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Another pretty quiet week – the wet start to 2026, and niggly little hold ups with a couple of horses on the team, means that we have not had many runners over the last few weeks. In a way this is a relief, a little bit of a respite, but it will come at a cost – when the spring ground arrives and we have the full complement back in full work there will be plenty of runners as we look to end the season with a strong run of results. With so many young horses on the team this year – 2025/26 was always going to be about laying the foundations for the years to come, and the good news is that the team we have assembled looks to be full of talent and are all horses that are going to have lovely careers, and give their owners and syndicate members a lot of fun going forward.
Monday, one of those young horses is MOLLY’S LAD, who has run three times this season – just a 4yr old, he was second on debut in a bumper in Aintree before finishing 5th in the Listed Bumper in Cheltenham on New Years Day. He was still very green that day and certainly has the ability to finish in the frame. He was switched to hurdles earlier in the month and ran a superb race to finish 3rd in a very decent Junior NH Hurdle in Doncaster. The winner is now rated 126, and the second 120 – both had the benefit of hurdling experience. The plan is to give ML another run or two in these Junior NH Hurdles, and there was the option to run him again at the weekend in Hereford. Neither Fergal or I are particular fans of Hereford, particularly in the depths of winter, and those that have had runners there say that the ground is particularly bad just now, so it was no surprise to hear from Ferg on Monday morning, and for him to say that he would rather not run ML there – that he would like to give him just a little more time and look for a race for him in early March.
As the morning went on and I was tracking the entries for Saturday and Sunday, I noticed that we could get a good handle on the level of both his bumper and hurdles form from the big meeting in Kempton on Saturday as the winners of his Aintree bumper and Doncaster hurdle races both had entries there.
An email sent to a select few on our mailing list regarding the 10% share in JIMMY GATZ generated a bit of interest, and it was clear that it would be a good idea to organise and day with Olly Murphy when we could go to his Warren Chase stables and see JG in the flesh. Olly was in good form when I spoke to him on Monday – he would be busy for most of the week – but we were free to pop by at any time and Ger and the team would look after us. JG is a horse that Olly has always liked – a burly, bull of an animal, Olly has rightly taken his time with him – but was thrilled with his debut in Carlisle, where he was beaten just 5 lengths in a competitive looking Junior Bumper, and promised that there was a ton of improvement to come form him. Unlike the three that finished ahead of him – he was definitely not fully wound up for his debut, and he, like jockey, James Bowen both felt that he should be winning a bumper this spring, given the right conditions – which he certainly didn’t get in Carlisle. To that end, Olly was bemoaning the fact that he decided to run JG in a hot little heat in Carlisle instead of waiting a couple of weeks and heading to Market Rasen on Tuesday this week – ‘He would have definitely won that!’ he said as we were chatting on Monday – but you can’t see into the future, and we ran in Carlisle for the right reasons – JG has come out of the race in great order, and we are all looking forward to his next start in 2/3 weeks.
It was a little disconcerting to receive an email from the BHA mid-morning, stating that ‘According to their records, I had not completed the application for my Syndicate Managers License and that the syndicates that I manage would ‘no longer be able to make entries! A bit bemusing, as this was all done as soon as the licensing process started in early 2025. There had been some confusion at the outset, but the application of a considerable amount of money from me – just to enable me to continue my business had resolved the issue to the satisfaction of the BHA and I was fully licensed. As I was out of the office, I called the number on the email to sort the issue. It turns out that they had not amended their records and changed the Syndicate Manager on the accounts from N Brown to Olney Bloodstock Ltd (They had instructed me to apply as the company when I was going through the application process with them). Panic over (for now), the BHA would get in touch with Weatherbys and ask them to amend the records for all of the syndicates that I manage, and we would be fine to continue to have entries going forward – lovely!
Crisis sorted – a lovely to get a video from Jason Maguire in the afternoon – Greyval enjoying a short spell in the paddock while on her spa break. She will have really appreciated the mini break and would be heading back to Ravenswell Farm later in the week. She will be prepared for a tilt at the two races she won in Chepstow and Cheltenham last year, in a bid to repeat the feat and win both.
