We had a wonderful day at Uttoxeter yesterday as Only The Bold rolled back the years to put up a career best at the age of 10 years old to win the prestigious and valuable Summer Cup under a fabulous ride from Gavin, for Value Racing Club. Having been sent to us in the winter, he was coming to win his race at Ludlow when he sprawled on landing at the fourth last fence. It took us a while to get him right after that incident, and when he was back to himself, the spring ground was far to quick to run him. So, we’ve kept our patience and waited for this race as we knew how well Uttoxeter water their ground for this meeting. He had a warmup race at Aintree where he was a fast-finishing 3rd, and he stepped forward from that run to win this great race. We first won this race when it was the Summer National, with Knighton Combe (owned and bred by my father) 14 years ago, who was our very first runner from Folly House.
It was a shame that Roger Pol couldn’t build on his win earlier this month, when disappointing yesterday, however he was slightly intimidated and claustrophobic when trapped in on the rail in a big field handicap.
I was thrilled to see Obsessedwithyou winning again last week, as she backed up her win at Ffos Las over 2m, when winning at Bangor over 2m4. She looks a progressive novice chaser, and there should be more to come from this talented mare.
Rony Has made his debut last week in a bumper at Worcester and was only beaten a neck into 2nd. Izzi Ryder gave him a lovely ride, and having been outpaced 2 furlongs from home, Izzi conjured a storming late run to be narrowly beaten inside the shadows of the post. Another 10 yards, and she’d have got him up.
It was great fun to once again be in the Royal Procession at Royal Ascot, and lovely to have the children at Ascot for their first experience of the Royal meeting.
Office: +44 (0) 1488 72800
Mobile: +44 (0) 7779 497563
