Richard's
Blog
26th July, 2010
Giovanna
has been declared for the 7.25pm at Worcester tomorrow. The
handicapper has gradually been dropping her since her two wins
of last summer and she will be wearing a tongue strap for the
first time, let's hope she can return to form.
As
ever another busy weekend. Yesterday I was kindly invited to
play golf in the Captains Day at Bowood Park in Wiltshire. Peter
Deal, whose colours you will know very well, asked me to join
his team of Oliver Sherwood and Warren Greatrex. Peter has been
a great supporter over the years and the first horse I ever
looked after in racing was owned by him. He was called Border
Sun and won the Dudley Cup many times and ended up being William
Haggas's hack.
All
of us played good golf at times and we had a thoroughly good
day. Oliver Sherwood, if you didn't know is one of the most
competitive people you could ever meet and you can't beat seeing
him lose his temper. He is excellent at coming out of bunkers
but he does go into a lot of them so, so he should be. Warren
Greatrex is a real bandit off his handicap mark. However he
fell apart under pressure which is something you would think
he would be used to having been Oliver's assistant.
We
have now got most of the horses in from their summer break and
there are just a few out in the fields who were turned out a
bit later than the hothers.
This
morning we had few visitors to the yard and all commented that
the quality of the horses from last season seems to have been
upped a bit, so we are hopeful of a good one.
This
week is Goodwood Festival week which is everyone's favourite
festival. It is easily the most beautiful course in the country.
I always go down for a few days with Mick Barnes, Rick Allen
and Charles Allan is joining us this year. We stay at the Old
Stables at Fontwell Park and luckily we have a few picnics and
rounds of golf lined up with owners, so it's nice to have such
an entertaining job. No doubt will fill you in later in the
week, especially on our annual Littlehampton ‘crazy golf challenge'
which was won last year by Barnsy thanks to Phillips taking
three off the tee by under estimating the windmill.
23rd July, 2010
Great
Hero ran a terrific race to come second in the bumper at Uttoxeter
yesterday. Given a fine ride by Richard Johnson, he came to
challenge two furlongs out beaten three lengths by a more experienced
rival. All at Adlestrop are delighted as John and Pat Cantrill
have shown so much patience with him. He is a home bred and
hopefully he will be up to winning a bumper for us in the next
three or four weeks.
I
am now on my way back from viewing horses in Devon . We popped
into Woolacombe on the way which has a wonderful beach and is
the nearest I am going to get to a holiday this summer. On the
way back, I visited my great friend David Wike. David and I
worked together at Graham Thorner's some twenty five years ago
along with greats such as Sean Woods, now training in Hong Kong
and Robin Trevor Jones, travelling head lad to Ed Dunlop. Robin
is the one when Ouija Board and Snow Fairy won, he threw a bucket
of water straight at the horses heads and made sure he was in
full view of the camera.
David
used to be assistant to Martin Pipe and Jenny Pitman and so
has seen a thing or two. Not only does he know his horses but
is also a fine craftsman and has been helping with the Hestercombe
gardens near Taunton . The place is well worth a visit if you
are ever in that area.
21st July, 2010
Eastwell
Smiles triumphed last night at Bangor under an inspired ride
by Richard Johnson. Making all, he outstayed and out galloped
his rivals in what was not the most competitive of races. The
rains beforehand probably played in his favour and brought his
stamina to the fore. We will see what the handicapper does with
him and hopefully he will be competitive again in a few weeks
time if up against the right opposition.
We
were all delighted, especially for his owners Martin and Sue
Harvey. As you know they sponsor our yard and Martin made the
trip in the horse box with Gordy. It was certainly a different
experience for our owner and one he will never forget - having
to put up with Gordy's singing on the way home.
We
have declared Great Hero for tomorrow in the bumper at Uttoxeter.
He had one run last year when he was very weak and the ground
was very soft. Hopefully he is a stronger horse this time and
as long as they don't have too much rain, he should show promise.
