Graphics by @lu_dixon_1
CONTENTS A racemaker for the day
1-2
Talking tack
2-3
A unique view of the Cheltenham hill
4-5
Welcome back to Hereford races Barrier trials with the horse whisperer The O Brien of National Hunt
6 7-9 9-13
Jumping for joy
14-15
British Champions Day
16-17
Frankel and Sir Henry Cecil
17-18
The Novice Notebook
18-23
Brodie Hampson talks to Matt Clarkson
23-27
A rare instance of Antepost value?
28-31
A Racemaker for the day By @BROWNLOWJ74
Racemakers The 2nd of July 2016 I was asked to do and attend as an Racemaker, once again for the Coral Eclipse day which I jumped to the chance of doing again this year at Sandown Park. Once again it was a great atmosphere and also to see young men and women and of course children at the track as well. What is a Racemaker?. I hear you ask. Well a Racemaker welcomes people entering the racetrack and helps them with racing related question’s and queries. Such as how to put a bet on, explaining the importance and the colours of the silks or general questions of racing. Our role is also to help give people a great racing experience, help them to enjoy racing and to encourage them to come back again. A few people from MPR have done this in previous years such as Klaudia Stokoe and Sarah Kirk plus others. As well as a few other people I know such as Billy Blakeman and Adam Webb and of course myself which is a great experience.
Kevin Ryan
Also you see some top racing during the day and winners like of BRANDO (trained by Kevin Ryan) winning the Coral Charge race. Page 1
Trainer Martin Smith
Or LIGHT UP OUR WORLD (trained by Richard Hannon) winning the Coral Distaff Listed race. But of course the Eclipse winner HAWKBILL (trained by Charlie Appleby) was the highlight, which was a great race to watch where THE GURKA and HAWKBILLbattled all the way to the finishing line. But HAWKBILL had the upper hand to tough it out and got up to win the Eclipse by half a length to win. During the day it was great to meet new people and I knew as well if it was on social media or just meeting them on the day. Like Kevin Ryan, Martin Smith, Michael Harris etc. I would highly recommend being a Racemaker all you have to do is go to the website http://www.britishchampionsseries.com to register on there as a volunteer Racemaker. For race enthusiasts it’s a fantastic way to promote the sport to people and encourage more to get involved
Talking Tack By @talkintack Following from the first article featured in Weighed in May addition I’ve been so busy with the saddlery side of my life that I had to stop riding out for a while. I’ve only been in to La Grange a couple of mornings over the last 3 months- just for the craic. I can’t wait to get back to it with a bit more regularity. The last couple of months have seen me making (what seems to have been endless amounts of) racing bridles. Some have stayed in Newmarket, others have been sent to Italy and Qatar. I also made a much smaller version, a pony bridle, for a special little chap whose father just happens to be in the midst of retaining his champion jockey title this summer.
For my keen twitter followers you may have also seen I have a very good friend staying with me at the moment aka #BestLodgerEver. She is only here for a short time whilst her visa sorts out and then she heads back to Australia. I am blaming her for midweek shenanigans involving Sambuca and the Yard pub! Also a night out in Cambridge where my feet became so sore I ended up in a shopping trolley being pushed between night clubs… not my finest hour… but had to be done! (I still have a whopping bruise from where I eventually tipped out… and never felt a thing!)
I have a new addition to my household that has 4 legs and a tail… #MollyDog She is a rescue dog, a 14yr old terrier with the mentality of a 4yr old especially where rabbits are concerned. I can usually be spotted holding on to an extended lead which has disappeared into a hedgerow with #MollyDog somewhere at the other end! She is awesome, and although spritely on a walk she is more than happy to sleep while I work, never leaving my side. She too has been led astray to the Yard pub (but not given Sambuca or gone to Cambridge!!) Plans for October involve going to an Anglia business event to learn about Grants for Growing Businesses, and then to British Champions day at Ascot. I imagine one will be much more entertaining than the other but who knows I could leave both with a little more money! Follow me on twitter to see how the bridles start their life as a big side of leather, how many rabbits #MollyDog has not caught and possibly the odd drunken tweet! Angela x
A unique view of the Cheltenham Hill By @iankingston_ian
The Open at Cheltenham. Some of you reading this will know I have 1 of the best race day jobs! Last fence & the hill at Cheltenham. What a place to watch the equine athletes at close quarters, the day is always full on, unpredictable but rewarding.
