Wet And Wonderful
We have had three runners in the last seven days – but whisper this – they have all been on the flat!! Yes – three on the ‘dark’ side – although if I am honest, I have thoroughly enjoyed our runners on the level this summer. I have never been a huge fan of summer jump racing and have only campaigned horses during the ‘off’ season when it has been absolutely necessary – when horses have shown us that they really can’t handle winter conditions, and the number of summer jumpers we have had on the team over the course of the last few years has dropped considerably.
This summer, due to Dino’s apparent dislike of hurdles, we decided to take them out of the way and give him a flat campaign – which has seen him bounce right back to form, put together a string of very decent efforts including a win in a £22,500 handicap. Dino had a couple of entries and eventually headed to Chester on Saturday.
The addition of the Alan King Racing Club to the portfolio has meant that we have a nice dual-purpose horse in I’d Go Maniac to enjoy, and he got the ball rolling on Monday – and, for a couple of years I have been keen to test Greyval’s flat handicap mark in the UK. She had some decent form in France as a 3 yr old, and it would appear that she has improved since her switch to the UK, so it was an avenue I felt we should explore – she had her first run on the flat in the UK on Friday.
It was a busy Monday morning Donald McCain has been thrilled with the way Dino Bellagio came out of his Kempton run – he has been bouncing – so he gave him two entries for the weekend. Chester on Saturday over 1m6f and Southwell on Sunday over 2m+.
We have an idea of a target race for Dino in 2026, and a run at Chester would determine if this was a suitable plan for him or not. Rossa Ryan had said that a drop in trip would not inconvenience him on soft ground – and a run at the track would answer some questions. The Southwell race was a stronger heat – but would be run over the same course and distance as his handicap win earlier in the summer – so that looked like a very viable option as well. We would track declarations on Thursday and Friday and decide where we go with him.
One that had already got an entry on the flat was Greyval – and as soon as she appeared on the list of entries on Saturday, Fergal’s phone started pinging with jockeys agents enquiring about the ride for their clients. We chatted over the options on Monday and decided to wait and see how things panned out during the week – with the aim to secure the best available jockey when we could.
With all the planning done for later in the week – it was time to head to Kempton. I’d Go Maniac would get the ball rolling for the Alan King Racing Club – and be the first horse to sport the new colours on the track. The launch of this new Club has gone very well – with the majority of the 36 shares now taken, and Debbie and I were both very much looking forward to seeing a good number of members at the races. Being a Monday, and having to negotiate the M25, I left in plenty of time as you never know just how long that trip will take – and I didn’t want to be late – you guessed it – no hold ups whatsoever resulted in me arriving at the track in record time – and a long time before the first!
I’d Go Maniac has a very similar profile to our own Dino Bellagio – an impressive bumper winner, who lost his way over hurdles. Like Dino, he has always worked very well at home, so Alan decided to give him a few runs on the flat. His first run in Leicester was full of promise, and like Dino, IGM would need 3 qualifying runs for a handicap mark, and a step up in trip. This second run was a couple of furlongs further than Leicester, and although he would be taking on a couple of Godolphin ‘blue bloods’ and a 81 rated horse, Alan felt that IGM would run well and hopefully pick up a few quid on the way.
The Club members who made it to Kempton were in great form, and it was lovely to meet so many new faces.
IGM looked fantastic and ran a very satisfactory race. Drawn wide it was always going to be tough for Rossa to get over and onto the rail, so he had to sit and suffer through the early part of the race and settle in rear. As they turned for home, he pulled wide for a clear run and looked to be making nice headway, but the run just petered out a shade with IGM eventually finishing 5th – just 5 lengths off the winner. Rossa felt that IGM had not quite hit the line as well as he had expected, and it was clear that the horse was having a really good blow post race – Alan had left him just a little bit short – nevertheless this was a very nice start for the Club runners – IGM will improve for the run, and when he steps into handicap company looks sure to give members plenty of fun!
I am delighted to have Debbie on board with the AKRC project – and it was good to see her at the races once again – her pictures and videos are simply stunning and add another dimension to the day for those that were there and are a way for those unable to attend to get as close to the action as possible!
Tuesday – Alan on early to say that IGM had come out of his race well – eaten up and jogged up sound. He will be out again in a couple of weeks – Alan keen to get the third run into him in timely fashion so that he can crack on in handicaps over a more suitable trip.
