Monday 2 November

Last week served us up a little bit of everything. With three runners in the black, red and white and another for clients it was a fun week - with a range of results. We started off with Volkovka for the Tyringham Partnership in the fillies juvenile hurdle in Fakenham. This filly is new to the team, and has come over from France. She was schooled at Jason Maguires before moving to Fergals to finish her education. All had gone well, she works like a very nice filly, and nothing had phased her at home in her schooling, but race day is always the acid test with an unfamiliar filly, and sadly she failed on the day. She got herself a little hot and bothered pre race, and had to be re-saddled at the start. When the tapes went up, she just failed to settle, and jumped very poorly after giving herself a fright at the first flight when she pulled too hard and wasn't paying attention. This continued for the entire first circuit, and as she became less tractable, Connor pulled her up as they headed out for the final circuit - the right call. All in all it was a day where we learned lots about Volkovka, and she learned nothing about her new job! She seems fine and we will start the process again with her. From what she shows at home she has a lovely future - she just needs to learn what her new job is all about! In the concluding bumper, The Ivo Partnership saw their boy, Hi Ho Silva Lining, make his racecourse debut. A horse that was purchased as a 3 yr old store, he is by Flemensfirth, out of a half sister to crack chaser Mister McGoldrick. It had been hoped he would have made his debut as a 3 yr old, or in the spring of this year, but despite not being very big, he was found to be very weak, and the owners had to be patient. Edmunds ran two in the race, and stable jockey Ciaran Gethings chose the other yard runner,. so Josh Moore took the ride Word from the trainer was that HHSL was 'a little wanting', and 'still weak', although he had added that 'he was ballsy', and showed plenty of guts at home, so it was safe to say that expectations were very low. As things turned out - he ran a really solid debut. He behaved impeccably, and in the race itself, put in a thoroughly solid performance. He travelled nicely in the front rank, at admittedly, a pedestrian gallop, and was predictably outpaced when the race began in earnest, but it was very pleasing to see him really knuckle down and stay on for fifth. Josh was happy with him, and said he would win a little race for sure. He too has come out of his race well, and will start over hurdles, if he doesn't have another run in a bumper first. On Thursday the caravan rolled on to Stratford, where Go Millie Go ran in the mares maiden hurdle for the Fences Farm team. She had run a blinder on seasonal debut behind a smart mare form Alan Kings, and on all known form, with track, trip and ground to suit we were confident of a good run. In the end the race worked out perfectly, and she did it very well. She settled in the catbird seat for the entire race, picking it up on the crown of the bend, and seeing the trip out well for a richly deserved success. This season has many opportunities for her, with most of the programme book remaining open to her. She has come out of the race well, and will be out again later this month. Friday it was off to Uttoxeter with Yauthym from O'Briens, Ravenswell Farm yard. Yauthym had only got to run twice over hurdles last season, as the rest of her campaign fell victim to Covid -19. The break had done her good, and she has certainly strengthened since last winter. She is another filly that shows an awful lot of speed at home, and it was almost expected for her to be a bit keen and fresh on her seasonal debut, which she was. She has also forgotten a but about hurdling, but that will come back. She was full of running turning for home, but the lack of a recent run caught her out between 2 out and the last, and she tired to finish third, with Paddy not knocking her about. In the end she was 7l behind a very highly regarded, Listed Bumper winning mare that had been an expensive purchase, so this rates a very very good first run of the season! Paddy was delighted with the run, and said she would improve no end for it - in fact he ran back to the changing room, and was straight away in the programme book - emerging later to tell those that were there that he had found the perfect race for her, and that he expected a big run for her next time out! Yauthym is always a bit creaky after a run, and like a few of Fergals runners, instead of heading back to Ravenswell, she heads down the road to Jason Maguires for a couple of days in his spa, and on the water treadmill. She seems fine though - and will be out again later this month!! This week there are three Fences Farm horses with entries - Classic Ben is declared in Exeter tomorrow for his seasonal debut. He had a small procedure on his knees in the spring, but is A1 again now. Ciaran rides. Our Bubba is entered to make his chasing debut in Sedgefield on Thursday. He jumped very poorly over hurdles after a long break the last time he ran, and it is expected that a switch to fences will bring about improvement. On Friday Blue Bikini is entered to make her racecourse debut in Warwick. It has been a long wait for her patient owners, and of course by then, due to the new Covid restrictions, none of them will be able to see her run! BB is a nice filly, and it will be good to get her going!!