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29 March ...NEWS UPDATE

Hi all,

Funny sight on Saturday - Seamus having trouble getting his leg over! No, not with Sally but our horse and in the process nearly coming off! Unfortunately for him, Veronica was only just behind him and of course she couldn't let it go, so gave him some verbal! Poor guy who was trying to be discreet!!

So as you can see HC is in fine spirits. What a difference a little rest and sun makes. He is back to his perky self and his coat is looking much better. Seamus was on board to make an assessment on when he will be ready to run.

The verdict from the boss was that he was a little stuffy, so will need a couple of fast pieces of work this week and then he will be ready to run the following week. So two races come to mind, on 7th April at Fontwell (4.30pm) and 9th April at Wincanton (1.50pm). Both are novice handicaps rated 0-115 and 0-105 respectively. The favourite is Wincanton. Seamus will get him as fit as possible but did say he may need this run to get him spot on!

For further information, over the last week Jimmy Derham the stable's conditional jockey has been riding HC and made a special point to have a word with me to say how well our guy had been working. .........yes we have heard that before!!! But what he was saying that he has come back from his mid spring break a different horse........let's hope it's "Master Minded!!

Tight Reins

Ray

14 March NEWS UPDATE

Hi Guys,

After a few days at Cheltenham and sponsoring the bookies benevolent fund, it's back to the nitty gritty of everyday life. I hope you all saw Seamus's Kawagino finish a close 5th on Wednesday! Lets hope, and I have said this more than once already, the stable has turned the corner!

HC pulled muscle in his hind seems to have cleared up and according to the boss, he appears to be very well in himself now. He is still taking things easy and spending time every day in the paddock. This warm weather will hopefully do him the world of good.

Just to let you know that last week before Cheltenham, HC's handicap mark was put up from 91 to 95, without even running. With both Silk Affair and Ski Sunday excelling at Cheltenham this week, it may be increased yet again, but hopefully not. The good news is of course, that from each of his previous races the winners or placed runners have been doing well at the very top level.

I know Seamus is in a bit of a quandary. He believs that HC can win races (soon), but is also aware that should he win before the end of April (the end of NH season), he will not be a novice after 1 October. This will knock him out of all of the novice races thereafter and give us a lot less options. Plus, between you, me and the gate post, he does have high hopes for our lad,,,,say no more! We have two options either ignore this and go for it in his next race or alternatively, make sure he doesn't have a winning option until after 25th April. Your comments on this would be much appreciated.

It is still the intention to give him a couple of races on the flat this year as well, but not until after the last hurdle race.

22 February

Hi All,

Just a quick report from Wilsford Stable. HC appears to be getting over his cold. He is still having regular canters, but is spending more time out in the paddocks. This warmer weather will hopefully get rid of whats been hanging around the stable for the last 6 months and we will see a general improvement of form for all of the horses. Keep an eye on the stable runners from now on as the Seamus thinks a few of them are very well handicapped!!!

The plan is to take things easy with HC for another 3-4 weeks and then increase his training and start racing again at the end of March, beginning of April. Initially, we will be looking for novice handicap races and then maybe one or two races on the flat.

On Tuesday we should be informed of his handicap rating. Both John O and myself think it will be around the low 90s, but Seamus is hoping we may squeak in with 89. We shall see!! After the three quiet runs we should be able to capitalise on this mark whatever it is and hopefully, you will see the real HC soon.

I will keep you informed of developments

NEWS UPDATE 16 February 2009

Hi Guys,

Yesterday at Hereford I questioned my knowledge of the sport! Standing in the parade ring both Kevin and I agreed that HC didn't look his best, especially compared to Newbury. His coat was dull and I thought a little patchy!! However, Lo and behold who won best turned out...yes, you guest it HC!!!!!! Both Kevin and I were gobsmacked. What do we know about horses came to mind!

However, we may have been vindicated! As you are all probably aware the horse finished 7th of the 11 runners. Both the trainer and I expected HC to finish close up at least in the first five, if not better. His form at Newbury and even Folkestone (pulled too hard) entitled him to be a lot closer, so by finishing 7th, he ran very disappointing, maybe too bad to be true. This morning however, he was found to have a runny nose and the boss feels that he may not have been 100%. One thing which seems to confirm this is that he blew for sometime after the race according to the stable lass.

As a result Seamus is now very upbeat with the run. He says when you consider he may not have been feeling well, and the fact that he still managed to finish his race and not be pulled up, shows he has a fantastic attitude. He thinks we can take a lot of positives out of the race.

The good news is that he will now be handicaped on a low mark, just what the boss wanted. Needless to say the boss wants to ensure that the horse is well before his next run, so he wants to give him a short break for 2-3 weeks, sort him out, before bringing him back to try and plunder his low handicap mark.

After having a very quiet and long journey home, I feel very much better now, so lets look forward to a much better run next time.

Tight Reins
Ray

Friday 13! February . NEWS UPDATE

Hi Guys,

HC has been declared for Hereford. There are 11 runners, His price is 66/1 and if you can get this...get on e/w!!! There are a couple of very good ex-flat horses running, especially Nice Style (Fav), and the best with hurdle form on show is Black Jacari. The horse is well and if he doesn't run too keenly should give a good show!!

It would be great if the ground dries up a little, but fingers crossed for a good run.

Let me know by 11am on Saturday for any more badges. See you on Sunday.

Tight Reins

Ray

PS: This is the report in the sporting life: "Hampton Court is expected to keep improving and connections have high hopes for big handicaps next season". Certainly hasn't come from me, but I am assuming it was a quote from the boss!!

