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**Hoof** · 10 November 2012, 08:50 PM

DANVILLA

2007 bay mare by Dansili ex Newtown Villa

Owner Shully Liebermann and Willie Carson

This filly had a really good flat season last year, winning three handicaps at Kempton, Salisbury and Newmarket. This summer has not been so smooth for her yet, as her jockey thought she'd gone lame when pulling her up on her seasonal debut at Salisbury, when she proved to be quite sound after the race. She then ran very well to finish second at Newmarket, but then had no chance when badly drawn in a rather falsely-run Ascot Stakes. She has always loved her schooling and so we thought hurdling might be an easier option, but again she got no luck around Market Rasen and found that track too sharp to win from a little too far back. She then made swift amends by winning easily over 2m4f at Bangor. I get a very convincing feeling that this mare is going to develop into a very useful staying hurdler in time and will also be a winner again on the flat before her owners steal her away to the breeding shed!

DECEPTIVE

2008 bay filly by Red Ransom (USA) ex Fleeting Memory

Owner The Not-So Secret Seven

We bought this filly off Her Majesty The Queen at the 2011 Tattersalls December Sales after she had won a moderate 1m4f handicap at Kempton, very easily by 7l. No one of less a talent than John Francome came here to ride her and give his opinion and his approval resulted in this syndicate being formed to own her. We turned her away for four months and she has done fantasically well. The plan is to run her on the flat and then go hurdling in the autumn. Her sire, Red Ransom has proved very adept at geetting high-class hurdlers, including Zaidpour. This filly looks a special dual-purpose prospect.

John NichollsDEFINITE CHANCE (IRE)

2005 bay gelding by Definite Article ex Golconda (Ire)

Owner John Nicholls Ltd

This horse was second in his only start in an Irish point to point back in 2010, but has not been able to run since due to niggling delays. He came here from Martin Lynch in April and as Martin was my Father's stable jockey 20 odd years ago, it is great to re-new an old connection. He has filled out really well and is a beautiful mover and a very natural jumper. I cannot say much about such an unknown quantity, but he looks to have lots of atheletic ability as long as the wheels hold up!

DEFINITELY GLAD (IRE)

2008 bay mare by Definite Article ex Gladys May (Ire)

Owner Shully Liebermann

This filly has taken an age to mature but she has now filled out and finally developed. She has always been full of quality and class while lacking strength and substance but has now blossomed into the full package. She finished third behind a pair of very classy ‘dead-heaters’ on her debut in a bumper at Worcester in June, staying on really well to finish well clear of the fourth. She comes from a good family that includes two Grade 2 winners in Kobeck and Rouble and good staying chasers including Nick The Brief. She'll go straight over hurdles in the autumn and looks an ideal prospect for 2m4f mile mares’ races.

**Hoof** · 10 November 2012, 08:52 PM

DEVON DRUM

2008 bay gelding by Beat Hollow ex West Devon (USA)

Owner Dave Carrington

We bought this lovely gelding off Juddmonte Farms. He came from the Tattersalls Horses in Training Sale last October and, through the winter, he began to work as though he might be was one of the best bumper horses we’d ever had. His work was sharper than both De Soto and Pressgang, so the Cheltenham Festival became his aim until niggling little problems delayed his debut. He won a 1m4f bumper at Newbury where the second horse won her next start. Aintree was a puzzling disappointment, as this horse travelled so well inot the straight, but then did not seem to stay. However, the ground was very sticky and the following morning he was lame and had very sore feet, so that run can be ignored. This horse has fantastic potential and may well develop in a truely special dual-purpose prospect in the mold of Ulundi.

DUNLOUGH BAY (IRE)

2006 chesnut gelding by Flemensfirth (USA) ex Loch Lomond (Ire)

Owner The Horwoods Partnership

This horse had three runs in bumpers for Lawney Hill during January and February, showing plenty of promise for horse bred as he is. We have a full-brother, Scampi Boy and he took a long time to strenghten up. He was second at Southwell on his debut and then probably found Plumpton a bit sharp and we have found that we've managed to get too many nice horses beaten around that track! He was a bit keen on his third start at Chepstow, but still ran with promise. He had run in a few point-to-points in Ireland before his owners bought him, so it may be that we’ll go straight over fences as that is what he’s bred do be; we’ll see how his schooling goes.

