What We Wanted To See
Another dry week – unless you were in Ayr and Ffos Las! Heavy ground for the Scottish Grand National yesterday, and still Soft ground in Ffos Las this morning, which has put the mockers on an intended runner there on Tuesday. The core jumps season may be winding down – it is the season finale in Sandown next Saturday, but there is still plenty going on, and we were out and about this week, visiting yards and sales.
It was a quiet start to the week, no schooling videos to start off with – but there were significant sessions planned for a few days later, which would have a big bearing on the future for one of our stars. I did have a catch up with Donald McCain – who was in the airport on his way back from Ireland having made a very quick dash over the Irish Sea. All the horses at Bankhouse are in great order, Dino Bellagio is doing plenty of work and is full of himself – so full of himself that in true Dino style he had been acting the fool in the yard and manged to fall over and graze his knees, luckily no damage done, just grazes! Old Blue Eyes and Ridin Solo are both cantering – Old Blue Eyes is doing his work on the hill gallop, and Ridin Solo is building up his base fitness on the deep sand.
Tuesday - As Donald was about to catch a flight in Dublin when I spoke to him on Monday, and we couldn’t go into great detail about the horses, I decided to head up to Cheshire on Tuesday morning, and spend some time at the yard, get some photos and videos of the horses and go through some plans with their trainer. It was great to meet up with Liam who dropped in to the yard for the first time, as it fitted in perfectly, as a break in his journey from Cardiff to a work event in Blackpool.
Doug - overseeing everything!
Second lot, Dino Bellagio and Ridin Solo both out – DB did his usual work – 4 and 4 around the round, deep sand (four laps right-handed – four laps left-handed) and then once up the hill. This is quite a workload – but he relishes it, and if you don’t get that level of work into him, he gets fresh and is more at risk of doing himself an nasty by acting the fool! DB looked great and was moving really well – regular rider Charlie Maggs was very pleased with him – he still can’t get over how much speed he shows up the hill! Sadly, Charlie will not be reuniting with Dino when he runs in Chester, as Charlie has relinquished his flat jockeys license to concentrate fully on his jumps career. A good move as he is one of the brightest young stars of the jumps scene and has a big future in that sphere.
Ridin Solo did his work on the deep sand and was moving great. His regular rider Jag, who absolutely adores him, is very happy with his progress. The plan is to get RS up to full fitness and run him on through the summer. He is a horse that goes on any type of ground, and Donald believes that having missed the bulk of the winter season, he will give his syndicate plenty of fun over the summer.
Third lot – Old Blue Eyes out and strutting his stuff – he really is moving beautifully and has been back cantering for a couple of weeks. Having had two niggling little hold ups over the winer which has meant we have not seen him run, the plan is to get him up to full fitness and run him as soon as we can. He is a horse that appreciates a sounder surface, and we think that a run in the first part of the year is the right way to go. As his last niggle was a sprained joint – Donald has kept him to the hill gallop rather than the deep sand. On the hill, he is always moving in a straight line and not on the turn as he would be on the deep sand, which may put extra pressure on the joint that he aggravated.
Fourth lot - I got to see the 3 yr old gelding by Pethers Moon that Donald is syndicating and who has been added to our management portfolio – he has not been in work long and is still a round, woolly bundle of fun – he is doing plenty of trotting and is due to start cantering next week. Having launched the syndicate as the Grand National meeting got underway in Aintree, Donald’s office has been passing on plenty of enquiries about shares, and we will be having a visit to the yard in 5/6 weeks’ time to see him canter, and parade for syndicate members. If you would like to join us for the visit, please drop me a line and I will add you to the guest list.
While in with Donald – Alan King sent through his videos of work morning at Barbury Castle.
And She Was worked really well and is in great order, it will not be long before she is back in action on the track.
Uhtred Ragnarson and Ghost Dancing both went really nicely in the same group.
Nevada Samba was swinging along in behind in a nice bunch of horses – he is in fabulous form and is ready to run again – ground permitting.
As we were waiting for fourth lot to pull out, Olly Murphy called. He was excited to be running Paul’s mare Kaydence in Newton Abbot that afternoon. He would have preferred it if they had got slightly more of the forecast rain – but he hoped she would run well. He had actually rung to let me know that Jimmy Gatz was rapidly improving from the torn muscle that he had suffered. The vet had scanned the area, and as he could still see a small are of ‘disruption’ to the muscle fibres at the top of his pelvis – had advised that JG was kept locked up in his box for 3 weeks before he is turned out in the field on his summer holidays. He didn’t want him galloping around in the sunshine and doing himself a mischief. Prevention is better than cure! Certainly, cheaper and less time consuming!
