A DREAM TEAM

After a brilliant finale to the flat season at Ascot on Saturday, it now finally feels like our time has come and the National Hunt Season can begin in earnest.  We have been enjoying early morning trips to the schooling grounds in Lambourn and some much needed rain has arrived.  With racing staff week in full swing, we would like to say a huge thank you to our dedicated dream team for being so invested and always being full of laughs even on the bleak winter days.  With quite a few entries on the board, we are ready and looking forward to an exciting week ahead...

We had just the one runner last weekend, with Breaking Waves taking his chance in the 2m4f handicap hurdle at Market Rasen on Saturday.  Runner-up on his previous start, he was patiently ridden by Daryl Jacob before beginning his move as the field exited the back straight.  Turning for home, he found himself caught in a pocket between rivals as the eventual winner Martello Sky swooped around the outside, and despite battling on well once in the clear, the winner had gone beyond recall and he had to settle for another creditable 2nd.

Warranty had plenty to find with his rivals at the weights in the Phil Bull Trophy Conditions Stakes up at Pontefract on Monday, so it was no surprise to see him sent off as the outsider of the five.  The first battle was won as he consented to enter the stalls, and when the race got underway he was held up in last position.  Lobbing along at the back for the first 3/4 of the journey, he was taken wide as they approached the final half mile, a traditional move at Pontefract on soft ground, making swift headway to challenge for the lead.  He wasn’t quite able to sustain his effort up the home straight, but his 3rd place finish was a fine effort under the circumstances.

Seddon made his return from injury at Fontwell on Wednesday where he reverted to hurdles under top weight of 11-12.  Racing in the midst of a downpour, he made a mistake at the first and proceeded to lack fluency thereafter, very nearly unseating his rider Adrian Heskin at the third.  Such an uncharacteristic round of jumping meant he was soon facing an uphill task, but he did offer some encouragement for the future with the way he kept on in the closing stages to take 5th.

Poldark Cross has a choice of entries next Tuesday as we look to launch his chasing career on the back of a promising campaign over hurdles.  He has the option of taking on fellow novices at Chepstow or tackling more experienced rivals at Bangor, with the step up in trip sure to suit this former Irish point winner at either venue.

Also entered for the same race at Chepstow is Docpickedme, who unlike Poldark Cross already has a run under his belt this season having finished 3rd in a handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot last month.  Another former Irish point winner, he too will love stepping up in distance, and we’re looking forward to getting him started over the larger obstacles.

Following a win on debut last November, Shore Shanty didn’t quite make the progress anticipated over hurdles, but she is one that has done tremendously well for a summer break and we’re expecting to see an improved performer this time around.  She has schooled over fences and is in line to make her chasing debut at either Fakenham or Stratford next week.

Faire Part Sivola has been ready to run for a couple of weeks and could head to Taunton on Wednesday or Ffos Las on Thursday providing there is sufficient ease in the ground.  Having only joined us in the Spring, we are still learning about him, but we do think he’ll appreciate coming back in trip based on what we’ve seen at home.

The Guvnor is another new addition, having come off the Flat to go juvenile hurdling.  Twice placed for Tom Clover on the level, he is closely related to Imperial Choice, a dual hurdles winner in Ireland, and being by Frankel out of an Italian Group 1 winner, he is certainly bred to go a bit!  He’s entered for a juvenile hurdle at Ffos Las on Thursday and a similar event at Huntingdon next Sunday.

We have a good looking 3yo son of Champs Elysees on sale currently, either as a whole or in a small partnership potentially.  He is out of a black type Mare (Romantic Fashion) and having been purchased earlier in the summer he has been broken in and ridden away here at Hill Barn Stables. He is a strong, good moving type that carries himself very well and stands at about 16:2. He is clean of his wind and has a very likeable attitude. Please get in touch for further details or to arrange a viewing: info@harrywhittington.co.uk

Until next week...