That Was Close
A pretty quiet week overall – which is no bad thing given the prevailing weather! I did manage a long overdue visit to Barbury Castle – and got wet – but other than that I avoided contracting trench foot and stayed in the dry.
Monday – always good to keep in touch with family members – and it was lovely to get a few pics and a video of MOLLY CHILDERS’ filly born in the spring of 2025, by Jeu St Eloi. Molly was sold to the Furlong family in Ireland in a private deal after she had had her first foal in 2022. That first foal was ‘Finbar’ – now officially named MOLLY’S LAD, who, in 3 runs for The Ravenstone Partnership has already shown he has plenty of ability and is sure to give his owners plenty of fun. After her sale - MOLLY CHILDERS was sent directly to France where she was covered by Jeu St Eloi, a mating that produced a very nice colt foal who went on to top day 1 of the big November Foal sale in Fairyhouse in 2024. That foal was so nice that Jimmy sent MOLLY CHILDERS straight back to the stallion – who, by this time had been brought to stand in Ireland – so the trip to see him was a lot shorter! Her trip to him at Rathbarry stud led to her producing a filly foal in the spring of 2025 who would be offered as lot 78 at the Goffs February sale in County Kildare, Ireland.
Jimmy kindly keeps me up to date and it was good to see Molly’s third foal looking great before her turn in the sales ring on Wednesday
She would be joined at the sales by another daughter of one of our ‘Old Girls’ – YAUTHYM – who would have a 2025 filly by Mirage Dancer sell a little later on Wednesday. Hopefully they would do their Mums proud!!
At lunchtime I called Olly Murphy for an update on JIMMY GATZ who had run such a good race on debut in a Carlisle bumper the previous week. Olly reported that JG was absolutely 100% after his run – he had been very tired for a day or two after his long trip to Cumbria, and he had given him a good while to get over the exertions and excitement of his first day at the races, but he was totally fine and he would resume ridden work later in the week. Olly said that he had caught up with James Bowen who had ridden JG in Carlisle, when he was at the races over the previous weekend, and James had made a point of coming over and chatting about JG and his run. Olly said that he had reiterated that he ‘really liked JIMMY GATZ and that he would improve hugely for the run and was sure to go very close in a bumper given his optimum conditions of a big galloping track and a softer surface.’ Olly too was delighted with the run – and it looks like we have another nice one on our hands JG will have another run in a bumper in 3-4 weeks.
A quick mention for Chris and Lucy – who added another share to their ‘portfolio’ by taking the available spot in MOLLY’s LAD on Monday evening – their continued trust and support is hugely appreciated – and we wish them the very best of luck with ML. I must also mention Fran – who was the instigator of the move – her sales technique once again proving to be very effective!
Tuesday – in the office – and good to get the race report out for GREYVAL’S owners. G had had a run round Ludlow the previous week to qualify her for the Mare’s Challenger Final in Cheltenham in April and had got the job done by finishing fifth. That run has also led to her being dropped 2lbs by the handicapper to a mark of 118 which coincidently was the very mark that she had won the final of the series off last season. We had set out at the start of the season with the plan to see her running over fences – either at the Festival in March or the mares’ chase final in April – sadly that plan didn’t quite pan out, but the switch to Plan B in December is right on track, and hopefully it will yield the same result as last season. Fergal called mid-morning to chat through plans for both GREYVAL and MOLLY’S LAD. As she passed the post in Ludlow, I suggested to Ferg that it may be a good idea to send her down to Ivy Lodge Farm for a short spell – just to get her away from the hustle and bustle of Ravenswell for a few days – and freshen her up – what girl doesn’t enjoy a little spa break? When she returns to Ravenswell, Fergal will prepare her for a run in Chepstow in mid-March – and then it will be on to Cheltenham in April. Hopefully she can repeat what she did last term and win both!
Fergal is very happy with MOLLY’s LAD who is ‘absolutely bouncing’ after his hurdles debut in Doncaster the week before. He is only a 4yr old – but he has a cast iron constitution and is very tough. We discussed plans with him – and I would like to get two more runs into him this season – both in Junior National Hunt hurdles – that way, even if (as we hope) he wins - he remains a novice for next season – with plenty of options in the programme book. His hurdles debut was very good – third behind two smart looking prospects – and both Ferg and I believe that he is capable of winning one of these hurdle races before he has a summers break. These races are restricted to 4yr olds and are only run over 2 miles – and we have seen that MOLLY’S LAD has all the makings of a stayer – so he will only improve for a step up in trip next term. There are only a limited number of Junior National Hunt Hurdles remaining in the calendar for the 2025/26 season – and as we are keen to run in 2 more of them, he will be entered up as soon as possible, with the first one coming in Hereford next weekend. It has been a very wet winter in Herefordshire as it has everywhere, and the track has taken quite a beating – we have not had a runner there, but those that have, tell me that the track is in a bit of a sorry state. Both Fergal and I are no fans of the place in the depths of winter, but it may be that - as there are only 5 races in the series remaining and the last of them is the 22 March – we may have to run him as soon as possible in order to get the third run in before the series ends. I will leave that up to Fergal – as there are options in Carlisle and Taunton in the coming weeks.
