I'm a Twit!

It has taken a while but I have finally got with the times and joined Twitter. The kids say how great it is to communicate with people and catch up on news instantly so I'll see how it goes. I've managed a couple of 'tweets' so I consider that a success already! No doubt I'll give it up when punters start abusing me on it! You can follow me at @JuliaFeilden.

We have just three horses entered for this coming week and the first one might not be a definite goer. Celestine Abbey needs a few to come out to get a run at Kempton on Wednesday. She has the ability to win but things are taking a while to fall right for her.

Previous Acclaim (Ryan) & Celestine Abbey (Shelley)

 

We will be making the long journey up the M6 on Thursday to Haydock as hopefully two of ours will be running there. Handheld will need plenty of rain if he is to run but he has come out of his win last time in great form and never ceases to surprise us by showing a bit more improvement over the course of the year.
Everyone knows The Ducking Stool only seems to win at Yarmouth but I can't see a reason why she can't win at another track. Haydock is a similar configuration to Yarmouth so the course should be fine for her but the drop back in trip to 1m4f might just catch her out.

Handheld (Danny) & The Ducking Stool (Ross)

 

Despite all the rain that has been about, it never seems to come in time for Bethan. She's a sure-fire winner when getting soft ground but hopefully she'll have her favoured conditions a bit more often now we're heading into autumn.
Luhaif will be going to Chester next week and seems happy in himself. The draw is a big factor there so hopefully he'll get a low berth.

Bethan (Danny) & Luhaif (Ross)

 

It was great to see Sadiigah back on the gallops after the list of injuries she has had. She still hasn't run for us yet but there seems to be plenty of ability there and she looks likely to be a sprinter as she holds plenty of speed. We will take things step by step with her but I'm looking forward to getting her to the racecourse.

Honeymoon Express (Ryan) & Sadiigah (Shelley)

 

Like the rest of the world, plenty of 'ice bucket' nominations have been flying about the yard and, after Ross last week, Danny and Ryan were the next victims. They decided to stand in a water trough and have the rest of the staff cover them in water. I think it was pretty chilly!

Danny & Ryan get a soaking

 

Ross' ice bath must have done him some good though as he came out the following day and scored the biggest victory of his riding career when winning the Amateeur Derby at Epsom aboard Barwick. Trained by Lady Herries, the horse loved the near-waterlogged ground and came away to win quite easily. I know this is a race Ross has always wanted to win and he now calls himself a Derby winning jockey!

Ross & Barwick make one punter's day

 

I received an email from Newmarket Racecourse manager Amy Starkey during the week to inform me that the course is giving away free badges for the Future Champions Day on 17th October at the Rowley Mile. It is open to anyone so if you fancy a free day out just email me how many badges you want and they'll be waiting for you. The closing date is October 1st.

Number adds more prize money

Apologies for the delayed blog but with a trio of runners yesterday, we were at full stretch. There were no winners but Automotive went very close to repeating last year's success at Goodwood with a narrow second place. He has had excuses on his last couple of runs so this was a step back to form.

Also finishing in the runner's up spot was No Such Number at Kempton on Wednesday. This was one of his best runs on the all-weather so it's good to see he can switch surfaces easily. He's entered at Lingfield on Thursday and I'm tempted to run him again should he come out of the race in good order.

Automotive (Ross) & Avidly (Adam)

Silver Alliance (Danny)

 

Opus Too makes his handicap debut at Lingfield on Tuesday and I hope he'll fare better now in a lower grade as he has found maiden company quite tough. We'll put blinkers on him as well because after his last run he hardly blew so probably needs waking up a bit.

Honeymoon Express was due to run at Warwick today but the course said they will water the track to ensure the going is good which is not ideal for us as she likes firm ground. Courses seems reluctant to provide fast ground nowadays which is a shame because some horses love it and are missing out. It is the track's last flat meeting anyway as, after recent safety concerns, they are only going to hold jumps fixtures from now on. Although we never had much luck there, it is a shame to lose another track and we are one step closer to all-weather domination of the flat fixture list.

