Going - Quick
Most folks I know either have a cold or are just getting through one – a sure sign the national hunt season proper is almost upon us. As seems the norm these days – we seem to be tiptoeing into the season proper as a result of a dry autumn so far, and some pretty quick ground in places. If I am honest – I was delighted that there had been no rain in Chesptow, and that their ground was not too soft at the end of the week when Greyval would be getting her season started over hurdles after a sharpener on the flat 3 weeks ago – perversely I will be hoping for rain for later next week – for one on the flat!!
Monday – schooling morning at Barbury Castle – and great to see AKRC filly, Ghost Dancing having a pop up the hurdles on the schooling ground. This gorgeous 3 yr old simply loves jumping and the fillies national hunt juvenile hurdles are tailor made for her this season. The original plan with her was to start her off over hurdles, but the quality of her work up the Sharpridge gallop both before and after a short summer break, has led Alan to revise his plans slightly, and she is likely to start her career off in a filly’s junior bumper. She will be a lot of fun this winter for sure!
Two entries on Monday morning – Greyval got her entry in the £75,000 Silver Trophy in Chepstow on Saturday – this race had very much been the plan since the middle of the summer, and her spin on the flat 3 weeks ago was designed to put her spot on for a tilt at this big pot. With a course and distance win under her belt and the ground likely to be in her favour – this was too much prizemoney to walk past. Fergal has her spot on and is really looking forward to running her!
As much as I wanted a dry week for Greyval to ensure a good but safe racing surface in Chepstow – I would be hoping for the reverse in York – where Dino Bellagio got an entry in a 2m handicap. Dino relished the bottomless ground when hacking up by 5 lengths in Chester last time out – and any rain in York would be very welcome.
After declarations I had a chat with Donald, and we discussed Dino at length. The race in York was for 4yr olds and over, and was worth an entry, but Donald has his eye on a 1m6f handicap in Haydock at the end of next week – and feels that with another staying handicap in Nottingham scheduled in between York and Haydock – it may just cut up a bit and be the better option for him. Both Donald and I are also not 100% convinced that Dino stays the 2m in this slightly better company, and that maybe 1m6f will suit him better. We will not enter Nottingham – but would look at both York and Haydock – he will run at one or the other.
Donald did say that Dino had done his usual trick over the weekend – had been so full of himself after work on the Saturday, that he had thrown so many shapes, he had been slightly lame the morning after. Thankfully he was fine after an easy day – but Donald did say that it was about as ‘daft’ as he had seen him! And that is saying something! Dino is in great order!
Donald also gave an update on Old Blue Eyes – who he is really happy with – he will give him an away day in the next 7/14 days – depending on weather, ground – and what he wants OBE to do – and then he will be ready to make his hurdles debut. The team are all really happy with him – he shows them plenty at home and he looks sure to have a decent season in novice hurdles.
Ridin Solo is really well too – and having schooled so well over fences in the past 3 weeks, Donald is very keen to go straight over fences with him. He is another one on the long list of horses that are just waiting for rain and an ease in the ground but the hope is that we get some in the next 2 weeks and he will be ready to make his chasing debut.
Tuesday – all eyes on the BHA website for the weekly handicap updates – I’d Go Maniac handed an opening flat handicap mark of 72. Just about what we had expected. The handicapper keen to see him in a 0-75 contest to start with. He isn’t a horse who handles any cut in the ground so unless it stays very dry for the remainder of the flat season. he is likely to switch back to the all weather from here. He has come out of his race in Ascot very well – and now in handicap company – he should be lots of fun going forward.
Alan King sent through another video of Nevada Samba working up Sharpridge on Tuesday morning. NS is another one that really does need a drop of rain, and some nice safe ground. He will certainly not be risked on unsuitably quick ground – and as he will be kept to bumpers this season – there is no real rush to get him going. NS was bred by his owners via our breeding syndicate, so although everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the journey with him since shortly after he was conceived – they have all had to be very patient – another few weeks will not feel that long!
Tuesday saw the start of the Book 1 yearling sales in Newmarket. These yearling sales are divided into 3 books – Book 1 are the cream of the crop, the best pedigrees and physical specimens – selected by the Tattersalls staff and offered over the course of the three day sale. Next week Book 2 from Monday to Wednesday, and Book 3 on Thursday and Friday. Last year we saw records tumble as Amo Racing took on the might of Godolphin and Coolmoore – what would we see this time round – it would do well to match last years fireworks for sure!
