22 December 2022
To make up for the lack of racing last week, and the racing break due to Christmas, we have had a busy couple of days. Six runners on Tuesday and two runners yesterday. No runners today, and then no racing until Boxing Day, where there are seven meetings staged.
At Ludlow, the first runner of the day was Haas Boy. He ran in the Female Amateur riders’ race, and Izzie Marshall steered. He ran a cracking race and was seven lengths clear before frustratingly falling at the last. Luckily both Haas Boy and Izzie were fine, and it is just one of those annoying incidents. However, on the bright side he would have won easily if he stayed on his feet! Imperial Jade then made her hurdling debut on her second racecourse appearance. Lilly Pinchin rode her to finish 3rd. It was a massive learning curve, and she will improve, along with her jumping, for the run. No Word did not finish her race off again and pulled up. She is booked into get her wind checked. Western Zephyr was our final runner at Ludlow under Johnny Burke. He put up another nice performance to finish 3rd. The winner of the race looks a very smart prospect.
No No Tango was one of our runners at Plumpton, under Paul O’Brien. He put up another great performance. It was brilliant to see him nice and settled and in a good rhythm. Annoyingly the two hurdles in the home straight were dolled off due to low sun. As a result, they only had four jumping efforts. This was not in our favour. However, he stayed on well to the line to finish 5th, and we can now start to look at stepping him up in trip. Paul also rode Zestful Hope to finish 4th at Plumpton. Zestful Hope ran a creditable race. He was not a fan of the tacky, sticky ground and with the added 7lb rise it made for hard work.
Gaelic Park ran at Hereford yesterday under Paul O’Brien. He ran a much improved race to finish a close 2nd. Parramount took to the track at Taunton. He still looked quite green under Aidan Coleman, his jumping was not up to scratch, and he pulled quite keen. Despite this, he finished a promising 2nd, and there is lots to improve and work on.
As mentioned above, no runners until boxing day now. However, as you all know, the horses still need to be looked after. The stable staff do a wonderful job over Christmas. Between Christmas and New Year is one of the busiest times of the National Hunt season. The lads just crack on and do their job, and we are so grateful. They are delighted with the multiple chocolate selections and biscuits however!
We have entries at various meetings on Boxing Day. Moon King is entered at Fontwell, with Rare Edition at Kempton. The Wise Traveller, What About Time, Largy Nights and If I Say are in at Huntingdon. Hector Javilex is in at Wetherby and Wincanton, along with The Mighty Arc, Stroll On By and Glimpse Of Gala. Declarations will be completed tomorrow. On Tuesday we have Glimpse Of Gala and Alien Storm entered at Kempton, and Ardbraccan at Wetherby. Wednesday sees Haas Boy and Largy Nights in at Catterick, while Maninsane and The Mighty Arc are at Leicester. All systems go.
Hopefully you are all in the Christmas spirit by now, and we hope you have a wonderful day.
