OCTOBER RACING REVIEW
At Chepstow’s competitive Season Opener fixture, we were doubly represented. Gin Coco ran a lovely race to finish a neck second under a patient ride from Lorcan Murtagh. He gave lumps of weight to the winner, but it was a good starting point. All being well, he will be seen at Ascot at the end of November in the race that he won last year.
At the same fixture, Hello Cello made her seasonal debut. She had been working extremely well at home to suggest she was more than ready to warrant a start in open company. This was a super step forward after her racecourse debut in the Spring, where she ran very green. Just missing out on third, this race usually figures well, and with size and scope, we can’t wait to see her over hurdles in a few week’s time.
It’s exciting to see some of our younger horses starting out in their careers, with many more holding entries in the coming weeks. Trustintimes lined up for the competitive 3-Year-Old Junior National Hunt Flat Race at Exeter, finishing a promising second with the first three pulling well clear of the remaining field. He can hopefully build on that at Wincanton on his likely next start.
Another unraced horse we saw out in October was Just A Heartbeat, who enjoyed her first start at Wincanton. The pace was steady, but she gained confidence throughout and showed a really willing attitude to finish her race off strongly under Megan Bevan.
On the same card, High Fibre opened his account over hurdles at Wincanton having been campaigned on the flat. Contesting the Maiden Hurdle, he travelled nicely and was unlucky with an untidy jump two out when short for room – possibly costing him second. We were delighted to see him enjoying his debut over the obstacles, and he will be better for the education.
Geezer Rockstar needed his first run of the season when finishing fifth at Carlisle. He ran a lovely race into the home straight, and he will certainly come on for that.
Soul Limbo will have learned a lot from his first start in a bumper at Chepstow. He travelled into the race encouragingly and, despite showing signs of inexperience, stayed on in the closing stages to finish fourth.
It was fantastic to record our first double of the season at Newton Abbot, with Hymac and Idaho Sun both in the winner’s enclosure.
Hymac was the first to strike in the opening novice hurdle on the card, a winner over fences at Cheltenham in April. This was a nice prep run under Bryan Carver ahead of his return to Cheltenham’s November Meeting later in the month for a Handicap Chase.
It was an impressive start to Idaho Sun’s racing career, winning nicely against a field consisting of many horses who had gained prior racing experience on the point-to-point circuit. He has a lovely attitude and is certainly one we are excited about for the remainder of the season for new owner, Jeremy Gear.
Image of Hymac, supplied by PPA.
