News

Tuesday 9th March 2010

A cracking weekend with two more winners. Eric's Charm showed he is still young at heart by winning the competitive veterans chase at Newbury on Saturday. He was a revelation and now goes straight to Aintree for the National. All the other horses ran well with the exception of Arkose who was very disappointing. I am not sure if he was totally in love with the drying ground and also wonder if it might have come a bit soon after his last run at Ascot. Milgen Bay made a promising start to his career in the bumper at Huntingdon. He has all the right credentials to make a good racehorse. All the horses seem to have come out of their races in good form.

Two runners at Exeter today. Little Al goes in the 2m7f Novice Hurdle - his last two runs have been disappointing but this is a much lesser race and we are going to ride him much handier. If he produces his first run of the season he will be knocking on the door.
Global Strategy runs in the Amateur Handicap Hurdle with my nephew on board. It is all good experience for Jack but the horse has probably seen better days.

Saturday 6th March 2010

We have a busy weekend ahead with six runners. Today at Newbury, Eric's Charm runs in the Veterans Handicap Chase. This is his prep race for the National, he does prefer going right handed but we wanted to try him left handed - he has won left handed and though he would prefer softer ground he is in tremendous form at home.
Arkose runs in the 3m Novice Hurdle. I have been screaming to run him over this trip and we think he will give the Henderson/Nicholls horses a run for their money.
Bianco Fuji runs in the bumper. I would have preferred to have kept her to her to mares only races but there aren't many bumpers around. She is a half sister to Winsley, Lyes Green and Argento Luna, a family we have done well with over the years. She really is a lovely filly and goes nicely at home. Whether she is up to winning a Newbury bumper time will tell.
We have two up at Doncaster. Silver Bay runs in the Beginners Chase and it looks a match between Alan King’s horse and us. He is in great form at home and will love the ground, let's hope he jumps round safely!
Andreas runs in the 2m Handicap Chase. He travelled really well at Ascot last time but just needed the race. He will love the good ground and if he produces his form of 18 months ago he will be knocking on the door.
On Sunday, Milgen Bay runs in the bumper at Huntingdon. He is a really nice homebred of Roger Waters, who goes well at home and should go close.

Thursday 4th March 2010

One runner in the bumper at Ludlow today, Dune Shine. No reason why we haven't run him since his good 3rd, other than the ground has been desperate. He has improved a lot and unless there is a flying machine amoungst the unraced horses, he should be knocking on the door.

Tuesday 2nd March 2010

After three inspections this morning, Leicester finally goes ahead today. Circus of Dreams runs in the 2m Beginners Chase. He is not a horse you can completely trust as it depends on how he feels as to how he runs. If he runs up to form then he would be in with a chance.
Pacco missed a good opportunity at Towcester on Sunday and so comes here for the 2m4f Handicap Chase. We had to run here as there are no other races for him this week. He is in good form and although he has top weight, he should run a big race on what is his favourite ground.

Monday 1st March 2010

Rouge et Blanc runs in the 2m 1f Handicap Chase at Plumpton today. He took a horrible fall earlier on in the season and we have had a series of problems with him. He has also had a wind operation. The engine is certainly there and if he runs up the form of his second to Trenchant, he should take a lot of beating.

Friday 26th February 2010

Two runners over the weekend. Rockandahardplace runs in the Novice Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow tomorrow. He ran no race last time out and was found to have a blood disorder, like a lot of ours at the time. The trip is a little bit short for him but he will certainly need to stay on that ground at Chepstow. It is a poor race and he should be knocking on the door.
Pacco runs in the 2m3f Handicap Chase on Sunday at Towcester. This is the same race he won last year. As with Rockandahardplace, he ran no race at all last time out. He loves Towcester and will love the ground. He should take all the beating.

Tuesday 23rd February 2010

The two runners on Saturday both ran blinders, which has given us plenty of encouragement and hopefully the blood disorder is now well behind us. We were due to have three runners yesterday at Market Rasen but unfortunately that was abandoned which has been pretty much par for the course since Christmas.
Today Abey M'boy runs in the Novice Handicap Hurdle at Taunton. This is not an ideal choice but he keeps getting balloted out of Novice Hurdles. He will love the ground and should be competitive. We unleash an unraced horse at Southwell in the bumper, who is related to Artic Call. He works nicely at home without being flashy and should be doing his best work at the end of the race. He is a classic chaser in the making.

Wednesday 17th February 2010

Black Ven runs in the 2m4f Handicap Chase at Leicester today. We were much encouraged with his last run over an inadequate 2m. This will be much more up his street and we think he will run a big race given luck in running.

Friday 12th February 2010

Impinella ran a blinder yesterday to finish 4th in a hot Mares Bumper, which all goes well for our runners coming up.

Inghwung is our only runner over the weekend at Warwick in the 3m Handicap Hurdle. She wants better ground and in my opnion is too high in the handicap but she is a very tough mare and always gives it her best.

We took a whole heap of bloods yesterday and the general picture is good, so subject to weather we should be having plenty more runners next week.