Tuesday marked the Chinese New Year – the year of the Horse – every year is the year of the horse for us! Hopefully it will bring us some good luck!
One that has had no luck this season has been OLD BLUE EYES, his preparation for his hurdles debut had gone really well through the autumn – his homework had been well above average as always, and he had had been down to Worcester for an away day gallop and schooled round over hurdles under Brian Hughes who had been really pleased with him. He had really quickened at the end of that work without Brian barely having to ask him to do so – so we looked set fair for a very enjoyable season with OBE. No sooner had Donald had given him his first entry over hurdles he went lame behind – nothing serious – but enough to keep him off games for a month. We would reset and he would be ready to run on his favoured sound surface in the spring. On Tuesday Donald called with news that we didn’t want to hear – another niggly little set back – this time to a front leg – again nothing sinister, Donald had thought it was a bang – but is turns out that the bang was more of a sprain – and OBE would need a month of just walking and trotting before he can start to canter again. As I say, nothing serious, but the timing could not have been worse! He has plenty of ability – but as I say – the best ability is ‘avail – ability’ and sadly his niggles have been badly timed this season!
Good to know that plenty of the bloodstock world are enjoying the ski slopes of Europe – having waited for a leading agent to return from his downhill exploits a couple of weeks ago before I could talk to him about a few things we have in mind for the future, it was from a ski lift chair in Austria that Will Kinsey called on Tuesday. We leased HIDDEN BEAUTY from Will a few years ago, and it was good to get an update on her – HB had had rotten luck as a race mare, she looked to have the world at her feet after cruising from a detached last to easily win her bumper on debut at Ffos Las, before we aimed her at a Listed Bumper in Market Rasen – which was abandoned as we, (and the horsebox) arrived at the track – so she went to the rescheduled race in Cheltenham a couple of weeks later, only to suffer atrial fibrillation at half way and be pulled up quickly. It was a long job to get her back – but we did – and when she got enough confidence to push herself ‘into the red’ again she won nicely in Doncaster before suffering a pelvic injury after a run in Taunton. Although we got her back again – she was never quite the same on the track, and she was retired and went back to Peel Hall to be a broodmare. First time round she was covered by Martinborough, but sadly that foal was born prematurely and did not survive. She is now due to GOLDEN HORN, so hopefully her luck has turned, and she will produce a nice healthy foal on time this spring! Good to chat with Will, he is one of the country’s leading NH breeders, and as such deserves huge credit as that is not an easy thing to be just at the minute! I know from just having the one mare!! It was from Will that we purchased the three time Grade 1 winner ROMEO COOLIO, and we are both really excited to see what he can do at the Cheltenham Festival next month!
More BHA woes mid-morning – it was Doanld McCains sister, Jo who first flagged up the next issue – she sent me a text to say – was I aware that the ‘Authority to Act’ that I had in place with Donald – to allow him to make entries and declarations on the syndicates’ behalf had been terminated? – NO! But I had an idea it had something to do with the trials and tribulations of the previous day with the BHA. Shortly afterwards – Charlotte, Alan King’s PA was on saying the same – time to ring the BHA again. Anna must have been sick to death of me by Tuesday lunchtime – it appears that changing the name on each of the syndicate registrations from N Brown to Olney Bloodstock had terminated all of my Authority to Acts with all of our trainers – it should not have happened, and the system at my end was telling me that all was fine – trainers were seeing a different tale! Hopefully it is all rectified – if not Anna may be hearing more from me!
On thing that did cheer me up was a video from Alan King – NEVADA SAMBA working up the hill over at Sharpridge. Once again he had worked really well – Alan’s assistant Robin Smith had ridden him and was really pleased with his work, In a call later in the morning, Alan was still buzzing about the work, and said that ‘I just need to get him on the grass in the next week – and we can hopefully start looking for races for him’ – it has been a tricky old journey with him this season – but fingers firmly crossed – it looks like we have got him back to his best and his patient owners will soon get to see him on the track!
Debbie – who has been enjoying the warm sun in the Middle East for a couple of weeks – sent through a photo from the Al Thani car museum – where she had spotted a place that she thought was reserved for my car
I know it’s getting on but less sure that it is ‘museum quality!’
