Pilsdon Pen loves Wincanton, he won on his handicap hurdle debut at 80-1 in 2022 and returned to the winners enclosure here over fences. He is a big horse who started his career on the flat for Joe Tuite but has come into his own over obstacles.
Fair Dinkum is not the biggest in stature, however he has a long stride and used it to good effect when stepping up in trip to 2 miles at Lingfield to break his maiden tag. Liam Keniry gave him a positive ride which he enjoyed and hopefully there are more races to be won with him on the flat this winter and next summer. Bought by Georgina and Mel Smith out of Hughie Morrison's yard at the July Sales, he was an inexpensive horse who we have taken some time to figure out what trip he likes but hopefully he will have more races in him for his owners Phillip Moore and Derek Coles.
Celtic Art was the first winner of the week at Lingfield, and it was fantastic to get him back to winning ways. Rex gave him an excellent ride to build his confidence and finish with his head in front.
We have had plenty run well in defeat, Leissieres Express is finally stringing a couple of good runs together, he has been tricky but we are finally working him out to keep him calm. Exmoor Lad still needs his jumping to improve but it was very pleasing to see him finish well at Taunton, he may struggle off his opening mark of 94 unless his jumping slickens up. Poor Diesel Line was taken of his feet for his hurdling debut, he ran well despite loosing lengths at his hurdles, we will get his confidence up over our hurdles at home and find him another race.
Lily Luna jumped superbly and was unlucky to bump into one of the leading UK bumper horses on her hurdling debut, hopefully she will go one better next time.
Little Else is a tough cookie, she won on her last start last season and on her seasonal debut at Newton Abbot, she has since followed up with another tough performance in defeat at Exeter. By Midnight Legend, she shows his typical grit and tough attitude in her races.
Another Fine Mess made an encouraging debut on the track to finish third in a Newbury Bumper, surrounded by horses who had already had a run, he just weaked out late on but looks to have an exciting future ahead of him for his owner Helen Stoneman. You could almost see the penny drop for Elusiveness in her bumper, she ran on encouragingly for her enthusiastic owners, The Exmoor High Hopes, most of which are on their first horse ownship journey, hopefully she will match their enthusiasm with the results on the racecourse. The Sainted Canary ran well on his racecourse debut at Ascot, finishing fourth.
King Of The Lake has been running very consistently, finishing in the first three in every run, hopefully he will be in the winners enclosure soon.
We are delighted to see Emily in the shortlist for the Godolphin Stable Staff Awards, she rightly deserves to be there and we wish her the very best of luck in the next round.