The Jumps season proper is getting into gear and so it’s great to be back with my first blog of the season. While we’re never a yard who wants to have our horses 110% fit at this stage of the campaign, it’s been encouraging to have some winners in recent weeks.
We were thrilled to get Hymac’s head in front on his seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot. We were making the most of his novice status over hurdles to put him spot on for Cheltenham next weekend, where he’s due to run over the same course and distance as his win at the April meeting, which we’re really looking forward to.
It’s always exciting to see a bumper horse win first time out, and that was the case with Idaho Sun on that same Newton Abbot card. It’s what dreams are made of to do what he did there, especially in beating some Irish point-to-point winners who had a bit more experience. I’d say there’s loads to come from him both physically and mentally after such a promising start, so keep an eye out for him in bumpers this term.
We were encouraged by the runs of Star Walking and Kap Ouest at Uttoxeter and Chepstow respectively. Star Walking ran a lovely race on her hurdles debut, and I suspect that longer trips will play to her strengths better in time. Kap Ouest was in against some smart horses and so we were pleased with him being able to finish third. Again, he’s one who’s putting it altogether and may be better over long distances, but I’m sure his winning turn will come soon.
Idaho Sun’s win at Newton Abbot gave us confidence that Constellation Walk was another bumper winner in waiting for the team ahead of his run at Chepstow, but what happened just shows the ups and downs of this game. Unfortunately, he was diagnosed immediately after with atrial fibrillation which explains his below par running. We were pleased that we have a reason to explain his run and that his heart has returned to its normal rhythm, and now we can put a line through Chepstow and not judge him on that run. We’ll give him plenty of time to recover and hope to get him showing his best when he’s ready.
Weekend Runners
We’ve not got a huge team hitting the track this weekend, with Ma Belle Noire heading to Wincanton and Anno Power heading to Sandown.
Ma Belle Noire’s race is a really valuable pot and given we got into the handicap, we thought she’d be worth running as she goes well fresh. She’s reverting back to hurdles from fences, but as a three-time winner over the smaller obstacles last season, that shouldn’t be a problem. I hope she’s got an each-way chance and can be competitive.
Anno Power has had a very good summer and we’ve been looking to get her out for her hurdling debut for the last week or so. We’ve just been waiting for some suitable ground, which is an ever-pressing headache at this time of the year! The hurdles track at Sandown is on the Flat course, so we’re expecting lovely ground which is a big plus for her chances. She’s been schooling really well, and we have high hopes for her this year, and we think we’ve found the right place to start her off. She’s in against the boys, but she gets her seven-pound allowance and we’re hopeful of a big run.
Cheltenham November Meeting runners
Next week’s Cheltenham November Meeting is always a fantastic three-day event, and we’ve got a bunch of useful types set to take part. As previously mentioned, Hymac is all set for the meeting, and he’ll be joined by Boothill in the Shloer and quite possibly In Excelsis Deo in the big two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase. I’ll have more to say on those guys next week, so keep your eyes peeled for next week’s blog!
Have a lovely weekend,
Harry