Another six winners in the last month of the season meant we finished the season as strongly as we started it, and the 2024-25 season was another record-breaking season for the team here at Folly House. We finished the season in 16th spot in the trainer’s championship, with 62 winners, and a brilliant £801,776 in win and place prize money. This was attained with an incredible 21% win strike rate, 58% of our runners were in the top four, and 47% of all of our runners won. The horses have held their form from start to finish, with the summer team holding their own but highlights this winter include Hollygrove Cha Cha winning us another Grade 2 Jane Seymour at Sandown; Laurens Bay winning the valuable Grade 3 EBF Final; and ultimately, it was incredible to win our first Grade 1 at the Grand National meeting at Aintree as Julius Des Pictons won the Sefton Novice Hurdle. We keep beating our previous best prize money total and setting ourselves a higher bar to aim for each season. I am immensely proud of the whole team here at Folly House, the wonderful horses, and all the support we receive from everyone associated with us. Thank you so much for playing your part.
We had a phenomenal Grand National meeting at Aintree where we celebrated our first Grade 1 winner, and we were also 2nd in the Grade 2 bumper meaning we finished 5th in the trainer’s table at the meeting. Julius Des Pictons put in an awesome performance to win the Grade 1 Sefton Novice Hurdle under another top ride from Gavin, to win for the Footie Partnership, which was made all the more emotional as Mike Hill sadly died earlier this year. Although we have been lucky enough to win some prestigious races in our career, this was our first Grade 1, which was very special….and we celebrated accordingly in “Pop World” in Liverpool!
I was thrilled with La Conquiere, who was 2nd in the Grade 2 mares bumper at Aintree on just her 2nd career start. She travelled through the race really powerfully, picked up well, and showed a smart turn of foot, to be beaten only ½ length by the favourite who is being targeted at some of the top staying flat races this summer. She is for sale….
Audacious Annie had won at Wetherby last month and followed that up by winning under a penalty at Warwick in taking fashion. She is an improving mare and can hopefully win again this spring before we give her a summer holiday, and then perhaps target her at the Grade 2 Persian War in the autumn.
The final week of the season proved very fruitful as Doc McCoy won well back over hurdles after not appearing to take well to chasing. He will be kept on the go through the summer as he prefers nicer ground.
Then I was delighted to see the first of our summer runners, Kitesurfer win well under Joe Anderson at Ludlow for the Atkin family and in turn bring up our 60th winner of the season. He won two races last summer, and I hope he can keep progressing this summer too.
Handlethekettle was the second of our summer runners, and he too looked impressive when winning under a penalty at Taunton. He will be jumping fences before long and can fly the flag for the Racing Club through the summer, whilst their hero (Wendigo) enjoys a summer holiday.
Our 62nd and last winner of the season came on Friday evening when Ghost Hunter won at Chepstow for Clemmie Shipp. He was given a very tender ride from Gavin, who brought him through with a well-timed challenge to sprint away from the back of the last fence. He too should be able to follow up in the coming weeks.
We went into the final day of the season at Sandown on £793k in total prizemoney for the season, hoping to get over a personal milestone of £800k. Thankfully, Ga Law obliged and ran a career best in the Grade 2 Oaksey Chase to be 3rd. He was 2nd in the race last season, but with the Champion Trainers title still in the balance, Willie Mullins brought over a plethora of talent for the race, and so it was a Grade 1 in all but name!
Of our other runners this month, Maximum Offers was 2nd under a penalty at Newcastle for the children and can win again before his summer holiday. Climbing was also 2nd on his comeback run this spring. He was beaten a short head at Hereford in the colours of Her Majesty The Queen, for the Ebony Horse Club. Regarde ran another big race to be 2nd at Cheltenham last week and can keep progressing on the nicer spring ground. She is for Me boys picked up some nice prize money when 2nd at Plumpton on her racecourse debut, whilst Jack N Jones was also 2nd on her debut in a bumper. Hardy Du Seuil was 3rd at Taunton but found the ground a bit too quick, and Jackstell was also 3rd in a maiden at Hereford. Torneo looked likely to add a third winner to his chasing tally in a valuable race at Ayr but unfortunately tipped up at the 3rd last when launching his challenge. Thankfully, he wasn’t hurt, but Gavin’s foot got a bit squashed underneath him, and I am sure Gavin will be thankful for a week off between seasons now.
Onwards and upwards – as the new season begins on Saturday. Exciting times ahead.
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