Tuesday 15 September

The Brixworth Scribe - otherwise known as Mark Beesley has written his annual piece on the yard in the Northampton Chronicle and Echo. Mark does his piece at this time every year, and it certainly gives his readers a good insight into what is happening at the yard, at what plans there are for the future. This year he wrote: 'Il Duce, the horse that ran fourth in last years Paddy Power Chase at Cheltenham, is a high profile acquisition for Renee Robesons yard at Tyringham for the 2009/10 National Hunt season.The former Alan King inmate was seen out only twice last season after pulling up in the Toteswinger Summer Handicap Chase at Market Rasen last July, also turning up at Cheltenham on New Years Day. However as a winner of 6 of his 28 starts, last running at Cheltenham off a lofty rating of 147, he is deserving of respect and adds a touch of spice to the 16 strong Fences Farm team who have also attracted Championship footballers Jay Tabb and Ben Turner to their ranks of owners.Assistant trainer Stuart Edmunds is under no illusions about the task of rekindling the career of Il Duce, a nine year old who has twice run at the Cheltenham Festival, and is owned by Liz Prowting, whos College Ace won 3 times for the Robeson team last season. Edmunds said 'Alan King suggested to Liz it would be a good idea to send the horse to a smaller yard to try to sweeten him up, but ultimately you would not be surprised if Alan King had enjoyed the best of him.' He added 'We have had him here for about 8 weeks now. The horse is rated 145 so the obvious place to start with him is back in the Paddy Powrer, but we might explore a step up in trip to 3 miles.' Whatever magic can be applied to Il Duce, the Robeson camp appear to have plenty to look forward to, after a campaign when their tally of 11 winners was provided by only 16 horses, the highlight undoubtably being Ogees 25/1 success in the grade one Citroen Sefton Novices Hurdle at Aintree in early April. The six year old chesnut gelding by Generous ran out a half length winner from Chomla Ri Coig under Jimmy Macarthy but can now look forward to going Novice Chasing. Edmunds said 'Ogee then ran well at Haydock, but to be top class he needed to win that handicap with his head in his chest so he is probably 20lbs short. Reading midfielder Tabb and his old Coventry team mate Ben Turner form part of The Oakley Partnership which runs Bobby Gee who will also be prepared with a Novice Chase campaign in mind. Syndicate organiser Nick Brown said 'Bobby Gee was perhaps a little disappointing for us last season, at least in terms of what everything else around him achieved, but he seems on good term with himself and ready to go again.' ' He had a hard race in the mud at Wincanton in January when he was third and was never the same after that.' Brown added, 'Jay and Ben got in touch through our web-site and it is great to have them along. I follow West Ham but now I am a bit of a Coventry City fan!' 'We also run the Chichely Partnership who have a really nice six year old named Rousing Rob as well as the Sherington Partnership who will be running Jardin De Vienne.' 'Rousing Rob is a really strapping individual who is the best bred horse in the place, being by Selkirk, and there is still a share available in him. His half brothers and sisters have all won on the flat, and his dam is half sister to Cape Tribulation, who has won five times for Malcolm Jefferson.' 'Jardin De Vienne is a seven year old grey gelding who won four times on the flat in France and has been with Noel Chance and Tim Vaughan in Britain. Brown said:'He might turn out to be a very well handicapped horse stepped up to two and a half, or three miles.' The success of College Ace last seson could lead to a trip to Ayr in 2010. Edmunds said 'He is rated 129 now after wins at Leicester, Huntingdon and Stratford last season and the horse that beat him at Wincanton (Hello Bud), where the ground was too soft for us, went on to take the Scottish Grand National. That might be our long term plan if we can go there with good ground.' Other inmates to look out for include the mare Daurica, twice a winner at Southwell in April and June under Tom O'Brien, and the Uttoxeter bumper winner Willow Wren. No menton of the Robeson teams exploits in 2009 would be complete without tribute to the game and consistent Kikos who is currently enjoying a breather after running 12 times in chases during the last 12 months, winning on 2 occasions as well as finishing second five times and third once. More details of the yard are available on www.nickbrownracing.co.uk, or by ringing 07909 518902.