Red Hot!!
Oh my it was a warm one!! Temperatures more associated with forging steel than racing saw some proactive measures introduced by the BHA, who rescheduled some meetings and abandoned others.
I was watching on from the other side of the Irish Sea – from the Tattersalls Ireland, Derby Sale – where trade was even hotter than the weather – too hot for a fat lad like me – but we got through it, and even managed to achieve what we set out to do, which is very rare when you go to a sale! More on that later!
This week’s news really started last Sunday. After the weekly ramble was published, I booked a flight to Ireland. Sales and reservations of shares in ‘George’, our homebred 3yr old by Golden Horn had gone so well, that I felt it was the perfect time to back my judgement and head over to Ireland and buy another horse. Having studied the results of the recent Goffs Arkle Sale, I had seen an angle that I felt needed to be exploited if we could – and it was well worth booking a flight over and seeing if I could execute a bit of a cunning plan. I would head out on Tuesday morning and try and add another horse to the team over the course of Part 1 of the Derby Sale on Wednesday or Thursday. Booking late meant that the flights were extortionate but that is the price you pay with Ryanair for last minute decisions. Tattersalls were; as always, super helpful and booked me a few nights in the Pilo Hotel – so I was all set.
Monday – and there was plenty happening before I set off. Dino Bellagio had come out of his race in Chester in great order and had been in flying form at home. It is not like us to run one back after just 2 weeks unless we very much have to, for example - if the horse has won and will go up in the weights so much, that running and carrying a winners penalty before the handicapper gets to reassess him/her will mean that he/she will be carrying less weight than if we waited until after the handicap mark is adjusted – then you would be only sensible to look at running back quickly – otherwise I do like to wait with them and let them get over the exertions of their previous race. On this occasion – Dino had been in such good form – and with a very similar race on offer just up the road at Chester, it made sense to give him an entry and hope that he was not drawn under the viaduct again!
Another one to get an entry was I’d Go Maniac – Alan King popping him in a handicap in Newcastle on Saturday – Northumberland Plate day – the ‘Pitmen’s Derby’, the tracks biggest day’s racing of the year.
Alan also declared ‘new boy’ John Harrison in Salisbury on Wednesday. This would be John Harrisons first run for the Alan King Racing Club, and Alan feels, that gelding him over the winter will make a huge difference to him, and he will be lots of fun for Club members for the remainder of the summer.
We were all aware that there was a significant weather event happening in mid-week – a spell of scorching temperatures set to hit the UK and Ireland – the question was – would it affect racing.
I have long been of the opinion that National Hunt Racing should not take place in temperatures exceeding 25 degrees, and when the temperatures are forecast to be over that figure, the meetings should be rescheduled to start earlier or later or even postponed to another day, or abandoned all together. The extreme distances and the jumping of obstacles means that National Hunt racing is far more punishing on a horses system in extreme temperatures, than Flat racing, and when you add in the fact that jumps horses are a bigger type of horse you can see why it makes sense not to have them racing in hot weather. The rescheduling of jumps races often happens in France when these circumstances arise – we should do the same here. I do practice what I preach – and did once ask a trainer not to run a horse in Southwell on a very hot afternoon. We were all there but it was clear that the heat was making it very tough for some of the horses and I would rather not put one of ours through it – they may never forget a bad experience like that.
In typical BHA fashion shortly after midday – they did the right thing – just at the wrong time!! With entries for the weekends fixtures closing at 12.00pm – at 12.09pm they took the decision to abandon the four fixtures on Wednesday that we had all declared for earlier in the morning – leaving all those who had done so, no chance of entering the same horses at the weekend as the entries for races on Saturday and Sunday had closed at midday! Surely, they could have abandoned Wednesdays cards at 11.30am and given everyone the chance to enter elsewhere at the earliest possible opportunity.
So, with Salisbury abandoned, we would have to wait to see John Harrison make his debut for the Alan King Racing Club.
