Three at Three For Three
Everyone got a little excited this week – having recently had two runners on the same day that both managed to win, I received plenty of screen shots of potential payouts as folks latched onto the fact that we had three runners on one day on Thursday! If you are going to have three runners on one day -no need to do it the easy way and have all three at the same meeting or anything sensible like that – nor even split the three between two meetings – no let’s do it properly – three runners – from three different yards – at three different tracks! It was going to be a fun end to the week!
Monday started as it so often does with a schooling video from Ravenswell Farm. This week – Greyval having a pop up three flights of hurdles. She has made a complete recovery from the colic episode she endured a couple of weeks ago and is in flying form. Having stepped her up in trip on her latest start, she will continue at an intermediate trip for now and will hopefully be out again towards the end of the coming week.
Another video that came through was from Jason Maguire at Ivy Lodge Farm, where our unnamed 3 yr old gelding by Blue Bresil continues his preparation for his first taste of a racing yard in around a months time. He is a horse that we have always held in very high regard – and one that we are all very much looking forward to seeing on the track – but for the very reason that we think so much of him, we will all have to be patient, as he will be given all the time that a nice horse like him deserves. Jason has been involved in the development of hundreds of young horses and like me he is a strong believer that more horses are ruined by running them too soon than are made. If all goes to plan, ‘Barry’ will head into training next month, to get a taste of the routine and acclimatise himself to what will be expected of him. He will have a racecourse gallop in the spring, around March, and then head back to the field for a break before returning to training in July 2025 to start his career on the track in the autumn. A trainer has yet to be decided – Jasin and I will discuss that – and chat with his owners towards the end of the month – but one thing we will get done next week is get him a name – wherever he goes – he needs a name I suppose. I will be in touch with his syndicate this week, and by this time next week he should have a name!
Later in the morning I had a chat with Fergal – Intrepide Sud had an entry in Wincanton on Thursday – and after his recent issues with dirty scopes, I just wanted to see if he was still an intended runner. Ferg reported that IS was in great order and that he was an intended runner – the weather looked rather ominous for the end of the week, but even if the ground went softer than ideal, we would still take our chance, as we had never tried him on anything near soft ground and we would have to find out how he handled it.
As I was watching the entries on the computer – I noticed that there was a valuable hurdle race in Kelso for novice mares – it looked like an options for Tintagel Queen, who was entered in Leicester on Thursday against the boys – a race that looked like a warm heat – so an entry against mares for over double the prize money looked like a sensible entry – so we popped her in there – it gave us an option.
Also on Monday – The Royal Lancaster Hotel played host to what is usually one of the most boozy and boisterous lunches of the year – the Horseracing Writers and Photographers Association (HWPA) Derby Awards. We were paying close attention as none other than our very own Debbie Burt had been nominated for an award – Photograph Of The Year no less! One of four images, chosen by her peers, to be nominated alone was a ‘win’.
Debbies image that was nominated for Photograph Of The Year
It was not to be for Debbie this year – runner up, but we are all delighted for her, and I am sure that she will get her name on that very illustrious roll of honour in the near future! I know one thing for sure – we are very lucky to have her on our team – capturing the most wonderful images of our horses for our owners and syndicate members.
Tuesday – three horses with entries on Thursday – so between 8.00 and 10.00am our thoughts were very much turned to declarations. Dino Bellagio entered in a conditional jockeys handicap hurdle in Market Rasen. Intrepide Sud in the feature handicap hurdle in Wincanton and Tintagel Queen in a novice hurdle against geldings in Leicester. As mentioned Intrepide Sud was always going to run – we had to take the chance while his scopes were clear – if the ground went soft, it would be far from ideal but he would still take his chance. Tintagel Queen had the option of heading up to Kelso at the weekend to take on her own sex, but Olly felt that given the very soft ground conditions in Leicester, that would very much be in her favour, and the fact that Sean Bowen would be there to ride her, he would rather take her on the shorter trip to Leicester, and give her an outing, her third, which would then mean she had a handicap mark and a lot more of the programme book would be open to her over the Christmas period. TQ was declared in Leicester. Which just left Dino – Donald called just before 9.30am to discuss, and with only a handful of runners declared we decided that it was the right place for Dino to run. He would be ridden by Charlie Maggs who has ridden him every day since Dino arrived at Bankhouse and knows every hair of him. Charlie also claimed a valuable extra 3lbs – so Dino was declared as well! Three horses, three different trainers, three different tracks. Now it was time to organise a busy day! In the end I decided to head north to Market Rasen, Debbie was available to cover Wincanton, and as Olly was heading to Leicester he would look after Tintagel Queens group.