A
busy morning today with lots of visitors including Jan Hurst
and two lovely ladies from Argentina , one of which bred Rio
De La Plata . Barnsy discovered that they were staying in the
Fox at Oddington and I was delighted to show them around the
delights of Adlestrop. We also had a visit from Geoff Lansbury
and Jeff McCarthy. Geoff brought along his wonderful mother
Peggy who owned Lindsay with us a couple of seasons ago. Peggy
is well into her nineties, as bright as a button and always
enjoys her visits to Adlestrop. This was followed by lunch at
Daylesford (haven't mentioned lunch for a while). Daylesford
is our local organic farm shop owned by the Bamford family.
We are very lucky to be so close to such a marvellous shop and
I can definitely recommend a visit.
I
am now on my way to Devon to look at horses and it would help
enormously if the rain stopped.
20th July, 2010
Penshurst Lad ran as expected last night at Windsor . I am sure
he will be better once handicapped and over a mile and half
with some juice in the ground. It was a pretty hot maiden and
the first two went well clear. Penshurst Lad should be competitive
on the flat in the autumn, before going hurdling.
Many
of the horses are now back in following their summer holiday.
It is a case of building up their fitness over the next few
months.
We
have Eastwell Smiles running tonight at Bangor . As it is a
0-85 handicap and so it is not the best event in the world and
let us hope the blinkers have a positive effect on him a second
time. Ideally the trip would be a bit longer but he has an each
way chance with Richard Johnson onboard.
I
spent the weekend at my nephew's wedding in Lacock in Wiltshire.
If you have not been to this village where Cranford and Pride
and Prejudice are filmed, you have missed out. I can recommend
the bed and breakfast, King John's Hunting Lodge, where Margaret
Vaughn a legend, is 82 and is at Buckingham Palace today for
a garden party as she has won so many awards for her tea room
and bed and breakfast.
16th July, 2010
Nothing
quite as annoying as a faulty fuel gauge on your way back from
Scotland , with only one and a half hours today. However thanks
to the AA it could have been worse.
Now
back to base to see all the painting completed and the horses
are now coming in from the paddocks to start the proper season
ahead. Pak Jack is now ‘Fat Jack' and Tiger Line has done very
well and thanks to a sunny six weeks, they look in good order.
With the rain coming this should help our cause with next week's
entries which include Penshurst Lad, Eastwell Smiles and Great
Hero.
Off
to my nephew's wedding this weekend. He is marrying a nice girl
but I am sure he can change that. Anyone who came to our cricket
match last year, he was the typical Phillips who selfishly played
for himself and won the match for us. Luckily he looks more
like Michael McIntyre than I do.
By
the look of my television my head men, Mark White and Gordon
Clarkson are working very hard as they keep popping in the office
to see how the Open Golf is going, as they have had more bets
than Harry Findlay.
15th July, 2010
Just
on the way back from Scotland following yet another memorable
trip for the Doncaster Sales golf tournament. As predicted I
am not coming home with the trophy again this year that was
won by Warren Greatrex who should enjoy his victory as his handicap
will now be slashed forever.
On
Tuesday evening once again we were treated to a sumptuous supper
by Ray and Anita Anderson-Green. Many of you will know Ray won
the Scottish National this year with Merigo ridden by his son
in law, Timmy Murphy. Ray and Anita are fantastic hosts and
treated all seventy of us to the best food and wine. It was
a very special occasion and among the entourage were some racing
greats including Gifford, Balding, Harwood, Fahy and Fitzgerald.
Yesterday
I played with David Minton and Guy Harwood. Despite the rain,
we had great fun and they are both great company. Today I partnered
Richard Hughes and John Webb. John owned Royal Shakespeare and
many other good horses whilst ‘Hughsy' is such a good bloke,
he could be a jump jockey.
As
you can imagine, with seventy of the great and good of racing,
the banter is endless and if you don't know Richard Fahy, he
could be a stand up comic if only he could stand up.
One
of my favourite stories of the week was when a certain trainer
put up Willie Carson at Goodwood. The trainer knew that the
horse wasn't good enough to run well but the owners insisted
on having a social runner. Carson 's instructions were not to
try and be competitive in the race but if the horse ran well,
he would pass two or three in the straight. He also told Carson
not to come back and tell the trainer the horse was no good,
as he knew that anyway and this would ruin the owner's day.
