Thee and Me 4th at Wolverhampton

Thee and Me returned to the venue of his victory last month to earn a very respectable 4th position. He was drawn in stall 7 and jumped well but his jockey, Kieran O'Neill, couldn't get the rail and he was a bit wider than ideal. However, he managed to get in and was one off the rail and travelled well showing a very willing attitude. He was beaten by a better horse who looked the pick of the paddock beforehand.
This was a step up in grade for him as there were few suitable opportunities elsewhere but hopefully we can find a race back in his grade and he should remain competitive.
The photo shows 'Teddy' returning to the Winner's Enclosure with his regular rider, Machaela Barden.

Horses running well

It is very early days in the season but it is encouraging to see the horses running well on their first runs back. It was great to see James Pyman's article in the Racing Post last week (thanks to Stephen Barrow for texting me as I was on my way to the sales at Cheltenham and had missed it!) which showed the yard at the top of the table (well joint top!) for horses running to form after their winter break. We have had 4 runners returning from a break and all 4 have run to within 5lb of their pre-race expected RPR.
Seeing the likes of John Gosden, Sir Michael Stoute et al below us in the table gives the team a real moral boost and it is like seeing Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea etc below Leicester in the Premier League!! However, I can't see us matching our peers in the Trainer's Table but if the horses continues to run well then at least we can get them to reach their own full potential which is all one can ask of any yard.
The table is shown below courtesy of James Pyman and the Racing Post:

PREMIER CURRENCY 2nd at Nottingham

Premier Currency ran his heart out yesterday evening and went down gallantly by half a length to his erstwhile inmate at Richard Hannon's yard, Aldair. The ground at Nottingham was officially Soft with Heavy patches but Ted Durcan, our jockey, felt it was heavy all round. We felt Premier Currency would handle a bit of cut in the ground but Heavy ground was an unknown but as he has been so well at home we felt he should take his chance. The plan was to lead as he is always a better horse at home when he  is in front and doesn't do a lot if he is tucked in behind. He jumped well and settled after looking a little keen to begin with. He was joined up the straight by the winner and we felt he would hold on but the lack of match fitness just caught him out.
It was a real gutsy performance and hopefully he can go on from here as he develops. He is a lovely looking horse and and a step up to 10f is the plan and hopefully he will get better ground the next time he runs. He was a bit tired today but enjoyed being turned out in the paddocks and got his head down to enjoy some green, green grass.

Thee And Me WINS at Wolverhampton

Thee And Me (stable name Teddy!) gamely stuck his head in front on his first run for the yard and marked up a remarkable two days for his owner The Milton Keynes Racing Club. It was also a special occasion for the yard in another way as Kevin Lundie, our apprentice jockey, notched his first win for us from only his second ride.
Firstly, the star of the show, Thee And Me, had been purchased at the Newmarket October Sales by Lee Bearman, the brains behind the Milton Keynes Racing Club. He was drawn in stall 1 and it was important for the horse to jump quickly and gain a handy position. His jockey, and our apprentice, Kevin Lundie got him quickly out of the stalls and he always had him a handy position to strike. There was an anxious moment on the turn for home when he short of room and had to be snatched up but the jockey did not panic and sat until the gap on the inside opened up on the bend. The jockey kicked for home and got a valuable two lengths lead which was being whittled away in the final furlong but he had the horse balanced and he won by a head.
Teddy has been straightforward at home and he is a delight to ride. We love his attitude and we hope he can go on from here for his owners.
The Milton Keynes Racing club also owns Ashford Island who broke his duck the previous evening on his second start for them and so they achieved two wins in two days!! Needless to say there were great celebrations after the races, particularly at  Wolverhampton and the photograph below shows most of the winning connections including Lee Bearman and his wife Sharon plus Richard, Jean, Tom and Peter. Our delighted jockey, Kevin Lundie and stable lad, Jame Meunier are also shown with the very game Thee And Me.

Ashford Island WINS at Wolverhampton

Ashford Island finally got his nose in front at Chelmsford last night. Given a confident ride by his jockey, Royston Ffrench, AI took advantage of his draw and sat close to the pace. Fortunately Royston was able to angle the horse out at the furlong marker and won by just over a length. AI has always shown some ability at home but things I don't always gone to plan on the track. Hopefully this will help his confidence and we hope he can go forward from here.
The photo shows his lad Stuart leading the horse into the Winner's Enclosure with two of his owners, Lee and Tom.