Having chatted to Alan it was time to get the race report out to the members of the Alan King Racing Club – many have had horses, or shares in horses in the past – and many were surprised that we provide written post race reports – but we feel that it is very important that all members are in possession of the same information at all stages, it cuts down on confusion going forward – we do like everyone to be on the same page – rather than in different books!
Alan sent through video clips of a Ghost Dancing working up Sharpridge on Tuesday morning. She goes really nicely, and will be ready to run in 5/6 weeks.
Tuesday saw the (digital) publication of Paul Fergusons Jumpers to Follow annual. Well worth the price, with lots of prospects for the winter season detailed within it’s pages. This year Old Blue Eyes gets a very favourable mention from both Paul and Brian Hughes. Brian identifies a handful of horses that he thinks are well worth a follow for the season – and as we know he has always liked OBE – so it wasn’t a shock to see him get a mention. Although his last run was in thick fog in Aintree and we didn’t see a lot, and OBE finished 6th of 6 – Brian jumped off that day and said that he was quite taken with him and that he was just to weak to deal with the very soft ground. He said that he had travelled very well into the race, and was going best of all at one stage, but that his run was shortlived, and he didn’t pick up on the ground – he ensured us all that he was a nice horse, and it was good to see him mention him in this years book.
Later in the morning I chatted with Donald – primarily about Dino Bellgio’s entries and jockey bookings at both Chester and Southwell. At that stage, Southwell looked favourite, with just 12 entered – and so we took the opportunity to book Tom Marquand for Dino should he go. If Chester came into play, we would look at jockeys at declarations – knowing full well that we always had Charlie Maggs up our sleeves to claim a handy 5lbs. Charlie has been in great form over jumps in the past few days with a couple of nice winners! Donald gave an update on Ridin Solo, who had worked earlier in the morning, and worked very well – I will discuss a plan for him when we head up to Bankhouse for the third of our September Syndicate Saturdays at the weekend. Donald is also delighted with Old Blue Eyes, who has also started fast work – he is in great form, and will be ready to run next month – he did plenty of schooling last season and has in fact been jumping since he was two – so I would imagine he would head straight into novice/maiden hurdles this season.
Another jockey booking to consider was for Greyval on Friday. With most of the flat jockeys that we have used either at a different meeting or with booked rides in the race – we decided to go early and get a decent jockey booked – Hollie Doyle would be in the plate – Hollie is such a great girl, and a fantastic jockey! Having her on Greyval meant that we would be making jockey arrangements a real ‘family affair’ with her husband Tom Marquand provisionally booked for Dino Bellagio on Sunday in Southwell.
Wednesday – Greyval declared in Newbury on Friday – Hollie in the saddle. Their ground on the soft side, so ideal for Greyval – and having been allotted an opening UK mark of 70 – she could run a big race! I had expected a mark in the mid 70’s so to get 70 was a bonus – I would think she would be hard to beat in a 0-70 fillies handicap, but this race is really her only option as it fits in with plans for October and beyond. As Fridays heat is a 0-85 it is sure to be a decent race, and Greyval is sure to improve for it – but off of 70 we were all very much looking forward to seeing what she could do!
I spoke to Fergal later in the morning – sadly he wouldn’t be in Newbury with us – but he too was looking forward to seeing what Greyval could do on her return to the level. Ferg also gave a very nice update on the newly named Molly’s Lad – who had done two up the hill for the first time and done it really well – he is a horse that continues to impress – although he obviously felt that an easy day was not necessary on Wednesday as he had deposited his rider and had a little ‘free range’ run around! No harm done - it is good to know that yesterdays work had not taken too much out of him!
Alan King sent through a number of updates on Wednesday morning.
Great to see Ghost Dancing on the hill gallop – this gorgeous grey filly is just a 3 yr old – but her schooling was very good in the early summer, and her work got better and better as the warmer weather arrived – so she will be aimed at 3 yr old races from the end of October onwards. She should be a lot of fun for the Alan King Racing Club.
As will Uhtred Ragnarson – who also stepped up a gear in his work this week. With an official mark of 100 over hurdles – he looks sure to have improved for a summers break, and off of that mark, Alan thinks he should be very competitive in novice handicap hurdles this winter. He is a fine big horse, and the summer will have done him the world of good!
