News@Neardown 24.01.13

News@Neardown 24.01.13

The snow has been a nightmare – as I am sure you have all been experiencing for yourselves. As the snow came down heavily on Friday we were unable to work horses on Saturday. It was very frustrating as there were a number of horses Charlie was hoping to work.

Since Friday we have only had access to two gallops in Lambourn, Fishers Hill and Kingsdown, both of which we do not normally use. Due to the freezing temperatures they have not been riding deep enough to work horses; however they have been perfectly fine to canter horses.

We must not complain too much as many people have not been able to get their horses out at all. With the weather easing slightly last night and the Jockey Club harrowing the gallop a little deeper than normal we were able to do a bit more with them up Kingsdown gallop this morning. It was a great relief as we have all been within an inch of being bucked off!

I will report as much as I can on your horses but it hasn’t been the most exciting week.

Attimo

As you could predict he has put on a couple of Kilos this week, he is a very good eater and as big horse he needs as much work as we can throw at him. He did a bit of faster work this morning.

Ballymurry

He has just been ticking along up Fishers Hill. Dave Crosse rode him yesterday and was nearly taken off with! We hope to get some work into him on Saturday.

Big Jer

He is verging on being too fresh! It has been particularly frustrating stopping with him as he was quickly regaining fitness. With a bit of a thaw we might be able to get some work into him on Saturday.

Duke of Monmouth

He has just been hacking up Fisher Hill until this morning when we were able to take him to Kingsdown to go a bit quicker as he really was getting to fresh. He should be out again in 2 or 3 weeks.

Enter Paradise

He is ready to run. Luckily he did a bit of faster work this morning (with his eyes on stalks!) He holds an entry in a Novice Hurdle over 2m 7f at Lingfield on Tuesday.

Feisty Lass

She is ready to run and looks better than ever. She holds a few entries over hurdles; a 2m 5f Novice at Plumpton on Monday, a 2m 7f Novice at Lingfield on Tuesday and a 2m 5f Mdn at Ludlow on Wednesday, all of which are realistic options.

Fine Parchment

He came home fine from Wincanton, he needs a bit further these days. He remains in good spirits; it won’t be too long until he is out again.

Judy’s Boy

Wareed x Katie Buckers 4yo

He is a store horse Charlie bought last year. He was broken over the summer and we are now starting to step up his work. He has just been ticking over through the bad weather, Charlie hopes to get some work into him on Saturday. The first time he saw the snow he tried to get down and roll in it with Rose on top!

King Arthur

He is ready to run again. he makes an extraordinary snorting noise at the snow which seems to make his pilot slightly nervous! He holds and entry in a Juvenile race at Ludlow next Wednesday which could be the place to get him off the mark.

Lord of House

He looks terrific. He should hopefully head to Cheltenhamon Saturday for the H’cap over 2m 1f. He had a good blow this morning and will have a steady day tomorrow.

Maringo Bay

He holds an entry at Leicester over 2m 7f in a 0-125 Novice H’cap which could be a realistic target for him as he is ready to run.

Masked  Man

He looks great and enjoys the snow, being even fresher than usual! We could do with the snow going and the ground drying up for him. He is another like King Arthur who makes an inquisitive grunt at the snow!

Prolinx

He went to Kingsdown this morning to go half a strider quicker, in the hope of keeping him sharp as there is a 2m 3f Novice at Lingfield next Tuesday. It could be a good target for him as he has come out of his race at Newbury better than ever.

Seventh Sky

He is bouncing out of his skin at the moment! Wherever Charlie seems to enter him seems to be abandoned. Crosse rode him this morning and was delighted in him. He has entries for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.

Stoney Silence

Much to Roses joy Crosse has taken over the ride the last couple of mornings; he has been getting fresher and fresher as the week has progressed! Therefore he went up Kingsdown this morning to go a bit quicker with the others which he seemed to really enjoy and Crosse was pleased with him (and pleased he stayed on too!). He is a very happy horse at the moment!

Van Diemens Land

 As I think he takes a lot of work he joined those on Kingsdown, so when the ground does eventually dry out we are ready to rock and roll with him!

Victor Leudorum

He is doing at lot of bouncing! He is in great spirits and loves the snow. He will be ready to run in a week or so. Hopefully we can find somewhere were the ground has dried out a bit.

Western King

He also went up Kingsdown and has been one of the safer riders during the snow! He is ready to run at the moment, Charlie is just holding out for better ground.

Who Owns Me

He is challenging for the freshest horse on the yard. Gavin has been riding him everyday lately and reports him to feel great. He will however need a couple more bits of work before he is out again.