One that Fergal and I will not be planning a campaign for this summer, sadly, is Intrepide Sud who has been retired. He has been found a lovely home where he will go hunting, and on Tuesday he arrived at his new home – where he will spend the summer and be brought back into work slowly. He will be well suited to his new job, and we wish his new owners the very best of luck with him! I just hope he doesn’t get too close to his neighbours – those horns look a bit sharp!
Wednesday – a long overdue trip to Barbury Castle to see the team in work there. Not the full compliment as both AND SHE WAS and UHTRED RAGNARSON are over the hill at Jamie Magee’s enjoying a short break. Both would not be running on this deep winter ground, and the best thing for them is a mid season break which will mean they are fresh horses for the spring and will also enable them to run on into the summer on ground that they will both find much more to their liking.
That left three to see second lot – but I was there early and I would see a nice bunch work in pairs on the carpet gallop. A lose one led to me experiencing the rally driving skills of Alan ‘Colin McCrea’ King as we sped around the vast expanse of the Barbury Castle Estate in an attempt to find the escapee who was none the worse for his brief stint in the wild! Chloe was ok too.
A lot more settled second lot. Three horses heading over to the Sharpridge Hill gallop. NEVADA SAMBA would be doing his second piece of serious work since his return from a small problem that has been niggling him since the autumn. His work the previous weekend had been very good – and he had shown no ill effects, so I was very much looking forward to seeing him build on that on Wednesday. He was moving beautifully as he warmed up in the school, and he looked in good order as he cantered up first time under Alan’s assistant Robin. He worked second time up, and as you can see – he worked really nicely! Once again doing it very easily. Robin said that ‘if the gap had appeared he would have gone right through it!’ He will be stepped up into a stronger group at the weekend – he looks as though he is right back on song, and if he continues as he is it will not be long before we are looking for a race for him!
Another to work twice up the hill was the Alan King Racing Club’s, GHOST DANCING who would be doing her first piece of proper work since her little break with Jamie Magee. She is another one who would not relish the very deep ground – and will be far better suited to proper spring/summer going. GD looks really well – and worked nicely – their first pieces back are never eye-catching – but she did it well and will be a lot sharper for it when she next works on Saturday.
The only other one currently in work is the AKRC’s I’D GO MANIAC, who had been found to be suffering with a respiratory infection after disappointing in Kempton on his last start. He had been administered a course of antibiotics, and had been scoped the day before, and been given the all -clear to resume harder work. IGM would just do the one up the hill.
We did get a short spell of dry weather!
I watched third lot before heading home, and when I arrived, I was straight on to the Goffs website to see how the yearlings out of MOLLY CHILDERS and YAUTHYM had got on at the sales. Molly’s Jeu St Eloi filly made 19,000 Euros, Yauthym’s Mirage Dancer filly made 10,000 Euros.
Thursday – absolutely nothing to report – such a quiet day that there is nothing to write about – and nothing I can even think to make up!
Friday and a full catch up with Jason Maguire. CLOUD DANCER has spent a month on the walker and is ready to resume ridden work. He has his shoes back on on Thursday and the vet gave him a quick check over on Friday morning – giving him the ‘all clear’ to start a month of walking and trotting. He will be rescanned in 4/5 weeks’ time when he is due to start cantering again, all being well. It will be a long trip back for him, but he is a horse with plenty more to offer, and he will hopefully repay his owners patience. He is unlikely to see the racecourse this spring – the programme we have in place for him will see him work up to around 90% full fitness, do a couple of swinging bits of work at Tom George’s and then if all is well with him, he will have a couple of months in the field before a return to training in July.
PENSELWOOD is on his break – but like many a holiday in the UK – it has done nothing but pour with rain since he arrived at Ivy Lodge Farm. Jason is getting him turned out when they get a few dry hours, and in between he is on the walker or tucked up in a warm dry stable.
GREYVAL is enjoying her ‘Spa Break’ and we will chat with Fergal about her return to training early next week.
‘FLOYD’ our unnamed 4yr old by Falco out of Savingforvegas is going very nicely. He is doing plenty of cantering and had the odd pop over a few poles in the arena during the week. Maguire is really happy with him and still holds him in high regard. He will be gradually brought up to full fitness, and we will make a plan for him when he has done a swinging piece of work.
