Changing Of The Seasons

Where has the time gone?  It seems like only a short time ago, a midsummer update was posted and now we have already arrived at the first Chepstow meeting which for many signals the real start of the jumps season!

If that is the case then it started very well for the yard with Mothill winning the juvenile hurdle.  He looks very smart and should run in some nice races this season.  Tom Scudamore was in the saddle at Chepstow and will no doubt be looking forward to renewing the partnership soon.

It has been busy as ever at Conkwell Lodge and thankfully we have continued to see winners from the yard on racecourses around the country.

Our open day which formed part of National Racehorse Week was well attended and we received some very nice messages after the event which indicated that people very much enjoyed the chance to visit the stables and meet our horses.

We also held our 2^nd annual owners' golf day which was contested at Cumberwell Park.  We were really well looked after as usual by the team at Cumberwell and the afternoon was enjoyed by all.  Last year’s winning team retained their crown and are clearly already the quartet to beat in 2023!

The winners have been flowing over the late summer.  Ragamuffin has done really well for Jane Nuala Cartwright and after winning in May and finishing 2^nd twice after that, he was back in front on the 25^th of July at Newton Abbot.  His form figures since then have been 212 with another win coming on 30^th August back on the same course.  With five 2^nd places and three wins since the start of May, he has clearly enjoyed his summer.  Sam Twiston-Davies has ridden him in all these races and gets on very well with him.

In mid-August, Translink recorded another win.  This came at Worcester with Richie McLernon riding.  This one was very much kept in the family, as Translink is owned by Brian Mulholland!

The following day saw another winner with Dynamic Kate winning at Fontwell.  She followed this up by finishing 2^nd at Worcester a few days later and then winning back at Fontwell again a few days after that.  The syndicate members involved in the BG Racing owned mare were delighted with her purple patch and conditional jockey, Thomasina Eyston, seems to get on really well with Dynamic Kate and rode her on all three occasions.

Belle Na Bann won on the same day as Dynamic Kate’s win to record a double for the yard at Fontwell.  She also followed up her win with another in early September, this one coming at Newton Abbot.  Tom Scudamore rode her to both wins.

Thomasina will be losing her claim sooner than she expected if things continue to progress as they have this summer.  She won on The Turtle Said at Worcester in late August to go with her two wins on Dynamic Kate.  Owners, Bob and Pat Bunch have plenty to look forward to with this one.

We finished August with another winner on the last day of the month with Glajou winning at Worcester.  He was another one ridden by Tom Scudamore and had gone nearly two years since his other win.  He has put in several placed efforts since then so this return to winning form was well-deserved.

September started very well as on the same day as Dynamic Kate’s 2^nd win at Fontwell, Girlofmydreams won at the same course for long-time supporter of the yard, Mike Burbidge.  This was another one for Tom Scudamore and came a day before Belle Na Bann’s 2^nd win.

There were plenty more 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes after that, but no wins for a couple of weeks until Princess T was a winner at Worcester.  Thomas Doggrell rode this winner and it preceded another period where a few went close until Mothill recorded the next success at Chepstow.

With the jumps season proper getting into full swing, let’s hope that there are many more winners to come.