Clever Placing

Linda entered Itoldyou in the Grade 1 Wayward Lad Novices Chase at Kempton today and it paid off, as Simonsig frightened off many runners leaving a field of just 5.  Although outclassed in this 2 mile event, Itoldyou was able to jump a clear round and collected £627 for finishing 5th, beaten 73 lengths in his first chase.

Friendly Christmas Rivalry.

Again this year, the Stable Christmas party took the form of a quiz/competition between stable staff and owners.  This year the owners got revenge for last year's defeat that was equally as close.  With good food, plenty to drink and a lot of laughs, the evening was a success and enjoyed by all.

 

 

 

High Profile, Sad Day

Linda had two runners at the final ever Folkestone meeting today.  Her standing and regard as a trainer was emphasised by the fact that she was in high demand by the media.  She was interviewed the day before by the Racing Post and had two paragraphs in today's issue.  Radio Kent interviewed her live on air from the course at 8.20 a.m., then she was interviewed by Meridian Tonight for an item on the evening edition (with She's Humble in the background).  Finally she was whisked away by taxi to do a live interview for Radio 5 Live.

 

 

She still had time to supervise the running of Itoldyou (top) and She's Humble (bottom), who, though unplaced, ran pleasing races.  Plenty of her owners attended this final meeting, a sad day with many happy memories.

Humble Returns

 

 

She's Humble made her return at Plumpton today, after her summer break.  She was in need of the run so it was a bonus that she was one of just four runners, meaning that a safe completion would guarantee a little prize money.  Andrew Thornton took her wide and she jumped well but was never going to trouble the other runners for pace on her reappearance.  She finished 4th but should come on for the run.

Scholarship Success.

Stable lass, Shannon Gates, has done brilliantly to win a national scholarship to go to South Africa for several months' work experience. She made it through to the short list and, after an interview in Newmarket last week, she was awarded the place. She is expecting to go in the late spring next year. This is a great achievement for her and also does credit to Linda's training establishment.

 

 

Saturday School

Teaching the horses to jump is always interesting and often exciting.  Two schooled today and the video shows that they are making good progress.

 

Farrier Friday

Our farriers, C & B Stern , are an essential part of the team. Their care and expertise with each individual horse keep the show on the road. Today (Friday 16th) they were in working hard. Pictured below is She's Humble who calmly stood while four new shoes were fitted.         
                              

Almost Perfection.

Linda's view that Rowe Park would get 6 furlongs on Lingfield's newly laid polytrack surface was vindicated when he came so close to winning a handicap there today (8/11/2012).  Carrying top weight and ridden by Liam Keniry, he jumped out quickly at the start to establish himself in lead position on the rail.  He steadied the field up from the front before kicking on from the 3 furlong marker.  He entered the straight in the lead with the pack close on his heels.  He gallantly ran on to the line but in a bobbing heads finish the photograph showed that the favourite had just pipped him.  Still, he earned a good 2nd prize of just over £1200 and his each way backers were rewarded with odds of 20/1.

All Weather Action

Strategic Action continued his good form today (31/10/2012) when he finished 3rd in a 6 furlong handicap at Lingfield.  Ridden by Seb Sanders, he jumped out in mid field until being asked for an effort 2 furlongs out.  He started to make progress on the leaders from the furlong pole and moved into a clear third, being beaten a length and a half and earning £251 for his owners.  The way he was running on at the finish suggests he might well get 7 furlongs on this surface.

First hint of winter.

The temperatures plummeted overnight making it real National Hunt weather.  The owners were quite happy to stay in the warm eating a hearty cooked breakfast (first white pudding for months) before a quick visit to the gallops, in a bitter wind, to watch their horses work.  While some cantered on the wood-chip gallop, She's Humble preferred the grass and kept Shannon warm doing several circuits of the fields.

New Jumps Campaign's First Return

Fifi L'Amour earned the first prize money of our new jumps season when she won £124 for finishing 4th in a Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Fontwell today (24/10/2012).

So Close To The Double

Strategic Action came so close to winning two in a row, at Brighton today (7/9/2012).  Again ridden by Saleem Golam he travelled in midfield, bravely keeping tight to the inside rail, until going to the front a furlong from home.  As the field charged to the line, it looked as if he would hold on but he was caught in the final couple of strides, going down by a neck.

