Introduction......published beginning of October 2022 

October.....

The time of year when you tune in to your favourite 'live' British Racing stream each weekend, only to hear the learned presenter proclaim "this is where the National Hunt season really starts".
Well, you'll probably even be subjected to this assertion during The November Meeting at Cheltenham.......

Anyway, Chepstow's early October meeting is now complete along with, bizarrely, The Welsh Champion Hurdle at Ffos Las.

So.......as it feels like the start of the NH Season to us, here's the Dodlands Preview.
Of course mistakes, omissions, false accusations etc. are entirely the fault of our Website Team who'll be happy to hear from you..............

A quick reminder of last season.

But before we get into the meat and bones of this season, how did we do last year?

The Statistical Table below confirms what we all felt here at Dodlands -  that 2021-22 was our best season for some time.
8 wins, 9 second places, over 47% of runners in first 4, with pride of place given to hat-trick hero Stolen Money who went through the season unbeaten in progressive fashion in handicap hurdles.

National Hunt Seasons Runs & results (Percentage figures in brackets)		win	2nd	3rd	4th	other	Placed
2021-22		8 (14.5%)	9 (16.4%)	3 (5.5%)	6 (10.9%)	29 (52.7%)	47.3%
2020-21		3 (5%)	8 (13%)	7 (12%)	10 (16%)	33 (54%)	46%
2019-20		4 (9%)	9 (20%)	7 (15%)	6 (13%)	20 (43%)	57%
2018-19		6 (14%)	9 (21%)	4 (9%)	4 (9%)	20 (47%)	53%
2017-18		8 (17%)	6 (13%)	5 (10%)	4 (8%)	25 (52%)	48%
2016-17		4 (7.6%)	5 (9.6%)	5 (9.6%)	3 (5.8)	35 (67.3)	32.7
2015-16		5 (11.4%)	4 (9%)	7 (15.9%)	5 (11.4%)	23 (52.3%)	47.7%

*  statistics from 1st August - 31st July
** placed runner covers those of our horses in the first 4 in a race where there is prize money won

Horses and hopes for NH Season 2022-23.

As always optimism for, and anticipation of, the year ahead are adding that extra spring in the step to us all in the mornings.
The excitement at Dodlands Steading is tangible. And, the horses are positively gleaming with health in the early Autumn sun.

Full details of the Stable Staff can be found on the dedicated page, a couple of whom have moved on from last season with our thanks and best wishes. Especially young Leah Dodd who swaps early morning mucking out for life at University.
Anyway, we're delighted to welcome back Laura (she's never been away really) and Zoe (part-time around Teacher Training College) as the weekday work riders alongside Callum and Garry while Cameron provides sterling support on the ground.
Increased enthusiasm at the weekend is supplied by the ever dependable 'Pinky' & young Shay, who is an excellent rider.

Adding invaluable experience is jump jockey Craig Nichol who although having commitments to other yards, does manage to pop down once a week or so to ride out and assist with schooling.
Jockey profiles can be found here.

Now, here are the equine inhabitants at Dodlands Steading ahead of the 2022-23 National Hunt Season.

Novice chasers

Maid of Houxty
Maid of Houxty had us a bit flummoxed last season, but she did show more of the ability we know she possesses on her 3rd of 4 runs when 6th at Kelso in February over an extended 2m 6f, well there throughout but weakening from the home turn. Like her fine debut run over hurdles, that Kelso event was the only time she encountered soft ground (or even heavy) so perhaps that extra cut in the turf is what "Aura" prefers.
She starts the season on a more realistic mark of OR90 compared to the OR99 of last season, and we're still hopeful she can get her head in front.

Maid of Houxty is a well-made type who looks to be suited by 2m 4f plus and - as we've deduced (!) - give in the ground.
She has schooled well so may well be aimed at fences this season, possibly after an initial run over hurdles.  

