On To Pastures New
A week when we said ‘Goodbye’ to one of the horses on the squad, a sad day, but a good day – as she has gone on to her next career as a broodmare. We had a cracking day out at the Dante in York – I solved the car problem - and we also spent a couple of nights at the fabulous Hanbury Manor Hotel in Hertfordshire.
Before we get into the nitty gritty of the week - a little ‘Parish Notice’. This year, with kind permission of Jason and Lauren Maguire, we will be having an ‘Open Day’ at their stunning Ivy Lodge Farm in Birdlip, Gloucestershire on Sunday 26 July from 12.00pm It is very kind of the Maguires to host us, there will be a parade of the jumps horses, as well as a buffet lunch, and drinks. The whole afternoon will have the atmosphere of s summer garden party, with a few horses thrown in! Most of the trainers have said that they would love to be there, as will some of the jockeys if they are free. It will be a great chance to see the horses before they head back into training with their respective trainers the following day and get a run down of plans for them from their trainers. It will be a fun afternoon, and we are all hoping that plenty of you can make it. Everyone is welcome, and please feel free to bring any guests that you feel may enjoy the afternoon. I would be grateful if you could let me know if you are coming by Friday June 12th, so that we can get a handle on numbers for the caterers. This will be a cracking afternoon, and we are all very much looking forward to a new date in our calendar and a chance to get together!
Monday – I finalised the sale of Greyval who moves on to the next stage of her career as a broodmare in Ireland. She will live at one of the very best National Hunt Studs in Ireland, and join a band of very good mares indeed. I have sold mares to Jimmy and Eileen in the past and they offer them the very best of homes with them in County Wexford. Greyval has been a great mare for her owners, doing exactly what she was purchased to do when winning a Listed Hurdle as a juvenile. She was a very tough and sound mare who went on to give her owners another thrilling day when she won the Mares Challenger Series final in Cheltenham last year. A day that will live long in the memory. Hopefully it is not the end of the road for the syndicate as a group, they have had some fantastic days out together, and I have saved our homebred by Golden Horn for them to continue their racing with. He is a cracking young horse, and another who will be aimed at 3 yr old races in the autumn.
I’d Go Maniac headed to Windsor in the evening – he had been declared in the 1m2f Amateur Riders Handicap, with trainers’ daughter, Georga dusting off her breeches for a spin. The drop in trip, return to turf and the application of cheekpieces were the recommendations of Rossa Ryan after he rode him in Lingfield last time out, and after recent eyecatching work we were hoping for a nice run. Georgia was further back than she intended in the early stages, but did not panic, came wide in the straight, and hit the front 2 furlongs out. Sadly they couldn’t quite see it out and they were worn down by a well handicapped favourite. This was a good run, and a very good ride. IGM will be out again in 4/5 weeks – Georgia is already pouring over the programme book looking for suitable amateur riders races!
Later in the evening, there was yet another big update for the pedigree of Penselwood, who’s 3 yr old half sister broke her maiden when winning in Wolverhampton. Their dam has now produced 5 winners from her first 5 runners – they are tough, sound and all have ability. Still 2 shares for sale!!
Tuesday – I’d Go Maniac all fine after his run in Windsor.
Dino Bellagio was dropped 1lb by the handicapper to a mark of 75, which means he can contest a lower grade of race next time out. He has come out of his race last weekend in good order and will be out again in around 3 weeks time.
Nevada Samba returned to Ivy Lodge Farm where he will spend the summer turned out with his pal Mydaddypaddy. NS will be one of the horses who will parade at the Open Day at Ivy Lodge Farm in July – don’t forget to book your places before the day fills up!
Wednesday – Uhtred Ragnarson put in a fine piece of work first thing, and was duly declared for his first race ater a break in Aintree on Friday evening – he will clearly head there in great form, and we are all looking forward to seeing him back on the track.
I got the race report for Dino Bellagio’s run in Nottingham typed up and out to his syndicate members. A race that went wring from an early stage – and one you can put a line through. We will dust ourselves off and go again.
Cloud Dancer is on the road back to the track after an injury set back just over 12 months ago. He has his first away day since that injury on Wednesday when he headed over to Kim Baileys Thorndale Farm to work up his all-weather gallop. He did it well, and it was good to see him back and going a stride quicker. He will not be seen back on the track until the autumn, when the plan is to head over fences with him.
I had a good catch up with Donald McCain – who reported that Ridin Solo has come out of his first piece of faster work since a little set back, very well. His work was good and Donald was delighted with him – he will be ready to run in around 3 weeks. Old Blue Eyes is also in great order and is doing masses of work. He will be ready to do his first fast piece of work next week – and will be back on track in around 4 weeks’ time. The better ground at this time of year will actually be a benefit to him as Brian Hughes has always said he doesn’t handle soft mid-winter ground. Either way, win lose or draw, it will be great to see him back at the races!
Thursday, with badges organised for members of the Alan King Racing Club and still without a car, Cheryl dropped me over to Godmanchester where I met up with Mat and Nick for our annual trip up to York for the Dante. Thanks to Nick for stepping in to drive this year – and a huge shame that we were a man down – as the last of the founding members of the ‘Jolly Boys Dante Day’, Bill was a late no runner as he was feeling a little under the weather. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to seeing him next year! Not picking Bill up meant that we would not be stopping at our usual spot for a bit of breakfast, but Nick had a solution – or he thought he had – he would just hop off of the A1 whenever he felt the time was right and head to the nearest village – they were bound to have a café! Sadly his theory didn’t quite pan out, which was no huge surprise to Mat and myself, but he was saved by the sight of a pub, just as we were heading back onto the A1 – A Hungry Horse – which served a pretty decent breakfast at a very reasonable price – we weren’t expecting that!! Fed and watered we headed on to York. Heavy showers had been a theme on the opening day, and it was much the same on Thursday – but it didn’t put the dampeners on what was a cracking days racing. Good to chat to Ralph Beckett who trains Crystal Pier, the 3yr olf half sister to Penselwood who had won in Wolverhampton earlier in the week. He was very pleased that she had got her head in front and felt that she is a filly who had improved hugely for her winter break and would go on to win more races.
