Ticks Every Box
Sometimes you get the long straw! You dodge a bullet! Have a lucky escape! Monday was like that for me.
I have never been more relieved to not be at a yard on Monday morning, more than I was last week. As usual, the jockeys were in at Alan King’s, Barbury Castle stables to school a few both on the all-weather and some on turf for the first time. Debbie had arranged to pop in and get some pictures and videos for both NBR members and the Alan King Racing Club and under normal circumstances I would have been there as well – but not on Monday – and it very much looks like it was the right morning to miss. After a long dry summer, jumps trainers are crying out for rain – so that they can get their winter horses schooled and their seasons underway. On Monday the rain arrived in Wiltshire. A difficult morning to photograph and video horses but it was really good to see four of the five in training at the yard have a pop over hurdles. Tom ‘Bear Grylls’ Bellamy was in, sporting the latest in outdoorsy waterproofs, and he schooled both Uhtred Ragnarson and Ghost Dancing over hurdles. UR popped up the hurdles on the all-weather strip, and GD headed down the road to the turf schooling ground and she popped away over the hurdles down there with a companion. It is vital that horses that have never experienced jumping on turf do so before they make their debuts. They can have jumped as many as they like on all-weather surfaces, but the feeling of taking off and landing on turf is totally different, and it can unsettle a horse when they experience it for the first time, best to let that happen at home rather than on the track. Alan will always have them schooled on turf before they make their hurdling debuts. Uhtred Ragnarson has already had a few runs over hurdles, so he knows plenty about it, but it was very important to let Ghost Dancing feel the grass under her feet for the first time. She was very good and is very close to being ready to make her debut in the next couple of weeks.
And She Was also had a little pop up the hurdles, she is in great order and building back up to full fitness. Sadly, due to a weather induced technical mishap, Debbie didn’t get any footage of her schooling, but she got plenty of footage for her syndicate members to enjoy.
I can’t wait to start the season with a clean slate with ASW. Her debut season was a bit of a write off if I’m honest. The poor girl was, primed and ready to run twice before she actually made her debut, and then the saddle slipped and she unseated Tom Cannon at the last when she would have been third on hurdling debut, after which, due to being in training for so long, she burst a blood vessel in Bangor on Dee. She was running very well in both hurdles starts before bad luck intervened, and with a pipe opener to start the season, she should find herself on a very attractive handicap mark when she is ready to rock and roll.
Dino Bellagio has given his syndicate so much fun over the summer – he has earned himself a break. He will head down to Jason Maguires, Ivy Lodge Farm – it was just a question of when. Transport arranged, and he will be back in the Cotswolds tomorrow morning. I, like all of his syndicate have really enjoyed the summers flat campaign with him – wins in valuable handicaps in Southwell and Chester were obvious highlights, but the whole thing has been a fun adventure, and I am so glad that we decided to switch codes with him! He has always shown well above average ability at home and of course won two of his first four starts in bumpers, but things went wrong over hurdles, and the switch has given him a new lease of life. He will stay at Ivy Lodge Farm until early January when he will return to work and then head back to Donald McCain. We have a plan for him – and hopefully he will give his syndicate as much fun next year as they have had in 2025!
Tuesday – another trip up the A1 to Doncaster. The Goffs Uk Autumn Horses in Training Sale. A thin catalogue, and with plenty of withdrawals it would thankfully not be a long day. With the sale not starting until 11.00am we decided to travel up in the morning rather than head up on Monday night, so at least we avoided a thick head! Quiet sales can drag, but on the other hand they do offer the chance to chat to trainers, as lesser sales mean less horses to view and they often have more time on their hands. Although it was a quiet day it was a good day!
