Thursday 24th April, 2025

We have declared Smile Back for the 6.35pm at Chepstow tomorrow – a two mile maiden hurdle.  Having won a bumper for us at Carlisle in December, she showed promise on her hurdling debut at Huntingdon but was a bit too keen early on therefore we have dropped her back in trip in order for her to settle better.  Hopefully the ground will be safe enough for her having had recent rain at the track.  She has done a fair bit of growing and developing since we purchased her last spring and has the size and scope to be a chaser in the future.

We were delighted with Manalishi’s (pictured) debut in the bumper at Chepstow on Monday.  Being a bit keen and showing greenness early on, he travelled into the race well turning for home and stayed on strongly to the line being beaten a length and a quarter by the winner showing an excellent attitude.  Due to his age, he is not allowed to run in another bumper so we will put him away for a summer break before going novice hurdling in the autumn.

He has always shown plenty of promise at home and over a year ago suffered a nasty skin infection which he did well to recover from.  Hopefully everyone’s patience will be rewarded and he is much loved here in Adlestrop.

Mattie Ross showed little enthusiasm in the three mile handicap hurdle and we have decided to retire her from racing.  She has done well for us having won a bumper and a hurdle and has a nice pedigree so it would be fun to breed from her in the future.  Elfride found the pace too hot in the same race and Harry Bannister thought that possibly a change of tactics would also suit along with some softer ground.

Swift Jet travelled and jumped well on his handicap debut at Ludlow yesterday before fading in the straight.  Both Sam Twiston-Davies and I are a bit perplexed by this and we will investigate why he did not finish his race well as he had done on previous outings.  He is an archetypal three mile chaser and we look forward to getting him back on track soon.