The Cheltenham Hill The Open meeting is seen by many as the next best fixture to the Festival it's self, many of the quality horses having an early blow. Friday is a great fun day, lots of parades, attractions and the ever popular cross country race. Saturday sees a much more business like card with the 2 mile 5 furlong Gold cup, last year sponsored by Paddy Power. This day in 2015 was to provide me with the best days racing I could possibly dream of. It started early, the family had been invited to Cheltenham by the connections of a horse running in the Paddy Power, there was a yard full of horses to muck out before I could even set off for work & they could change in to their glad rags. Usual stuff on arrival at Cheltenham, hurdles to position, fences to check, time seemed to drag by. Suddenly it's Paddy Power time, I slip up to the saddling boxes to wish all a safe passage & return to my position at the last fence. Page 4
After the first circuit midfield but not travelling as well as some, 4 from home not looking good, first 4 would be a great result. Coming down the hill a couple of slaps behind & by the last challenging for the lead. If you look at the Ch4 head on there's a bloke in black jumping around by the last fence & waving his arms. I can tell you he's screaming come on "Pops" the rest is now history, tears of joy streamed down my face, the family & I had a day never to be forgotten. I know what it meant to the connections, something dreams are made of. It just remains to say "Thank you Annacotty"
Annacotty by @mjyharris Can lightening strike twice? Who knows only the day will tell, all I can say is The Open in November at Cheltenham which ever day you go is sure to be 1 of the National Hunt highlights of the season.
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Welcome back Hereford races
The Directors and senior team of the Arena Racing Company (ARC) donned their overalls and picked up their paintbrushes to help get Hereford Racecourse ready for its re-opening on 6th October. Led by ARC Chief Executive Martin Cruddace, the team took a break from their Directors’ Meeting to help get the Racecourse ready for the first fixture on Thursday 6th October.
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Barrier trials with the Horse Whisperer By @jockeyrach Horse behaviour expert Gary Witheford has this year set up Britain's first ever barrier trials. The barrier trials are a great idea and they take place all over the world except here in the UK, until now. They are a sort of 'practice race' which are held at racecourses on non race days to give horses a practice race before they run. They are not just a great idea for young unraced horses to give them some much valued pre race day experience, but they also suit many types of horses. For example, some horses find race days quite a nervous experience and by attending the barrier trials they can come to a racing situation without the large fields or crowds of people around and generally have a more relaxed experience of going racing.
They are also great for horses that are perhaps difficult to get into the stalls or a little unsure of the stalls. Gary himself monitors the barrier trials so he is on hand to help with these difficult horses if need be. It gives the horse a chance to practice what they will be expected of on a typical race day, but if they are a problem then it doesn't matter as it's just practice. Gary spends time with them reassuring them and coaxing them in and usually by the end they are fine. But if they are still a little unsure then Gary can then arrange for your horse to go to his yard where he can spend one to one attention on them and help them get over their fear. It is difficult to take your time putting a horse into the stalls on race day as the races must run at set times to avoid race collisions on the TV and in the betting shops. A horse will only get so many chances on race day to enter the stalls by the stalls handlers, before the starter asks for them to be taken away. If a horse refuses to go into the stalls then that horse will receive a ticket from the starter and they will not be allowed to race again until they have completed what is called a 'stalls test'.
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A stalls test is when the horse will be scheduled to go to a race meeting and prove that they can behave at the races and be loaded into the stalls without a problem. This is arranged by the trainer of the horse but it costs the trainer money as they have to pay for the test and for the horses travelling costs. (so obviously they are keen for the horse to be taught properly from a young age to avoid these fines and the cost of taking a horse racing that doesn't even run!) If the horse passes the stalls test then they are clear to race again. But if a horse gets too many tickets on race days then they can be banned from racing for up to 12months and the trainer will also receives a hefty fine. The barrier trials are a fantastic way of avoiding this and making sure your horse is 100% ready for race day.
So far I have been to two of Gary's barrier trials at Lingfield racecourse in Surrey. The first time I was on an older horse called Arlechinnos Leap. He was a stubborn old lad who used to dig his heels going into the stalls. He wasn't frightened by them at all, he was just trying it on because he's a cheeky boy! He had received two tickets in the past at the races for refusing to go in the stalls and if he received one more ticket then he would be banned from racing for a year! We contacted Gary about him and Gary had been doing some great work with Arlechinnos Leap at his yard and he assured us he was now fine. So we decided it would do him no harm to take him to the trials as a freshen up after a break and to ensure he wouldn't be a problem on race day (as he was now so good at home.) With the assistance of a hood, he walked straight into
the stalls with Gary's son Craig leading him and me on top. This gave us the confidence we needed in the horse that he would now be fine at the races, which he was. The second horse I took was an unraced 3yo that was purchased from Darley. As we knew nothing about him we decided it would be great for Gary to do his stalls introduction and taking him to the barrier trial seemed like a great experience for him. He would see a racehorse for the first time, the stabling, jumping out of the stalls, galloping round the track afterwards-all things he hadn't before with no stress. He behaved like an angel and Gary put him in two times with four other horses from other yards. It was great for him as he was first into the stalls on the second occasion and some of the others were playing up going in, so he was forced to stand in the stalls for about 5minutes. These things can happen on race days so you need your horse to be patient and he was. Each time we jumped him out he was better than the last so he learned quickly what was expected of him and it was an excellent experience for him. I really hope Gary continues to do these great confidence giving barrier trials. He told me this year that the third 2yo race of the season held at Windsor had a field of first time outer 2yos. The three horses in the race that had been to his barrier trials finished 1st, 2nd & 3rd! They were just that little bit sharper than the others in the race as they knew what it was all about before they went. We are very lucky to have Gary and his expertise in this area and I know if I were a trainer I'd be booking horses into all of them.
