Sunday 1 January

Wishing you all a happy and prosperous new year - with plenty of fun and winners of course!! It looks sure to be a very exciting year, with a host of very exciting young horses filling the stables at Fences Farm. Stuart and his great team have now proved beyond doubt that they can get winners if provided with the right raw material, and the quality of the horses entering the yard is certainly on the rise - thanks to the support of owners, both new and old. 2017 will see the development of a host of young bumper horses and novice hurdlers who have come into the string, from both the flat, and the Irish Point To Point field. These sort of horses are the foundation stones for years to come, and their undoubted quality signal a very bright future for the Fences Farm team. Of course there are the established crusaders as well, such as Cloonacool, who will be adding to his win tally this year I am sure! As it is the start of the new year - it is a chance to give all the horses a half term report - so here goes - in no particular order: Sneaking Budge: Looks in fine fettle - a non stayer, and ring rusty in Uttoxeter in November. A muscle pull kept him off of serious exercise until a couple of weeks ago - but is now back doing 2 canters, and if he keeps on the right track he will be ready to run again in around 3 weeks. Will run in a 2m handicap hurdle. Molly Childers: A really exciting filly, second twice in 2 bumpers before Christmas. She is well up to winning a bumper, as the form of her Doncaster and Towcester runs was franked in some style yesterday, when the fourth placed horses in both heats won their bumpers. She is currently on light exercise, and will will be back on the racecourse in mid February, with a tilt at one or two of the Listed Mares Bumpers in the spring very much on the cards. Pull Together: A lovely big horse, who has suffered with growing pains. After his latest bout, he was checked out by the vet, and the decision was made to give him a good break and let him mature. He is worth waiting for, the patience of hos owners will be rewarded I'm sure. He will be back in the summer. Apasionado: A very talented horse - won his first three on arrival from Ireland. He was too keen, and didn't stay in a Grade 2 in Sandown in December, a race that has worked out well - he didn't give himself a chance to show himself off at his best. He has since had a break, and has let himself down nicely. He is back cantering, and will be aimed at The Dovecote Novice Hurdle in Kempton, back over 2 miles in February. His performance there will decide his end of season targets, but Cheltenham, Aintree and Punchestown must be on the radar. Cloonacool: The 'Old Soldier' who actually just turned 8 today, came back in great style (nearly) in Market Rasen in September, although he came to grief 2 out when looking all over the winner. He then went to Ascot, where he failed to pick up, and was found to be wrong afterwards. Had a good break and ran OK in Kempton on December 27th. Has come out of his race well, and Stuart and I are having plenty of chats about his next outing. There are so many options with him - Hurdles/Fences, 2m/2m4f, headgear/no headgear. We will assess all the options and try some things out at home. He could well have an entry in a 2m hurdle in Sandown on January 7th. Chandos Belle: Purchased from Germany, Chandos Belle was a real disappointment on the flat in Wolverhampton on her debut for The Chicheley Partnership, but there were justifiable reasons for that. Since then she has improved a great deal at home, and made a really pleasing hurdling debut in Doncaster earlier this week. Her technique will get better - she will have learned a lot - and is an exciting prospect. She looks sure to be winning her share of hurdles in the future, and will stay further than 2m in time. She has the size and scope to jump fences in the future. Just 2 shares remaining. Land League: Purchased after winning his Irish Point to Point. A lovely big scopey horse with a long raking stride. He was very sick when he arrived and it took a long time to get him right. He is now very nearly there, and is quickening up nicely. he worked very well yesterday, and if his scopes are OK in the next week or so, and his quick work confirms his fitness levels, he will soon be getting an entry or two. He will start off in 2m novice hurdles, and looks like a very decent buy at this stage. Limited shares available. Flemensfirth 4yr Old: Christened 'Frankie' as a stable name, she was purchased at the Goffs UK Spring Sale. Out of a half sister to the very talented Macs Joy, this big scopey filly looks a lovely prospect. She has a good tough attitude, and moves well. She has just started going a bit quicker and goes nicely. She will hopefully make her debut this spring. Along with these, there are a number of our clients horses that are well worth a mention: Paul Wells, along with his shares in 'Frankie' and Pull Together also has two horses of his own in training with Stuart. Kalanisi 4 yr old: Christened 'Alan' as a stable name he is a fine big horse purchased at The Tattersalls Ireland Derby Sale in Fairyhouse in June. He is form a good family, and is going very nicely. Hopefully he will be making his debut in a bumper this spring. Maria's Benefit: This cracking filly was purchased on spec at the Cheltenham Sale in December. She dead heated in her Irish Point To Point in November, form that we think is very strong, it was 10 lengths back to the third, who has won her maiden point since and ran very well in a very good mares bumper in Punchestown yesterday. The fourth and fifth have finished second and first in maiden point as well. MB has done nothing but please since she arrived, and will be aimed at a bumper at the end of this month, after which she should be heading to the good mares bumpers later in the spring. Ben Turner also has a lovely prospect Top Gary: A french bred 4 yr old, he is a really big horse, but is coming along really well, and is probably the most forward of the youngsters. By Ballingary, he is a very athletic individual from a decent family, and he too, with luck, will be in bumpers in the spring. He looks like a real chaser in the making! We must not forget those that are not at Fences Farm. Savingforvegas: Bens tough and talented mare won two of her three starts for him, and was second in the other. the form of her races has worked out so well that it is a crying shame that she suffered a career ending injury in late Feb. She is in fine fettle, and was covered by the very exciting sire Blue Bresil in March. She is due to foal in February, and we hope that she is as good at motherhood as she was as a racemare! Sumu: This yearling is a real bonny character! He is by Mamool (Apasionado, Chandos Belle and Dawn Commander), and is a really good looking individual. He is out of a half sister to top handicap hurdler Sternrubin, and a host of black type German performers, so is a very exciting horse to have. He already shows his speed out in the field with his peers, who struggle to keep up with him! He will be reoffered for sale as a three year old, either privately or at a public auction. That ends the half term report - lots to look forward to - with a host of other nice horses in at Fences Farm. Look forward to seeing you all again soon!!