Having all this to do on Tuesday – meant that it was not the best piece of foresight to decide to hold the first of two trophy auctions on the same day! A fantastic effort by the members of The Lavendon Partnership, owners of Rockola, who, after a very ‘punchy’ opening bid, entered into some spirited bidding towards the close of the auction at 6.00pm and raised £230 for the Injured Jockeys Fund.
Wednesday – another possible declaration – The Red Sash Racing Club’s, Ridin Solo in Sedgefield. Donald and I were tracking the decs as they came in, and at 9.30 we had a chat. There was a runner from Northern Ireland who looked like it had some very decent form on paper, but I had looked a little deeper into that one’s form and felt that it was worth taking him on. He was sure to go off at long odds on – but I felt that stepping up to 2m4f for the first time – Ridin Solo was far from an also ran – and we decided, at the very last minute to declare. So, we now had three runners on Thursday and one in Sedgefield on Friday – as I was heading to Market Rasen on Thursday it was time to find an hotel in Yorkshire for the night!
Having had a few issues with Leicester and their badge allocations in the past, I left that job until Wednesday morning. This time all went well – I must say thank you to syndicate member Andy Swain who accepted to job of ‘Syndicate Manager’ for the day – he made sure that the course had everything in place for syndicate members when he arrived at the track on Thursday, and also sent through the video clips that I send out to syndicates on race days – Thanks Andy.
Thursday – split three ways – as I have said – I headed to Market Rasen, to see Dino – the hope being that with a change of tactics and the use of ear plugs we would see a different run to the one that we got last time out in Carlisle where he was just way too keen and was never going to get home. Dino was on great terms with himself in the paddock – and went to post nicely. Looking at the race on paper it looked like there were two of the 5 runners who were likely to go forward, two that would sit behind them and Dino – the plan was to walk out last and lob along at the back on his own, but still only be 5 lengths off the front. Dino can settle, but he gets far too competitive when he gets upsides another horse and is always wanting to take it on and go faster and faster. Tracking around at the back of a small field should see him settle, and hopefully running on at the end of the race – something that he is yet to do over hurdles. The race panned out exactly as it looked like it would on paper – which is rare in itself. Dino jumped well enough and was nicely settled in rear. When the pace lifted Charlie gave Dino a squeeze, and they crept up the inside of a straggler, now, usually that would be like lighting the blue touch paper, and Dino would come alive and go from second to fourth gear in an instant – it shows that the earplugs were having an effect, because now – nothing! Charlie had been expecting him to come alive under him, and he didn’t – it was time to get to work – Dino got in tight to the last two, but was quickly away from them, but the race had got away from them a bit, and all the pair could do was to stay on for a never nearer close fourth finish. It was good to see Dino finish off like that – but, also a shame that, with the earplugs fitted, he didn’t do what he had done in his previous runs. Knowing what he knows now – Charlie would have pressed on a little earlier and the front runners would not have got first run on him, but if Dino had run like he had without earplugs he would have found himself racing far too far out and wouldn’t have got home. I had said in the paddock pre race, that we wanted to see him run through the line, and if he got beat trying these tactics – so be it – we had to give it a try. It didn’t work on the day for win purposes but it did in terms of him seeing out his race and it was a big step forward from his previous run – and one that we can build on next time out.
