What A Week.
We managed to cram so much into last week - that sadly there was no time to get the weekly news bulletin out on our customary Sunday morning slot. I had warned you - although I was still hoping to get it done!
Last week the fun started on Sunday - shortly after I had penned the weeks ramblings I set off for Market Rasen to see Blue Bikini run in the second division of the (almost) 2m 5f handicap hurdle. I picked up Tom from Huntingdon on the way through and we had a pretty easy trip up to Lincolnshire on an Easter Sunday, although due to being distracted I did manage to take the wrong route to the track - the one that involves sitting in traffic through the middle of Market Rasen for an age - but at least the meeting was on this time - that last day that Tom had been in my car on the way to MR - the meeting had been abandoned as we drove into the town - Hidden Beauty had not run due to a frozen track - and we had munched a couple of sandwiches washed down with a couple of pints and returned home - stopping in a lay by on the way home to see Queenohearts get chinned in the valuable chase in Lingfield - not the best of days - but no such problems this time. A glorious day, and a big Easter crowd at the track! Blue Bikini had won on her seasonal debut in February, a win that had taken us slightly by surprise - her first run of the season had been delayed until Feb, due to an episode of atrial fibrillation that had struck in the autumn. She had needed a break, and had returned to Ivy Lodge Farm for a spell to get over the event. After that we had expected her to need the run slightly in Taunton, but as usual - being ultra tough - she had other ideas, and under a very good ride from Connor she prevailed in a tight finish, I have said for over twelve months that she is well handicapped, and so when she travelled to Plumpton 3 weeks later, we were expecting another big performance from her - sadly that didn't go to plan - but there was a reason for it, and we immediately put a line through the performance. Given a good bit of time after that run - she went to Market Rasen in great form, and we were hopeful that she could run well and hopefully get back to winning ways. Connor Brace was once again in the plate, he has struck up a really good relationship with the mare, and had a definite game plan for the day. He executed it perfectly, and was very good and positive on her, making it a true test at the trip. BB has her own way of jumping a hurdle, but gets from A to B and doesn't lose any ground or momentum, and kicking on from a long way out he had the rest of the field in trouble by half way down the far side. Still in front as they straightened for home, the result was never really in doubt, as stamina is her forte, and she is so tough, nothing was ever going to get by her. Another winner, and great to see BB get her third win from just seven starts over hurdles. She will go up again for this win, and we will see what the handicapper does to her, but I would say if she isn't punished too much for the win she could go in again off of a revised mark. As mentioned she is such a tough girl, early on in her career she was plagued with horrendous ulcers, which caused her pain, and made her quite a miserable lady, she would be very grumpy in her stable, and was nearly impossible to catch if you turned her out in the field. Since the adoption of a definte plan and regime for her ulcers she is a different mare, she is happy to see you, and loves her field time - and even comes trotting over when it's time to come in, she carries plenty of condition, and her coat always has a lovely shine to it. It's lovely to see her enjoying her racing, and her patient owners are reaping the rewards. I keep telling Fergal that she will be better the further she goes, as her pedigree would suggest a step up to 3 miles would see her in a better light again, but while she is still winning nicely at the intermediate trips we will stick to it, and step her up when the time arrives. Huge thanks too, to Louise who has said that we can have her again for next season. She was kind enough to say that we had invested so much money and time into her well being that she would be delighted for us to continue on with her and extend the lease. I think she is enjoying the journey too! BB will be out again in a few weeks, before a summer holiday back at The Elms. She puts so much into her racing that she can't turn out again quickly, but while she is in such rude health we may as well get one more run into her this term if we can.
Blue Bikini looking a picture in the paddock
Blue Bikini post race
More Happy Owners!
Sunday night, a surprise - a share became available in Tintagel Queen - a rare dissatisfied customer not happy with her just getting beaten by inches on her second start - some folks are hard to please. Thankfully the share was taken in approximately 30 seconds - so no great hardship - we wish Nick the best of luck with TQ - he is a lucky man to grab a share in such a nice filly. TQ is still in full work, and should there be a lot of rain around, and the right race appear on the calendar at the right time in the next couple of weeks she may have one more run this season - but the liklihood is that she will be heading off for a summer break at the end of the month, and return a stronger mare again in the autumn.