There was one bit of stunning news to reach us around lunchtime. Our International Correspondent, Debbie had spotted that Blarney – the 4yr old half brother to our own Penselwood, had, yet again added some very valuable black type to pedigree by winning a Listed race in Italy the previous day. Blarney had added some ‘small’ black type to the page when finishing second in a similar contest a couple of weeks previously but exceed that performance when winning his latest start. Blarney has now won 5 of his 7 starts in 2026, and his trainer doesn’t think he has finished his winning run yet.
Debbie sent over the following race report from the French press:
BLARNEY, A TRUE MARATHON RUNNER COPPAD'OROL – SAN SIRO, ITALY – 22 June 2026 Listed - 4 years and older - 3,000m [1m7f]- €48,400 Since the shortening of the Gran Premio di Milano, the great tradition of San Siro, is the meeting place for stamina horses. No filly had won the race in 53 editions. On Sunday, under the Milanese heatwave, Naisha (Sea The Stars) came very close to a historic victory, but she found in her path a talented young marathon runner, the French gelding Blarney (Belardo). The Jérôme Reynier trainee, third last time out in the Premio Carlo d’Alessio (L), where he was hampered by the heavy ground, found ideal conditions this time. Antonio Orani placed him in fifth position while Lady Yoshida (Yoshida) set a moderate pace, closely followed by Naisha. The latter launched her attack as soon as they entered the home straight, about 600m from the finish, and took the lead. But Blarney gradually found his stride before unleashing his effort in the final 200 meters. He came from behind to overtake his rival and win by a neck, with plenty of energy left. Lady Yoshida bravely held on to third place until the very end. A well-deserved first black-type victory, Blarney thus notches his fifth win in seven starts this year and secures a first black-type victory that is thoroughly deserved. The representative of Jeannette McCreery now seems capable of taking another step forward, as his trainer explained: “Blarney is a horse with great stamina who never gives up and is also capable of accelerating. Before deciding to make the trip to San Siro, we had also considered running him in the Queen Alexandra Stakes, the marathon over an extreme distance at Royal Ascot. We have taken a step forward here and I think the horse can still move up in class. He is entered in the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) [1m6f] and we will see how he recovers from this race as well as the level of the opposition before deciding whether he will run on July 14 at Longchamp. I think he will give us some more good races.” Pedigree note: Blarney traces back to a great Wildenstein family. The third dam, Palmeraie (Lear Fan), also produced Pushkin (Caerleon), winner of the Prix Maurice de Nieuil (Gr2) and second in the Prix du Cadran (Gr1), and Place Rouge (Desert King), winner of the Lancashire Oaks (Gr3, 2,400m), as well as the unraced Plante Rare (Giant's Causeway), dam of Planteur (Danehill Dancer), winner of the Prix Ganay (Gr1).
We were a big fan of the family before we purchased Penselwood – it is one that goes back through generations – all producing fantastic racehorses. To be able to buy into it, and with such a good looking and athletic specimen as Penselwood, and at a price that we felt was value at the time (and which now looks like an absolute steal), is even better!
Penselwood was scheduled to head back to Sir Mark Prescott’s, Heath House Stables on Wednesday, but after getting a small cut last week, which led to him getting a swollen hock and having to have a few days off games, that trip was rescheduled for next week.
I am really looking forward to seeing him back on the Heath. He is a very nice horse. Jason Maguire really likes him and feels that he is the perfect horse for the plan that we have for him!
I can’t believe that there are still a couple of shares available in him! You just have to look at the physical to see what a nice horse he is – he has a fantastic walk and really uses himself. His pedigree just gets better and better – with the stamina influence really coming through in Blarney – it could not have gone better since we bought him in October!!
His sire Saxon Warrior is having a wonderful season as well – which included a second place finish for his 2yr old daughter, Green Empress in the Group 2 Airlie Stud Stakes on the Curragh yesterday!
