In the News
The end of the season and what a season it’s been. We’ve smashed through last year’s prize money tally with a total of 171,878 for last season, compared to 103,962 the year before. It could’ve been even more with a bit more luck, we had no less than nine 2nd places and a few of those were by a narrow margin. Still, we’ve ended the season with ten winners in all, thanks to a good few days at Perth where our luck turned for the better and Chic Name claimed the Highland National after Allysson Monterg claim the Phil Nelson Chase. Hopefully, we can push on again next season and keep improving on our tally. On that note, we’re starting a new syndicate featuring quality young French-bred horses. For more details, please contact Richard and the team via email at hobson.r1@sky.com.
We were due a bit of luck after the dark day we had at Cheltenham the previous week, losing Dame Rose, who collapsed after the line following her race at Cheltenham and despite the best of efforts from the veterinary staff, could not be saved. It’s hard on anyone to lose a horse, but to lose one as good as her is especially hard for a small team like ours. We hadn’t seen the best of her yet as she was only five and she would’ve made a fantastic broodmare in time. Needless to say, everyone on the team is a bit down, but we’ll have to remember the two brilliant days she gave us, firstly when becoming our first Graded winner last year at Aintree and subsequently winning her listed race over hurdles at Newbury.
Over in Ireland, it was a decent week for Bloodstock Graduate Dortmund Park, who claimed Grade One success in the Champion Novice Hurdle over two mile four. He had perhaps a bit of luck when Debuchet fell and took out Scarpeta and Getabird, but for all that, he smoothly pulled away from the competition on the run in to win by ten lengths
Previous Runners
We are yet to catch up on Shantou Flyer’s run in the Grand National. He had a great time out there, jumping well under young James Bowen and the pair both seemed to enjoy it. He got a little tired down the back the second time around and started to weaken away after being knocked sideways at the Canal Turn before James pulled him up. He did well, despite a hard season and some tough races, but he’s seemingly made of iron and has come out of the experience well. He’ll probably go out to grass now for the summer and hopefully, we can finally get him a win next season.
Going Gold ran on the first day of Cheltenham’s final meeting of the year, in the closing two-mile apprentice handicap. Again under James Bowen, they raced at a pretty sedate pace, which didn’t really suit him over this two-mile trip. He jumped well, lost his place momentarily when the pack started to sprint on the turn in but stayed on well to chase home the leaders. He over jumped the last a little, which cost him some momentum and finished sixth in the end, behind the runaway winner Master Dancer.
The next day, Dame Rose ran in the opening race of the all-mares day at Cheltenham. A great initiative from the racecourse to support the mares and a few chances to get black type for potential broodmares. She was attempting to get the two mile four trip we’d always thought she’d get. Rosie ran a cracker of a race, leading from the front and jumping very well again. She stayed on well, but couldn’t match the acceleration of the eventual winner.
We had just the one making the long trek up to Ayr for the Scottish Grand National meeting with Ramonex trying three miles for the first time. He was always in the vanguard, either leading or being right up with the leaders. He jumped well in the main, although he did have a tendency to go out to the right over his fences. He ran a good race for two and a half miles but got tired late on and James took it easy on him in the home straight. That meant he got beaten by a hundred lengths, but that’s an unfair reflection of his performance.
Our other runner on Saturday was a newcomer in the colours of David Fox. Extra Bald, the first foal of Palatyne to make it to the track, by the same sire as graded performers Draconien (Grade One winner at Punchestown) and Tout Est Permis. He shares his damsire with our own Echo Watt, Chef des Obeaux and Cyrname. Apart from all that, he’s a fine looking horse, who wasn’t without promise on his debut at Bangor under claimer Tom Broughton. He raced prominently and although he was quite green under pressure, he showed some flashes of potential before being eased when beaten. He should come on from that and we look forward to his next run.
Allysson Monterg made the long journey up to Perth a fruitful won when winning the Phil Nelson Handicap Chase off top weight under James Bowen. He was always in the vanguard, but cruised to the front at two out and swiftly asserted between the last two fences. There was no pegging him back after that and he won cosily by fourth and a half lengths, his second victory over fences. Having suffered two bad tendon injuries, it’s always great to see them back on a racecourse, but to have them winning is even better and after our bad luck this season, this was just the tonic we needed.
Two days later, Chic Name doubled our tally for the week by claiming the Highlands National, a race I’d won as an owner with Omix D’Or. It wasn’t as easy this time around as Chico had to fight hard for the spoils, but a great ride from conditional jockey Tom Broughton saw him cross the line first from Lac Sacre. It was only Tom’s second ride for us, but you couldn’t tell that from the patient ride he gave him. Great stuff and we’re obviously delighted with the result.
We couldn’t make it a double on the day though as Discko Des Plages travelled well for a long way in the bumper, leading the pack until the final two furlongs before fading out of contention and finishing well beaten. Back to the drawing board with him, I think.
That left us with two runners on finals day at Sandown, starting with Going Gold, who finished thirteenth out of twenty in a handicap hurdle over two miles. He raced prominently most of the way and was towards the front of the pack as they turned for home, but unlike some of the other jockeys, Richard Patrick was already hard at work and we faded out of contention in the home straight. We look forward to going novice chasing with him next season though.
Finally, Ramonex was running a good racing, matching leader and eventual winner Silverhow for a long way until a mistake saw him weaken quickly and eventually be pulled up. He had jumped well up until then, so it was a shame, but he’s another who will be back again next season.
This week’s runners
We’ve got a couple entered next week, both Extra Bald and newcomer Torn And Frayed are entered in bumpers during the week, but we’ll have to see whether or not conditions will be suitable for them to run.
RHBloockstock
A few mentions for the Bloodstock graduates. We’ve already mentioned Dortmund Park winning a Grade One at Punchestown, but there’s a few more to catch up on. First of all, we’re delighted that Saint Are recovered from his bad fall in the Grand National and wish him a very happy retirement. Alpha Des Obeaux also ran in that race, but took a heavy fall at the Chair. It looks like he might run at the Punchestown Festival this week.
Petit Mouchoir and Clarcam were also in action at Aintree, the former finishing second in the Maghull Novices Chase behind Diego de Charmil, while Clarcam ran with credit to finish 6th in the Topham. The final mention goes to Azzerti who ran a cracker for second in the big handicap hurdle at Cheltenham last week.
Finally
We’re delighted to announce that our listed winner Tahira has given birth to a good looking colt by Schiaparelli. Both mother and foal are doing well.
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