The O Brien of National Hunt By @MattClarkson3 In the heart of the Cotswolds at the picturesque Grange Hill Farm, lies a small yet big in personality yard who are taking the jumps by storm. But this isn't just a racing yard, it's a cake eating horse loving family who deserve every success coming their way.
Led by the commander-in-chief Fergal O'Brien, who spent 18 years as assistant to Nigel Twiston-Davies just down the road is now on his own and successfully making a name for himself in his own right which is richly deserved as he's one of the nicest blokes I've ever met. Fergal has a brilliant team with him in the likes of head lad Kev Brown, Dr Simon who in my opinion is the best thing to come out of Batley since the A642 (Yorkshire joke) has spent the last 12 months assisting and managing the social media side, and Ally Stirling who has been there since the beginning sorting the admin and is also a very talented amateur jockey. Along with the amazing stable staff Abbie, Lilly, Sam, Paddy, Philly, Tori and three of the best jockeys in Alain ‘Squeak' Cawley, Paddy ‘the crowd shusher’ Brennan and Conor Shoemark they have the people and structure in place to be one of this country's brightest teams. Starting their days at 5.30am, taking the 1st lot up to the gallops for 7.45 and then the 2nd lot for 8.45, they all play their part in a success that starts at home and finishes on course. At the time of writing this close knit yard has 43 placed horses including 15 winners from 94 runners at a strike rate of 16% would have you in profit betting to a level stake of all runners. They are well on there way to a best ever season haul of 47 winners set back in 2013 and we're only in September! Page 10
With the iconic stable star Alvarado still to start his campaign ready for another tilt at the Crabbies Grand National, who can I add looked amazing when I visited all credit to Sam there, plus other big names like Perfect Candidate, Pemba, Wizards Sliabh, Master Dee and the Military Cup winner Jenny's Surprise they look set for a massive season and can add to the strong tally of results they've already achieved.
This year with the backing of a range of different yet amazing owners from the well known Paul & Claire Rooney, who have a fair few horses in the yard now and have had some brilliant days this yard especially with My Dream Boat, to the lesser known lovely Priya Purewal who loves her days out racing with her horse Black Hawk as a family thing, and the legend that is Geoff Keeys who owns a Perfect Candidate and the giant The Floating Bear amongst others and is often seen at the gallops, Fergal and team can be guaranteed of some great support and the opportunities of chasing G1 success and of course winners at both Cheltenham and Aintree festivals. With the summer racing club syndicate which I know has had some winners already and is a very affordable price for those who aren't fortunate enough to own a horse outright, comes and winter racing club which I know will be just as successful. These little things are helping the yard get known and contributing to their ever growing success.
When I visited them in July I saw not only people who want to win races, but people who are generally just delighted to be in the position they are in and just taking every opportunity that comes their way. From the professionalism on the gallops, the immaculate condition of all horses and stables, to the way
they can all eat cake like it's going out of fashion, the staff at Grange Hill Farm are not only some of the nicest people in racing but people who I have an enormous amount of respect and admiration for.
Now with the new chapter in Fergal's better half Sally Randell leaving her training role and joining him as assistant trainer, the yard can only go from strength to strength. Along with the brilliant horses that Sally will bring to the yard with her will be the very talented stable staff of Kate Leahy and the fantastic young jockey Brodie Hampson, who are both amazing and can only add to the star quality already there and the number of winners for this season. I'd like to give my best wishes to Fergal, Sally, Kev, Ally and all the team for the remainder of the season and the future. Hopefully with the continued and new support they get big things can be achieved by a yard who deserve it so much. I was a fan for a while, now I'd like to consider myself a friend of Fergal O'Brien, a small yard but a giant of a person and team. One of the very best.
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Jumping for joy by @abbeighx Momentum is rising for National Hunt fans, and although the season is not yet in full swing, fans are not short of drama and excitement; Hereford racecourse will reopen its gates for more than point to points on Thursday 6th October, Richard Johnson will be looking to gain his second Champion Jockey title, and just as fans were getting settled into their choices and thoughts for the start of the season, rivets were sent through cyber space when it was announced that 60 horses were being pulled from Willie Mullins yard by Gigginstown. Due to a disagreement in raised training fees in a somewhat controversial decision by O’Leary, the horses will be relocated to other yards.