We stopped off at the Duck in Woolsthorpe on the way back – a good little find, by the Grantham Canal – where we had a decent dinner and a couple of pints.
Friday – I solved the car problem – I bought another one! The last Range Rover Sport had done me well – but it was time for a change. I went with a newer model. I am not a fan of the way that new cars have gone – with touch screens and the need for a degree in computing to drive them – so I deliberately went for a slightly older one, with incredibly low mileage that I can enjoy without feeling like a Luddite every time I get in it! With the new wheels collected, and the race report for I’d Go Maniac written and sent to Club members, we packed our bags and headed down to Hanbury Manor Hotel in Hertfordshire, where we would be meeting up with Cheryl’s family on Saturday for the start, of her exclusive and lengthy Birthday celebrations. It is only an hour down the road – and we were able to check in and get to the bar for a few drinks in the sunshine in the afternoon. Before dinner it was back to the room to watch Uhtred Ragnarson run in Aintree. He was contesting a 2m 1f handicap hurdle after a break over the worst of the winter months. UR had been in great form at home, and we all expected him to run very well. Sadly, that didn’t happen; after travelling and jumping well, he was going fine on the crown of the home turn, only to hang violently left-handed as they straightened for home – becoming basically unrideable. This was a bit of a shock as although he can lug left slightly, he has never done that before. He seemed to pull up fine after the race, but this was a disappointing show from a horse that we felt was in great order and on a favourable handicap mark. We ate in the hotel on Friday night, where I had just about the most tender bit of steak I have ever had – it was delicious. All in all, the food was very very good, and it is worth the trip, for a special occasion!
Saturday morning, after a good hearty breakfast and a stroll around the grounds, trying not to get in the way of the Saturday morning Medal Matches taking place on the Par 72, Jack Nicklaus designed Championship Golf Course – we headed out for a look around the area.
Alan King called to say that he was as perplexed as the rest of us with Uhtred Ragnarson’s performance the previous evening. Uhtred had jogged up fine, but Alan would get the vet to check him over when he does his rounds next week.
Jason Maguire sent through a few videos. So good to see Cloud Dancer back in slightly faster work. He relished the hill work, and it was no surprise to receive a cheeky video form Matt Nicholls saying what a nice horse he was, and that he could find a stable for him at Thorndale Farm! He felt that the colours needed to be back in his barn! God loves a trier!
Three year old ‘George’ our homebred gelding by Golden Horn joined him at Kim Baileys and he went really nicely under Maguire himself. George had been very green when he made his first visit to Thorndale Farm earlier in the week – but as is usual, the experience really sharpened him up and even back at Ivy Lodge Farm he had been far more switched on since his first away day. On Saturday he did his work really well and Jason was clearly very pleased with him! Shares are now available in this beautifully bred young horse – he comes from out own very good family, and as you can see, he clearly possesses plenty of ability, just like his half-brothers, who have all won races – three of them – debut bumper winners. This horse will follow a tried and tested route for us – a run in a bumper in the autumn before a crack at the Listed bumper in Cheltenham on new Years Day. There are only 10 shares in total and three have been reserved already. Have a look at his details and get in touch. This is a very ‘happening’ pedigree and this is a horse that both Jason and I recommend highly. He heads into training with Fergal O’Brien in July.
News reached us in the morning of the sad passing of Beryl McCain, Wife of the late Ginger and mother to Donald and Jo. Beryl was the matriarch of Bankhouse, and until very recently had her finger firmly on the pulse of everything going on at the yard. She will be sadly missed, and we pass on out thoughts and condolences to the McCain family and all the team at Bankhouse.
At Hanbury Manor, as the family gathered – it was a chance for a few beers in the sun before dinner at The Maltons, conveniently situated at the end of the hotel drive – which was very good – although my lamb rump was seriously over done – I was just unlucky, ever other dish was fantastic – great service, very good wine and a really good night. After dinner it was back to the hotel for a few drinks in the lounge – a fabulous night!
Sunday, and after another good breakfast we headed home – I had the remainder of this ramble to write and post, after which I will be heading up the A1 once again, this time to Doncaster for the Goffs UK Spring Sale.
Around the remainder – Jimmy Gatz will have another few days on the walker at Olly Murphy’s Warren Chase Stables before returning to Ivy Lodge Farm for his summers break – he suffered a torn muscle just ahead of his intended hurdles debut – which will now happen in the autumn. He is an absolute natural over an obstacle, and I can’t wait to see him plying his trade over timber.
Molly’s Lad is relishing his summer break with Timmy Murphy. He look fantastic and is a real favourite with Timmy and the team at his Cildara Stud.
The Alan King Racing Club’s, Ghost Dancing is having a summer break herself, but she will be back for an autumn campaign on the better ground. She will be replaced on the squad by a well handicapped flat horse, who will ensure that Club members still have three horses to go to war with over the summer.
Right – time to pack another bag – and hit the road to Doncaster! This is always a fantastic week, where the jumps fraternity do plenty of trade and have an awful lot of fun! There are sure to be some tales to tell next week – so pop by again to see who was up to what and with who!!
