A drizzly day but very mild and due to warm up again.  It was hot at Ascot last week where I was lucky to be on Thursday; I enjoyed watching plenty of the rest of the coverage on ITV who I thought once again did the most fantastic job bringing such exciting racing to us all wherever we were.  A seriously stamina sapping five days in the heat for them all but they never faltered and I think they deserve a massive vote of thanks.  For me Royal Ascot this year was as good a festival of racing as I have ever seen anywhere and it is brilliant that it receives so much airtime on terrestrial television – a massive plus for the sport.

Field of Gold in full flight – one of many memorable performances at 2025 Royal Ascot

There were so many wonderful equine performances at every level; new heros were born for us to follow but surely the most incredible performance was Jim Goldie winning the King Charles III Stakes with American Affair.  This was Scotland’s first ever Group One winner and it was achieved by a locally bred horse by a cheap sire out of a mare Jim trained by his own sire Orientor.  Jim is understated and underrated; seeing the almost tangible pride he quietly displayed as his 17yo grand daughter led his horse into the Ascot winner’s enclosure was a moment I will never forget.

No words ….

For him to beat bloodstock’s global juggernauts on the biggest stage was simply wonderful.  Wonderful also for Paul Mulrennan, a champion of the North who poignantly later learned that his Father had died that day.  And of course for the Owner/Breeders John and Wendy McGrandles, extraordinary for them. Worth noting that they also bred the favourite for this year’s Champion Bumper at Cheltenham; perhaps no fluke and they were straight back up the road to show sheep at the Highland Show on Thursday, history doesn’t relate how that went but probably very well.

Back here the horses have done well at grass but look ready to come in and that they will do, on Monday, when many of the Team will also return.  There will be plenty of new equine face for them to meet as I’m delighted with our progress at the sales this summer, we have seven lovely new young horses that have shown good form in point to points or bumpers.  That doesn’t include Hamandio who completed his hat trick in France at Dieppe last week; Kit’s well handicapped purchase is now 24lb less well handicapped so will stay in France for another run.

Hamandio

Next up on the sales front is Arqana at Deauville next week – 2yo stores, horses in training off the flat and jumpers in training as well.  It’s been a very lucky sale for us so we will be searching hard again though with temperatures forecast to hit 38 degrees I will have to ensure I spend sufficient time in the shade sipping something cold.

Elvis Mail the day we bought him, one of several talented horses we have bought at Arqana – do let me know if you would like us to find you something…

A few excitments looming at this end; we plan to have three runners at Perth next Thursday (Everyday Champagne, Beat the Retreat and Maillot Blanc), I hope to be back but please forgive me if I am too hot to post a blog in advance from France.  Then Mack the Man runs in the Ladies Charity Race at Carlisle next Saturday with team member Katie Morrison on board.  Well done her for volunteering, it may be Mack’s swansong so hopefully he will run well.  Katie is raising money for Racing Welfare and if so inclined you can donate here

Crikey it was hot!

The Ascot / Highland Show double header is always a favourite week of the year but I can sympathise with those who find it all a bit tiring

Warm and sunny with a lovely breeze this afternoon; summer has returned and with the grass refreshed from the recent rain the horses at grass are thriving.  The handful we have in training are also doing well with Everyday Champagne back to his best at Hexham last weekend with a fine 2nd and a welcome win for Maillot Blanc at Perth.

In a driving finish Bruce gets the better of the almost invincible Sean Bowen

Beat the Retreat and Mack the Man both ran well to a point at Hexham but didn’t enjoy the stiff uphill finish; unfortunately Not in Kansas was pulled up at Perth and was subsequently found to have strained her tendon. She has a fine pedigree so she would probably be better retired to the breeding shed now, if anyone knows anyone that could be interested in taking her on for that then please let me know.

Not in Kansas is a fine looking winning mare from a good family if anyone would like a broodmare

I would breed from her here but with two foals on the ground and Stainsby Girl and Bluebell Glen in foal (fingers crossed) I think we are at capacity in that regard. Speaking of foals I was delighted to meet this handsome young chap this morning…

One of the best mares we have trained, Charm Offensive, with her colt foal by the mighty Stradivarius – what dreams are made of!

And our filly foal by sire of the moment Postponed, out of the unraced Blue Bresil ex Little Glenshee mare Monega Pass

The king of Kinneston – Elvis Mail relaxing at grass

Though he can smell a mint from a mile away…

Will post photos shortly of some of the young horses we have been lucky to buy, with one or two more to find we will be heading to Arqana in Deauville at the end of the month, a lucky sale for us in the past so fingers crossed.  Our next runners are planned for Perth on 3rd July and our skeleton team here are busy prepping the newly repainted yard for the horses coming back in at the end of the month.  Have a good weekend everyone!

My meeting with the Queen last week was fairly brief but I was deligthed by the amount of coverage her visit to Hexham received and it was great to get the message across about some of the trickier issues racing is facing ahead of its biggest “soft power” event – Royal Ascot

Blustery conditions still, heavy showers and cool.  An unusually busy weekend for the time of year with three runners planned for Hexham tomorrow and two for Perth on Sunday though the weather might end up affecting who runs where.  Ground at Hexham currently good to soft though could ease significantly if forecast is correct, we start with Beat the Retreat (Kit) running in the Amateur Riders Hurdle at 16.05 – he was only just beaten at Perth last time and ought to run well again if he handles the ground and track – 16 run.

Beat the Retreat with Dom who is currently on secondment to Andrew Balding

If there isn’t too much rain Everyday Champagne will run in the 17.20 with Bruce on board.  He ran much better than the bare results suggests last time at Perth and should step forward from that again but he does prefer good ground so may wait for Sunday, albeit that race looks considerably more competitive – 6 run.

Everyday Champagne

Finally Mack the Man runs in the 18.20, he bounced right back to form last time and if he can repeat that round this track he should be involved – Kit rides and 8 run, he won’t mind what happens to the ground.

Mack the Man

On to Perth on Sunday where the ground is currently good and if it stays that way Everyday Champagne will probably run in the 16.32, a competitive looking race but he’s well handicapped and his best form has been over course and distance and as I said he ran well here last time – Bruce rides and 10 run.

Not in Kansas

Not in Kansas runs in the 17.07; she was only beaten 4l last time and steps up in trip, she doesn’t need to improve much to win, softer ground would be a big help in that regard – 11 run and Bruce rides.

Maillot Blanc

Finally Maillot Blanc runs in the 17.42; he was just a length behind his stablemate above last time and I think he does stay 3m, we are trying one or two things differently again to try to find the key – 10 run and Bruce rides.

The G Wizard – one of several fine young recruits to the yard – 2 x 25% sharees available!

We’ve had a productive time at the sales recently and are delighted to have recruited some lovely prospects for next season, a really nice bunch of horses that I feel have been well bought.  Time will tell, but they will do well to have been as well bought as Hamandio who won again at Auteuil last weekend; not sure where he goes next but he’d be best to keep going while he’s in such good form rather than come here to go to grass.

I was delighted to meet the Queen at Hexham yesterday where she was opening their new stand – “The Queen Camilla Stand”