Tuesday 27th January 2026 - a new seasonal PB as we had our 63rd winner of the season.

Having been patient with Johnny’s Jury, itwas very rewarding to see him winning impressively on his seasonal and stable debut, and only his second ever career start.  He is a brother to the Supreme Novice Hurdle winner, Appreciate It, and we could be heading to the Festival with Johnny’s Jury, but we’ll aim to defy a penalty with him first, and see if we go to Cheltenham or perhaps the EBF Final. 

Another Cheltenham Festival possible is Legendary Luke and I was delighted to see him winning under a penalty at Fontwell, as he remains unbeaten over hurdles for the Racing Club.  He is out of a sister to a Gold Cup winner, and so stamina looks to be his forte.  We might step him up in trip next time and aim for the 3m Grade 2 at Haydock in mid February.

Having fallen at the last with the race seemingly at his mercy at Taunton in December, it was lovely to see Move With The Beat winning at Ludlow in the middle of this month.  It was just what he deserved, and I was thrilled for the Drummond’s who have long been supporters of ours, ever since I rode them a winner (a few years ago now!).  Izzi Ryder gave him a lovely ride, and it was great to see her ride out her 7lbs claim on him.  She has really excelled in the last few months, and I am sure her 5lbs claim won’t last long either.   

Our 63^rd winner of the season came courtesy of Kosac D’Oudairies at Catterick.  He defied a penalty in determined fashion and has booked his place on a trip to Kelso now for a Grade 2 in which we have been placed in several times – but yet to win! Hopefully Kosac can change that.

We have had our fair share of seconds this month, and the majority by pretty narrow margins and Silver Hill came within a whisker of getting the New Year off to a flyer when beaten a neck under a penalty at Catterick.  I’m sure he can win another novice before progressing in handicaps when stepped up in trip.  He promises to be an even better novice chaser next season. 

Previously unbeaten over hurdles, La Conquiere, enhanced her reputation when 2^nd in the Grade 2 Warfield Mares hurdle at Ascot.  She was beaten only ½ length, giving away a 2lbs penalty against the older mares.  It was a brave move to step her out of novice company on just her third start over hurdles, and just her fifth career start, but she will have learnt a lot there, and she will head into the Cheltenham Festival as the best British Novice Mare – let’s hope she can follow in You Wear It Well’s footsteps, and give us another Cheltenham Festival winner!

We rather hit the woodwork at the Winter Millions Festival, as after La Conquiere was narrowly denied at Ascot, so too was Torneo as he was beaten a head at Windsor in the valuable 2m handicap chase.  He has been 2^nd on three occasions this season and keeps nudging up the handicap.  He surely deserves a big prize, and he might be one to aim for the Red Rum chase at Aintree. 

Having won two of his three novice hurdle starts last season, we were all looking forward to seeing Epic West jump a fence this season.  Having found the ground at Kempton too quick over Christmas, he bounced back to form at Warwick last week when jumping from fence to fence, only to be denied by ½ length in the shadows of the post.

Senator was another to rattle the crossbar this month.  He made a very good hurdling debut at Kempton earlier this month when 3^rd in a competitive Class 3 juvenile hurdle.  He improved for that effort and was 2^nd at Chepstow earlier this week when beaten only 1½ lengths.  He is a proper National Hunt bred horse, and not your typical juvenile hurdler, so I think there will be so much more to come from him as he matures and strengthens. 

Having finished 3^rd in the Grade 2 Esher Novice chase at Sandown in December, Laurens Bay filled the same position behind the same two horses, in the Grade 2 Hampton novice chase at Windsor.  He will now head to the National Hunt chase on the first day of the Cheltenham Festival, where he should appreciate the step up in trip and the hurly burly of a handicap, as he did when winning the EBF Fianl last season.

I was delighted with L’Amandine who was 3rd on her racecourse debut in a bumper at Ludlow.  This filly was bred by Lucy and is a sister to Ci Me Run who won a bumper on her second start, so hopefully, L’Amandine can follow in her footsteps and win next time out.  I thought Maximum Offers ran a lovely race when 3^rd at Wincanton.  He runs in the colours of our children, and I am sure he will be winning again for them this spring.  I better tie it in with their school holidays!  Dwight K Schrute was another to be 3^rd this month, when only beaten 4 lengths in a competitive handicap at Warwick.  He will go back over fences next season but should be able to win again over hurdles this season.  She Is For Me Boys was also 3^rd this month on her first run after wind surgery.  Whilst, Admiral Stewart was also 3^rd over 2m and will now appreciate going up in trip. 

Of our other recent runners, Cantys Cove ran a belter when giving weight away in the valuable Winter Millions Bumper.  He won well on debut, but improved by 17lbs here, and is an exciting horse to look forward to over hurdles next season.  Meanwhile, Milldam was only beaten ½ length for 3^rd in the £105k handicap at Windsor.