Monday morning and Paddy was in to school Greyval over hurdles in Ravenswell. She had been entered in the Grade 1 Anniversary Juvenile Hurdle in Aintree on Thursday and Paddy had said that he felt it was the right thing to have a crack at it, as long as she was fresh and well on Monday morning - she was, and the decision was made. We would change tack, and head there instead of the handicap in Cheltenham the week after which had always been the plan. It was a brave call, but Grade 1's are not two a penny, and being a filly, it was a chance that we felt that we had to take. Finishing in the first three in Aintree would do more for her value that winning a handicap in Cheltenham.
Tuesday we were in the office, plenty to do - Greyval was declared, and badges had to be sorted - on that note a huge thank you to Carly and her team at Aintree who really were excellent to deal with all the way through the meeting. I do try to get organsided well in advance to try and avoid havingto get everything done after the meeting has started, and I think that helpng Carly out was appreciated and in return all of our owners all week were very well accomodated. With the rest of the week looking very busy - it was also a chance to get another one of our trophy auctions done and dusted. Another nice cheque heading off to the Injured Jockeys fund from Steve who was top bidder when bidding closed for the trophy won by Blue Bikini on Sunday - we had to get it done quickly as the part of the Market Rasen prize is a quantity of cheese, and it was taking up valuable space in my beer/wine fridge! You can imagine how pleased I was when it was Steve who came out on top in the bidding, as he lives in Northampton, and we could arrange a simple exchange before we headed up to Liverpool.
So on Wednesday morning I met Steve in the Out Of Office coffee shop in Olney and grabbed a quick americano with him and left him with a cool bag of craft beers, Lincolnshire cheeses and photos. It was good to see him, and chat over immediate plans for his horses, and a few ideas he has about the future! On the coffee - Out Of Office Coffee is a small chain - and I have to say, they do a really nice coffee, it is a pleasant little atmosphere and a great stop if you are ever in Olney. A good spot to meet up. From Olney it was on to Southwell where Fortune Forever was running in the first division of their mares bumper. She has been fantastically consistent throughout the season - and we were hoping that she could get her head in front on what was to be her final start of her campaign, and her fourth and last start in bumpers. Liam Harrison was to ride her for the first time, and he was not going to let it develop into a sprint, so he bucked out and made plently of use of her. Quickening down the back, he started to stretch them and at one stage it looked briefly as if the plan had worked, but sadly she was swamped in the last half furlong eventually getting run out of it to finish a close fourth. We made the decision to stay in bumpers early on, after her first run in September, as FF is a young a weak filly, and I am sure this will pay dividends in the future. She has strengthened up well at home, and infact does plenty of her work with Dysart Enos who won the Grade 2 Mares bumper in Aintree on Thursday - so she will have a nice future over hurdles when she makes that switch next season. It was good to see plenty of her owners there, Fran and Sheridan are great supporters, and she would be the last of their horses they get to see for a few weeks as they are off to Australia, and Olly was there with his Mum and Dad, Chris and Lucy - I had challenged Olly, who loves Lego, to make a Lego jockey when I had seen him in Huntingdon a couple of weeks before, and unbeknown to me he had gone home and taken up the challenge, not only making a jockey - but recreating Paddy on Mamoon Star - even down to Paddys black goggles and gloves. Superb effort from Olly, (and an even bigger one form Mum and Dad who had to source various Lego parts from around the world!!). Thanks to all - Cheryl and I got one, as did Fran and Sheridan - and guess what - Lego MS and Paddy went on a journey!
Fortune forever in the paddock
Fortune Forever post race
Olly's amazing Lego Mamoon Star and Paddy
Paddy and Malc on their travels!