Kaydence ran really well for Paul – second behind a very nice mare.
Wednesday – rehoming our retired horses is something that we take very seriously and is a huge part of our job. When the time comes for our horses to retire from the racetrack – we take the time to make sure that they are sound and ready for another job away from racing. So, it was great to get a video of Intrepide Sud jumping a grid in his new home – he was always likely to be well suited to any job away from racing, and it looks like he has the perfect home. Huge thanks to Jason Maguire for helping with finding him such a perfect spot
Another one that is loving life after racing is Mamoon Star who was a fantastic horse for his owners. He was always such a kind and gentle horse, and after showing some very smart form in bumpers and winning his novice hurdle – he found the hurly burly of racing all a bit much and it was clear to see that he wasn’t enjoying it anymore. So, he was rehomed and is another who found a lovely spot! I was sent this photo of him a few weeks ago – he is really well – and much loved by his new owner.
Malcolm - Mamoon Star on the left
Alan King – up in Newmarket at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze Up Sale, entered Uhtred Ragnarson in a 2m handicap hurdle in Ffos Las – their ground currently soft, and would need to dry back if he were to run – isn’t it always the way – it is too quick where you want to run some of them – and too soft where you want to run a horse that wants a sound surface – it is never easy!
Alan busy filling orders for 2yr olds. When I spoke to him, I mentioned Lot 168, a lovely colt by Churchill that we had been under bidders on at the Goffs Orby Sale last autumn. From the pictures online – he had developed into a gorgeous 2yr old – he was always going to struggle to breeze at 2 due to his size, and his breeze had not been the quickest – he is really more of a 3yr old type – and it would be interesting to see what he made when he went trough the ring on Wednesday evening.
Before the Craven Meeting got underway in the afternoon – Jason Maguire sent through a clip of our unnamed 4yr old gelding, ‘Floyd’ striding along at Tom Georges. He is really coming together now – after a very steady start – once again – taking your time with these horses is key. This horse, although now a 4yr old is different to his half-brothers who have gone before him and isn’t as strong as they were. He gives Jason a nice feel – he just needs time to develop and strengthen. He will have all the time he needs.
Thursday – and the original plan had been to head down to Fergal O’Briens to see the two horses in at Ravenswell and to collect the signed breeches that travelling head girl Jo collected from Aintree for me. That didn’t quite pan out – a big syndicate visit to the yard with 140 people there, meant it was going to be busy – and in the end, with a couple of things to do in the office first thing, I decided to hang around at home for the first part of the morning, and head down to Cheltenham for midday for the Tattersalls Cheltenham April Sale, where I had arranged to meet a few people, to discuss some opportunities in the future.
As I was in the office first thing, and not at the yard – Fergal sent through a clip of Greyval schooling ahead of her run in Warwick next week. She has been specifically trained for this race, and she looked in fine fettle. There would be another very important schooling session for her in the next couple of days.
Another one to have a pop over hurdles was Molly’s Lad. This was an important session as well, as Molly’s Lad had been brought down in an unfortunate incident on his last start in Bangor on Dee a few weeks ago – a nasty looking incident that really could have dented his confidence. Thankfully he has always loved his jumping, and it was going to take a lot more than being brought down to dampen his enthusiasm – he showed no ill effects. He will now head off for his summer holiday. Where he goes has yet to be decided – he may head to Ivy Lodge Farm, or he could go back to Timmy Murphy’s for the summer.
The Breeze Up sales in Newmarket had been a bit sticky. There were fears of a very bad sale for vendors when it kicked off on Tuesday evening, and there were plenty of sellers revising their reserve figures downward. When it became clear that there could be a few bargains about the following evening (Wednesday), the trade was far more lively. Lot 168, the Churchill we had been under bidders on last Autumn selling for 75,000 Guineas.
Trade on Thursday in Cheltenham was equally sticky – the right horses making the right money, and a record broken for a gorgeous 4yr old filly - £435,000 selling to Dan Skelton – but those that were not top drawer were struggling to find buyers. There were plenty that failed to meet their reserves who were sold outside the ring.
