bentley combo. The fourth race, the feature, my exacta is Call Me Casanova and Green Station. The final race, the flat race, looks like a race for Loverineveryport, this is a decent horse, coming off a long layoff, and one to watch through the summer.

Ranahan is the nap of the day.

Virginia Gold Cup Preview, May 3
In the first race Pressure King can help reverse the Tom Voss slide and begin his quest for another championship! Fool Crazy is likely to run close under Rob Massey and Wedlock should not be far away either. In the second, Loughbeg Rambler, an x-irsh chaser now trained by Richard Valentine, who is a proven and upcoming timber horse will be tough, and Darn Tipalarm will make it a decent race for Jack Fisher.

The third race, the Steeplethon, for amateur riders, sets up well for Bavario, winner of the Alfred Hunt at Middleburg under an impressive ride from Tiffany Mueller. He should love this track and be a tough candidate. The fourth race, the Allowance Hurdle, is a decent race for sure. I pick Mullihan for Arch Kingsley and Kathy Neilson, who was second at Atlantic City and has good back class from France. Brinton Bridge could make it a Neilson one-two. Ididdidi may spoil the party! The Starter Allowance includes Our Thunderbolt, for Jill Waterman, who I am disappointed not to be riding due to my current condition! My picks for this race are: Ethical Actions (recently claimed by Ricky Hendricks) for the win, Swoop and Soar for the place (another horse I have ridden) and Our Thunderbolt to be a good third.

The big race of the day is the Virginia Gold Cup Stake. Ten of the best timber horses in America. Pick of the day is Sam Sullivan, ridden by Blair Waterman and continuing the great day for Tom Voss! Maipo won't be far away, and is a personal favourite of mine, Lord Kenneth will also go close. The Maiden Claimer is a tough race to pick, but look out for Local Treasure, third in his first career start. The Amateur Jockeys flat race sees Chuck Lawrence making his llloooonnngggggg awaited comeback on the Mickey Preger trained Double Team, this has to be one to watch!

Sam Sullivan is the nap of the day.

Churchill Downs Preview, May 1
Hard Scuffle S. - Grade: 1
We have eight runners in the in the only steeplechase on the Churchill Downs card, getting ready for the Kentucky Derby this saturday. This is the top novice stake so far this year. Fighting Star is a nice horse and cannot be overlooked. He is trained by Janet Elliot and bred by Mike Freeman of Aiken. He broke his maiden at the Colonial Cup meet and won last week, an allowance race at Atlantic City. Naughty Prince, my first stakes winner, will be capably handled by my good friend David Bentley (last years champion jockey). While I am sad to miss this ride, this is not due to my current condition :) I do make him my pick 'though. Niello, a horse I was second on in a maiden at Camden, and who has since won, should be close at the death. Preemptive Strike, trained by the young Paul Rowland, is clearly an improving sort, finishing second to the good horse Understood in the Atlanta Novice Stake. This horse is certainly one to watch. Post time is 5:17 on TVG.
Prediction:
1. Naughty Prince
2. Niello
3. Preemptive Strike

Update on Jockey Health and Reporting Situation, April 30
As I mentioned last time, I hurt my right hand (makes typing very tricky) ... in fact, after getting it checked out, it appears I have broken my thumb and fractured my wrist (but learning to type left handed). This is going to put me on the sidelines for about six weeks, so I am now hoping to get back for Colonial Downs and Saratoga over the summer. So, while my career is on hold for a while, I have decided to maintain the Steeplechase Report and will be providing updates and results, twice a week.

Update 1: making good progress, and hope to get my pins out May 21 and back in the saddle a couple of weeks after that. Should be available to ride again around June 15, Colonial Downs, so e-mail me if you want me to ride your horse!

Update 2: continue to make good progress. Had the pins removed from the hand May 28. Doing a course of physiotherapy and still plan to be back riding at Colonial Downs.

Foxfield, VA April 26
Had five rides altogether, picking a spare one up from Hall of Famer, Jonathan Sheppard. My first ride was Double Foreigner. We sat third, he jumped well and finished a good fourth. In the second race, a flat race, I rode Bull Halsey, and this was the spare ride I picked up. There was no early pace, so I put him on the lead where he settled well. With an eighth of a mile to go we all bunched up to a blanket finish. He finished fourth, we were only beaten a half length. This was my first ride for Jonathan, lets hope it was not my last! My third ride was Diablo's Crown, who refused at the start. This was disappointing for both myself and Ricky Hendricks, but hopefully we will have better luck next time. I rode Swoop and Soar in the feature, the Daniel Van Clief Memorial Allowance Hurdle. He ran very keen, while sitting third, and his jumping was not at its best, but we finished third to two decent horses (Baksheesh was second). I Rode Robin Shower's in the Maiden Claimer. He got really tired, he made a bad mistake at the second last, and unseated me. This was the end of not my best day of racing, and as I type, my right hand has some pain, so I am going to get it checked out.

The first race was won by the Richard Valentine trained Mauritania, ridden by the very capable amateur ride, Greg Ryan. Robbie Walsh won the flat race for trainer Bruce Miller. Donny Yovanovich won the apprentice race with Tiffany Mueller, a very good lady rider who has also won many timber races and the big race at Middleburg last week. The timber race was won by Red Panda, for trainer Neil Morris. Jody Petty and Sanna Neilson teamed up to win the allowance race with Senor Melchor. The maiden claimer was won by Upheld, trained by Alicia Murphy and ridden by Matt McCarron.

A great day of racing for the spectators, as the in field was packed with students enjoying the frills of the steeplechase sport!