Honeymoon Express (Ryan)

 

I had Handheld in at Yarmouth on Sunday but, ironically after what I just said, the ground was too firm. He loves very soft ground so I'm in no rush to run him after his win last time as he is worth keeping fresh and will have plenty of opportunities when the weather breaks in Autumn.

Handheld (Josh)

 

The internet has been full of ice bucket nominations and our yard hasn't escaped the craze with Ross being nominated for the challenge. Never to do things by half, he chose to have a tractor bucket full of water splashed over him. It's all for a good cause and there are plenty more nominations flying round the yard so it could be a wet week! I'm staying well clear of the whole thing!

No shirking from Ducking

The Ducking Stool continues to be a model of consistency and did us all proud again last week with another fine second place on her first effort over two miles. We have been gradually stepping her up in trip and she has improved with every question we have asked of her. She is just the perfect flag bearer for our Newmarket Equine Tours racing club which makes ownership affordable at just £180 for a year's membership.

Our lucky track Yarmouth hosts another couple of meetings this week but amazingly the ground is still very fast despite all the recent rain in the area. It doesn't look like we'll be there on Tuesday but we will have both Handheld and Silver Alliance entered there on Sunday. Both of the boys won last time out and haven't been too harshly treated by the handicapper. Handheld needs soft ground to be seen at his best whilst Silver never seems to run two good races consecutively so we can only hope for the best.

Before that on Monday, we have a pair of runners on the all-weather at Kempton. Celestine Abbey ran well on her handicap debut at Lingfield last time and jockey Luke Morris said stepping up to one mile will see her in a better light so that's what we're doing and hopefully he's right.
Accompanying her to the Sunbury venue will be Don't. See showed promise on her debut for us last time at Yarmouth despite racing quite keenly. With that in mind, we are probably going to make the running with her this time as it may mean she settles better. She is still a lightly raced horse so there is plenty of improvement to come.

Then we're likely to be back at Kempton on Wednesday with another two. No Such Number has been running well all year and the fact he's rated a lot lower on the all-weather than the turf may just help him get his head in front. He is heading to the sales next month so it'd be nice if he could go there with a win by his name.
Also likely to be at Kempton is Bethan. She too has been hitting the crossbar all season without a win but it's only down to the fact she hasn't had the soft ground she loves. As I can''t seem to find any, we're giving her a go on the all-weather again. Her best form is probably on the turf but she seems to work well on artificial surfaces at home.

No Such Number (Josh)

 

This time last year on Sunday, we saddled a double when Honeymoon Express won at Yarmouth and Automotive did the same 15 minutes later at Goodwood. Although Honeymoon isn't running this time, Automotive will be bidding to win his race once again. He has been very hit and miss this season but still has plenty of ability on his day. If everything goes right for him, he should go very close.


Automotive (Ross), Avidly (Shelley) & Bethan (Ryan)

 

Avidly has enjoyed a mid-summer break after a long campaign and has come back in great form. She had her first gallop at the weekend and it was quite impressive so hopefully she will be ready to run in a couple more weeks.
Likewise, Sadiigah is on the comeback trail and has been pleasing in her slower motions. She has had some injuries in the past but we will try to keep her in one piece so she can finally hit the track again.

Sadiigah (Danny)

Double delight!

We had plenty of darts to throw at the board last week and luckily a couple of them hit the bullseye and the yard enjoyed a splendid across-the-country double on Wednesday.
Both Handheld and Silver Alliance had successful seasons in 2013 so have been in the grip of the handicapper since but they pulled out a little bit more to get their heads in front again.
Handheld loves soft ground and luckily the heavens opened at Yarmouth just before racing. He had had a short holiday but he always runs well fresh and he showed plenty to guts to win by just over a length.

Handheld & happy connections (photo: www.photoaction.com)

 

Silver Alliance had won a race at Yarmoouth already this season but he never ceases to surprise us and he put up a career best effort to become my first winner up at Pontefract. The race went perfectly to plan for him as he was covered up off a strong pace and it was just a matter of timing his late burst to perfection. The horse is a pleasure to train and it is always great to win races for such an enthusiastic bunch of owners.

