Winning Wednesday
16-10-2020
It's been a busy week up at Hill Barn and we are finally allowed out on the grass gallops over in Lambourn. We took a group up after the rain last weekend which was fabulous to finally give them a run on the turf ahead of a few busy weeks on the track.
Anemoi gave the yard another nice winner on Wednesday. It was great to see this horse make his come back after over 18 months off the track. A huge team effort involved in his recovery at home and we couldn't be happier with the way he won.
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RACE REPORTS
HENRIETTA BELL |
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Henrietta Bell was back over hurdles at Hexham on Saturday, having found it a little bit tough over the bigger obstacles. There was plenty of pace on in a big field and she settled in mid division. She didn't get into the best rhythm over her hurdles but was able to make up plenty of ground on the flat down the back straight. On the final circuit turning to come up the hill she looked to have every chance but just got a little bit tired before finishing 4th. She is a gutsy mare who always tries her hardest and we will look to run her in a similar sort of event, in 2-3 week’s time. |
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| Scardino made his debut in the bumper on the same card at Hexham on Saturday. Having shown plenty of ability at home we were looking forward to seeing what he could do on the track. We felt it was a good opportunity for him and we felt if he was able to transfer his ability at home onto the track he could run a big race. He was surprisingly green throughout but had the advantage coming down the hill. He's was very unbalanced turning out of the back and once he lost his position, he stopped extremely quickly. It seems that he will need his wind looking at and we will give him a full MOT before deciding whether to stay in another bumper or head for a maiden hurdle with him. |
| Another horse who made his racecourse debut on Saturday was Sandyburg in the juvenile hurdle over at Chepstow. His jumping at home has been well above average but he's still a little bit on the weak side. The ground was quick and there was plenty of pace on. He got into a good rhythm but turning out of the back he lost his position and was running very green. As they turned into the home straight he made up a couple of places, but his greenness caught him out. He will come on for the experience and we will likely go for a similar event sometime in the near future. |
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| Shantou Vow had his first run back for the season at Wetherby on Wednesday, a step up in trip to three miles for the first time. He has been in good form at home and has strengthened up for a break this summer. There wasn’t a lot of pace on and it was a messy race early doors, but he finally got into a rhythm from about half way. Turning into the straight he made up a bit of ground to get on the coat tails of the leaders. The last two hurdles were then omitted at the last minute which mean that it turned into a bit of a sprint for home. It took him probably a furlong to get going but stayed on eye-catchingly well to take 2nd, beaten just half a length. It was a solid run and we will freshen him up now to run him a similar sort of event over 3 miles in 2 or 3 week's time. |
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So Easy Way had his first start for the yard on the same card at Wetherby on Wednesday since winning a chase in France 12 months ago. There was plenty of pace on and he travelled nicely in behind the leaders. He made up some ground down the back straight and looked to have every chance turning for home. He unfortunately made a very bad mistake at the fourth last which completely knocked the snuffing out of him. But he came home to finish in mid division. He will want the ground softer and a step up to two and a half miles for his next run. |
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Anemoi was having his first run back after a long lay-off in the final race on the same card at Wetherby on Wednesday. Two miles on good to soft round a galloping track was ideal for him and were looking forward to getting him back out. There was a nice even gallop set all the way and he sat behind the leader. He made up eye catching ground turning for home and led the field into the straight. He then got them on the stretch all the way up the home straight and it never looked in doubt. He went on to win by a couple of lengths. It was a very good performance and it was great to have him back. We will see how he comes out of the race before deciding what to do with him next. |
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Deer Hunter made his hurdles debut at Wincanton yesterday. He had been jumping well at home having shaped with promise in his 2 bumpers last season, so we were looking forward to running him. There was plenty of pace on on quick ground and he was settled in a lovely position. He jumped well bar a couple where he was just slightly novicey. Turning into the straight he looked like he had every chance, but they quickened up again and he was caught on the toe, but stayed on well to finish 4th. He will run in a similar sort of event in 2 or 3 week’s time and we have no doubt he should improve for a step up in trip in time. |
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| Captain Tommy also lined up at Wincanton yesterday, in a race that looked a good opportunity on paper. He had a favourites chance having run with plenty of promise last time out. There was plenty on and he got into a good rhythm on the first circuit. Going away from the stands on the far side he lost his position and from there on in he hated the ground. Jockey Bryony Frost looked after him from then on in and he came home in 5th. We will freshen him up now and run him back on some softened ground in a race with similar conditions soon. |
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Give Us a Swig is set to make his debut for the yard at Uttoxeter today. Having won a point to point last winter, he was sourced at the Cheltenham Sale earlier this year. He's been working and schooling well so we're looking forward to finding out a bit more about him. Two miles around a big galloping track should suit him well and hopefully he'll run a nice race and show us he has plenty of potential. |
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Young Bull will make his much anticipated chase debut on the same card at Uttoxeter today. He had previously run in 2 point to points as a young horse before arriving at Hill Barn. He was very progressive over hurdles last season winning 3 and finishing off a mark of 133. He is an out and out chaser with his size and scope so we're looking forward to him running over a track and trip that should suit him well. |
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Artistic Language is the 3rd of our 4 runners on the card at Uttoxeter this afternoon. Now running back on soft ground having not appreciated the quick surface last time out. It is a competitive race on paper but he seems in good form and hopefully back on the rain softened ground, he can show himself in a better light on this occasion. |
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| Shore Shanty is our 4th runner heading to Uttoxeter this afternoon. She is a quality mare who ran really well on debut last season. She was very green on that occasion and therefore should have come on a lot from that experience. Hopefully she can run a nice race in this bumper before going novice hurdling later this season. We are looking forward to running her. |
| Medalla de Oro is our final runner of 5 this afternoon. He will line up over course and distance where he won back in March, over at Fakenham. The track and the trip suit him really well and our conditional jockey Jamie Neild gets on very well with the horse. He has been schooling well and is in good form at home, so we are looking forward to running him. |
Black Abbey has been declared to line up in a small field maiden hurdle at Market Rasen tomorrow which should suit him well. He hated the fast ground last time so conditions should be better for him this time. It is all about getting his confidence back, as he broke a blood vessel last season. He is a nice little horse and has been in good form at home so we are looking forward to running him again.
| Pat Kelly is set to run over the extended trip of 3 miles for the first time on his seasonal reappearance at Ffos Las on Sunday. He has always been a work in progress and a backwards type but has improved enormously for a summer break. He has run well at the track before and conditions should suit him well so we are looking forward to getting him back out again. |
| Rebel Leader has an entry in the sales next week but before then he will line up in the same race as stable mate Pat Kelly at Ffos Las on Sunday. He has been disappointing but perhaps hasn't had his conditions yet. He has dropped down to what should be a winnable mark and hopefully over three miles with conditions in his favour, he should be able to bounce back to form and run a good race. |
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Dargiannini will make his debut in the bumper at Sedgefield on Sunday. He has been pleasing in his work at home and we're looking forward to getting him out on the track. He has done nothing but improve physically in the time we have had him and we are looking forward to running him. The race looks a good opportunity for him on paper so hopefully, he can run a big race before going novice hurdling for the rest of the season. |
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