Happy New Year

Its been a busy few weeks with plenty of runners before and after Christmas and a great start to the New Year with 3 winners. The horses continue to run well with some very pleasing results.

Fern Hill and Bashers Reflection both ran well at Fakenham on the 22nd December to finish 2nd and 3rd. Fern Hill ran particularly well over the longer distance of 3 miles 5 furlongs which I thought he had been crying out for as he is getting a little slower with age! He was only just denied in the closing stages and I think a more conventional track would suit him better but it was great for his owner to have a runner on home soil with lots of friends and family to cheer him home.

Ronnies Reflection didn’t seem to enjoy his trip to Market Rasen on Boxing Day but was more at home returning to Leicester and won well under a lovely ride from Jack Quinlan.

We took a team of 4 runners to Warwick on New Years Eve with promising runs from them all. Jack Doyen put in another consistent run to finish 3rd for the Wardington Hopefuls. Midnightreflection ran well to finish 4th. J’Habite En France had a bit of a messy race to finish 5th but put that behind him when Winning well at Huntingdon only 2 days later with a great front running ride from Harry Bannister. A great day for his owners Mark Matthews and Steven Hardman, giving Mark a first win in his own colours.

‘Pierre’ and Harry winning well at Huntingdon

Hairy Potter made a very promising racecourse debut under Jack Quinlan for Jopla Racing in what looks to have been a very competitive bumper at Warwick.

The New Year got off to a great start with a winner at Fakenham with Gazette Bourgeoise taking control of the Mares’ Handicap Chase under Harry Bannister for Alex and Michelle Harvey. She is likely to head back to Fakenham for the Final of the Queen Boudicca Mares’ Handicap Chase on the 19th January.

Gazette and Harry winning well at Fakenham

Other runners at Fakenham included Regally Blonde who ran a much more promising race over 3 miles to finish 3rd for the Case Racing Partnership and Boleyn Boy who finished 4th.

Felton Bellevue and Charlie Case headed to Southwell where Felton but in his usual consistent performance and finished 3rd.

A huge thank you must go to our amazing owners who have been so supportive throughout the year and of course our team of staff at home deserve a big thank you for all their hard work and dedication - getting the horses to the races would not be possible without them - so thank you team for your tremendous hard work.

All in all a very good start to 2025. Fairly quiet on the runners front this week with the weather making plans a little more tricky!