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Newsletter 14th May
Plumpton, 21st April
Mancebo: 2m maiden hurdle on soft (James Davies): 2nd
As this was his best run for us by far, we were thrilled with the outcome. As expected, Mancebo was a bit free and keen early on (hence the drop back to 2 miles), but he jumped nicely, and even though James attacked a long way out, the horse stuck on all the way to the line, battling fir second when he was headed.
The reporter of the meeting in the Racing Post was rather dismissive of the quality of the race, but winner Haddaaf followed up easily next time, and Ardmaddy was beaten a neck in a novice hurdle afterwards, his fifth place in five hurdle runs - so Mancebo put up a pretty good effort to split them.
In the Plumpton paddock and James finds a note left tucked in the tack. It read "Dear Whomever It May Concern - hang on tight at the first, and we could be on for a good one - love, Mancebo." The horse is looking away to feign ignorance of the circumstance.
Romney Marsh: 2m 4f handicap chase on soft (James Davies): 3rd
This was a good sign of her gradually regaining her form, as she also stuck on right to the line, even though Plumpton does not suit her way of racing. At the likes of Exeter or Towcester, the pace is a touch slower, and Romney Marsh's tendency to be a tadge cautious - taking a more parabolic route from one side to the other - costs her no ground. At a course like Plumpton, where they go a touch quicker and are more inclined to really attack the fences, she is always having to be nudged to lay up with the field. On this occasion, it was on therailway bend that her challenge faded, but she just lost a few lengths in the straight, rather than stop in an instant.
Mid-race and Romney Marsh (12) is a picture of concentration, despite aliens having rendered her left ear invisible
Towcester, 22nd April
Mucho Loco: 2m handicap hurdle on good (Sam Hanson): pulled up
After two much-improved placed runs the day before, we were hopeful that in terms of their health, we had seen the signs that the horses had turned the corner. However, there is no-one quite like Mucho Loco for bringing things back down to earth. We were unconvinced that Mucho Loco would get home at such a stiff track. He teased us by travelling well as they reached the rend of the far straight, but stopped in a few strides. Immensely frustratingly, it turned out that Mucho Loco had burst a blood vessel quite badly.
Plumpton, 2nd May
Mancebo: 2m 6½f handicap hurdle on good (Sam Hanson): 11th
This was just one of those things that does not go to script. Sam sat out a bit wide at the start, to Mancebo a good sighting of the first hurdle, as he can he a bit wary of the first, and then warm up to the job. In a big field, one towards the middle fell, stumbled in Mancebo's direction, and caused a couple to hamper Mancebo as they avoided the faller. In the scramble, Mancebo picked up a couple of very nasty cuts, which have required stapling - they were removed yesterday, and he was still a bit sore. This should keep him out of action for a while. And no doubt, having been raised twenty pounds for Plumpton, he will go down one or two for this...
Huntingdon, 8th May
Tech Eagle: 2m ½f handicap hurdle on good to firm (Dave Crosse): 12th
Having got as fit at home as is possible, we decided to give Tech Eagle a tune up over hurdles. As he can be very keen, Dave's orders were to get him covered up on the inner, which was executed perfectly, only for the horses in front of him to think about refusing a few. Dave gave him a breather, and then ran on past a couple of stragglers late on. He showed no reaction in his injured leg at all, got the work out hat he needed and a delighted Dave was adamant that a two mile novice chase was the ideal next race - the plan is one back at Huntingdon on the 27th.
New(ish) Arrivals
Quinton Jones: He has joined us full-time, having previously been with Nicky Henderson. He is to take out an amateur rider's licence, and hopefully switch to a conditional's when he has some rides under his belt.
Pony Racing latest
After a close fourth in the mud at Hackwood Park, Ned had winner number three at Kingston Blount. Given that the chesnut mare is not the easiest ride, steering being her bete noir, to win on such a twisty course, where they sort of slalom around the pointing fences, was a good result.
16th April 2008 Bulletin
Plumpton, 23rd March
Alderbrook Girl: 2m 5f handicap chase on soft (James Davies): 5th
Despite the course of treatment that all the horses have had, Alderbrook Girl ran the same sort of lacklustre race that they had been doing so earlier in the season. They seem OK in their work, start the race OK, but then hit some form of wall implausibly early on. They do not blow much after, are fine the day after the race, but stiffen up two days after the run. The problem with trying to treat them is that apart from the stiffening up, which is a side effect not the actual problem, there are no symptoms to actually treat.
Towcester, 23rd March
Romney Marsh: 3m ½f handicap chase on soft (Sam Hanson): Pulled up
Alas, she ran pretty much the same sort of race as Alderbrook Girl, but there was a fair old saga behind it. The booked rider was Seamus Durack, on the condition that the weights would rise, as he was not even thinking that he would be able to get down to the minimum weight. Calls around to find a replacement saw several jocks that would consider doing 10 stone not willing to guarantee it over Easter. Eventually Lee Vickers was booked, but he rather inconsiderately injured himself at Newton Abbot the day before and was stood down b the doctor. The next person to get the ride was Timmy Murphy, whose main reason for going to Towcester was to ride for Henrietta Knight. Henrietta withdrew the horse Timmy was riding on the morning of the race, and Timmy decided to give Northamptonshire and the forecast snow a miss. A very late phone call to Sam Hanson saw him available but uncertain that he could do the weight. A brief scales check convinced him that he could, and it was too late by then for any more changes!
Ti Amore: 2m ½f bumper on soft (Seamus Durack): 15th
The result was not as hoped for, as after setting the early pace, Ti Amore dropped down through the field fairly quickly. Seamus reported that she was totally lacking in the confidence to gallop down the steep hill in the mud - she is used to galloping uphill on better ground. He did suggest she was well worth a try on a more level track. This might mean delaying her hurdles debut by one race.