Winning Action

Linda continued her recent good form today (23/8/2012) when Strategic Action won a six furlong handicap at Folkestone.  Under Saleem Golam, he tracked the leaders on the stands rail and found room to go up and challenge approaching the furlong from home marker.  In an exciting three way battle he ran on strongly to take the race by a neck and a head.  (Pictured above:- Gillian Ransome leads in her winner).

First win from Saywell.

Linda had her first winner from Saywell when Rowe Park won a 5 furlong handicap at Newbury (5/8/2012).  Followers of this blog should have been on the 15/2 winner as his return to form was highlighted in the previous post.  Again ridden by Saleem Golam, Rowe Park jumped out well and tracked the leaders for the first half of the race.  He made a forward move two furlongs out and in a three way battle to the line he gamely refused to give in, winning by a head and a neck, earning a prize of just over £5000.

Rowe Park finds form.

Rowe Park looks contentedly out of his box the next day. 

Rowe Park came back to form (27/7/2012) when finishing 3rd over 5 furlongs at Ascot.  With the ground back to his liking and on one of his favourite courses he looked a different horse as he got away well under Saleem Golam.  Drawn towards the outside he was tucked in as far as possible and travelled well, before moving into contention 2 furlongs out.  He was just about in the lead at the furlong pole but was unable to hold off two lighter weighted rivals, going down by a length and a half.  However 3rd place prize money was a pleasing return for his efforts.

Game amateur.

Owner, Peter Oppenheimer, has again decided to ride in the Newmarket Town Plate in August.  This year he intends riding his own horse, Hereditary, in the long distance flat race.  Now in his sixties Peter shows the determination of a youngster as he rides out on the gallops with the work riders.  The video shows Peter (nearest the camera) this morning, though not in this instance on Hereditary.

Pleasing comeback for Hereditary

Hereditary made a comeback after a year off the track at Fontwell today, and picked up a little prize money by finishing 4th.  Carrying top weight in the conditional jockeys handicap hurdle, and ridden by Peter Hatton, he was held up in midfield for the first circuit and a half and was in the leading group running round the bottom bend for the final time.  He was unable to quicken from there but held on to 4th place.  He should be better for the race, which will please owner, Peter Oppenheimer, who intends riding Hereditary in the Newmarket Town Plate later this summer.

What a difference a few days make!

After the recent winds and relentless rain, the weather has changed dramatically.  The sun has brought on the horses' summer coats, while the riders have been removing theirs!

More hard work rewarded.

Karen earned £100 when Rowe Park was judged "Best Turned Out" at Goodwood last Saturday.

All weather workers.

The recent wet weather has not been the most pleasant for training the horses and we have been grateful for our all weather track and the dedication of the staff who have gone out in wind and rain.

Smiles at Plumpton

She's Humble finished a close 3rd of 4 today in a 2 mile 1 furlong handicap chase.  Carrying top weight and ridden by Charlie Studd, she tracked the leader on the first circuit and, jumping well, she was still close enough going into the railway bend on the final lap.  Unfortunately the first fence in the straight was being omitted and this meant a long section on the flat to the final fence.  The leading two began to pull away but another good jump at the last saw her stay on, only being beaten for second place by a fast diminishing neck, in what proved to be the fastest race of the day.  She did, however, win £25 for Shannon as the best turned out (see photo below with Shannon clutching the envelope with the money). Photos by www.louisebrucephotography.co.uk  More news, photos and videos of Humble on http://richardyoung020.magix.net

New Blood at Saywell.

A couple of the mares at our Saywell set up have recently had foals.  They are very friendly and full of curiosity when you enter their paddock.  They enjoy being handled and their experienced mothers are content to let it happen.  Hopefully they will develop into fine racehorses in a couple of years.

Still Knocking On The Door.

Knock Boy again went close without the ultimate success at Folkestone today.  Ridden by Jamie Moore, he was settled in the group behind the leader and jumped well.  He was well in contention coming round the final bend with Jamie trying to produce him as late as possible.  He was cutting the gap on the leader approaching the last but did not put in the good jump he needed and lost a little momentum.  He finished second, beaten 2 and threequarter lengths.

Plumpton encouragement for the future.

