Having ended last month seeing both A Path to Ronda and La Conquiere winning novice hurdles, it has been an incredible couple of weeks at the start of November as we’ve added another 10 winners to the tally. The month started off well as Livingonaprayer won a novice hurdle at Huntingdon under Joe Anderson for Foxtrot Racing and Jon Besse. Bred by Bryan Mayoh, she picked up the valuable GBB prize too. She wasn’t beaten far on her racecourse debut in a junior NH hurdle race at Wetherby last season but stepped forward from that to win nicely. Gavin was up at Carlisle where our Grade 2 winner from last season, Hollygrove Cha Cha was making her eagerly awaited chasing debut in a valuable Listed intermediate chase. She ran a belter to be 3rd, but if she had winged the last, she would certainly have won. She is another exciting novice chaser for the team this winter.
Jackstell completed a hattrick of wins under another great ride from Gavin Sheehan, as he supplemented his two novice hurdle triumphs when winning on his handicap debut at Plumpton. He looked to appreciate going up in trip, and he’s improving with every run.
Roe And Co is another who’s really finding his feet. Poor chap had a fibrillating heart last season, and the team have done a wonderful job to get him back in great form, and so it was lovely to see him winning at Chepstow last week under Joe Anderson. As that was a conditional jockeys race he escaped a penalty when turning up at Market Rasen 8 days later, and thankfully he won again. He can keep progressing up the ranks now.
I was delighted to see TipTopTim winning a valuable introductory hurdle at Ludlow. Having won a bumper last season, he was a fine 2nd on his hurdling debut over 2m at Uttoxeter, and the form of that race had worked out exceptionally well. We won this race last season with Wendigo, and I think Tiptoptim will follow in his footsteps now and head to the Grade 1 Challow.
Colonel Harry then gave us all a great thrill when winning the Grand Sefton over the famous Grand National fences at Aintree. Gavin gave him a top-class ride to avoid trouble and although he briefly looked in trouble three out, he stayed on to score decisively in the end. It was an incredible achievement by the whole team, as he had spent 2 weeks in the vets in January with a terrible 'flesh eating' virus in his back leg. To get him back in top form to win first time out, is a huge credit to everyone. He'll either go for the Beecher next, or the December Gold Cup.
Admiral Stewart was gifted a 'walk over' at Sandown last weekend as the only other declared runner was pulled out. He will make up into a proper chaser, but he went into atrial fibrillation at Southwell when pulled up this week, so he'll just need a bit of time and patience now.
It was lovely to have a double at Kempton earlier this week, as Idy Wood won a pertemps qualifier in style. He won well on his seasonal debut, and he was an excellent 4th in the Silver Trophy. He followed that up by winning here at Kempton under Gavin who gave him a superb ride. He really seems to love the trip and the track, so we might look to bring him back for the Lanzarote. She Is For Me Boys made it a double on the day at Kempton, jumping fluently and finishing her race off with real authority. She looked a smart mare when winning two novice hurdles in the spring and she can continue to progress over fences.
Lady Tadita maintained her unbeaten status when winning under a penalty at Huntingdon last week. Having won a bumper on her debut last season, she was given time to mature and fill her frame. She looked impressive when winning on her hurdling debut, and stepped forward to win well here under a 7lbs penalty. She will now head to a listed contest at Taunton over Christmas.
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