I was thrilled to see Thistle Do Nicely winning last week to notch up our 11th winner of the season. Although there isn't much racing at the moment, and we've had just three runners so far this month.
Thistle had some very decent novice hurdle form having won a class 3 at Wetherby, and then was 2nd at Cheltenham in a Class 2 novice and the winner went on to land a Grade 1 over fences. However, he then sustained a tendon injury and was off for the best part of two years. He came back with a creditable run at Aintree, but then disappointed on rain softened ground at Market Rasen. He put that behind him on his chasing debut to win effortlessly and he should have a lot more to come in novice handicaps over the coming weeks and months.
Thistle Do Nicely wins on his chasing debut.
Between the Waters ran a belter to be 2nd at Southwell earlier this week under a lovely ride from Page. He hasn’t won for a while but he is seldom out of the money, and he looks as though another win isn’t too far away.
Thebannerkingrebel was a bit disappointing yesterday, but he was only beaten 10 lengths, and he gave away 10 lengths when missing the break and making a mistake at the first. Slightly frustrating, but he should be winning this summer again too.
We have bought quite a few new horses over the summer, and one I am really excited about is Hardy Du Seuil. He is a 4-year-old gelding, by Coastal Path, out of a three-time winner, and is a half-brother to winners, and is from the family of Silviniaco Conti and Cheltenham Festival winner, Eglantine Du Seuil.
Hardy Du Seuil was 2nd on his racecourse debut. He wasn't even quite 3 years old at the time being a late May foal, and the form of that race is working out well. The 4th horse (Herbiers) has won three times in the UK including at Ascot and Sandown, the fifth that day won a bumper next time and then again on hurdles debut in Auteuil by 17 lengths. The sixth and eighth horses have also won since.
He was 2nd in another bumper before he made his hurdling debut in the Prix Isopani at Auteuil (a race traditionally targeted by trainers with a prodigious young talent). Unfortunately, he raced freely, and he didn’t jump that well down the back straight, but was far from disgraced in finishing 8th, in a race which again is working out well on both sides of the channel.
After a bit of a break, Hardy returned at Fontainebleau on the 23rd of Feb and made-all at a good pace on soft ground, with his big ears locking on to each hurdle as they approached. His jumping was faultless and he moved impressively through the gears in the straight, and the time was fast. The English handicapper has given him a mark of about 130 for this run. The 2nd and the 3rd horse have both won since, whilst the 4th horse was placed in a listed contest on his next start, so the form looks very strong!
He is a tall horse 16”1 + and could follow in the footsteps of Ga Law who utilised the useful weight for age allowance when novice chasing in the autumn and graduated to being a 150 horse having won the Grade 2 Rising Stars at Wincanton before finishing 3rd in the Grade 1 Henry VIII at Sandown and 2nd in the Grade 2 Pendil at Kempton.
We are partnering Hardy Du Seuil out in 10% shares and there are 4 shares remaining. He has the pedigree, profile and physique to succeed and is a very exciting recruit to our team, so do get in touch if you are interested in joining what is sure to be a fun and successful partnership.
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