Another couple of winners have kept the scoreboard ticking over nicely this month, although there has been very little racing really but we’ve been pretty busy at home with our owner’s day parade and drinks party, the National Racehorse Week, and the horses work has all stepped up a gear too.
Guinness Affair notched the hattrick up when continuing his winning streak winning at Fontwell where he defied a penalty to win his second novice hurdle following his bumper success. Following that victory, I had thought he might be one for the Grade 2 Persian War, or the listed contest that Pacify won at Kempton a couple of years ago, but he has been given a mark of 117 and so we’ll have to go into handicaps now, and hope the winning run can continue….
Guinness Affair brings up the hattrick of wins.
I was thrilled that Tinsmith deservedly got his head in front on the flat at Chelmsford – in turn notching up our first winner on the flat. He had been knocking on the door, and now he knows how to win, he might even win again off a higher mark.
Tinsmith wins on the flat.
It was so lovely to see Fact of the Matter run so well to be 2nd at Newton Abbot, where he was only beaten a length by a horse 4 years his junior, carrying 23lbs less! He has been a legend for us over the years, and although he is not getting any faster, he still loves the game and is so enthusiastic. We might think about giving him a swan song at Cheltenham in October.
Of our other recent runners, Pisgah Pike probably ran a career best when 3rd in a Class 2 handicap off top weight. Having won two novice chases, we stepped him into open company and he ran really well but couldn’t concede the weight. We’ll come back to novice company now, and might go to Cheltenham in October with him too. Between the Waters was also 3rd at Fontwell, and he might have one more run before retirement beckons, whilst Eye To The Sky was 3rd on his racecourse debut in a bumper. He is owned by Zara Tindall, and although he ran well, he looked pretty green and immature so should improve a ton for that. Whilst, Dark Motive was 4th at Plumpton last weekend, and looks like she can win a small handicap when upped in trip. We ran Thebannerkingrebel on the flat to get his confidence back after falling over hurdles at Newton Abbot last month. Unfortunately, a horse fell right in front of him and all but brought him down! He managed to stay on his feet and stayed on to be 5th and might find he has a future on the level.
We held our annual owners’ drinks party and parade of horses earlier this month, where we paraded 50 horses to around 150 guests in glorious sunshine. It was a lovely afternoon full of hope and excitement for the season ahead.