Straight away the questions about where the horses would be sent began to surface, with many believing that Gordon Elliot would be the main beneficiary of Mullins loss, a point that was confirmed with Elliot being told he would be receiving around 20 horses, including Don Poli, Apple’s Jade and Blow By Blow. Joseph O’Brien, Mouse Morris, Henry De Bromhead and Noel Meade are also set to benefit from Mullins loss. With Chepstow Jumps Festival kicking off on the 8th October, this will soon be forgotten as National Hunt stars will start to appear out of the woodwork, with £300,000 in prize money available over the two-day meeting. The Grade 3 Totepool Silver Trophy is the feature race of the meeting, where last year’s
winner Court Minstrel who won at an impressive 40-1 in 2015. I am personally looking forward to the Legends charity race. Raising money for the Bob Champion cancer trust, previous star jump jockeys such as Brendan Powell, Jim Culloty and Graham Bradley will be back in the saddle for what is bound to be an enjoyable race for a great cause. For more information on the race and riders, or to donate, you can visit http://www.bobchampion.org.uk/jump-legends-charity-race-2016.htm
Cheltenham Calling Cheltenham Festival, considered to be the fever point of the season by many, may be over 5 months away but there is plenty of action for fans to sink their teeth into beforehand at the renowned course. The Showcase, from the 21st to 22nd of October marks the first meet of the season where we will see our favourite trainers, jockeys and horses lock horns, with the Open featuring the Betvictor Gold Cup day less than a month later. Will we be seeing fan favourites such as Thistlecrack, Sprinter Sacre, Annie Power and Douvan grace the turf stage once more, and more importantly, who will be added to the list of prestigious thoroughbreds?
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For those that will be visiting over the next few months to enjoy the racing on show and do not know the area, Cheltenham has a thriving nightlife and hospitality aspect that goes hand in hand with racing. 21 Club http://the21club.co.uk/ , run by racing fan and horse owner Richard Davies is the place to be, not only when there are races on but all year round. The cocktail bar and club, offering an enviable atmosphere where fans, jockeys and trainers alike flock to celebrate (or commiserate!).
British Champions Day By @SimplyHorseTips
With many starting to look ahead to the National Hunt season you could be forgiven for forgetting that British Champions Day, while officially signing off the flat season, is actually a culmination of over 30 top class races held at various racecourses over the the last five months, with £4.2million in prize moneyavailable on the day itself. Billed as “the breathtaking finale to the Britsh flat racing season” with races including the Sprint Stakes, the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and the Qipco Champion Stakes, the one-day festival has seen the likes of Fascinating Rock, Solow and Noble Mission (to name but a few) emerge victorious in recent years, yet is most likely best remembered for the exploits of Sir Henry Cecil and the mighty Frankel.
The incomparable Frankel Page16
In 2011, the inaugural British Championship Series, Sir Henry Cecil's superstar won the 2000 Guineas, St James Palace Stakes and the Sussex Stakes before winning the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on British Champions Day in impressive fashion, beating the Aiden O'Brien trained, fellow Group 1 winner Excelebration by four lengths and in doing so cemented his place as one of the most exciting and consistent racehorses of the 21 st Century, having won four Group 1 British Championship races over the course of the season. He returned to the British Championship Series in 2012 to win the Lockinge, the Queen Anne Stakes, The Sussex Stakes and the Juddemonte International before beating the previous years' winner Cirrus Des Aigles in the Qipco Champion Stakes, ending the season with five Group 1 British Championship races and a glittering career unbeaten with fourteen wins and a recordbreaking nine straight Group 1 victories. Although now retired, we still have the joy of seeing Frankel's offspring at racecourses all over the UK and Ireland and can remain hopeful that one (or more) can emerge and strike up a similar run of straight Group 1 wins, however unless you watch some of Frankel's races back you are unlikely to ever really appreciate just how impressive he really was and in truth another multiple Group 1 winner such as he seems sadly unlikely. In terms of his trainer, again I would encourage you to watch back on previous races to see just how much Sir Henry Cecil loved, lived and breathed everything racing. He was a real gentleman of the sport and quite rightly described by Paul Nicholls as “a true legend”. While we may never again see such an admired, respected individual as Sir Henry Cecil in the winners enclosure, British Champions Day and the series as a whole helps to ensure that he will never be forgotten.
Frankel and Sir Henry Cecil By @writeforracing With Champions Day on the horizon, we look back to the day which saw the golden era of Frankel and Sir Henry Cecil come to an end. How we miss them.
Many of racing’s characters are liked and respected, but everyone in racing loves Sir Henry Cecil. Today at Ascot the evidence for this statement is clear, and a sell-out crowd bears witness to this adulation on a national and international scale.