Olly Murphy sent through a video of JIMMY GATZ’s Friday – he is back in full work, looking great and moving really well. You have heard what both the trainer and jockey think of him – and yet there is still a share FOR SALE in him!! What in the world is not to like???? He has shown that he has plenty of ability – and his trainer and jockey expect him to go very close in a bumper next time out – he has done a huge amount of schooling as a 2 yr old and we know how good he is – former jockey Archie Bellamy did plenty with him last year and had never sat on a 2yr old that jumped like him – so there is surely more to come when he sees a flight of hurdles – and a 10% share is just £3,500 – which values him at £35,000 – where can you go and buy a horse that looks like him – by a fantastic stallion – with rock solid form and with the prospect of untold improvement to come for that sort of money??? Click the link for full details!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8143/jimmy-gatz
Timmy Murphy sent through a few pictures of ‘GEORGE’ our 3yr old homebred by Golden Horn out of Savingforvegas. He is tucked up nice and warm in a dry barn and is looking really well. He will return to Ivy Lodge Farm in a few weeks for his secondary school. He was so good when he was broken in last summer that he only spent a short time in work – and he will do a lot more this time round. He looks like an ideal candidate for 3yr old races this autumn/winter and I already have my eye on the Listed Bumper in Cheltenham with him! He will be sold or syndicated in the spring.
Saturday – a work morning with Alan King, and so good to see both of the horses that I had seen work on Wednesday take a big step forward once again.
NEVADA SAMBA was upped into a stronger group from Wednesday and once again worked great – it is very exciting to be getting near to seeing him make his racecourse debut – I have everything crossed that we get to see him in the coming weeks!
GHOST DANCING did exactly what was expected and was significantly sharper for her work in the week. She travelled very strongly up the hill and looks in great order!
It was also great to get a few clips from Jason.
CLOUD DANCER back being ridden – he is such a ‘dude’ and it is great to see him back in work. Fingers crossed we have a clear run with him, and he returns as good as ever in the autumn – when he is likely to head straight over fences. Brian Hughes felt that is where he would be seen at his best when he rode him in his last race in Doncaster.
You can see from the clips why Jason likes ‘FLOYD’ so much – evidenced by the fact that he always seems to be the one riding him! FLOYD moves really well around the deep sand gallop – a lot like his half brother NEVADA SAMBA did before he headed into training. As mentioned, Jason has resumed jumping FLOYD as well, and as you can see, he is really good in that department as well – we all saw him jump a post and rail fence from three strides of trot last year – so we know he loves to jump and is pretty dam good at it!
Saturday afternoon – good racing to watch – what is it with Clerks of the Course in Haydock? Ground given as Soft Heavy in places at 8.00am – amazingly Good to Soft, Soft in places by 2.00pm!! Being a Clerk is a difficult and thankless task – but to get it that wrong??
The ground didn’t look too bad in Ascot either- good to see Alan King win the bumper with a smart looking three parts sister to Trueshan. He had pointed her out when I was in there on Wednesday – but failed to mention that she might dot up on her debut a few days later!
Last month I did something I have not done in all the 22 years I have been with the ‘long suffering’ Cheryl. Having chatted about a nice pub/restaurant we had not been to in a long time I booked a table for the 2 of us on Valentines Night. I thought I had just better check the time I had booked it for and had a look through my emails mid afternoon. When I looked, I literally went cold! I had booked the table for 7.00pm – on the 14th of MARCH!!!!!! This was not going to go down well – and it is safe to say panic well and truly set in – I was straight on the website in an attempt to get a last-minute booking – but really – what would the chances be of getting a table at such short notice on Valentines Night! Having built my part up all week – kept the destination a secret until lunchtime – when I had told Cheryl where we were going – and her being thrilled with my choice of restaurant – it was all going to blow up in my face – she was NOT going to be happy. The whole thing being made worse by the fact that as I am so unromantic she had arranged to spend the day with a girlfriend in Cambridge and see a comedian in the evening (I know – unbelievable isn’t it?) and she had cancelled that fun time to be with me, and now I had booked the wrong bloody night!! Safe to say I was offering up a prayer as I tried to book a last-minute table – thankfully my prayers were answered and I got one! Huge thanks to the Swan in Salford – the evening ended well – a lovely meal – a fantastic choice on a limited Valentines Night menu! Great staff, good food, and plenty to like about it – we have not been for a good few years – and we will definitely be back sooner rather than later – the Sunday Lunches will have to be tried for sure!
Around the remainder - DINO BELLAGIO has settled into his routine with Donald McCain. OLD BLUE EYES is still moving great as he builds back up to full fitness. The form of his Aintree bumper run continues to get better and better - the front two in that race have now won and been second in Grade 2 Novice Hurdles - interstingly both have benefitted from a step up in trip which backs up what Brain Hughes had felt after the race - that those in front of OLD BLUE EYES had simply outstayed him. His work was very good in the autumn and we are all very much looking forward to getting him back on track in the next few weeks!
RIDIN SOLO is still recuperating from the injury he suffered before Christmas - he will be ridden again next week.
And so ended a pretty quiet week – I survived what could have been a ‘life ending’ error yesterday, and all is well. Next week looking equally quiet – but I am sure I will be out and about somewhere with something to report next week.
See you then!
