No runners but an exceptionally busy day for everyone at the yard and everyone is having to work extra hard until we find the right new members to join our team. Special thanks to Lynn Shimwell and Alec Dent who have been coming in and doing lots of mucking out with everyone else. We have a fair few entries up to the weekend so lets hope the racing is on and all the hard work pays off with some winners to celebrate.
Tomorrow sees Stopped Out running at our local track, Catterick – Adam Nicol gets the leg up for the first time and he has ridden him plenty of times at home so knows him well. The Well Oiled Partnership have had some great days out with him, and although he has a lot of weight tomorrow, Catterick is a track that favours prominently ridden horses and Monty will be up there from the start as usual.
Tuesday is a work morning and Transient Bay, Cathedral, Can’t Believe It and Indalo Returns worked together, all pleased Phil well enough. Can’t Believe It just needs a couple of schooling sessions now and he will be ready to make his hurdling debut for the Philip Kirby Racing Partnership.
Please see the new page ‘Castleton Bloodstock‘ for photos and videos of the Castleton Bloodstock youngsters for sale.
No photos today – everyone was flat out working, so we thought you might like to see some photos from when we started eight years ago.
Phil and Be My manager – the first & only horse he trained in 2006/7 , but he never made it to he track that year, leg problems meant a year off. he was just about ready to run at the time and he was flying at home. The following year he was 12 and never quite recaptured the same form.
Cantering the horses over the moor at Castleton in 2008, Misty Gem leads Hazy Oaks.
Benrajah and Be My Manager in 2007, starting their fitness programme. Benrajah (left) went on to win Phil’s first ever race, and later an Aintree Hunter Chase by 22 lengths.
Geoff Kirby having a rare hack out on Waking Ned.
Simply Smashing looking wild and woolly when he arrived from Ireland- later the winner of 7 races and the Durham Grand National for us!
Simply Smashing 2 years later running in the Summer Grand National at Uttoxeter
Sarah and Phil doing some last minute tack adjustments to him.
Simply Smashing’s Owner, Colin Fletcher and his brother, Raymond.
Amazing King schooling with James Reveley
Phil riding out a weak looking 3 year old Goldan Jess the day after he claimed him from Ludlow
The same Goldan Jess a few years later looking an absolute picture – winning at Market Rasen – a brilliant horse for us and the winner of tons of races for The Jessies, Colin Fletcher and ourselves.
Phil on Agglestone Rock in the snow of 2010
Aglestone Rock and James Reveley – the Wenslydale hurdle at Wetherby
Lauren Sissons on Amazing King at home
Agglestone Rock winning his second chase as a 4 year old
Lynn Shimwell leading up Goldan Jess at Wetherby
Waking Ned with Sophie Staveley leading up _ Cheltenham 2008
Goldan Jess wining his first race for us – at Sedgefield, ridden by Kyle James in the colours of John and June Edwards.