Stable Tour as featured in One Jump Ahead 2016-17 by Mark Howard - Posted on Friday, September 23, 2016
Mark Howard caught up with Brian Ellison for his thoughts and insight into our team of National Hunt horses ahead of this seasons jump campaign.
As featured in Mark’s new publication, One Jump Ahead 2016/17.
Always Resolute: rated 132, he is on a fair mark
Stable Tour
ALWAYS RESOLUTE 5 b g Refuse To Bend (IRE) – Mad Annie (USA)
A winner on his hurdles debut at Catterick, he was unlucky not to follow up under a penalty when falling at the last. Eighth in the Scottish Champion Hurdle during the spring, he has improved a lot on the Flat this summer winning three times. He ran well at the Galway Festival in July and would have finished even closer with a clearer passage. We may run him in the Cesarewitch Trial at Newmarket (17th September) followed by the Cesarewitch (8th October) itself. He will then go back over hurdles and I think he will benefit from a step up to two and a half miles. Rated 132, he is on a fair mark.
Apterix: isn't short of speed
APTERIX (FR) 6 b g Day Flight – Ohe Les Aulmes (FR)
He won at Ludlow in March and wasn’t disgraced in the Swinton Hurdle at Haydock. We gave him a break following his run in the Northumberland Plate consolation at Newcastle and the plan is to send him novice chasing. A good jumper, he has the size to make a nice chaser. Two miles is his trip because he isn’t short of speed.
Ballycrystal: will go novice hurdling
BALLYCRYSTAL (IRE) 5 b g Oscar (IRE) – Musical Madam (IRE)
A winning Irish pointer we bought at the Cheltenham November Sale, he is a nice horse who won a bumper at the second time of asking at Doncaster. We then took him to Ayr’s Scottish National meeting but he disappointed. However, he choked during the race and we have subsequently operated on his wind. He will go novice hurdling over two and a half miles.
Conceptual: will start out in a bumper in the Autumn
CONCEPTUAL 3 b g Nayef (USA) – Half Glance
A Juddmonte cast off, we bought him cheaply out of Amanda Perrett’s yard at the Newmarket July Sale. Gelded since arriving, we have given him some time off during the summer. It is early days to say how much ability he possesses but the intention is for him to run in a bumper in the Autumn.
Crackdeloust: a lovely horse
CRACKDELOUST (FR) 4 b g Daramsar (FR) – Magic Rose (FR)
He is a lovely horse who we think a lot of. We bought him in France having won a bumper and he ran well to finish second on his first run for us at Haydock in November. Unfortunately, he banged a knee and missed the remainder of the season. We gave him a good holiday and often the French horses benefit from a break because they can take a while to acclimatise. He has come back in looking great and he is a brilliant jumper. He will reappear in a two mile novice hurdle because he has plenty of speed.
Definitly Red: will be aimed at the good handicap chases
DEFINITLY RED (IRE) 7 ch g Definite Article – The Red Wench (IRE)
A class horse who took well to chasing winning twice at Catterick and Ayr. He also ran some good races in defeat, including behind Cheltenham Festival winners Black Hercules and Blaklion at Warwick and Wetherby respectively. He didn’t stay in the four miler at Cheltenham before falling at the second last. We therefore dropped him back to two and a half miles at Ayr in April and he duly won in good style. I think two and a half to two miles six is probably ideal and, while he handles soft ground very well, I don’t feel he needs it, although we wouldn’t risk him on fast ground. He is a cracking horse who will be aimed at the good handicap chases.
Diamant De L'Ouest: purchased out of the Doncaster May Sale
DIAMANT DE L’OUEST (FR) 3 b g Epalo (GER) – Ortezia (FR)
Unraced, we bought him at the Doncaster May Sales this year and have given him a break during the summer. A big horse, he is an unknown quantity and we will run him in a bumper and see how he gets on.
Dominada: has been intensively schooled
DOMINADA (IRE) 4 b g Mastercraftsman (IRE) – Red Blossom (USA)
He only raced three times over hurdles, winning at Uttoxeter on his jumping bow. Second and fourth at Market Rasen and Musselburgh respectively in two subsequent runs, he didn’t jump particularly well but has been intensively schooled since. He has improved on the Flat, too, winning at Musselburgh. I think he will benefit from stepping up in trip over hurdles and he doesn’t look badly handicapped off 105 compared to his Flat rating of 80.
