Galway Festival Runner & further yard update

Its a tough ask but Kings Grey appears in top shape ahead of a tilt at a valuable 2m 2f handicap chase at Galway today. He may be 11 but he may be worth a small ew as the headgear is applied to keep him up to his work. Thankfully the ground has dried up, Brian is feeling confident and the Irish based  side of the Kirby family (including Kirbdog senior or perhaps ‘Grand Kirbdog’)  will be out in force to cheer our runner at the big meeting. We’ve had mixed results there from two trips to date, a second on our last start wasn’t a bad effort though from Adam and , pipped only by the Dermot Weld fav. Julie has gone over to keep Brian company and both plait and lead up the big grey. I wonder if they have shared the mucking out? I hope so….

‘Christian ‘ is stabled at Pam and Geoff Kirby’s and will be therefore nice and relaxed away from the  hustle & bustle of the track. Its only 30 minutes to the races and we just wish we were all there too but with three other runners tomorrow around the UK Phil has decided a few days away would not have been ideal, its getting really busy with the jumpers coming back in.

Its a far cry from a steeplechaser at Galway but Brian Dunn’s second set of yellow and white colours will be seen aboard the wining two year old, Mr Chuckles at Chester today. This straightforward colt was unlucky at Thirsk and Timeform also believe he is worth considering. This is their review of the race….

Powerallied was well beaten in the Super Sprint at Newbury but may be better judged on his impressive success at Musselburgh, while Roaring Forties went close in a Ripon maiden two starts ago and may have found the 7f trip too far on his nursery debut at Leicester. Both are accorded respect, but MR CHUCKLES may be worth another chance as he was short of room at a crucial point at Thirsk last time and could well banish that run to the memory here.

Our enthusiasm for this run is tempered by a poor draw, and as anyone in racing knows, its really hard to win a sprint race from a poor draw round Chester, we will see how he fares and most of all his Owners are looking forward to good day out at this top summer flat track where they put on an excellent Owners lunch.

.Phil will be at Chester so Sarah and Ross will be taking our two Market Rasen runners, Mr Selby and Factor Fifty. The former joined us about 5 weeks ago and is a good looking gelding but without much form to go on so far. He is a keen goer and Adam will be doing his best to settle him and keep some in the tank for when it matters. He is learning to settle better at home.

Factor Fifty is back for another try round his favourite course but its a tough and open looking handicap and Frankie has not looked well handicapped on his last two hurdle starts. However, he is in good form at home,  is there to do his job and will  hopefully run well over this 2m 7f trip. He runs for the Topspec Partnership and a number of them are attending, we hope they will be back in the winners enclosure.

Back to yard news, we are sorry to say we will be saying goodbye to Hugo Thompson Brown (huggy) next week. Huggy has only been with us a short time but has worked hard and been placed on several of our runners. We wish him the best of luck in his new position.

Today sees Meg doing her 10k run round York for the IJF, she has raised over £1000  so far and we are very proud of her achievments. She is pictured here at the yard yesterday with her good luck balloon!

Youngstock…

Phil took this photo of the three yearling colts , they all get on really well.

We are delighted to have yearlings in the yard by young sires that are doing really well this season – the Zoffany Colt being the number one, a first season sire who is vying for top spot with Canford Cliffs, and after three Royal Ascot winners his yearlings are going to be well sought after at the sales. This Castleton Bloodstock colt goes to Tattersalls Book 2. We also have two fillies by the top sprinter Equiano, one whom is for sale 100 percent and you would not find a more well grown, powerful filly at this stage of her first year, we like her a lot. Equiano is having a great second season after a good start last year, and his fillies do particularly well. This filly is big, rangy and a very good mover – an exciting two year old for next year.

Phil and I have entered IMPROVED for the DBS sales, being a first time bumper winner and our own, he has to be for sale but we would be extremely happy if he were bought to stay with us. He is an  impressive looking 16.1hh with a very deep girth, he comes from a good staying family ( dam a half sister to top staying chaser, Well Refreshed)  and he will only ‘improve’ the further he goes. He is currently having a couple of weeks at Castleton before heading back to Sharp Hill to prepare for DBS, and is looking in top shape. This is his photo the day after the race, we couldnt be more proud of this lovely young horse.

I thought you would all like these photos taken by Phill Adams on the gallops earlier this week….great stuff