FROM limited runners last week we added another winner to the season’s tally, taking us to 44, with River Run Free winning well at Lingfield on Friday. He was making his chasing and handicap debut with a first time tongue strap and all these elements combined saw an improved performance and nice win.
River Run Free had struggled a bit in hurdles to date, but appreciated the larger obstacles and travelled and jumped well before really battling on gamely to the finish when Jack Tudor asked him for his effort. There should be plenty more fun to be had with him going forwards.
Vision De Maine bounced back from a below par run on Boxing Day to be third at Plumpton on Monday. Gentleman Toboot and Shot Boii also ran well during the week at Chepstow. Eden Du Houx ran well enough at Sandown also, while both Lady Balko and King Turgeon were disappointing.
We start our runners this week with a busy day at Taunton on Tuesday. We have no runners on Wednesday while we are likely to be represented at Ffos Las and Doncaster on Thursday. On Friday the action may come from Kempton and on Saturday Itseemslikeit could return to action at either Newbury or Uttoxeter.
Exeter have a valuable race card on Sunday and recent Wincanton winner Phantomofthepoints could run in the Pertemps handicap hurdle qualifier while new recruit Rouban could make his debut in the concluding bumper on the card. They also race at Chepstow on Sunday and Chauffeur Driven and Givehimthehonour are our entries there. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest information on the stable runners.
We are delighted to have privately purchased the horse Eton Mos (IRE). He is a lovely big four-year-old bay gelding measuring 16.3hh. He has had one start in a bumper for Rod Millman and finished third at Exeter on New Year’s Day. He was originally bought to run on the flat but when you see the size and physique of him you can understand why they decided he was more of a National Hunt horse!
The plan will be to run him in another bumper or two in the coming months before turning him away and looking forward to novice hurdling in the autumn. He is available to buy for £45,000 + VAT but we may consider and half or quarter share should anyone be interested; please do get in touch – 01884 840715 or email [email protected]
It is great that they have managed to re-arrange our most local point to point at Chipley Park for this coming Saturday, February 8. The entries stand and we are likely to take all four horses that we planned to run last time there this weekend. African Lady, Fighter Allen, Sidi Ismael and Royal Defender are intended runners and will be partnered by either Rian Corcoran or Martin McIntyre. For young Mia Holmes it will hopefully be second time lucky to have her first ride aboard her grandmother’s horse in the hunt race.
Well done to our young amateur Rian Corcoran who rode a winner at Milborne St Andrew point to point on Sunday. Trained by his father I am told he gave it a lovely patient ride and scored easily in the end to bring up his third winner of the season so far.