Point to point

Today is a very exciting day for me. My first horse as an owner competes at higham ptp.
He’s a six year old mount nelson gelding out of a French mare called la gandilie, who’s offspring have all won under rules except ours snow leopard.we are hoping to rectify this stat at some point.
Some of you may be familiar with him as he was with Tony Carroll but his form was very moderate running on the all weather which wasn’t suited to him. He’s still a maiden and has had a couple of runs over hurdles.
One particular piece of form caught my eye. A maiden hurdle at uttoxeter in 2020 won by minella encore.
This particular race has produced multiple winners in front and behind Leo and we think stepping up to three miles will improve him.
He’s had some issues with his previous trainer not injuries but issues which we think we’ve ironed out and we’re hopeful of a big run in a very competitive field but we’re realistic so a place would be great to see what we’ve got and horse and jockey come back safe will be a successful first outing.

 

Good luck!

Are you going? Seems like a good few old NH stalwarts might be running on the card with Workbench, Longhouse Sale, Conas Toi and Monkey Puzzle all having entries.

 

Yes I fancy monkey puzzle. There is a horse in our maiden that we were outbid at the sales, oval street, a Dylan Thomas gelding. The opening restricted race look competitive as does much of the card.

 

All the very best FP.

 

Ex Trevor Hemmings. Let us know how you get on!

 

Good luck FP

 

Good luck and come back sound

 

Well what an incident packed day that was,for all the wrong reasons. Unfortunately a horse was lost in a horrific fall and the jockey was airlifted to hospital and was fortunate enough to escape with just a punctured lung. Leo also shamed himself unshipping his jockey at the second fence after diving through the wings at the first. He preceded to lead the field for three circuits before nearly pulling up before the last circuit and escaping again at this point in last position before taking on the whole field to lead them into a finish and winning riderless by twenty lengths. At this point we thought he might win the cesarawitch. Anyway he crossed the line to the biggest cheer of what was a pretty depressing day.
On a punting level I did alright backing Alan hills don calvados at 7/2 who won easy and Nass will be pleased that oval street did likewise at 5/1
At the debrief it was decided that Leo has to work on his jumping. Lots of work to do but it was noted by many experts that he’s rapid and maybe a career on the flat beckons.

 

Hope he is ok today. Very frustrating when you don’t get a full run for the money.

 

He’s fine, jockey had to see the doctor but is ok . The plan is to go to Charing in Kent where the first four fences are on an incline th the jockey can settle him.

 

An opportunity has come my way to purchase a horse from Ireland that has potential to run at Cheltenham hunter chase and potential fox hunter. The trainer is desperate to buy this horse and the window of opportunity will close soon. His name, top of the list.
My heart says these opportunities don’t come round often, my head says stay well clear, it’s a lot off money.

 

I think for anyone who loves horse racing to have a horse that can run at Cheltenham is the ultimate, whatever race it is. Of course, money plays a big part, but if there is the slightest chance....

 

If i send you £10 can i own a strand of hair on him mate and would that be enough to get me into the owners enclosure?

 

If you are being swayed solely because of the Cheltenham Festival factor I'd investigate if he is actually qualified for the Cheltenham Foxhunters. If he isn't then you need to ask how many race(s) does he need to run in to get qualified and how easy will this be to achieve???

 

He’s not qualified. We talk horses and he’s rung me and and said this is the sort of horse that can fulfill your ambitions quickly but it comes at a price.this trainer has a route he follows.a couple of restricted points a hunter chase at Stratford if successful on to hunter chase night at Cheltenham where if successful you sell for big money or you plan a program for the following season culminating in the fox hunter at Cheltenham/aintree.
he’s had runners at Cheltenham hunter chase but never finished because he didn’t have the quality. He’s saying this is the quality .

 

Form of that win looks modest given Lessankan finished 3rd. I’d be wary of paying much for a horse winning that race.

 

I echo this thought. Third run to win a modest enough looking maiden. Circa 25k

 

On digging deeper the form does look modest and your price estimate is spot on .for someone of modest means that’s a lot of dough.

 

25k is too much for that horse, on the formbook it could easily be a under 100 rated horse. It’s full sister is in training and raced at 2 miles so I’d also worry about its stamina for rules racing.

If you look at the horses penultimate run the winner was a 5 times raced pointer who was winning for the first time. He was beaten the best part of six lengths by that one.