Monday 1 March

It was a week for our French fillies last week. Yauthym got the ball rolling in Southwell on Monday. An extra fixture put on by the BHA, she had an entry in the 2m mares novices' hurdle. She had been found out by the track on her first three starts - the long straights putting a bit too much emphasis on stamina for a filly that is a suspect stayer over hurdles. So we had headed to Fakenham where the track suited but the rain turned the ground very soft, and again her stamina was found out. So when we saw a 2m mares hurdle on a quick track, with good to soft ground we thought we had all bases covered - until it rained between declaration and race day. Once again Yauthym travelled like a good thing, and took it up between the final 2 flights, but the petrol gauge went to empty approaching the final flight, and when Paddy had to ask her for a long stride at the last she caught the top and took a terrible fall. Paddy was fired into the turf, and Yauthym turned a nasty summersault, but thankfully both have emerged OK and live to fight another day. Yauthym will continue on into the spring summer, when the better ground should help her finish her races. On Friday Volkovka headed to Exeter for the Mares Novices' hurdle. Already a winner in juvenile company, her penalty was more than offset by her 4 yr old allowance, and this was an ideal opportunity for her. She settled well, jumped great and taking it up approaching the last she won cosily. Paddy was very impressed, and feels that she is really getting the hang of this jumping game now, and that there is more to come. That was her 6th run of a busy season that has yielded one disaster, one confidence booster, 2 wins, one close second and some black type. It has been a super spell from her, and she will likely have just one more run this season, but would only run if the ground conditions were suitable. Yesterday we had our first runner with the Olly Murphy yard, when Auditoria made her hurdling debut in Hereford. This lovely filly, a good looking daughter of Gleneagles, from a very good family came out of the Arqana sale in Deauville in November, and we had hoped to run her before the end of Feb, but she came looking very poor and it has taken time to get her healthy and well. We knew that she liked soft ground, and that she stayed well, and her schooling had been first class at home so although we didn't consider her a winner, we went thinking she would put up a good show which she duly did, just one slight error at the second last, she travelled and jumped well, just missing out to a very well bred filly owned by top connections which had experience on her side. This was just about the perfect start, and as she had not had a gallop since arriving from France in November - you could say there is a lot more to come from her! The aim is to retain her maiden/novice status this spring, so we will look at particular hurdles races, or she could revert to the level for a couple of runs on juicy turf. She is very exiting, and we have a lot to look forward to with her!! All in all a good week for the French girls, and it is a model we will be using again this year when it comes to our purchasing. Down at Ravenswell Farm, Hidden Beauty continues her education, and is doing great. She is a big girl, and we are letting her tell us how far she can go this spring with the aim being a mares bumper on some soft ground. San Seb is making the use of the facilities at Jason Maguires, along with our younger horses there. In Fences Farm - Classic Ben missed his intended run in the Eider Chase with the recurrence of a small problem that will need surgery to rectify. He will not run again this season. Go Millie Go is well. She has responded well to her ulcer treatment, and has an entry in the 3m Listed mares novices' hurdle in Doncaster on Saturday. Blue Bikini is also looking well, and she will have entries in a couple of mares bumpers mid month, and where and how she runs in whichever she runs in will dictate what she does for the rest of the spring. We will be announcing a new syndicate very soon - 10% shares available in a 3 yr old to be trained for juvenile bumpers with Fergal O'Brien - get in touch - and there are a couple of shares left in yesterday exciting debutant Auditoria - who is highly recommended - £600 + £25/wk. nickbrownracing@gmail.com