Horse Racing News


	Ayr Races.
	17th January 2012 Dickie Henderhoop ridden by Ross Wilson, was running in the two mile and four furlong novice handicap hurdle. He was settled nicely out the back and jumping fantastically and was just beginning to make a move towards the leaders when he fell five out. Both he and Ross hit the ground quite hard but thankfully both were up and Dickie galloped home with his ears pricked. A real shame as I dont think he did anything wrong and is such an honest little horse who always tries hard. He is coming home in one piece thankfully and there will be other days. Primrose Time ran today in the two mile four furlong handicap chase, she was ridden by Alex Voy. Having been put up 11lbs for her last win she was carrying top weight. As always she looked amazing and jumped and travelled really well, for the first two miles and then just when she needed to put in a flying leap she got a bit close to the fourth last fence and got a bit short of space around the bend and then she struggled with the extra distance and weight. She finished in fifth place, Alex just looked after her once her chance was gone. It seems that she really does not stay more than two miles, despite all that I think !!

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	Look who is back !
	10th January 2012 Guess who .................... English City is back being ridden after a while on the sidelines. He was a perfect gent and it was hard to know who had the biggest smile Caroline or him !! Lovely day x

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	Ayr Races
	2nd January 2012 Sported And Played ridden by Alex Voy was running in the three mile handicap hurdle. The going was heavy and while she led the field along very happily for well over two miles it seems the combination of the longer trip and the very heavy going were just too much for her. We will find something over a shorter trip for her, at least until the ground improves, we will also school her over fences so that may be another option for her.

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	Newcastle Races
	7th January 2012 Rinnagree Rosie made her racecourse debut at Newcastle today in the two mile bumper, she was ridden by Alex Voy, who knows her very well and knows how much we think of her, in fact he had been pestering Libby all week, just to make sure he got the ride on her !! The going was Soft, Heavy in places and had been drying out all day so it was pretty dire, and all the jockeys reported that it was really hard work. Rinnagree Rosie - winner of the Best Turned Out award, behaved like a real professional, Caroline said that she was a dream to deal with. She jumped off in about second or third place and settled really nicely, Alex kept her on the inside rail all the time and when the pace began to quicken about five furlongs out she seemed to struggle and drop to the rear of the field, however she just kept up the relentless gallop and stayed on strongly all the way up the home straight, the first two horses were well clear by this time but she just galloped on to be a very nice third. A great start to her racing career and we are certainly delighted with that run, she will come on plenty for it but we were keen to get her on the track before too much longer as suddenly time will have flown by, and I doubt she wants ground as bad as that but we had to start somewhere. Alex reported that she was every bit as good as her brother !!, so plenty to look forward to.

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	Kelso Races.
	29th December 2011 We had five runners at Kelso, so a very busy day for those that went to the races and quite a lot to do for those who were left behind. The going was Soft, after some overnight rain but the jockeys were reporting that it was very hard work for the horses and many were finishing exhausted which means that it was probably not very nice Soft Barr Head ridden by Kyle James and Edinburgh Gin Time ridden by Lucy Alexander were both running in the two mile six furlong maiden hurdle. Barr Head was having his first run for over sixteen months, he jumped brilliantly but was just a little taken off his feet towards the end of the race, he will be schooled over fences and may well have blinkers on next time out just to sharpen him up. Edinburgh Gin Time again jumped really well but just found the ground just too much for him. Mr Mansson ridden by Lucy Alexander was running in the two mile novice hurdle, he was leading the field along and seemed to be happy in front when he ran out through the wings of the third hurdle, there was a loose horse just beside him and I dont know if it caught his eye, causing him to lose concentration. It was a nasty fall for Lucy and I was glad to she was unharmed they are made of tough stuff. Primrose Time ridden by Alex Voy, ran in the two mile handicap chase. It was a higher grade race than she has been running in and I thought that she needed a longer trip, but it seems not, she WON by eleven lengths and was not blowing at all when she got back to the winners enclosure. She jumped brilliantly and was always up with the leaders, two horses pulled clear with three fences to jump and by the time she got to the last all that was needed was a good jump and she pulled clear up the long run in. 11-1, not bad. She has been in good heart at home and she was bucking and rearing when Alex got on which is a good sign for her. A great result for everyone who works so hard to keep the yard going and results like this make it all worthwhile. Dickie Henderhoop ridden by Ross Wilson, ran in the two mile six furlong handicap hurdle. He again ran another good race to finish fourth. He travelled really well and jumped like a little bunny, apart from a slight mistake at the first hurdle. A good effort from him to be in the winners enclosure again.