While I was in Doncaster, Debbie was on the road again – this time to Ivy Lodge Farm to get some videos and pictures of the new yearling colt that is with Jason to be broken in and who will be heading into training with Sir Mark Prescott. This lad has really settled in and got his feet under the table now – he was quiet for a couple of days when he arrived which is understandable, changing addresses three times in 2 weeks would be enough to phase anyone, least of all a young thoroughbred! He has certainly found his feet now and was in tip top form. Debbie has worked with horses, owned horses and photographed thousands of them too – so she certainly knows a nice one when she sees one, and she was quickly on the phone after leaving Ivy Lodge Farm to say that she ‘Liked him even more than she had at the sales (if that was possible). He’s gorgeous Nick’. Everyone that has had anything to do with him, from Sir Mark Prescott himself, his assistant, William Butler and Jason, have all said what a lovely horse he is, and we do look to have landed quite a bargain! Sir Mark was very impressed by his physical attributes, his size, scope and athletic walk. William and Jason have been delighted with his mind – he is a horse that takes everything in his stride, without being a characterless drone. I think that he has a pedigree that is perfect for the path that we have planned for him – by a Classic winner, out of a Listed winning mare who has bred 4 winners from 5 foals of racing age, who get better as they mature. At this stage he looks to have all the right attributes to being a racehorse – so he ticks all the boxes for now.
The Red Sash Racing Club members are all raring to go – their horse Ridin Solo is ready to make his seasonal/chase debut, and he got an entry in Bangor on Dee next Monday. The winner of an Irish point to point he has been a very assured jumper of hurdles for the past 2 seasons, and we have been very much looking forward to making the switch to the bigger obstacles with him. He has schooled really well at home and is very quick and accurate at his fences. I am really looking forward to this season with him.
One man that is in amazing form is Olly Murphy – saddling an incredible 4 timer in Perth in the afternoon. Olly was at the sales, and we caught up for a chat – he is very happy with Gatsby our 3 yr old grey gelding by The Grey Gatsby who is in training at Warren Chase. If there was enough rainfall on Wednesday night, he would be travelling to Worcester on Thursday morning to have a canter round in a schooling bumper. The away day would do him the world of good. As Donald McCain was also planning to take Old Blue Eyes there for a pop over hurdles ahead of his debut – we would get to see both of them.
While I was in Doncaster Steve and Jess popped in to The Elms to see their filly Wendy and was kind enough to send through photos of Savingforvegas and Nancy who we bred together. Both looking very well, SFV in foal to Nirvana du Berlais once again - Nancy at tall leggy filly, very racy!
Savingforvegas
Nancy
Wednesday – work morning for Nevada Samba at Barbury Castle, and a lovely video from Alan King of his impressive work. He looks in fine form – and when the tracks have some nice naturally soft ground, he will be ready to make his long-awaited debut. He is the latest son of Savingforvegas to show a well above average level of ability at home – and I for one can’t wait to see what he can do on the track! He has always been held in the highest of regard by everyone that has had anything to do with him – let’s hope he doesn’t let us down and make us all look foolish!
The Olly Murphy bandwagon continued to roll in the afternoon with another three winners in Worcester – his team look really well and are running accordingly. He also has an absolute magician in the saddle – Sean Bowen who is simply a class above his peers at present. He is a joy to watch, and even more of a joy to have on your horse!
Thursday, an early start and a trip to Worcester. Not a bad trip over, I arrived at 8.45am and had already missed the first two schooling races! There were to be 14 in all – 3 chases, 6 hurdles and 5 bumpers, with fields varying between 9 and 11 runners. These mornings, commonplace in Ireland are very rare in the UK, and we need more of them – they provide invaluable experience for young horses, and are also a great way to put the finishing touches to the preparation of older horses who know all about the job and only do just enough at home – an away day really brings them on.
140 horses were to get a run round, the stables on the far side of the track would be the base, the races would start on the city bend, with the normal back straight being the home straight for the day. Four new style easy fix hurdles jumped stable side, two in the normal home straight. Several trainers took big teams, Olly had 22 there, Dan Skelton 17, Donald 12, Tom Ellis 11 – so you can see how well supported the morning was. I really enjoy these mornings, a relaxed way to see the horses work and chat with a host of owners, trainers and jockeys that you don’t get to see when you are busy at the races. Plenty of jokes, laughs and wind ups for us, and vital experience for the horses.