The meetings I had at the sales were productive – it was also good to get some updates on a few more of our ‘Old Girls’. Maria’s Flame had a lovely foal by Passing Glance a few weeks ago – the foal is nearly as big as her, and she has taken to motherhood really well! Volkovka, who sadly lost her foal last year, has had a filly by Postponed, and both she and her foal are doing really well. She will be covered by Passing Glance this time. Sadly, things didn’t go to plan for Tintagel Queen – who contracted an infection which led to her aborting her foal earlier this year. She had been in foal to Golden Horn, so that was a huge shame. She is fine now and will be covered by Frontiersman this year.
On Wednesday I had forgotten to check the result of what could have been a very important race result in Longchamp – and having remembered on the way home – it didn’t take me long to log on and check out if our 2yr old Penselwood had received a significant pedigree update. His half brother Blarney, has been in fantastic form in 2026, winning three of his four starts, and he had run in a Class 2 conditions race at the Paris track the previous day – which he had won! He hadn’t just won it – he had cruised to an easy success, carrying joint top weigh in a field of nice horses at one of the best tracks in France. Now a winner of four of his last five starts he has a rating equivalent to 94 in the UK and is certainly a rapidly improving individual. This is a major pedigree update – Blarney’s form has got better and better as he has stepped up in trip, which is just what we want to see with regards to the perspective of the plans we have in place for Penselwood – which is to follow a similar path and to see him stay ahead of the handicapper as he steps up in trip – with a hurdles career very much in the plans for him at 3. His dam, Pacific Angel has now produced 4 winners from 5 runners and 3 of those are rated over 89 (UK equivalent). Once again – and I can’t believe I say it every week – there are shares available in Penselwood. There had been one – but there are now 2, so click the link and get in touch. I will cover his keep costs until June 1st 2026 – so there are no monthly fees to pay until then. The exploits of his half-brother have not only emphasised that his dam can produce high quality racehorses – they will have made Penselwood a more valuable commodity – the share prices should be going up – but I will keep them at the current level, meaning that shares that were very good value, are now outstanding value!! This is a horse that comes very highly recommended and who is a steal at the price!
Blarney - dots up in Longchamp - this pedigree gets better and better!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8274/penselwood
Friday – first up – Greyval got her entry in the Mares’ Challenger Series Final in Warwick next Thursday. She won this race in Cheltenham last year, and after two tries over fences earlier in the season, we had a rethink and this race became her season aim. She has been campaigned with this race in mind and trained to the minute for it. With the April meeting in Cheltenham being abandoned the race was transferred to Warwick, which is far from ideal – but it has been the plan, and we will stick to it.
Debbie was in at Barbury Castle, hosting a couple of members of the Alan King Racing Club on a visit. A beautiful morning down there, and they got to see some really good work on a busy morning.
All three AKRC horses, Uhtred Ragnarson, I’d Go Maniac and Ghost Dancing worked in the same group.
And She Was worked very nicely
Nevada Samba was very impressive in behind a nice bunch.
After they had worked, Alan called to discuss options for Nevada Samba, who has been ready to run for a week. We have been avoiding watered ground with him, preferring, if possible, to run him on ground that has not had to rely on irrigation to get to Good, or the soft side of Good. There was the option of an entry in Warwick next week, and Alan and I decided that, as he had worked so well earlier that morning, it was worth giving him an entry, just in case the ground came for him. Although we would rather not run him on watered ground – we do have the option of possibly declaring him, and as Greyval would definitely be running in an earlier race, we would get a good idea of what the track was riding like and if the jockeys reported that it was plenty quick enough he could be a non-runner and return to Barbury Castle. Greyval will definitely run as she will relish the sound surface – so it would be an option if we want to give ourselves every chance of running NS. We don’t have to – we know he is a smart horse we just feel that another run in a bumper would do him the world of good in terms of experience and set him up for a good start over hurdles next season. NS was entered in Warwick.
Alan delighted with how all 5 horses had worked that morning. Uhtred Ragnarson would head to Ffos Las – only if their ground dried back – he wants a sound surface. I’d Go Maniac, will have an entry very soon – he is in good order. Ghost Dancing is nearing a return and will run through the summer. Alan is particularly pleased with And She Was who is going really well in her work – she will school on Monday morning and is not far off a return to action.
Jason Maguire was busy with the video on a sunny morning. ‘Floyd’ schooling over hurdles, he is very good over an obstacle – and continues to improve – the changes that Jason made with him have worked very well – he is very good with these young horses, and we are very lucky to be working with him!
