It was a great thrill to see You Wear It Well winning the Grade 2, Jane Seymour Novice Hurdle at Sandown last week. She is owned by Sir Chips Keswick who has been a big supporter of ours, and I was delighted for him. I was also thrilled to see Gavin ride us another big winner, as he is a huge part of our team. You Wear It Well has now won three races this season, and was 2nd in the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle, and deserves a shot at a Grade 1 Novice at the Cheltenham Festival next month. Let’s hope she can give us a second Festival winner in Chips’ colours.
You Wear It Well wins the Grade 2 Jane Seymour at Sandown.
Idy Wood made a winning stable debut for us in the bumper at Newbury at the weekend, in the colours of Newbury’s non-executive director, Erik Penser. Erik owns Idy Wood in partnership with Lennart Perlhagen, and it was Lennart’s first ever runner as an owner, so let’s hope Idy Wood has a nice future ahead of him. He travelled through the race nicely, quickened up well, and stayed on strongly in the style of a promising young horse. I look forward to seeing him novice hurdling next season.
Idy Wood wins a bumper at Newbury on racecourse debut.
Ebonello ran well earlier this month when 2nd under a penalty, and now qualifies for the Grade 2 EBF Mares Final at Newbury at the end of March. Her mother was 2nd in the race, and we hope that Ebonello can go one better and give the Ebony Horse Club a day to remember. Obviously, Ebonello runs in Her Majesty The Queen Consort’s colours, who is the President of Ebony Horse Club.
Our young 10lbs conditional jockey, Will Featherstone, had a winner for us earlier this season and gave Dusky Days a good ride to be 4th at Huntingdon. Dusky had just come back from a wind operation, and it was lovely to see him galloping through the line, and he should improve for this run. Another couple who will improve are Regarde and Starevitch who both qualify for handicap marks now, and will make up into progressive novice chasers in time.
Dual hurdle winner, Passing Well was disappointing in the Grade 2 Albert Bartlett trial at Haydock last weekend, but it appeared he didn’t stay. He will be the most gorgeous novice chaser next season, and at least we have found out he isn’t a 3m hurdler…..
Meanwhile, of our other recent runners, Spitfire Girl put a disappointing run at Ffos Las behind her when 4th at Bangor. I look forward to seeing her up in trip now. Whilst, Kiltealy Briggs found 2m a bit sharp for him and, after a spa break, we’ll target him for the Topham at Aintree over the Grand National Fences. The same comments apply to Tallow For Coal who was done for speed around Wincanton, but will now head to the Grand Military Gold Cup.