We headed up to Liverpool early Thursday morning and had a remarkably clear run to be honest - we were at our hotel before 10.00am. We had taken advice from syndicate members Ben and Helen who are Liverpool natives as to the best hotel to stay in and they had both recommended the Titanic, down on the docks. Well, what a choice - a fantastic hotel, the vast dock building, renovated and turned into a hotel in 2014 is stunning, and little did we know that we would be in great company for the remainder of the week - the guests were a Whos' Who of the great and the good in National Hunt Racing. It is a little out of town, but to be honest there was no need to leave, as the food was excellent, and we ate there on Thursday and Friday evening. Having parked the car, we grabbed a cab and headed into the races, looking forward to seeing Greyval in the second. Having secured as many O&T Badges for the syndicate as I could, I had actually not got any for ourselves on the Greyval allocation and had to arrange our badges via another source - thanks to them for sorting out O&T Badges for all three days! The weather was cool and bright, and in the strong wind the ground was drying through the morning, back to what felt like good ground. Paddy was going to try and keep her out of the wind for as long a possible, travel into the home straight and make his challenge. The race went pretty much to plan, and he produced her on the run to the second last. By this time the front two had got away, but approaching the last it looked likely that she would sneak into the first four, but she left her back legs in the final flight, losing all momentum and stopping her in her tracks. Race over, and Paddy easy on her on the run in. She had had a rough passage, and returned with a nasty cut, but had run well, and is a lovely propsect for next season as she still has a bit of growing to do. She was sore the following day, but will be fine, and will now have a summers break. The rest of the afternoon went by quickly, with plenty of catching up with friends from both the racing and sales circuit! Very grateful of a lift back to the hotel with Sally and Ferg, who in fact became our taxi for the rest of the week, giving us a lift to and from the races each day. I will be checking for miscellaneous items on the next bill - to cover taxi fares!
A superb Hotel!
Restaurant at the Hotel
The bedroom was big enough to get lost in!
Greyval owners in the paddock
Greyval in the paddock
Paddy and Greyval
Friday - Ladies Day - and a wet one - so sad for the girls, but a fantastic days racing - great to catch up with Tony and Charlie for a few sharpners before racing - a few sharpners that ended up taking us to a couple fo bars, and ended after the second race - so much for one before the first! Great to catch up with the pair, and chat through their experience of ownership with NBR and their plans for the future! We should have much more fun together! Cheryl had chosen to take in the sights of Liverpool on Friday, and had a good morning around the city, before a session in the hotel spa in the afternoon, before we met up for another lovely meal in the hotel restaurant in the evening. A couple of cocktails in the bar, and off to bed - tomorrow was a big day!
Cheryl took in some of the sights
Saturday - Grand National Day - and two runners for us. Itchy Feet contesting the second - the 3m handicap hurdle, he was bought to take his owners to the biggest days - and he has delivered in spades - big handicaps are not his thing - so we were not expecting too much in either of the spring festivals, but he had won a Pertemps Qualifier, and been a very close second in a Grade 2 in Haydock Park, and had given his owners the best days out! Sean got Itchy in a good position, and for once he stayed there and travelled well, but when they turned the taps on he dropped back and Sean was easy on him. It was the end of a long season for Itchy, and he will now head off for a holiday and be back next season to compete in some small field conditions races, and then give his owners some more big days out at the big meetings. The weather was glorious, and the folks of Liverpool were in their element, it was a great atmosphere, and everyone was having so much fun. A shame that the big race was delayed by a silly protest - but it didn't last too long - and a great result with Corach Rambler scoring for the Lucinda Russell yard. Condolences to the connections of Hill Sixteen who was sadly killed at the first, the delay to the race causing him to get a bit worked up, and in his trainers view, causing his fall at the first leading to his death. The protestors causing the very outcome they were trying to prevent! On to the bumper and Dino Bellagio. Dino, our first homebred, and winner of two of his three bumpers, is very highly regarded at the Donald McCain yard, but had met with a set back around three weks ago, and it had been a bit of a battle to get him to the race. Champion Jockey Brian Hughes was once again in the plate, and was very much looking forward to riding him. He had learned a lot about Dino when he first rode him in Doncaster, and would ride him differently, but really did believe that he had a chance of at least deing placed. The race went well - Dino was a little keen, but Brian had him pretty much where he wanted him at every stage, and Dino took the gaps when he wanted. On the crown of the top bend Dino just seemed to take a false step, and afterwards, mindful of Dino's prep he simply went through the motions and let him come in his own time. Dino was a little stiff yesterday - and that was certainly not his running - he will be back next season - and Donald already has some nice targets over hurdles for him - he is another with a very bright future. After racing we headed out of the track with Ben and Helen who had kindly organised a car and driver, and we headed into the city for a meal. A table for four in Gaucho, a very lively steak restaurant, new to the city, in what was an old bank building in the heart of town. A really lovely atmosphere, and great food. The tables packed with racegoers - including a few very well behaved jockeys, and a certain Jockey Club Regional Director! It was a fabulous night, huge thanks to Ben and Helen who helped make our stay in their city so much fun - this - like our annual jaunts to Cheltenham and Punchestown, will be three days inked into the diary every year for sure!
