Absolutely thrilled with Reve yesterday winning in such gutsy style stepping up in trip at Catterick under a very good ride from Sam Twiston-Davies. Delighted for owners Ollie & Irene Ryan who are such great supporters of the yard and so pleased they could be there yesterday to enjoy the win with us all. Big thanks also to my Assistant Trainer Foxy who has put so much hard work into Reve. A great performance and we can now build on that.
Catterick look after us all so well and we were also pleased with the hurdling debut of Ben Buie, also under a sympathetic ride from Sam Twiston-Davies. I mentioned yesterday that he’s been a big raw baby but we needn’t have worried about him as he showed a nice attitude yesterday to finish 3rd, albeit beaten quite a way, and Sam liked him alot. He wasn’t suited by the ground which was softer than we hoped and we’ll now wait for better ground in the spring. He’s a 3 mile chaser in the making and is still quite a raw baby but a huge step forward and Racing Post’s eyecatcher from the whole meeting! His owners commented how well he looked in his coat in the Paddock and a mention for Mick who looks after him and rides him a lot too – he was rightly pleased too.
Zara Tindall’s 4 year old Mare Run A Rig ran in the bumper under Patrick Cowley and also showed a fantastic attitude, settling well and, although looking to weaken 2 furlongs out, she stayed on again and was beaten just over 7 lengths into 6th. Very pleased with that debut run and her owner/breeder was too.
Samtara runs in the first at Ludlow today, a Novices’ Hurdle for Roger & Yvonne Allsop and James Best rides again. He jumped well on his hurdling debut at Chepstow although pulled too hard and was never going to get home. He therefore needs to learn to settle and will undoubtedly do better when he’s running in handicaps so is best watched today.