Having had easily our best ever year in 2007, it was always going to be a tough act to follow, but boy have we started the year well and have made a big push to try to ensure that we equal or better last years total of 40 winners. By the 23rd of March we have had 15 winners (at a rate of 20% winners to runners), 13 seconds and 16 thirds. It was the end of June last year before we had had 15 winners so we have to be very hopeful that we can have another record-breaking year.

The year got off to a flyer with 2 doubles within 1 week. On the 4th Jan Hucking Heat, having his first start for us won up at Southwell, whilst that evening Compton Classic spoilt Fergal Lynch’s comeback party by beating the odds on favourite Harry Up rather cosily. It just showed that on his day when things pan out right for him he can show fairly useful form.

Then on the 7th Jan we had a double at Southwell with old favourite Sweet Pickle winning a competitive handicap, and Home making short work of his rivals in the seller to break his maiden tag for us after a rather frustrating run of placings.He didn’t have to wait long to add to his first success when we took him back to Southwell a week later, where this time he won a claimer under hands and heels riding from Pat Cosgrave, to show that he was finally getting the hang of things.

Only another 3 days till our next winner then with Alonso de Guzman returning to the scene of his previous triumph at Wolverhampton. Having been a good second the previous week, he was given a really positive ride to take the spoils this time. He has now gone for a short break and will probably reappear in April.

That was it for January but we didn’t have to wait long into February with the win of Copperbottomed on the 7th Feb at Southwell. It wasn’t a great seller he won, but it was nice for him to get his head in front again  having had a number of recent near misses.
The following day saw a great win for Cross Fell who made all under Fergus Sweeney to post a career best performance off his highest ever mark. He followed that up later in the month with a very good third behind a fast improving horse and has since gone for a little break.

The 16th Feb saw Ike Quebec make his first appearance for his new owners J-P Lim and Keith Marsden, and a winning one it was too. Given a good ride by apprentice Hadden Frost, he led all the way and repelled all challengers to record a gutsy victory. He will probably step out of claiming company now and will hopefully be able to hold his own back in handicap company.

On the 21st we sent Hucking Heat back to the scene of his previous victory for us and he was a most impressive winner in an admittedly very poor seller. He was sold after the race to join Andrew Hollinshead and we wish him the best of luck there.
March then got off in a similar vein to the previous 2 months with 2 winners in the first week. Mission Control made his much awaited reappearance following his win on New Years Eve and duly made it 2 wins form 2 starts for us by taking the step up into handicap company in his stride. He looks progressive and has just headed off for a short break before returning for a turf campaign.

The following day Danetime Lord made his one and only appearance for us a winning one by winning a decent claimer most impressively under Pat Cosgrave. Unfortunately the manner of his victory caught the eye and he was subsequently claimed by Jeremy Gask to continue his career there.

Copperbottomed then scored his 2nd win of the year for us on 11th March when absolutely bolting up at his favoured Southwell. We managed to retain him at the subsequent auction and there should be more races to be won with him in his current form.
Bloodless victories on the 13th March for Home and 17th March for Hurricane Hen saw our tally brought up to 15 for the year. That was Home’s 3rd win from 5 starts this year, and having been 2nd and 3rd on his first 2 runs for us, Hurricane Hen was subsequently sold after winning to join David Evans in Abergavenny.

Well done to our fantastic team here for ensuring that we have got off to such a flying start, and the aim now has to be to keep this momentum going into the coming turf season.

Last Updated: 11 April 2008