Houliday Update
Let us start with a calming picture of the Shovelstrode gallops in very early March.
On the runners front, things have been in and out since the last update – out initially and in more recently.
The win of LA DOLCE DOLLY at Plumpton was the highlight. After a good run at Market Rasen, where she was first one under pressure, but scrapped away to be a close fourth and only a head off of third (in a race that is looking like strong form), she stepped up in trip and enjoyed every yard of three miles plus to grind out her first success, the middle leg of a treble for Niall Houlihan. Despite the extra distance, she did briefly get caught a bit flat footed three hurdles out this time too, but there was something inexorable about the way she clawed back the margin on the leader, to win by just under a length. Reminiscent of the velociraptors in “Jurassic Park” films.
On the same day we had two runners in the same chase. BIRDMAN BOB finished second, running a very threatening race until just not able to finish the job off between the last two. Reminiscent of the Count in every Hammer film involving the word “Dracula” in the title. Behind him in that race was CLONDAW ROBIN, who made the running and was cruelly denied third place by a nose. Away from his usual very soft ground and small field comfort zone, he got a good ride from Ellis Collier, and really did deserve to hang on for that third place. Reminiscent of The Red Max in “Wacky Races.”
The other runner we had on the day was SURREY NEMESIS. She had flipped her palate when disappointing on her stable debut in miserable weather at Lingfield, but with cheekpieces on and better conditions, she was able to go through her race properly this time, and hopefully the handicapper will see fit to grant her a mark from which she can be competitive from now. Keeping her out of the rain looks to be advisable. Reminiscent of the creatures in “Gremlins.”
Birdman Bob enjoying his day at Plumpton
Clondaw Robin treads a familiar path
Surrey Nemesis in brightest of red hoods (“Not So Little Red Riding Hood?”)
FLEMEN’S TIPPLE burst a blood vessel quite badly when pulling up at Huntingdon, but soon after that misadventure we had a boost from MONANSUNU at Fontwell. Although still showing plenty of signs of not really getting what the job is, and having a super ride from Caoilin to adapt to that, he managed third in a bumper, actually staying competitive until after the wings of the second last. Although being sprinted away from in the end, he finished a long way clear of the remainder.
Monansunu’s race may have finished but his sense of purpose remains undiminished, even though he has not decided what exactly that purpose is.
Retired as of the end of February is teenager SHAW’S CROSS, who was fourth on his farewell run. We only had him towards the end of his career, but he has endeared himself to us (well, most of us!) with his complete indifference to what the humans around the yard are doing or want him to participate in. In his final season he has finished in the first four on six occasions. Although never a prolific winner (three from fifty-one), since John Finch acquired him he has been a tremendous servant, in the first three for nineteen of his forty-five races, and only failing to finish three times. His first post-racing job is to babysit/mentor Honest Oscar’s foal, Jack, whilst she is off to see Ocovango. Not sure what Shaw’s Cross will make of that! Nor how much of his own world view Shaw’s Cross will pass on to the impressionable youngster.
The biggest recent disappointment, and it was a major one, has been seeing GOLD CLERMONT moved to Olly Murphy. When she came to us she was horse of apparent ability but a rather fragile constitution for her otherwise essential testing ground and we got her right, generating four wins and an Eider Chase fourth from her in the process. Along the way she became a yard favourite because of her kindly demeanour to everyone. Admittedly this season had not gone to plan, proving a struggle find the right race in the right conditions, but runs like her third at Bangor showed that the goose was not yet cooked, and a small yard like ours can ill afford to lose horses with the potential to continually be productive, as Gold Clermont does have.