20 Lengths Winner

Give Us a Swig made his hurdles debut at Uttoxeter on Friday.  Having been working nicely at home we were looking forward to getting him out on the track.  There was not a lot of pace on and he sat in a handy position.  He travelled nicely throughout the race and looked to have every chance turning in.  Going for 2 out the gap closed on him slightly and he got pulled around which hampered his momentum.  From there on in he was never going to win, but he galloped home strongly to hold 4th position.  It was an eye catching debut.  We will freshen him up now and look to run him in a similar sort of event in 3 weeks time.

Young Bull also lined up at Uttoxeter on Friday.  This was his debut run over fences in an 18 runner affair.  It was a very competitive handicap on paper but we felt he was able to hold his own in this company. Daryl had to jostle him along to hold a handy position early on and they went a good gallop from the outset.  His jumping was something to behold and on the second circuit he was gaining lengths at every fence.  Turning in they kicked on and he was caught for toe, but he galloped on relentlessly to finish a good 3rd on ground that was probably not soft enough for him.  We will freshen him up and look to find a similar opportunity on softer conditions in 3 to 4 weeks time.

Shore Shanty was our final runner at Uttoxeter on Friday, on her second start in a bumper, having shaped with so much promise on debut.  She travelled eye-catchingly well throughout the race and with 2 furlongs to go she looked to have every chance.  She galloped all the way to the line and did everything right, but just sadly got robbed by a very good horse on the day.   She has been a progressive type, and this was a hugely encouraging run from her.  She is made for hurdles and fences so we will school her up now and look to run her in a mares maiden hurdle in about 3 to 4 weeks time.

Medalla de Oro was our final runner on a busy day on Friday!  He lined up at Fakenham where he had run well previously and we were looking forward to running him.  There was a little bit of pace on and so we had to settle for second position on the way round.  He settled beautifully for conditional jockey Jamie Neild just on the girth of the lead horse.  Half way down the back on the final circuit he was going the best and took up the running.  From there on in there was only one conceivable danger which was a very well backed horse, an impressive winner from last time out.  Going to the last unfortunately he just got beaten by one that looks to be potentially high class.  It was a solid run though to finish second again and we will look to run him in about 3 weeks time in a similar sort of event.

Black Abbey had his second start of the season at Market Rasen on Saturday having run on quick ground last time out.  Conditions were more in his favour this time and there was no pace on so we made the running.  He jumped well on the whole bar a few mistakes down the back, which meant he sadly couldn't get the field on the stretch.  Turning in he had every chance but didn't have the speed to quicken up with the two market leaders.  He held on well for 3rd running a solid race.  We are really encouraged by the improvement.  We will most likely go to a galloping track next time over 2 miles or 3 miles and ride him with a little bit more restraint.

Pat Kelly lined up on his first start over 3 miles at Ffos Las on Sunday.  The ground just wasn’t soft enough for him unfortunately and he couldn't hold his position for much of the way.  Turning into the straight he was too far back to be in contention, but he finished really strongly from the back of the second last to pass a couple of horses.  He will need soft ground to be at his best and we will look to run him in about 3 weeks time.

Rebel Leader lines up in the same event at Ffos Las on Sunday.  We were hopeful that he would take a step forward from his last handicap run over hurdles but unfortunately that was not the case.  He had been in good form at home but has been very disappointing on the track.  He had a good position for much of the way around but turning towards the back came under a bit of pressure.  He weakened out after that and was pulled up sharply.  Daryl reported that he was just not good enough in his wind.  Unfortunately, we have had to send him to the sales this week which is a real shame as he had some quite good form last Autumn.

Dargiannini made his debut in the bumper at Sedgefield on Sunday, making quite the impression.  He had been impressive in his work at home and we were looking forward to getting him started on the track.  The race looked a good opportunity on paper for him to be able to get his career off to a good start.  Luckily there was a horse that went on to give us a nice lead throughout the race.  And at the top of the hill on the final circuit he was absolutely cantering up against the lead horse which was under pressure.  As he turned into the straight jockey Henry Brook asked him to quicken up and he did so smartly, showing no signs of greenness.  He galloped all the way to the line to win by 20 lengths.  It was as a hugely impressive performance on debut and we are very much looking forward to his career ahead.  He will be schooled over hurdles now and then we will make decision as to which direction we go next.

Rouge Vif has been declared to run in the Bentley Flying Spur Handicap Chase at Cheltenham later today.  He is in excellent form and we could not be happier with him.  He strengthened up a huge amount physically for the break this summer and hopefully he can improve on what he did as a novice.  The ground should be ideal at Cheltenham and the race looks a good opportunity for him on paper.  Hopefully he can take a step forward and get his season off to a good start.

Calidad will make his debut in the bumper at Cheltenham tomorrow.  He is a fine big quality individual that will make into a chaser in time.  He's always shown plenty of class and has been held in very high regard here, so we're looking forward to running him.  He was due to run in April before lockdown so was given the time.  The race looks a competitive renewal as it would be, but we are very hopeful he can run a decent race.

Jammy George is returning from a fairly long absence and holds an entry at Aintree on Sunday.  He shaped with promise over fences last year, finishing 2nd on 2 occasions, going so close.  He was found to have very bad kissing spine since, so has had an operation this summer which has done him the world of good.  He's been schooling really well so we're looking forward to getting him back on track.  Hopefully he is well handicapped and should improve into a proper staying type this winter.

Neverbeen to Paris is another who holds an entry at Aintree on Sunday.  He will be making the switch back to hurdles having run in an open handicap last time over fences.  He won his penultimate start however found it a bit too much up in class over the bigger obstacles.  This is a step up to 3 miles around a flat sharp track, so we're looking forward to seeing how he gets on.  The race should be ideal for him and hopefully he'll run a big race.

Booley Beach is entered in the mares' bumper at Aintree on Sunday.  She is a racy, quality, athletic type that we've always thought a lot of.  She was a little bit on the weak side last winter, so we felt that a break would do her the world of good before running her.  Her recent work has shown that she has matured physically and mentally.  She's entered in what looks a good renewal of the Aintree race on Sunday.  She's a classy type though and we feel that she could run a big race on debut.

Flash de Clerval holds multiple entries coming up over fences.  He does need some soft ground as he has a proper knee action.  He has been schooling really well over fences, so we are looking forward to running him and seeing what he can do over the larger obstacles.

Deer Hunter holds an entry next week at Newton Abbot on Thursday.  He has come on a good bit from his first run.  He will need a trip at some point but he is learning plenty over the shorter distance.  He is a horse with ability and once he goes in a handicap and up in distance, he should really come into himself.

Early Morning Dew is a classy type who has an entry in the bumper on the same card at Newton Abbot next Thursday.  His work at home has been well above average and we are looking forward to running him.  The track should suit him well and he has plenty of speed, so we hope he can run a big race.