Donald ran Old Blue Eyes in a schooling race over hurdles. Overnight rain that turned the ground soft and meant that ‘Gatsby’ could have a run round, also meant that Old Blue Eyes would not find underfoot conditions to his liking – but this was about giving him a pop over hurdles more than anything else – so going was not that important. OBE has schooled very well at home, but can be a little careful – so, remembering the experience we had with Dino Bellagio, when he made his hurdles debut – which was not a pretty sight, Donald felt it was the perfect place to give him a bit more experience. Donald had two in the heat, (Brian Hughes would be on OBE), and had hoped that both would get a lead in the early stages, but it became clear as the horses gathered in the collecting area that there were very few of the others with any jumping experience at all, so Donalds bounced out first and second at the front and gave them all a lead, with Old Blue Eyes sitting in second behind his lead horse. OBE was a little big at the first, but on the whole settled into his work well, and jumped away nicely. As they turned for home he was upsides in front, and did have a really good look at the last, after which Brian was happy to let him take him to the end of the 2m work in his own time – which was still good enough to remain in second place behind Donalds other runner, who was pushed right out by Theo Gillard. Brain Hughes was very happy with OBE after his work – he hated the soft ground – but we expected that, and he was happy with how he jumped and travelled. He was very green, proving that it was definitely the right thing to do to take him, and he will have learned so much from his day out!
Debbie – who had come up to Worcester to get some pics and videos for owners, and I,then had a bit of a wait, as Gatsby was not due to run until 1.25pm. Breakfast rolls and tea and coffee supplied by the racecourse were very welcome, as was the chance to get out of a chilly wind. The day had brightened up by the time Gatsby got to have a spin round. Like all of Olly’s bumper horses on the day he would hack round in rear with a work mate and not be asked to do anything too strenuous. Olly’s four runners in the previous race had all pulled up after 1m4f as planned – Gatsby would be doing the full 2 miles but at a pace Olly wanted him to go at. Lewis Stones would ride. He was very well behaved, that is until they left the collecting area, when he decided to have a few rears, and did his bit to upset the class! As planned Olly’s two jumped off in rear and went their own pace. They did pass one or two on the way round, and both finished their work well, but without ‘busting a gut’. The day for him was all about experience – he will have benefitted hugely for it. Lewis was very happy with him, he thought he may just get tired at one point, but he saw his work out well, liked the ground and all in all had a lovely day out!
Well Sat!
There is a share remaining in this gorgeous grey – follow the link to our FOR SALE PAGE, check out his details and get in touch!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8143/the-grey-gatsby-x-tucupita
This morning was so beneficial to trainers and their horses, we need more of them. Chatting with Harry Skelton between races – he said, ‘If you put another morning like this on tomorrow, you would get another 140m horses here’ They are really helpful, and as they are commonplace in Ireland and not in the UK, are another factor as to why their horses are outperforming ours at the moment.
One man I had not expected to see in Worcester was Jason Maguire – who was there to see a couple of horses for his bosses Paul and Claire Rooney. He was in top form – and was, once again, full of praise for the Saxon Warrior yearling colt that he is breaking in. He reported that he is really coming together, and that he would be ridden by the weekend. He is very happy with him and thinks he is very nice!
Friday – the first meeting of the season at Cheltenham. Three of us headed down, thanks to Paul for the lift. A small crowd to ease everyone back into the new season at the track, but a fun afternoon.
On the way down Alan King sent through a video of Uhtred Ragnarson working with three very talented workmates. His work this season has been way ahead of what he was doing last term, and judged on his homework, his rating of 100 looks very favourable – let’s hope he can take the same level of form to the track, when he runs – which will be very soon, as this piece of work was enough to earn him a couple of entries in two 0-100 handicaps next week. Stratford on Thursday and Uttoxeter on Friday. He will be the first jumps runner for the new Alan King Racing Club, and we are really looking forward to seeing the jumpers get going. Uhtred Ragnarson looks very well handicapped, Alan always thought he might be – but even he has been surprised with the level of his work this time round. Ghost Dancing has also been catching the eye in her work, and she will be out very soon.
There are now only a very limited number of places left in the Alan King Racing Club. £3,000 gets you a share in three horses, through to July 31st 2026, with no hidden extras to pay. Alternatively, you can pay monthly at £275 all inc. With I’d Go Maniac to run on the flat, on both the all-weather and turf, and Uhtred Ragnarson and Ghost Dancing to run over hurdles, the Club provides year round sport, excitement and fun and as a result is outstanding value!
