Wednesday 19th February 2025 - 3 more winners including the Grade 2 Jane Seymour.

We started the month well with a winner at Carlisle and with another two winners last week including the Grade 2 Jane Seymour, I am delighted that the form of the horses continues.

I was thrilled to see Golden Maverick getting up in the shadows of the post to win again for the RaceShare team, under a power packed ride from Gavin.  Victory didn’t seem likely at the 2^nd last flight of hurdles, but Gavin cajoled and Mav ran on strongly to get up close home.  We might consider a crack at the Imperial Cup now.

Golden Maverick wins again.

Having been 2^nd in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle, Wendigo was a very short price to land a novice hurdle under a penalty at Wetherby last week.  Thankfully he galloped to victory and looked comfortable and classy in doing so.  We’ll freshen him up now, and he heads to the Albert Bartlett at the Festival as the shortest priced English horse.  “Let’s hope for a bit of luck now…..” I won’t mention filming for the new Guy Ritchie drama here…..

Wendigo wins at Wetherby.

We added a third Grade 2 Jane Seymour success in the last five years as Hollygrove Cha Cha added another win to her almost immaculate CV (5 wins from 6 starts). She cruised around Sandown looking the class act that she is, but almost got outstayed up the punishing hill to win in a photo finish.  She will appreciate coming back in trip on the New course at Cheltenham and can hopefully now follow in You Wear It Well’s footsteps. 

Hollygrove Cha Cha wins the Grade 2 Jane Seymour.

Talking of which, You Wear It Well looked sure to add another Listed win to her CV, but she took a crashing fall at the last flight of hurdles at Warwick earlier this month.  She was a bit stiff and sore, but she looked back to her best after disappointing over fences at Windsor in January.  She is looking increasingly well handicapped over hurdles, and we might look to aim at Aintree with her now.

Julius des Pictons stepped up on his two novice hurdle wins to be 3^rd in the Listed race at Exeter, and we might look to head to Kelso prior to Cheltenham for the Grade 2 Premier hurdle on the Morebattle Hurdle day, which is the target for Milldam.  Ga Law was 5^th in the Denman chase, and he’ll now head to Cheltenham, as will Marche D’Aligre who was 4^th in the Victor Ludorum.  Unfortunately, the ground at Haydock wasn’t quite soft enough for him or Git Maker, who was 4^th in the Grand National Trial.  He will now head to either the Kim Muir or the Midlands National.  

It is a huge honour and privilege to train for Their Majesty’s The King and Queen, and I was delighted to see Fine Shot run so well to be 3^rd on his racecourse debut in a competitive Huntingdon bumper.  He looks a seriously promising young horse, and hopefully he has a big future ahead of him.  

Fine Shot is 3rd on debut for Their Majesty's The King and Queen.

Of our other recent runners, Double Click followed up his Ffos Las victory with a fine 2^nd back at the track earlier this month under another good ride from Will Featherstone.  Dwight K Schrute was a promising 3^rd on his second start under rules and will make into a fine staying chaser in the future, and I was pleased with Lions Peak’s stable debut when 3^rd in a maiden hurdle at Wincanton and looks capable of progressing. Whilst, Silver Hill followed up his debut win with a brilliant run under a penalty when 4^th in a good race at Sandown. He will make up into a smart novice hurdler next season, so we’ll be patient with him now and give him time.

Silver Hill looks a smart hurdler to look forward to.