CHELTENHAM GLORY
01-11-2019
THIS WEEK
Only one winner this week but what a winner it was! Saint Calvados was breath taking in his and our maiden victory at the home of National Hunt Racing! The cherry on top was to have Penelope with us for her first racecourse attendance. She will have to be there all the time from now on. The first of many Cheltenham winners to come for team HWR we hope!
Back at home we have had a good week of work all round in what has been an overcast one weather wise. The usual schooling morning went without a glitch and they continue to work well both at home and across the valley on the Jockey Club Gallops.
As another weekend approaches, more top class racing comes to the fore once more. We have a few runners at the big meeting at Ascot this weekend so fingers crossed!
Finally, it would be remiss of me to not mention the rugby! What a game last weekend against the All Blacks! The best of luck in the World Cup Final this weekend to England. We will certainly be cheering them on from Hill Barn. Bring back the bacon boys!
REPORTS
SAINT CALVADOS
Saint Calvados won at Cheltenham on Saturday in The Randox Health Handicap Chase over 1m7f. What a fantastic feeling it was to get our first winner at Cheltenham with the stable star. With all the rain around it made perfect sense to run him in this race in a big drop in class. With plenty of front runners wanting to blaze a trail, we took the view to change tactics and track the pace. He jumped off in 5th and settled beautifully. Bar getting in tight to the third fence his jumping was faultless and he loved making ground on the leaders down the back straight, an excellent jump at the third last put him within a length of the leader. As they came down the hill towards the home straight he got upsides going down to the second last. He winged the last two fences, got a length in front and pricked his ears up the run in. He needed another horse to come to him and as Vaniteux, getting 29lb from Calvados, got to his girths he accelerated to the line. We will keep all options open before making a decision about where he will go next. It’s great to get him back on track and hopefully he can back it up in one of the big races.
NEVERBEEN TO PARIS
Neverbeen To Paris headed to Cheltenham on Saturday to run in the the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle over 2m 7f. He ran well on debut at Stratford at the beginning of the month and was well fancied for this. We felt the rain softened ground could be a hindrance, but he had been in great form at home so we decided to run. The conditions had worsened by the time they ran which meant that there was a very sedate pace. We took a lead and he was slightly keen in the early stages which counted against him. The race turned into a bit of a sprint from the top of the hill and his petrol gauge was flashing so Bryony decided to look after him. Bryony felt that he handled the ground but needs to be dropped back to 2 and half miles in those conditions. He has had two relatively quick runs and so we will aim to freshen him up before making a plan going forwards.
CAPTAIN TOMMY
Captain Tommy also headed to Cheltenham on Saturday to make his debut of the season in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle over 2m 7f. He had been in fantastic shape at home so we were looking forward to running him. It was just a case of whether he would handle the track. There was a difference of opinion in the best ground and Gavin took him wide which meant he had to make his own running. He pricked his ears in front and got into a fantastic rhythm with his jumping. As the pace quickened he got caught tap for toe and ran green until the last hurdle. He jumped the last very well and stayed on eye-catchingly to the line to finish a solid 4th. He will be freshened up now and may take in another pertemps qualifier most possibly at Newbury at the Ladbrokes meeting.
HENRIETTA BELL
Henrietta Bell headed to Aintree on Sunday to compete in the Premier League Betting At Virgin Bet Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle over 3 miles. She was returning to 3m so we decided to change the tactics and hold her up. Off a strong pace and in a competitive affair she jumped and travelled well throughout. She made eye-catching progress around the bend into the straight and coming to two out she looked to have every chance. Unfortunately, she just flattened out to finish 5th. She seemed distressed after the race and so we have given her a small wind op. She will be freshened up now and will head for a mares handicap hurdle on Tingle Creek day.
BIGMARTRE
Bigmartre was having his first run back on Sunday at Aintree in the Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase over 2m 3f. It is frustrating when you tick all the boxes going into a race and then you find out at the start that half the fences are going to be omitted. This completely counted against him and we were never going to be able to fill him up using his jumping. Page looked after him and he will now go back to Aintree next weekend for the Virgin Bet Handicap Chase over 2m 3f .
PARKIN
Parkin lined up at Chepstow on Tuesday in the Download The Free MyRacing App Handicap Hurdle 2m3½f. He was running in his handicap debut after showing enough promise in novice hurdles. The race looked an opportunity on paper for him to be competitive. He looked to be enjoying it for the first mile but once he came under pressure he found very little. He was struggling and hanging which meant that he ended up being tailed off. We have decided to retire him which is disappointing as he has showed glimpses of ability. He is a lovely person and I am sure we will find him a nice home.
