As of Oct 2008, this
page will be updated less frequently than before.
See the owners
section (click on the "o" opposite) for the very latest news.
7th Oct 2008
23rd Sep 2008
Delray really enjoyed herself in a
good schooling session this morning.
12th Sep 200th
Delray worked ok today in 3 steady
pieces up the all weather. Northumberland National a possible target.
5th
Sep 2008
Delray is back in training & has
the Northumberland National as her main target. She won the race in fine
style last year under a brilliant Lee ride.
17th June 2008
DELRAY
BEACHis on holiday & enjoying the sun! Following her run
at Sedgefield her official Handicap mark was dropped 3lb to
110. It is worth remembering that her 2 chase wins came off marks of
98 & 106 and that her last 3 chase runs have been off marks of 115
& 113 twice
Sedgefield 29th April 3m4f
chase
Delray looked possibly
over the top in this though ran on late. Finished 8th of 15.
The race was run on very deep ground. Indeed the following
days racing was abandoned part way through the card. Only 3 of the 6
starters finished the race. Delray unseated Mick when beginning to stay
on- she was upsides the eventual 2nd placed horse when she made
a tired mistake and unseated. She had looked to be finding the reasonably
tough fences a challenge from the deep ground. This was only the 2nd
time that she had failed to complete for us, though both have been in the
last 3 runs.
The official handicapper dropped her 2lbs for the effort
and so she is now on 113 (chase) & 107 (hurdles).
Delray’s 3 wins have been with Graham Lee in the saddle
and we would hope to have him back in the plate soon- though obviously
there are many factors to consider.
Delray came out of the race fine ( a few bumps &
bruises but nothing serious) and we would certainly be looking to run her
again over next few weeks.
Delray appreciates a trip and goes in the mud and so this
race was a reasonable race to run in. However, being a 0-110 she was
required to carry weight and was vulnerable to improvers with less weight.
Dickie Lewis won easily by 18 lengths. Delray hurdled well
and was competitive for a couple of circuits. When push came to shove
though, she couldn’t go with the leaders and Graham was very sensible in
nursing her around under her own steam. She returned sound from the run,
her first for about 60 days.
Delray has been super consistent and super tough for us.
Her record really is tremendous and is worth remembering:
1
,0,0,2,2,2,4,1/
3,1,P,0
She is entitled not to place occasionally!
A closer look at her form perhaps suggests that she is
better when carrying less weight. Her current ratings demand that to get a
lower weight (say under 11 st) that she enter a better class of race. She
maybe lacks the scope and real class to compete in the very best races and
so we will continue to try to find her decent opportunities by placing her
carefully. Another way to reduce weight is of course to replace the jockey
with one that can claim a weight allowance.
DPRP have been fortunate over the years to benefit from
the allowances claimed by Tom Dreaper, Keith Mercer, PJ McDonald, Mick O
Connell etc. It is something to consider but the form that Graham Lee has
been in this season is something special - his wins on Delray & on
Rich Lord in contrasting fashion demonstrate that.
9th Dec 2007 .
Delray is fine after her run at Kelso in the Borders
National (PU). She is having a quieter week but doesn’t appear unduly
taxed after her run. The run itself was disappointing in that she never
really travelled and ,unlike her, didn’t jump very fluently.
Perhaps the race came too soon after Hexham?
Perhaps she cannot compete as effectively from a
point 9lb higher in the ratings?
Perhaps the sharper nature of Kelso allowed the
others to “get away” quicker?
Perhaps she didn’t go as well for Keith as she had
for Graham?
All of these have been muted but, in truth, we will never
definitively know. What is clear is that she did brilliantly at Hexham - a
career best- and less so here. She is still as tough and as game as she
was before and so whilst disappointing for all of us, she will certainly
have her day again.
22nd Nov 07
Fabulous day at Hexham
with two winners from 3 runners!
Delray
Beach won the £40K Northumberland
National. Given an absolutely wonderful ride by Graham Lee she stayed well
and battled through the mud to gain a career best win. Great day enjoyed
by all the partners. Delrays chase record for us now reads 224131 - what a
tough, genuine little mare she is!
Nov 2nd '07 - great comeback run. Jumped sweetly
& stayed on to finish 3rd. well done Dela!
10th March 2007- AYR
Delray Beach ,won.
She stayed well and jumped best of the 5 in the 3m5f handicap chase. With
Graham Lee riding an intelligent race to get home in very testing
conditions, Delray went clear 2 out to win by 4 lengths. This tough little
mare has won on firm ground over hurdles at 2m4f and heavy ground over
fences at 3m5f- now that's versatility!
20 Feb 2007 -Delray Beach
ran at Carlisle. She was 4th and disappointed a little over an inadequate
trip.
12 Jan 2007
Delray Beach ran pretty well at Kelso(2nd).
she needs further but this race was a decent target. She beat the odds on
fav but was beaten by a horse finding a lot of improvement. 2nd for her
third consecutive race! Her complete record for us is impressive- 160222
26th Dec 06
Delray Beach ran a
fantastic chase debut finishing 2nd to the very decent Echo Point. She
needs a bit further but is proving a very tough little filly.
Her record for us now read 16022
5th Dec 06 SEDGEFIELD
Delray Beach 2nd - by
the time of the last race, the ground was virtually unraceable, the rain
heavy and the light fading. No bother to this tough little filly though
who shouldered a big weight to 2nd place . Another fantastic effort from
Dela!
23rd Nov 06 UTTOXETER
Weight stops trains and today it stopped Delray
Beach. She is too high in the handicap having won a little mares
race at Hexham. She is rated 110.
I think that about 100 would be fairer at this stage in her career.
Nine De Sivola won 2 in UK before reaching 110, Deja Vu won
3.
At Hexham she beat a horse rated 85 by 3 lengths,
conceding 9lbs. That performance merits a handicap mark of about
85+3+9=97.
At Cheltenham she was 6th but beat another horse rated 85 by 4 lengths,
conceding no weight. That performance merits about 85+4= 89.
In both cases she was eased near line and so is probably better than
the calculated rating, which is why I reckon that 100 would be fairer than
110.….but it is what it is and so we will try to find suitable
opportunities for her.
22nd Oct 06
Delray Beach ran at
Cheltenham finishing 6th. She was stepping up markedly in class and found
the challenge a tough one. She is still only a 4yo and will find plenty of
easier opportunities.
29 Sep 06-
"This is a tough,
consistent young horse, with winning form and yet sure to improve with the
move to Ferdy Murphy. "
That is what we said over the
summer and then:
On ground that was an unknown to her and with classy
Knockara Luck in the race, Delray Beach drifted from 4s to8s. However, she
didn't know what price she was! She looked really well in the paddock and
was given a superb ride by Graham Lee. As the other jockeys "got
busy", Graham held her together until the second last before asking
her to go on. She kicked away and asserted quickly. A tough, genuine
performance from a super little mare. Great day out for all partners - who
were there in force to give her the biggest cheer of the afternoon!