Drinks for Debs birthday before the action got underway!
Itchy Feet
Packed stands
The Dino crew.
Dino in the paddock
Dino goimg to post
A night on the town with Helen and Ben
We stayed in Liverpool on Saturday night, and were woken up on Sunday morning with some fabulous news - Savingforvegas had had her foal, and it was the 'usual order Sir' - another bay colt - this one by Golden Horn. That is six bay colts from six foals - Vegas is a legend - although I was really hoping for a filly, as 100% of future bonuses would be nice! Thankfully mother and son are both well - Vegas had been rushed to the vets in Newmarket a couple of weeks ago, and we were all very nervous about her foaling, but thankfully all went well and there were no ill effects caused by the problem she suffered back then. I had made my mind up not to cover her this year, and give her a year off, but as everything has gone smoothly, and the new boy is so nice, I have decided to take up the option of the nomination that she had and return to Golden Horn again. So with Mum and son doing well - we had to think of a name - associated with Las Vegas, beginning in G - We settled on George - originally after the Heavyweight Champion, and 'Grill' man George Foreman who won the title in Las Vegas in 1994, but when I told Louise he would be George - like all girls she went straight for Clooney rather than Foreman - so we will go with that - George Clooney, and the Oceans Eleven theme! Welcome to the 'family' George!
The new guy - George!
He's already a cheeky monkey!
The trip back home was a nightmare - M6 closed at Stafford - OK head along the A50 and down the M1 - A50 closed, in the end - off the M6 - head west to Newport, down the A41 to the M54 - M6 - A14. After a very long time in the car we both decided that we would treat ourselves to an early tea - so a quick burger in Five Guys at Rushden Lakes and then on home!
Around the remainder of the horses - Mamoon Star has had a few checks - one of which has produced a bit of a strange result, so he will undergo a few more so that the specialists can get a handle on what is occuring with him. He remains in full work. Volkovka and Fortune Forever will head to Martins Hill this week ahead of going back to The Elms early next week - it makes life easier for the team at Ravenswell. Greyval is already in Martins Hill, having returned there from Aintree, and she too will head back to The Elms next week if all is well with her cut and the vet is happy for her to go.
At Ivy Lodge Farm, both Hidden Beauty and Cloud Dancer are doing some sessions on the water treadmill before they get a summer holiday - this is just part of their rehab from setbacks they got late in the season, both will be fine going forward - Cloud Dancer will remain at Ivy Lodge Farm, and he will pre train there before returning to Gary Moores in the autumn. Intrepide Sud will head off to the big field shortly, and retrun to training later in the year. The three 3 yr olds are doing great. Frank, now officially named Old Blue Eyes, is going along great, and will be backed this coming week, after a couple of weeks of lungeing and long reining. Jason is old school when it comes to breaking and backing - it was his fathers trade back in Ireland, and he follows the same path - they all get a minimum of 6 weeks, and the results are there for all to see! The Jukebox Jury x La Pelodette filly and the Mahler 3 yr old are also going great - they were broken last year, and are now doing 'secondary school' which involves plenty of ground work in the arena before graduating on to the sand gallop. They will have 8 weeks of that, including a couple of trips down to Tom Georges woodchip gallop to just get them used to their work life. The two fillies should both be running in the autumn, or certainly in early 2024.
Up at Warren Chase Auditoria is still in full work and will hopefully run again this spring, and I have just received a clip of Tintagel Queen popping a hurdle - well she can jump!
Tintagel Queen - she can certainly jump!
All in all quite the week! This coming week will be fun too - catch up office day today - car in for service ready for the Ireland run next week. I will be across to see George and Vegas tomorrow, and then head down to Cheltenham on Wednesday for their two day meeting. Out to dinner with a few folks on Wednesday night, and back home Friday - I had intended heading down to Bath for our first two year old runner on Friday - Refelxion Faite was entered doen there, but it turns out she wasn't qualified - the entry criteria are certainly quite complex, and I soon realised when I looked at them, that entries in these races were a job for the trainer - it seems as though he finds them tough to comprehend as well! There will be a race for her in the not too distant future!
Sorry for the delay - next weeks news will return to it's original spot and normal service will be resumed - I'm not sure if that's good or bad - either way - hope you have enjoyed the latest edition of 'Places I have watched horses and drunk beer' - see you next week!