Plumpton, 7th April
Alderbrook Girl: 3m 2f handicap chase on heavy (James Davies): pulled up
See Plumpton 23rd March!
Ludlow, 9th April
Tia Amore: 2m bumper on good (James Davies): 14th
After this effort, we have decided not to persevere with Tia Amore for racing purposes, and she will be returning to her breeder. Having set off amenably enough, after half a mile, passing the racecourse stables, she downed tools completely. At Towcester it was rather new and different, but this time around there were no excuses. She has always been rather strong willed, and if she is not prepared to compete at this early stage of her career, it is not a situation that will improve with time.
CHELTENHAM DOUBLE
After having had his intro to pony racing, and ridden to orders with a patient ride, Ned had a chance in spotlight at Cheltenham, and since then the former owner of one of them, Brendan Powell, had advised that making the running was more to the trusty steed's liking. The result? Off to Cheltenham with both ponies - and Ned returns with a first career double!
20th March 2008 Bulletin
Runners
Taunton, 28th February
Near Germany: 2m 1f conditionals & amateurs' handicap hurdle on good to soft (Sam Hanson): 10th
One of those days where the plan went to pot pretty much as they lined up at the start. The intention was to cover-up Near Germany in the pack, but he was shovelled into the outer reaches as they lined up and never settled, hurtling off with the choke out. To make matters worse, when he needed to be given a mid-race breather, Sam took the opportunity to dash off to the front, which used up the energy reserves. This was part of the hands and heels series for conditional and amateur riders, so the stewards and mentors review each runner with the rider after the race. In fairness, Sam confessed fully that he had not got this one right, and we all live to fight another day.
Lingfield, 6th March
Maderson Blue: 2m bumper on the all-weather (Seamus Durack): 10th
Normally we would be reluctant to debut on an artificial surface, but Maderson Blue works well on it at home, so gave it a go anyway, perhaps wrongly with the benefit of hindsight. The horse did rather confound expectations, as it was expected that he would be green on the mental side of the equation. However, he handled a quick pace well, Seamus reported him happy with it, and only began to struggle when the field surprisingly quickened again. As the winner had already triumphed in an OK race on the track, and Carl Llewellyn thinks a lot of his horse, Sheer Magnetism (5th) and was amazed by the pace of the placed runners, time may prove us to have been unlucky in finding such a hot race to start in. Once he was under pressure, Maderson Blue started to take shorter, heavier strides, which left him a bit bruised after the race. He will know a lot more about it all next time.
Huntingdon, 12th March
Coppermalt: 2m ½f lady riders' handicap hurdle on good (Sam Beddoes): 8th
We all remember this day for being the one where the winds got the better of Cheltenham, and half of the country got blown away. Well Coppermalt got himself immersed in the general casual vibe and decided the combination of sticky ground and a gale were not for him. A rapid downing of tools resulted.
Wolverhampton, 17th March
Mucho Loco: 1m ½f amateur riders' claimer on the all-weather (Sam Hanson): 6th
Mucho Loco probably handles the surface at Wolves, but every time we go there, he gets stuck with a rank bad draw on the outside. This time, as well as not being well in at the weights, he was drawn ten of eleven. This meant Sam had no chance to tuck him in, but he did do a good job of riding Mucho Loco the Dane O'Neill way and extracted what was probably as good a finishing position as was possible in the circumstances. The run should put him spot on for a hurdle race in the imminent future.
16th February 2008 Bulletin
Medical News
One thing that has been apparent recently, is that even allowing for other circumstances, the horses on course had been running below par. The vet ran some tests and diagnosed a long-term low grade bug. In order get this out of their system, all of the horses will have a course of treatment that will involve them being on the easy list for a couple of weeks.
Folkestone, 29th Jan
Near Germany: 2m 1½f novice hurdle on soft (Marcus Foley): 5th
This was his best effort over hurdles yet, as rounding the home turn, only he and the winner Numide were still on the bridle. Alas, Near Germany did not see out the trip as well as some of the others and ended up fifth, beaten fifteen lengths. For this he was raised seven pounds, and immediately became too highly rated for the planned follow up. Obviously a quiet word will be had in the handicapper's shell-like, but the problem is that his next best run, when he fell late on at Plumpton, would have seen him not too far behind Wingman...
Romney Marsh: 3m 1f handicap chase on good to soft (James Davies): pulled up
A disappointing outcome to this, as the better than expected ground led to a fast pace, and Romney Marsh was always labouring a little to stay in touch and eventually could not. James' view is that she would be suited by a more galloping track than Folkestone, so that was the next plan.
Pre-race at Folkestone and a picture of symmetry (of a non-fearful type), if you overlook the fact that they have different riders, colours, numbers, headgear and genders, and whilst Romney Marsh considers a dash to the bar, Near Germany does some meditation on the hoof to get him in the zone. His attempt to swallow Dawn head first ultimately failed.
Market Rasen, 6th Feb
Alderbrook Girl: 2m 4½f handicap chase on heavy (James Davies): pulled up
Everything seemed especially fine with her prior to this, and we were expecting a decent effort. However, after being a bit awkward at the first, it became apparent that all was far less well than imagined, and James pulled her up after less than a mile. She was clearly hurting somewhere, but without any pointy digits on her limbs it is tricky to fathom the exact point of pain. Alderbrook Girl has had a battery of tests and checks, including injections to the fetlock and spine, and hopefully when the results are complete we will have pinpointed exactly what is causing her grief.