Stolen Money
What a season Stolen Money had in 2021-22!!
A perfect 3 from 3 in handicap hurdles over 3 miles at Carlisle, Haydock & Ayr, capped by powerful finishing from 2 out each time. It goes without saying that his jumping was much improved and from a starting mark of OR99, he ended up on OR116. Only the lack of rain softened ground meant his season ended in mid February. Of course, the original plan was to jump fences but he was in such fine heart over hurdles that......well, if it ain't broken don't fix it.
The rangy, chasing-type Stolen Money will go novice chasing this season over staying trips when the ground is soft. Right from the get-go.
With a half brother in Classic Ben who won a £50k added 3 mile chase at Sandown a couple of seasons back, we're very excited to see Stolen Money over fences and the 7 yr old starts off on a reasonable handicap mark (OR116) inherited from his handicap hurdles campaign.

We hope this progressive type will continue to give a good account of himself this coming season.

Handicap hurdlers 

Bonny Houxty
Last season Bonny Houxty posted a couple of 4th places from 7 outings.
The mare is still a maiden but has been placed numerous times. She starts the season on a handicap of OR77, which is about 30lb less than her opening rating of a couple of years ago. 
Bill Aitchison's strong, good-sized mare re-joined the yard in September but we'll take things slightly easier with her preparation considering that she has been racing up until the end of May. She should re-appear in late November.

She is on a lenient mark especially if she can find a return to the form of her initial jumps season.

Eternally Yours
Last season the genuine hurdler Eternally Yours continued where she had left off - 4 runs, 3 places and at least one luckless run but just not quite achieving another victory. She ran well in an extended 3 mile handicap at Ayr (3rd) in March but maybe not quite seeing out the extended part. At least that run opened up the range of distance that she can be aimed at.
So 2022-23?
Well, Eternally Yours appeared to need her first race last season but she is literally sparking in her coat this October, so who knows this time around?

'Thimble' is a lovely, athletic filly just that little bit long in the back and has matured into an attractive 16.1hh frame. Lightly raced, suited by 2½ but stays 3 miles, this fairly useful hurdler will again be aimed at handicap hurdles (starts the season off OR117) preferably with some cut in the ground.

Nights In Venice
On his seasonal reappearance last year, Nights In Venice ran a fine race in a bumper at Kelso, finishing 2nd (albeit at a fair distance) to a good horse in Donny Boy (now rated OR127 over hurdles). His next run may have come a bit too quick (unplaced in another bumper) but he was back to showing his potential finishing his season by running well in a couple of novice hurdles in good company at Carlisle in February & March.
He is qualified for handicaps (OR107) and will start off in staying events when the ground eases around November.

A tall, lengthy gelding, he possesses a good deal of scope and we think there is a fair bit of improvement to come in staying distances over hurdles and ultimately fences.

Shoeshine Boy
With his three winning siblings all needing trips in excess of 2½ miles, and all progressing with age, we were quietly optimistic that once handicapped, Shoeshine Boy would become competitive in small Northern handicap hurdles over 2m 4f plus. And so it proved, with a eye-catching record in handicap hurdles last season of 22221 - and steady improvement each time. Thank goodness for that last run!!

"Theo" seems ideally suited by 3 miles and cut in the ground, and is now on a mark of OR100. We hope this 6-yr-old's progress continues and that he gives the lads of Mousetrap Racing another exciting season in staying handicap hurdles.

Novice hurdlers

Cowboy Cooper 
Cowboy Cooper had a couple of runs in bumpers for experience last season (2021-22). The better of the two came on debut when 7th of 14 beaten just over 16 lengths to Carnfunnuck at Ayr in November. Off for 4 months prior to running too freely at Carlisle next time.

"Marcus" is a strong gelding, coming in at 16.1hh, and the opportunity was taken to school him in the Spring. Jumps well.
He'll be aimed at novice hurdles to begin with, and should reappear as soon as the ground eases in late October / November.

Eden Mill
Eden Mill has shown a good deal of promise that there is considerable ability contained within his sizable frame in his sole season this far.
He shapes as if he'll be suited by 2½ - 3 miles in time but he'll probably start the season off over 2 miles, with one more run required to obtain a handicap mark.
His sire is starting to get noticed in the jumps sphere, with only a couple of crops of (NH) racing age to race so far. In general, his progeny look the type to improve with maturity and we certainly hope so for this lad.

