Monday 31st August 2026 - four winners across both codes and the 3 week summer break from NH racing

There hasn’t been much jump racing in August due to the new 3-week break from NH racing.  However, I am pleased that we've added another four winners to our tally this month – three flat winners, and one jumps winner.  With September now just around the corner, the tempo in the yard is ramping up as some of the winter horses start doing a bit more work.  The excitement for the new season is building, and I am thrilled that our select summer team have set us off on the right foot as we sit in 5th in the Championship with 18 winners on the board and £167k in prize money.    Autumn is just around the corner now.  Exciting times lie ahead.

During the three-week summer break from jump racing, we decided to run Hope Rising back on the flat, and what an inspiration she really has proved to be, winning on three occasions. She had run on the flat before coming to us, and had a handicap mark which looked very workable, and so it proved.  Firstly, she won at Linfield, under a good ride from Rob Hornby.

She then followed up at Nottingham under a 5lbs penalty, over two miles in an apprentice race under young Harry Vigors.

She escaped a penalty for that win, and she won for the third time in two weeks, when bolting up under Rob Hornby at Chepstow. She's gone up to a mark of 70 now and runs again on Tuesday and hopefully her winning run can continue.

Whilst over jumps, it was lovely to get back into the winner’s enclosure after the three-week break, as Rebel Tribesmen won very nicely at Stratford, under a good ride from Johnny Burke who was stepping in for Gavin who was banned. Rebel Tribesmenlooks a horse that's really improving and progressing and hopefully can follow up in a handicap in September before heading to the Grade 2 Persian War in October.

The majority of our other runners this month have all been placed.  Obsessedwithyou was 2^nd in the feature race at Newton Abbot, and looks like she could do with going up in trip now days. Whilst, Donnie Azoff came off 2^nd best in a tactical race at Newton Abbot.

I was pleased to see Sheisformeboys get back on track when second at Fontwell after a recent wind op, in turn she qualified for a £50,000 handicap at Worcester next month.

Quick Sharpener also benefited from a recent wind op to be 3^rd under Gavin at Newton Abbot.  Whilst Kernie D’Airy was an unlucky fourth at Worcester when meeting trouble in running.  She’ll go chasing now.  Maria Mes was also fourth but now qualifies for a handicap mark and should be up to winning before long.

 We’ve not had many other runners through August, due to the hot weather and the 3-week summer break.  However, we have remained busy re stocking, and we bought a smart juvenile prospect this month in the shape of Central Command.  He is by the first season sire, Space Blues who won the Prix Maurice de Gheest, Foret and Breeders' Cup Mile.  Being by Dubawi, Space Blues looks to produce tough, hardy individuals who look to stay very well too.  Central Command has won three of his five handicap starts on the level as a 3-year-old, from 1m2 to 1m4, rising to a mark of 82.  He looks a smart juvenile hurdle prospect and is another exciting recruit to the team.  There is one final 25% share left available – do snap it up quickly….

 With no racing through the first three weeks of August, it was a lovely opportunity to get away with the children, and we had a lovely week in Corfu with Lucy’s side of the family and their numerous cousins.  There was a lot of cliff jumping and swimming off boats to go along with the long lunches and fun dinners.