ENDOFDISCUSION (IRE)

2007 bay gelding by Flemensfirth (USA) ex Fake Tan (Ire)

Owner David Allen

We bought this horse at the Doncaster May sale in 2011 after he’d had one run in an Irish point-to-point which he might have won but for unseating his jockey at the last. He stands over 16.3h and is the epitome of ‘the future chaser’. He has a few runs over hurdles last season, showing plenty of promise for a big, backward horse. In what has been a nightmare of a summer for horses turned out at grass, this horse has developed fantastically well, a tribute to his owner’s farm and staff as many a horse has come in after their summer holiday looking less well than in some years. This horse has always schooled like a chaser and he’ll start off in a novice chase in October. It’s a real shame that the authorities have closed the tasty ‘loophole’ where we used to be able to let our novices start their chasing careers in a novice handicap chase, where they could run off their hurdling handicap mark. Another cunning plan foiled!

ETOILE TANTUM (FR)

2006 bay mare by Ballingarry (Ire) ex Eoline (Fr)

Owner Dave Carrington

This filly has shown plenty of promise, but remains unraced due to a pelvis fracture and a tendon injury. She is incredibly lucky to have such a patient, understanding and probably ‘mad’ owner who thankfully believes in a ‘three strikes and you’re out’ policy! This filly was training well toward she first run in a bumper in November, when a bit of heat appeared in a tendon. She has has the winter off and will hopefully begin to re-pay her owner’s patience in a mares novice hurdle by December.

FIRM ORDER (IRE)

2005 bay gelding by Winged Love (Ire) ex Fairylodge Scarlet (Ire)

Owner The Syndicators

We thought this horse was one of our most promising novice chasers for last season, but nothing went right for him. He took a while to become a confident jumper before winning three hurdle races. His schooling had come good before he disappointed twice over fences. Eventually we found the reason for this, in that he had some nasty ‘kissing spines’ in his back. His first comback race over hurdles was encouraging, but then he ‘downed tools’ very quickly when challenged on his next start. It had become obvious that he was shirking the issue, so blinkers were applied next time over fences at Worcester where he made all, jumping superbly until meeting the last when coming down upsides. Hopefully we have found the key to this horse and after schooling well again at home, he has had a short summer holiday. Let us hope we have a good novice chase prospect, even if it is 12 months later than expected.

**Hoof** · 10 November 2012, 08:52 PM

FORTYSCORE (IRE)

2007 bay gelding by Zagreb (USA) ex Minnie O’Grady (Ire)

Owner Fawley House Stud

Bought cheaply at Doncaster as an unbroken four-year-old, this horse made tremendous physical and more importantly mental progress through last winter. He was rather light, feminine, sweaty and lively to start with and we feared he might ‘melt away’ on us. However, after a good preparation back with his owners, he came back in looking a much more substantial horse. He ran really well on his debut in a bumper at Ludlow, where he finished third to Vegas Cash, who then won a decent novice hurdle at Aintree on his next start. This horse is closely related to Oh So Grumpy and looks as though he will stay 2m4f over hurdles.

GRAVITATE

2009 chesnut gelding by Pivotal ex Spacecraft (USA)

Owner Mrs Pamela Morrell

A recent purchase at the Tattersalls July sale form that wonderful source of horses, Juddmonte Farms. This horse came with the recommendation of the ‘Three Gs’, Messrs. Gosden, Grimthorpe and Goff, what more could you want! This horse had two runs in maidens on the flat finishing third and fourth, showing plenty of promise and a good attitude. He comes from a speedy Juddmonte family but has also shown his previous trainer plenty of stamina. He has been bought for Rajnagan’s owner, which is particularily fitting as this horse is remarkably similar but a bigger model than ‘Raj’. He has been gelded and will have a short break before being schooled over hurdles. He looks a very exciting prospect for the juvenile hurdles.

GUEST OF HONOUR (FR)

2008 bay gelding by Hurricane Run (Ire) ex Pat’s Martini (USA)

Owner Michael Tabor

This very handsome gelding came to us unraced from John Hammond in July 2011. We turned him out for a few months and at the very moment he was ready to run in the spring, he came up with a dirty scope. By the time he’d recovered and worked very nicely, our wet spring had set in and so, very frustratingly he missed his required good ground. We decided not to hang on forever, keeping him on the boil for even longer, so turned him away for a short summer break. He will be ready to run in October, when I hope he'll be ready to benefit from the time and patience he has been shown.

HALUCHA (IRE)

2005 bay gelding by Luso ex Rose Basket (Ire)

Owner Mr and Mrs Rob Barnett

Despite not being the most artful of jumpers, Halucha has now won twice over hurdles and has been placed on many occasions. He won probably the worst novice hurdle ever run at Towcester on very firm ground and then won a handicap ay Ludlow. He is not the fastest but is resolute and often runs on well from well off the pace. He is tough and does need good ground or better, so this spring has been completely against him. He did go for a week’s intensive practice with Yogi Breisner, but may need a repeat refresher course before we try fences with him again! However he is very tough and honest, so there will always be races to be won with him, if the trainer is canny enough.