Therefore he was to come back and say something nice about the
horse.
Riding
to instructions, the horse passed two others in the final furlong
but was still beaten a long way. Willie Carson came back to
the unsaddling enclosure, jumped off the horse, took off the
saddle, turned to the owners and said “he is a lovely colour.”
12th July, 2010
As
ever, the weekend was busy. The Harveys were present to see
Penshurst Lad go through his paces on Saturday morning. He needs
some rain before he runs so will not run this week. However,
he has taken his Windsor race well and we look forward to him
running again and he may well go to Windsor next Monday.
In
the evening on Saturday I met up with the Harveys at The Chequers
at Churchill. Thanks to winning a quiz there, their prize was
dinner for the winning team. As ever, the landlady Assumpta
was a wonderful hostess and I was delighted that Sue Harvey
had got the tie breaker question right, ‘which musical is associated
with a Liverpool anthem?' Of course the answer is Carousel.
Sunday
morning Kate Tann and Pauline Moylan came along to see Joking
Aside before she goes off to the sales tomorrow. She is the
daughter of our decent mare, Listen Up. Joking Aside has not
been the luckiest but hopefully she will find a good home following
the sale.
In
the afternoon I was invited by our former sponsor Phil Surtees,
to a game of golf at the Welcombe Golf Club near Stratford .
Gordy and I took on Phil Surtees and his friend Paul ‘The Bear'
Docherty. Luckily we beat the other two to win the money.
Monday
morning is always a busy one, coming up with jobs for the week.
The yard is now almost fully painted and some of the horses
will be coming in this week to start their campaign.
I
am travelling up to Scotland to the Doncaster Bloodstock Sales
golf tournament. As last year's winner, I have the shiny trophy
in the car with me and I am sure I will be travelling back Thursday
evening without it, as I have to play off 13 this week. I am
nearly as badly handicapped as some of our horses.
9th July, 2010
Eastwell
Smiles ran a good race at Worcester on Wednesday night. Making
the running until the last, the first time blinkers helped him
concentrate but he was passed in the last hundred yards and
finished third. Hopefully we will get a win out of him soon
and he is entered up next week. Ocheekobee needs slower ground
and will now be sold for point to pointing.
We
have ended up with one new horse from the Newmarket sales this
week. A very attractive, rangy filly called Najlaa whom we purchased
for 13,000 from William Haggas. She has shown promise and looks
great value and anyone interested in her, please let us know.
Yesterday
was the Adlestrop Club's visit to Tattersalls Sales. A dozen
members of the Club attended the impressive sales complex and
were treated to a guided tour in the morning and a picnic at
lunchtime. We had the pleasure of having the company of Sharron
Murgatroyd and Elaine Mellor for our picnic. I stay with Sharron
when in Newmarket . She has now been in a wheelchair for twenty
years and is a remarkable human being and she entertained us
magnificently during lunch.
The
sales finished this morning and we still have orders to fill,
which is always good. The sales is always an entertaining time
with lots of stories being told including a line this morning
from one trainer who said “if I win the lottery this week, I
will put it on a 10-1 chance and I might get myself out of trouble.”
7th July, 2010
We
have Eastwell Smiles and Ocheekobee declared at Worcester today.
Hopefully the blinkers will work on Eastwell Smiles and he will
perform with credit whilst Ocheekobee should come on for his
run at Uttoxeter. The ground has been quite good at Worcester
at the last two meetings which would suit both horses. Eastwell
Smiles should go on the ground and like the trip and in first
time blinkers to help him, should run a nice race.
Ocheekobee
won a point to point in Ireland and has since had a wind operation.
He jumped well enough on his debut and schooled nicely at the
weekend, he doesn't have many excuses left.
Following
working horses yesterday morning, I travelled to Newmarket to
play golf in the Lycetts Golf day. Amongst the attendees were
Messers King, Daly, Dunlop, Haggas, Tompkins, Hills, Sherwood
and Greatrex. There were also some normal people there who don't
train race horses for a living. I played with Ben Hanbury who
has retired from training and is always good company and although
we didn't play that well, it was a very pleasant afternoon.