Silver Alliance scores at Ponte (photo: http://www.officialphotographers.gbr.cc/)

 

Both of the boys have great lives as they go about their daily exercise and then enjoy an afternoon in the paddock. Here they are the following morning, chewing over their victories!

 

 

After sending out nine runners last week, it's no surprise that we only have a few to run over the coming days.
I hope Celestine Abbey can put up a good show on her handicap debut at Lingfield on Tuesday. She has found life tough in maidens but this is more her level and she should be able to make an impact. It's her first run on the all-weather but she gallops well on that surface at home.
Accompanying her to Surrey will be Opus Too. He is having his third career run so will qualify for handicaps next time. He is still quite inexperienced so the run will do him good.

Then on Wednesday, The Ducking Stool will be making a quick reappearance after her fine third last week when she heads back to Yarmouth again. She'll be stepping up to two miles this time which I think will be ideal and, as long as she isn't tired after her recent efforts, she should be thereabouts again at her favourite track.
Also at the seaside will be Previous Acclaim. She's become very frustrating but there is ability in her and if the drop in trip is ideal, she could land some prize money.

Our Sir Percy colt foal is growing fast and, although not separated from his mum yet, he is becoming pretty independent. He comes in during the day on Sunday to let some of the others have a day in the field and he likes to pretend he's a big horse by looking out of the door, even though he can barely see over it!

 

THREE TO FOLLOW UPDATE

There has been plenty of movement in the standings after a high-scoring week for some. Congratulations to Rachel Shuksmith and Julie Feilden (my sister in law!) for both picking Handheld and Silver Alliance.
Topping the table with 19 points are Mark Henry and Sophie Collington. Just behind on 18 points are Harry Hurst and Len Cousens whilst Jim Stevens, Julie Feilden, Sophie Feilden, Rachel Shuksmith and Bill Aspland chase the leaders with 17 points.

Tolly kicks off busy week

A busy week for the yard kicks off straight away on Monday with Tolly McGuinness at Kempton. He has had his three maiden runs now and has been given a low handicap mark so I hope he can show himself in a better light. The drop to six furlongs will be ideal for him and I really hope he can put up a good show on the all-weather - he seems to prefer that surface to the turf.

After a blank Tuesday, all hands will be on deck for the following two days. Wednesday sees us stretched across the country, starting with Handheld and Silver Alliance up at Pontefract. Both are in similar situations - after a good run of things they are very high in the handicap and struggling to win as a result. That said, they're both in top form and could land some prize money.

Handheld (Danny) & Silver Alliance (Reno)

 

At Yarmouth, The Ducking Stool steps back up to the trip she won over last month and I hope that will see her get her head in front for a seventh time at the course. She too is feeling well and always runs her heart out.
Also beside the seaside in Brighton is Luhaif as he goes for the valuable Brighton Mile. I can imagine the course and distance will be ideal for him and he seems happy at home. It would be a dream to win the big race at my hometown track.

The following day, we have another raiding party heading to Yarmouth. Tiger's Home is also entered at Brighton the same day but, where ever she goes, she should be knocking on the door again after a recent consistent spell.
Bushy Glade ran a blinder on her handicap debut last time and that has done her confidence the world of good. She would appreciate a bit of cut in the ground but her attitude is her main asset as she tries so hard.

Tiger's Home (Graham) &  Bushy Glade (Ryan)

 

Also at our lucky track is recent purchase Don't. She won on her debut for Luca Cumani but then ran very poorly on two subsequent starts for him. She seemed to pull hard on those occasions though so that may have been the problem. She has been very settled at home but, as a precaution, we will run her in a hood to reduce the amount of noise she hears and keep her calm on raceday. She is rated quite high so we'll see at what level she is currently after the race.

Previous Accliam has the ability to win but her small size holds her back as she can get bullied by bigger horses in her races. If she gets the rub of the green then another placing could in in order.

Don't (Ross) & Previous Acclaim (Shelley)

Opus Too (Danny)

Avidly (Reno)