Dingley 31st May 2008

Well it is that time again - the lasy day of the season. We have never been to Dingley before but we certainly quite liked the course. It was a beautiful day and we just managed to fit our lorry into the car park. We had just the two runners today, Saint Reverien and The Brooklet.

Unfortunately our "seconditus" stayed with us right to the tail end. Saint Reverien second, good old Brookie second. Poor old Brookie he deserved to win. Never mind they all returned safe and well, and all in all we have had an excellent season. We have had new owners, new horses, 17 winnres and goodness knows how many seconds!!!! Most of the horses have stayed sound, and most horses which have only had light campaign this year through injury should be back next year. So all we need to do now, is tidy the yard, do a little shopping (and no I do not mean handbags and shoes!!!) rough the team off, pair them up or send them home for the summer hols, whilst we also have some R&R so were fighting fit for next season. 

Altough the website won't be updated so regulalry over the holiday we will be back on line when the horses start coming in, and do keep up to speed as we recruit horses for sale or syndication over the summer. Any other yard news will be posted on my blog page also.

So wishing you happy hols.

Rach

Chaddesley Corbet 26th May 2008

Well what a lovely day in May for a nice picnic, bottle of wine and don't forget the sun glasses (I don't think!!!) Today was for die hards and over keen enthusiasts only.

Well the racing was good. We kicked off with Premium First scoring under Adrian Wintle in the confined. He went well and won the race quite comfortably.

Future Sovereign was a different cup of tea completely. I don't he was born to be a race horse, or some where along the way he decided his forte was not in the racing field. We have waited all season for the better ground and he has been working very well at home. A bit disappointing is about all that can be said and to move swiftly on.

We decided against running Saint Reverien on the ground and possibly take him to Dingley next week.

So our last two runners of the day were Himself Dreams On and Rusty Zaffaran in the restricted race. By 5pm the rain was getting into the ground and although "Himself" ran a great race, and did not put a foot wrong jumping, luck was again, not on ourside and we ended up the bridesmaid not the bride. At 3 out all was looking well, but the incline did not help our cause.  "Himself" stayed on stoically to the finish. Nick Oliver, who does all the work on him is convinced nothing would get close on a flatter track.

Rusty ran on to finish 5th he put up a great preformance but really does not act on this faster ground anymore.

So up to Dingley next week end, weather permitting, and then we will get the garden furniture out and have a break over the summer, provided we are blessed with a kinder season than last year.

 

Upper Sapey 18th May 2008

Another 2 runners today. Rusty Zaffaran in the Hunt Race who simply did not let himself down on the firm ground. He finished second. 

Olivier was in the Intermediate race. He was none too keen on the ground either, but he did start and he did finish, in front, which was a huge improvement on his last effort!!! He has now been put away for the season.

Bredwardine 17th May 2008

2 winners today!

Well the team did well today, with a little bit of help from Mr Wintle. Andy entered Sparklin Spirit for the Men's Open as there wasn't an intermediate race, and well what can I say other than Sparkie did not really need a intermediate race. After a bad blunder Adrian got hold of Sparks and he just took off and nothing could go with him.

Saint Reverien took the Brightwells Championship Race in his normal type of style. (You don't quite know what is going to happen until it's all over!) But again what a great horse.  I had a chat with Adrian at Upper Sapey and asked if he had nightmares, about the timimg required to ride Frenchie? Adrian said yes and that the timing is crucial, but he also said that riding Frenchie is like driving an Asten Martin and only using the first 3 gears. There is just so much more under the bonnet!!!

Premium First went into the Ladies race under Hannah Wintle. Unfortunately he probably went off a bit fast and did not finish his race as strongly as we would have liked. Well you can't win them all. (even if you would like to!)

Chaddesley Corbett 11th May 2008

A pleasant socialable day, just the one runner, and he's mine!!! The weather was beautiful, although a little hot for the horses. The ground was good to firm. We found ourselves a tree in the lorry park for a little shade. Himself had not sweated a bead in the lorry and remained very cool throughout. He ran very impressively but unfortunately made a terrible mistake at three out, which cost us dear.

We finished 2nd, which I was delighted with. It was Nick Oliver's first race ride on Himself (although he rides him alot at home) Whilst Nick was beating himself up about the mistake at 3 out. I could not praise the ride he gave the horse enough and the fact he stayed in the saddle!!!

