Tuesday 4th October, 2022

We have declared Corrany for Worcester on Thursday and once again he will be ridden by Finn Lambert, claiming seven pounds.  He has run very well over course and distance in his last two races having been runner up on both occasions.  Although this is a competitive event, hopefully he will put up a good show once again for the Carbine Club of London.

Everyone at the yard is busy getting the horses fit for the season with the hope that some significant rain arrives soon.

A busy weekend starting with attending Ellie Wright’s funeral on Friday.  Ellie was a tutor at Witney college when I attended the course some forty years ago and since then we have always stayed in touch .  Ellie was a very intelligent, opinionated and horse loving character, who had a great influence not only on me, but many other students.

Based at Brick Kiln Stud near Stratford for many years, she devoted her whole life to the love of the horse and her beloved sheep and it was wonderful to spend time with so many people on Friday with many great memories of her full and active life.

On Saturday morning it was great to be joined by Danny Gibbs – father our team member Ellie, who put on his jodhpurs for the first time in a few years to ride a piece of work with his daughter.  You wouldn’t have thought he’d been out of the saddle for too long by the way that he and Iron Horse worked.

Danny, who started with David Elsworth and had the privilege of sitting on Dessie and Rhyme ‘n’ Reason, went on to be a successful apprentice with Richard Hannon amongst others and fortunately has passed on his talent to his daughter.

Sunday’s Arc de Triomphe brought pleasure to many due to Alpinista’s brilliant victory.  Given a confident and judicious ride by Luke Morris, the home-bred mare brought tears to many thanks to her talent and determination in the rain sodden ground.

Her owner/breeder Kirsten Rausing deserves all the success she receives for her dedication and enthusiasm for the sport.  Whilst Sir Mark is simply an icon and no trainer has more enriched their profession over the last fifty years than the brilliantly bright baronet.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be profiling each of our horses on this blog, in order to either help or hinder your selections for this year’s Five to Follow competition which starts on 1st November.  For details on how to enter, please visit HERE.