Kingy won, along with Jack Ramsden who once again was exceedingly
well handicapped - like his horses used to be. Mark Tomkpins
won nearest the pin whilst Oliver Sherwood won the longest drive
- something he hasn't any more thanks to his divorce.
In
the evening I popped up to the sales to catch up with a few
agents. Then I proceeded to pop into The Yard which is a pub
close to the High Street and is better known as Peter Chapple-Hyam's
office. We had a very pleasant evening watching the world cup
semi final, especially as Charlie Hills had backed Uruguay .
The evening then ended with one of our typical racing quizzes
as Andrew Balding also turned up.
This
morning I have been at the sales and as ever we all tried to
buy the same horses, every time I walk in to buy one, so does
Anthony Bromley with Alan King. I saw Graham Bradley who had
flown in from Ireland having attended JP McManus' golf tournament
in Limerick . He had the pleasure of following Tiger Woods,
AP McCoy and Mick Fitzgerald. Tiger played brilliantly yesterday
and I can only put it down to Fitzy's advice.
5th
July, 2010
My
secretary and I are sat here trying to remember what happened
on Friday. It seems like a long time ago. Apparently I was working
all day long, rushing around doing jobs. I love this time of
year because I come into my own as Chief Foreman and spend the
day giving people jobs to do in preparation for the season ahead.
Hopefully Adlestrop Stables is looking very smart.
In
the evening I popped down The Fox for a drink in the garden.
This is one of the prettiest parts of the Cotswolds and on a
Friday evening I normally catch up with locals Tim and Brian.
Talking
of bad memories and getting old, Tim's great story was retold
on Friday evening. When he was at a funeral not long ago, he
was talking to a woman that he could not quite place. After
a ten minute conversation of delving, he suddenly realised it
was his ex wife.
Saturday
morning we had a visit from our sponsors, the Harveys who came
to inspect their string and the Murdochs also visited to discuss
future plans for the season ahead.
As
Sunday was the only day I could see in the diary for visiting
my mother, I popped down the M25. Mum has had shingles recently
which is not good when you are 88. It is the first time in my
life time that I have made her a cup of tea, rather than the
other way round but when I left her she was in good spirits.
Especially when I announced that I had been told by a doctor
that you should ignore the instructions on her medication, not
to take alcohol while taking the drugs. This seemed to cheer
her up enormously.
Today
I got together with Robello's owners, Dave Mason, Ian Dunbar
and John Cantrill to discuss future plans as he is entered in
the Ascot sales next week. Robello ran very well in his bumper
last week but he was bought to sell on and he comes highly recommended
to anyone interested in him.
2nd July, 2010
This really is the busiest time of year and therefore I couldn't
do a blog yesterday. The horses at Worcester ran well. Whenever
should have won but stopped as he hit the front at the last.
He is a bit of a character and it is time for head gear. He
was given a great ride by Jason Maguire, no wonder Donald McCain
has so many winners.
We
decided to run Petroupetrov as the clerk of the course had done
a great job with the ground. However the pace of the race was
too much on the fast side for him and he galloped all the way
to the line, only to be done close home for fourth. He will
be back in the autumn over 3 ¼ miles with some cut in
the ground.
Robello
ran an excellent race in the bumper. He came on from his Market
Rasen run and despite showing greenness, ran on to be third
beaten five lengths by the winner. Jason Maguire reported that
he is still on the weak side and looks a useful stayer in the
making. He may well go to Ascot Sales on the 13 th July to dissolve
a partnership.
They
have all come out of their races well and we have a few entries
for next week including Eastwell Smiles and Ocheekobee.
Yesterday
we had a visit from Alan and Susan Porton. Alan has been kind
enough to arrange syndicates for us in the past and has worked
for the Reading Evening Post for many years. He came to discuss
our charity cricket match which will take place in Reading on
the 26 th August. In the old days, Alan and I used to organise
charity football matches when I was captain of ‘The Commitments'.
Today
most of the staff have paint all over then, luckily some of
it has gone on the walls and the stables are being tarted up
for the new season ahead.
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