Richard Johnson returned from injury and showed why he is still at the top of his game with a superb ride on Back on the Lash. After making a few mistakes on his hurdling debut when he finished 3rd, he pulled himself around quite a bit and so our physios Maggie Turner & Hannah Ashton have worked hard on him. It seemed a decent novice hurdle on paper and we weren’t confident he was good enough to beat the top two in the market. However, Richard never gave up on him and, despite looking booked for 3rd or 4th jumping the last, they flew up the run in to literally get up on the line to win by a short head with a dead heat for 2nd.
Lash is owned by Mark Boothright, who is currently in South Africa and Grahame Lovett & Pete Deffains who both life in Jersey so some surprised phone calls then ensued! We returned home to a very happy 10 year old Freddie too as Lash is his favourite horse as he is not overly big and was the first racehorse Freddie was brave enough to canter (albeit just on our circular loop at the yard).
Brilliare Momento, although bred for chasing, hasn’t been the most fluent at home but was foot perfect last week when Bryony Frost rode her at Jon Trice-Rolph’s base jumping for fun with huge confidence. However, yesterday she hated every moment of her chasing debut – was too careful over the fences and didn’t even travel in between fences and Sam T-D eventually pulled her up. Sadly it doesn’t seem to be her game and she’ll go back over hurdles.
Reve was next and ran an absolute blinder under a sympathetic ride from Leighton Aspell and was staying on all the way up the run-in but Richard Johnson wasn’t to be denied and we finished 2nd. A great run but a little frustrating not to get his head in front – he deserves to win soon.
Finally Acacia Dream ran in the bumper and we asked Leighton to be honest with us and tell us exactly what he thought. She goes nicely at home but sadly proved yesterday that racing probably isn’t her game which is a shame but there are plenty of other jobs she can do.
After riding a treble at the track, Richard also did the school run on the way home! Multi talented Champion Jockey!
Matt Capp in here this morning braving the cold – it was bitter – to watch Robsam and the ‘soon to be named’ Yeats four year old.
Chris and Jo Massey in 3rd lot to watch their mare Jeans Genie who is coming along well too. Always fun to catch up with Chris & Jo who we’ve not seen for a while.
No runners today but yesterdays runners all trotted up fine and will be rugged up well and turned out in the paddock for the day.