Last week saw the Horse in Training Sale at Doncaster take place, armed with a shopping list off we went hoping to pick up some bargains in the current climate, not a bit of it, trade was very strong and i found it impossible to fill our orders. We bought one horse though called Sound Accord, a lovely chasing type who will be aimed at the Grand National this year. Tricky Trickster who won the four mile race at Cheltenham made a staggering £320,000.

Things are definitely slowing up in the yard runners wise, although it is great to see them still running well.

Friends of Tina is off to Southwell tonight at 9pm , it seems very late to be racing, she has come out of her latest run well and it will be interesting to see how she performs over a shorter trip.

What an up and down week or so, most of the horses have been running really well until yesterday when poor Highland Homestead took a horrific looking fall and now looks like he has done 12 rounds with Mike Tyson, mostly all superficial bruising and cuts but still.

Kings Majesty has had enough for this season and will now enjoy a well earned break, he has been on the go a long time so he deserves it. Bobbisox was a let down, she is a filly we all really like, i still believe in her and i am we will see her in a different light next season over further and hurdles.

We are definitely slowing down now, with only a few runners this week as the horses enjoy their summer break.

 

 

A great start to the new jumps season with Segal winning well at Hereford on Thursday. He has settled down alot and has really got his jumping together, entered for Huntingdon next Wednesday so will probably go there under a penalty.

Off to Uttoxeter today with three lovely horses, Outlaw Tom and Betavix run in a competitve novice hurdle whilst present stable star Antonius Caesar runs in a hugely competitve 3m chase.Hoping all horses can run with credit.

 

The ups and downs of racing are definitely sent to test us.The horses have been in great form with nearly all winning or been placed and then this week starts, Scarlet Oak was favourite at Nottingham on Tuesday night but played up and refused to enter the stalls, which i have to say was a first for me, and Halfway Cut runs terribly at Southwell, with no explanation having come to light yet.

You can certainly never rest on your laurels in this game.

Off to Hereford today with Segal in his most suitable race yet, so looking for a good result.

 

Freinds of Tina finished the season off in great style with  her first win at Market Rasen on Saturday, the better groud helped her and under a good ride from Felix de Giles she won well. A great result for her owners The Gumbrills Partnesrship.

The horses have been running well of late, and i have been much happier with them as a bunch, heres hoping we can have a few more winners before the ground gets too firm.

Yesterday bought another great run from Santera, she is so consistent but sadly pays the price for it by edging up in the handicap all the time. In a competitive mares hcap hurdle she looked the winner all the way to the last but just flattened out in the last furlong to finish 3rd.

Another group of horses off on their summer holidays today, hopefully off to enjoy 10 weeks of the easy life and lots of grass.

The move to Edgecote continues and painting has begun in earnest, the difference is amazing already, by the time we move in the yard will look very smart.

 

So close but yet so far, Nautical Approach was beaten on the nod at Fakenham on Monday. He ran a brave race and just didn't handle the track. A very encouraging performance and at least he is now showing us the ability we knew he always had. His owners have been incredibly patient as he has taken a long time to come right, but i feel sure he can now progress.

Entries at Bangor and Newbury at the weekend , i need soft ground at one course and good to firm at the other.!

Rain just arriving so off to school a few over the fences in preparation for a getting a run into at the beginning of the new season.

 

A truimphant journey to Carlisle with Antonius Caesar, the long trek north produced a great result in a valuable CH4 race.

Caesar relished the stiffer track and jumped well to win very nicely. It was a great moment in a difficult season, and a lovely result for his owners who have in the main, had horses with me since i started training.

I am keen to run him again if all is well and the ground still safe so we will look for something in a few weeks.

Yesterday produced a mixed bag with Segal running a very pleasing race  over hurdles, whilst Mad Professor could never get into it and probably needs further on a tight track and Ashyrvic was very green.

Off to Fakenham now, a track i like it, might not have the glamour of some of the bigger courses but has a great rural atmosphere.

 

Off to  Carlisle today with Antonius Caesar, a long journey but hopefully worthwhile. I have been chasing the ground with him as he wouldn't want it too quick and this race looks ideal although highly competitive.