HONOUR A PROMISE

2008 bay filly by Norse Dancer (Ire) ex Motcombe (Ire)

Owner Honour A Promise Partnership

A very attractive and quite mature filly that was hopefully well-bought at the Doncaster May Sale. Her sire was a tough racehorse and from limited opportunities has sired that very good filly, Dorcas Lane. Her dam was tough and won two chases and this filly looks particularily straight-forward. She canters well and has gone off for a short, belated summer holiday. We’ll train her towards a Mares bumper at the end of December.

KEY CUTTER (FR)

2004 bay gelding by Alderbrook ex Two Roads

Owner Mrs Alex Timpson

He won a three mile handicap chase quite impressively at Leicester in December on firm ground! However he struggled after that, both with his rapid rise in the weights for the felony of winning a six horse race impressively and not getting his favoured conditions. He had a mid-winter break, as is customary for ‘good ground’ horses, but then the spring was no good to him at all. He had a couple of wind operations way back in December 2008 and we feel that his soft-palate was in need of ‘tightening up’ again. I do so hope this helps as this horse is such a sensible jumper and tries his best, thus deserving to win more races on his favoured good ground.

KOOLALA

2008 bay filly by Kayf Tara ex Squaw Talk

Owner Marston Stud

A very attractive home-bred filly who was bred locally by Richard and Jo Wellesley. She is a full-sister to two very promising geldings in Ireland and looks an ideal type for mares bumper races in the autumn. She was in training last winter, showing plenty of talent, but just came up with two niggling little problems that are typical of a horse who is not quite ready for the stresses of training and is in fact ‘begging’ to be given more time to mature. We try to err on the side of caution with these signs, as giving a young horse a few more months to mature, usually puts these ‘hiccups’ into the past. An exciting prospect.

KNOCKDOLIAN (IRE)

2005 bay gelding by Montjeu (Ire) ex Doula (USA)

Owner Marston Stud

A magnificent Montjeu, he was placed on the flat and then had three runs over hurdles in early 2011 when trained by Roger Charlton. He showed some promise on occasions, but ultimately has proven a bit of a mystery. He has been given over a year off to grow up and out of any weaknesses or ailments he may have had and now is an imposing looking beast. It could be that Mr. Charlton may have done an outstanding job in getting this horse handicapped, let’s hope we can reap that benefit.

B]LADY KATHLEEN[/B]

2007 bay mare by Hernando (Fr) ex Lady Of Fortune (Ire)

Owner Shully Liebermann, Simon Packer, John Phelan

We love this gutsy filly. She's by one of our favourite sires, Hernando out of a half-sister to Lady Rebecca, so there is every reason to think that this will be good staying filly this season. She won over hurdles at Ludlow, really battling on well, then 'tripped over a daisy' two strides after landing over the last when six lengths clear at Plumpton. The ground had dried up too quickly for her when she ran in the Mares Listed Hurdle at Newbury. Off a mark of 116, she looks really well handicapped and i think that she'll progress through the grades to achieve some 'black type' during the season. She does want soft ground though.

LEMON DROP RED (USA)

2008 bay gelding by Lemon Drop Kid (USA) ex Skipper’s Mate

Owner Andrew Nicholls and Paul Webber Racing

We bought this horse after he’d had 12 runs on the flat, but he was highly recommended by his trainer Ed Dunlop, who has been very helpful to us in the past. He’d won on soft, good and the all-weather, so he looked a very versatile gelding. He took to jumping very naturally and ran an super race on his debut over hurdles to Rajnaan at the Kempton Christmas meeting. He won by a short-head at Southwell and ran well for a long way when finishing in mid-division in the four year old handicap at the Cheltenham Festival. That was not his true form as he’d been in training for months and by then had gone well ‘over the top’. He has benefitted greatly form his first holiday since he was a yearling and off a hurdles rating of 122, should have plenty of opportunities especially as he seems to be a rarity that goes on most types of ground.

LEMON’S GENT

2007 brown gelding by Generous (Ire) ex Lemon’s Mill (USA)

Owner Roger Waters

He won a moderate bumper in April 2011 on fast ground at Ludlow. He had a couple of runs in the autumn but was still too weak to cope with the soft ground. We put him away for the winter, but then rather ‘missed the boat’ with the ground in the spring. He was given a handicap mark of 108 which must can only described as ‘mad’ on what he has so far shown. He ran much better for a long way at Uttoxeter in the spring, but again the ground was wrong for him. He has all the scope in the world and is out of a truely wonderful mare who was second in the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle as a four-year-old and won the Martell Novice Hurdle at Aintree. It may be over fences, but rest assured, this horse’s time will come.