The vast sweep of the grandstand looms over a thin grey figure in a trilby hat. Bordered with ivy green foliage and dashes of tabasco red geraniums, the parade ring heaves with tip-toed crowds straining to catch a glimpse of racing’s finest. The grey figure looks down and away. Sir Henry watches his runner in the 4.05 through hooded watery eyes, frailty matched by grace and dignity, his characteristic mill pool calm being tested as never before. With the race won there is no clichéd punch of the air, just a dab of the eyes with a silk handkerchief before turning to await his horse. Frankel stalks into the parade ring. His 14th consecutive victory has sealed his place in history as the greatest of all time, retired unbeaten. His eyes and ears track the flickering crowd with satellite precision. Three cheers ring out for Sir Henry who bats away the chorus of compliments with natural modesty. It's an involuntary reaction, like a horse flicking gnats with its tail. Frankel’s physique exceeds the definition of animal; a beautiful machine with conker-bright skin stretched over bulging shoulders and rump. At the summit of achievable fitness and condition he demands our attention, and all eyes are drawn to him with magnetic addiction including those of the Queen. In diamond jubilee year, it's easy to overlook her presence here today. In an age of information download and instant access to data, Sir Henry’s comments are always measured and understated. Inevitably the microphone held patiently under his chin requires him to share his final thoughts on Frankel. With his throat ravaged by chemotherapy, his voice is a wisp of smoke against the blaze of the crowds which surround him. The volume fades in anticipation. ‘He is the best I've had and the best I've seen. I'd be amazed if there has ever been a better one. This has been the perfect day.’ Sir Henry narrows his eyes and looks across to the bay horse as he orbits the parade ring for the final time. His last thoughts are not shared - we can only speculate they include relief, disbelief, or a basic satisfaction that the job is safely done. He watches wistfully as Frankel is led away, like a boy watching the Christmas decorations being taken down, knowing Christmas comes but once a year Frankel comes but once. Page 18
The Novice Notebook By @thefinalflight1 Firstly, welcome to the first edition of The Final Flight (TFF) ‘Novice Notebook’ which will be a monthly feature in this magazine. The idea of the notebook is to highlight potential stars of the novice ranks, both hurdlers and chasers, by reviewing some of the most notable performances of the previous month. As it is still early for most of the star National Hunt horses to appear, I have highlighted five novices who I believe will be well worth following throughout the 2016/2017 season. As many of you are aware, the second edition of The Final Flight Jumps Guide is now on sale and can be ordered via the following link – www.thefinalflightpublications.co.uk. Similarly to this article, the main idea of the publication is to highlight horses to follow for the season. The publication includes thoughts from the Champion Jockey Richard Johnson, star point-to-point rider Derek O’Connor and many others and is well worth the outlay of £9.99 for all of the in-depth analysis.
Baden Martaline – Ma Sonate (USA) (Val De L´Orne (FR)) This talented grey was the winner of his sole point-to-point when trained by Ronald O’Leary before switching to Nicky Henderson’s Seven Barrows operation. Although he failed to win last term, he showed plenty of promise on his debut when he filled the runner-up spot at Cheltenham and also at the Punchestown Festival where he finished a close third behind the Jessica Harrington-trained Woodland Opera. When visiting Seven Barrows recently, various members of Henderson’s staff were particularly fond of Baden and although he is currently only rated 135 as a hurdler, it is expected that he can significantly improve on that when his attentions are switched to chasing. Many will hope he remains over timber to exploit his current rating but this son of Martaline looks to have the physique to make a smart chaser and it is
hoped that he switches to that sphere sooner rather than later. Most notable performance: 2nd place – National Hunt Novices’ Hurdle Possible long-term target: Grade 2 Fuller's London Pride Novices' Chase, Newbury (November)
Blow By Blow Robin Des Champs (FR) – Shean Rose (IRE) (Roselier (FR)) A surprise package in bumpers last season when landing a Grade 1 at Punchestown on his final start, Blow By Blow is the front cover horse for this year’s edition of The Final Flight Jumps Guide and it is hoped that he will follow his predecessor, Douvan, by winning at next year’s Cheltenham Festival. A tall scopey son of Robin Des Champs, this gelding will certainly jump a fence in time but his super attitude to win the aforementioned Grade 1 bumper from the front under a canny Nina Carberry ride was a credit to him as an individual and he will take some stopping in the novice hurdling division. Now in the care of Gordon Elliott following the recent Willie Mullins/Gigginstown House Stud split, Blow By Blow joins a number of other top-class hurdling prospects at his new home, though if the only challenge for Elliott is to keep his potential stars apart early doors then he will be more than satisfied. Most notable performance: 1st Place - Grade 1 Champion INH Flat Race, Punchestown. Possible long-term target: Grade 1 Neptune Investment Management Novices’ Hurdle
STAR HURDLER: Blow By Blow is predicted to continue to hit the headlines when switched to the novice hurdling division this season.