Head over to the For Sale Page – and check out all Penselwood’s details. He is a horse that should not be missed – outstanding value – and your chance to have a horse in training with the legendary Sir Mark Prescott – that alone is worth the share price!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8274/penselwood
Tuesday – a plane to catch – and I was off to Ireland for the Derby Sale. I had spent the last few days going through the catalogue – 420 horses in Part 1 of the sale over the first two days – Wednesday and Thursday. As mentioned, I felt that there was an angle that could be exploited – and that a handful of horses would end up being fantastic value – I just needed to get a look at them and select the right one. The angle – Blue Bresil – the sire of non-other than the superstar that is Constitution Hill!! For some reason – the Irish Point to Point trainers have gone a little cold on his progeny, which makes absolutely no sense to anyone that I have spoken to about it. This crop of 3yr olds are the first to be conceived after his move from England over to Ireland, and the mares that visited him that year were without doubt the best group of mares he had ever covered up to that point. He is the sire of 8 individual Grade 1 winners, and of course we have bred a couple that are well above average in Old Blue Eyes and Nevada Samba. Studying the results of the recent Goffs Arkle Sale, it was clear that it was the right time to buy a Blue Bresil 3yr old, and that is what we set out to do!
There was still work to do as I sat and waited for my flight. Alan King messaged to say that he would not be declaring John Harrison in Leicester – the BHA, having abandoned Salisbury the day before, has announced that the meeting would be rescheduled for next Tuesday, and he would enter him back there again.
Alan did send through a couple of clips.
John Harrison working very nicely up the hill over at Sharpridge.
I’d Go Maniac – always a wonderful workhorse, again impressing in his work on the hill.
After a short delay in Stanstead, we were soon over in Ireland and on our way to the sales complex in Fairyhouse. I had the afternoon to cast my eye over a few, it was warm work!
I was grateful of a cold pint by the time the consignors shut up shop and gave the horses their evening feeds.
It was good to catch up with friends for a couple up in the bar before I left the sales complex and headed back to the hotel.
The Pilo is where I am usually stationed when I attend the sales in Fairyhouse. It’s a 15 minute trip to the sales complex and a comfortable place to stay. Once upon a time it played host to some very rowdy evenings during sales week – but I think we must all be getting a little older now, as there isn’t quite the crazy behaviour there once was!
A few of us had arranged to have a shower, and meet back down in the bar to watch the England game, but I have to confess, walking into my airconditioned room was absolutely bliss, and after a shower, I couldn’t be tempted to leave it, and I didn’t – no bar and beer for me – told you – I’m getting old! The match was what it was, no great spectacle – Ghana pretty much parking the proverbial bus! England failing to find a way through. Maybe a few changes for the next match?
Wednesday – the first day of the sale, and not too many on the list. I would keep a keen eye on the horses going through to confirm if my hunch was correct – that the Blue Bresil’s would be value.
Before the sale kicked off at 10.00am, Alan King called to say that he would not be declaring I’d Go Maniac in a race in which he had been entered in Newmarket on Friday evening. With the heat wave in full swing, and the BHA seemingly moving goalposts at will – he felt it wasn’t worth the aggravation of declaring and then not being able to run because of red zones etc. And he would rather wait and have runners next week when the heat had subsided slightly.
Alan had also entered John Harrison at the rescheduled Salisbury meeting next Tuesday and sent through a clip of Uhtred Ragnarson working well – he had been entered in a 2m handicap hurdle next Monday in Stratford. The tight left handed track will suit him as he has a tendency to hang left – which he had done in Aintree last time out. With no rail on his inside to help him, he forfeited any chance he had and has undergone plenty of vet checks since. He’s in good form once again.
As the sale got underway the trade matched the weather – red hot! From the very start, there were fireworks, and it continued that way for the whole of Wednesday! Great to see some friends get very well paid for their horses – nice to see the good guys ‘win’ for a change!