**Hoof** · 10 November 2012, 08:56 PM

LIGHTNING STRIKE (GER)

2003 chesnut gelding by Danehill Dancer (Ire) ex La Capilla

Owner John Nicholls Limited

Back in early 2009 this gelding looked to be heading to the top of the novice chase brigade. He was mighty impressive when winning at Leicester and then finished very close to Tartak. Things did not then work out for him, but last season he won really well at Hereford over hurdles, but was punished by being quickly raised back to a mark of 135, harsh for a 9-year-old. He has come here for ‘a change of scenery’, but the first thing we've done is 'a change of throat' as he's had a hob-day operation! More often than not this can have a massive affect, but not always. He may be difficult to place of his current mark, but he looks to have retained all his enthusiasm, so let's hope he has a few miles on his clock.

LLAMA FARMER

2005 grey gelding by Sagamix (Fr) ex Quick Quick Sale

Owner Mrs Alex Timpson

After springing one of the greatest surprises of the decade when winning over hurdles at Haydock at odds of 50/1, way back in the distant past, not much has gone right for this horse or Owner. He ran a very promising race at Warwick in November, jumping superbly and showing himself to need further than 2m4f miles that day. We were therefore mortified to find some heat in a tendon, just a few days before his next race. He has been fired, given masses of time and will be back in action around Christmas time. He remains a magnificent animal but it is time for him to show that, “Andsome is as 'Andsome does”!

LUCANOR (IRE)

2008 bay gelding by Indian Danehill (Ire) ex Persian Avenue (Ire)

Owner The Spaniards Partnership

Another very atheletic gelding to come from the Brightwells Breeze Up Sale in December 2011. He really is a beautifully balanced horse who skips around our loose-jumping lane as though he was born to it. He strenghtened up well through the spring, but we always realised that he'd need a summer to really mature. Despite Spain’s economic uncertainty, this horse is owned by three of that country’s finest gentlemen, who all know more about English National Hunt racing as any of us folks, let us hope that we can achieve their aim of bankrupting all of those fiendish Gibraltar bookmakers!

MARLEY ROCA (IRE)

2004 bay/brown gelding by Tamayaz (Can) ex Gaye Gordon

Owner Dave Carrington

Still a bit of an enigma this horse, as on his day he looks so impressive while on other occasions he can get beat 57 lengths. He has won three times around Stratford looking impressive each time. He was raised 9lbs after winning there in April, but we hoped that he’d improve enough to cope with such heavy-handed treatment! In his next start he got out-paced, pulled muscles in his next race and then found the ground too soft in July. Plenty of excuses I agree, but hopefully correct and plausible. He has had a short summer break and probably the best time to support this horse is first time out and then may be we should give him a bit more time between his races? He is such a good jumper, there are more races to win with him, but he must have decent ground.

MONEYMIX

2007 grey gelding by Fair Mix (Ire) ex Sticky Money

Owner David Allen

This chasing-bred gelding was bought as a three-year-old and has needed plenty of time to mature. He has been a slow-learner and has needed the three educational runs he had in Bumpers last season. He was remakably ‘clueless' in his first start at Warwick, but when the penny dropped he ran on well from a pretty hopeless position. He disappointed on his second start, but scoped wrong afterwards, but then showed much improved form when fifth in a good bumper at Bangor. He will need 2m4f and has already schooled very naturally over hurdles. He has had a good summer at his owner's farm and now looks a much more mature horse ready to show his true colours.

ORCHARD BOY

2008 bay gelding by Oscar ex Beech Lodge

Owner Robert Kirkland

I bought and trained this horse’s half-brother, Monkey Milan to win his bumper first time out then got him handicapped, before he disappeared north where he’s won two from two, so I was always going to be interested in this horse at the Brightwells Sale in January! I was impressed as soon as I saw him, as he was at least two inches bigger than ‘Monkey’ and has the scope to be a proper chaser. His sire Oscar has had a tremendous season with the likes of Rock On Ruby, Oscar Whisky and Big Zeb and his dam side is packed with staying chasers of the calibre of Couldn’t Be Better and Kilkilowen. This horse did plenty of good work in the spring, but his owner has plenty of that crucial ingredient, ‘patience’, so he was not tested on the soft ground in May and was sent on his holidays instead. He is a lovely future prospect and may go straight over hurdles in October.

