Anticipation is building

Excitement is building and we are starting to get all gears turning in preparation for the start of the season.  The horses are looking magnificent, and blessed with a great team of people - we are kicking on and moving forwards.  Onwards and upwards we go!

Following a short break, Neverbeen To Paris has been busy in the past couple of weeks, taking in a staying handicap on the Flat at Nottingham last Tuesday before a spin back over hurdles at Bangor six days later. Ridden by former Grand National winning jockey Graham Lee at Nottingham, he found himself short of room exciting the stalls and towards the rear in the early stages. Asked to make up ground in the back straight, he looped the field to sit on the shoulder of the leader as they turned for home. Once coming off the bridle, he couldn’t muster the necessary pace to sustain his challenge, losing his pitch over two furlongs out before plugging on to finish seventh, beaten only five lengths at the line. On the back of this respectable performance, we then took the opportunity to turn him out quickly over hurdles at Bangor, refitting the cheekpieces in the process, but after racing prominently he found little for pressure and faded from the third last, the run perhaps coming a little soon.

Warranty is another we have been campaigning in staying handicaps on the Flat this summer, the son of Authorized running consistently well when getting his favoured good ground. He journeyed to Beverley last Thursday for a 2m contest, thus returning to the course and distance where he gained his sole previous success for Mark Johnston. He wasn’t the quickest into stride and settled in the last quartet with Ben Curtis biding his time before making his move. Ridden for his effort inside the final three furlongs, he made good headway to take third on the uphill climb to the line, continuing his recent run of form.

Having finished down the field on his two most recent starts over hurdles, we tried Numberoneson back on the Flat at Windsor on Monday evening where he lined up in a 1¼m handicap. Held up in rear in a race where the initial gallop was a good one, he was encouraged to get closer four furlongs out but the response was once again limited and he soon lost touch with his rivals, displaying a rather high head carriage in the process.

Yesterday afternoon Parisian Affair made her second start for the yard, dropping back seven furlongs in trip to contest an amateur jockeys’ handicap hurdle at Stratford in a first-time tongue tie. Settled in the rear third of the field, her hurdling lacked fluency throughout, and having dropped to a share of last with a circuit to race, she gradually got further behind and was allowed to come home in her own time.

WATERLEFE GETAWAY We waved a fond farewell to Waterlefe Getaway recently, a lovely horse who was always eager to give love whilst being mucked out.  She has gone to the forever home of Sally Morris where she is thoroughly enjoying being in the field and surely looking forward to peaceful hacks across the Salisbury Plain. We are sad to see her go but wish them all the best and a happy future together.

We look forward to opening our gates and welcoming you to Hill Barn Stables on the morning of Saturday 11th September from 9:30am until Midday to show our support for the National Racehorse Week.  A chance to look around the stables, catch up with the team and find out what we have in store for the winter ahead. Due to covid restrictions and the limited on numbers we are able to acommodate,etc. we are having to kindly ask that all attendees either register on the National Racehorse Week website to secure a booking (please follow link below) OR email us direct at tammy@harrywhittington.co.uk to let us know you are coming along with your contact details. https://nationalracehorseweek.uk/yard/harry-whittington/

Congratulations to Travelling Head Lad Stuart and his beautiful bride Kate Robinson who said their I do's last week. Here's to a lifetime filled with happiness and love

* ONLY A FEW SHARES REMAINING * NEW HORSE FOR THE LEAD THE WAY SYNDICATE TRANSFER FRIENDLY

We have secured an exciting new horse for the Lead the Way Syndicate, he arrived with us recently and his name is ‘Transfer Friendly’. He is a quality, athletic and good looking 5yo son of Mahler.  He was an excellent 2nd on his fifth start in an Irish Point To Point where the switch to front running tactics brought about plenty of improvement. He’s a very sound individual with an excellent attitude and a brilliant jumper. He’ll be for novice hurdling this season before likely chasing the season after.  His Sire Mahler is fast making a name for himself as a top stallion and boasts a highly impressive 44% strike rate with winners to runners.  His progeny are renowned for getting better with age so we’re extremely excited by his future as he develops into the finished article. An exciting prospect with shares available. The prices are as follows and there will be 10 x 10% shares in total: £1,795 upfront + £250/month until 31st May 2023. Please get in touch for further details or to arrange a viewing: info@harrywhittington.co.uk 

Until next week...