Another youngster at Ivy Lodge Farm is our 3yr old homebred – ‘George’ who is really coming together. He has been with Jason for a few weeks now and has started cantering. He has certainly grown over the winter and goes very nicely on the sand gallop. Once again, he is showing what a fantastic mind and great attitude he has. He is so willing to please, nothing is a battle with him, he trusts you, and what you want from him and simply goes about his work without any fuss at all. Jason tells me he is really nice, and perfect for the plan we have in place for him. He will be syndicated in the next 4-6 weeks and will be aimed at Junior Bumpers in the autumn – with a run at the New Years Day meeting in Cheltenham very much on the cards. It is a race I like to target each year – and he is the one for the 2027 renewal.
Another share taken in the Breeding Syndicate this week – we wish Rob and Sarah the best of luck! Savingforvegas was covered by Kingston Hill last week, so hopefully the scans in the next week or two will confirm that she is in foal, and we can expect another little bundle of joy next spring. You never know – we could have a grey on the way!
Click the link for full details – only 3 of the 10 shares remain!
https://www.nickbrownracing.co.uk/ForSale/8316/breeding-syndicate
Saturday – lovely to get a photo of Dragos and Greyval first thing. Dragos adores the mare and is never far away from her box.
Saturday was an important morning for Greyval, as this was the day that she would school in headgear for the first time. Horses are introduced to headgear before they run in cheekpieces, visors or blinkers – they do not do fast work in them, they are simply schooled in them just to make sure that they take to them, and jump properly in them. Some horses do not take to headgear, and rather than encourage them to go forward, they have the opposite effect, and they are reluctant to stride out. How Greyval reacted would be key to everything. I have long felt that she would benefit the application of headgear, that she has been holding something back for quite a while, horses do as they get older, they get a bit cute – would the cheekpieces make a difference? We were about to find out!
Safe to say we saw exactly what we wanted to see. She came alive and was electric over 3 flights of hurdles. Hopefully the headgear will extract a few pounds of improvement out of her – she heads to the valuable handicap next week on the same mark as she won it off last term, and if the cheekpieces extract that little bit of improvement – she should go well again!
I spoke with Fergal later in the morning and he was really pleased with what he saw – and is very much looking forward to running her. Johnny Burke will ride. Molly’s Lad had cantered that morning, and he will head off on his holiday next week.
Donald McCain has his team in great order, and Saturday was a fantastic day for the team – a treble in Bangor on Dee. Details of the Bankhouse Thoroughbreds Syndicate can be found by clicking the link!
https://www.donaldmccain.co.uk/available-shares-/
Late in the afternoon – Jason sent through a video of Penselwood having his tea in the paddock at Ivy Lodge Farm. He has paired up nicely with his new pal and looks fantastic.
Sunday – and a busy morning. Donald had said that Dino Bellagio would have a racecourse gallop ahead of his run in Chester in early May. There were no suitable warm up races for him, so an away day would be needed to bring DB up to full fitness. We had not discussed where that gallop would be – and ground conditions would determine where he went. This morning, shortly after daybreak, Dino had his away day – and really enjoyed being back on the turf for a leg stretch.
All roads lead to Chester!
Sir Mark Prescott’s business partner and assistant trainer William Butler called – with Penselwood on his break at Ivy Lodge Farm – we have not spoken for a day or two. Debbie had sent him the video of Penselwood in the paddock from the previous day – and William called to say how well he looked. It was also the chance to put a plan in place – Sir Mark plans to bring a group of 2yr olds on the same path at Penselwood back into work in mid May, so we have put in place a plan to bring P back into work in mid May on the same timeframe as his classmates, but ‘homeschool’ him for the first month. He will do 4 weeks trot work with Jason before heading back to Heath House in the middle of June.
Alan King did not declare Uhtred Ragnarson in Ffos Las – the ground had not dried back – still Soft in South Wales. His ground is coming – he will be running through the summer.
That just leaves Cloud Dancer whose rehab continues to go to plan. He is getting fitter and shifting a bit of weight. This process can’t be rushed, and everything possible is being done to get him back to the track in the autumn.
Next week is all about Warwick on Thursday – a lot of time, thought and effort has gone into getting Greyval to this race on the right mark and in the best shape possible. As Johnny Burke says – Warwick isn’t Cheltenham – and we will be trusting a bit more to luck than we would at the latter, but hopefully it works out – it rarely does – but it is fun trying!!
Tune in next week for all the latest!
