AUTUMNAL BEAUTY AT ROBINS NEST

A depth of knowledge and understanding from the master of Hill farm situated in the beautiful grounds of Alne Park in Warwickshire is gathered in a small, neat and tidy package for all to see.

Trainer Robin Dickin, like myself started in racing straight from leaving school. He working for the likes of masters such and Frenchie and David Nicholson, legends in their fields he rode at both codes, massing total of 115 winners to boot. 

Not only this he ran a livery yard looking after such horses for horsemen and women who know what they like…. And dislike,trainers such as Mercy Rimmel and Capt. Tom Forster.

A riding accident in 1986 at Towcester saw an end to the saddle and the beginning of a new career in the sport of kings and queens, training became Robins passion, first in Gloucester then to Warwickshire where he is now settled since 2012 with his wife Claire and daughter Harriet at Alne park.

‘I’ve been lucky with my time training, and I love every minute of it. I have no ambition of getting large, or being a champion trainer. All I want is to look after my horses and staff and give them the best platform to perform the best they can.’

The morning we went to see ‘Robins nest’ was an idyllic autumn morning, trees golden and weather fair. 

The yard set on a hill side looking out in the direction of Birmingham airport, (no extra runway there) to Stratford upon Avon, Shakespeare country, no chance of horses getting board or restless, after exercise wrapped up each have a relaxing turn out viewing the beautiful countryside in well maintained and well sized paddocks.

The view looking out to the gallops from Hill Farm

The Guv'nor Robin Dickin

‘the gallops are prepared so horses can get on them at any point and we are that self-contained I can see them work and come back to me afterwards, so all the time I can see any niggles any of them have.’ Mentioned the trainer who has a small but loyal string under his care.

It clearly came apparent that the trainer wears his heart on is sleeve and is as honest as the day’s long. 

‘I treat my owners and staff alike as my friends, it’s no good feeding people ‘B.S’ but honesty counts. Owners know how I work, and I know how their horses work and tell them so. The horses once passing the gates are mine to worry about and mine alone.’

The horses on show looked good jumping stock, all looked big, bold and beautiful against the golden-brown backdrop.

Horses before exercise

Each took a turn around the gallops and then a few had a piece of work, one being promising chaser Thomas Crapper, beaten to second place in the Martin Pipe handicap hurdle at the 2014 festival by Don Poli and has shown promise since Novice chasing last year. 

Now handicapping the nine-year-old, one mid placed run in good company at Chepstow in a grade three event sees the horse possibly going to Ascot for the Halloween weekend meeting.

He certainly looked well taking a good hold, and looked a picture also. A noble head on the promising son of Tamure

The rest of the string showed good pace and stride, the trainer happy with what he viewed before him. 

'You know, I have to pinch myself each morning when I come out into the yard to know how lucky I am, this is a superb place to train, all my maintenance is done for me by the landowner Avon Estates, and I’m a hill man and to walk out each morning to this is a dream.

And praise also for his staff, a collective of young riders who showed and talked their game eloquently throughout the visit. 

‘This group of girls are the best I have had, loyal, trustworthy and above all love the industry and the horses, again making my job that much more enjoyable.’

The trainer oozes with respect and appreciation for the industry he works in the enthusiasm is catching and infectious, as one of his owners quoted on national TV. ‘When the horses hurt, so dose Robin,’ and this is so apparent, I should reckon this flows down to the whole team, but I’m sure when he celebrates it goes the other way to.

The yard, small, compact tidy and functional but most important calm and peaceful, all horses interested in what's about, and that in my mind spells happy.

The trainer, well if you were looking for someone who tells you what you need to hear, not what he thinks you need to hear, an honest trainer with knowledge sucked out from years with legends of the game, a trainer probably not over enthused by the modern, shiny racing we are experiencing, but a trainer that knows he must go with the flow, (just ask him about the pace of some races nowadays.) A trainer that would not have been out of place back in the day, and a trainer that is certainly not out of place in the present. Then Robin Dickin is your man.