No runners meant no changes in handicap ratings this week – not even the dreaded ‘collateral damage’ when one of the team goes up without running due to the performance of a horse they have run against.
Wednesday – evidently, I was not the only one that had received emails regarding the Syndicate Manager License issue – judging by the number of texts and emails I received. Always good to help out – and we were able to steer a few folks around the issues that have arisen and possibly picked up a few new clients in the process. I have long been an advocate for there to be more control over the management of syndicates, but I am sure that there had to be a simpler way of doing it!
Alan King sent through a clip of the Alan King Racing Club’s, GHOST DANCING working – she would not appreciate this deep winter ground, and she has had a brief mid-winter break, but is back in fast work now, and looks to be on great terms with herself. Her work is very good, and there is a lot of improvement to come with her after just two hurdles starts. She will be lots of fun for the Club going through the spring and on into the summer, where she might even have a couple of runs on the flat.
Jason Maguire sent through another video of GREYVAL in her paddock in the wind – she is clearly feeling very fresh and well and the break has done her the world of good!
Sadly, I couldn’t get the trip to Olly Murphys to work this week - but we will reschedule something in the next couple of weeks before Cheltenham. If you would like to join the visit at Warren Chase to see JIMMY GATZ, talk to Olly and see some of his Festival team on the gallops, just drop me a line and I will let you know when we have a morning in the diary!
Thursday was a quiet day – a few jobs to do in the office. GREYVAL returned to Ravenswell Farm and back to work. As mentioned, she will be aimed at the two races she won last season – Chepstow in March and Cheltenham in April. Hopefully the ground dries up, and she can run in both – should the ground be unsuitably soft in Chepstow, she will head straight to Cheltenham.
For some reason I woke up feeling absolutely lousy, but that was not going to stop me from heading out to Cambridge for the evening! A quick spot of dinner in the Giggling Squid and then over the road to the Corn Exchange to see ‘Clinton Baptiste’ – and his warmup ‘Barry from Watford’. If you have never seen Clinton Baptiste – do! He is touring at the moment, and it is simply a brilliant show! Despite feeling rough – it was a really good night, although the trip home was less rosy! The A428 closed, in several places – along with other routes that we could take to get back – oddly many of these closures were not flagged up on Apple Maps – and we had to basically guess the best route home – which ended up taking forever. When the new stretch of road from the Black Cat to the Caxton Gibbet is open, it will be an absolute Godsend to get to Cambridge and Newmarket – but for now it is a total pain in the hole! Long delays during the day – and closed completely at night!
Friday – or as the racing world were billing it ‘Constitution Hill Day’. CH would be contesting a 1m4f novice on the flat in Southwell under the floodlights. An interesting move – but understandable given the circumstances of having seen him fall on 3 of his last 4 starts over obstacles. This run would A, get the fizz out of him if they should be considering a run in Cheltenham and B. Tell connections if he could have a future on the flat and if a switch was an option. We would all love to see him regain his Champion Hurdle crown – but at the end of the day – it is all about risk and reward - we know that NH racing is a risk – even flat racing is a risk – but considerably less so. Seeing CH fall again on NH racing’s biggest stage would be a PR disaster for the sport – if he could show up well in this flat race, it would give connections a steer as to where to head next. If he were to be beaten, then it would mean that they could say they tried and that he was better off back over hurdles. If he were to win easily then there was always the option of staying on the flat and running in some very good races. In the end was devastatingly good! He destroyed the opposition, which in fairness, apart from a couple of exceptions were mainly National Hunt horses, without coming off the bridle, and it showed that he could certainly win a good few races on the flat. It is not easy for a hurdler to do what he did – they get used to a certain way of running at a slower pace and it usually takes them a run or two to adjust – CH has simply got a huge amount of ability and can clearly turn his hand to it very easily. Let’s not get carried away – I am not sure what he has beaten, and we are a long way from seeing him contest and win Group 1’s as a 9 yr old – but he can run in some very big races at some very big meetings and if he was mine – he would not be heading to Cheltenham! In our own little way – having switched DINO BELLAGIO from hurdles to the flat last year – I can tell them that there is plenty of fun to be had – even at our level!