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	Carlisle Races:
	18th December 2011 Carlisle had to pass two inspections before it got the go ahead to race, and they did a great job to get the meeting on, there were tractors working on the course all morning. It was very very cold, but at least racing happened. The going was Heavy, and having been frosty was really nasty and testing ground, and as a result all of the jockeys rode very sensibly, but there were a lot of horses who didnt finish their races. We ran Edinburgh Gin Time ridden by Lucy Alexander and Sported And Played ridden by Alex Voy in the two mile four furlong novices hurdle. There was no one who was going to make the early pace so Alex jumped Sported And Played off in front and got her into a great rhythm and she seemed to love being in front, jumping fantastically and was still in the lead and going strong coming to the second last, when she just didnt have the burst of speed that some of the others had and she just kept on at one pace, she finished in sixth place. This is only her third race and first time she was really competitive, she is now qualified for handicaps. Edinburgh Gin Time having his first run over hurdles, jumped brilliantly and was very clever which was really pleasing, he did struggle in the really testing ground but will benefit enormously for his first run for quite some while and will hopefully run again soon. Ballycarbery ridden by Lucy Alexander, ran in the two mile bumper, the last race on the card and by this time the frost had returned and it was bitterly cold. He is such a lovely big horse who really just ran for the education as three miles and fences will be his forte, but he showed improvement from his last run when he was very green. He will now run over hurdles before going over fences next season.

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	Catterick Races
	13th December 2011 Primrose Time ran in the two mile handicap chase, ridden by Alex Voy and as we had expected two miles on a flat sharp track was not really to her liking, she finished in fifth place, just losing fourth place on the line. She jumped really well but was just not really able to land a blow when travelling perhaps just a little faster than ideal and Zander just looked after her, its great that he knows her so well. We have been looking for races over two and a half miles but there has just been nothing for her, so this race was not ideal but better than standing in her stable - watching the rain and wind. Local Quine ridden by Dougie Costello ran in the two mile bumper. She was up with the early pace and making good progress but down the back she just began to struggle with her breathing in the very soft ground and Dougie just nursed her home, so she didnt have a bad experience, but he feels that when her wind is sorted out and stepping up to two and a half miles that she will be a nice prospect. By all accounts the journey home was quite testing and the wind was pretty vicious at times so it was a great relief to hear the lorry pulling into the yard and knowing that the horses were back in their stables all cosy and eating up.

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	Sedgefield Races:
	6th December 2011 Agricultural ridden by Jimmy McCarthy was running in the two mile handicap hurdle. The going was Soft, and this was our one concern with him as he has never run on going like this before. Jimmy said that he really hated the going and was never really travelling on it, but he was still able to get into a good position down the back straight, but he just got in a little close to the third last hurdle and that knocked him momentum and the vital stage in the race and he was just never able to get competitive after that. He finished in sixth place, he is a very honest little horse who always tries hard but just found the ground too much for him. He won the turnout prize, and as you can see from the picture a handsome chap. He may wait for better going now. Snow here late today so plenty of work with shovels and salt in the morning !!

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	Musselburgh Races
	5th December 2011 Musselburgh today was absolutely freezing today, but there was no doubt of the meeting being off it was just very cold although sunny. The going was Good, Good to Soft in places but all the jockeys reported that it was riding soft. Carnelian ridden by Alex Voy was making his hurdling debut in the two mile novice hurdle. He has only been with us for a few weeks but has been such a joy to teach to jump, he really loves his jumping and today never touched a twig, even when something fell just infront of him it never put him off his stride. He looked a picture and Becky won the turnout prize, and behaved like a real gent. However he struggled with his breathing and may need a wind op before another run, he may also appreciate better going.

	Kelso Races
	4th December 2011 We had two runners at Kelso, one in the first and one in the last not ideal planning. There had been some overnight rain but the going was generally Soft, confirmed by the jockeys in the early races. It was pretty chilly, but thankfully there had been no snow, we had some this morning and it has been bitterly cold all day and freezing again now. Mr Mansson ridden by Wilson Renwick was making his hurdling debut in the two mile novice hurdle. He was a little novicey at times during the race, his jumping was generally good but he did made a mistake down the back and that affected his momentum. Wilson was not over hard on him after this. He is still a big baby and can be a bit keen at home and is still learning but will come on for this valuable racecourse experience. Dickie Henderhoop ridden by Dougie Costello, was running in the three mile three furlong handicap hurdle. Although he runs very much as if he would appreciate this much longer trip we were worried that he would not stay this far, and this was very much the case today, especially on the soft ground. He travelled and jumped very well throughout the race but was never able to get to the leaders where it mattered.

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	Carlisle Races
	27th November 2011 Dickie Henderhoop ran in the two mile four furlong handicap hurdle - limited to amateur riders, at Carlisle, there were sixteen runners in the race. The going was Soft, Heavy in places. He was ridden by Ross Wilson, who not only looks after him but also rides and schools him every day. Ross jumped him off at the back of the pace, as he said that he found the early pace too quick, but he was a bit too far off the pace, he also kept him wide of the field, so he would keep him out of trouble and being only a small horse he wanted to allow him a good sight of his hurdles, however I think he was perhaps a bit too wide at times. He made up plenty of ground before the second last hurdle and finished in third place. I think only really beaten by the inexperience of his rider. Ross is young and learning and will have learnt from this race and young jockeys have to get experience somehow !!