I spoke to Donald in the afternoon – if we were going to run Dino Bellagio in York, I felt we had better make arrangements for a jockey – with the big meeting in Newmarket on the same day, and Charlie Maggs likely to be in Chepstow, we ought to make a plan early. After chatting it over with Donald, we felt that we would keep all options open, but it would be more likely for Dino to head to Haydock not York on Saturday
Wednesday – I have already said what a fantastic journey it is when you breed your own racehorse. Various milestones are ‘ticked off’ as they are passed on the way. Scans to see if the mare is in foal. Late September follow up scan to confirm that all is well. Foaling, weaning all follow – then you see your youngster develop up to 2 yr old, when they are broken in – and then into training at 3. All stages along the path to being a racehorse – and what a journey it is! One of the most exciting days is that first entry – and on Wednesday, Molly’s Lad owners got to see his name in ‘lights’ for the first time – significant day for those of us that bred him 3 years ago! ML, in training with Fergal O’Brien, has been a fun horse – although slightly less fun if you have to ride him every morning! He is a tough lad for sure, but is very athletic, and from what the team at Ravenswell have seen of him – a horse with a nice bit of ability to go with it! He loves his work – and earned himself an entry in a 3 yr old bumper in Market Rasen next Tuesday. Fergal did call in the afternoon to say that although he gave him the entry, he feels that the race may come a few days too soon for him, and that a piece of work on Friday will be the guide. If his recovery is good after that he may take his chance, but as looked likely, if his recovery was slow, he would need another couple of weeks to put the finishing touches to his fitness. He is bringing him on slowly and doing the minimum amount of hard graft to get him up to full fitness, so unlike with an older horse, the finishing touches will take just that little longer.
Kingy sent through another video of a superb piece of work from AKRC horse Uhtred Ragnarson – as Alan says – he has really come on from last year – and as he already has a handicap mark of 100 – he looks as though he could be starting his season on very favourable terms! Another one of the Alan King Racing Club horses who look as though they will be having a very good winter. If you have not yet joined – don’t hang about – just a handful of the shares remain! Hit the link and get involved!
https://alankingracing.co.uk/racing-club/
In the afternoon I headed over to Newmarket for day 2 of the Book 1 yearling sale. A few trainers to catch up with and chat about their horseboxes. Debbie up too – to get some photos for her stock library.
While we were there it was a chance to chat with Sir Mark Prescott and William Butler about our syndicate at the yard for next season. With the sale average at 322,000 Guineas there was little chance of my bidding finger getting any exercise, but it was good to catch up with both – and relive a little of their fantastic weekend in Longchamp with them. I can’t tell you how much I am looking forward to having a syndicate at Heath House – it is a very rare opportunity – and one that I am very excited about. Having met Sir Mark and William a couple of times over the course of the last few months – I know that our new syndicate will have the very best of everything – from care and attention for your horse, to Sir Mark’s legendary tales of the turf! There will be just 10 shares in the new syndicate – 6 are already reserved – to book your space – head over to the FOR SALE page and have a look at how it will all work, and the costs involved!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8274/sir-mark-prescott-bt
Thursday – Greyval declared in Chepstow – She had worked very well earlier in the week and Fergal and Johnny were very happy with her. This has been the plan for some time, and she has been given the very best chance of running a big race! There would be a huge turnout of her owners, and it looked sure to be a good day! With Dino Bellagio entered in York, Debbie and I looked as if we were going to have to ‘split shift’ – Debbie would be heading to Chepstow to look after Greyval’s owners, and I would head to York, but as it happened, we decided not to declare DB in York, and not enter him in Nottingham – we would put all of our eggs in the ‘Haydock basket’. So, with just Greyval in Chepstow we would both be heading there.
Friday, work morning at most yards. Fergal sent through a clip of Molly’s Lad working on the hill gallop. Once again, he looked to do it very easily, and everyone was delighted with his work. As he was cooling off, Kevin got a video of Fern’s feedback – and as we expected, he had worked very well but had a ‘right good blow’ afterwards. He would not quite be ready to run in Market Rasen next week.
Molly's Lad post work
Another nice clip form Alan King – Nevada Samba working well – fingers crossed we get some rain soon – the suspense is killing me!
Badges to organise for Chepstow. Arena Racing now providing a light lunch in their syndicate lounge – another great initiative – hopefully they can add a little to their prizemoney at some stage too – or am I just being greedy?!
In the afternoon I settled down to watch the action from Haydock. Fergal on the scoresheet early – the has the team in great form. Olly Murphy with the winner of the feature Grade 2 Persian War Novices Hurdle. Olly had been very keen on this horse when I spoke with him a week ago, and he looks to have a really nice prospect on his hands!
The hurdle races were run on the track used for flat racing through the summer which, as a result had been watered for the past few months, and the ground on this track was Good, on the chase track, that had not has so much irrigation over the summer it was a different matter – very fast ground – which would lead to quite a few non runners over the course of the meeting. They did say they were putting 8-10mm of water on the track overnight on Friday – I was just hoping that was not on the hurdles track – Greyval would not want that getting too juicy!