We kept our powder dry and although we followed a couple through – we felt there was a better chance of getting the right horse the day after.
One man that wasn’t over in Fairyhouse was Donald McCain. He stayed at home having purchased a good few at the Arkle Sale. I did speak to him on Wednesday, and he gave me an update on all four horses in at his Bankhouse stables.
Dino Bellagio – really well, and ‘in a great place’ – Donald not sure if running him in Chester after such a hot week would be the right thing to do – we would wait and see what the race looked like at decs and also see what the ground was like. Only 2 weeks after his last run, we could be patient and give him a little longer.
Old Blue Eyes had worked that morning and worked very well – the plan had been to take him for a racecourse gallop later in the week – he would see what the temperatures were like and what the ground was – and make a decision closer to the time.
Ridin Solo had come out of his gallant second place last time out in good form. He is a grump so and so in his stable but is very genuine and tough out on the track. We had treated him for ulcers at the start of his season last year – but due to a couple of little niggles, he had missed most of the winter. Donald felt that he could just do with a little more help in that department, and he had put him back on a course of medication. It can’t be nice going to work with a sore tummy every day – and the course of medication seemed to have an instant effect – Abbie who rode him that morning had reported that he felt way better and had been moving as well as she had ever known him to.
The 3yr old unnamed Pethers Moon gelding is on a break in the field and will return to work in a couple of weeks.
While I was over in Ireland Debbie had an assignment at Park Wood Stud, where Savingforvegas and ‘the kids’ now reside. Debbie kind enough to send through a few photos and a video of Mother and children – all have settled in really well and are looking fantastic.
Vegas looking really well!
Yearling 'Nancy'
Our colt foal ’Nev’ (by Nirvana du Berlais) is an absolute cracker – the biggest foal she has had by some way – he is an absolutely cracking individual!
Nev
Thursday – and Jason Maguire joined me at the sales, the horse that we would hopefully purchase would be for a new joint venture between Jason and myself, and I was glad that he could make it over to see the horses that we had on the short list. The fabulous trade continued, and if anything, it was even stronger on Thursday – but perversely, there were more of the horses that we had set our sights on going through, and they were still great value. Jason and I had a good walk round the yards and saw plenty of stock – in the end we both settled on the same horse – and having cast our eye over a fair few on offer in Part 2 of the sale on Friday, we both agreed that we would target this one lot and hope that he fell in budget.
The lot that we had selected was Lot 380 – a lovely son of Blue Bresil, who has a pedigree that looks like it is about to take off. Although it currently lacks a too much Black Type – he has two half brothers that, judging on both of their sales prices this spring, will have no trouble in competing in pattern company. Both had won Irish Point to Points – the 5 yr old, Loughmourne was sold for £125,000 after winning in Nenagh, and the 4yr old, Smithytown was sold for €240,000 at the Punchestown Festival Sale after winning his point in Loughanmore and heads to Ben Pauling.
Lot 380 is 16.1 ½ hh and is the most fluid and athletic mover. He has a great mind – I saw him show three times and his first show was the same as his last – which is testament to his honesty and temperament over the course of two very hot days!
We were a little worried that he may just creep over the upper level of our budget, we knew what the reserve was, and there wasn’t too much wriggle room! Thankfully we managed to get him – and both Jason and I were delighted to do so! The horse was consigned by one of the top outfits out there, in Michael Moore’s Ballincurrig House, and Michael was very complimentary about the horse – saying that he felt that from his entire draft, this horse was the one that would be the racehorse!
After the sale – Jason headed down the road to see his family, and I headed back to the Pilo. The air-conditioning once again making my room too comfortable to leave – another quiet night.
A chance to have a closer look at the sales results – we knew there would be value to be had with the Blue Bresils – but how had other sires fared. Golden Horn continues to be very fashionable and his stock in high demand – his 3yr old selling for an average of €94,500. Nirvana Du Berlais stock also very much sought after, with 6 lots by the sire selling for an average of just under €99,000.
