The Name Game
Some will know – many will not – last weekend saw the opening of the NFL season in the US. Why start the news with that? I hear you ask – well surprisingly, there are quite a few NFL fans amongst the NBR ‘family’, and last Sunday night was a key match up for a few of us. The Las Vegas Raiders (my team) were taking on the New England Patriots (Jason and Sharon) – a few tense messages during the game – in the end The Raiders coming out on top! A better start to the season than West Ham!!
Monday – a quiet day – Alan King, sunning himself in Cyprus – gave the Alan King Racing Club’s, I’d Go Maniac an entry in Bath, IGM in great form and very much ready to run. As with Dino Bellagio, this bumper winner, showed up very well in the first start of his flat career, finishing third in Leicester – jockey Rob Hornby being very complimentary after the race. IGM will benefit from a step up in trip, but as we found with Dino, it isn’t easy to find staying maidens or novices, so he will be a horse to follow when he enters handicap company over a staying trip.
Monday afternoon, another enquiry from a trainer and owner about our syndicate management services. This is part of the business that is getting a lot of attention lately, with plenty of interest. With over 25 years of experience in all aspects of syndicate management, and a huge network of contacts both in racing and bloodstock – we provide a tailor-made syndicate management service to fit the individual needs of every customer. It is something we very much enjoy doing and is an area of the business that looks like expanding over the next couple of years. We will see where this latest enquiry leads.
Tuesday – work morning – and the first video of the week through from Barbury Castle. With Kingy away it was Robin on comms as I’d Go Maniac put in another impressive piece of work ahead of a run in the next few days. Already entered in Bath – after this shift he was given a further entry in Kempton on the all-weather next Monday. IGM would not appreciate soft ground and given the ground and the weather forecast in Bath, it looked far more likely that he would head to Kempton.
While checking the entries – I had a little peak to see the updated handicap ratings – Dino down 1lb to 71 – a bit of a blow – I had hoped for 2lbs bringing him down to a mark of 70 and allowing us to enter him in a number of 51-70 rated races that are coming up in the next couple of weeks. Sadly, a rating of 71 doesn’t allow us to do that, rather restricting where we can run him – but there are a couple of options, and I would be chatting through them with Donald McCain later in the week.
Second video received was from Fergal O’Brien – Greyval had worked under Aidan Coleman – both really happy with her – the plan in place – she would start off her season with a spin on the flat before heading to Chepstow in October for their big race. She is in great form!
After our visit to Ravenswell last weekend – and the sight of ‘Finbar’ looking so well, progressing so smoothly through his work, and receiving such glowing reports from both Fergal and Fran – I decided it was about time we cracked on and got him a ‘proper name’. He was given Finbar when he was born – the foals are always given a stable name that begins with the first letter of their sires name and being by Falco out of a mare named after a famous Irish woman – Finbar made a lot of sense! Now it was time for his owners to each come up with a suggestion, with the winner being decided by a vote on Friday. The list of name suggestions grew by one – when Joe joined the syndicate on Tuesday. I was so pleased that Joe took one of the remaining shares in Finbar – as he had been a part owner of his dam – Molly Childers and had such fun with her. Joe has remained friends with plenty of the members of that group, and it is lovely that he is once again a member of The Ravenstone Partnership for whom Molly Childers ran! It was a bit like ‘Getting the band back together!’
A day in the office meant that I could do the auction for the prize package that Dino Bellagio won in Southwell. A fantastic late flurry of bids saw the total break all records, and a big cheque made its way to the Injured Jockeys Fund the day after. Congratulations and a huge ‘thank you’ to Alex who was very determined to get his hands on the prize – saying that it was a fantastic memento of one of the best days of his life! He also said it would serve as a reminder to him to trust the people that know – having called me a couple of weeks before Dino’s win to question if he should still be a part of the syndicate. I explained that we were having to go through a process with Dino and that his patience would be rewarded – thankfully I was right!