Handicap hurdles will see this Leading Light gelding become more competitive, and there's lots for his owners to look forward to with this 5 year old heading into Season 2022-23.

Enemy At The Gate
Last season, Enemy At The Gate had just the one outing, 8th of 12 in a fairly hot novice hurdle over 2½ miles at Carlisle in October. We always seem to find a race full of unexposed types for our Fame And Glory gelding as there were 5 subsequent winners over hurdles in the field. He shaped nicely in this outing and we were fully prepared for an exciting season.
But unfortunately a few weeks later, he picked up a fairly minor issue which nonetheless required an extended period of box rest.

So, he's back in the yard (early October) and working on a routine to build up his strength again - our horse walker is proving particularly beneficial for "Rodney" - so we think he may reappear on a racecourse just after the turn of the year.

Gie It Laldy
Gie It Laldy had a nice introduction to racing last January at Ayr when finishing 5th in a 5 runner 2 mile bumper at Ayr, beaten just over 13 lengths. He held every chance 2f out and was only pushed back into 5th in the final furlong by a couple of horses from the rear. the winner of that race has gone on to win two novice hurdles and the second horse (Tfou) has continued to show promise being placed in a couple of novice hurdles too.
Next time, Gie It Laldy was well beaten in a similar event at Kelso but we're inclined to draw a line through that race as he was subsequently diagnosed with a minor leg injury. Several weeks of box rest and a summer at grass later, the gelding re-appeared at Dodlands in preparation for the 2022-23 campaign.
Mid October and Gie It Laldy is coming Up-the-Middle a couple of times each day with his stable companions so it wont be long (November) before he start off in a bumper prior to tackling novice hurdles.

A promising sort.

Paper Tiger
'Emily' had a couple of runs in bumpers last season before squeezing in a novice hurdle debut at the end of the season in April. Her bumper run gave some encouragement to connections, although she did seem to run a bit flat on hurdles bow when last of 5 at Hexham over 2½ miles.
Paper Tiger is a half sister to fairly useful hurdles/chaser Way Out West (by Westerner) and a couple of fine mares who raced for the yard in recent times - Paper Roses and  Paper Promise (both by Gamut). More recently, bumper winner Everyonesgame (by Jet Away) goes into this season as a highly promising novice hurdler. So she has quite a bit to do to hold up the family name.

She'll start off in novice hurdles and, once handicapped, would hope to become competitive in small events in the North.

So Many Roads
So Many Roads just wouldn't stop growing!!
This time - during the Summer & Autumn of 2021 - on returning to Dodlands he had grown (upwards) so much that in balance his body lacked a bit of condition. So we were wary that he might be slightly weak in his races in the 2021-22 season but Craig (Nichol) gave him a nice introduction in a bumper at Haydock at the end of the year (5th of 7).
Several weeks later So Many Roads ran a promising first race over hurdles - 2½ miles at Ayr - where he made steady headway out of the back straight to be on the heels of the leaders approaching 2 out before tiring into 8th. A fairly hot novice with 4 of the horses in front of So Many Roads being subsequent winners.

"Andy" has been working well in the early few weeks of the season, and we'd be looking for this 16.2hh strong, chasing type to be making his seasonal debut over hurdles when the ground is soft.
The type to do better than shown.

Bumper horses

Both Barrels
This Saddler's Rock gelding had been in pre-training prior to being sent to us by owner Anne Marshall before the beginning of last season (2021-22). He was a bit further forward than most 3 year olds joining the yard, but 'Sid' suffered from "growing pains" so we backed off for a couple of months.

Still, Both Barrels has summered very well and is in full training (as at early October), popping up the gallops twice each morning with his stable mates.
He's being aimed at a racecourse debut in a bumper in November.

