Sunday 30th June 2019 - winners and new purchases

Having had a great start to the new season through May, I am pleased that the winners have kept flowing this month and that we have maintained our 39% strike rate. 

Thebannerkingrebel gave me the perfect 40th Birthday present earlier this month when defying a penalty in a novice hurdle to win well and in turn beat a reasonable yardstick.  He was a very useful bumper performer but had been off the track for over a year with a wind issue that required a lot of TLC, but he bounced back when 2nd in the Grade 2 Aintree Bumper.  As it had taken a while to get him back to the track, we took the decision to educate him over hurdles through the early part of the summer and having since won 2 from 2, he’s now having a well deserved holiday.  We’ll bring him back and look to step him up in Grade in the early autumn – he could be very exciting.

Thebannerkingrebel wins well under a penalty at Newton Abbot.

Having won two novice hurdles in May, I was thrilled to see Some Day Soon win under a double penalty when he bolted up in a Class 3 at Hexham in the middle of the month.  It was once again a peach of a ride from Gavin Sheehan, and we’ll now consider various handicap options and class 3 events before we look to step into Graded company in the autumn. 

Some Day Soon wins a class 3 under a double penalty.

The ultra consistent, Between the Waters won again this month off a career high mark, and looks to be improving with age.  He won on his seasonal debut at Southwell and defied a rise in the weight to win at Ffos Las under a good ride from Page Fuller.  He’ll continue to be a lot of fun for connections over the coming months.

Between the Waters wins again.

It was a very proud moment for the whole team when Pacify won on hurdling debut at Southwell last week.  He was a useful performer on the flat and he had taken very well to hurdling at home, but it was lovely to see him win on his first start over obstacles as I know there is a lot of improvement to come. 

Pacify wins for HRH The Duchess of Cornwall and Sir Chips Keswick.

The sale season moved on to Ireland this month where we went to the Land Rover and Derby sales.  We came away with four new stores:

1. It’s Gino ex. Delightful Sofie – a gorgeous gelding by the same sire as the Grade 1 winner, Lalor, and out of a winning black type mare who has produced 4 winners from 5 runners including this chap’s full brother who has won 8 times.
2. Yeats ex. Ultra Light – a strapping son of the four-time Ascot Gold Cup winner, Yeats (the sire of Grade 1 and Cheltenham Festival winner, Shattered Love) and out of a winning sister to the Grade 1 winning Rubi Light, who won the John Durkan Memorial Puchestown Chase, and was rated 168! He is qualified for the €100,000 Land Rover Bumper at Punchestown, April 2020.  We are putting together a four strong partnership with 4 equal quarter shares, so please let me know if you may be interested in coming on board.
3. Presenting ex. Some Bob Back – a good looking gelding by the champion sire, Presenting (the sire of Cheltenham Gold Cup winners, Denman and War of Attrition as well as our Cheltenham Festival winner, Present View).  He is out of a winning Bob Back mare and from the family of the Gold Cup winner, Synchronised. He is qualified for the €100,000 Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse, April 2020. He is for sale.
4. Leading Light ex. April Thistle – an attractive filly by a new sire who won both the Group 1 St. Leger and the Ascot Gold Cup.  This filly is a half brother to this years Cheltenham Festival winner, Croco Bay, and also to our very own three-time winner, Thistle Do Nicely who I look forward to sending novice chasing this season as I believe he could be very exciting.  She is qualified for the €100,000 Sales Bumper at Fairyhouse, April 2020.  She is for sale.