Leicester, 13th Feb
Romney Marsh: 2m 7½f handicap chase on good to soft (James Davies): unseated
She did indeed appreciate a move away from the sharper bends, and ran quite well for two miles, until she put down on James at the six last and ploughed right through it, with the inevitable result of the jock being dashed to the ground. As Romney Marsh is a bit prone to have brief lapses of concentration in a race, there are times when the jockey needs to bump her along to get the focus back, and James was certain that she had plenty in the tank after he had done that a couple of times.
23rd January 2008 Bulletin
Runners (which in a radical experiment will be in date order, earliest first!)
Kempton, 2nd Jan
Mucho Loco: 1m classified stakes on the all-weather (Dane O'Neill): 6th
Just one of those days where a fussy horse did not see the race unfold as he demands! The early pace was quite slow, and when the late sprint started, the field fanned out and our agoraphobic hero was reluctant to stroll through the gap, which Dane felt he had more than enough petrol left to do. Convenient as Kempton is, Dane's view is that many of the races at the course have a slow early pace, and whilst the layout is fine for Mucho Loco, the style of racing generally is not.
Leicester, 8th Jan
Romney Marsh: 2m 4½f handicap chase on good to soft (James Davies): 6th
This was actually not a bad run at all, as Romney Marsh had a highish weight in a field of no less than nineteen, and was nearly carried out by a loose horse with a lap to go. Having lost position as a consequence of such villainy*, James was gradually able to nurse her back into it but not quite enough to get in the frame. On this evidence, she is ready to step up to three miles, and may well be better off with a low weight in a race with a slightly higher maximum rating - as long as she can avoid being balloted out of them. The big plus was that Romeny Marsh jumped better than she had been of late, the headgear continuing to help.
* For reasons not explicable by regular science, but easily apparent to conspiracists and X-Files buffs, Romney Marsh does seem to hold a magnetic attraction for the equine nutter element.
Near Germany: 2m handicap hurdle on soft (James Davies): pulled up
After his trials and tribulations over jumps last season, we wanted Near Germany to have an enjoyable experience when he returned to hurdles, but he has to go right handed, so that limited the options. A nice sensible race at Leicester was available, but on arrival we were scuppered by ground maintenance. The inner of the course was being protected, but instead of a moved rail, there were just dolls or rails protrusions at occasional intervals. Being inclined to drift off to the right, Near Germany did his thing at each gap between them. James suspected that there may be a problem and eased him down, but it was simply the way it is, and some things don't ever change.* There was certainly no reason for Near Germany not have enjoyed the day out, as he did not have to work terribly hard throughout!
* As Bruce Hornsby and The Range foresaw quite a few years ago
Kempton, 15th Jan
Mancebo: 2m classified stakes on the all-weather (James Doyle): 12th
We were looking for a two mile flat race for him, but suitable ones were proving few and far between, until this one popped up at Kempton. As Dane 'O'Neill predicted when Mucho Loco ran here, the pace was slow, slow, slow, slow, quick! And Mancebo hated the dawdle, pulling hard and climbing all over the runners in front. When they did turn it into a sprint for the line, he had already wasted too much energy and a quarter of a mile dash is not his game at all. He was also a bit quiet for a few days afterwards and may have been a little less than 100% on the day. If a similar race is available, we would have another try but stir things up a bit by ensuring a decent pace out in front. That should put the wind up these lily-livered Kemptonians.
Wolverhampton, 21st Jan
Mucho Loco: 1m ½f classified stakes on the all-weather (Chris Catlin): 6th
Although sixth again, this was a frustrating and annoying sixth, as opposed to the 'ah well' sort of sixth we had last time out. Ideally, Dane would have ridden him again, as he has Mucho Loco's number (not 6, or even 666), but he had no other rides on the day here and opted to go for four at Kempton. What we know about the horse is that he needs to be covered up and quickly kidded through a narrow gap that he does not have time to worry about. And under no circumstances bustle him along - he really hates that. A draw one from the outer was not an ideal start, but Chris had the orders as above, only for Mucho Loco to be on the outside, nudged along, after a quarter of a mile. The outcome was inevitable. Although hiding in the pack can look bad (from the riders point of view) if the horse travels well but no suitable gap opens up, no reasonable person is going to give the jockey a b*****king for riding to orders and not getting the run of the race. Better luck next time.
1st January 2008 Bulletin
Runners
Taunton, 30th Dec
Alderbrook Girl: 2m 7½f handicap chase on good (James Davies): pulled up
Trainer's immediate assessment: 'What a f****** waste of time that was.' With a going stick reading of 6.2, the decent ground that Alderbrook Girl needs should have prevailed, but it was clear after the first race that it was riding much easier, and the jockeys felt that it was soft at best. After umming and aahing about running, then aahing and umming, we decided to run, but at about halfway, she slipped badly going into a fence, smashed through it, and although not falling, James decided that enough was enough and there was no point risking any harm. On his first ride for us, James was dashed to the ground and kicked in the face by another horse, so to follow it with three pulled ups is progress of a sort.
Newbury, 19th Dec
Mancebo: 2m ½f novice hurdle on good to soft (James Davies): pulled up
Expectations were not too high for this, as it was quite a hot race, and after his enforced lay off Mancebo was not 100% tuned up. He also probably wants better ground. As it happens, Mancebo did himself no favours at all by pulling far too hard early on, and in that respect having some of the freshness run out of him was a positive. He also jumped well, which indicated that he is not feeling any after effects of the pelvis injuries. He has a couple of entries at the end of this week, but rather like the old school of the Kenyan government, the ballot box is not looking too kindly on him at the moment...
