5 July 2018
Kilfinichen Bay was threatened with retirement if he failed to pull his socks up and run as we expected, with the urgings of Champion jockey, Richard Johnson he responded well to win The Cumbria Grand Hotel At Grange Handicap Chase by 5 lengths! This was his twelfth win in his career and he had been previously rated 140 two years ago so we expected him to run well off 109 having dropped in the handicap through the hunter chase route with Fred Hutsby.
Hammersly Lake doubled up on the day at Cartmel to win the Oakmere Homes Handicap Chase under a great ride from Brian Hughes off top weight. He suited the track, and there a couple more races in him before possibly returning to Far Hills in October for The American Grand National.
Bestwork has been a fantastic horse over the past 14 months and he recorded his 6th win in that period at Worcester in the Arctic Spas Worcester Grand Annual Handicap Chase. I had doubts whether he had the stamina for three miles however he enjoyed the lack of pressure early on and Johnny got him into a lovely rhythm, jumping well throughout the race. 18 months ago I never would have believed that he would win a feature race on an afternoon, and it was a privledge to be presented the prize by The Princess Royal and it was extremely good prize money from Arctic Spas and Worcester Racecourse.