Thursday 29th August 2024 - a treble at Worcester

It has been great to get back jumping after the three-week August break, and I was thrilled we got back rolling with a treble last night at Worcester.

Queen of the Vale got the evening off to a flyer when winning the bumper under a penalty.  She had won at the track on her racecourse debut early in July and improved on that performance when winning under ‘hands and heals’.  Gavin loves her, and she certainly looks above average so she will now be aimed at the Listed bumper at Cheltenham in November.

Queen of the Vale is the first leg of the treble.

Having won earlier this summer, Kitesurfer took a nasty fall last time out, but bounced back with an authoritative win last night in the staying handicap hurdle.  He is a talented horse, who hasn’t always shown it on the track, but he looks progressive now which so exciting for the Atkin family.

Kitesurfer is the middle leg of the treble.

Our night was rounded off with Pisgah Pike winning again.  He is an old favourite of ours, who seems to have been at Folly House for years now.  He won the summer hurdle a couple of summers ago but missed last summer due to a nasty bout of colic, which almost killed him.  However, he bounced back to form off a reduced handicap mark and there wasn’t a dry eye in the team.    

Pisgah Pike is the emotional and final winner of the evening.

Earlier on this week we brought Ballydesmond back to be 3^rd over hurdles after two disappointing chase runs last season.  He can hopefully build on this reappearance as he is a lovely type of horse.  Meanwhile, Obsessedwithyou was 2^nd last week at Newton Abbot.  She is a horse we have always felt should be delivering more, but I was pleased with her effort as we just bumped into an improving type.  Hopefully, she too can step forward this autumn. 

With September now just around the corner, the tempo in the yard is ramping up as the winter horses start doing a bit more work…..the excitement for the new season is building and I am thrilled that the small select summer team are setting us off on the right foot.