- Monday, 08 January 2024 16:14
- Written by David Pipe
Shot Boii Winner at Hereford
It was great to get our first winner of 2024 with Shot Boii winning for the first time over fences at Hereford last week. He ran promisingly on chasing debut at Lingfield to be fourth but then ran below our expectations back at that track the next time. We put the famous ‘Lough Derg’ red visor on him the other day and this had the desired effect as he looked sharp and happy from and early stage and jumped very well. I don’t think the handicapper can put him up too much for this win and hopefully he can build on this next time.
Weather Woes
The weather played its part in the racing programme last week and it could again looking ahead to the coming days. We travelled all the way to Fakenham last Tuesday for it to be abandoned when the jockeys were in the paddock for the first race. While we cannot control the weather and some things cannot be helped, this is not the first time there have been problems at Fakenham. It is a very long way for us to travel to this course and a phone call or email since race day to acknowledge and apologise for what have happened would have been much appreciated but we have had no communication from anyone which I think is a little poor. It does make you think twice about going to support the course in the future. It was a very long day for the horses and staff and expensive for everyone involved as well.
Flat Runners
We had two flat runners last week and Ocean Heights ran another solid race to be third at his beloved Kempton. From the widest draw jockey Aidan Brookes got him into a good position early in the race and we were just overtaken by two horses quickening inside the final furlong. The very slight drop back in trip and making the running were probably not ideal but it was a solid run off a career high handicap mark. He will head back to the track for a race over slightly further at the end of the month where we can hopefully follow others with a target to aim at which will suit us more. Pub Crawl made his stable debut on the all-weather at Southwell on Friday. He ran well enough but a slow start from the stalls basically meant he never got involved in the business end of the race. He wasn’t beaten that far and we learnt a lot more about him. He has been doing some schooling at home and taken to jumping well so I will chat to the owners to decide whether we have one more run on the flat or go hurdling next.
Rain & Frost
It has been a very wet start to 2024 with over 85mm of rain falling last week. Jumps fixtures were lost last week due to waterlogging but this week the main challenge is likely to be frost. While Taunton went ahead on Monday, Exeter has been abandoned on Tuesday. We had runners both there and at Market Rasen (First Lord Du Cuet and Sizing Pottsie) the same day. We have declarations at Leicester on Wednesday (Royal Mer & Lady Balko) and while there are no plans for inspections at either place as I write, I would not be surprised if they were called in due course.
Veterans Final
I was looking forward to running Ramses De Teillee at Sandown in the Veterans chase final last Saturday as it had been the main aim for him since he finished second in the race last year. Unfortunately, the meeting was abandoned and we await news as to whether the race can be rescheduled. We have in the meantime now entered Ramses De Teillee in the upcoming Classic chase at Warwick on Saturday but I hope he may get to run in the re-scheduled veteran’s final, if it is moved to a new date. I know things are never as easy as they seem from the outside but I don’t see why it is so difficult to re-arrange a race or even the entire card. They seem to do this in Ireland very easily.