Towcester and Plumpton tomorrow and then Fakenham on Monday should keep us all busy over Easter. It will all be worth it if  they can run some good races.

Although the season is drawing to a close we still have plenty to run yet ,and i plan to start a few off over fences as soon as the new season starts.

 

Dellighted to see the ground wet for the first time in weeks when i got up this morning, although on closer inspection not much more than damping the ground. Trainers are like Farmers always worrying what the weather is doing.

Santera as ever ran a blinder yesterday to finish second, coming from a poor position turning in, she was doing all her best work at the finish. She is a really tough filly and so consistent, i just wish she was bigger than a pony though.

Off to Brighton for the first time this season today, Kings Majesty runs in a modest 1m4f hcap , with cheekpieces on for the first time and Brighton being renowned for revitalising quirky horses , we are looking for a good result.

A 100/1 winner , thats the National for you. And so it should be , although increasingly attracting more high class horses , you still have the Aintree Factor, which means anyone can win with a bit of luck on their side.

Scarlet Oak ran a cracker on Saturday night finishing second. We head off to Windsor with True Britannia today, our first turf runner this season,.

A quietish week , lots of entries over Easter, rain permitting.

Dinarius ran poorly yesterday,,although a 100/1 shot, he had been working well and we fancied him to finish in the first six, he was reluctant going down to the start and never travelled in the race.

He seems fine this morning and nothing seems to have come to light, he may just need his summer holidays as he has been on the go a long time.

Aintree gave us the highs and lows of racing yesterday, Tom Scudamore gave Madison du Berlais a perfect ride to win the big race, whilst poor Denman suffered a horrible fall two out, sadly the extremely talented but enigmatic Exotic Dancer ,who finished second, suffered a heart attack and collapsed back at the stable yard.

It is a tough game sometimes and our thoughts and sympathy go out to all at Jackdaws Castle. It will be a terrible feeling to walk past an empty box this morning.

Off to Aintree today with Dinarius, great to have a runner in a Grade 1 , obviously a very competitive race but i thought if you took Walkon and Starluck out, everyone elses form was pretty similar.

The ground would be on the quicker side for him but Aintree do such a good job ,i am sure it will be lovely ground.

We have finished 2nd twice at Aintree in the last couple of years so it would be great to have another good run.

The rest of the card is top notch with Denman and Big Bucks taking prominence.

Also the first chance to see the National Fences in action with the start of the Foxhunters, i should imagine lots of nervous amateurs in the weighing room today. Good Luck to them all.

 

A quiet weekend for us, off to Dunstall Park today with the enigmatic Jago. He pulled far to hard last time and the drop in trip should help although being drawn wide won't.

Looking forward to Aintree this week , sadly Saintsaire will not  run , as ever with him his bloods weren't right, but hoping Dinarius can fly the flag. Very hot race but he seems in very good form.

The fast ground is slowing us down at the moment, i daren't risk running nice young horses on this ground and sadly the long range forecast looks pretty short of rain. We will just have to be patient.

 

After a quiet week ,we made entries for Aintree today , Dinarius is entered for the 4YO Hurdle and Saintsaire holds an entry in the Topham Chase over the Grand National fences.

It is an exciting feeling to have two horses running next week and Aintree is great fun , very different to Cheltenham but with a really good end of term atmosphere.

Aintree do such a great job with the ground nowadays and with the large amount of prizemoney on offer deserve to get the top quality racing they do.

We still await rain as so many of the courses at present are good to firm and as a trainer you have to be so careful about running horses at this time of year. One wrong decision can mean a horse off for a year.

Last Weekend

We had a busy weekend last week with Kings Majesty and Mad Professor heading down to Fontwell while Adroit Approach and Rock Salmon made their way to Cheltenham.

Fontwell saw us having a 3rd with Mad Professor, he was travelling really well and just got caught on the line.  Kings Majesty was in a much hotter race than usual and ran really well but it was quite a big ask and finished up mid division.

Adroit Approach ran really well at Cheltenham finishing 6th.  The ground was awful but after pulling quite hard early on he stuck his head down and ran really well up the hill.

Rock Salmon is a lovely horse but the race did not pan out as we expected and he finished towards the rear.  He will improve for the experience and we hope to run him in the near future.