Fontwell, 11th Dec
Coppermalt: 2m ½f maiden hurdle on good to soft (Sam Hanson): 13th
Had this race been at the start of the meeting, Coppermalt may have run quite well, but by the time it was run, the ground (which is still not recovered from over use last winter) had become chopped up and stickier than the time Sticky the Stick Insect got stuck on a sticky bun,* which Coppermalt hates. Even going on a roundabout route to avoid the worst of it was no use.
* I think this is Blackadder The Fourth, but could not be bothered to check
Lingfield, 10th Dec
Mucho Loco: 1m 2f handicap on the all-weather (Thomas O'Brien): 6th
This could have been his elusive first win, but where Mucho Loco is concerned, nothing is ever straight forward. The instructions to Thomas were to keep taking a pull, as the less forceful you are with Mucho Loco, the faster he is inclined to go. Initially, this went to plan, but when the race was hotting up, Thomas did not have the confidence in the horse to stick with that non-logic and gave him a few nudges, which Mucho Loco resented and thus slowed down. Frustratingly, after this, the field swung wide, and a perfect Red Sea-like gap parted on the rails, wide enough even for Mucho Loco to attack. The diplomatic phrase is that he 'takes a bit of knowing.'
Plumpton, 5th Dec
Lady Korrianda: 2m 5f handicap hurdle on heavy (Sam Hanson): 3rd
What she might lack in speed, Lady Korrianda makes up for in stamina and determination, so this race was made for her, the going making 2m 5f ride like 5m 2f. Although she never looked like she would reel in the winner, who was completing a hat trick, she kept on as others around her wilted like an ecosystem caught in the eruption of a megavolcano.* On this evidence, she has a race in her, it is just a case of a) finding it and b) not being balloted out because everyone else has a horse in the same boat.
* Except the smaller one at Lake Taupo. Can you have a smaller megavolcano?
Alderbrook Girl: 3m 2f handicap chase on heavy (James Davies): pulled up
The going was only heavy because there is no official grade of 'very, very heavy (bring your own boat)' but the hope was that it was so wet that Alderbrook Girl would go through it. She did not! James gave it a go for a lap or so and then called a halt, saving her for another day.
Folkestone, 3rd Dec
Romney Marsh: 3m 1f handicap chase on good to soft (James Davies): unseated
Due to the early end to her exercise two days previously, Romney Marsh made a quick reappearance, and found things much more to her liking, with only three taking her on. She set off in front, and with two opponents returning from long absences, James decided to challenge their readiness and attacked a lap out. Alas, on the second fence at the side of the track, he asked Romney Marsh for a long one, which is not her way of getting from one side to t'other. The consequence was that she put down, hit the top, and whilst she somehow managed to avoid going to ground, James was not so lucky, and got a good shoeing when Ammunition tripped over him. The positive to take from it was that fitting of a visor certainly did liven her ideas up!
Towcester, 1st Dec
Romney Marsh: 3m ½f handicap chase on good to soft (John Kington): pulled up
This was a very brief appearance, as Romney Marsh was pulled up at the second fence. There was a big field for the race, and utter chaos prevailed at the first fence, in which many were hampered and lost their rider. Romney Marsh survived it but was left tailed off, and was inclined to call it a day. Unfortunately, John went along with her plan, but it would have been better for the long term if he had not let the horse have her own way.
Off the course
A mixed bag of snippets, starting with Paula Lane, who has been retired again. The injury news is that Tech Eagle will be back in later this week, aiming for a spring campaign, and Madam Cliche is recovering well from her tendon strain, and will imminently be out for some fresh air. Meanwhile, the Taipan mare's expensive half-brother got involved in a punch up at Lingfield, from which he emerged the winner of a bumper, attracting plenty of good reports from the Alan King team present.
28th November Bulletin
Runners
Folkestone, 20th Nov
Romney Marsh: 3m 1f handicap chase on good (Seamus Durack): pulled up
Again she showed a lot more more spark in the cheekpieces, jumping off with such verve that she hot the front early. Seamus restrained her in midfield, but then found that she blew up in the latter stages. This was a surprise to everyone* and had he been expecting it to happen, Seamus would have given Romney Marsh a mid-race breather to allow her to see out the race. With these two runs to get her back on an even keel, another run is intended imminently, Towcester currently being favoured over Folkestone at the time of writing.
* Perhaps she was hyperventilating in excitement at being on the edge of her spiritual home - Ed.
Leicester, 19th Nov
Lady Korrianda: 2m 4½f novice handicap hurdle on good to soft (John Kington): 6th
After the Fontwell run, where circumstances diminished her performance, this was a bit disappointing, as Lady Korrianda did not jump as well as she has done and was generally rushed off of her feet. The use of cheekpieces had originally worked so well, that we had dropped her back in trip, but now it seems that Plan A, a bit further than this, still with the headgear, was the right idea all along. Just ask the man who invented the first version of the vacuum cleaner, which blew rather than sucked.
Taunton, 15th Nov
Coppermalt: 2m 3½f amateur rider's handicap hurdle on firm (Faye Bramley): pulled up
Faye reported that this was a much better run than the overall result. Coppermalt ran well for a long time, still going well when he made a bit of a mistake at the third last. This, in one of those 'it's obvious, but hard to describe how, so trust me' moments, resulted in him getting a hefty thump from one of the other horses. The consequence was that Coppermalt had a massive sense of humour failure and threw in the towel - every web page must have one or two boxing analogies, at least until after the Hatton vs Mayweather fight, it's the law. It seems that if he gets the run of the race, Coppermalt is as good as ever, but it is not the first time that he has showed limited tolerance for getting messed around a bit.