Yazdi

 He has just been ticking over through this weather and did a little bit more this morning, hopefully by Saturday we can put some hard graph into him as Charlie hopes to run him in 3 weeks or so.

Riding out in the snow at Neardown

News@Neardown 17.01.13

News@Neardown 17.01.13

Attimo

I rode him in another encouraging piece of work yesterday upsides Seventh Sky. He has a great attitude and is always trying to keep his head in front. Paul schooled him this morning over the fixed brush hurdles on the all weather surface; he did not jump them as well as he has jumped the hurdles on the grass. It probably wasn’t a bad thing as it would have educated him teaching him to pick up his feet a bit more.

Ballymurry

Charlie had hoped to school him over some fences this morning, however due to the grass being frozen he opted against schooling him over the fixed brush fences on the all weather. He also felt he would rather wait until Sam or Noel are in over the next few days to give him a pop. He looks terrific after being clipped on Monday.

Big Jer

He did a good strong half speed yesterday which was just what he needed as he was just starting to get a bit too fresh! He is booked in first thing tomorrow with the vet, to be giving a sleeping pill ahead of being clipped!

Duke of Monmouth

He ran a great race to finish 4^th in a Pertemps Qualifier on Saturday. After watching the race I was a bit concerned that he would return a bit tired and tucked up. However he has come out of the race remarkably well, he was even having a good try at bucking Rose off at the beginning of the week. I am delighted to see this as it is a sign of how much he has matured this year.

Enter Paradise

Sadly Fakenham was off on Sunday which was real bore as he is in great form at home and we all thought he had a great chance. We have given him another reasonably quiet week, but Charlie does plan to work him on Saturday to keep him sharp. Then he hopes to run him in a Novice Hurdle at Fakenham on Thursday.

Feisty Lass

She did a piece of work yesterday with Masked Man which looked to be her best yet. She schooled well over fences this morning, however she does tend to spend a bit too long in the air. I think it would be a good idea to school her in some cheek pieces next time or even a sheepskin noseband, purely as an aid for concentration. She is looking a lot fitter now.

Fine Parchment

He didn’t run as well as we thought he would at Wincanton today. 2m 5f maybe a bit too short for him these days.

King Arthur

He ran a much improved race to finish 2^nd at Lingfield earlier in the week. I think he will be a better horse on better ground. He has returned home fine and Charlie hopes to run him again soon.

Lord of House

He holds 3 entries at the weekend. One at Ascot in a 2m 3f Grade 2, a 2m Grade 2 at Haydock and a 2m 3f H’cap at Taunton. The weather will have a big say in where Charlie runs him. I really hope he does get to run somewhere as the ground is ideal for him at the moment and I would hate for him to miss it.

Maringo Bay

He has had a slightly easier time than usual to make sure he has fully recovered from his fun at Lingfeld, which I think he has now.  Charlie has put him in a 3m H’cap at Exeter next Wednesday.

Masked Man

He did a really nice piece of work yesterday with Feisty Lass and is on course for a bid to win the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, Charlie is undecided just yet as to whether he will give him a run before hand. I feel he might benefit to going there fresh and the ground is also too soft for him at the moment.

Prolinx

He ran a creditable race yesterday, only to get a bit tired turning in! He has returned home safe and sound and really enjoyed his day out. It is safe to say his future lies over fences.

Seventh Sky

Noel came in to ride him on Tuesday and was happy with him. He said he was moving well. Peter has been riding him lots lately and has also been pleased with him. He said he feels like a happier horse than what he did a month ago. Charlie is struggling to find a race for him at the moment. It might be that he has to go for a Maiden rather than the preferred route of a H’cap.

Stoney Silence

He did another piece of work yesterday upsides the Wareed. Gavin rode him and commented on how much he had matured in the last month. He is eating well at the moment and while he is Charlie will try and put a bit of work into him. He has gone out for a nice walk today.

Van Diemens Land

 Peter rode him yesterday and he looked to go better than ever, I think this was because he was on the all weather surface. It is a much quicker surface than the grass he has been working on lately. He obviously finds it easier to go up the gears on a sounder surface; this leads me to think it is worth waiting for some better ground for him.

Victor Leudorum

As the ground dried out a bit at Kempton Charlie decided to take the chance and run him in the Lanzarote. He was in a great position and jumped brilliantly until he seemed to stop quickly. We had him scooped to find out he had bled, which is obviously the reason for his performance. We took his bloods which came back fine. It is leading me to think that the testing ground conditions and it being his 1^st run back after is break was the reason. Charlie will now look for some better ground.