Give Me A Copper Presenting – Copper Supreme (IRE) (Supreme Leader) Having spoken to leading bloodstock agent Tom Malone over the summer, this son of Presenting is impossible to leave out of any horses to follow list. From a good family, Give Me A Copper created a deep impression on both of his starts to date, firstly in a point-to-point and then in a Cork bumper. Tom Malone justified spending a huge sum at Aintree in April to secure this likeable youngster and that speaks volumes given that the list of talent that he as sourced in the past includes Dodging Bullets and Brindisi Breeze. His former trainer Donal Coffey held him in serious regard stating that “if he isn’t sold, we’ll keep him for the Gold Cup!” and now housed at Ditcheat, he could not be in better hands to meet his destiny. It is predicted that he will switch to the novice hurdling division as Paul Nicholls is often keen to get on with things and it is hoped that he will be Graded class over timber. Most notable performance: 1st Place – INH Flat Race, Cork. Possible long-term target: Grade 2 Supreme Novices’ Hurdle Trial, Cheltenham (November)
One Track Mind Flemensfirth (USA) – Lady Petit (IRE) (Beneficial) Warren Greatrex is an up and coming trainer worth following in my opinion and it is likely that One Track Mind will fly the flag for the master of Uplands this season. A Grade 1 winner over hurdles at the Punchestown Festival, this son of Flemensfirth has always been held in extremely high-regard by his connections and it is over the larger obstacles where his future lies. After speaking with his owner Andy Weller over the summer he informed me that chasing was definitely the plan and taking into account the level that he reached over timber, he ought to be a high-class recruit to the novice chasing ranks. The Grade 2 Rising Stars is a possible target, a race Paul Nicholls has used to unleash plenty of his better chasers in the past (Silviniaco Conti, Wonderful Charm & Southfield Theatre in recent years). If the Champion Trainer is represented this time around, that may well enhance the starting price of this progressive six-year-old.
STAR CHASER: One Track Mind is set to embark on a novice chasing campaign and he is a potential Grade 1 horse for the 2016/2017 season.
Stretchingthetruth Gold Well – Maryanndoyle (IRE) (Turtle Island (IRE)) Ten victories at Punchestown last spring made it a memorable 2016 Festival for JP McManus and Stretchingthetruth, who won the concluding bumper on the Saturday, created a deep impression. Ridden patiently by Nina Carberry, this winning pointer travelled with ease throughout. When the long-time leader Rathnure Rebel came back to the field turning for home there was only one winner as the Noel Meade-trained five-year-old was still full of running. When asked to quicken away from his rivals, he did so in tremendous fashion and earned himself a place as one of the leading prospects for McManus to go to war with this season. A maiden hurdle should be a formality for this classy youngster before he is stepped up in class. Most notable performance: 1st Place – INH Flat Race, Punchestown. Possible long-term target: Grade 2 Monksfield Novices’ Hurdle, Navan (November)
@BrodieHampson1 talks to @MattClarkson3 I was lucky enough to catch up with the young and talented jumps jockey Brodie Hampson recently. Brodie hit the headlines in February after riding her late father's horse Jenny's Surprise to an emotional victory in the Military Gold Cup and I wanted to find out more about this brilliant young lady and what makes her tick. 1. What got you into racing? I got into racing when I was 16, Sally Randell needed someone to help ride out her pointers in Wales so I moved up there, a couple of months later she gave me a ride in a novice riders race and I won so from then on I was glued to the game. Page 23
2. Who from the racing world has been the most influential towards your successes? Well Sally got me started and from watching her riding in races to her then instructing me and giving me opportunities race riding she has been a major influence to me.
3. Which is your favourite horse that you ride out at home? I've recently started at Fergal's and a horse I started riding from the beginning and now do every day is 'Benechenko' he is a real character and gives me a great feel on the gallop.
4. What's your favourite takeaway? One thing I am known to loving a lot is food, I do love a take away and my favourite would probably have to be a Domino's.
5. How did it feel to win the Royal Artillery Gold Cup in your dad's colours? Winning the Royal Artillery Gold Cup on Jenny's Surprise meant the world to me. There was a big build up to it with my dad being very poorly and not having yet rode a winner in his colours which I set my heart on doing, so to get him to Sandown on the day and win how we did was incredible. It wasn't looking likely to happen from the pond fence, but she kept galloping for me and got us home in front, I could swear she knew how important it was to me as most horses being that far back would give up. It gave me the best memory with my dad I could have ever wished for and even though I have now lost my dad that day will never be forgotten.