Warwick Tuesday

We took three runners to Warwick, Outlaw Tom, All For A Star and Bobbisox.

Outlaw Tom and Bobbisox were having their first runs for us, Tom ran a really nice race but ideally could do with a further trip but we learnt a lot about him.

Bobbisox in her first ever run was very well behaved, we would have liked her to have been settled further up in the field but she ended up at the back and she would not have learnt an awful lot about being a racehorse.  She again will need a further trip in the future.

All For A Star travelled really well but fell in a hole before the home bend, so that needs a little bit of investigating.  He did make the front cover though of Racing Post which he is very pleased about.

Plumpton beckons.

This weekend we are off to Plumpton with Roseneath and Santera both should run quite nice races.  The forecast is not the best, wrap up warm is the best idea!

Winner!

What a start we had to last week.  Kings Majesty in his first run for us scooted home to win at Plumpton with William riding.  Mixed fortunes in the race as Santera took a pearler after putting her foot in a hole but luckily she is fine.

What Do You Know went to Lingfield on Tuesday.  Unfortunately he did not get a good break from the stalls and consequently did not get into the frame but his day will come again.

We took Muraco up to Ludlow on Thursday.  As previously said he is very high up in the handicap which told on the day.  He did run very well for the weight he was carrying and finished mid division.  Hopefully he will come down now Mr Handicapper!

To round the week up another win by King's Majesty.  He came out of the Plumpton race really well and will obviously go up in the handicap so we thought best run him again.  He was at the back of the field until mid division and then shot past everything to finished 12 lengths the winner!  His new handicap mark will come out on Tuesday and come into effect on Saturday.  There is a race at Wetherby on Friday for him so we will see what happens!

Yesterday we went to Towcester with Friends Of Tina.  We thought she would run into the frame but the ground was to soft for her though the official going was supposed to be good and she finished in the back third of the field.  She has come out of the race fine and we will look for a race for her on better ground.

 

 

Exciting Times Ahead

Everything is starting to hot up at Grange Farm with all of the National Hunt horses being entered up for their first runs of the season.  The coming week is looking to be quite a busy one.

Tomorrow we are off to Plumpton with Santera who is a real tough little mare and always gives her all, she is in the same races as King's Majesty.  It will be his first run for us and will be interesting to see how he goes.  He is a dual purpose horse and though not yet been placed in a hurdles he has an awful lot of potential.

Tuesday sees What Do You Know go to Lingfield.  He is in very good form and if he is on a going day he should be there or there abouts.

Thursday Muraco goes to Ludlow.  He was a very good second at Huntingdon not so long ago and then ran really well at Fontwell on ground that would have been to soft for him.  Unfortunately he got hit quite heavily by the handicapper with a mark of 110 which was not very helpful but he does have the ability so it will be an interesting race.

Fingers crossed!

 

Summer is here and we are quite quiet with only about 20 horses in.  We have got a few to run on the flat and over the sticks this summer but it is that quiet time of year when all those little jobs get done.

Most of the National Hunt horses are enjoying a well earned break out in the field and enjoying the sunshine when they can!

The stables are in the process of being power washed and painted ready for next year, a job I'm not sure if the staff enjoy or not but it has to be done.

As far as runners are concerned we are quiet for the next couple of weeks and then we are back in action from the beginning of July but I will keep you updated. 

Well what a start to the new season.  We finished the last one with a 3rd on Saturday and a string of 2nd's and in the first four days of the new season we've had three winners!

What Do You Know, who has oodles of ability won down at Brighton for Brick Farm Racing.  He can be a little monkey but did the job well on Sunday with subsitute jockey David Kinsella (Richard Hughes was booked to ride but his wife went into labour, suppose that was slightly more important!).

Santera brought up a double for Brick Farm in a week when she won at Worcester in awful conditions and we then followed up with Adroit Approach who gave us a double for the day.

Let's hope the season continues in the same vein.

As well as all of the usual goings we have a new arrival.  John and Annie Fry own a mare related to Chilly Milly called Chilly Squaw, in the early part of last year they very kindly asked if we were interested in taking a half share in a foal if Chilly Squaw were she to have another off spring, we jumped at the chance.  The result is Georgie (he was born on St George's Day).

