For quite some time now I had been wanting to pay a vist to Ludlow races and combine the trip with an overnight stay with my Motley relatives near Craven's Arms. The Motleys are Shropshire through and through and, though Toby had not been racing at Ludlow for over 40 years, he sure as hell knows the locale. On his advice we kicked things off at the Clive, conveniently situated less than 5 minutes from the entrance to the race course over the Manchester to Cardiff rail line. Ludlow has a big food and drink vibe going on so a couple of pints of Ludlow Gold ale and some tasty bar snacks (another time we might try the gourmet restaurant) provided the ideal ballast for all that step-climbing up to get to the top of the Members Stand which we had agreed would be the best vantage point. And what a magnificent view by the way - in many ways I actually think the Shropshire countryside viewed from Ludlow racecourse is even more attractive than the much vaunted setting of Cheltenham racecourse but then beauty always is in the eye of the beholder. Toby's memory of Ludlow was pretty exact describing it to me in the car as a "sharp turning right handed well drained fairly flat fast galloping long finish" which narrows quite considerably on the approach to the winning post adding to the almost vertical aerial drama from the top of the stand as each race is unravelled. Ludlow is the first course I have been to where you need to cross the course in order to get to the parade ring and winner's enclosure. There is also a golf course in the middle of the oval shaped track.
Having backed the first two winners on the card Al Dafa (AP's 99th of the season) and the well fancied William's Wishes who destroyed the field with a faultless display of steeple chasing I changed my betting strategy for the 3rd race selling hurdle. A couple of weeks ago I visited McPherson Racing just outside Stow-on-the-Wold and I knew from my pre race research that Graeme McPherson had a runner in this race called Tighe Caster who he thought should run well. I tried to hook up with GMcP but he was stuck in chambers.....I backed the horse each way and from a long way out my money was never at risk as Jodie Mogford steered his mount to a comfortable 3rd place finish. Shortly after the 2nd race we bumped into one of my cousins Sue Lewis who was racing with her husband David, both avid racing enthusiasts who own a couple of horses trained by Henry Daly. I advised them to back Tighe Caster and I hope they did. He came up against a couple of horses who were just too good on the day and the winner was successfully sold at auction immediately after for £6250 to a Mr Leech (see video clip) who I think had a winner with Pistolet Dove in the 4.50 (we left after the 5th race) so the prize money of £2850 for that result will no doubt go towards the new purchase!! A good day at the office for the Leech connections I thought.
Toby wisely advised me that making the trend your friend when it comes to investing is key. Could the trend continue of watching the horses in the parade ring, placing bet at theTote reinvesting winnings from previous race, climbing Mount Members Stand and then descending to repeat pattern via one of the very functional and good value bars or club rooms honestly continue? Answer: NO.
Phoenix Fall off the bottom weight was my choice in the 4th race but just as he was about to get going and make a move he was seriously hampered in running by a faller at the 6th fence which put pay to his chances and also to my sequence of collecting from the same Tote booth operator where you cross the course from parade ring to the stands. Toby very kindly offered me a soothing pint of Guinness in the ground floor bar of the very new and smart Jubilee Stand during which time we both thought this must have been a pretty healthy attendance for mid week racing at Ludlow. Toby happens to know that the course is well run financially because his brother Tim is a Director of the course but when you look around the facilities you can see why. A very popular and well supported Ludlow Race Club, bars and restaurants for all occasions set at different price points catering for all budgets and just a damned good atmosphere all round to be fair. Now the sequence had been busted there was only way to go in the 5th which was to be our last race of the day.....Mac's Lad was a well backed favourite according to the Tote screens in the bar where that Guinness was fast disappearing which made for some interesting prices for the outsiders....Feeling Peckish 16.9 to win 3.5 for a place....£2 e/w just for the hell of it.
Well stone the crows.....Mac's Lad ran an absolute shocker and I was clearly the only person on the roof of the Stand who had nibbled Feeling Peckish as a deathly silence greeted the final 3 furlongs (see video clip)......Feeling Peckish absolutely hacked up. Toby couldn't believe that the trend had returned so quickly but this time I was collecting and heading for the hills. In the round the Tote ended up paying 6.60 to a £1 unit for that win but I still came away showing a healthy profit to small stakes on the day and, frankly, I was just cock-a-hoop having had 3 winners and an each way 3rd from 5 races in the very fine and knowledgeable company of my Uncle.