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	Musselburgh Races
	25th November 2011 Local Quine ran in the two mile National Hunt flat race, she was ridden by Dougie Costello and the going was Good, Good to Firm in places. This was her first ever time on the racecourse and she behaved immaculately, which was lovely as if you have seen her at home you might not always think that to be the case, she has been quite strong minded in the past, but she never turned a hair at anything she just took it all in her stride. Dougie had her settled nicely and she travelled well, he thought that turning out the back he was still travelling with plenty left in the tank but up the home straight she just blew up. She finished in fifth place, Dougie really liked her a lot and suggested another bumper before going over hurdles. She is a big strong mare so will be more than capable of jumping fences in due course. A really nice encouraging start to her racing career.

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	Sedgefield Races
	22nd November 2011 Frith ran in the two mile handicap chase at Sedgefield today, he was ridden by Dougie Costello. The ground when we entered was Good, Good to Firm in places and having carefully monitored the weather everyday we were delighted to hear that there had been no significant rain and the going was officially Good at time of declaration. With only 1 ml of overnight rain and going Good we set off for Sedgefield. How come the going is changed to Good to Soft after the second race ?? The jockeys in the early races reported the ground to be pretty Soft Frith really struggled on the soft going and thankfully Dougie knows him well enough now to know this and as a result was not overly hard on him. He jumped well but just couldnt really get competitive and finished in eighth place. He will now have a break and be back on the track again when the going is quicker, he enjoys the sun on his back too so roll on those days !!

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	Yogi & Boston
	8th November 2011 Yogi and Boston, not the bears and not at Yellowstone National Park, but Yogi Bresner and Boston Lad at Gleneagles Equestrian Centre, for a Rehabilitation Of Racehorses (ROR) clinic. We were invited to bring along a racehorse for this clinic, Yogi is a world renowned horseman who is involved at the highest level of training the Olympic eventers and does a huge amount with racehorses helping their flatwork and jumping techniques. The ROR clinics are to show people how easy it can be to rehabilitate and retrain racehorses for a life after the racecourse. There were five horses, who were either still in training or like Boston had just been retired and were beginning the first steps for rehoming. Libby rode Boston, who I have to say was a complete STAR he never batted an eyelid at the huge indoor school, spot lights, fire alarm, jumping quite big show jumps. Yogi was very impressed with him and his flat work was really very good, for a horse who has never really done much he was very responsive to all Libby asked him to do he certainly caught a few peoples eye, he was the best looking horse on show!! All the racehorses behaved impeccably and were a great credit to the trainers and lads involved in the care and education that these horses have had.

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	Carlisle Races
	7th November 2011 Ballycarbery was making his racecourse debut in the two mile National Hunt flat race, bumper, he was ridden by Lucy Alexander. The going was Good to Soft.Ballycarberygot a bit unsettled at the start and therefore lost some valuable ground there and never was really able to get involved at the front end of the race, he was very green but Lucy said that he gave her a great feel but is just weak and will improve with time, luckily for him his owner is very patient. He is a great big horse, a proper chasing type who needs to get valuable experience which he will have done today. This was his first time on the track but several people commented on his good looks and proper size, he is certainly one for the future.

	Kelso Races.
	5th November 2011 Two runners at a chilly but sunny Kelso, both were ridden by Alex Voy. The going was Good, Good to Soft in places although many of the jockeys riding said that it seemed to be riding softer than that. Sported & Played ran in the two mile six furlong novice hurdle. Although she is eight this was only her second run and apart from being a little novicey at a couple of hurdles she ran an encouraging race. Like on her previous run, she was out paced from about half way before staying on dourly up the home straight. She will come on enormously both mental and physically for the run the experience will help her next time out. Primrose Time ran in the two mile handicap chase. She was beautifully turned out and not surprisingly won the best turnout out award. She jumped off towards the front of the field and jumped really nicely, they did go a pretty scorching speed early on and one slight error at one fence did stop her momentum (she just got in a little close) but other than that she was brilliant at her fences. Her slight blunder did mean that the rest of the field got away from her and she looked to be struggling to keep tabs on the others and she looked to be in trouble, however she soon picked up and after jumping the last fence in eighth place she galloped on really strongly up the long straight and finished in a great third place, and at 25-1 !!

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	Hexham Races
	4th November 2011 Boston Lad and Frith both ran at Hexham where there had been plenty of recent rain and the going was Soft or very soft according to some. Boston Lad ridden by Lucy Alexander was running in the two mile six furlong selling hurdle. He made an early mistake and then was pulled up before the last hurdle. This was a shame as he has been in great heart at home and is just as horse who has had so many problems and his confidence can sometimes be lacking, this had improved recently but not today. Frith ridden by Dougie Costello ran in the two mile handicap chase. He really hated the soft going and was never travelling at all. Dougie just brought him home in safely and he will wait for better ground before running again.

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	St Andrews Beach
	10 Aug 2011 It was off to the beach this morning for an early start. We took Frith,Strobe,Boston Lad & Mary. They all worked really well. Libby and the lads were really lucky they missed the worst of the rain. All the horses went for a paddle to cool off and Frith did his usual as soon his saddle was off rolling in the sand for about 5 minutes. The horses seem to love going to the beach its a shame that we are not a bit closer.