Paula Lane: 2m 1f handicap hurdle on firm (Dave Crosse): pulled up
Really another step on the comeback trail, Paula Lane was fine on the ground, but the minimum trip, on firm, on a speedy course just ended up with everything happening too fast for her, and the next intention is to step her up in distance. She is a stuffy mare and improving run by run.
Fontwell, 9th Nov
Alderbrook Girl: 2m 6f handicap chase on good (Charlie Studd): 6th
At this time of November, Alderbrook Girl was just about ready for a run, but there was no sign of rain, so we took a chance on running her over an inadequate trip on the faster than ideal ground. In fairness, the course had received some rain, but not enough to squeeze the word soft into the going description (unless someone has the guts to offer Good, Soft where the ground staff spilt a pint of milk two days ago). As expected, she was a bit tapped for toe and ran as expected. Unfortunately, a few days afterwards, and 24 hours after an all clear from the physio, Alderbrook Girl stiffened up a fair bit*, which has held up her work, so although there are some races in early December for her, it is touch and go if she will be ready.
* Far be it from us to point the finger of blame, but the physio did immediately flee to New Zealand for six weeks. The facts speak for themselves.
Lady Korrianda: 2m 2½f handicap hurdle on good (Charlie Studd): 4th
There was a cunning plan for this, which was sunk at the start as Lady Korrianda missed the break, and was not able to get into the desired position with or on the heels of the leaders. She made some progress late on, seeing out the trip better than some, and although she would have been unlikely to have beaten the winner however the race went, she was capable of being second on the day.
Romney Marsh: 2m 4f conditional jockeys' novice hurdle on good (Tom Malone): 6th
This was her first run in cheekpieces, and they did the trick in livening Romney Marsh up, as she was with the leaders most of the way, only to fade late on. The greater enthusiasm that she showed was the positive, and we now know that even with the headgear, she does need to be held up and come from off of the pace.
3rd November Bulletin
Communications
Apologies to anyone who has tried ringing Roger lately and failed, but he was laid up in hospital (initially in Coventry) with a kidney stone, and obviously they do not like people using mobile phones in hospitals, in case it interferes with equipment and kills patients off before the MRSA gets them. Hell hath no fury like a superbug scorned. Apart from a brief sojourn to Towcester, which involved a certain degree of acting healthier than was really felt, this was a great restriction, but normal service should now be resumed.
Runners
Towcester, 28th Oct
Alderbrook Girl: 2m 6f handicap chase on good (Charlie Studd): unseated
This was for about 2m 4f a perfectly acceptable return to action, as Alderbrook Girl ran well until the uphill slog to the line caught her out. She eventually unseated at the last, much to the chagrin of Charlie, who felt he should have clung on when a rather steep landing caused saw the rear end of the horse jolt him a bit too far forwards. As the best position to have been achieved at the time was fifth, there was little harm done and she should be in better fettle for the follow up run, for which a bit of rain would not go amiss.
Romney Marsh: 2m 3½f handicap chase on good (Charlie Studd): pulled up
Another seasonal debut, but a distinctly less satisfactory one than that of Alderbrook Girl. After a false start, Romney Marsh set off indifferently, made a meal of the first three and was then pulled up. Charlie said she felt very flat, and was concerned that all was not well. A subsequent blood test showed nothing, and it seems that she just had a bit of a sulk after the kerfuffle before the off. The next step for Romney Marsh is to go back over hurdles to sharpen her up, and depending on what looks to do the trick on the gallops, it may be that some blinkers or cheekpieces will be used. And if that fails, a carrot on a stick, but it would have to be a small carrot and a spindly stick to help the rider do the weight.
Fakenham, 26th Oct
Mucho Loco: 2m selling handicap hurdle on good (Tom Malone): 8th
We had been looking forward to this race for some time, as the course and distance should have been absolutely perfect for Mucho Loco, but nobody had told the opposition what was required of them. As is often the case in conditional riders' races, the pace was as manic as a speed metal band on, erm, speed, and although Mucho Loco was able to lay up with it, the race turned out to be quite rough, and after being bumped around a fair bit, he decided that this was not for him. So, do we decide that perhaps this was not the right place and trip, or was it just the wrong race to tackle them?
Ludlow, 25th Oct
Lady Korrianda: 2m 5f selling hurdle on good to firm (Charlie Studd): 7th
After her good run at Fontwell, this was ironically a tougher race, as being a non-handicap, there were a couple of runners not normally qualified for selling company. After Charlie's suggestion last time, the cheekpieces were fitted and really revved Lady Korrianda up. She travelled more strongly and jumped more positively, although she did tend to go round with the choke out, and failed to quite see out the trip as a result of this. Ironically, the fear beforehand was that 2m 5f at Ludlow may not have enough emphasis on stamina for her. The plan next is to drop back down in distance with the cheekpieces, hopefully getting another bash at Fontwell on 9th Nov. After initially shaping as if she should make a stayer, the upshot of the sheepskin suggests shorter trips and fast ground are fine for her. She also likes alliteration, so that last sentence should be good for Lady Korrianda's morale.
Folkestone, 24th Oct
Coppermalt: 2m 4½f handicap hurdle on good (Charlie Studd): pulled up
Yet another on the comeback after a rest, a mad early pace meant that he could not get to the front. When this happens, Coppermalt does not put heart and soul into the race, but as he would have needed the run to fine tune him, a good blow out to put him straight was just what he needed.