In my view, and not too sure at first, but as that enthusiasm and passion starts to sink into your veins a definite thumbs up on the scale of things.

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BLOGS AND HORSE RACING FOLDERS

BUMPER FONTWELL CARD AS JUMPING TAKES IT SERIOUS

Again another meeting at the East Sussex track that attracts some prolific runners that we are sure to see throughout the jumping campaign.

 Top horses, trainers and jockeys a like graced the Fontwell turf for a mid-week meeting that oozed class.

Movewiththetimes 

Top trainer Paul Nicholls who is having his best start to a season yet sent J.P McManus’s Movewiththetimes to post the 6/4 favourite, Barry Geraghty on board this impressive Presenting gelding made it two from two in his novice days, the last win being in April at Wincanton.

The four-year-old seemed to take the good to soft jumping ground in his stride winning comfortably by two lengths from Alan Kings Azzerti.

‘We have had to search a little for the better ground for this one, this horse is a nice big sort that jumps well and could be one for the future.’ Mentioned the trainer in residence for the day. 

Nicholls also mentioned that at Fontwell the ground was only just to his liking for his runners and on this type of going horses have to be fit, which this promising type certainly did look, and was no surprise to the team that he got his nose in front.

No firm plans for this good looking McManus gelding yet.

No firm plans for this good looking McManus gelding yet, but with two impressive wins, this time at Fontwell in a good early season Novices hurdle this one is certainly for the note books.

The second Azzerti from the Alan King Yard and third horse Sleep Easy from Neil Mulholland’s yard are also one to take note of.

Paul Nicholls also had success in the two miles three furlongs beginners chase with As De Mee, ridden by Sean Bowen who took the race easy with a pace that was strong throughout.

‘The pace was a strong won, Noel Fehily has tried to take the field on again but my fella has jumped well and the more pressure I got helped as I knew we could out jump everyone.’ 

The jockey also mentioned that he thought the horse was a nice type and still a novice, so would be entitled to take a nice novice events as the season continues.

The trainer mentioned that the horse deserves to win these type of races, and with being a year older and stronger he is in good form at present, but racing over the two miles would be the plan for this six-year-old.

The Ditcheat yard of Paul Nicholls looks serious for this season, the earlier barrages certainly laying the land for what’s to come.

‘The pace was a strong won, Noel Fehily has tried to take the field on again but my fella has jumped well and the more pressure I got helped.'

Colin Tizzard took the only other chase event of the afternoon with Fergal Mael Duin, ridden by Paddy Brennan.

The two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase saw this grey with an impressive story behind him, jump non too fluent to take the race by three lengths from Rothman ridden by Leighton Aspell.

‘I have not ridden him before but today he has had a bit of a slip early on which didn’t help, but he is workman like type of horse and won his race which is the main thing.’

Fergal Mael Duin,

The story as mentioned earlier with this eight-year-old was last seen at a boxing day meet at Market Rasen, the horse fell and was on his side for a good twenty minutes, everyone thinking the worse. 

Even the owners who home bred the horse went to the track thinking they were going to have to say goodbye to a family member as they put it.

But as they were about to do this the horse raised its head got up and walked away, to the full cheers and applause of the Boxing day racegoers and staff alike. 

Now nine months on the horse is in the winner’s enclosure, who says that dreams are not built on National Hunt racing? I think history and time will tell you otherwise.

Even the owners who home bred the horse went to the track thinking they were going to have to say goodbye to a family member as they put it.

Parish Business took the next race the two-and-a-half-mile handicap hurdle. 

Trained by Emma Lavelle and ridden by Leighton Aspell who took on the race from three hurdle out and seemed to take the race comfortably by nine lengths from Alan Kings Board of Trade.

This was a tidy sort of race the team of J.P McManus, Paul Nicholls and Barry Geraghty having a nice novice in Hawkhurst ten lengths back in third.

Aspell mentioning. ‘He has good novice form and is a type that is meant for fences, he has had runs over the bigger obstacles but has frightened himself a bit which has put him back, but he is lower than he should be really on his mark because of the bad few runs he has had.’