Eyes Of A Tiger: open to improvement
EYES OF A TIGER (IRE) 5 ch g Golan (IRE) – Backtothekingsnest (IRE)
A winner over hurdles at Clonmel in October when trained by Pat Fahy, he has raced four times for us, including when finishing second at Sedgefield in the spring. However, he is another who we found was choking and have operated on his wind. Rated 113, he will go novice handicap chasing and is open to improvement.
Five In A Row: ultimate target this season is the Scottish National
FIVE IN A ROW (IRE) 8 ch g Blueprint (IRE) – Ela Plaisir (IRE)
A lovely horse who won three times last season, including twice over fences at Musselburgh and Newcastle. A good jumper who appreciates decent ground, his ultimate target this season is the Scottish National. More immediately, we are going to aim him at the Durham National at Sedgefield (27th October).
Forest Bihan: hobdayed since last season
FOREST BIHAN (FR) 5 ch g Forestier (FR) – Katell Bihan (FR)
He was in the grip of the handicapper for much of last season and, although he ran some good races, he also disappointed us on occasions. However, we had him scoped and found he had an issue with his soft palate. He has therefore been hobdayed since last season and we are hoping that will bring about some improvement. We may give him another run over hurdles but it won’t be long before he goes chasing.
General Mahler: has undergone surgery on his wind
GENERAL MAHLER (IRE) 6 b g Mahler – High Dough (IRE)
I was very pleased to see him win the Betfred Hurdle Series Final at Sedgefield in March. Beaten on his next three starts, although he was unlucky at Ayr, we found he was choking so he is another who has undergone surgery on his wind. I don’t think he will have any trouble staying three miles this time and, like Forest Bihan, he may have another run over hurdles before going chasing. He ran in two Irish points before we bought him last November.
I Am Not Here: may go novice hurdling
I AM NOT HERE (IRE) 5 b g Amadeus Wolf – Newgate Lodge (IRE)
Bought cheaply in February, there is a possibility we will send him novice hurdling. A winner at Ayr in June and the Haydock Park Ladies’ Trophy Handicap in August, he has also been runner-up on four other occasions. Still improving, he could make a nice northern novice hurdler.
Instant Replay: looks a very nice four-year-old
INSTANT REPLAY (IRE) 4 ch g Fruits of Love (USA) – Ding Dong Belle
A lovely young horse who finished half a length second in his only Irish point for Sean Doyle in May. We bought him at the Doncaster Spring Sales less than a fortnight later and he looks a very nice four year old. He has had a holiday since arriving and will go down the bumper route.
Jac The Legend (right): jumps, gallops & stays
JAC THE LEGEND 7 b g Midnight Legend – Sky Burst
Consistent last season, he won over hurdles at Sedgefield and finished second on five occasions over fences. In fact, I think going chasing has been the making of him. He jumps and gallops and is a strong stayer. With that in mind, he is another we are going to aim at the Durham National at Sedgefield (27th October). Rated 120, he ought to remain competitive off such a mark.
Lethegoodtimesroll: problem with her knee last year
LETHEGOODTIMESROLL (IRE) 5 ch m Mahler – Little Pearl (IRE)
She won her only Irish point before we bought her at Goffs in the spring of last year. We sent her to Carlisle for a mares’ only bumper in March expecting her to go close but she hung badly throughout and was eventually pulled up. She was lame afterwards and it transpired she had a problem with one of her knees. As a result, we sent her to Newmarket to be treated and she is back now. We may give her another run in a bumper before aiming her at mares’ novice hurdles.
Mahlerdramatic: has schooled well over hurdles
MAHLERDRAMATIC (IRE) 6 br g Mahler – Image of Vermont (IRE)
He is another who had problems with his knees hence he hasn’t run since November. Back in work, he is a nice horse who won two bumpers at Market Rasen and Aintree, prior to his injury. A former pointer, he has schooled well over hurdles and I think he will be suited by two and a half miles over jumps.
Nietzsche: the key is soft ground
NIETZSCHE 3 ch g Poet’s Voice – Ganga (IRE)
We bought him out of William Haggas’ yard last Autumn and he has enjoyed a good season on the Flat this year winning three times (he has won again since time of writing). Successful at Nottingham, Beverley and Catterick over ten and twelve furlongs, he also finished fourth in the Queen Mother’s Cup at York and wasn’t disgraced in the King George V Handicap at Royal Ascot in June. We have schooled him over hurdles and he jumps well. The key to him though is the ground because he loves it soft.
Oscar Blue (left): could develop into a useful staying novice chaser
OSCAR BLUE (IRE) 6 gr g Oscar (IRE) – Blossom Rose (IRE)
Won his first couple of races over hurdles at Hexham and Kelso and, while he ran some creditable races in defeat later in the season, he wasn’t quite at his best. He was another who was choking in his races though and we have operated on his wind during the summer. I like him and I think he will develop into a useful staying novice chaser this winter.