Towcester, 10th Oct
Paula Lane: 2m 3½f selling hurdle on good (Charlie Studd): pulled up
Her first hurdles run since they stopped transporting horses to the course by paddleboat, or so it seemed, and Paula Lane really enjoyed. Too much in fact, as she was far too fresh and keen to sit on the heels of the leaders as planned. Charlie kicked on, and certainly got a few of the others working harder earlier than they would have wished, but some rather indifferent jumping was hindering Paula Lane as well. She was still in front when she really thumped three out, and that knocked the stuffing out of her for good. Although still fourth at the next, she had no more to offer, and was pulled up. Due to her 'kick these stick-like things out the way' approach to hurdling, she came back with a nice selection of bumps and scrapes, and when these have all cleared up, another hurdle race beckons.
Fontwell, 6th Oct
Lady Korrianda: 2m 4f handicap hurdle on good to firm (Charlie Studd): 3rd
On the one hand, Lady Korrianda ran a blinder to be third in a big field, but Charlie still reported that her concentration wandered a bit in the middle of the race and cheekpieces might be needed to liven her ideas up a bit. As she ran on strongly in the straight, keeping going all the way to the line, it does look as if it is just a touch of attention deficit disorder, rather than a sign of a deeper unwillingness. Not for the first time, she has shown that she can win a race, now we just have to find the right one. It can
Madam Cliche: 2m 4f novice hurdle on good to firm (Charlie Studd): pulled up
As she can be a bit cranky, we sent Madam Cliche out for a warm up run, with orders to only ask her for what she was fit enough to give, but it all went horribly wrong. In about fifth between the final two flights, Charlie pulled up, and it transpired that she has ruptured a tendon, and will be out for at least eighteen months. Being a big, chunky mare, she will be putting extra strain on the affected tendon as well, so it will take a lot of managing to prevent it getting worse.
Fontwell, 27th Sep
Mucho Loco: 2m 2½f selling handicap hurdle on good to firm (Charlie Studd): 8th
Only eighth, but beaten a grand total of three and a half lengths. With a lap to go, Mucho Loco was well positioned, but he got forced out wide on the bend, and then lost his place on the far side, before running on again in the last quarter of a mile. In the post race inquest, it was suggested, and Charlie accepted, that he should have been more aggressive going along the far straight, as whilst Mucho Loco was only just on the bridle, the oppo were being ridden along, and staying in touch with fingers crossed about how the horse's stamina would last was better than getting behind and stroking the lucky rabbit's foot that all the horses in front would stop dramatically. Whether that would have resulted in a win, a place, or sixth beaten a length and a half, only the Dalai Lama knows, and he is a bit too busy to discuss it.
Terry Hind bulletin, 3rd October
As was reported the press yesterday, Terry was on the receiving end of a nasty road accident on Monday, but very fortunately, the damage has not turned out as badly as first feared, with a dislocated hip, and lots of bumps and bruising. If there could be such a thing as a creature half man-half rhubarb, it would probably be a similar hue as Terry is right now. Near Germany, on whom he was sat, also had quite a scare, but seems not to have suffered any worse than bangs and scrapes, although that is pending the outcome of a bone scan shortly. As there were initially wild rumours circulating the village that Terry, or Near Germany, or the driver had been killed, the reality has been thankfully well short of that.
What appear to have happened is that Terry and Near Germany, ahead of Dawn on Mancebo, were going along a normally very quiet lane when a car appeared coming towards them. The driver braked sharply, and being on slope in very wet and slippery conditions, the car rolled over. Mancebo was able to take off clear of the trouble, but Near Germany had no room to do so and slithered or was knocked into the hedgerow. The emergency services of West Berks arrived on the scene en masse, and with Terry unable to move, they called the air ambulance to take him off to hospital, where the diagnosis was eventually as reported above.
28th September Bulletin
Runners
Uttoxeter 23rd September
Lady Korrianda: 2m 6½f selling handicap hurdle on good (Charlie Studd): pulled up
A brief trip to the midlands, as Lady Korrianda pulled up with a slipped saddle before the second flight. This was caused by a rather harem scarem effort (jump would be an exaggeration) at the first, when she did not approach it quite right and over compensated in her adjustments. Uttoxeter is more her sort of track, so it would have been nice to see how far she could exploit that.
Stratford 8th September
Lady Korrianda: 2m 6½f selling handicap hurdle on good (John Kington): 6th
This was not a bad run at all, as she was only a couple of lengths off of finishing in the frame in quite a competitive race. Her cause suffered early on, when she got a whack and was shuffled back to the rear - Plan A was to be up with the pace. John's efforts to get back where we wanted to be were hampered by the crowding on such a tight course, and even when Lady Korrianda stayed on as others faltered she struggled to get a clear run.
Sedgefield 4th September
Mucho Loco: 2m 1f selling handicap hurdle on good to firm (Charlie Studd): 5th
Following his previous run at Fontwell, from mostly the front, more cautious tactics were adopted, and the inevitable happened - Mucho Loco found the others getting first run on him, and he could not close them down. He did make a decent stab at it, which was encouraging enough that a race up to this sort of trip is in him ridden with similar tactics, but about 4.73% less restraint. The Irish trained winner of this had been very cunningly plotted up, and even had everything gone his way, Mucho Loco would have been placed at best.
Lingfield 4th September
Paula Lane: 1m 4f handicap on the all-weather (Dale Gibson): 15th
After over 30 months off, and by way of a couple of hold ups in the comeback trail, Paula Lane was far from fit for this, and ran accordingly. She will improve a lot for it, and the plan is to switch back to hurdles, although the first choice race, at Fontwell, saw her balloted out...
Newton Abbot 1st September
Liberman: 3m 3f selling hurdle on good to firm (Timmy Murphy): 2nd
Disappointing, despite second place, as Liberman was beaten a long way by the winner. Timmy's verdict was that the horse has now gone a bit soft for racing, and the he would travel around willingly at a gentle amble (wouldn't we all), but resented any attempt to bustle him along, giving no response for pressure at all.