Parish Business

The trainer who has moved to a new premises in Marlborough seems to be finding life good at present, this eight-year-old showing that he may be a nice horse as he matures and now with a fresh start could be a useful addition to the Lavelle yard.

‘He has good novice form and is a type that is meant for fences.'

The jockey on four winners in four days also looks to be going well, now the good ground promising is well looking forward to his season.

The conditional jockeys handicap hurdle over two miles three went to the top weight Looksnowlikebrian. Trained by Tim Vaughn and ridden by 10 lbs claimer George Blackwell.

The 3/1 favorite made hard work of the finish, hanging slightly only to beat second place Earls Fort from the Neil Mulholland yard by a neck.

The five-year-old gelding on his first win from seven starts has improved from his unplaced run at Uttoxeter in September and was meant to run last week at Plumpton only to be pulled out after losing a shoe going down to the start, the vet go ahead today at Fontwell surely bared well for the horse.

The five-year-old gelding on his first win from seven starts has improved from his unplaced run at Uttoxeter

The final two races were two divisions of a two mile one national Hunt flat race for mares and fillies, most horses at the beginning of their racing careers.

Don’t Tell Val won the first division giving Paddy Brennan a double for the afternoon, trained by Fergal O’Brien at Cheltenham the 20/1 shot beating 11/8 favourite Peggies Venture by half a length.

‘She’s a tough type and ready to go on really,’ mentioned the jockey.

Division two was taken at a more sedate pace that that of the first Bold Image from the Suzy Smith yard giving Gavin Sheenan a win for the afternoon. 

This time a six length winner from Colin Tizzards Ruby Russet the five-year-old mare by Milan looks the most impressive type out of the two winners in the contest.

Trained on the grounds of the old Lewes racecourse this mare looks the type that is bred for the jumping game.

 All horses in the top four in both divisions are to be watched, but as mentioned early days for these horses. Not forgetting Cue Card won his maiden bumper at this track when he started out.

Don’t Tell Val 

Bold Image

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WINDSOR (RAIN) BOWS OUT OF 2016 WITH EIGHT RACES

Eight sturdy races up for grabs at Royal Windsor’s last meeting of their 2016 campaign. 

A fair size crowd for a late autumn Monday afternoon meeting saw horses battle through ground that would be not to indifferent to ground offered at most NH meetings coming up through the next few months. Soft, good to soft in places, many jockeys mentioning ground being quite loose on top by the end of the meeting.

But this didn’t matter to Adam Kirby a favourite rider over the summer months at the Berkshire course putting in a double for the afternoon. 

The first one coming in the shape of Foxcatcher in the five-furlong maiden race for two year olds for another trainer in good form at Windsor Clive Cox.

Foxcatcher 

‘I’ve always thought this was a nice little filly, with a win under her belt she can pick up some strength over the winter and go on.’  

The owner incidentally Mr C Harper gave the trainer his first ever group one winner with Gilt Edge Girl in the Prix De L’abbaye.

Kirby’s second winner came from the Newmarket based Stuart Williams.

 Inniscastle Lad made all of the one mile two furlongs in the three years old and upwards handicap. ‘We have stayed on the stand side because that is where the best ground is, but this one has certainly taken advantage of the softer ground.’

Inniscastle Lad

The jockey now on his 131^st winners for the season, accumulating approximately 2.3 million in prize money may not be the highest number of winners in a season but certainly very profitable. 

‘I have far too many people to thank really, Clive Cox would be one of those who has always supported me.’ Now planning his winter campaign, you can rest assured the jockey who loves riding at Windsor will be on the score board again on Mondays at the Berkshire course.

‘I’ve always thought this was a nice little filly, with a win under her belt she can pick up some strength over the winter and go on.’

‘We have stayed on the stand side because that is where the best ground is,

The second race on the card went to the Malton based Richard Fahey with his three-year-old filly Flowing Clarets in six furlong Claiming race. 