6. Which is your favourite course to ride? My favourite course to ride round would have to be Fakenham. I have had a bit of luck there, with 4 winners, and I had my first double there which was also a special day as one of the double being my dad's favourite horse 'Fort George'. It was amazing to get the old boys head in front, and the other was on 'Lee Side Lady' for Neil Mulholland.
7. Are you excited to be moving over to Fergal's with Sally and Kate? We have moved to Fergal's now and it is an exciting new chapter. I have never worked on a yard as big as this before but I am looking forward to it. Fergal has a lot of nice horses and he is already a very successful trainer so it will be great to be part of the team.
8. What in life can't you live without? Well if I was light enough I would love to give it a go as a flat jockey, considering the amount of injuries I've already picked up over jumps, but I do love food and if I wasn't able to eat what I like I probably wouldn't enjoy life so food would have to be the answer to that haha.
9. If you was in charge of the BHA for a day what would you change? If I was in charge of the BHA for a day I would change the fact that if Amateur jockeys have had over 75 rides against professionals you have to pay for them, but the amateur doesn't see any of the money. I don't think this is fair, it is
hard enough getting rides as it is, smaller trainers tend to sometimes use amateurs just to take away some expense of having to pay for a jockey along with everything else so when they have to start paying for you knowing you don't even see any of the money it takes them chances away.
10. Who's your best friend in the weighing room? In the weighing room Ben Poste would be my closest friend, i always manage to grab a lift with him to the races and any help I needed he would be the first person I would go to. In the girls, Ally Stirling would be my closest friend, we have a lot in common, the love of food being one of them.
11. What are your goals and what would you like to achieve in the near future? My main goal would obviously be to try to have as many winners as possible, I would like to win the lady amateur title before I maybe turned professional.
12. If you could ride any horse past or present who would it be? I have always loved 'Sprinter Sacre', he is such a gorgeous animal, I'd say he would be some ride.
13. How much does it mean having the large social media fan base that you've got? Do all the great messages help spur you on? The social media side to it is great, it's nice to know you have people following you and watching your rides. If I ride a winner or even get a big priced horse
to finish close I do look forward to going on the likes of Facebook and Twitter, the amount of messages and support of people that are genuinely delighted to see you do well is great. There is also a downside to social media, if you don't have a great time on a horse or things don't go well you can get some nasty comments which do make you feel rubbish when you read them but you just have to ignore it.
14. Finally, who works harder you or Kate? It is brilliant to have someone like Kate to work with, we are very close and look out for each other, on bad days we pick each other up which in this game you need. I would have to say I work harder though just because I have to drag her to the gym every afternoon, she wants to sleep on the sofa, getting her to come to the gym with me is harder than the actual gym work haha. Unfortunately Brodie’s father Mark lost his battle with cancer in May of this year. I know that Brodie and her brother Callum are big supporters of The Prospect Hospice in Wroughton who were amazing and helped Mark and all the family throughout his illness and after his passing. If anyone wishes to make a donation here to help them continue the brilliant work they do here is the link http://www.prospect-hospice.net/ Since writing this Brodie has since gained her professional licence. I'm sure you'll all join me in congratulating her on her well deserved success and wish her all the best in the future. Thank you all for reading and a special thank you to Brodie for giving up her time to answer my questions.
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A rare instance of Antepost value? By @topspeedfigures The lack of Antepost value is a widely discussed topic amongst racing fans, none more so than the lack of value for Cheltenham Festival races. As the time approaches for the jumps season to start up once more I decided to cast my eye over the Antepost markets to see if perhaps there was some value to be had before the horses that are likely to be aimed at The Festival start running and prices become altered. I feel I have found some. The Cheltenham Gold Cup market struck me as one that is being priced up correctly as soon as I opened the tab on Oddschecker.com. That starts immediately with the favourite, Thistlecrack. I'm not going to sit here and write that this horse isn't good enough to win a Gold Cup when he clearly is, having said that however, the best speed figure Ive ever awarded him was in the World Hurdle which was 85, he'd need to step up on that form to win a Gold Cup but I do believe he has it in his locker. My main issue is how can a horse that's never jumped a fence in public be fav for a Gold Cup? It really is a ludicrous suggestion and best price of 7/1 is ridiculous at this stage. The second fav is Vautour. This horse cleverly has the ability to win a Gold Cup, his joint best figures from me have both come at Chletenham (90) which puts him bang there on ability. Again though I find this a silly price. Firstly you factor in the risk of will the horse even go to the race? Last seasons debacle of the shift to the Ryanair so late in the day indicated to me a fear over his ability to fully get the trip. You then add in the fact that when he's been asked to go up against fellow gold cup horses in the King George he was caught late by Cue Card and it could be argued Don Cossack would've won the race had he not fallen. So a potential 3rd position in a King George, never having raced over the distance, connections no committing to aiming him at the price and doubts over stamina are enough to make the 8/1 available look very very short.
