Brilliant Brian!

Congratulations to Brian Hughes for winning the Jump Jockeys’ Championship for the third time with a lead of 40 winners over Sean Bowen.   Being the perfectionist that he is, he expressed disappointment that he had not reached 200 winners as he did last year!  As a very skilled and sympathetic horseman, he provides a great example of hard work, determination and dedication and he can be proud of what he has achieved.  We are indeed fortunate that he can ride our horses when the opportunity arises and we wish him luck next season in his pursuit of a fourth championship.

It was end of term at Sandown on Saturday with the presentation of the champion awards for trainer, jockeys and owners.  The racing also lived up to expectations with Kitty’s Light recording a remarkable double in the Bet365 Gold Cup.  This was another emotional day for Christian Williams after the horse’s win in the Scottish National only the week before and provided his family with another much-needed boost as his five-year-old daughter battles against leukemia.   National Hunt racing has a special way of providing poignant stories.

In supporting roles, Jonbon recorded his 10th win in the Bet 365Celebration Chase and Hewick ridden by Rachael Blackmore won the Bet 365 Oaksey Chase.  His trainer, Shark Hanlon was responsible for getting Rachael going at the beginning of her career and the horse cost £700 as a two-year-old and has now won over £400k – an owner’s dream!

Closer to home, we are celebrating Leah Barnfather’s pony racing success on Saturday at the Fife Point-to-Point meeting at Overton.  Leah helps us out at weekends and in the holidays and this was her first win on her pony Wilsarben 1 who is owned by Sarah Rogers and she also won best turned out so this was an exciting day.  It is also great for the George Crawford Legacy Trust for whom she is an ambassador.

https://georgecrawfordlegacytrust.org.uk/

Leah proudly holds her trophy 

Leah and Wilsarben 1 on their way to winning and celebrating afterwards with Briony

We would like to draw your attention to shares available in some lovely young horses.   The details are below and for further information please click on the horse’s name which will take you to their web page.

Athair Mor

Half-brother to 1m3f winner Glen Savage RPR 94 half-sister to Group 1 winner Nathaniel (1m2f/1m4f), Great Heavens (1m4f) and Playful Act (1m 2yo)

Big scopey youngster who will be prepared for bumpers to start with. He has not been here long but is impressing us in his early work.

Big In Milan

Big In Milan arrived with us recently from Ireland where he ran once as a 5yo and has had three runs in Point-to-Points this season and was placed each time.

He is a good strong stamp who has showed he can take his racing and jumps well.

Clondaw Fame

Clondaw Fame is a lovely big, sound and correct youngster and he comes from a top NH family.  He is an exciting prospect and can improve at five to be a top-class hurdler/chaser.

Lemoine

Homebred gelding who was born and raised here and has been brought on slowly and carefully.   He went to Aintree for his debut, never having left the farm and ran a blinder to be third.   He turned the form around at Ayr, again in a strong bumper as the winner won again at Doncaster and the second horse has since won twice and was not disgraced in the Aintree Festival Bumper.

We are looking forward to getting the horses turned out at Craig for the summer and will only have a few still in training over the next few months.