Big Nasty ran an absolute blinder at Cheltenham on Wednesday for the Peel Racing Syndicate under Sean Bowen. He jumped for fun and was closing in on the leader all the way up the hill but the winner was always finding a bit more and he was a gallant 2nd. We had plenty of supporters in the Winners’ Enclosure and a few spectators commented that our reception was bigger than some of the winners received! That’s two visits to Cheltenham now for Big Nasty resulting in a 4th and a 2nd…next time?! Thanks to Cheltenham for looking after all the syndicate so well with a delicious lunch and then an invite up to The Royal Box afterwards for a glass of champagne and to watch the re-run – a lovely touch.
I was so excited about running Found On yesterday back at Cheltenham in the EBF Mares’ Novices’ Chase Series Final, a race that has been her ultimate aim since qualifying in January. Ollie & Irene Ryan couldn’t be there as are in South Africa getting married so congratulations to them … we hoped to send them off with a fabulous result as well. She’s not the easiest to train, is very keen at home and needs special front shoes to be trained in and plenty of physio but she was in great form and we were all happy with her.
Imagine my disbelief to see her kicked at the start by an apparently known kicker? It scraped a patch of fur off her ribcage but she didn’t flinch when prodded and trotted up sound. However, in the PC world we now live in they couldn’t let her run although bizarrely Sean was allowed to canter her back to the Paddock!! So frustrating and disappointing – a decent prize and at Cheltenham too. The ‘kicker’ then went an won! Winning trainer Henry Daly did come and apologise which was good of him but all in all very frustrating.
We then waited all the way until the final bumper and were doubly represented in it. Lady Sutton’s homebred mare Bella Ciao was disappointing under James Best – she’s a lot better than that and we’ll see if something comes to light. Graham Saville and Billy Worthington’s Finescope ran a blinder under Sean Bowen and galloped up the hill to finish 7th and delight them both. I was so pleased with how professional both behaved in the preliminaries.
Work morning and Warren Marston and Patrick Cowley both in to ride out. We worked plenty this morning including Spanish Present, Dreamsundermyfeet, Debden Bank, Reve, Brianna Rose, Samtara, Kazontherazz, Ten Past Midnight, Capricia, Blazing Court, Western Safire, Duke of Luckley, Carumba, Culverwell, Ben Buie and Forecast. All the rest cantered.
A stunning day for the Pony Racing at Cheltenham. Good luck to all children participating. With Chris Dee the Judge on the Winning Line I’m hoping for plenty of close finishes!