The 7/1 shot by Pastoral Pursuits hung left as it took up for home two out, jockey Patrick Mathers keeping the filly going forward though to take the race by a length and a half from Dynamic Girl.

‘This type of race is practically the limit she is.'

‘This type of race is practically the limit she is, ‘mentioned the jockey. ‘she handled the ground well and picked up well for me in the end, it’s quite loose on top at the moment but as said she handled it well.’

The filly now on a 30% strike rate has not done too bad as a three-year-old, also winning one on all weather surfaces and is one we may see on a little winter campaign, and in these smaller races maybe one to take note.

Flowing Clarets

Brendan Powell and Martin Dwyer took the nursery handicap over the mile with Phoenix Reach.

Four runners went to post and coming past the finish line less that a length could separate the runners. 

The favourite Muirsheen Durkin coming in at second spot.

The 12/1 shot with five runs under his belt again seemed to hang left, but also seems to relish this give in the ground.

The jockey mentioning,’ I used to ride the sire also, but we always though he had a win in him, the rest of the lads had a bit of a laugh at me coming around the bend as we hung so badly, but he has got there in the end.’

With headpieces and the softer ground, this race certainly put this son of Phoenix Reach on the winner’s board, the trainer mentioned,’ I told Martin to do his own thing with him and it has worked, with twenty horses in the yard it’s just good to get a winner.’

Phoenix Reach.

Zlatan took the next race, the three year olds and upwards mile handicap, ridden by Dane O’Neil and trained by Ed de Giles, this quirky Dark Angle gelding made all of his 5/1 favourite standing being switched left to take his race a furlong out.

‘He has been a little more straight forward today, he is a type that has the ability but maybe the type that is better in these smaller races than the big ones, but he certainly has something.’

Zlatan

The trainer mentioned,’ He is a quirky type of animal really, and you just have to get every little bit out of him, but he has shown a little more resolve today.’

His only other win came at Bath on the softer ground under champion jockey now crowned Jim Crowley, one to keep an eye on if the ground stays soft for a possible quick return.

'He is a quirky type of animal really, and you just have to get every little bit out of him.'

Khalid Abdullah took the next in a rare visit to the winners enclosure this season with Exoteric out of the Charles Hills yard and ridden by Richard Kingscote. 

The three-year-old over the one mile two furlongs ran on well in the final furlong to take the race well by three lengths from Cordite out of the Jim Boyle yard, a 50% strike rate shows the worth of this gelding by Champs Elysees.

Exoteric

‘However it looked I always seemed comfortable, and I was pleased how he settled really, but he is a nice horse.’

The horse now winning three in a row on ground from firm to soft just shows how versatile this rangy type can be for this jockey who has had a positive season on some very nice horses, Mrs Danvers being one of them a winner early on in the season at the Berkshire track.

‘However it looked I always seemed comfortable.'

The last race, well for the professional jockeys that is at Windsor for 2016 was three year olds and upwards handicap stakes over the five-furlong dash. 

Again a tight run contest with Ron Hodges taking Dreams of Glory an eight-year-old home by a neck from John Bridger’s Stormflower, a trainer who usually gets the older horses in front.

Ron Hodges veteran ridden by Edward Greatrex who drove out well the gelding by Resplendent Glory the 8/1 shot now on his eleventh win from sixty-five starts. 

‘My three pounds and the ground certainly helped him today, he felt so well at the start and came out of the gates well he is such a nice horse and Ron loves him too, he must be a pleasure to train.’

Dreams of Glory 

Older horse seem to enjoy this figure of eight track, over the seasons many have come for their day in the sunshine, and this horse in no exception, the trainer, well his record speaks for itself  dating back from 1988. 

The jockey, well as he said ‘It’s gone okay, can’t complain.’

You know Ed neither can we.

'he is such a nice horse and Ron loves him too, he must be a pleasure to train.’

