We’ve had a busy start to November but its great to add another four winners to our seasonal tally as we shoot past £200,000 in prize money.
It was wonderful to see Stoney Mountain back to form with a lovely win at Newbury in a Pertemps Qualifier, and he has booked his place in the final at the Cheltenham Festival in March. He had a stop start season last year and nothing really went his way, however we’ve had a clear run at it this time around and he won pretty authoritatively under a lovely ride from Gavin and will now head to the Grade 3 £100k handicap at Haydock on Saturday.
Stoney Mountain winning at Newbury.
Our very next runner also hit the back of the net and it was equally as satisfying as Alrightjack was reappearing after back surgery, and it was a great effort by the whole team to get him back in tip top shape to win impressively at Fontwell, under a tactically astute ride from Gavin. He didn’t take to chasing last season, and we’ll stick to hurdling this season and see how far he can go. The Challenger Series Final might be an ideal target for him in the spring.
Alrightjack wins on seasonal return after back surgery.
With Gavin banned over the weekend, it was a great opportunity for Page to pick up some decent rides and she took advantage by winning on Tallow For Coal and Datsalrightgino. She gave Tallow a lovely ride and it was great to see him winning on just his second start over fences. He improved on his seasonal debut, and he looks a proper staying chaser who will improve further when encountering softer ground.
Nigel Kirby captures Tallow winning at Worcester.
I have always had a huge amount of faith in Datsalrightgino and couldn’t believe he didn’t win a bumper last season, but in fairness he was 2nd on three occasions and he was arguably unlucky not to have won in all three of those starts. However, he put that right with a powerful display on his hurdling debut to win with ease at Fontwell under an uncomplicated ride by Page. I’d like to think he can win under a penalty before we go up in class. He is very exciting.
Datsalrightgino shows his potential when winning on hurdling debut.
The majority of our other runners have been placed and we had four seconds in the last couple of weeks too. How Kiltealy Briggs didn’t win at Aintree on Grand Sefton day is beyond me. He galloped and jumped supremely well and flew the last fence but was just caught on the line. He ran a belter and so deserves to get his head in front.
Having won twice over fences, Representing Bob was on for the hat trick of wins but back over hurdles and he was an honourable 2nd at Chepstow. He stayed on dourly to the line but couldn’t quite get to the speedier winner. He’ll have a little break now and resume again back over fences again next month.
Meanwhile, Braveheart was a good 2nd on his hurdling debut and looks a smart prospect for us, while Sea the Clouds was 2nd on his racecourse debut, and will improve off the back of that. Being a full brother to My Mate Mozzie, he should be another exciting youngster in our team.
Arbennig was 3rd on his second start over hurdles and will be one for handicaps further down the line, and No Anxiety was also 3rd but was a bit disappointing. He has won two novice chases for us this season, and will be a smart staying chaser, but will need a bit of time. Anythingforlove was also 3rd on her second start over fences, but she found the ground a bit too lively for her, and is another who is waiting for proper winter ground…..praying for rain!
Having won the Grand Sefton in 2019, Hogans Height went back to try to recapture the trophy this season, but he was just outpaced on the good ground and although he stayed on to be a creditable 6th, he needs an extra mile these days, and so will head back for the Becher Chase in early December. Whilst Thomas Macdonagh was 7th in the Grand Sefton, but didn’t really take to the fences.
A busy couple of weeks, and lots to look forward to now…..but we do need the rain!
I have recently set about creating a new 25 strong partnership in a super exciting young horse who has the form, the looks, and the pedigree to be a Saturday horse. Git Maker has the potential to be a Graded horse, is sure to give us all an awful lot of fun, a real dream, but more importantly – he will win races!
Git Maker is a gorgeous athletic 5-year-old bay gelding by Saddler Maker (the sire of multiple Grade 1 winners Bristol de Mai and Apple’s Jade) out of a half-sister to the useful black typed winner, Taxe Comprise. His dam is by Coastal Path, who was the half-brother toMartaline, and also the sire of many good horses including Asterion Forlonge and Bacardys.
He has a wonderfully progressive profile having been placed in three four-year-old points in the autumn on heavy ground, he was given a break and then bolted up on soft ground in the spring at Necarne, where he earnt himself a big rating of 92+.
If we look at the figures for 25 shareholders we are talking about:
Git Maker leading the string in a bit of work on the grass here in Lambourn.
Do let me know what you think to him, but I’d love him to win at Cheltenham for you!