Wednesday – my first ever day of industrial action, and a chance for the racing and breeding industries to come together and highlight the consequences of the ill thought out plans by the Government to apply a blanket tax on all forms of gambling. Both industries, inextricably linked by the Thoroughbred face huge difficulties should this taxation plan be implemented, with so many jobs being linked to them, it will have huge implications going forward.
This superb video was released a couple of months ago to highlight the way that our sport impacts the livelihoods of so many people – and I challenge you not to be moved by its content – it is a stunning piece!
With no racing it did free up a bit of time to spend with Steve, my mate over from Australia. Before that – the cheque off to the IJF, and a chance to get out an email to the owners of Rockola detailing the prize money they were due for the 2025/26 season – a dividend I was settling far too early after her sad death a few weeks ago. Her sudden passing left her entire syndicate reeling – and I had been respectful in not processing the dividend in a time that I felt was too soon. Later in the day it was good to chat with Ben, who had been a part owner of Rockola and was hit hard when we lost her. As they say time is a great healer, and as his remaining horse, Cloud Dancer is likely to miss most of the 2025/26 season with an injury, it didn’t take him long to snap up a share in ‘Finbar’ – I was very keen for Ben to have a share in him – as he is a horse that looks like he could end up in the same race that his Cloud Dancer made his debut in – the Listed 4 yr old bumper in Cheltenham on New Years Day – having said that he and his father in law, Pat had had such great times with NBR, he didn’t need too much persuasion and we wish them both the best of luck with their new horse. Grabbing a share at this stage also meant that they could put forward a name suggestion too! The sale of that share means that (hopefully) Finbar is now sold out – one share is reserved and not yet paid for - and I am keeping a small share in him myself, as I think he a cracker!!
Jason Maguire sent through an update on Intrepide Sud – who is out in the field for a couple of months. He needs some R&R after a very small injury he picked up in the summer – a field and some ‘Dr John Green’ (Grass) the best thing for him!
The afternoon was spent touring a few pubs in Bedford – plenty of fun, reminiscences and talks of the future – capped off with a curry in the Blue Monk in Bedford. A new restaurant for me – and it was a really good experience – by way of a control I always order the same meal in every Indian Restaurant I go to so that I can make an informed comparison – every restaurant is different, even though it is the same meal – and this one was very good!
Thursday – Soft ground in Bath – so I’d Go Maniac not declared, he would head to Kempton on Monday.
With the work done – it was time to try my second new Indian restaurant of the week – Curry Clubbers met in Kimbolton at Kimbolton Spice. More beer – another Pathia! This one was very good too – I know there is a theory that you can never have too much curry – well – yes you can – that will do me for a while! Kimbolton Spice well worth a visit too!
Friday – Fergal sent through a video of ‘Finbar’ and Fern after their work. Both trainer and daughter are very pleased with him – Fern really likes him and says she ‘gets a fantastic feel off him’ so it all looks very promising! The more I see and hear about him the more and more I like him – he is going to be lots of fun for his syndicate!
Polling day for the members of The Ravenstone Partnership – the day to decide ‘Finbar’s’ name – and therefore the day that I stop having to keep typing his name in inverted commas! There were some really well thought out suggestions – but in the end the votes cast fell in favour of Molly’s Lad – a nice simple name that gives a lovely nod to his dam, Molly Childers who was such a good mare for us.
Another video of I’d Go Maniac’s work – another good bit – he will be heading to Kempton on Monday.
Donald called to chat about the three horses up at Bankhouse. Dino has come out of his race ‘bouncing!’ and Donald and I chatted about where to go with him. A rating of 71 was a bit of a pain – it cuts down options – so we may plan for another nice day out with him and when he gets down a grade he will be running against lesser opposition and should be going close again – we will look at the programme book and make a plan.
Donald is delighted with the other two – Ridin Solo is a week ahead of Old Blue Eyes in his work – and started faster work this week – he had just worked well when Donald called – he will be ready to run around the end of September/beginning of October.