Saturday – a few jobs in the office and then off to Wales, collecting Debbie (and her heavy cold) on the way! Debbie had sent through a couple of videos she had taken when she popped into Timmy Murphy’s – George (Golden Horn x Savingforvegas) and Cloud Dancer are best buddies.
Floyd (Falco x Savingforvegas) is also in a nice bunch – he will return to Ivy Lodge Farm in the next few weeks.
Another update from Kingy on the way down – Alan on his way to Newmarket – so Robin on video duty – great to see Ghost Dancing work very nicely up the hill at Sharpridge.
We arrived in Chepstow just as they jumped the final flight in the first. Found the Syndicates Lounge – the busiest one I have encountered. Checked in with Greyvals owners and then headed out to sample to atmosphere ahead of Greyvals run in the 4th race. A huge crowd, and a fantastic atmosphere. Chepstow have done a great job marketing this new three-day meeting and look to have been rewarded with big crowds. Sadly, the quick ground on the chase track led to quite a few non runners, but the ground on the hurdles track was fine for Greyval.
I would like to say that she looked great in the paddock – but we didn’t see her. Fergal and Dragos keen to keep her settled. kept her in the pre parade ring for as long as possible but sadly mistimed things a little bit, and by the time they were going to head up to the paddock – the horses and jockeys were already making their way down. A fine heading Fergal’s’ way – as under the rules of racing all horses have to complete at least one circuit of the parade ring. We did at least get to speak to Johnny – his plan to sit handy and not get crowded. He would not be far off the pace turning in and then send her for home. He was confident that she was in great shape, both physically and mentally and should run a big race!
Things went pretty much to plan. Johhny got a great start and was able to slot in just behind the leaders, without being crowded. As they turned for home he kicked on, and the pair got rolling. Unfortunately, a couple were rolling with her, and she was in a real battle. Her jumping over the last two flights kept her in it – and she battled all the way to the line – and was staying on again at the death, to finish 5th. This was a mighty performance. I would say – near on a personal best – and you can’t ask for much more than that! Johnny was a little critical of his ride straight after the race, thinking that he should possibly have kicked on a bit sooner and made it more of a test – but that is hindsight – and Fergal and I are not so sure. Either way Greyval has run a blinder, and we can now move onto phase 3 of the plan – chasing (if I can find a suitable race).
Thanks to Debbie for the photos - great shots - and with a very heavy cold too!!
Olly Murphy with the winner – what a weekend he had – winners of the feature races on the first two days! Another yard in cracking form! He reported that he was very pleased with ‘Gatsby’ our three year old gelding in training at Warren Chase. He is progressing really well and improves week on week – he will have an away day in the next two weeks and be ready to run in a suitable race when the rain arrives. He is a big slab of a horse that will require a bit of cut in the ground.
Good to see McCain at the races – He had entered Dino Bellagio in the 1m6f handicap in Haydock that morning, and as I (like so many) could get absolutely zero service on my phone (Chepstow is renowned for it) I had to check the entries with him on his phone. It looks as though the race may cut up a bit with quite a few of the entries also engaged in Nottingham earlier in the week as we suspected may happen.
A good trip home – Debbie did well to get through the afternoon – that was quite the cold! An evening spent with my head in the programme book – so many options for Greyval – none of them perfect for what I had planned – I will discuss things with Fergal’s race planner, Neil next week.
Sunday – Greyval seems fine, ate up and jogged up sound this morning. One of the fantastic things about her is her durability – she has had plenty of racing – and some hard races too – but she always bounces back after each run and retains all of her enthusiasm for the job. She has given her owners some great days – and there are sure to be more to come!
A chat with Sir Mark Prescotts assistant and business partner William Butler – just to go through what we would like to buy for them to train. Book 2 offers us a chance to get something – and I was keen to let William know the sort of horse that we would be looking to buy, so that any that fit the bill could be included in their inspections. I gave him a fairly ‘blank canvas’ and he will be calling me with a list of suitable candidates for Monday and Tuesday later.
Last but not least – And She Was, who continues to build up to full fitness. She is doing plenty of cantering after a bout of ringworm held her up for a couple of weeks. Alan is really pleased with her – she has strengthened no end from last year – and with last terms messy season behind her – and back to full health – she should end up at the right end of the handicap to have some serious fun with her!
Next week – looks like I will be back and forwards to Newmarket, where we hope to be adding to the squad! Haydock on Friday looks likely for Dino Bellagio as long as the ground doesn’t get too quick for him, and next weekend I hope to get a yard visit in!
Log on next week for another full update on all the horses, and anything else we may have been up to, including (hopefully) the start of our fantastic syndicate with the legendary Sir Mark Prescott! You really do have to be part of this – I promise you it is going to be a very rare and special experience!
There is a superb piece in today’s Racing Post – hit the link and have a read – A taste of the experience you will have as a member of our latest syndicate!
