It has been quite an extraordinary few weeks here at Folly House as we had 7 winners from just 8 runners last week, and another 5 winners in the first two weeks of March. Luck didn’t quite fall our way at Cheltenham, but the team are in great form as we smash more records.
We started the month with another bumper winner as Tiptoptim won a bumper at Newcastle in fine style. He is a horse we like a lot, and he should progress into a smart novice hurdler next season. However, we’ll be patient and let him strengthen up over a summer holiday.
We had a wonderful weekend earlier this month as Laurens Bay won the Grade 2 EBF Final at Sandown. He got up in the final strides of this prestigious race under an inspired ride from Gavin, having looked in trouble turning for home. However, the softer ground and the stiff finish brought out his strengths as he powered home. He has the size and scope to progress into a lovely staying novice chaser next season and is hugely exciting.
Lions Peak completed an across the card double when winning a maiden hurdle at Hereford under Joe Anderson for Geoffrey Bishop. He looks a progressive young horse, and there should be plenty more to come from him in handicaps and he remains a novice until December now too, which I hope we can exploit.
Our bumper horses have continued to run well all season and look a great bunch to look forward to over hurdles next season, and I was thrilled to see Lucy’s first homebred filly, Ce Mi Run win for Tom Mold, on her second racecourse appearance. Gavin gave her a lovely ride to win a bumper at Sedgefield, and she jumps really well, so should be a smart novice hurdler for next season.
I was relieved to see Maximum Offers winning a maiden hurdle on his second hurdling start at Huntingdon over the Cheltenham Festival, as he is part owned by our three children! It was a very emotional win as Lady Sarah Keswick (the other part owner), and I cheered him home from Cheltenham. He should be able to win a novice under a penalty but looks sure to make up into a lovely novice chaser next season.
We had an amazing week after Cheltenham as we notched up 7 winners from just 8 runners! The roll started with Torneo winning another novice chase under a terrific ride from Gavin. Torneo won on the flat, won over hurdles, but has developed into a smart novice chaser this season, and can keep progressing too. There is a decent race at Ayr we might go for next at the Scottish National meeting.
Dwight K Schrute followed up winning a maiden hurdle at Fontwell for his very patient owners. He won an English Point-to-Point as a 4-year-old but has just taken time to come to himself. He looks another who will progress over fences in the autumn but can win again over hurdles first.
Having won a bumper last season, Audacious Annie has taken a moment to hit form this season, but she appreciated some better ground when winning in style at Wetherby for Semore Kurdi. We’ll keep her on the go for a bit as the spring ground looks the key to her.
It was lovely to have an across the card treble last Wednesday as Datsalrightcharlie won the maiden hurdle for the Glyn-Davies family. Although no relation to our Hennessey Hero, Datsalrightgino, he looks a staying chaser for the future but will take time to fill his frame and mature into one.
Talking of staying chasers, Regarde doubled up on the day when winning the 3m4 feature chase at Haydock under a fine ride from Joe Anderson and looks capable of winning a decent staying chase on decent ground and could be one for the Summer Cup at Uttoxeter, but first we might head to Perth for the Highland National.
Ride Like a Girl then won the bumper at Huntingdon on the same day to land the treble on the day under a fine ride from Gavin, and she too is another exciting novice hurdler to look forward to next season.
Idy Wood, under a determined ride from Gavin, got up in the shadows of the post at Ludlow last week. This likeable horse has now won a bumper, two novice hurdles, and two novice chases from just 12 races, and has the most admirable attitude. He has been a star for Erik Penser & Lennart Perlhagen.
Having had two winners at the Cheltenham Festival we really appreciate quite how tricky it is to have winners there, and this year was no different. Our best chance on paper looked to be Wendigo in the Grade 1 Albert Bartlett. He looked to be running a great race but was almost brought down at the 2nd last flight of hurdles when in with every chance, which certainly cost him 3rd place, and ultimately cost him a chance to challenge for the victory! He still finished 5th and really could make up into a Grade 1 Novice Chaser next season. Git Maker and Super Survivor both ran solid races but would have appreciated softer ground, and Hollygrove Cha Cha really didn’t handle the faster ground conditions. Whilst Ga Law didn’t appreciate being back over hurdles in the Stayers and will now switch back to fences and go to the Topham over the Grand National fences.
Thankfully, Uttoxeter did a brilliant job to water so well for the Midlands National and Passing Well ran another belter to be 3rd in that. He has now been 2nd in the Surrey National, 3rd in the Eider and 3rd in the Midlands National this season – all inside of 6 weeks. He deserves a good holiday now, but a big staying chase should come his way next season. On the same card, Up for Parol ran well to be 6th in a £100,000 handicap hurdle.
Of our other runners, Marche D’Aligre was 2nd at Ludlow and now qualifies for a £100,000 handicap at Sandown on the last day of the season, and Bellas Bridge was 2nd at Chepstow. Whilst, having won a bumper on her racecourse debut, A Path to Ronda ran well to be 4th in the Listed mares bumper at Sandown, and she too is another exciting novice hurdler for next season.
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