It was a real pleasure to see Hogan’s Height winning again last week, he has been such a warrior for us over the years, and to see him winning again is exactly what National Hunt racing is all about. Having won the Grand Sefton in 2019, he was on target to run well in the Grand National in 2020, but obviously Covid put pay to that idea, and really last season was a struggle with him and he ended up having two operations on a joint. It was amazing that he even managed to be 12th in the National in 2021. However, back in calmer waters of the opening Hunter Chase of the season, he was given a peach of a ride by Gina Andews, and won pretty impressively. It was a shame for young Will Featherstone who missed the ride as he was concussed in a point-to-point fall last weekend.
Hogan's Height wins the first Hunter Chase of the season.
I was thrilled with Hardy Du Seuil’s 2nd in the Grade 2 Altcar novice chase on Saturday at Haydock. He had won his two completed starts over fences this season, and deserved a step up into Graded company, but probably didn’t stay the trip quite as strongly as the winner, but he is only 5 years old and has a bright future ahead of him. He did pick up over £10k in prize money here though, and that means we’re now over £350k in prize money this season with 37 winners on the board. A massive effort by the team here.
Hardy Du Seuil is 2nd in the Grade 2 Altcar Novice Chase at Haydock.
We had a Saturday of ‘almosts’ with Thomas Macdonagh just being touched off again at Haydock and Cornicello only beaten 3 lengths on handicap debut. Having been beaten in the shadows of the post in December, we dropped Thomas back to 2m and he ran another belter to be beaten only a length. He’s not far off winning again, and his time will come, but he does need the rain. Talking of which, Anythingforlove is also by Black Sam Bellamy and also needs the mud, which she didn’t get at Ascot on Saturday in a Grade 2. She’ll be back, but only when the rain comes again. Cornicello ran well at Taunton on his handicap debut but lost his position going down the back straight and the effort he made to get back into it, just told inside the final 100 yards. He’ll be sharper for the experience of a big field handicap though, and he should be winning before long.
Of our other recent runners, I was pleased with Sea the Clouds effort to be 3rd in a bumper at Ludlow. He had been 2nd on debut, but probably stepped up on that effort here. He’s certainly capable of winning a bumper this season, before he goes novice hurdling next season.
Whilst on air, you might like to watch the video clip below that Racing TV produced about some of the team here at Folly House:
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