Introduction
The last three weeks has been awesome. From our last 22 flat runners we have had four winners and a further ten place, meaning 63.64% of our runners have come home in the first four on the flat. Over Jumps we have had a winner and a further 2 places, scoring a 50% first four rate. These successes have not gone unnoticed and no we are one of the hottest yards in the country. The team at home has been amazing, the horses performing accompanied by some good jockey and loyal owners. Long may the dream continue!
Round Up of runners
Ten runners on the flat and a further four over jumps has meant it’s been a busy week.
Diligent and Tulsa Jack kicked off the week at Worcester. Diligent looked a certain winner turning in, but just petered out coming to the last and taking a rather rough impact over the last. He hasn’t been with us long and I didn’t expect him to run so well, so I am excited for his future and he is currently open for purchase. Tulsa Jack was switched back to hurdles after all but being brought down at Fakenham. He ran well, but does need the softer ground and so we may possibly give him a short break and wait for the rain to return.
It was a great day for the connections of Truckers Tangle and Minella Voucher at Market Rasen on Friday. In the space of half an hour a third and winner were collected respectively a long with all the goodies. Trucker came up just short again finishing third, though this was his sixth top four finish in seven runs and so proves if anything that he is at least consistent. Minella Voucher on the other hand had no interest in being placed, cantering up by an easier than easy 8 lengths. He has relished the step up in trip to 2 mile 5, and so would appear to now want a little longer.
Gang Warfare ran at the prestigious Ascot but wasn’t able to feature, as was the case for Beau Knight too at Wolverhampton. Azari ran at two of the leading courses on back to back days. Carrying a high weight it was always going to be a challenge at Chester, though he still finished in the top half of the field though wasn’t able to mount a challenge on the winner. He ran the next day at Haydock and it was a great day to have a runner, but ultimately racing back to back days he was always going to be tired.
Three runners went to Wolverhampton and Guaracha really impressed at the venue. At 100/1 he obviously forgot his SP, and if not for the wide draw could have gone a lot better. A lot of work has gone into him and to finish only 7 lengths of the leader is pleasing to see. Punkawallah and Emneshing both ran in the same race, with Punk seventh and Emneshing second. Six lengths separated the first eight home, and there was little to choose from in the closing stages.
Two more places were collected at Chepstow courtesy of Panatos and Waqt. Panatos had the field beat comfortably by 5 lengths, though the one in front was just too good finishing a further 6 lengths clear. Waqt however was only a 2 ¼ beaten earlier in the day to finish third and was a much more tightly contested affair. A quicker start would definitely have helped and the three pound rise didn’t help, ultimately he ran another good race and so we can’t grumble too loudly.
Now the last runner of the week wasn’t one I was expecting to get beaten, but looking back Gendarme was running off a five pound penalty and carrying top weight. He was only beaten 1 ¾ lengths by a horse carrying 11 pounds less and so maybe we should have waited in hindsight.
News in Racing
After the shock of Ruby Walsh retiring last week you would be forgiven for thinking that there couldn’t be anything more shocking in the news this week, but somebody didn’t tell Gigginstown that. After 18 season, three Grand National Wins and countless festival winners Michael O’Leary has announced his decision to exit the sport within the next few years.
In the season just gone 225 runners were sent out, running just shy of a thousand times in Ireland alone. The bloodstock industry is obviously worried, but you have to remember for every successful bidder there is an under bidder and so the market will by no means completely collapse.
Statistical Summary
Jumps 19/20
Earnings - £6,234
Wins - 1
Top 4 finishes – 3/6 (50%)
Flat 19
Earnings - £97,744
Wins – 13
Top 4 finishes –51/124 (41.13%)
Year 2019
Earnings - £127,591
Wins - 15
Top 4 finishes – 71/186 (38.17%)
Maddie and Minella Voucher
Diligent