As the rain approached, the final race of the 2016 season saw thirteen runners take to the one mile three start.
A few years back, (2012) this meeting at this time saw a certain Richard Hughes take home seven winners from eight races, and it was fate that the eighth race at this meeting R Hughes now trainer saddled Fast Play for young sixth former James Perrett to ride his winner in the amateur handicap.

Hampered at the start, the four-year-old off top weight came through to hold on well in the final furlong taking on the far rail for the first time in the meeting.

Fast Play

‘She has taken me over to the far rail to be fair, but if she can get hampered at the start and take me over to the far side and also win, she has plenty more to give, it probably helped me a little to be off the pace for a lot of the race.’

As mentioned the young jockey still at sixth form and rides out for the Lambourn trainer said he was grateful for the trainer to give him a chance. 'I’m indebted to the guvnor really for giving me this chance and the owners, he is so good to ride out for I’m very lucky.’

It seems another candidate for the racing industry after school James mentioning that possibly not as a jockey but he would like to work somewhere within the industry.
Have we seen a new assistant to the champ jockey turned trainer who knows, but unknown to him he has just found that eighth race for Richard Hughes that’s for sure.

'I’m indebted to the guvnor really for giving me this chance and the owners, he is so good to ride out for I’m very lucky.’

Well that’s it for the track by the river next to the big castle in the Royal County, last one out……… Turn off the lights, until next year.

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WINDSOR EIGHT, CROWLEY GREAT

Jim Crowley seemed to cement his place on the flat jockey’s wall of fame.

With barely a week to go until the flat season finale at Ascot, and with that the champion jockeys crown up for grabs, former national hunt jockey Jim Crowley seemed to cement his place on the flat jockey’s wall of fame.

Coming to the Royal Berkshire course the Ascot man with 141 winners, sixteen above the outgoing champ Silvestre De Sousa, Crowley steered home a double for the afternoon making it a near certainty if there is one for him to take the crown. 

With 300 hundred nation hunt winners, and the only ‘to be’ flat champion to have ridden in the Grand National, Crowley bought home Broadhaven Honey for Ed McMahon in the 2 year olds five-furlong nursery.

Crowley bought home Broadhaven Honey for Ed McMahon in the 2 year olds five-furlong nursery.

 ‘I’m just going to keep pressing on riding as many winners as I can, i have twelve rides today, and as Saturday comes and Ascot, then the enormity of what I have done will sink in.’ 

And not stopping is what this champion elect will do, four meetings over the next 48 hours, a trip to Redcar at the end of the week and then Ascot is what faces the jockey for the week. 

The Harbour Watch filly doing the job, at 7/1 running on gamely to beat Richard Hannon’s Fabric by ½ a length.

And to top it all the next race on William Haggas’s Ejeemi Crowley made all to take a steady win by 2 lengths from the favourite First Voyage.

Jumping out the stalls smartly the jockey soon had the three-year-old by Sahmaardal well in his stride for his one-mile voyage in the first division of the three year olds and upwards maiden stakes. 

Running up gamely on the stand size rail the jockey mentioning he was a nice horse that moved well and enjoyed the ground at Windsor.

And to top it all the next race on William Haggas’s Ejeemi Crowley made all to take a steady win by 2 lengths from the favourite First Voyage.

With rides up to the last at Windsor, a helicopter ride to Chelmsford and a 8.25PM clock off time, Jim Crowley would not be one to be said to be sitting on his laurels, the former Amateur turned jump jockey, now champion flat jockey certainly is working as hard as his two winners at Windsor’s penultimate flat meeting of the season.

Broadhaven Honey

Ejeemi

The second division of the mile maiden went to top weight Archery Peak, trained by Luca Cumani, the four-year-old by Arch out of a Fusaichi Pegasus mare shot to evens money favourite and only ever having three runs in his career, this lightly raced horse on paper looked the banker of the day.

Ridden by Adam Kirby who mentioned, ‘he is a nice type, but only a moderate sort of race really.’ 

Archery Peak,

Asked why the horse has been very light on the racecourse visits over his four years the jockey said. ‘I just ride them really, so best to ask the trainer on that one.’