PEPELINA (IRE)

2008 bay filly by Vinnie Roe (Ire) ex Vallee Doree (Fr)

Owner Mrs Mette Campbell-Andenaes

We waited and waited for some decent ground to run this filly on in May, but each time were delayed by yet another week of rain. Eventually we ‘pulled up stumps’ and turned her away for a damp summer holiday. Despite all this, she benefitted from having the pressure taken off her and has grown almost an inch during her rest. She worked well enough to win a mares bumper, but as the intention was to then send her to the sales, we did not risk running her in anything but ideal conditions. She has a lovely pedigree, being a half-sister to Pepe Simo, from the family of Vol Solitaire and her sire is producing some very promising bumper winners.

RAJNAGAN (IRE)

2004 chesnut gelding by Muhtarran (USA) ex Rajnagara (Ire)

Owner Mrs Pamela Morrell

Originally bought off the other wonderful and perennially successful breeder of National Hunt horses, H.H. Aga Khan, this horse has become our summer superstar! After winning four consequetive handicap hurdles last summer, he was then pretty unfortunate to finish second in a Listed novice hurdle at Kempton, when he landed awkwardly at the last hurdle and only got beat half-a-length. Winter ground is no good to ‘Raj’ so this spring delayed his return, however, he won well over hurdles and then did well to win on his chasing debut in a handicap off a rating of 135. He had to run in this unsuitable race as this was the only opportunity on genuinely good ground. We hope that he’ll have another really productive summer and autumn until he goes into winter hibernation. Let us hope that 2013 is a more normal spring as this horse would really suit Aintree and Ayr next April.

REPEAT BUSINESS (IRE)

2008 bay gelding by Croco Rouge (Ire) ex Bay Pearl (Fr)

Owner Robert Kirkland

This gelding did some good pieces of work on the grass in the spring, but was not ready to run on either the firm or very soft ground of this spring. Rather than keep him in training too long we turned him away, only for him to share the miserable summer with his friends in the field! For other words, we could not have got it more wrong! This will not matter, as the time has done this horse plenty of good and he has come back in slightly taller, but much stronger. His sire was a dual Group One winner over 9-10 furlongs and his dam is a full-sister to the dam of Big Buck’s, so it looks a good balance of speed and stamina. He may need one run in a bumper, but his jumping in the loose-jumping lane suggests we could go straight into a novice hurdle.

**Hoof** · 10 November 2012, 08:59 PM

RESOURCEFUL MISS

2009 bay filly by Dubai Destination (USA) ex Resourceful (Ire)

Owner The Resourceful Partnership

This very attractive filly arrived for a month’s trial and has been granted a place at the academy, as long as we can syndicate her! She is owned by Peter Charter who has always said that he thought a lot of her. We have had her here for six weeks and like what we see. She loves her work and has a really lovely action. Her sire gets horses that stay well and there is speed on the dam's side, including that very tough horse, Major's Cast. She looks a very interesting dual-purpose type who will not take long to get ready for the races.

ROYALRACKET (IRE)

2008 bay gelding by Royal Anthem (USA) ex Allaracket (Ire)

Owner David Allen

This gelding came from the Brightwells December Sale where he looked to breeze very easily. His dam is a half-sister to Kristenson who won a Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot, so we expect him to stay well in the future. He showed plenty of ability in the spring and worked well on the grass, but got a slightly sore shin at a crucial moment and so was given time and a good summer holiday. He has come back from his owner’s farm looking magnificent and has also grown an inch. He will probably start off in a bumper but will be jumping hurdles very soon, as he looks a natural in the loose-jumping lane.

ROUBILIAC (USA)

2007 chesnut gelding by Rahy (USA) ex Super Tassa (Ire)

Owner Cyril Humphris

Just like his half-brother Rysbrack this horse has needed an owner/breeder/ trainer with the inexhaustable ‘patience of Job’! However many a trainer has quoted, “Time only matters when you're in jail”, but then it is not the trainer paying the bills! This horse made his debut in a maiden at Windsor but twisted a racing-plate during the race and so not surprisingly did not finish as close as he should have. The intervening months have included a few more delays, but we now hope and have to believe that he is now mature enough to show what he can do. He has a good attitude and looks to stay well and we hope that he'll be an equally good dual-purpose horse as his big brother.

RUN ON STERLING

2009 bay gelding by Dr Fong (USA) ex Dansara

Owner Andrew Rowland

Our most recent purchase and what a cracker he looks. I could not get to see this horse so a fine judge, Mags O’Toole inspected, approved and bought this horse on our behalf. He’d been with Pascal Bary in France, but was just too big and heavy to run on the flat. He was soon more than two stone lighter, as we gelded him just as soon as we got him home! He is a magnificent stamp of horse and a very easy goer. He is also blessed with a proper pedigree for National Hunt racing, as he is a half-brother to our own Sarando and that high-class dual purpose horse, Self Defence. He looks an excellent recruit and was very well-bought at �7,500!