Hit the link and get involved!
https://alankingracing.co.uk/racing-club/
Saturday, Donald declared Ridin Solo to make his chase debut in Bangor on Dee on Monday. Brian Hughes will ride in a full field of 14 runners. Donald has left the cheekpieces off for his first run over fences, as this will be a run to get his season started and get him introduced to the bigger obstacles. If he should need them back on, they will go on for his next start. Donald often takes headgear off for their first runs over fences. RS is fit and well and ready to run – he will of course improve for the experience of chasing for the first time – but we are all very much looking forward to getting going with him!
Uhtred Ragnarson got his entry in Uttoxeter. We will wait and see how the ground at Stratford and Uttoxeter looks towards declarations for each meeting and assess the level of opposition too. Wherever he goes it will be a fun afternoon – the Alan King Racing Club members are a great bunch, and always fun to be with at the races!
Another Alan King Racing Club horse to catch the eye in his work was I’d Go Maniac, who put in a very nice shift on the ring gallop. He is obviously in flying form – and will have entries on the all weather in the next couple of weeks.
And She Was went well on the Sharpridge Hill with a work mate.
Nevada Samba looked awesome as usual in his work with three others. Comfortably swinging along in his group.
Jason was spot on – he has said that the yearling colt would be ridden by the weekend, and on Saturday morning he sent through a video of him trotting on the sand gallop. What a boy!! Taking everything in his stride – he has the perfect mid and constitution to be a racehorse – another box ticked. There are just 2 of the 10% shares remaining in him now, and I am very keen to keep them ‘in house’ – to have a horse in training with the ‘legend’ that is Sir Mark Prescott, is very rare – and I would dearly love to fill this syndicate from within the NBR family! Click the link, look at the details, this is a fantastic opportunity to be involved with one of the sports most iconic trainers, at possibly the most beautiful and historic yard in the country. The horse ticks every box, and the hope is that at the end of his three year old campaign he will either head to the sales and make a handsome return for his shareholders, or he will be switching codes for a crack at a few nice juvenile hurdles. Either way – there are some fantastic days to be had with him – join us – he really does look like fantastic value!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8274/sir-mark-prescott-bt
Around the remainder of the team. Greyval has come out of her Chepstow run in great order. She will now switch to fences and could well get an entry in a Listed Mares Chase in Carlisle next weekend. Starting off in pattern company may seem a bit strange, but Carlisle is one of the best tracks in the country to introduce a horse to fences at – they are all inviting obstacles, well presented, and they meet them all on the incline, which helps novices no end. Starting here, in a race that is likely to have just a handful of runners, is way more attractive than starting her off in a big field of seasoned handicappers around Kempton – which is her only other option. She has schooled very well over fences since her Chepstow outing and will school again on Wednesday.
Molly’s Lad is very well and will be making his debut in the next couple of weeks. He wasn’t quite ready to run in Market Rasen, and the ground in Exeter was a tad quick so he has had an extra 2 weeks prep and we are all very much looking forward to getting him started. Fergal told me this morning that he did a very good piece of work this week with a 4 yr old ex Irish pointer who was second to a horse that made £190,000 on Friday at the David Maxwell dispersal sale, and who is a half-brother to the yards Listed placed bumper, and Grade 2 Hurdle winner Siog Geal. Fergal was very impressed with ML’s work!
Looks like we have a fun week ahead – get in touch about any of the shares we have on offer – and join in the fun with us over the winter.
On that note – if anyone is interested in any of the few remaining shares in the Alan King Racing Club – we have organised a morning at Barbury Castle for anyone interested to come and see the three horses work on the Sharpridge gallop and have a tour of the yard and the facilities. The stable visit has been organised for Wednesday 12 November from 8.45am. The morning is by invite only, so please book your place by contacting me on 07909 518902 or emailing alankingracingclub@gmail.com
Looking forward to the week ahead – a few runners, and plenty getting very close to their seasonal debuts now that the rain has arrived!
