Tuesday 2 January

A very Happy New Year to you all! Well - a lot to catch up on since the last bulletin! Saturday Maria's Benefit travelled down to Taunton for the final part of her 2017 plan. Having won her novice, and then 2 handicaps she was pitched into Listed Novice company for the first time. The weather forecast looked bad, and their ground was soft - Stuart was to run her on soft, but not on anything heavy, so it was with great relief that the ground remained soft after more rain Friday night. In fact it wasn't too bad, but it still looked a really decent heat, with very good words for the Henderson trained, Royal owned Sunshade, and a Boxing Day winner reappearing for Paul Nicholls. In the event we need not have worried too much - jumping off and setting even fractions MB simply galloped them into the ground, having the race won 3/4 of the way down the back, and not easing down until she had jumped the last for a facile 30 length victory. Gary Moores runner who had been third in a Listed event in Newbury on her previous start was a quarter of a mile behind her by the time she entered the straight, which gives you an idea of the level of the performance. She is now 8/1 for The Mares' Novices' Hurdle at The Festival. Congratulations to Stuart, his team, an her owners - Paul and Jan. Now just to get the spring 2018 plan to work, and all will be well!! On Sunday we headed to Warwick with Chandos Belle, this lovely filly has had nothing but problems since arriving, but was certainly looking the best we have seen her going into this race. She travelled and jumped great, although she was slightly too keen - which she paid for in the last 2 furlongs. She relished the ground, and will surely go very close next time. She deserves it as she is a lovely horse, who always tries her best, but has been held up with a variety of different minor ailments since she arrived from Germany. Yesterday we were off to Fakenham with Ulysses - not many will have heard of him, as he hasn't been on the radar. He was purchased as a 'spare' - in case anything happened to any of the NBR runners, but as all are in fine fettle it was decided to run him. He was in the opener in Fakenham, a seller, and ran really well to be second. As is the case in these races, the winner is sold, and all the remainder are available to claim for a pre prescribed sum. Ulysses was claimed by FJ Brennan and headed of to his yard from Fakenham. We wish his new connections the very best of luck with him - he will give them a lot of fun, After a busy Christmas/ New Year we will have a quiet spell, for a couple of weeks, before we see the likes of Sneaking Budge, Kaloci, and Chandos Belle again. Many of the better ground horses will have a short break, and be out again in February. All of the recent runners have come out of their races well, and one thing is for sure, there are some really nice ones to go to war with in 2018. One of which will be Camaro - this horse is For Sale, and the form of his last run was franked over the Festive period in some style. A horse that was one place ahead of him was beaten under 3 lengths in a hot maiden hurdle in Leopardstowns big Christmas Festival, and the second hacked up in a Fairyhouse Bumper yesterday - beating one of Willie Mullins' - Stuart really likes him - and from his form, and from what Stuart has seen of him at home, he looks well up to winning a bumper over here sometime in the next month!! Please call me on 07909 518902, or email nickbrownracing@gmail.com for further information. he is for sale as a whole, or I would syndicate him if we could put together 5/6 folks. Get in touch!!