RYSBRACK (USA

2006 chesnut gelding by Selkirk (USA) ex Super Tassa (Ire)

Owner Cyril Humphris and David Howard

This ‘gentlest of giants’ arrived here from America as a yearling in 2007, he has certainly been a long-term project of extreme proportions. He won his bumper at Worcester on his first visit to a racecourse in July 2011 and then ran really well on the flat during the autumn. A little problem delayed him running until June and he went into his first handicap of a mark of 74 and got beaten a head at Windsor over 1m2f. We are sure that his horse is a good flat horse, but is also as natural jumper as we've ever had at Cropredy Lawn. The problem is that he is vast, well over 17 hands and so is more delicate than he looks. He has given us all many sleepless nights, but I so hope that he is around for long enough to give us many, many more.

SARANDO

2005 bay gelding by Hernando (Fr) ex Dansara

Owner Eight Men and a Hoos

This horse's season started on the ‘crest of a wave’ but ended up ‘becalmed in the doldrums’. He looked so impressive winning a valuable but uncompetitive Graduation Chase at Carlisle that we all got understandably excited with the prospect of running him in the Hennessy. This horse has always been at his best in small fields and our one plan in the Hennessy was for him to have some daylight and a clear view of his fences. Of course that is difficult in such a fiercely tough race, but having jumped and travelled so well, he only saw Carruthers hind end rather than the sixth fence from home and had a really horrible fall. Despite schooling very well at home, his confidence was shattered back at the races. Even a good run over hurdles did not restore his enthusiasm, so it is back to 'square one'. We will give him a 'prep' run on the flat like last year and then may be a hurdle race before probably going for the same Graduation Chase at Carlisle again. If we can restore his bravery, then there is a good prize to be won.

SCAMPI BOY (IRE)

2004 bay gelding by Flemensfirth (USA) ex Loch Lomond (Ire)

Owner Dave Carrington

Another extreme example of a National Hunt owner’s patience. This horse injured a tendon in December 2010 and then had another hiccup during last winter. We decided to err on the side of caution, ‘fire him’ and give him more time to grow up. For a horse with such a good jumping pedigree, he had shown plenty of ability over hurdles and won nicely at Warwick. He’s from the family of Grand National winner, Silver Birch and I just hope that he’ll hold together to be the successful novice chaser that he was bred to be.

SEPTEMBER BLAZE

2007 bay mare by Exit To Nowhere (USA) ex Mid Day Chaser (Ire)

Owner The Blaze Partnership

This filly ran very promisingly to be third in her first bumper at Ludlow in December and then travelled really into the straight at Doncaster in her next race before weakening to finish eighth. This was strange as the two things this filly does is stay and try. The following morning she had terribly sore shins, a very fair reason for her not being able to go through with her effort. Two of the fillies in front of her at Doncaster won subsequently, so I'm sure we are right to think a fair bit of ‘Bouncer’ as she was called by her original purchaser, my daughter Sophie! We pin-fired her shins, schooled her over hurdles and then patiently waited for some decent ground during our drought of a spring. In the end, we gave up and turned her away for the summer(!) and guess what it has basically rained ever since. The time and the break will have done her only good and she will start of in 2m4f mile mares’ hurdle races on forgiving ground.

SIX ONE AWAY (IRE)

2009 grey gelding by Tikkanen (USA) ex Surfing France (Fr)

Owner Mrs Alex Timpson

In my mind, this horse was one of the two best looking horses at the Doncaster May National Hunt Store Sale… and we bought the other one as well! He is a beautiful steel-grey colour with great strength and presence. His sire was a Breeders Cup winner over 1m4f miles and his dam has already produced a 136 rated horse. This horse will need time, but should run in a couple of bumpers in the spring. He has all the scope in the world to make a novice chaser in time.

SIXTY SOMETHING (FR)

2006 grey gelding by Dom Alco

Owner Mrs Alex Timpson

A very late developing horse who could not run before last season due to sore shins and other immaturities. He ran well on his debut at Warwick, but then got completely ‘bogged down’ at Haydock. He was then second on good ground at Doncaster and would have won at Uttoxeter when over-jumping in front at the last, which really was extremely cruel luck. He ran once more on ground that went far too soft due to hours of rain just before the race, but it was more experience for him. He has now learned to settle much better and has always looked a lovely chasing prospect. After no luck last season, he looks well-handicapped and I hope could progress through the season to win decent staying races on good ground.

