Raising The Roof

Our busy start to the season continued last week with another twelve runners.  The success of Do Ya Feel Lucky at Worcester took our seasonal tally to 14, which is good going at this very early stage of the campaign.  The horses are clearly in fine fettle and her success was supplemented by a number of other solid efforts, with five further runners reaching the frame.

Lucky Wins At Worcester

We had to wait until Sunday to visit the winners’ enclosure, but when we did, it was in facile fashion.  Do Ya Feel Lucky (pictured right) bolted up in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Worcester under Tom Scudamore, winning by 13 lengths.  Making all the running, she rarely looked in danger and came right away in the closing stages.  A winner at the track last season, she had been a bit below par when seen more recently, but had dropped in the weights as a consequence.  A wind operation in the interim certainly helped and she looked much more her old self here, travelling well and jumping with her usual aplomb.

The manner of victory means that she will probably have to run again under a penalty before the handicapper can reassess her and she could well go for another mares’ race at Southwell next Monday.  Her owners, Somerset Racing are a knowledgeable and enthusiastic group and I was delighted that she could repay their patience.  I hope that she will now be able to go on and build on this success.

Kolisi also produced a good effort when runner-up at Stratford on Tuesday.  He has thrived this summer, winning three times and in finishing second to an in-form rival, he confirmed that he remains in fine fettle himself.  He has a couple of entries at Cartmel over the weekend and with some good prize money on offer, he may well make the long journey north.

Itacare was not beaten at all far into third in the 3m handicap hurdle at Ffos Las on Thursday, keeping on all the way to the line.  He is in good form and should continue to be competitive in similar contests despite being 9lbs above his last winning mark.

Port O’Clock very nearly delivered for the many assembled members of the David Pipe Racing Club at Worcester on Sunday on his first start for the stable.  Contesting the 3m handicap chase, he was handy throughout under Tom Scudamore and only just came out second best in a protracted battle with the improving winner all the way up the straight.  He looks a winner waiting to happen on this basis and is in again at Newton Abbot tomorrow.

The Racing Club is a lot of fun – we have some enthusiastic and very knowledgeable members and the club gives them the chance to experience many of the benefits of racehorse ownership at a bargain price.  Members have an annual stable visit, the chance for racecourse badges when they have a runner, regular videos from the gallops and updates to name just a few of the benefits.  All of this from just £100 for 12 months.  If you would like more information, click here…

The Week Ahead

Looking to this week and it promises to be a bit quieter with only a few jumps cards on the calendar.  We start at Newton Abbot on Tuesday where Al Roc and Port O’Clock are declared to run – the former in the 2m5f handicap chase at 8.00pm and the latter in the 3m2f handicap chase at 8.30pm.

Wednesday sees us with five runners at Worcester.  Texard, who ran very well when a close third at Aintree on his British debut, contests the 2m handicap chase.  Conditions should suit and a reproduction of that effort should see him go close with this season’s leading conditional, Philip Armson taking 5lbs off his back.

Via Dolorosa runs in the 2m7f handicap chase.  He has been in good form of late, finishing runner-up on his last three starts.  He found the trip just too far at Cartmel last time when second to a resurgent and well-handicapped horse and this should be more to his liking.

American Sniper makes his debut for the stable in the bumper at 2.35pm.  Runner-up in his only previous start in an Irish point-to-point in April, I purchased him from the Doncaster Sales last month.  He looks a nice type, who has pleased me with his work and I look forward to finding out more about him.

Nibras Gold runs in the first division of the maiden hurdle at 3.05pm and he put up a good first performance over hurdles when just collared on the run-in at Ffos Las at the end of last month.  Another good purchase from James Couldwell of the Value Racing Club, he should go well with David Noonan in the saddle.

Our final runner at Worcester will be Iron Heart, who makes his first start for the David Pipe Racing Club.  A winner at Newbury in March of last year, he is back on the same mark now and should appreciate conditions.

As previously eluded to, Kolisi holds an entry at Cartmel on Friday, but those are all the entries until Sunday.  Cartmel put up some good prize money and Kolisi and Bashful Boy are engaged in the valuable hurdle, whilst Kalma, a nice mare who has won on the flat and over hurdles (and is available for sale!) holds entries at Uttoxeter and Cartmel.  Meanwhile, Romain de Senam is a likely runner in the Summer Cup handicap chase at Uttoxeter on Sunday.

Royal Ascot

It was great to be back at Royal Ascot after a break of three years (for obvious reasons).  I thoroughly enjoyed my day out and there was some fantastic racing, although it would have been even better if we had had a runner or two…still, there’s always next year!

Raising The Roof

This is normally the time of the year when you are able to get a bit of housekeeping done.  With many of the horses out to grass, it provides the ideal opportunity to carry out some of those projects you have been meaning to do and we are currently in the process of replacing the roofs in a couple of the stable blocks in our front yard.  The original ceilings have been removed and will leave a nice, airy, vaulted area underneath a spanking new roof.  It will look fantastic when completed and can only benefit the horse.