It is always good to see Nevada Samba on the hill – he cantered up behind Edwardstone for the first time – you will all know what we think of NS – we are all just keeping our fingers crossed, and it is sure to be a nervy time before he makes his racecourse debut!!
In the afternoon Jason Maguire sent through an update on Intrepside Sud who is out in the field recovering from a small pelvic issue. He came back into work after the injury but was just not moving well – so we decided to open the gate and throw him in the field. He is certainly in great form – and although still a bit stiff, he is 100% better than he was and is certainly going in the right direction.
Thursday – Dino Bellagio declared in Chester – the ground on the soft side should suit – and getting trap 1 down on the rail was a huge bonus – he should get out and get to the front from there and could be hard to peg back!
Great to get a video of Molly’s Lad doing his two up the hill at Ravenswell – he does it very easily so everything is heading in the right direction with him.
Newbury badges to sort out – a good group of Greyval owners heading to the track – Newbury very accommodating as always!
Friday – first things first – organise O&T Badges for the members of Dino’s syndicate that would be heading to Chester on Saturday – too many for lunch – which is a shame – as it is said to be one of the very best in the country – but we can’t have everything- plenty of O&T Badges for members – so it would be a fun day anyway – although the weather forecast looked a little iffy!
Dino would have two opportunities to run over the weekend as we decided to declare him for Southwell as well – a 5 runner, £25,000 handicap on a track where he has won this season - it made sense to leave him in just in case anything went wrong on Saturday.
Debbie sent through pictures of Cloud Dancer and ‘George’ when she popped over to Timmy Murphys – the two are turned out together and have paired up nicely – best of pals!
Olly Murphy sent through a video of Gatsby cantering on the new gallop – he looks in great order!
With the office jobs done I hopped in the car and headed down to Newbury to see Greyval make her UK flat debut in the 1m4f fillies handicap. Alotted a rating of 70 by the British handicapper she would be having her first run after a summer break – and this outing was very much a prep run for a run over hurdles in 3 weeks time. On what was an incredibly warm afternoon, she looked fantastic in the paddock. Hollie Doyle was in the plate, and the plan was to jump out of the gate, travel where she was comfortable, and then see where she ended up. Her handicap mark did not look prohibitive, but she was taking on some decent fillies here.
The race pretty much went as planned and expected, Greyval found the quicker tempo of flat racing a bit of a shock early – and was in rear, as they turned for home, she started to get that long stride going, but Hollie found herself with nowhere to go for an instant, and had to sit and suffer a bit. When she did get daylight, it took a while for Greyval to get going – but when she did, she stayed on really well to finish 5th. This run will have done her the world of good, and now it is all systems go for Chepstow!
The run home was a long one – a bad hold up on the A34 – at one stage I got out of the jam – went under the carriageways to a service station – had a pee and got back on the northbound carriageway in the same spot that I had left it – that is how slow we were going!! Home at 9.00pm – badges to organise for Southwell on Sunday – not easy late on a Friday night when the emails keep bouncing back and you are to be on the road at 5.00am in the morning – I flagged the issue up the last time he ran there – please sort it out Southwell!
Saturday – up early and on the road before 5.00am – the third of our September Syndicate Saturdays at Donald McCains. A nice tie in with Dino running in Chester in the afternoon – so a hotel booked for Saturday evening and a night out in town after the races. First things first, a lovely bunch of owners, syndicate and Red Sash Racing Club members to see. The weather was not as bad as expected first thing, and most of the visit was ‘dry’. Donald has his horses in fantastic order – their have gleaming coats, and the changes he has made over the summer seem to have bought about some clear benefits. After breakfast, Ridin Solo and Old Blue Eyes cantered past the group on the woodchip gallop, and both looked on great terms with themselves. After they had been washed off and had a spell on the walker to dry off, they were both paraded in front of the house for everyone. Both look fantastic – Old Blue Eyes has strengthened no end from last season – and we are very much looking forward to getting cracking with him over hurdles this winter – he looks well up to winning a novice hurdle, and we will then just creep up the grades and see how far he gets. Ridin Solo is also looking incredible. Charlie Maggs said that he had schooled him over fences earlier in the week – and he was very good – he is sure a switch to fences will bring about any amount of improvement in him! We are about 3 weeks off a run with him, and in the next few days I will have a chat with Donald and sort out a bit of a plan for him. Fences and three miles – he will be a fun staying chaser and there are some good days to be had for sure. With Dino heading off to Chester later in the morning – we didn’t get to see him on the gallops, but he did parade for everyone – but in true Dino Fashion he didn’t let the whole thing go smoothly – he is such a character!
