Thursday 20th October 2022 - 6 winners from 8 runners this week!

What a week for the team here with 6 winners from our last 8 runners, long may the luck continue……I am very lucky to have some wonderful horses, a great team of staff, and very loyal owners – a great combination. 

The winning streak started on Saturday in the £50,000 feature Class 2 handicap chase at Market Rasen where Kiltealy Briggs jumped for fun at the head of affairs to win in determined fashion for the McNeill family.  It was a strong ride, and an equally strong ‘warrior like’ performance from Briggs, who dug deep inside the final furlong.  We had planned to use this as a prep run for the Grand Sefton at Aintree over the Grand National fences in early November, but we’ll have to see how he is as to what our next step might be with him.  He does seem to be slightly better right-handed so we could consider a couple of decent handicaps at Ascot in November. 

Leg one: Kiltealy Briggs lands the £50,000 feature at Market Rasen.

It was a great honour to see Ebonello winning a bumper at Sedgefield on Sunday in the colours of Her Majesty The Queen Consort’s, for the Ebony Horse Club. Gavin gave her a wonderfully patient ride, and she looked strong at the finish.  She will go hurdling now, and we will aim her for the Grade 2 mares final at Newbury in March.

Leg two: Ebonello wins a bumper in Her Majesty The Queen Consort's colours.

It was Cornicello’s turn on Monday who got up in the shadows of the post under a canny ride from Johnny Burke off top weight, for the Value Racing Club.  He had taken a nasty fall at Huntingdon in the spring, and it has taken a while to get his confidence back, but he jumped well here, and should have more to offer going forwards now. 

Leg Three: Cornicello wins well at Plumpton.

I was thrilled to see Braveheart winning at Exeter on Tuesday for the Cherry Pickers, under a positive ride from Johnny.  The Cherry Pickers are made up of officers from my old regiment, but set up by my old Corporal Jordan Wylie.  Braveheart hasn’t been straightforward, so it was a very satisfying winner, and hopefully that will give him the confidence needed to progress. 

Leg four: Braveheart wins for the Cherry Pickers.

A double at Worcester yesterday courtesy of Roger Pol and You Wear It Well then made it 6 winners from our last 8 runners.  Roger Pol is a lovely straightforward type, and he won the bumper in pretty impressive style under hands and heals riding from Gavin.  Roger Pol is a brother to the Grade 1-placed and 3m hurdle winner Minella Crooner, and a half-brother to the seven-time winner, Adrrastos (who we used to train) and the black-type winning, L'Aigle Royale.  We might consider stepping him into Listed company next.  Meanwhile, I was delighted and relieved to see You Wear It Well winning on her debut over hurdles under a lovely ride from Gavin.  She had won a bumper last season for us when in the ownership of Normandie Stud, and now she runs for Sir Chips Keswick, who has been such a big supporter of our team.  It looks as though she might be quite smart, which is really exciting. 

Leg five: Roger Pol wins a bumper in impressive style on his racecourse debut.

Leg six: You Wear It Well wins on hurdling debut, and could be very smart.

Our other two runners this week have both run brilliantly too.  Datsalrightgino was beaten half a length on his chasing debut, and despite winning two novice hurdles (one at Cheltenham) last season, I’d like to think he can make up into a smart novice chaser this season.  Whilst, Legends Ryde was 3^rd in the valuable intermediate chase at Newton Abbot on Saturday.  That will put her spot on for a Listed event at Market Rasen in early November. 

We only had a couple of runners last week, where Representing Bob was a good 2^nd on his seasonal reappearance.  He won three times last season, and he will improve enormously for this first run, and I think we’ll have a lot more fun with him this season over 3m+ on softer ground.

We head to Cheltenham tomorrow with our Summer Hurdle winner, Pisgah Pike, and then we head to Aintree on Sunday for the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase with both Soldier of Destiny and Ga Law…..exciting times ahead…..