SUNDAY 8 FEBRUARY

Morning all,

Yesterday I slowly made my way to the stables. Snow and ice made the journey interesting and scuppered the horses from going up the gallops. They all went out still, but only did some road work around the estate.

According to the boss, HC is "grand", over his cold and now ready to run. Although he has not done any fast work last week, he has been ticking over nicely and should be fit enough. His work will be picked up this week and he will be schooled over hurdles on Wednesday.

He has already been entered for Sandown on Friday, which looks a hot race (fav of the Triumph Hurdle has been entered) and also at Wincanton on Saturday and Hereford on Sunday. With the lack of racing we have had to enter him in all three as there is a strong possibility of him being balloted out of all of them. Wincanton is a novice hurdle rather than a juvenile race.

There are pros and cons for all of the races and depending on the ballot and weather may determine where we go this time.

I hope you all saw Strawberry's run at Kempton yesterday. Lets hope with two good winners now in the last week, the stable has turned the corner.

I will keep you informed of developments.

Tight Reins

Ray

Sunday 25 January 2009 NEWS UPDATE

Hi All,

I had a quick chat with Seamus yesterday. HC has had an easy week and although cantering up the gallops, hasn't been given any fast work. He still has a slight cold (runny nose) but nothing major. Unfortunately the horses in the stable have been suffering like this for the last couple of months, hence why they are all running poorly. Lets hope things change soon!

He will be entered for the races at Sandown and Fontwell next weekend, but his participation is dependant on a fast piece of work on Tuesday and a school over hurdles on Wednesday.

Seamus says that with the ground so bad, unless he is A1, a race in these current conditions wouldn't do him any good! If the ground was a lot drier it wouldn't be a problem. Sorry I can't be more definite about next weekend, but when I get any more information I will let you know.

Regards

Ray

Hi All,

Just to say HC has been declared for Folkestone. Wayne is on board. There are 15 runners, with two form horses who were behind Zaynar (favourite for Triump Hurdle) and Starluck (also high in the TH betting) respectively in their last race and an unraced runner from the Pipe yard. No easy task, especially if the ground continues to deteriorate!!

If he acts on the going I would be hopeful that he finishes in the first five, but don't be disappointed if, because of the going, Wayne takes it easy on him.

See you there, if I can get away from my meeting!

10 January 2009 UPDATE

Hi all,

I just spoken to the boss from frozen Wilsford Stables. He had already completed three lots and was just going out for the fourth. HC is very well and ready run. He will do one more bit of fast work tomorrow before his race.

The boss and I now think that the Folkestone race on Tuesday is possibly the best option, especially as they could divide the race, splitting any highly rated horses. The only down side is that rain has been forecasted for Monday and added with the frost coming out of the ground, will make the going very soft or even worse. This will, however, be the same at both courses. We believe it won't suit our guy, but at this stage and wanting to keep his handicap mark down, it's not really a problem.

We are still not discounting Newbury, but at the moment Folkestone is probably the strong favourite! Please could you let me know your badge requirement for Folkestone by Sunday evening

8 January 2009 UPDATE

Hi all,

HC has been entered for both Folkestone on Tuesday 13/1 and Newbury on Wednesday 14/1. There are 33 and 25 entries respectively. There are a number of the same horses entered in both races, but there is a lot more form on offer at Folkestone, with a few unknown quantities at Newbury.

I'm not sure which race is better and maybe the ballot position and going may decide for us. I will keep you informed. Please let me know your badge requirement for both venues in due course.

Just to let you know that after more X-rays on Tuesday Veronica has broken a couple of bones in her shoulder and after a further visit to the local A & E yesterday, she is also suffering from brain concussion. The good news is the X-ray confirmed there was a brain!

Over the last few days Veronica's memory has been poor and since Sunday she has been calling me George after the gorgeous (her words not mine) Mr Clooney! Now her memory and senses have been coming back and she realises her mistake, she has asked me to hit her over her head again!!! No pleasing some!!!

Kind Regards

Ray

30 DECEMBER .NEWS UPDATE

Hi Guys,

At last, the day we had all been waiting for, HC first run over hurdles. Pitching him in a Class 3 race at Newbury (The winner of the Triumph Hurdles at Cheltenham won this race last year) was always going to be difficult, but nevertheless, he came out of the race with credit by finishing 7th. It is difficult to assess the form of the race as some ran better then their official rating and some below, however it is a fact, he was probably the least experienced runner, if you take into consideration all the flat form on offer. As a result, we should be thrilled with the run as he will improve quite a bit next time.

As you know Seamus is always thinking of the future and I think we all knew before hand what the tactics would be - "drop him in towards the back of the field, get him relaxed and jumping and hold him together as he will need the race". Seamus was looking to finish in the first ten!

Surprisingly everything went to plan. HC jumped well enough for his first run and will improve with experience. What was more encouraging was that he remained competitive until two out and even looked dangerous coming round the final bend, before lack of fitness probably told. Wayne was very bullish on his return and said he did everything asked of him and will come on a lot for the run. He said he did tire over the last couple of fences but still ran on at the finish and we definitely have a horse for the future. The official report said, "took keen hold, held up, steady headway after 4 out, ridden and beaten when hit 2 out". The race was over 6 seconds faster than the Class 2 hurdle which was run a hour later.

Speaking to the boss this morning, he was very upbeat. The horse has come out of the race very well and ate up on his return to the stable.

The plan is to get him out again in approx 3 weeks time and look for a race of a similar standard. Seamus wants to get him handicapped (normally takes three runs) and then go to war with him! Here are a few possible dates for your diary with regards to his next run:

Newbury 14/1, Ascot 17/1, Warwick 22/1 and Sandown 31/1.

Fingers Crossed for some great days racing ahead.