Dino - better - more to come
Next up, Tintagel Queen in Leicester. Very testing ground in her favour – a hot heat, but good to see her out again. Andy sending through the paddock clips for the rest of the syndicate. TQ looked very well in the paddock. Watching on the big screen in Market Rasen, Sean jumped off and had her travelling nicely and jumping great. Everything was going to plan until they jumped the last in the back straight and TQ started to fall back. Sean felt her lose her action and thought there could have been something seriously amiss with her. The pair were now on the very worst of the ground around the bottom bend, and he thought it may be that possibly she had lost her action in the deep ground, but when they straightened in the home straight and onto slightly better going, she was still not right, and he quickly pulled her up – and dismounted. Now this is the time that you feel useless – at a different track when there is an issue with a runner. Thankfully Olly was quickly on the phone with an update, and I could message her syndicate and let them know what was happening. TQ had made her way back to the stables, and although she was lame behind, she was not ‘fracture’ lame. Good news when you think of the injury she suffered at the start of the year. The racecourse vets would check her over and update us when they could. It was a nervy hour or so. Finally, Olly called to say that TQ was comfortable and that the vets could find no obvious injury – and at that stage were thinking that she had pulled a muscle high up in her quarters – a big sigh of relief!
Tintagel Queen in the paddock
Now it was Suddy’s turn in Wincanton. 17mm of overnight rain meant that the going had eased, and that was not likely to suit him, but as he was healthy, and after a few false dawns recently – we had to give it a try. Johnny Burke in the plate – and he would be handy with him again as he had been when the pair made all in Uttoxeter a couple of months before. That had been on Good ground – this was different. After 2 months off the track IS was very fresh, and we kind of knew our fate from a very early stage. He took such a strong hold that Johnny was ‘just waterskiing’ - trying to settle his over enthusiastic partner, which given the size of him and the size of Johnny is a battle that he was never going to win. Even when he did get him on a more even keel between the hurdles, the moment IS spied the next one in front of him – the rev counter went straight into the red again and he charged at it! Doing this – in that ground was never going to work, and in the end IS ran out of puff at the top of the straight and Johnny rightly pulled him up. On his return Johnny gave a comprehensive debrief as always – and said that on soft ground he would have to change tactics next time – and ride him with plenty of cover to keep him from over racing. The wide expanses of a flat Wincanton had been all too tempting for him and he had just been far too free. Debbie was o duty in Wincanton and soon had everyone back at the bar! Not our day – we go again. Thanks to Debbie for undertaking her first day as an NBR Syndicate Manager – reports are she did a great job! Added bonus of course – great photos!
Having watched IS from Market Rasen I headed out to the car park where I ran into Fergal who was just arriving at the track. Fergal had watched IS in his car – and we both agreed that we should just put a line through that run and move on. It was clear from North Lincolnshire that he was far too free. Three runners on one day – a 4th and two pulled up – not our best day – but the two pulled up were understandable and had nothing to do with their ability. Thankfully TQ heading back to her own stable for the night.
As she headed back to Warren Chase I headed north – up into Yorkshire, and the Aldwark Manor Hotel near Boroughbridge, where I was spending the night. Sat nav told my trip would involve a toll, so I imagined I would be heading over the Humber Bridge. Most of the trip was done in torrential rain, and it was a far from pleasant drive, and when I got to the A1 I thought that the sat nav had redirected me and that there would be no Humber Bridge and no toll – I was right on one count – no Humber Bridge, but as I neared the hotel I ran across the Aldwark Toll Bridge – 40p to cross – I felt sorry for the gentleman that had to stand in the rain to collect the tolls!
I arrived at the hotel and the downpour continued. Building work meant that I parked a few hundred meters from reception and it was a damp walk to the door. A friendly welcome – a lovely room, and all in all a really nice hotel. The residents bar featured the bar from the film The Greatest Showman – I was drinking pints at the same bar that Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron had downed shots at! The hotel has three choices of restaurant – the sports bar which was not available – an A La Carte restaurant and a Fine Dining restaurant. I went A La Carte – Elements – a lovely dinner and a nice glass of red wine. The choice on the menu was good with prices ranging from around £15 for a starter to between £24 and £50 for a main course. I had a Yorkshire ham hock terrine to start followed by a feather blade of beef with Dauphinoise potatoes – I really enjoyed it. This hotel has a golf course and spa and is well worth using if you are in the area – handily placed to explore Yorkshire! And the toll saves you a long detour! 40p well spent!
