Flat Entries

Above: Koi Dodville heads to Nottingham on Tuesday to run on the flat

Last week was a blank one in terms of runners.  Unsurprising really, when you consider that we are in the middle of a two-week summer break from the jumping game.  Of course, you wouldn’t think it was summer by looking out of the window!  Indeed, Lady Reset was due to run on the level at Haydock on Sunday but the good ground that we declared on, quickly turned soft and had to be abandoned come raceday!  It has been the same story today with persistent showers at Windsor making the going unsuitable for her.

Downpours!

It was a real shame that Haydock had to abandon.  They had provided some very good prize money and were set to be rewarded with some competitive action.  Lady Reset has been in tremendous form this summer and we will find another race for her shortly where the ground is more to her liking.

Despite there being no runners, the yard is busy nonetheless.   With the majority of the winter horses back in, most of them are cantering again, whilst we have been adding more strings to our bow too.

Last week we purchased a nice, bumper winning four year old gelding from the Doncaster Sales.  Ocean Heights had finished in the frame in two of his three bumpers before winning readily at Stratford at the end of June, displaying a good attitude in the process.  He has already started in our loose school and the early signs are good.  We will do plenty of schooling with him and you should be seeing him in action over hurdles before long.

We were also purchasing from France, with Secret Boris set to be joining us shortly.  He is only four years old and has already won over fences in France so we will get him to Pond House and take it from there.  The four year old’s do receive a handsome allowance in handicap chases and that could be the route we go down with him, although he remains a novice over hurdles, so that too could be an option.

The Week Ahead

Looking to this week and it is looking a little busier.  Despite the defection of Lady Reset tonight, we will have a runner at Nottingham tomorrow where dual juvenile hurdle winner Koi Dodville will take in the 1m6f handicap at 3.00pm.  He is untried at this trip, although his performances over hurdles would suggest that he will be well suited to it.  He has the right man in the saddle in Derby winning jockey, Adam Kirby and I hope he gives his ever-enthusiastic owner, Stuart Mercer plenty to cheer about.

We will have two runners at Ffos Las on Wednesday with Flammarion and Oneonechop.  The Welsh track has obviously managed to miss the worst of the weather, with the ground officially good as I write this.

Flammarion will make his debut for the stable in the 1m4f handicap at 6.45pm.  The winner of a bumper, he has shown ability to finish placed on the level.  He goes nicely at home and leading lady Hollie Doyle takes the ride for the Willpower Partnership.

Oneonechop is our other runner as he contests the one mile handicap at 7.45pm.  A multiple winner at up to this trip in France, he looks to have just been struggling to get home over timber.  Martin Dwyer is in the saddle.

That is it until the weekend and whilst we don’t have any entries at the jumps fixtures, Iron Heart holds an engagement in the lady amateur riders’ handicap at Newbury on Saturday.  If he runs, he will be partnered by Mrs Jo Supple, better half of Gerry and a very accomplished rider.

Retired Racehorses

Hopefully, if you keep up to date with our daily news, you will have seen last week that we had heard from the owner of three of our former racers; Iorana, Yourman and Noble Sham, who are all looking fantastically well in the retirement.  Well, now we have had an update on tremendously popular veteran, Rathlin Rose who memorably won no less than three of the Sandown military races under the inspirational Captain Guy Disney.

Now a thirteen year old, he has been busy exercising with the hounds and gathering quite the fan club from those around him.  A lively, bubbly horse during his racing career, it is fantastic that he is able to keep active in retirement and I am sure you will agree, he looks a picture.