Old Blue Eyes – a week behind RS will do his first piece of faster work next week – and will be ready to run in 3-4 weeks – we will have a chat about plans and possible races for them both ahead of the September Saturday Syndicate visit there next weekend.
Saturday, and the September Saturday tour rolled on – this time into the Warren Chase yard of Olly Murphy to see our unraced 3 yr old gelding by The Grey Gatsby. This gorgeous horse is another that is going very well – he is a totally different sort to Molly’s Lad, a big strong lad – with plenty of substance! He too is a tough resilient horse, who takes every bit of work they throw at him. He is doing 1 ½ miles of cantering on the deep sand every day – and he simply devours it! He will be aimed at junior bumpers this autumn, and from all reports thus far he is another one that will give his owners heaps of fun this season! There is a share still available in him – head to the FOR SALE PAGE and check out his details!
It was a fun morning – thanks to Olly and his team for their time – the croissants and pan au chocolat were super and went well with the bucks fizz first thing!
While we were sipping our fizz, Charlotte at Alan Kings messaged to confirm that I’d Go Maniac had been declared in Kempton – with Rossa Ryan taking the ride. After decs closed I had a look and although there are a couple of decent horses in this novice stakes, I’d Go Maniac should run a nice race and be in the first three or four.
Greyval got the first entry of her season – and not where you would have expected for a mare chasing a hat trick of wins over hurdles – she was entered in a 1m4f fillies handicap in Newbury on Friday. This race was selected as part of her preparation for a tilt at the Tote Silver Trophy in Chepstow in October – and we are looking forward to cracking on with her this season – a season in which she is very likely to make the switch to fences at some stage.
Debbie was once again with us for the first part of the morning – before heading up to Doncaster to cover the St Leger, and the Arabian Derby.
Debbie was in at Timmy Murphy’s first thing and sent across a ‘proof of life’ video of Floyd, our homebred 3 yr old who is turned out with Timmy. He will return to Ivy Lodge Farm in a few weeks and resume his education. He has developed into a lovely looking horse, and with the pedigree sure to get some exciting updates over the course of the next few months – he will be syndicated or sold in the new year.
Having captured some lovely shots of Gatsby and his syndicate at Olly’s, Debbie headed north – suitably attired she stayed dry and enjoyed her afternoon although her quick message regarding her interview with Mickeal Barzalona the winning jockey in the Arabian Derby, made for interesting reading!
‘Arabian race went well, though no proper Wathnan connections to interview and no trainer… this meant Barzalona was my only quote… and he had a flight to catch, so left Nigel to cover the presentation, tailed Mickael to the weighing room and waited for him to change so I could walk with him to the car… as we’re doing our interview, one of Donny’s finest lads does a full vomit right next to my esteemed jockey (on tape you hear me saying ‘careful!’) he took it well!!
Sunday – badges to organise with Kempton for the members of the Alan King Racing Club who are heading there to see I’d Go Maniac tomorrow.
Alan back from his holiday – rang to chat about the team – he will be in Kempton tomorrow and is looking forward to getting cracking with Club runners having sold another share in his local pub last night! He also reports that Robin his assistant who has been holding the fort in his absence is really happy with the entire team. Nevada Samba continues cantering and building up his fitness. And She Was is in great form, bucking and kicking and Ghost Dancing is very much the same – their work will step up a gear now. Uhtred Ragnarson is cantering away like Nevada Samba – and is looking really well
Next week starts in Kempton tomorrow – I will try to get to a yard in mid-week – Newbury on Friday with Greyval – who has just been given a UK flat handicap mark of 70!!!!
Then the Syndicate Saturday roadshow rolls on to Donald McCains next weekend – with a big group booked in – that will be a fun morning – please feel free to join us – the three horses will work, and we will get to meet them up close and have a wander around the yard after they have worked.
Should be a fun week – with no Indian food on the agenda!
Tune in next week for all the latest – I’m always amazed at how many of you say that you read this waffle every week – I’m equally amazed at how much I enjoy writing it – it is now very much part of my Sunday morning routine – which is very welcome since they stopped publishing the News Of The World!!