Thursday 11th February 2010

Impinella makes her racecourse debut in the bumper at Huntingdon today. She is a full sister to Abey M'Boy, whom we hold in high regard, so hope she shows as much potential. She has good attitude and has done plenty of work at home, so is definitely ready for this run.

Friday 5th February 2010

We have two runners tomorrow at Doncaster. Argento Luna runs in the 2m Listed Mares Hurdle. She was unluckily brought down at Kempton on her last run. The drop back in trip to 2m is a concern but she is screaming for a run and needs goodish ground. She shouldn’t disgrace herself.
Andreas has his first run for us in the big 2m Handicap Chase. He is a joy to have in the yard and you can see why he won all those races early on in his career. He is a really classy animal but had his problems last year with a fractured knee. It is a big ask in such a hot race but we are hoping he may show some of his old zest.
Some of the horses haven't acquitted themselves in the last two weeks and as a result we did a whole heap of blood tests. A few were found to have a blood disorder; they need a week of tonics and then we will check them again next week. You certainly wouldn't know there is anything wrong from their behavior at home.

Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Two runners today at Exeter. Tytheknot runs in the 2m Handicap Chase. He would have won last time out if he hadn't made a mistake at the second last. He is an enigma, if he wants to he could win with his head in his chest, but not one to trust! Silver Accord runs in the 2m3f Novice Hurdle, but disappointed at Fakenham last time. He is one to watch and will proabably be better with some headgear on at a later date.

Thursday 28th January 2010

We are making our first trip to Ffos Las today; let's hope it can be a successful one!
Little Al runs in the 3m Handicap Hurdle. He got a nasty cut during his last run which we think affected his performance as he ran no race at all. He will love the trip and the slightly better ground but he does lack confidence so we will be pleased if he runs into a place
Circus of Dreams runs in the 2m4f Novice Handicap Chase. We were happy with his last run over an inadequate trip. However, he is getting a bit like his brothers, Super Road Train and Superrollercoaster, and likes to be handy or he can be a little bit quirky! On his best form he should be knocking on the door

Regarding some of Saturdays runners; Mount Sandel is fine after his fall, he schooled this morning. Jaunty Flight was the most disappointing and was actually in season post race, she has been treated accordingly. Pacco ran no race for no apparent reason and will more than likely have some headgear on next time.

Champtho runs in the novice hurdle at Doncaster tomorrow. He disappointed on his last run but did come back with a nasty abscess under his jaw, which we hope was the reason why. He is in great form at home and though it is a hot race we hope he will do himself justice.

Friday 22nd January 2010

Tomorrow, we have 3 runners at 3 different meetings. Firstly, Pacco runs in the 2m5f Handicap Chase at Wincanton. He will love the heavy ground and has certainly come on from his first run. He has a real good racing weight and should have a lively chance.
Jaunty Flight goes to Haydock for the Peter Marsh Chase. We had a hiccup with her early on, hence the belated start to the season for her. She is in tremendous form at home and looks very sharp. Even though it is a big ask, I hope she will be knocking on the door, she will certainly love the ground. Finally, Mount Sandel goes to Ascot for the 2m5f Handicap Chase. He is another one who has had a delayed start due to lameness behind. He will benefit from this run but he is another who will love the ground and touchwood is a sound jumper.

Thursday 21st January 2010

Widely Accepted runs in the 2m3f Novice Handicap Chase at Taunton today. He is a horse with lots of ability but has had his fair share of problems. He actually jumps his fences well at home. On his best for he could run into a place but he does need plenty of confidence from the saddle.

Tuesday 19th January 2010

Today we have two runners at Folkestone. Black Ven is in the 2m Handicap Chase. Has been very disappointing but it is a weak race so we are going to take our chance. He does jump very well so we are hoping he can be competitive. Tytheknot runs in the 2m5f Handicap Chase. He is a bit of an enigma, if he wants to he could pick this lot and eat them as he has loads of natural ability, but he would never be a betting proposition

Monday 18th January 2010

Today we have three runners at Fakenham, which bar Global Strategy on the all weather are our first runners this year. We haven't been held up here in Lambourn too badly with the weather so hopefully they shouldn’t have lost any fitness.
Silver Accord runs in the 2m4f Maiden Hurdle. He will enjoy the step up in trip and we feel that he will run a big race. He works like a nice horse and home and I was a little disappointed with his first run.
Abey M'boy has been really disappointing after a good bumper season. He will be held up today as he tends to get over excited and I am hoping that he runs some sort of a race. Ballygalley Bob runs in the 3m Handicap Chase. It certainly wouldn't be his track but we have to start somewhere and contrary to press reports he would be better on good ground.

Monday 11th January 2010

Firstly, apologies for no update on the website as Emma has had a well earned holiday in Kenya and I forgot the password for updating the website!

Obviously, not a lot to report. I gave all the horses a midseason EHV last Monday, so they would have had a couple of quiet days anyway. We have managed to exercise them as normal except for last Wednesday, which was the first day of the snow. Tom Lovell Stagg and his team have done a first rate job in keeping the gallops open. I have made no entries until Saturday and I personally think they will struggle to race anywhere this weekend.

All the best,

Oliver & the Team