This week, we’re looking back at last week’s runners and further ahead to what the spring might bring.
In the News
While our own runners didn’t claim the headlines the last week, there was another Grade One winning purchase for the bloodstock branch. Disko, bought as a three year old from France, claimed the Flogas Novice Chase over in Ireland, beating Our Duke. It was a 10th individual Grade One winner that was purchased by RHBloodstock and the 33rd Grade One that those horses have won between them since 2008. Take a look at the bloodstock page <a href=”https://rhbloodstock.com/about/”>here</a> if you’d like to find out more
Last week’s runners
It was always going to be tricky for Chic Name to try and make all in the Kingmaker Chase with other confirmed runner Gino Trail entered. He was out of his comfort zone early on with the Kerry Lee horse taking it up. That said, he jumped superbly again all the way ’round and although he got outpaced when the others upped the tempo, he stayed on to claim some prize money in fourth. I think a step up in trip will be next for him and on Saturday’s evidence, that should certainly suit.
The day before, Fulgus improved from unseat at the first on hurdles debut to complete the race at Bangor. He was still green early doors, but jumped fairly well in the main. He was kept up to his work by Jake Hodson and although he finished well down from the winner, he’ll have learned a fair bit and hopefully he’ll improve again for the experience.
This week’s runners
No runners pencilled in for the coming week as we’re trying to freshen everyone up for the spring. With four weeks to go to the Festival, it’s a good time to do so. A few of them will be aimed at Cheltenham, but there’ll be a few horses heading to France as well. The prize money across the Channel remains vastly superior to that available at most British tracks and it makes obvious appeal. It explains why someone like James Reveley would base himself there permanently. Having ridden 83 winners in France last season, he scooped around 2 million Euro’s, about the same as Richard Johnson has claimed with 149 winners. We read all the time that the big British races get more prize money, but none of this seems to apply to the lower grade racing during the week. It would be nice if some of that extra prize money would filter its way down. But while it doesn’t, we’ll continue to look at running horses in France as an alternative.