Western King

I have been really happy with him lately. He has been fresh and bouncing along. He worked nicely with Yazdi yesterday, however Charlie does not want to run him on this ground again.

Who Owns Me

 He is now back in full swing and unbelievably fresh.  I think this little break has been a blessing in disguise and just what he needed mid season. He will have lost a bit of fitness but with the enthusiasm he is going about things it will not take long to regain.

Yazdi

 He did a piece of work yesterday which he did get a bit tired in however he was entitled to do so. His weight has been slowly increasing which in turn has enabled us to put a bit more work into him. Being a light framed horse I don’t think it will take much work to get him fit.

News@Neardown 10.01.13

News@Neardown 10.01.13

Air Force One

Ran a creditable race to stay on and finish 3^rd at Chepstow on Tuesday. He came home from the race fine.

Attimo

I rode him in his first bit of strong work yesterday. He surprised me with how easily he did it. He has more speed that his size suggests and will work again on Saturday. David Crosse schooled him this morning and really liked him.

Ballymurry

He ran a better race than it maybe looked on Tuesday. Noel was very happy with him, he said he got a bit out paced turning for home. He has come home from the race fine. He is now ready for a fence, so Charlie plans to school him over fences next week.

Big Jer

He is very fresh and well in himself. He is back doing 2 canters up the bank every day. Charlie hopes to be able to start putting some more work into him next Wednesday. I plan on getting him clipped over the weekend-which could be a mission as it takes about 10 people to hold him down!

Duke of Monmouth

Worked nicely yesterday and nearly bucked Gavin off on the schooling field this morning! It is great to see him in such good spirits; he has a great shine to his coat. He holds 3 entries this weekend at Warwick, Kempton and Fakenham, Charlie plans to run him where the ground is the softest.

Enter Paradise

He has had a quiet-ish week in the hope of keeping him fresh for the weekend. He holds 3 entries at the weekend at Warwick and Kempton on Saturday and Fakenham on Sunday which is where he won his Beginners Chase and looks the most likely option.

Feisty Lass

She went for a canter around ‘The Bowl’ with Charlie on Tuesday which she seemed to really enjoy. We think she might take a bit more work than we first thought, so she could do this again next week. She still has a very good skin on her and will work again on Saturday.

Fine Parchment

He remains in great form at home. He did a great piece of work with Western King yesterday and went for a walk this morning. Charlie has made an entry for him at Newbury next Wednesday, however there is a good race for him at Ludlow the following day.

King Arthur

He did a very strong piece of work with Seventh Sky yesterday. We have moved him to ‘the bank’ rather than ‘back of the hill’ for the next few days in the hope of brining him on a bit. He holds entries at Kempton on Saturday, Lingfield on Tuesday and Newbury on Wednesday, at this early stage Lingfield is looking the most likely.

Lord of House

He put in a performance that we all new he was capable of at Sandown on Saturday. He did it in a very impressive manner, soft ground and a strong pace both played in his favour, he also jumped very well. As yet no plans have been set for his next step. We are all very excited about him at Neardown.

Maringo Bay

Robbed again! He was very unlucky. He looked to idle a bit in front. He could be out again soon with maybe some slightly different tactics applied. He does still look terrific.

Masked Man

He remains fresh and well at home, he is now back in his routine and will be out again at the end of the month.

Prolinx

He schooled even better this morning; he makes a much nicer shape over a fence than he ever did over a hurdle. He holds an entry at Newbury next Wednesday in a Novice Chase where he is most likely to go.

Seventh Sky

He took off up the gallops with Charlie yesterday, which I was delighted to see as he hasn’t done so for some time! Charlie returned from that bit of work saying he would benefit from another piece; which he will do on Saturday. It looks unlikely that he will run this weekend however we will still keep a look to see if the races cut up though. There is an option of a 0-120 H’Cap next week at Market Rasen.

Stoney Silence

He did his first bit of work that he has done for a while yesterday. He loved it and came out of it very well. Gavin schooled him this morning over the big hurdles which he was good at, however he did lack a bit of concentration at times. I am sure it will improve with experience.

Surrey Dream

Noel felt that he did not stay yesterday which was a shame as his jumping was foot perfect. I feel his future lies over a mile on the flat.

Van Diemens Land

I rode work on him on Saturday and felt that he needed it a bit. Charlie took him round ‘the bowl’ on Tuesday and Pete worked him yesterday. They very much echoed my thoughts from his previous bit of work. Therefore I hope to get some more work into him before he runs again.