I can honestly say I was very nervous before the race, very hot weather, very fast ground, a front running horse and to top the lot being number 13!!!! However my prayers for a sound horse and place were answered. The only unfortunate thing about the blunder was that  every other jump Himself  took was foot perfect, off the better ground, and it was such a shame the error came when it did, but that's racing.

Maisemore 5th May 2008

Well another busy day for "Team Hobbs" 7 runners, being managed by a very efficient transport crew, who spent alot of the day to and fro from Tyre Hill. Andy was gutted that the heavens had opened again over night. When we checked the going on Friday, all credit to the ground crew and Clerk of the course, Mark Wilesmith, the time and dedication, combined with some drier weather meant the track was a good a ground as you would have got anywhere all season but the rain had since put pay to all that.

Our first runner of the day being Future Sovereign, no excuses, but he really is slow as boat if he does not get quick ground - so what chance did he have?

Premium First - well done Mrs Wintle what a ride, shame the track was not slightly longer. Premium First chased Perouse home in the Ladies.

All Thyme Greats - very good horse, unfortunate to keep getting caught up in very competitve restricted's. He will be a much stronger horse next year. Third again.

The french man Saint Reverien- well what a star. If he had dug his toes in at the start none of us would have been surprised. He took a very heavy fall at Howick earlier this year and we were all just thankful he is still with us. He cruised home and gave Gentle Rivage something to think about in the Men's Open - tremendous performance.I think we have nearly forgotten his exploits or lac of them at Thorpe!!!

I never actually saw the race as the transport crew and the rest of Team Hobbs were back at the lorry saddling 3 for the next race. I think at one point there were 3 horses, 3 jockeys and and 3 ground crew on the lorry. I think "Trainer Hobbs" was quite impressed he didn't have anything to saddle when he arrived back at base beaming with frenchie!!!

Well hard work does not always pay off, and Olivier made fools of us all. He dug his toes in and was having none of it. It was bizare as he really did not show any reservations or worries at the box or in the paddock.

Good old Brookie, yet shame about the ground again, he really does need the better going. But let me put all those people who say he only runs at Maisemore, he doesn't. He came a good second at Upton, ran well at Siddington on ground he hated. He has the biggest fan club of all the horses in the yard and Nick Oliver said you could go into battle on Brookie. So good old brookie saved the race by coming home a respectible 3rd.

Cold Harbour 3rd & 4th May 2008

Well the weather still is n't very spring like, and again we have had to run horses on ground they just about tolerate - will it ever change? Sparklin Spirit did not seem to appreciate either the ground, the weather or maybe just the company who knows? He ran very poorly in the confined on Saturday and Adrian pulled him up. There are no excuses and no  answers,we just hope it goes down to a bad day at the office.Vaselli ran a cracking race in the restricted on the Sunday, on ground he really did not like. He finished 3rd and would have been there, or there about had he not mistakes at 2 & 3 out due to the ground. It really shows what a genuine horse he is. Let us just hope he gets some going to his liking before the end of the season.

Brampton Bryan 26th April 2008

We had not been on the road very long when the omens for the day were not looking good. A rather irrate white van driver tried to take us just outside Tesco, in Ledbury, and although we managed to avoid him, it was making up into one of those days when things just don't quite go your way!!!

We had deliberated all week Brampton, Woodford, Woodford, Brampton. Well the good news is all the horses returned ok, which at the end of the day is what it is all about.

Olivier has taken a few chances lately with his jumping, mainly because he hates the softer ground. However today he did not get away with it and poor old Adrian ended up eating turf for the second time in a day. This left us short of a jockey for Vaselli, in the restricted,which in retrospect it might have been a good thing as he also wants the better going.

My big fellow, Himself, ran very well considering he is a Phardante and up to the third last was up there where he made a bad mistake, which knocked the stuffing out of him. He was none the worst for it and will be back before long.

Bearing in mind the season is getting away from us now we are hoping and praying for better weather as all 13 of our runners still in training want the better ground. Be warned if we get our prayers answered.

It is a short and sweet piece today as I am dosed up to eye balls with lemsip as I am full of rotten flu.

 

Chaddesley Corbett 19th April 2008

Just the one today, Un Jour A Vassey and although he went to the race fit and well, he was not really having his best going day. He finished 5th in the confined, which was run in a fairly short time. Roll on next week end!

Maisemore 13th April 2008

The big one finally arrived and paid dividends!!!

Olivier produced the yard our first winner in Hunt Race. It was not what you would call a flawless performance, but he did win, and despite his high knee action, is yet another horse we have which does not jump out of the soft ground.