MY FRIENDLY COUSIN
My Friendly Cousin made his debut in a bumper at Chepstow on Tuesday. He had been showing enough ability at home to hope he will have been competitive. He had a good position early on in the race and was travelling well. As the race started to unfold turning down into the straight he was very one paced and lost his position. From here on in he galloped on at the same pace and having crossed the line he was the last one to be pulled up. He will come on plenty for the experience and the plan will be to go for another bumper in a month’s time.
ARIA ROSE
Aria Rose had his 3rd run in a handicap hurdle on Wednesday at over 2m. He was very keen last time and so we decided to change tactics and drop him in. He settled lovely and got into a really good rhythm over his hurdles. He made eye catching progress down the back straight to get into a good position, but on the home straight his run flattened out a bit. He needs a break and will now be freshened up before coming back in the spring.
ENTRIES
REBEL LEADER
Rebel Leader is making his handicap debut tomorrow at Ascot in the Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle over 2m 3f. Hopefully the race will be run at a good gallop, as they tend to be, which should suit him well. He is one paced but stays very well and we are looking forward to seeing how he gets on under Page Fuller.
JAMMY GEORGE
Jammy George is making his chase debut at Ascot tomorrow in the Ascot Underwriting limited handicap over 2m 2f. He won on his final start last season very impressively and we feel he will improve for fences. He will want further than this in time but it is a good starting point. He has been schooling very well at home, Daryl Jacob is booked to ride and we are looking forward to seeing him run.
SPARKLEANDSHINE
Sparkleandshine has been declared for tomorrow at Ascot in the Sodexo Handicap Hurdle over 2m. unfortunately he fell at the first last time out at Ludlow when running over fences. We have decided to run him back over hurdles in this race in which he was 4th in last year. He is coming in off bottom weight and just needs one horse to come out to get a run. Hopefully he will get in, Bryony Frost is booked to ride and we are looking forward to it.
SIMPLY THE BETTS
Simply The Betts is making his long awaited come back after a year off on Wednesday at Chepstow in A Novices' Limited Handicap chase over 2m. He is also making his chase debut which is very exciting and he has been schooling very well at home. The track and the trip will suit him well and we cannot wait to get him back out.
STICK WITH BILL
Stick With Bill has a few entries in the coming weeks, one of which at Chepstow on Wednesday in the maiden hurdle over 2m3f. He had a little bit of an infection 10 days ago so he will only run if he is spot on. Wherever he runs, I am sure he will run a big race as he was a very good bumper horse last season.
PAT KELLY
Pat Kelly holds a few entries in bumpers next week, one at Chepstow on Wednesday and the other at Newbury on Thursday. He is ready to go and will just need the ground to be nice and soft. He is a likeable horse with a very good attitude and so we are looking forward to seeing what he can do on his debut. He will most likely need the experience first time out and will improve for a hurdle in time.
THE KINGS BABY
The Harry Whittington Racing Club’s The Kings Baby has a few a entries in the coming weeks which include a listed race at Market Rasen. She is more likely however to go for a handicap at Kempton on the following Monday. We have only put her in this race to have a look at the entries. Her main target is a race at Warwick in a listed novice in December, back over fences. Exciting times ahead for the Racing Club.
DESIGNER DESTINY
Designer Destiny has a couple of entries including a race at Newbury on Thursday in a mares novice hurdle over 2m. We felt that she could have won a bumper but missed out due to things not falling right for her. She is a very talented mare and has been schooling well at home. We are looking forward to seeing what she can do over hurdles as we feel she has a big future ahead of her.
SIROBBIE
Sirobbie has an entry at Newbury on Thursday in the pertemps qualifier over 3m. He is not a certain runner, but we want to see how he has come out of his last race, whilst having a look at entries, before making a decision. He will also have an entry for later in the month at Haydock in the fixed brush hurdle.
IN OTHER NEWS...
HWR STAFF PROFILES
ZAC COOPER – STABLE LAD
Zac joined HWR back in July this year taking on the role of stable lad. His duties include riding out, mucking out, taking horses to the races and the general care for the horses on a daily basis.
Originally from Market Harborough, Zac finished school and headed to Aston university to study business management. During his time there, he went to Fakenham races for the day out and fell in love with the sport. From there he finished uni and headed to the British Racing School to complete his 14 week intensive training.
This is Zac’s first job in the racing industry, he quotes what he most enjoys about being part of the HWR team is the atmosphere in the yard and learning more about riding from the more senior members of staff.
Designer Destiny is Zac’s favourite horse in the yard he states she is a good looking mare with a great attitude and he enjoys riding her every day.
Other than a very keen race goer, Zac enjoys skiing and playing football and tennis.
