Monday 30th January 2012Apologies for being behind on the Blog! Plenty of excuses but wont bore you with the detail!
Describing in words what is required for the majority of our horses at present is a decent draw on the flat, patience and practice for the youngsters, good ground for the jumpers and races for horses that have been purchased for £0 to £5,000! The latter unfortunately does not exist but it would be very useful - just means that we have to run in low rated handicaps......
Can you believe it we are still getting those dreaded outside draws! Poor
Lisselton Cross, again and again he gets double figures for a draw. However, he still managed to run well again last week, drawn 10 at Wolverhampton over 5f, finishing 3rd to a horse that should win next time out. His next run will be further, 6 furlongs and I bet he will get drawn one when he will need holding up over the longer trip!
Bellinda ran another encouraging race at Kempton looking like being placed one furlong out. She is learning and enjoying her racing with every run. Will have to go 7f next time and again let her run from the front ranks.
Just Say Please is starting to understand racing and looking like she has a race in her. From her encouraging run on horrid ground at Plumpton last week she is worth persevering with but needs lots of practice. Good ground in the Spring will be ideal and by then she will have had some practice!
Sunday 14th January 2012When you declare a horse to run on the flat you generally hope that you get an inside draw or at worst an inner to middle but not continuous outside draws. We cannot remember when we last had a run of inside draws - ok lets not be greedy, just a middle one would be ok for a start!!
Our last example of this was poor
Lisselton Cross drawn 11 at Kempton last week - not the quickest out of the stalls so the plan was to sit and suffer in behind and try creeping up the inner rail......... That worked for the first two furlongs but when it was time to start creeping to the leaders the gaps were not there on the inner... Ok next move to the middle of the pack but still no gaps! On to the outside and go, go, go! By this time it was just a furlong from home and too much ground to make up - no ones fault but the draw ...... finished a running on 5th only beaten 3 lengths!! He would have done more at home so he will be running again this week but at Wolverhampton - inner to mid draw, PLEASE.
Today we have
Highcliffe at Kempton over 1m 3f - not actually run over this distance before but should suit on what she has showed us at home. As a 2yr old for Richard Hannon she ran well over a mile, looking like she wanted further. Has had plenty of time off for a weak back so today is a learning curve for us and for her a confidence building mission.
Last week Sarah ran her pointers; Topthorn, Supreme Oscar and Eljo at one of the most competitive tracks in the country, Larkhill. Topthorn ran well till two and a half out - needs a sharper track - aiming for Higham on the 29th January. Supreme Oscar was having his debut over fences competing against some fairly useful intermediate horses - he jumped well till pulled up 3 fences from home. Now aiming for a maiden next week at the Heythrop. Eljo ran a cracker in one of the hottest Open contests possibly this season, finishing a running on 4th - the winner, According to John now going for the Foxhunters at the Cheltenham Festival. Eljo now going for an easier Open (hopefully) at Tweseldown and only maybe Cheltenham if all goes to plan! This game is all about dreams!
Vinnie's Girl 5th was a shade disappointing at Ffos Las but the ground was dreadful and she is still very weak. Better ground needed for her and even hurdles.
Sunday 8th January 2012Last week's runners was encouraging - that next winner is not far away!
Spaceman finished 2nd over hurdles at Folkestone beaten by a hot pot! He ran a super race, it was not the hottest contest but still he ran a solid race and it is something to build on.
Midnight Spirit ran at the same meeting finishing 4th and ridden by Corey Jones claiming 10lb. Corey has now been with us for 7 months and he was having his first ride over hurdles so the aim was to get a clear round and anything else was a bonus! The 12yr old Midnight Spirit had not run for over 540 days so to finish 4th, just missing out on 3rd was very pleasing.
Bellinda ran in another mile maiden last Friday but at Lingfield this time - her 3rd run before she has a handicap mark. She was not quite as green as the previous run but ran in snatches due to her lack of experience. She will come on again for that run and in time possibly wants a shade shorter when the penny has fully dropped! One to keep an eye on!
Sunday 1st January 2012
A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US AT BOWSTRIDGE FARM.
We are looking forward to 2012 - some exciting new and young faces to run........ watch this space!
Exciting news........ Dualagi will now be going to stud to be covered by the stallion - Tagula.
Tomorrow at Folkestone we have two of our older horses to run - plenty of ability but old soldiers...... Our Corey Jones (Conditional Jockey 10lb claimer - only ever had two rides previously) is having his first ride for us and we wish him lots of luck on Midnight Spirit - a safe round for both. Midnight Spirit has been off the track for 540
days - has been working well on the gallops and been leading the youngsters over the fences and hurdles for the past few months.......
Spaceman runs tomorrow at the same meeting but nine pound lighter than his previous visit there so providing he acts on the grueling ground he should be in the frame..... does have form on similar ground but some years back!
Catch up on our final news of 2011 here