Our 3yr old by Golden Horn, ‘George’, really is fantastic value! I have syndicated him at a capital value of £40,000 – he’s half price!! Our homebred yearling filly, Nancy and colt foal ‘Nev’, both by Nirvana du Berlais are both very nice horses, and ‘Nev’ looks like a colt that could well make a lot of money if offered at a sale later this year. It would appear I have a lot to think about!
Friday morning – Alan King sent through more clips of Friday work.
John Harrison working really well, he has the entry in Salisbury on Tuesday, and in addition, Alan popped him in another couple of races in Nottingham and Newbury next Thursday.
I’d Go Maniac, who was missing a night out in Newmarket worked very well too!
I shared a lift back to the airport with a couple of men on the same flight as me – thanks to James for picking up the tab! Both men shared the same opinion as me – it was too early to write off Blue Bresil and that buying his stock now was the best chance of getting outstanding value! Great minds and all that!
I arrived back at Stanstead, and the heat hit you as if it was the West Indies when you stepped off the plane! 36 degrees!! A few holdups on the M11, so I headed home across country, glad of a car with super air con!
Saturday – our new boy – who we are yet to give a stable name to – arrived over from the sales in the cool of the early morning. He travelled over great – he really does seem to have a very good mind and came off the lorry without a bother on him. There were three others on the lorry that would be staying at Ivy Lodge Farm for the next few weeks, and Jason was keen to get on with them before he heads off for a few days early next week. Lot 380 had obviously had a superb preparation – he was soon on the lunge and being long reined and he did not bat an eyelid!
Having had that level of preparation he is almost broken in – and as he had shown that he knew what tack was and that he could turn left, turn right and stop – Jason could crack on and get him backed. Lot 380 didn’t have to wait long – he was being ridden for the first time in the afternoon – and once again – took to it like a duck to water!
Uhtred Ragnarson had a nice breeze first thing and was declared in Stratford on Monday – the track and ground will suit – Tom Bellamy rides.
Old Blue Eyes, who had been scheduled for a racecourse gallop, did not go. He is fine and worked at home instead – Donald choosing to work on the all-weather rather than the turf of a racecourse, which would be pretty quick after a hot, dry week.
Sunday – the new boy got another workout – he was trotted around the yard – and once again – there was absolutely no issues – he is a very willing pupil.
You can see from the way he trots – just how athletic he is – he looks like a racehorse and moves like one too!
After being ridden for a few minutes, he got a quick spin round the lose school, where he will learn to jump over the course of the next few days. He is the model pupil!
This horse will be syndicated in a few weeks’ time. This will be a new and exciting venture with Jason, and we are very much looking forward to cracking on with it! Stay tuned for full details!
Alan King called to say that he had declared John Harrison in Salisbury as planned. With Rossa Ryan suspended for a couple of days – David Egan will ride.
Around the remainder – Molly’s Lad enjoying life at Timmy Murphy’s – still on holiday with a few mates! Cloud Dancer, Jimmy Gatz, Nevada Samba and ‘George’ are all out enjoying a holiday at Ivy Lodge Farm, as is 4yr old ‘Floyd’.
Next week – racing Monday and Tuesday – thankfully the temperatures look to be down slightly!
I will be doing plenty of work on the open day – catering needs to be confirmed, along with things like tables, chairs and a PA system. That will just leave the drink!! Jason and I chatted about the Open Day when we were at the sales, and as well as a lovely lunch, cold wine and beer and a parade of horses, Jason will also be giving everyone a demonstration of the water treadmill and spa, and everyone will be able to wander around the yard afterwards to see the facilities and meet the horses and staff. We are both really looking forward to it – it is shaping up to be a really fun afternoon!
Stay cool – and check in next week for another round up of all things NBR!