Victor Leudorum

He holds an entry in the Lanzarote at Kempton on Saturday, however the ground is currently soft which wouldn’t be to his liking. It is therefore unlikely that Charlie will run him. He is now ready to run and schooled really well this morning.

Western King

He did another good bit of work with Fine Parchment yesterday. He holds 3 entries back over hurdles this weekend-Kempton, Warwick and Fakenham. Charlie is not sure he will run as there may be easier options next week.

Who Owns Me

He had a little bang which has slowed his work up since his last run. But it looks to have cleared up now. So hopefully we can kick on and get some work into him.

Yazdi

He had sore heels at the beginning of this week which has been a bit frustrating. However we only really missed a couple of days cantering. Yesterday and today he was back in full work. Charlie hopes to start getting some heavier work into him next week. He is starting to fill out a bit more now.

Young horses schooling

Western King leading Attimo and Stoney Silence over the hurdles.

News@Neardown 3.1.13

News@Neardown 03.01.13

Air Force One

He worked yesterday with Western King and schooled over hurdles this morning. Charlie hopes to run him in a 0-120, 3 mile H’Cap Hurdle at Chepstow on Tuesday, which doesn’t look the strongest race on paper.

Attimo

I rode him yesterday doing a half speed on him upsides Yazdi on the all weather up ‘back of the hill’. Paul schooled him this morning over the baby hurdles and he looked to be very athletic for such a big young horse. So far he has been very straight forward.

Ballymurry

Holds entries at Wincanton and Plumpton at the weekend, however he also holds and entry at Chepstow on Tuesday which seems to be Charlie’s preferred option.

Big Jer

He had a few little niggling problems after his run at Taunton but he is now slowly getting back into his routine.

Duke of Monmouth

He returned home fine from Haydock and slipped straight back into his normal routine. Charlie is going to aim him at a Pertemps qualifier at Warwick a week Saturday.

Enter Paradise

He is bouncing out of his skin at the moment and looks a million dollars. There is a race for him at Fakenham which Charlie hopes to run him in if the ground has dried out a bit by then.

Feisty Lass

She returned home fine from her race and has slipped straight back to her routine, Charlie hopes to have her out again at the end of the month.

Fine Parchment

He ran a blinder at Taunton on Sunday only to get beaten on the line. He jumped brilliantly and travelled strongly giving Harry a great ride. There are two options now, a race at Newbury on the 16^th or an Amateur race at Ludlow the day after.

King Arthur

 He took a tired fall at Kempton last week which he has returned none the worse for. Noel said he got tired on the ground; there is a race for him at Lingfield a week on Monday. Sam Thomas came in this morning and he schooled very well for him.

Lord of House

He holds an entry at Sandown in a 0-145 H’Cap Hurdle which looks a competitive race, he also holds an entry in a Novice Hurdle on Sunday and another H’Cap on Monday. He is on very good form at home and I am looking forward to seeing him run again.

Maringo Bay

He runs tomorrow at Lingfield in which looks to be a fairly moderate race. He is in great form at home and should have a great chance.

Masked Man

He hated the ground at Leicester last week, in particular it was his jumping that struggled. Paul said he was finding it very difficult to jump out the heavy ground. He has come home none the worse from his race and even claimed another victim yesterday!

Prolinx

He looks great and is ready to run. He schooled particularly well over fences today.

Seventh Sky

Nothing came of his disappointing run at Haydock. He worked very well yesterday and Charlie hopes to run him again soon.

Stoney Silence

He schooled really nicely this morning. He has a lovely scopey jump and really enjoys it too.

Surrey Dream

Sam schooled him this morning and really liked him. We aim to run him at Wednesday at Ludlow, he will have another pop on Sunday.

Van Diemens Land

He has just been ticking away in his normal routine. He schooled this morning with King Arthur. He is ready to run but could do with the ground drying up a little bit.

Victor Leudorum

He did a strong piece of work yesterday with Seventh Sky. Gavin schooled him this morning and was very happy with him. He is only a week or so off being ready to run. However he really does need the ground to dry up so we may have to wait a little longer.

Western King

He did a good strong piece of work yesterday, and went for a hack today. Charlie is waiting for some better ground before he runs him again.

Who Owns Me

He ran a really strong race to finish 3^rd at Doncaster last Saturday. He has had a quiet week and will most likely be out again soon.

Yazdi

He did a half speed upsides Attimo yesterday. Gavin schooled him this morning and we were all very impressed at how quick and neat he was over his fences. He is only going to get better as he strengthens up.

Prolinx & Maringo Bay Schooling

Prolinx followed by Maringo Bay schooling this morning - It wasn't quite as dark as it seems in the video!