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**Hoof** · 10 November 2012, 09:00 PM

STAR PRESENTER (IRE)

2008 bay gelding by Presenting ex Star Councel (Ire)

Owner The Archie Partnership

Bought from the Brightwells National Hunt Breeze-Up Sale last December, this is a fine, scopey gelding, a real chaser for the future. He came from Goldford Stud, who along with Juddmonte Farms and H.H.Aga Khan's studs is another of our favourite and most successful ‘sourses for horses’. The instructions from this partnership was to find a future Cheltenham Chaser, so by buying a son of Presenting, we have started off right as he’s the sire of Denman, War of Attrition and many more top class staying chasers. He was still a little ‘revved up’ when he came back form the sale and took a little time to settle in his work. He also came up with a sore shin, his way of saying that he was not quite ready to trained hard to make his debut in the spring. After a good holiday, if not blessed by good weather, he looks so much more grown-up now. He looks a very exciting prospect and will start in a bumper or go straight over hurdles.

STRUANMORE

2007 chesnut gelding by Doyen (Ire) ex Burghmuir (Ire)

Owner Iain Watters

This horse has proven to be even more backward that I thought he was last year. He is like the school boy who is always forgetting to hand in his prep or has forgotten his text book, but when he does hand in his work, there is more than a glimmer of hope! He ran well in his last bumper at Towcester and put in two good efforts over hurdles at Warwick and Kempton, but then disappointed us on the day he was ment to run really well. To give him his due, he’d been in for a long time by then and was probably crying out for his holiday, only for his trainer not to hear his plea. If time is the answer, then we should have a well-handicapped, staying novice hurdler with all the scope to jump fences when he is mature enough.

SUSSEX SUNSET

2006 bay filly by Milan ex Deep Sunset (Ire)

Owner Neil Grover, Friends and Family

So far this filly has had absolutely no luck at all in her life, consequently meaning that her owners have had a pretty miserable time. But both the owners and this filly are fortunately made of pretty tough stuff and let's hope that time can reward them all. She fell at the last in her debut over hurdles at Kempton in November 2010, when certain to be placed and injured a tendon in the process. We brought her back gently and she ran well on her comeback at Ludlow in January, but then disappointed on good ground at Folkestone in late February. This was explained by her mysteriously scoping 'dirty' after the race and then she compounded things by suffering a non-displaced hairline fracture of her pelvis in March! Everything seems well-mended now and we plan towards a mares novice chase in November on forgiving ground. She is related to that wonderful jumper Stormyfairweather, so let's hope her time is coming.

**Hoof** · 10 November 2012, 09:02 PM

THEODORE LAMB

2005 bay gelding by Lahib (USA) ex Our Leader (Ire)

Owner Peter Charter and Mobley Homes

Ran well to be third in his bumper in May 2011. He then was a big baby in his first two hurdle races on ground that was too soft for him, before really beginning to improve with each run on the better ground during this spring. He won nicely at Market Rasen off a rating of 105 and then ran extremely well to be third to Greyfriar's Drummer at Southwell. He schooled over fences before he went home for his summer holidays and will start off in Novice Handicaps on the better ground of the early autumn. A late-developing horse who could keep improving for quite a while.

TAFIKA

2004 bay gelding by Kayf Tara ex Shiwa

Owner The Tafika Partnership

One of last season’s saddest disappointments. He ran well on his first outing on terrible ground, then fell at the first on his next start having always been an exemplary jumper, before ‘bleeding’ on his third start at Market Rasen in January. It seems that for whatever reason, he may just have been ‘out of sorts’ last season and so after treatment and checking his lungs were clear, he has had six months in the field to give ‘Dr. Green’ plenty of time to sort him out. This is the fifth generation of this family to be trained at Cropredy Lawn and his close relations include such stars as Auntie Dot, Townley Stone and Ollie Maghern, so let us sincerely hope that he can reward the time he has been given.

THOM THUMB (IRE)

2006 chesnut gelding by Flemensfirth (USA) ex Ardlea Dawn (Ire)

Owner Simon and Liz Packer

This is a giant of horse who showed plenty of promise in a couple of his bumper races in the spring. He ran well in a very classy Ascot bumper on his debut and then finished an encouraging third in a lower-class race at Ludlow. It was probably my mistake to run him a third time; he was working well at home, but was just beginning to run up a bit light. He has a massive 17 hand frame to fill and looks to have done that so well this summer, despite the unhelpful weather. He has always looked so nimble and balanced in our loose-jumping lane and I think he could really show himself off in 2m4f hurdles, but being a Flemensfirth he is a long term project with chasing being his forte.

