Thursday 15th October 2020 - three winners this week, and Page rides out her claim.

With the Chepstow meeting last weekend signalling the start of the winter jumps campaign, I am delighted that the horses are hitting form at the right time.  Three winners over the passed week have moved us into 10^th spot in the trainer’s championship.

I must start this blog with my congratulations to Page Fuller for riding out her claim at the weekend on Bucko’s Boy who won the bumper at Hexham.  She has been a big part of our team here at Folly House for several years now, and I am hugely proud of her success.  The icing on the cake was that Bucko’s Boy was Andy Ward’s first homebred success, and Andy’s son is Page’s boyfriend – nothing like keeping it in the family!  Bucko’s Boy is the first foal out of a mare we used to train, who won two bumpers and one over hurdles.  I think Bucko could be useful, and we’ll look to defy a penalty in another bumper before going novice hurdling. 

Bucko's Boy wins a bumper at Hexham.

Having won very impressively on his chasing debut last month, we pitched Ga Law into a Class 3 handicap at Exeter on just his fourth career start.  Thankfully this unexposed 4-year-old proved up to the task and he won in very impressive fashion.  He jumped from fence to fence under Daryl Jacob, (who was substituting for the injured Gavin Sheehan) and quickened clear in the manner of a fast improving, progressive young horse.  We’ll see where we go from here, but he deserves a step up into Graded company now, and so we’ll think about the Grade 2 Rising Stars Chase at Wincanton in early November, or the Grade 2 Arkle Trial at Cheltenham’s November meeting.

Ga Law wins his third race from four starts.

Every winner is special, but some are that bit sweeter, and seeing Monbeg Theatre winning his first novice chase at the age of 11, was pretty special.  He has been a yard favourite for a long time now, and having won a bumper and 5 hurdle races for us, he has had his issues and we’ve had to be pretty patient with him.  He has not only had a few injuries that we’ve had to nurse him through, but he’s had a few jumping issues that we’ve had to iron out, and both Gavin and Hen Knight have put a lot of work into him.  However, all that patience and work paid off handsomely and Page has given him the most wonderful ride to score at Hereford on Tuesday.   

Monbeg Theatre wins over fences.

I was very pleased with Kalahari Queen who was 2^nd at Hereford on her seasonal debut over fences.  It was a lovely confidence boosting run on the back of two disappointing runs over hurdles last season, and she now qualifies for the series final over 3m1 on December 12th, worth £22,500, so that looks the logical next step before a crack at the two Military races at Sandown in February and March. 

We ran two in the bumper at Chepstow at the weekend where Light N Strike was 2^nd again and Auba Me Yang was 3^rd.  Both horses are in the Lodge Down Stables Syndicate, and will head to the sales next week. 

We ran Legends Ryde in the Persian War at Chepstow too, but the ground wasn’t soft enough for her really.  She was Listed class in bumpers last season, and I think she can reach those heights over hurdles too, but she will need it to rain to be seen in better light.  She has at least got her seasonal debut under her belt now, and she will improve a ton for that.

Of our other recent runners, Exod’ela was 3^rd on his first run of the season and he will improve for that as well.  He might go to Cheltenham’s open meeting next weekend. 

Many of you may know already, but poor Gavin is out of action until late November as he has broken his hand.  Pretty annoying, as we had a decent partnership going, but we’ve a good pool of jockeys to pick from now including Daryl Jacobs, Jonjo O’Neil, Adrian Heskin and Sam T-D.  Whilst obviously we have the super talented Page who will remain the stable number 2, and Ben who takes 7lbs off.