Ellistrin Star
Since joining Dodlands a couple of years back, "Bellini" has proved very much to be a stable favourite. Such a sweet filly and so nice to have around the yard.
Last season Ellistrin Star had a couple of outings for experience in bumpers but was perhaps a little bit disappointing in finishing down the field each time. She was probably a bit weak then but on her return to the yard after summer grass, Ellistrin Star does seem to have strengthened somewhat.

A neat filly, Ellistrin Star does have the pedigree to do well in the jumping game. She will be aimed for another bumper early on in the season, and we all hope she can do well.

Houxty Reiver
We're indebted once more to owner-breeder Bill Aitchison who sent along "Bella", a lovely, study filly by Black Sam Bellamy out of his broodmare Izons Croft who will run in the colours of the Reiver Racing syndicate. The filly is now named Houxty Reiver.
She arrived at the end of November '21 and was fairly far forward as she has been in pre-training for several weeks prior to coming here. Houxty Reiver was close to an outing in a bumper last season but the ground dried up so she was put away for the 2022-23 season.

Early October and this young mare is in full training and coming "Up-the-Middle" in pleasing fashion each morning with her companions. We'll see how the next few weeks go, but we'd like to think a debut run in a bumper this side of the New Year would be feasible.
In time, Houxty Reiver could be well suited by a trip over hurdles like her sisters Bonny Houxty and Maid Of Houxty.

An early October gallop

The string is completed by a number of unraced youngsters who will be developed as the season progresses. One or two may be forward enough to make a racecourse appearance at the back-end of the season, while others will spend time in and out of the yard as nature takes its course in terms of strengthening and maturing.

Gogo Glenda
Gogo Glenda was an acquisition at a Goffs UK National Hunt sale in August 2021. "Glenda" was broken in shortly afterwards and actually spent a few weeks in and out of training in the Spring of 2022. So when she re-joined the yard in late Summer, the mare knew her job.
Gogo Glenda is a 5 yr old at the start of the season, so we were keen to crack on with her. As such, she was actually ready to race in late September but picked up a knock which required several weeks of box rest. However, she could be ready to race again in a bumper in the second half of the season.

2018 bay filly by Yorgunnabelucky ex Bollin Julie
The home-bred filly "Matilda" is the first foal out of our dual hurdle winner Bollin Julie.
She is another one of our unraced youngsters this season but she's been a fixture in the yard for so long she's almost part of the furniture..
She is in steady work at the moment (early October) and we'll gauge how she is progressing during the season.  Possibly after the turn of the year for a debut run on the racecourse.

2018 bay filly by Black Sam Bellamy ex Border Flora
'Janie' is gorgeous young filly bred by Bill Aitchison who arrived in the yard at the back end of the Summer of '22.  
This athletic filly has been working nicely upsides her stable companions each morning as she builds up her strength. All being well, she may be the type to make a racecourse debut towards the end of the current season next Spring.     
Very much a filly to look forward to .                         

2019 bay gelding by Malinas ex Lis Goold
The well-bred Malinas gelding "Cormac" was an acquisition at the Spring NH Goffs UK Store sale in May 2022, as an unbroken 3 year old.
He was sent along to Nick Orpwood shortly afterwards and during the 2022-23 campaign will spend a few weeks in and out of training. He may be forward enough to make a debut in a bumper late in the season but we're in no rush with the gelding.
He is a lovely, athletic gelding standing at over 16.1hh and during this season it will be very exciting to see him grow and furnish into a racing frame.
All in all, a super exciting horse.

2019 bay filly by Black Sam Bellamy ex Lonely Paradise
As an unbroken 3 year old, 'Mabel' was acquired by TD9 Racing in early Spring 2022, and after being broken in by Nick Orpwood, the filly spent an initial period of a few weeks here at Dodlands
'Mabel' is of course the first foal out of an unraced full sister to Eternally Yours and so a daughter of Well Disguised, and she has very pleasingly shown the family traits on the home gallops - travelling easily and willingly.
Early days though and this filly is one who will be in and out of the yard during the course of the season but it may be next year before she is seen on the racecourse.