CONSTRUCTION IN THE FINAL FURLONG

24-08-2018

THIS WEEK We are now drawing closer to the season and excitement is building.  And that's not the only thing that's building...the new log cabin has been whipped up in record time, another really exciting new improvement to the yard.  The horses are looking fantastic and there is a real buzz around the place.  We're really happy with the squad we've built up for the coming season and we can't wait to get going...   REPORTS Boychick finished 4th on his second handicap start at Stratford yesterday.  He tracked the pace under a positive ride from Harry Bannister and jumped well in the early stages.  He hit a flat spot turning out on the final circuit but responded well to pressure to have every chance jumping three out.  He couldn’t go with the leaders turning in and eventually finishing 4th.  This was another solid effort from him. ENTRIES New recruit; Brandy James is set to have his first hurdles start at either Cartmel on Monday or Worcester on Wednesday.  He was purchased at Newmarket’s July sale after 3 starts in flat maidens in Ireland, where he showed he stays 1m 5f well.  He is rated 72 on the flat, he’s a good athlete who’s schooled very well and looks to have the ideal profile for juvenile hurdling.  We are really looking forward to seeing him out and learning some more about him. Djin Conti is set to return from his summer break in the next fortnight.  He was a gutsy winner on his final start back in May at Wincanton, where he really appreciated the switch to better ground.  He has improved physically for his break, his mark of 117 looks workable and there’s plenty more to come from him.  He has options in novice races or he could step into handicaps.  He’s in cracking form at home. Salto Chisco is set to have his next start of the season this coming week.  He is entered in a hurdle race at Stratford on Tuesday and a chase at Sedgefield on Thursday.  He has been very consistent this season without getting his head in front and although he remains above his last winning chase mark he ran very well at Bangor on his last start over fences.  He is fresh and well and should be competitive wherever he goes.  We are probably favouring the chase at this stage though. HWR 5 TO FOLLOW COMPETITION 2018-19 So as we head closer to the beginning of the season we have reached that time of year again when we open up our popular 5 to follow competition... We will be running this in the same way again this year whereby it's a fiver to enter, you can pick 5 horses with 1 reserve, you can enter as many times as you like and can pick any of the horses in our string. Points can be scored accordingly: 1st = 8 points, 2nd = 5 points, 3rd = 3 points, 4th = 1 point (For all races rated Class 2 or higher the points will double) Entries are open now and they must all be in by midnight on Sunday 9th September. The competition will then run from 10th September 2018 - 30th August 2019 Don't miss out, get your entries in now to info@harrywhittington.co.uk   SHARES IN THE HARRY WHITTINGTON RACING CLUB 2018-19 ARE NOW AVAILABLE...   THIS SEASONS' CLUB PROSPECTS... HATTIE HOPKINSON Bought for £14k at the Horses In Training at Goffs at the end of May.  She is a lovely scopey, athletic filly with a very good pedigree and a cracking name.  She is a half Sister to Welsh National winner Monbeg Dude and there is black type all through the page.  Her Sire Jeremy boasts one of the best strike rates of winners to runners and was also the Sire of Our Connor.  She ran in 2 English point to points the Spring finishing placed 2nd and 4th.  She is a filly that will strengthen up plenty for a break this Summer and has the potential to make up into a smart filly in novice hurdles.  She will most likely start off in a bumper at the beginning of October. ECLAT DES BIEFFES Bought for £5k privately in Ireland is a 4 yo Gelding who has ran twice in two point to points where he jumped well, showed lots of speed and wasn't staying the 3 miles.  He has a good pedigree with lots of flat winners in the page.  Therefore the plan would be to drop him back into a 2 mile bumper in late September followed by a Winter of 2 mile novice hurdling.  He is a sharp, good looking athletic type by Enrique who is the Sire of Binocular.   Until next week...