Three horses went to Plumpton today, and while none of them won they all gave encouraging displays.  First up was She's Jolly in the mares novices chase.  She jumped well and held her place until the last half mile.  The highly rated odds on favourite pulled away and Jolly eventually finished 3rd.  Although beaten a fair way she showed that she has ability and when she gets a handicap mark she should soon be fighting out finishes.  Stable lass, Shannon Gates, won £25 with Jolly for "Best Turned Out".

Andrew Thornton feeds back after Jolly is 3rd.

Next up was She's Humble.  She had been upped in grade after her win last time and found the pace set by these classier horses too hot to handle on the sticky ground.  She eventually finished a staying on 4th.  If the handicapper drops her back to 95, as he would be entitled to do after this, or Humble attempts a longer distance she could be close to winning again.

She's Humble before racing today.

Humble's website is http://richardyoung020.magix.net

Finally Fifi L'Amour went to post in the gloom for a mares handicap hurdle.  This was her first handicap and she had been given a mark of 95.  She started towards the rear and gradually made progress to be in the leading group down the far side on the final circuit.  She could not go on with the leading three up the home straight, but battled well to hold on to 4th.  A small drop in the weights should see her in the mix at the finish.

Fifi L'Amour in the fading light before her race.

The St.Moritz experience.

The horses and staff are back from their trip to St. Moritz which proved quite an adventure.  Apart from Karen not being too well for the whole time, it was also the coldest February there for some years, with temperatures falling to -30 degrees.  The intended English jockey cried off injured and had to be replaced by one who spoke no English and therefore struggled to understand orders in the prep race, the lorry bringing the horses back had to be put on a train to get down from the mountains as the roads were unfit, and at the channel the sea was too rough for the horses so they came through the tunnel, something only recently allowed.  Calypso Magic finished well down the field in the big race but so did the other English raiders. Despite this a lot of fun was had and the owners seem keen to do it again next year.

St.Moritz update.

Karen and the horses have arrived safely in St.Moritz, where they are now getting used to the cold!  However Karen is more concerned with the altitude sickness that is affecting her at the moment.

Not Knock's day.

Knock Boy picked up some more prize money at Plumpton today when finishing 3rd in a 2 mile novice handicap chase.  Under Richard Johnson he took over the lead approaching the railway bend and seemed to be going easily.  However he could not go on when challenged two out and had to settle for third place.

Snow Bound

Karen has set off with Calypso Magic and Spirit of Xaar to race on the ice (frozen lake) at St. Moritz.  At the time of this posting the temperature there is -6.8 C.  Forecast for later this week is Maximum 0 C minimum -11 C.  Hopefully she has packed her thermals!

Good form continues.

The good form of yesterday continued when Knock Boy finished 2nd at Folkestone today.  Ridden by Charlie Studd he travelled close up behind the leaders for the first circuit.  He lost a little ground when the leaders quickened out of the back straight but he closed up between the last two fences.  He was not able to make an impression on the favourite who went on again to win by 5 lengths.

What A Day!

Today's trip to Plumpton proved to be very rewarding.  It began with She's Jolly in the novices chase.

Linda had done well to find a small field of 5 for her second ever race and first run over fences.  This then got better as two horses pulled out due to the ground meaning that a clear round would guarantee her owner a prize of over £700.  She stayed with the other two until the pace increased rapidly at the bottom of the hill, but a good round of jumping saw her claim the third place prize and learn a lot for the future.

The very next race saw She's Humble attempt to win the 2 mile handicap chase for the second year running. 

There was concern over the tacky ground (which she doesn't like), the missing out of two fences due to ground and sun (the more jumps the better for her) and the in form odds on favourite.  However under a great ride from Richard Johnson, she overcame some bumping at the first two fences to pull away with the favourite going down the final hill.  The favourite pulled a couple of lengths clear round the railway bend, but then Richard asked her for a final effort after two out.  She drew level over the last to go on to win by a couple of lengths.

To find out more about She's Humble visit: www.richardyoung020.magix.net

The next race saw Fifi L'Amour run in the mares novices hurdle.  She started at odds of 50/1.

She was held up in the rear for the early part of the race but made a forward move a mile from home.  She took second place behind the favourite two out.  The favourite fell at the last leaving her in the lead but she had to swerve to avoid the fallen horse and lost momentum.  She was passed by two but held on for a highly promising third place.