Philip York came down to ride two for us. "The Brooklet" and "Himself Dreams on", as Nick Oliver took a heavy fall at Bitterley yesterday.  Dear old Brookie he deserved all the trophies if you ask me. He is just so genuine, Philip gave him a good ride, but he could not lay up with pace on the softer ground on the home straight.

We then had a fair wait whilst we turned the box around and went home to fetch our second box of runners. All Thyme Greats ran in the restricted finishing 3rd and again hated the wretched ground.

The big moment then arrived, my first runner for the season. At this stage last year "Only For Joe"  was being roughed off, this year I have not yet had a runner. Anyway it was worth the wait. Philip York had to step in for Nick Oliver, which was such a shame, as Nick  has done all the work at home on this horse. Andy would describe "Himself Dreams On" as a real challenge on training front. He scared the life out of the 2 irish lads who worked for us, and I did promise the ride to whoever did all the work at home. "Himself" is a very large horse who arrived in the yard in very poor order last November. It has been a training feat to get him too the course, and a very brave man to take up the challenge to ride him. He is a great bute of a horse, who just sets off with his head down. For those of you at Maisemore you will note he does not have quite as much respect for his fences as you might like. Having said this, he has never fallen in his life, and both Nick and Philip said that for a big horse, he is extremely balanced. So, all this said, he ran the field ragged and just won from the front. I felt a little queasy during the race and will have to check " The Weekender"  for official distances tommorow. I will just say for the record, being a Phardante horse we think he prefers quicker ground too - so watch this space!

So too round off the day, Rusty Zaffaran followed up with winning the other division of the maiden. So all in all we had a great day, but we will save the celebrations for a evening when we are leass shattered. I can't even remember what we had for supper!!! (and no I had not been on the champagne - yet!!!!)

Bitterley 12th April 2008

Another busy week end ahead. Two runners today, five runners tomorrow. The ground isn't exactly what we wanted but our runners are fit and well and, well just when will it stop raining?

Vaselli, our debuntante from Ireland, was having his first run for the yard. He ran very well and finished 4th, however he really wanted quicker ground. Hopefully some spring weather will bring the ground sooner rather than later.

Premium First was Claire Allen's first ride back since that horrid fall at Bangor. He was not really on top form, finishing 3rd. He certainly did not relish the conditions and we can only hope the ground changes for our yard's fortunes.

The weather takes another meeting - let us just hope it will be re-scheduled.

Llanvapley 5th April 2008

Well we enjoyed a bit of sport today, with just the 2 runners. Future Sovereign (Adrian Wintle  in the saddle) ran in the intermediate, and although jumps very deliberately, did run better for the ground. We will be expecting alot more from him when the grounds firms up. Andy had his hands full during the prelimaries trying to re saddle Hannah Wintle's horse in the paddock, she was very grateful for the help when she won the race very easily.

Sparklin Spirit made the day and didn't he do it in fine style. He showed the way for the restricted and continued well on past the finish line and round again. His jumping was fantastic, if not a little too confident at times. It trually was an impressive performance. What a star he is proving to be. He is another of our horses that loves the better going.

Maisemore 30th March 2008

Well the big day has arrived and the weather has put paid to all well laid plans.

Paxford 24th March 2008

Well we never have alot of luck at Paxford and this year was no exception. Sparklin Spirit was travelling exceptionally well unshipped Nick Oliver. (with little to no chance of staying in the plate) However he is fit and well so we may well pull him out again next week.

Garnons 24th March 2008

Premium First won around Garnon's a couple of seasons ago under Julian Pritchard. Julian always said the horse hated the track, and as he decided not to put in a full day's work  - by refusing to travel up the hill for the third time, I guess Julian was right. He was an absolute monkey back at the lorry park and if he scopes ok this week will be back on the track before most of "Hobsey " horses do.

Upton 25th March 2008.

Well a touch more "seconditus" this week end. Un Jour A Vassey ran respectibly just a shame we did not pull it off completely. The highlight of the day, being everyone's favourite, dear old "Brookie" running an absolute blinder under Nick Oliver (what a great team - they are!!!) and even gave Gentle Rivage something to think about in the confined. Don't let it ever be said again "Brookie" only goes around Maisemore. Second in a good confined "Well done Brookie." 

 Busy week got to go and only 4 days to the big one!!!!

 Watch this space!!!!

Rachel