Our Kylie: very tough
OUR KYLIE (IRE) 4 b f Jeremy (USA) – Prakara (IRE)
A tough filly who has done extremely well since joining us during the spring. She has won three times over hurdles, including at the Galway Festival in July, and she has also won over a mile and a half on the Flat at Musselburgh. She keeps improving and we will continue to mix and match between Flat and jumps. She has done nothing wrong and I hope she is open to even more improvement.
Persian Steel: a big baby last year
PERSIAN STEEL (IRE) 4 ch g Lucarno (USA) – Persian Walk (FR)
Well bred being a half-brother to Royal Shakespeare, we thought he would run well on his debut in a bumper at Catterick but he found it too soft. He had shown enough at home to suggest he would go well but couldn’t handle the conditions. Still a big baby last year, we purposely left him off after that and have let him mature. There is every chance he will run in another bumper in the Autumn.
Pistol Park: a smashing horse
PISTOL PARK (FR) 5 b g Polyglot – Pistolero (GER)
He is a smashing horse who I like a lot. Previously trained in Ireland by Alan Fleming, we bought him at the Doncaster Sales in May. We then ran him in a novice chase at Hexham the following month with a view to winning and hopefully finding an owner for him. He duly made all and won by five lengths and I have managed to sell half of him since. Brian (Hughes) rode him and felt he will be better on soft ground. It was officially good to soft that day but they had over watered so it suited him. He is a very nice horse for novice chases over two and two and a half miles. Even though his win at Hexham was gained over two miles, I don’t envisage him having any problem staying further.
Point The Way: progressive last season
POINT THE WAY (IRE) 5 br g Brian Boru – Caspian Og (IRE)
An ex-Irish pointer we purchased over a year ago, he was progressive last season winning a bumper at Hexham and scoring three times over hurdles at Sedgefield, Catterick and Market Rasen. He jumps well and is another who will be aimed at novice chases over trips around two and a half miles, although he may stay further.
Ravenhill Road: a lovely horse for the future
RAVENHILL ROAD (IRE) 5 ch g Exit To Nowhere (USA) – Zaffarella (IRE)
A fifteen lengths winner of his only Irish point for Stuart Crawford in May, we bought him soon afterwards at Doncaster and he looks a lovely horse for the future. Given a break, he has settled in well and is one to watch out for in a bumper before embarking on his hurdling career.
Rownak: another lovely youngster
ROWNAK (IRE) 3 ch g Rip Van Winkle (IRE) – Apache Dream (IRE)
A really nice unraced horse we acquired out of Marco Botti’s yard at the Newmarket July Sales. He is a half-brother to Hall of Mirrors, who was a Group 3 winner for Aidan O’Brien. Gelded since joining us, he has had a break and, all being well, we will start him off in a junior bumper in the Autumn. He is a lovely horse.
Sam's Adventure: an exciting prospect who could be anything
SAM’S ADVENTURE 4 b g Black Sam Bellamy (IRE) – My Adventure (IRE)
An exciting prospect who could be anything. Bred by Richard Johnson, he told us when we bought him at Doncaster Sales that he would need a couple of years before fully developing. Very raw initially, he took the training well and, despite still being a baby, won by nearly twenty lengths on his debut in a bumper at Wetherby in February. A month later, he followed up in the DBS Spring Sales Bumper at Newbury. What he achieved in such a short space of time was unbelievable. He has thrived during the summer, too, putting on weight. Depending on how he schools, he may have another run in a bumper. Both his wins have been gained on soft/heavy ground and I think he will always prefer some ease in the ground.
Seamour: a possibility he may go back over hurdles
SEAMOUR (IRE) 5 b g Azamour (IRE) – Chifney Rush (IRE)
Unbeaten in two runs over hurdles a couple of seasons ago, there is a possibility he will go back over jumps, if he doesn’t prove top class on the Flat. Unlucky not to win the Northumberland Plate at Newcastle in June, he hit the front too soon and got collared close home. Disappointing at York the following month in a Listed event, the race developed into a three furlongs sprint and it didn’t suit him. However, he ran well in the Ebor in August finishing fifth. If we do decide to go back over hurdles, he looks well handicapped off 131.
Shearling: very well bred
SHEARLING 3 b f Rail Link – Casual
Another unraced three year old we bought at the Newmarket July Sales. Previously in training with Roger Charlton and a Juddmonte cast-off, she is very well bred being a half-sister to Harlem, who was a Listed winner and runner-up at Group 2 level for Andre Fabre. She is a gorgeous filly who we put out in the paddock during the summer. A junior bumper is on her agenda. I like her a lot.