It was a lot darker and wetter when I crossed the Aldwark Toll Bridge
The Greatest Showman Bar
It was drier when I left than when I arrived!
Friday morning – Olly on early to say that TQ, although a little stiff and sore seemed OK – she would have a few days off and if she continued to improve would be eased back into work. Great news for her syndicate – but why she lost her action like she did is a mystery and will probably remain so – she could have just bashed a nerve or something – we will probably never know – if only they could talk!
Adrian, Donalds assistant sent through a video of Dino trotting up sound – so he had come out of his race OK, as had Intrepide Sud trotted up fine at Ravenswell Farm.
So, I set off for Sedgefield, just an hour up the road – and a beautiful morning – a little different to the previous evenings drive! I arrived at the track in good time, and Donald called as I parked the car. We discussed the race, and the fact that we both felt that despite the fact that the favourite was 1-2 he was not unbeatable and there was less between him and Ridin Solo as would first appear. RS sure to improve for a step up in trip. It looked like Brian Hughes would have to make the running on him, but that was not a negative – we would use RS’s experience and excellent jumping to our advantage, and as Donald said – ‘Brian Hughes with a soft lead around Sedgefield is hardly a negative’.
Good to see a few Club members there. RS looked great in the paddock and the race pretty much went as planned. Although Ridin Solo who was let free on the front end didn’t really concentrate and was looking at the scenery more than concentrating on racing. That said when Brian asked him to quicken, he did so willingly, and for a few strides it looked like we had the measure of the favourite, but half way down the hill with the pair locked together it was clear that the favourite was travelling markedly better. That said – RS really toughed it out and made him work for it. In the end the effort of trying to beat the favourite told, and probably cost us second place – but this was a career best effort – he had improved for the step up in trip and he will be out again over the Christmas period.
While in Sedgefield I got a video of Greyval working on an away day gallop with Third Time Lucki – she went really well – joining her workmate at halfway and finishing her work very nicely!
A nice drive home – a quick change and out for a Christmas dinner with friends from the village. The Horse and Jockey in Ravensden the venue, a really fun night. Good to catch up with so many folks who we simply don’t see enough of!
Saturday – not a day for travel – storm Darragh doing its thing! Wind and rain – three meetings abandoned – but still a quality card in Sandown – one of my favourite meetings of the year – the Tingle Creek Chase day – if you haven’t been – put it in your diary!
Around the rest of the team – And She Was continues to build up to full fitness – I will be heading down to Barbury Castle next week to make a plan with Alan and to get some photos and videos of her at work. Rockola had a few easy days after her win in Southwell and is back cantering. She will be back on track towards the end of the month – she does need a nice bit of time between her runs – she is sparely made and puts a lot into them!
Old Blue Eyes is back cantering away nicely and is in good form. Donald reports that you can tell he has had a run – he is lighter than he was and Donald is in no rush to run him again – he will give him a good while to recover from his exertions, and if he doesn’t run again before February it will not be the end of the world – we have our sights on Aintree with him in April – so there is no rush! He will be treated like the nice horse that he is!
Cloud Dancer is very well – he had an entry in Lingfield tomorrow, but with the weather, he was never likely to run – there is an option for him next weekend in Doncaster where they can get a nice bit of ground in the depths of winter. CD will have a short break over Christmas and January and have a prolonged campaign through next summer.
Olly will give Itchy Feet a piece of work on Monday morning, which should see him spot on for a return to the track – looking forward to seeing him back in action – he seems to still be full of enthusiasm for the job!
Down at Ravenswell, Chevelle is going nicely, building back up to full fitness after her wind op, and will hopefully be back on track in 3 – 4 weeks.
Next week – no racing until the weekend – so I will get Barry named – do the trophy auction for The Pavenham Partnership – the prize won by their horse Old Blue Eyes in Sedgefield. I will get down to Barbury Castle later in the week as well – so as always – plenty going on!