Earlier in the day – Alan sent through a video clip of the AKRC’s I’D GO MANIAC who was found to be suffering with a respiratory infection when running poorly in Kempton last month. He has been given plenty of time to recover, had a course of antibiotics and has been given the all-clear to resume work. He looks very well and is in good order. He will be kept to the all-weather for now – as he really doesn’t handle soft ground – but will switch back to the turf in the summer.
Saturday – the weekly catch-up with Jason Maguire in the morning. Our unraced 4yr old, ‘FLOYD’ is doing plenty of cantering, and building up to full fitness. He does everything very easily – and is a horse that is pleasing Maguire in everything he does!
Our 2yr old, PENSELWOOD is in good order – now gelded, he is a little fresh when on the walker, as Jason has not been able to get him out in the paddock as much as he would like due to the horrendously wet weather. He is chilled out when he gets out and this break will do him the world of good. There are a couple of shares remaining in him – and as he is on this break – I am offering the following deal – If you purchase a share in him – I will pay his keep costs for that share up until May 1st – when he will be back in work. So, you get a 10% share in a lovely son of SAXON WARRIOR– who was the sire of a filly who was second in a Group 2 in Meydan on Friday. Out of a Listed winning mare who has bred 4 winners from her first 5 foals – one of who has run to a RPR of over 100. Trained by the legendary, Sir Mark Prescott in Newmarket, who has been thrilled with the way the horse had progressed in the time he has been at Heath House. PENSELWOOD is a horse that he likes a lot – and he is very happy with him.
The long term plans with PENSELWOOD are to run him as a two and three yr old on the flat with Sir Mark, after which, should he have achieved a decent level of form on the flat, and increased his value considerably he will be sold – otherwise he will be transferred to a jumps yard to continue his career over hurdles. He was bought with this plan in mind and everything, from his purchase price to the way that he has taken to the first few months of his life as a racehorse suggest that he is perfect for the job! Buy now – no monthly fees to pay until May!! For a horse with Sir Mark Prescott!! Click the link!!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8274/penselwood
CLOUD DANCER continues to walk and trot in the arena – all part of his rehabilitation programme. All going to plan at this stage.
Alan King sent through another clip of I’D GO MANIAC working up Sharpridge – he is in great order.
GHOST DANCING is very close to a return to the track – she worked on the turf on the Barbury Mile on Saturday morning and worked great with some lovely company! It will not be long before she is back on the track – he two runs so far have seen her get a rating of 99 – so she has the option of running in a Juvenile Hurdle, a Junior NH hurdle or in Novice or handicap company. She should run very well if we can find the right race for her!
In the afternoon I settled in to watch a good card from Kempton. Mustang du Breuil who won MOLLY’S LAD’S race in Doncaster, favourite to land the Grade 2 Dovecote Novices hurdle – a big ask against older horses, but he is obviously held in high regard.
The concluding bumper would also give us a clue to the merit of ML’s runs – when Merlin Allen was heading the market. Again – taking on older horses and carrying a penalty of his Aintree win – it would be a big ask in what is always a very decent heat – I know that Ciaran Gethings really likes him – so hopefully he would run well.
In the end Mustang du Breuil ran right up to his mark of 126, in finishing third in the Dovecote – beaten just 3 ½ lengths – just tough for a 4 yr old taking on decent older horses – as Merlin Allen found out in the bumper – he too finishing 3rd. A decent show from both in very good company – so the ML form looks good enough and backs up what we see from him in his homework – he is another one that will go very close when we see him again!
Around the rest of the team – up at Bankhouse, DINO BELLAGIO is back in the groove – cantering away in preparation for his return to the track in April. He will be aimed at Chester’s May meeting.
RIDIN SOLO will return to ridden work on Monday – the vets extended his spell on the walker, but he will be back trotting tomorrow.
AND SHE WAS is still on her break with Jamie Magee but is planned to return to Barbury Castle in the very near future, along with UHTRED RAGNARSON who is also over the hill with Magee. Neither like soft ground and both will be better off running in the summer.
Next week – plans to get to a couple of yards, and a few things to get organised at home. The monthly admin to be done – and we could be racing next weekend! Drop by next week for all the latest!