26th August Bulletin
Runners
Fontwell 23rd August
Mucho Loco: 2m 4f claiming hurdle on good to firm (Charlie Studd): 8th
Finding the right race for Mucho Loco has been proving a nightmare, ideally he wants fast ground and a bare two miles. With little in the way of options that he would be certain to get a run in, we decided to give this race a bash and keep our fingers crossed about the extra half mile. Early on things looked encouraging as the sedate pace was to our advantage, but Charlie felt it was too slow and attacked with a lap to go. As they rounded the far bend, about half a mile out, Mucho Loco's stamina ebbed away and he faded out of the race. It does proved that he races with more enthusiasm over hurdles than on the flat and the quest continues for the race conditions that the horse wants. Stratford is a course that would suit, but the ground there, after the floods, has been baked to a crust on top, but remains sodden under the crust, not unlike the magma chamber of the megavolcano under Yellowstone Park, but not quite as hot.
Newbury 17th August
Liberman: 2m handicap on good (Thomas O'Brien): 10th
The problems for this race started when the draw was published, as Liberman got trap four, well toward the inside for a fifteen runner race. This meant that he got boxed in the inner and bumped around a fair bit, which he hated, and threw in the towel. The only solution would have been to start slowly and work towards the outer, but Liberman is the sort to over react and drop himself out completely. If there is a bullet to be bitten, rely on him to duck! At least his stall number prevented superstitious Chinese punters from backing him in vain? And horse with cloth number 4 was plumb last. Cue the X-Files theme tune.
Folkestone 16th August
Lady Korrianda: 1m 7½f classified stakes on good to soft (Vince Slattery): 9th
Unfortunately, arriving at a course full of spritely young colts motivated Lady Korrianda to come into season not long before the race, and although Vince said that had he known her better, he would have ridden a more aggressive race over the last half of it, in the circumstances tactics did not make any difference, and Lady Korrianda went as well as she could. What was disappointing is that this seemed to be the idea race for her, and the search for Plan B continues.
Stratford 13th August
Mancebo: 2m ½f novice hurdle on good to firm (Charlie Studd): Pulled up
Mancebo pulled up with an injury at Stratford, which proved upon scanning to be a double fracture of the pelvis. This could knock him out for a few months, but the vet was hopeful that neither fracture was too serious and a scan in a month or so could produce a more optimistic time scale. It is also possible that one fracture was in development earlier, which would explain why he had not lived up to his German form in his previous couple of runs for us.
News from those at rest
Alderbrook Girl: Came in from her summer break at the start of August, looking much better in herself than she did last year. She has just started cantering.
Coppermalt: Had an enforced stoppage after being struck into, but he has come back in and is putting in plenty of roadwork.
J'Adore: Is healing slowly and will not be ready to run again until next summer.
Madam Cliché: She also is back in and doing road work. She looks to have significantly matured physically, and hopefully her mind will have kept pace with the body - or ideally gone on even faster!
Miss Sallyfield: Has split a pastern, which will keep her out of work for about a month, which will set her back the same as two months for any other horse as her super-evolved metabolism can extract twice as much nourishment from regular feed as any other horse.
Near Germany: Came in at the start of August and was going round the roads when he stepped on a nail, which went more than half it's length into his foot. This can be very, very serious, but fortunately it missed the pedal bone and damaged a bursa in the area. Painful but probably the best case scenario.
Paula Lane: Has made it back from her two years off as far as being entered for a couple of races at Lingfield next week. As she will eat anything that can be moved from point A to her mouth, getting her fit has been a problem, and she has also had some trouble along the way with colic. We even had to resort to spraying her bedding with Jays Fluid, to make it as inedible as possible for her.
Romney Marsh: Another who is back in from her summer break and in road work.
Tech Eagle: Is still out in the field, and will not come back into training until the New Year. The vets are very pleased with his progress, but as the ground is unlikely to suit him in mid-winter, there was no point rushing him back, and the target for getting back on the course is next spring.
Arrivals
Kiri Fowler: Has joined the riding out roster. Her mother, Doreen, has boarded a few horses in the past when there was a shortage of space at the yard.
Departures
Fin Bec: Has been re-retired after a brief stint in hunter chases.
Canny Scot: Alas, his injured forelegs were not up to staying in training and the wisest thing was to retire him.
Emil Imelov: Got presented with a huge backdated tax bill when Bulgaria joined the EU, and he was forced to get a job that gave him chance of paying it quickly.
29th July Bulletin
The yard escaped the worst of the flash floods, although they did initially form a scenic waterfall out in the field. By the time we had registered it as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, the course had changed and flushed away the contents of the allotments. Not many people get to see 2 million years of geological progress in one afternoon. Lambourn itself was littered with abandoned vehicles, many sporting brand new vegetable features, and some yards, such as Windsor House, had to stage a prompt evacuation, but rumours that a Russian submarine had surfaced outside the church did prove to be partially false. It was a crashed flying saucer (it is, after all, the 60th anniversary of Roswell).
The other weird appearances that we now encounter come at about 9.59 in the morning, when you think a horse has finally got a run, only to be balloted out due to some very late acceptors. Aliens work in mysterious ways.
Runners
Chepstow 27th July
Mancebo: 1m 4f amateur riders' handicap on heavy (Faye Bramley): 11th
This was not ideal ground on which to run him, but he was so well at home that it was essential to get a race into him for his mental well being. On the previous Monday he had been so fresh on the gallops that he charged off of the end of them with Dawn, and did not stop until he found himself on a road that ended in a cul-de-sac. Forced to stop sharply, he threw her off, and the contact with the road knocked Dawn out cold. After coming round, she fainted again on the way back to the yard, and was carted off to hospital. Fortunately it proved to be nothing more than a nasty concussion, and a shoulder injury that fell short of a break. As ever in these instances, the horse's self preservation instinct served him well! So Chepstow it was, despite the morning inspection, and Faye's first report was that Mancebo did not go on the ground, but kept battling away despite that. She also felt that he rode a bit weak, but that probably was due still to the after effects of being gelded, and once he is over that a longer trip on better going will suit.
