Mid season review

We've always thought that this season would be of a transitional nature, as many of our successful handicappers over the last couple of seasons had reached the end of their careers, and they were replaced by young, mainly untried stock.

And, well, that's exactly how things are panning out.

*statistics from 1st October - 31st December 2015

As the tables shows, we've achieved a very pleasing placed - runner ratio of 50%, which is a confidence boost as we are very happy with this group of racehorses at Dodlands Steading as we continue our policy of improving the quality of our thoroughbreds without breaking the bank to do so.

This NH season (from October), we've recorded 2 winners compared to the 14 total winners achieved over the last 2 seasons. The number of runners (16) over this period is lower than normal for the stable, which does reflect that we have a whole host of young, unraced stock who are at present having a few weeks out of training to strengthen and mature. This is our normal practice (Paper Roses & Baby Ticker - both bumper placed on debut in recent weeks - did this last year), and the unraced Gamuts, Beneficials and Asks will return to morning exercise from February.

Meantime, there are 8 or so horses who'll be flying the flag for the stable in the forthcoming months - see the 'Look out for....' section below.

From left to right : Shades of Midnight (Garry), Hartforth (Lyall), Paper Roses (Kingy), Snapping Turtle (Jordan)

Look out for.....

• Snapping Turtle
  'Bruce' will be 11yr old on 1st January, and during the last couple of seasons has been a revelation in staying handicap hurdles. He thrives on racing prominently, and putting his rivals to to sword in the last mile. A brave style which not only leaves him open to young, progressive hold up horses, but hard for the handicapper to drop his rating whilst he continues to be placed. Entered at Musselburgh on New Year's Day, or will run at Ayr on the 11th.
• Shades of Midnight
  A very exciting horse for his loyal band of owners - Potassium Partnership - who has run well in a couple of handicap hurdles this season already. Rated BHA124, we'll be aiming for a Class 2 handicap at around 2m 4f-6f with a little bit of cut in the ground. Entered at Musselburgh and Ayr (preferred) over the New Year.
• Paper Roses
  Nice filly. She was a promising third on her debut at Musselburgh late November, and continues in fine form on the morning gallops. We'll be picking out a mares only bumper for her to contest in January.
• Baby Ticker
  Another mare who ran a very promising 4th on her bumper debut to 3 well regarded sorts at Carlisle in December. Sure to be suited by ground less soft than she experienced, 'Baby' will be aimed at another mares only event early in the New Year.
• Tomahawk Wood
  There's no doubt that we envisaged this Courteous gelding being more competitive in his races this season but we've had him checked out and can't find any physical issue. He works well with the string each morning, so he's entered at Musselburgh on the 4th.
• Bearskin
  'Bear' has come on a fair bit in attitude and fitness from his stable debut in a novice hurdle at Kelso at the beginning of December. He needs one more hurdle run to obtain a handicap mark (where his future lies) and heads to Musselburgh on the 4th for a 2 mile novice hurdle.
• Hartforth
  He's normally so consistent once he finds his form for the season, so we were a bit taken aback when his finished well beaten at Carlisle in early December. Just being a bit cautious, 'Hart' will have another few weeks before running - maybe end of January at somewhere like Ayr 
• Ellistrin Belle
  A half sister to Shades of Midnight, and also King Kalium who won for the stable. Now we know that this lovely mare is best fresh, so we've given her an easy time since she was successful at Sedgefield in November. Another of our string who we've penciled in at Musselburgh on the 4th, where she has run quite well a couple of seasons ago.