He arrived well over a month late and he is a little bruiser as you can see!

Other News

Still having a touch of seconditus when Friends of Tina was 2nd at Worcester on Wednesday, however, we were chuffed to bits with her and she will come on for that run, while Bethanys Boy was fourth at Kempton.

Runners For The Weekend

On Saturday we have four runners, Chilly Milly and Santera go to Market Rasen both I think stand really good chances.  Grooms Affection has his first run for us at Wolverhampton, we are really looking forward to that and Heron also goes back to Wolverhampton.

Sunday sees What Do You Know going to Brighton as long as we do not get any further rain down there, he should run well if back to his old form.

 

 

Aintree

I think we all had our hearts in our mouths on Saturday as we watched Superior Wisdom come around the last bend at Aintree.  He fluffed the 2nd last hurdle which I think possibly cost him the race but what a performance by him again.  The Paul Nicholls an Ruby Walsh partnership just got up to win but he ran a tremendous race to come 2nd and a very exciting horse for next season.

Southwell

After Aintree we had Southwell on Sunday.  Slightly differet setting but the result was the same in one of the races with Dakota Boy running on to gain 2nd spot the best result of his career so far.

Chilly Milly ran very well for three quarters of the race and then seemed to loose momentum.  She appeared fine after the race so hopefully something was just amiss on the day.

Ludlow

We were very pleased with Fantasy Legend at Ludlow.  He made his way up through the field and ran on really well to finished 5th.

Kempton

Little Razzano made her seasonal debut.  She is a real tough filly and has been in flying form at home.  She may be one of our smallest housemates but she is also one of the strongest.  Unfortunately, on race night she slightly dwelt in the stalls but ran really well and I think she is going to give all the Brick Farm Racing members great fun this year.

Racing Coming Up

This Saturday sees three of the string going to Uttoxeter, all with live chances.  The huge Waiting For Godot, Adroit Approach and Brochura who comes back after a break and seems in great form.  A three timer would be nice!!

Cheltenham

After being postponed from the Wednesday to the Friday, it mean't two more days of waiting and wondering.  It was all worth it in the end when Superior Wisdom (Wizz) stormed home to finish a most impressive fifth in the Coral Cup. 

He is a very tough horse, nothing flashy but just goes out and does his work which he did that day.  He will hopefully go onto Aintree, Ayr or Punchestown, the options are open!

Well done to everybody who got a fifth place on him.

Other Runners

Other horses in the yard have been running well to.  Bethany's Boy had a third place at Southwell, Tetragon was fifth at Kempton and Dakota Boy was fifth at Ludlow yesterday.

The Coming Week

The next week looks quite busy to with Waiting For Godot going to Towcester on Sunday (as long as we are not snowed off!), Adroit Approach goes to Huntingdon on Monday along with Political Dissent to Plumpton.

New Team Member

New member to the Team is a 2 year old by Robellino out of a lovely mare whose family have been very successful.  Nick named Bobbee, she I am sure will be a star for the future and I hope will bring a lot of fun for her new Owners.

 

Jago finally beat the seconditis by producing a superb win at Wolverhampton.  He has been in really good form and we were chuffed to bits for the Owners who were all there in full force to support their boy.

Bethany's Boy ran a very good 4th at Lingfield on the same day and we hope to get a bit closer at Southwell tomorrow.

We were all ready to set off for Cheltenham today when it was announced that it had been abandoned due to high winds.  After riding first lot out this morning it was very obvious what they mean't, it was a case of hold on to your hats!!

Superior Wisdom's race is now on Friday, so we have another couple of days of waiting, i'm sure it will be worth it!

Others to look out for over the next coming days, are Heron who runs for us at Lingfield and Chilly Milly, Adroit Approach, Special Rate and Rock Salmon who all have entries at Uttoxeter (not all are sure to go depending on weather etc).

 

Superior Wisdom ran a good race today, dropped in at mid division he came with a strong run to lead two out and was driven out to win by a length at 9/4.

Tetragon had his first run over jumps for over a year at Sedgefield today , running creditably to finish 4th.

Conditions were atrocious, heavy ground and high winds. He should progress to win his race on the right ground shortly.