TIME FOR RUPERT (IRE)

2004 chesnut gelding by Flemensfirth (USA) ex Bell Walks Run (Ire)

Owner Littlecote Racing Partnership

After the disappointment of Cheltenham 2011 where Rupert broke a blood vessel when the heaviest-backed horse of the Festival, last season was about conquering this problem and the horse regaining his confidence that this incident would not happen again. He ran very well to be second in the Charlie Hall and then received ‘a baptism of fire’ at Haydock behind Kauto Star, Long Run and a couple of others! For some reason he seemed terribly quiet in the paddock and lethargic at the start that day. The traffic into the course was unusually terrible and even though they arrived very early it took an age to cover the last few miles. This is not an excuse, merely an obsevation, because although Rupert had never gone so fast over fences, he should have been able to lie up a little easier. Any way, he bounced back to make all around Newbury, ridden for the first time by Denis O’Regan, beating The Giant Bolster. He then disappointed us all at Cheltenham in January, but for the first time in his life was lame the next morning and was very sore in his back for a week. His jumping was not fluent that day, so it was a relief to find an acceptable reason. His run in The Gold Cup was highly commendable, especially as it had not been the plan to make so much use of him, possibly setting the race up for others? The crucial thing was that he finished his season sound and with no re-occurence of a bleed at any stage. His season will hopefully start at Wetherby again, either in the Charlie Hall or in the three mile hurdle race on the same card, as it might be wise to preserve his handicap mark of 157, if considering The Hennessy at Newbury. Further plans are dreams at this stage!

THISGUNSFORHIRE (IRE)

2008 bay gelding by Flemesnfirth (USA) ex Midnight Lover (Ire)

Owner Mrs Paul Shanahan and M.V.Magnier

Probably the best looking store horse to arrive at Cropredy Lawn, but then he was bought by 'proper judges' and not by me. He has an interesting pedigree in that he is by the wonderful Flemensfirth but is from a speedy, sharp family of Royal Loft, Jimmy Barnie and Arcalis. He did two lovely easy pieces of work in the spring, but then pulled a muscle in the fashion of a horse who was just asking for a little more time. He has loved his jumping lessons in the loose lane and I would think that he'll go straight over hurdles in the autumn.

TINDARO (FR)

2007 grey gelding by Kingsalsa (USA) ex Star’s Mixa (Fr)

Owner The Tindaro Partnership

An enigma, wrapped in a connudrum, surrounded by a riddle. This horse has so much natural ability and is such a good jumper that it remains inexplicable how he has so far been a dramatic under-acheiver. He ran well over 1m 2f at Kempton and on his hurdling debut, when second at Wetherby. He ran pretty well at Ascot in what turned out to be a hot contest, but then flopped at Plumpton. His win at Stratford on fast ground was impressive but the opposition was moderate. We sent this horse for an ‘over-land scopr test’ and this horse did the very best test they have ever witnessed. This horse is like the most cunning and complicated of locks… but so far we failed to find the correct key.

UNIVOQUE (FR)

2007 grey gelding by Turgeon (Fr) ex Us Et Coutumes (Fr)

Owner Mrs Mette Campbell-Andenaes

Shortly after arriving here last summer, this horse was quickly given a wind operation and he showed some promise when running well in a bumper on quick ground at Wincanton. He then disappointed on soft ground in his chasing debut at Bangor. We had hoped that being bred as he is, he would cope and even enjoy the ground, but it would appear that his wind will not allow him to do so. He will have another 'tidying up' operation and let's hope that will allow him to achieve something better. He has massive of scope and is an excellent jumper, but he needs more air!

David Allenby Hernando

2009 bay gelding by Hernando ex Rhapsody Rose (Ire)

Owner David Allen

This is the second foal of a mare we trained for Mr. Allen who won twice over hurdles for us after she’d been pretty useful on the flat for Charles O’Brien in Ireland. The dam was tough, winning around Towcester which is a sure test of determination and stamina and this is a really special-looking gelding. He was very well-broken by Tom Lacey, has a lovely attitude low head-carriage and a raking stride. He will run in a bumper either this or the far side of Christmas. We have had great fun with Hernando’s off-spring, witness One Gulp and De Soto and feel this could be a lovely prospect.
by Presenting

2009 brown gelding by Presenting (Ire) ex Swaythe

Owner The Sweep Stake Partnership

There was absolutely no sentiment involved when I loved the look of this magnificent gelding at a viewing of the Goldford Stud Doncaster draft. We bought this horse’s dam as an unraced two-year-old off Juddmonte Farms and she won the Listed mares’ bumper at Sandown for us when racing for The Syndicators. She was then sold to Goldford Stud and Elwyn Williams to start her breeding career and this is her first produce. He combines his dam's elegance with his sire’s star quality. He is one of the strongest three-year-olds that we have ever ‘broken’ here and we like everything he does as he just never seems to get tired; not a bad trait for a National Hunt horse, I feel! He should run in a bumper in January.

**mayo** · 10 November 2012, 09:27 PM

thanks Hoof

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