Smart Talk: could be anything
SMART TALK (IRE) 6 b m Hubbly Bubbly (USA) – Belon Breeze (IRE)
She is a brilliant mare who has grown again during the summer. A winning Irish point-to-pointer, I always thought she was useful and she developed into a high-class mare over hurdles last winter. A four times winner, including Listed and Grade 2 mares’ hurdles at Haydock and Doncaster respectively, I should have run her in the two and a half miles race at Cheltenham in March. She is a massive mare and will go chasing this time. There is a good programme for mares’ novice chasers and she jumps very well. Quick enough for two miles, she also stays two and a half miles. She could be anything over fences.
Stipulate: has a lot of ability
STIPULATE 7 b g Dansili – Indication
A dual Listed winner, he was a smart horse in his younger days for Sir Henry Cecil before going to race in Australia. He had his first run for us in the Lincoln at Doncaster in the spring before running two good races within five days at the Galway Festival in July. Sixth over ten furlongs at York’s Ebor meeting, there is every chance we will send him jumping. I think he will stay two miles because he relaxes during his races. Rated 100 on the Flat, he has a lot of ability.
Suitor: isn't short of speed
SUITOR 4 ch g Dutch Art – Entreat
Bought out of Richard Hannon’s yard over a year ago, he won over ten furlongs at Newcastle in June before we took him to Ireland for the Ladies Derby at the Curragh. The ground may not have suited him there because he is better than he showed that day. He could be an interesting one for two mile novice hurdles because he isn’t short of speed.
The Grey Taylor: hopefully can bounce back this season
THE GREY TAYLOR (IRE) 7 gr g Royal Anthem (USA) – Penny Tan (IRE)
We operated on his wind over a year ago and, while he won over fences at Carlisle and ran well at the likes of Wetherby and Doncaster, he was still struggling with his breathing and choked. Well held on his final two runs, we sent him to Edinburgh to get his wind done again. He has therefore had a tie-forward operation and hopefully he will bounce back because we know he is a good horse when at his best. Two miles is his trip.
Tickerty Boo: has grown a lot during the summer
TICKERTY BOO (IRE) 4 b f Tikkanen (USA) – La Fille D’Or (IRE)
A nice unraced filly we bought at the Cheltenham November Sale last year. She was backward when arriving but has grown a lot during the summer and I have been pleased with her. We will see what she is capable of in a mares’ bumper later this year.
Tomngerry: has enjoyed a long holiday and looks well for it
TOMNGERRY (IRE) 6 b g Craigsteel – Lady Vic (IRE)
He won his only Irish point for Liz Doyle in October before we bought him at the Cheltenham sales the following month. He has proved a good buy winning four of his five races, including over hurdles at Wetherby and Newcastle. Pulled up in a Grade 1 at Aintree on his final start, it was a race too many and we have given him a long holiday since. He is working well again now and we are looking forward to running him over fences this season. We will start him off over two and a half miles but three miles shouldn’t be an issue later on. All being well, he will make a useful novice chaser.
Totalize: going novice chasing
TOTALIZE 7 b g Authorised (IRE) – You Too
He has been a grand horse for us over the years and I have been very pleased with him during the summer. A winner at Market Rasen in July, he was then narrowly beaten a fortnight later at the Galway Festival running a blinder. Freshened up since, we are going to send him novice chasing in September/October. I think two and a half miles is his optimum trip.
Viens Chercher: two miles appears to suit him
VIENS CHERCHER (IRE) 5 b g Milan – La Zingarella (IRE)
Previously trained by Guillaume Macaire in France, he started the season with victories over hurdles at Sedgefield and Market Rasen and ran well in a Listed novice at Haydock. We decided to give him a break following his run at Musselburgh in February because he had been on the go for a while. He has already run over fences in France but remains a novice and that is very much the plan this season. Two miles appears to suit him.
Zaidiyn: ideally he wants a strongly-run two miles
ZAIDIYN (FR) 6 b g Zamindar (USA) – Zainta (IRE)
A horse with a lot of ability as he demonstrated when winning easily at Newcastle in March. We then ran him in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr but they went no pace and it didn’t suit him. Ideally, he wants a strongly run two miles. A faller two out on his chasing debut at Market Rasen last Autumn, he is a good jumper but loses concentration and is inclined to kick the odd hurdle out of the ground. Still a bit of a playboy, he is talented and I would say we will try him over fences again