So good to see so many of you there – our numbers depleted somewhat by the weather forecast, which thankfully was wrong (we stayed mainly dry), and by Dino’s declaration in Chester – but it was a fun morning!
With the morning completed we made the short trip into Chester – the Crown Plaza our home for the night – very handy for the racecourse, and a base we have used before – it’s not the best hotel in Chester – but it suited us just fine for this flying visit.
As we checked in, I received a video from Fergal O’Brien of Molly’s Lad having his first school – what a boy – he loves it! Like everything he does in life he just cracks on and does it – he is a sharp one – but he has such a good work ethic – he looks like he has a very bright future. I called Fergal after seeing it and he said that he wanted to get him schooling now – just to give him something to break up his routine and keep his mind occupied – it makes life a little easier for him and the riders on top! The final 10% share in him was sold the day before, when our longest uninterrupted client, Roger purchased it – we wish him luck with his latest NBR horse!
Alan King sent through a couple of updates – Alan King Racing Club horse, Uhtred Ragnarson going really well up Sharpridge, and Nevada Samba swinging along in behind Edwardstone and Irish Chorus – their work will step up a gear next week. When we ran into Alan in Newbury on Friday it was good to hear that he and the team are ‘pretty excited’ about Nevada Samba – he is a horse they hold in high regard! He also gave an update on And She Was, who is the latest to get a dose of ringworm – and she will be lunged away from the string for a couple of weeks – he reports that she has come back in with ‘plenty of attitude!!’
A quick change and a wet walk to the track. We met Goffs auctioneer George Stanners as we went in, and the three of us were soon over in the O&T’s and at the bar! The rain had arrived, and it was absolutely filthy by now – Dino’s syndicate members arrived in dribs and drabs – or should that be drips and drabs! But we were all there when he came out to be saddled for the 4.40. We had seen how well he was feeling in the morning – and he looked great in the pre parade ring. It was pouring now, and we huddled under cover around the winners rostrum to keep out of the worst of it. Charlie Maggs who rides him every day was in the saddle and claiming a handy 5lb. The plan – to jump out of the gates well and get to the front, a job made slightly easier with the perfect ‘Chester draw’ of trap 1! He would stay on the inner where there looked to be a fresher strip of ground and make it a good test at the trip. The plan went perfectly – out the gate – to the front – wind it up down the back – stretch the field, kick on 2 out – never headed! Wins 5 lengths! His syndicate were ecstatic, you know you are having a good time when you don’t feel the bucketing rain! Plenty of cries of Diiinnnooooo to be heard (I may have instigated a couple of them!!) A super double for Donald and the team at Bankhouse, and a first double for Charlie, having won on Paws For Thought for his boss earlier in the afternoon. We were soaked, but nobody cared.
Special mention to the team at Chester who could not have been more helpful all afternoon – this was my first time at the track – and it was a very impressive set up! One reason for heading to Chester was to see if Dino handled the track as we have had a little bit of a plan in mind for him almost since we decided to switch to the level – a target race in 2026– the confirmation that he handles the tight track mean that those plans are very much in place – we will be back!!
A few more pints and we were the last to leave the O&T bar- back to the hotel – a quick change and a meet up with a Martin and Geeta who had changed their hotel booking and were now staying in town. George Stanners had recommended a good tapas restaurant in town for dinner – and in fact he had booked the table for us – so we headed there for the night. Salt House – very good food and we had a super night – I am sure that the problems they were having with the sanitation was not a regular occurrence – and it didn’t matter we were all still on a massive high from Dino’s win!
Sunday – a decent run home – and this ramble to complete. Thanks to Debbie for sending through the photos from Greyvals run on Friday and the stable visit to McCains yesterday morning – I don’t blame her for dipping out of an afternoon in horrendous conditions and heading off home!
Donald reported that Dino Bellagio had come out of his race well - and sent through the video of his trot up
That just about rounds things up for this week – three meetings – all flat – what is that all about? But a really special winner at the end of it all! Next week looking a little less busy – so the right time to sit down and go through some races! The final stable visit of the month next Saturday to Alan Kings – book your place – it will be a fun morning!
