It has been a busy but very productive Festive season. Milldam kicked it off with a lovely win at Haydock on ITV the Saturday before Christmas. He improved for his comeback run at Huntingdon, and Gavin gave him a great ride from the front. I’d love to aim Milldam at a £100,000 handicap at Windsors Winter Millions meeting now.
Having won earlier this month, Julius des Pictons relished the drop back to 2m to win a class 3 novice hurdle under a penalty at Chepstow on Welsh National day. He looks potentially quite smart, and we’ll aim him for a Listed race at Exeter in February or the Syndey Banks at Huntingdon. On the same card, I was impressed with Marche D’aligre who was 2nd in the Grade 2 Finale hurdle on just his second start over hurdles. He should take all the beating in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock on his next start, and then he might head to the Boodles at the Festival.
Super Survivor then followed up at Doncaster on Sunday. He had started favourite for the Welsh National last season, but that was too much too soon for him and we lost him for the best part of a year. So, it was very satisfying to get him back into the winners enclosure, and hopefully he can build on that now.
We ended the year with a lovely debutant winner as A Path to Ronda (named by our children, in honour of their Grand Father who died recently) looked very impressive when winning a bumper at Uttoxeter today. She could go to the Sandown Listed bumper now, on route to the Aintree Grade 2.
We have also hit the crossbar in a couple of big races this week too. Wendigo ran an absuloute belter to be 2nd in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at Newbury. He looks a proper staying chaser for the future, but he can win again before going to the Albert Bartlett at the Festival. Hollygrove Cha Cha was 2nd in a Listed race at Taunton, on a track that was too sharp, a trip too short, and on drying ground that wouldn’t have been ideal, so we were thrilled that she picked up some black type, and she can hopefully regain the winning thread in the Grade Jane Seymour at Sandown in February, on route to Cheltenham in March too – a route we took successfully with You Wear It Well.
Of our other recent runners, Idy Wood got back on track with an excellent 2nd at Doncaster on Sunday, Passing Well wasn’t beaten far into 3rd in the Lord Stalbridge Gold Cup at Wincanton on Boxing Day, whilst Cinquenta was 3rd in a very warm bumper at Warwick today and he looks a proper future staying chaser too.
Happy New Year – let’s hope 2025 is as good and lucky for us as 2024 was. Onwards and upwards.
Office: +44 (0) 1488 72800
Mobile: +44 (0) 7779 497563