Lingfield 18th July
Liberman: 2m handicap on good to firm (Eddie Ahern): 6th
Having missed a few possible races due to bad ground, the going at Lingfield looked much more encouraging, so Liberman was dispatched to the wilds of Surrey. Upon walking the course, it became clear that the situation here had gone too far in the other direction, with the surface firm. A forceful driving of the trusty stick barely dented the surface, going in no more than 2" and throwing it javelin-like at the track, perhaps in some sense of frustration and despair, caused the stick to bounce back the way it came, in a shocking health and safety hazard. When the inevitable first regulations appear entitled Correct Use of an Ad-Hoc Going Measurement Tool (stick or wood-based), then point the finger of blame here. As for the race, Liberman did not let himself down on the surface, but Eddie at least did not give him a hard time in vain, and he also avoided bursting a blood vessel. In fact, the horse was so well, the plan was to run again at Newbury a couple of days later, but by the day off the race, the stewards had conceded temporary control of the track to the Coast Guard, and as there were not enough horse transport dinghies around to ferry the runners to the track, the meeting was called off.
Folkestone 29th June
Mucho Loco: 1m 4f handicap on soft (Thomas O'Brien): 7th
This just was did not pan out how Mucho Loco likes it. A bit of a manic pace early on, Thomas is forced to scrub him along a little to lie up with them, the horse decides this is tantamount to unreasonable bullying and refuses to co-operate, but then runs on when the jockey decides the goose is cooked and eases down. He will do better when he is able to cruise along unhassled, and not realise that he is in a competitive sporting event.
Retirements
Both Miss Defying - sold - and Two Shillings - given to Dani - have been retired. For both mares, the inability to avoid injuries was completely blocking their progress. The clues came in race 1 for Miss Defying (pulled muscles) and race 2 for Two Shillings (infected foot).
26th June Bulletin
Runners
Lingfield 23rd June
Lady Korrianda: 1m 4f seller on the all-weather (Alan Daly): 4th
Quite a satisfactory effort, as the trip was a bit on the sharp side and she was not spot on for this - she had not been the life and soul of the party at home either. Alan felt that in a mad rush on a gallopping track, her stamina would see her come home well at a mile and a half, but that something nearer 2 miles was ideal. Hopefully this was a nice stepping stone on to better things.
Leicester 16th June
Near Germany: 1m 2f handicap on soft (Thomas O'Brien): 9th
The distance and going were perfect, so we had to have a bash at this race, but the damage had been done a few days earlier, when Near Germany was declared at Goodwood. He bolted on the way to post, catching Thomas unawares, and ran loose for two miles, generally having an extravagantly energetic but race-free time of it. turning out so soon afterwards proved the wrong guess, as Near Germany had not really got over the effort and ran a rather flat race. As our team weather forecaster went in favour of 'it must get sunny again soon,' Near Germany was turned out for a break, which was immediately greeted by torrential downpours. They are hardy souls, these mid-European breds, but this might have been a bit too sudden for him!
Newbury 9th June
Mucho Loco: 1m 2f lady riders' handicap on good to firm (Sam Beddoes): 10th
Despite never quite gaining a mention for the commentator, Mucho Loco threatened something spectacular here. As late as three furlongs out he was till on the bridle and had Sam thinking that a win was realistic. However, when the pressure was applied he merely carried on at the same comfy pace, taking longer to pull up than any of the others. This provides the trainer with something of a conundrum, as his breeding and form all suggest he is an 8-9 furlong horse, but the jockey feedback is saying a mile and half might be the thing he wants. Sam also felt that jumping hurdles would keep him mentally stimulated and generate a better run. The other factor is that he lost a shoe going to the start, which sometimes has no effect on a run and sometimes is highly detrimental. And we never really know which is which. The only man ever to have invented a device for translating horse talk to English simply found that they have 97 different ways of saying, 'Feed me again!'
Fontwell 5th June
Miss Sallyfield: 2m 6½f conditional jockeys handicap hurdle on good to firm (John Kington): 8th
As she was very well in herself, and working much better, a step up in delivery was anticipated from Miss Sallyfield, but it did not really come about. She jumped right, and often got bumped around by the oppo as she did so, which confirmed a suspicion that she needed to go right handed, and a true run 2¾ mile hurdle on fastish ground was a bit too much of a bustle for her, especially as she lost a couple of lengths at each flight of hurdles. The down side is that right handed opportunities are sparse. Market Rasen this week is a possibility but it looks as if racing is off, replaced by a regatta. The next race is at Perth, and we may have to make the trip, as Miss Sallyfield definitely needs to be kept on the go.
Leicester 28th May
Near Germany: 1m 4f handicap on soft (Thomas O'Brien): 3rd
A Near Miss for Near Germany, beaten less than a length and only worried out of second in the last 4 inches. Realistically, although the ground was fine, combining it with a mile and a half on a stiff track was too much for the horse. Possibly Thomas got to the front sooner than ideal, but as one horse had kicked clear, holding back in the pack for longer might not have worked either. Damned if you do, damned if you don't (as Judas observed to the bank clerk as he paid his ill gotten gains into an ISA - quite sound theology as well, if you think about it). Overall a sound effort, but frustratingly close to greater glories.
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