- Monday, 24 May 2021 13:10
- Written by David Pipe
Typically, with all of the winter horses now out to grass, mother nature has decided to bucket-it down! Indeed, over the last couple of weeks we have barely had a dry day and it has resulted in ground at many tracks that you would normally find in the depths of winter. That includes today when we were due to run Ranco at Ludlow.
Ranco had shown improved form to win on the level at Windsor on his penultimate start and I am sure that is something to do with the better ground he encountered on the turf for the first time since arriving in Britain. He was due to contest the novices’ handicap hurdle at Ludlow this afternoon but recent downpours means that the good ground we entered him on has long gone and the going is now soft in places. We are due a few dry days after today so hopefully we will be able to find something more suitable for him shortly.
Creditable efforts
We only had four runners last week, but they all acquitted themselves well without managing to get their heads in front. Elan de Balme ran in the staying handicap chase at Ffos Las on Monday and having looked in danger of dropping right out down the back straight, he stayed on again in the closing stages to finish second. This was a big step back in the right direction following a disappointing effort at Hexham on his seasonal reappearance. A winner on good ground in France, he should be capable of landing something similar over the summer.
Lady Reset finished a close fifth in the mares’ handicap hurdle at Huntingdon on Tuesday. She looked booked for a place but a mistake at the penultimate hurdle did not aid her cause as she lost a couple of places on the run-in. A dual-winner on the flat, she could well revert to the level for her next start.
Facile flat performer Awesomedude made a satisfactory start to his hurdling career when fifth at Market Rasen on Thursday against some decent (and more experienced) rivals. There is room for improvement in his hurdling – he didn’t jump as fluently as he had done at home, but even so, he was beaten only 3½ lengths in total. The race was not run to suit with a lack of pace on up front but he showed more than enough potential to think that he will be winning races over timber sooner rather than later.
Our final runner of the week was Meep Meep Mag who finished fourth in the 2m7f novices’ hurdle at Worcester on Friday. This represented a step-up in trip for our former Irish point and bumper winner but unfortunately the weather conditions once again conspired against us. The rain had really got into the ground by off-time, turning the going good/soft and it just seemed a shade too testing for our likeable mare. We will find something similar for her on a sounder surface and maybe back in trip.
Star Potential
Above: Kingofthewest, one of four purchases made at Doncaster last week
I was busy at the sales at Doncaster last week and was pleased to pick up four new horses for the jumps season ahead. Irish point-to-point runner-up Kingofthwest looks a lovely type for the future. A fine, big gelding with a lovely page, he is an exciting prospect and while he will probably start out in bumpers, his future undoubtedly lies over fences.
Seventeen O Four has looked most progressive on the flat since switching to the turf, winning his last two starts in impressive style. He has won over 1m4f and handles a bit of cut in the ground so looks ready made for a career over hurdles and I am excited to learn more about him.
Flammarion had finished runner-up to Seventeen O Four at Catterick and had previously won a bumper so looks to be a good value purchase.
Finally, we were able to purchase high-class chaser Romain de Senam for an existing owner. He had some very good form in the book down the years and I am hopeful that we can enjoy some exciting days with him. He won’t be the easiest to place as he remains 4lbs above his highest ever winning rating, but we are very pleased to have him and he is a nice type to have in the yard.
The Week Ahead
We were due to have a runner today at Ludlow, but the recent rain has scuppered those plans. Instead, our next runners on track could come at Worcester on Thursday. There we have First Lord de Cuet, Ranco, Dock Of The Bay and Percy Street entered.
Passing of Barney Curley
I have to finish this week by saying how sorry I was to hear of the passing of Barney Curley yesterday at the age of 81. He was best known as a revered and fabled gambler and successful businessman, but he was far more than that. He was a wonderful character and also a tremendously kind man who worked tirelessly for charity, including setting up his own foundation to provide aid to the needy in Africa.
I will always have fond memories of seeing him at the Tattersalls sales in Newmarket. There was one occasion when he came to pick us up but he had put on a disguise and used a funny voice and Chester had no idea who it was that was taking us to the sales…he thought we were being kidnapped! The look on his face when he realised that it was one of his great racing heroes as Barney removed his disguise was priceless. It is extremely sad that we have lost two characters such as these in the space of a couple of months and the sport of racing is much the poorer for their passing.
Legends of the turf, the late Chester Barnes and Barney Curley