Friday, 22 October 2010
Sunday, 10 October 2010
Martins Hill Racing, Upper Oddington nr. Stow-on-the-Wold: stable & gallops visit (9.10.10)
I first met Graeme McPherson QC, co-owner of Martins Hill Racing with his wife Seanin at a drinks party back in August. They are unusual in as much as they have been able to combine successful careers as barristers, Graeme took silk back in 2008, with training race horses in an idyllic spot just outside Stow. Prior to receiving their license to train under rules last year the McPhersons trained a number of point to pointers and they are both active with the Cotswold Hunt so it would be wrong to call them complete novices in this regard, far from it, they've already trained four winners this season, most recently last weekend with The Good Guy at Fontwell. So Graeme is already well on his way to achieving his target of 10 winners in his first season and my suspicion is that they will do better than that in the final reckoning.
Martins Hill has got it all. Recently developed stable boxes, a tightly knit team, its own gallops, walker and nursery fences all neatly nestled on the side of one of those fabled Laurie Lee type Cotswold slopes with far reaching views over to Wick Hill and mellow hued Maugersbury. The McPhersons have 28 horses in their yard and they have also already attracted a yard sponsor in the shape of Nailsworth Mill Estate who have, amongst other things, helped finance the smart navy blue Martins Hill Racing yard apparel and branded the jockeys' silks to help cover the costs borne by the owners for their raceday services (currently around £140 per ride).
As Graeme showed me round the yard I got the magical impression that they will ultimately be very successful as trainers too. He has a refreshingly straight forward and realistic approach to his racing ambitions. There is an eclectic but predominantly local owner base, from the butcher in Stow to the owner of a local estate agency to a small syndicate of four friends who live nearby, one of whom actually rides out for Graeme. Owning racehorses can be expensive, of course, but ultimately the cost much depends on where you set your sights and how well you are advised. I would feel totally comfortable being advised by Graeme and his team if I wanted to realise one of my ambitions and become an owner - they are in this game for the long term and I like his approach immensely. The yard is big enough to attract high calibre staff and owners yet still small enough to preserve the personal touch; this is the way the McPhersons want it to remain.
So, after coffee and a few quick fire introductions (it's a bustling, busy place at 7.45am as the gallops beckon) to Graeme's yard manager Mick Finn, head jockey Jodie Mogford and the delightful Ollie Curl, one of Jodie's assistants, I was taken on a fascinating tour of the stable to meet some of the horses (see pictures). Then only a stroll to the end of the drive to access the gallops located the other side of the Kingham road (no need for 4x4 access here) to watch the second lot go through their paces blowing their way up a 900m ascent. Then, after a final goodbye yap from Molly the yard's miniature Dachshund, I headed home for some breakfast all the while dreaming that one day, hopefully in the not too distant future, I would return as a proud and extremely welcome owner to Martins Hill.
Martins Hill has got it all. Recently developed stable boxes, a tightly knit team, its own gallops, walker and nursery fences all neatly nestled on the side of one of those fabled Laurie Lee type Cotswold slopes with far reaching views over to Wick Hill and mellow hued Maugersbury. The McPhersons have 28 horses in their yard and they have also already attracted a yard sponsor in the shape of Nailsworth Mill Estate who have, amongst other things, helped finance the smart navy blue Martins Hill Racing yard apparel and branded the jockeys' silks to help cover the costs borne by the owners for their raceday services (currently around £140 per ride).
As Graeme showed me round the yard I got the magical impression that they will ultimately be very successful as trainers too. He has a refreshingly straight forward and realistic approach to his racing ambitions. There is an eclectic but predominantly local owner base, from the butcher in Stow to the owner of a local estate agency to a small syndicate of four friends who live nearby, one of whom actually rides out for Graeme. Owning racehorses can be expensive, of course, but ultimately the cost much depends on where you set your sights and how well you are advised. I would feel totally comfortable being advised by Graeme and his team if I wanted to realise one of my ambitions and become an owner - they are in this game for the long term and I like his approach immensely. The yard is big enough to attract high calibre staff and owners yet still small enough to preserve the personal touch; this is the way the McPhersons want it to remain.
So, after coffee and a few quick fire introductions (it's a bustling, busy place at 7.45am as the gallops beckon) to Graeme's yard manager Mick Finn, head jockey Jodie Mogford and the delightful Ollie Curl, one of Jodie's assistants, I was taken on a fascinating tour of the stable to meet some of the horses (see pictures). Then only a stroll to the end of the drive to access the gallops located the other side of the Kingham road (no need for 4x4 access here) to watch the second lot go through their paces blowing their way up a 900m ascent. Then, after a final goodbye yap from Molly the yard's miniature Dachshund, I headed home for some breakfast all the while dreaming that one day, hopefully in the not too distant future, I would return as a proud and extremely welcome owner to Martins Hill.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)