Kate Walton Racing - News
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Sharp Hill Farm
Park Lane
Middleham
North Yorkshire
DL8 4QY
News: November-December 2009
We were delighted when Fairynuff galloped to victory in the National Hunt Flat Race at Catterick on Tuesday 15th December. This was only his second ever start after showing much promise when finishing runner up at Market Rasen. He had grown up an awful lot after his first run and under a positive ride from Richie McGrath won by a convincing 6 lengths. We were very happy for his owner Steve Birchall as this was his first winner as an owner and also for Abby Hutchinson in the yard as he is the apple of her eye.
The previous week, Still At Lunch travelled to Cheltenham for a competitive Handicap Hurdle over 2 miles. Following two successive wins, he'd had a pretty hefty rise in the weights but travelled well in the race and jumped with his usual fluency. A brave effort saw him finish a respectful sixth. He has been a great horse during 2009 winning three of his last five runs.
Morgan Be travelled to Kelso on the 6th December to run in the £40,000 Borders National over 4 miles. As the highest rated horse in the race, he carried top weight and we were expecting a bold display following his encouraging seasonal debut at Haydock a couple of weeks earlier. However, Richie reported that Morgan never enjoyed the track at Kelso and never really got into a good rhythmn. It just proves there is truth in the saying "horses for courses" and we will now ensure we campaign him on more galloping tracks which we know he loves.
Dream Risk headed for the sales at Doncaster following another solid effort at Leicester where she finished 4th on December 3rd. I bought her back and she is now for sale to stay in the yard. Since arrriving from France she has strengthened up and improved. We will now give her a break for a couple of months before campaigning her on the Flat and over Hurdles during the spring and the summer.
The horses at home continue to progress well. Jimmy Bond will be making his return to the track shortly and owners Paul and Jean Chapman, along with everyone in the yard, are looking forward to this as he has been a star for the yard.
The young horses continue to improve and are learning more each day.
On the staff front, Henry is now back Point-to-Pointing having spent his summer in France. He had a couple of rides at the first meeting at Alnwick and was just beaten in a photo finish at Catterick in the Amatuer Rider Handicap Hurdle, proving his time in France was well spent.
Kate Schindler is also hoping to ride in Point-to-Points this season and has just completed her amateur riders course at the Northern Racing College.
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November
The jumps team continue in great heart with a 50% win and place strike rate. Still At Lunch is proving to be a real superstar for the yard and followed up his win at Kelso with a win at Musselburgh on Sunday 22nd November. Given a positive ride by Richie McGrath, he lead from the front and pulled away after the last. He seems to be really improving and did well to win off a 10 pounds higher mark.
Morgan Be made his much anticipated debut for the season at Haydock on Saturday 21st November in the £40,000 Handicap over 3 miles. This was his first run back since just getting pipped in the prestigious Eider Chase at Newcastle. Given a good ride by Wilson Renwick, Morgan gradually warmed into the race and stayed on to finish 3rd. We were delighted with his run and hope this is a stepping stone to the valuable long distance Handicap Chases.
Following their exertions, Lunch and Morgan had a deserved break in the field this morning which they thoroughly enjoyed!
The previous week Stopped Out tried to follow up his win at Huntingdon by tackling another Novice Hurdle at Sedgefield Racecourse. Ridden by Richie McGrath he travelled well throughout the race and looked like he was going to follow up but was just beaten on the line. He ran a great race and was carrying a penalty which probably just caught him out in the end.
Cecina Marina made her debut over hurdles at Wetherby. Although only small she has taken to jumping well and enjoys it. She travelled well for Ewan Whillans but just seemed to run out of stamina in the last couple of furlongs to finish a well deserved 3rd.
Back at home the horses continue to do well, Everaard who arrived from the sales has settled in well. We initally gelded him and are now looking forward to getting him schooled and running. He has a great temperament and should prove a lot of fun for connections.
The young horses are progressing well and are acting more maturely than some of the older horses! The photo shows Allbarkandnobite and the Old Vic-Jmember gelding going upsides.
Our stable amateur Henry Brooke is also getting very excited as the Point-to-Point Season is approaching and he has a number of good stables to ride for this season.
With the NH season starting to get in full flow, the team have been in good form over the jumps. Still At Lunch proved a worthy winner at Kelso on November 7th as he made all under Richie McGrath. Settling much better than in his previous race, his jumping was superb throughout, allowing him to make ground at every obstacle and go on to win by 5 lengths. He is proving a real fun horse for his syndicate the Well Oiled Partnership.
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