Sidi's Debut Success

It was good to be back on the scoreboard last week, courtesy of Sidi Ismael’s Lingfield success on his first start for the stable, taking our tally to 14 for the season.  Either side of that, the horses continued to run well with a string of placed efforts, although, and I keep saying it, we are in desperate need of some rain to ease the ground for our winter horses.

Sidi Success!

Sidi Ismael (pictured above) produced a most pleasing debut effort for the stable when running out a game winner of the 2m7f handicap hurdle at Lingfield on Tuesday.  The further he went, the better he seemed to go and staying on well in the closing stages, he repelled the runner-up by 3½ lengths, with a big gap back to the third.

A well-made gelding with plenty of size about him, he looks sure to do well over fences and he will probably go chasing next.  Bloodstock agent Tom Malone picked him up for us at the Doncaster Sales in May and he is already looking a good value buy.  I was very pleased for his owners, The Show Is Over Syndicate – Sidi Ismael is not the first horse that they have owned and I was delighted that he was able to reward them for their tremendous patience.

Aside from Sidi Ismael, there were plenty more promising performances with Last Quarter looking a winner waiting to happen after finishing runner-up in the maiden hurdle at Chepstow on Friday.  Stepping up in trip on his first start over hurdles, he only gave best on the run-in and left the impression that he would be suited by even more of a test of stamina and softer ground.  Another fine, big sort, he looks a staying chaser in the making, although there are hurdle races to be won with him first.

Induno finished third a little earlier on the Chepstow card in the competitive 2m3½f handicap hurdle, staying on dourly in the closing stages.  He is another one that may be suited by a stiffer test.

Leoncavallo ran his usual game race to finish third at Ascot on Friday behind a couple of unexposed improvers.  He just does not know how to run a bad race and as such, the handicapper has him exactly where he wants him.  He will no doubt continue to perform well, but it would be great if he could land one of these nice prizes.

Ramses de Teillee was another to run well in defeat, finishing a close fourth in the staying handicap chase at Haydock on Saturday.  Our popular grey never stopped trying once headed in the straight and time may tell that he faced an extremely difficult task in conceding 23lbs to the progressive winner.  The best of his form has come on soft or heavy ground and whilst he handled underfoot conditions, he would certainly appreciate more give underfoot.  The drying ground at the track was the reason for the withdrawal of Brinkley and Martinhal earlier on the card.

The Week Ahead

Following the run of Major Robinson at Kempton this afternoon (Monday), our next runners could come on Thursday when we have entries at Taunton and Lingfield.  Amongst those are Ocean Heights, who has been acquitting himself well on the flat, Red Lion Lad, who could make his chase debut and Doyen La Lutte who went very close to winning at Exeter last time.

Newbury’s Ladbrokes Trophy meeting gets underway on Friday with Bumpy Johnson (also entered at Leicester on Sunday), Umbrigado and Dell’ Arca all engaged, whilst at Doncaster, Grangeclare Glory and Paricolor (who excelled himself at Cheltenham last time) hold entries.

We confirmed Remastered at the latest stage for Saturday’s Ladbrokes Trophy (formerly the Hennessy) and we would love to run him in the big race, having run a lovely trial over hurdles just over two weeks ago.  He is a real mudlark, so we will make a decision on his participation on Thursday when we will have a better idea about the ground.

Star Max, another new addition to the yard, is also entered at Newbury on Saturday and he could contest the 2m handicap chase.  He had some decent form in quality handicaps in Ireland and could give his owners, the Pipe’s Prospectors an exciting day out.

Fantastic Flou

Finally, we love to hear how our former inmates continue to get on once their racing days are over and I was delighted to hear from Amy Huxtable about Flou Artsistique (pictured below) over the weekend.  The former J P McManus recruit has been retrained by Amy for dressage and the pair competed in the Avon & Somerset Police’ first South West dressage league, winning their class.  For those of you who were present at our National Racehorse Week visit back in September, you will have seen Amy and Flou giving a demonstration to our visitors.  We are very proud of our record of finding good homes for our horses and Flou Artistique is another wonderful success story.