Happy New Year 2018

It was great to see out 2017 with a good win from Themanfrom Minella who won the Local Parking Security Handicap Chase at Warwick on New Year's Eve.  Given a positive ride by Max Kendrick to win by 4 1/2 lengths from Paddy The Oscar.

I was delighted with Coded Message's run at Uttoxeter also on New Year's Eve in the mares' maiden open national hunt flat race where she finished 3rd, having been badly hampered.  She is improving with each run and will probably have one more run in a bumper before going hurdling in the spring. She is a half-sister to Midnight Jazz and looks to be a lovely prospect for the future for the Allen family.

Wish In A Well got the New Year off to a good start with a 2nd at Fakenham for the Case Racing Partnership in the Amateur Riders Handicap chase, a race he won last year.  He was given a good ride by Hugh Nugent and was only beaten  2 1/2 lengths and it was great to have so many members of the partnership there to see him run.

Crookstown wasn't quite so lucky at Fakenham, he was in the process of running really well when Mariah's Legend fell in front of him, he was brought to a standstill and put under the running rail, Ian Popham had no choice but to pull him up which was very frustrating as he would surely have been in the first two!  Thankfully both horses and jockeys were unhurt which is the main thing.

Phare Isle also ran at Fakenham - he ran his usual consistent race under Max Kendrick to finish 5th and probably a faster run race would have seen him finish a little closer.

Only a few entries this week with Free Travel, Hugo's Reflection, Midnight Jazz and Themanfrom Minella - we will wait and see what the weather does before making firm plans!

Two new additions to the yard with Kilbrew Boy being purchased at the Cheltenham sale for Lady Jane Grosvenor. He looks to be a lovely prospect having been 2nd in his point-to-point and is a half-brother to Pulp Fiction.  And a 4 year-old Un-named filly by Shantou out of Dabiyra arrived from Kevin & Anna Ross who will be running for the Case Racing Partnership.

Wishing you all a Happy New Year with plenty of winners!