The previous two winners Don Cossack and Coneygree both have a little more juice in their prices but I'd want even more to think about backing them. The Don is 2-3 weeks away from starting proper work so is well behind schedule and Coneygree has been off a full year and is very ground dependant, both enough of a risk for me to back him at this stage. Cue Card for me just had too hard of a season last season to look at backing him as an 11 year old. He may be a bet come festival week once we can analyse the upcoming seasons form but I feel a long tough season last season might have just left its mark on the horse and couldn't be taking the 11/1 available. Djakadam for me has a very very strong chance this season. The points made above about those ahead of him in the market mean to me this horse should likely be fav and I do believe he is value for the Gold Cup. Completely proven in the race and with seemingly no issues holding him back he's a more likely winner than any of the above in my eyes at this stage. However, at best priced 12s it's still a little short for me personally to take the bet at this stage for a horse that's not managed to win it on two previous occasions, I wouldn't however put anyone off betting him and can see a strong case to do so. Douvan for me is highly unlikely to take this route and for me is the next champion chase winner and Killultagh Vic is another who's had his issues and doesn't have a clear target. Now for the four horses I believe are all quite staggeringly overpriced when just analysing their form and not their reputation. Firstly Valseur Lido, I believe the recent news of Valseur being removed from Willie Mullins and placed in the care of Henry De Bromhead is a major positive for this horse. I think this horse has been slightly overlooked in Willie's yard due to all of the other beasts around him but the form he has in the book is truly top class and I think the stars will align for a Gold Cup campaign this season. Valseur's Festival form is up there with the best of them, 2nd and 3rd behind Vautour
in recent years over an inadequate trip both times shows me the horse acts very well around Cheltenham despite being outpaced over the distance on both occasions. De Bromhead is unlikely to have a better chance at a Gold Cup and I feel he'll be campaigned towards one. The 25/1 for me is huge as there's a huge chance of the horse at the very least placing. The next horse is Native River at 33/1; I was absolutely gutted last season when this horse didn't run in the RSA chase. I thought he looked made for the job and then having rates the RSA as a particularly weak renewal I was even more convinced he'd have won it afterwards. For me his performance at Kempton over Christmas brought about a huge overreaction and led to him running in the four miler, I was sat watching the race thinking to myself "I hope this comes nowhere and goes to the RSA", the reason was because it didn't look suited to Kempton at all and I felt he'd love Cheltenham and the gruelling test of the RSA, I hoped he would look poor on the day to ensure a nice price for the RSA but ultimately it backfired and he went for the 4 miler. I have a theory as to his performance however, the top three speed figures I've awarded Native River have all come going left handed. I simply think he was unable to get into a proper rhythm at Kempton that day and wasn't shown to best effect. To further rub salt in the wounds he was dropped back down to three miles at Aintree a few weeks later and bolted up. I believe this horse is made for the stamina test of the gold cup, he'll jump soundly and think he'd be very tough to beat in a battle up that famous hill. 33/1 looks massive for me and I've certainly taken the price. Black Hercules for me was outstanding at The Festival last season. His best two speed figures from me have both come at The Festival, last season in the JLT and in the bumper. Black Hercules was touted as the early season pick for the 4 miler at Closutton so you'd have to think they'd be confident of him seeing out the trip well. His performance last season for me is only scratching the surface and I feel that there is far more to come from this horse. Willie Mullins is still chasing that elusive first gold cup win and having lost contenders such as Don Poli and Valseur Lido from his yard recently Black
Hercules will surely have moved up the pecking order in terms of his contenders. My fourth and final value selection is one I know many will disagree with. For me this horse is amongst the most misunderstood in training today, Don Poli. A creditable third last season Don Poli has more than enough ability to improve upon that this season. For me he was not given the most efficient ride last season, I don't think Davy Russell gave him a bad ride by any means, on any other horse that ride might've worked out quite well for him. My issue is Don Poli is a seriously lazy horse, and if he was mine, I'd want to see him being niggled along plenty throughout a race to stay up with the pace. I think had Bryan Cooper taken the ride on Poli he'd have finished a hell of a lot closer than he did to Don Cossack as he simply knows the horse better than Davy. I think Don Poli is absolutely made for Cheltenham and the way he flew up the hill constantly making ground on Cossack and Djakadam says to me he still had plenty more in the tank. If given a more aggressive ride next season it wouldn't surprise me at all to see him win and look back and see the 33/1 currently available as a huge amount of value. Overall I believe you could back any of the four value horses mentioned and if they stay sound you'll get a proper run for your money on the day and I'd imagine all four will start an awful lot shorter should they line up on the day, I'm not sure the same can be said about some of the horses at the top of the market.
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