It has been a cracking start to the season with six winners in the first two weeks of the season.
Chapmanshype extended his winning ratio to 8 wins from 16 career starts, when winning on chasing debut at Fontwell last week, in turn maintaining his unbeaten record of 5 wins from 5 starts at the track. He jumped super, and put the talented Cheltenham Festival winning mare, Eglantine Du Seuil under pressure up the home straight to win in some style. We’ll aim to find another small race under a penalty for him to pick up some valuable chasing experience.
Chapmanshype wins on chasing debut.
I was so thrilled to see Floral Bouquet winning for the first time over fences as well. She really dug deep to win a valuable mares chase at Uttoxeter on Saturday, under another good ride from Gavin Sheehan. She had been caught in the handicappers grip over hurdles as she was so consistent, but appreciated being off a more suitable mark over fences, and won well. I’d like to hope there is more improvement to come from her over fences now that she has put it all together.
Floral Bouquet wins a valuable mares chase at Uttoxeter.
Dusky Days was a lovely winner of the bumper at Stratford on Sunday on his racecourse debut. He is a well-bred son of Flemensfirth, and his brother was the talented Fontsanta. Stamina will be his trump card, but it turned into a bit of a sprint from off the home turn, so the form can certainly be upgraded. We’ll get him jumping now and then turn him out for the summer. He looks to have a bright future.
Of our other recent runners, I was pleased to see Beholden run well to be 2nd on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon. His jumping should certainly improve as he was a bit big and slow over the obstacles and he over jumped the 2nd last flight and blundered when mounting his challenge. That certainly cost him any chance of winning, but he showed a great attitude to get back up for 2nd after that error, and he can go one better next time. Thebannerkingrebel showed a step back in the right direction when 3rd in a decent handicap at Warwick yesterday. He jumped great back over hurdles, having lost his confidence over a fence, and should progress as that was his first run back from another wind operation too. Unfortunately, Stoney Mountain suffered an irregular spasming of the diaphragm, caused by dehydration when disappointing at Huntingdon, and will now have a holiday. He’s got a big race in him, but we’ll start again in the autumn with him as it just hasn’t happened for him this year. Tinsmith was only beaten 2 lengths when staying on strongly on the flat at Wolverhampton. He should be able to win on a more galloping track, and might yet go back over obstacles in the future.
We’ve just got back from the Goffs UK Spring Sale at Doncaster, where we bought four new recruits. We bought two well bred store horses and two Irish Point-to-Pointers.
The stores were:
2018 bay gelding by Walk in the Park ex. Hell Cat Maggie (IRE) (Flemensfirth)
This strikingly good-looking gelding is by the wonderful sire, Walk in the Park (the sire of multiple Grade 1 winners Douvan and Min etc). He is out of a three-time winning mare who was placed in Graded company, and a sister to black type performers Aces Four and Ocras Mor.
2018 bay gelding by Great Pretender ex. Mick Bora (Fr) (Voix Du Nord)
This good-looking gelding is by Great Pretender, (the son of Kings Theatre and the sire of Grade 1 winners, Greaneteen and Ptit Zig). He is a full brother to a four-time winner and a half-brother to a five-time winner, whilst he is out of a sister to a Graded performer.
The two Irish point-to-pointers were:
Git Maker: 2016 bay gelding by Saddler Maker ex. Bamos (Fr) (Coastal Path)
This son of the late great, Saddler Maker (sire of Grade 1 winners, Bristol De Mai and Apple’s Jade etc) is out of a sister to a Black Type winner from a lovely French family. 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 last week on soft ground at Necarne, where he earnt himself a big rating of 92+.
Super Survivor: 2016 bay gelding by Shantou ex. All The Best Mate (IRE) (Alflora)
Super Survivor is by the sire of Grade 1 winner, The Storyteller and out of a winning half-sister to triple Gold Cup winner Best Mate. He made his debut at Dromahane in May on soft ground, and was only beaten a head with 10 lengths back to the 3rd horse. He looks a proper staying chaser for the future. A very exciting horse to join our team.
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