 Says to me and with the evidence of the betting, the Newmarket trainer has seen something in this four-year-old that most cannot. One to watch me thinks.

 Says to me and with the evidence of the betting, the Newmarket trainer has seen something in this four-year-old that most cannot. One to watch me thinks.

Going back to the first race of the afternoon, the six furlongs two-year-old maiden stakes. Open wide trained by Amanda Perret, who indecently is the sister in law of Jim Crowley and who gave the champion his first rides under flat rules. Ran on well inside the final furlong to take the race by a length from Wedgwood Wonder, Founding Father the 5/2 favourite in third.

‘He is a very nice horse in the making, and has stuck his head out for me well there,’ mentioned the jockey Paul Maulrennan who last weekend at Chantilly was unlucky on the Nunthorpe winner, Meccas Angle in the Prix de l’abbaye, a possible entry in the champions sprint at Ascot this weekend.

The well bred two-year-old by Invincible Spirit out of an Indian Ridge mare in only his third run seems a nice type, and one that would look to improve as it rises into a three-year-old.

One for the notebooks again I feel for the new season.

Open wide

The three-year-old and upwards fillies and mares race was taken by 5/1 shot Invermere. 

Trained by Richard Fahey and ridden by Windsor debutante, 5 lbs claimer Adam McNamara, the Kyllachy filly was driven out in the final furlong to beat the favourite, Henry Candy’s Nicarra.

‘I was probably in front a little too soon,’ mentioned the jockey. ‘But she is a versatile type that has won her race well.’

Nicarra, Carp Diem Lady, Invermere

Asked what he thought of Windsor the young jockey said.’ Yeah I’ve enjoyed it, never been here before and it is always good when on a winner.’

With thirteen runs on a racecourse and three wins under her belt it would be safe to say you would have to watch how the handicapper reacts to the win, a favourable weight could see this filly race and win sooner rather than later.

Asked what he thought of Windsor the young jockey said.’ Yeah I’ve enjoyed it, never been here before and it is always good when on a winner.’

Charles Hill took the three year olds and upwards six-furlong handicap with Menai. 

The Dark Angle gelding at 6/1 went past the post four lengths in front of Jonathan Portman’s Equistar.

 Steve Drowne on board the horse who has disappointed the last few runs mentioned, ‘a flat track has suited him better today, he has always shown a bit at home really and I thought he would be a possible Britannia horse, but its probably he’s a back end horse over six furlongs that will pick up races.’

With two wins from ten starts the horse that has ran in some fair decent company maybe one to take heed of what his jockey has mentioned in the back stages of a season and the win at Windsor being an easier contest for the horse, could be out again soon, and one to watch.

Menai.

The conditions race for three year olds and upwards saw Beardwood a horse with indifferent form take the race by 1/2 a length from Priors Brook from the Andrew Balding yard.

The four-year-old by Dutch Art out of a Be My Guest mare ran a creditable fourth in the Cambridgeshire, but disappointed at Redcar nine days ago, ‘ it was a race that suited him,’ mentioned Adam Kirby on board,

‘Its certain you would get another win out of him to be sure.’

Priors Rock (Left) Beardwood ( right)

Trained in Middleham by Mark Johnston,the horse was driven out by Kirby in the final furlong to win well in the end, and look hopefully the type if the handicapper treats him well to win a few more contests.

Zodiakos the favourite meanwhile came in well tailed off, under Jim Crowley, trained by Hugo Palmer the three-year-old stepping down in class, looked a good thing for a treble for the champion elect, the report back being the Kodiac gelding was never going, would be one to watch though.

The last race of the afternoon went to the Newmarket yard of Marco Botti. 

Owned by the Heart of the South Racing and ridden by Martin Harley, Velvet Revolution battled out well with the favourite Tyrell from Alan Kings yard to take the tree year old one mile three-furlong handicap by a nose.

Tyrell (left) Velvet Revolution (Right)

‘The horse has a lot of heart and gelding him has certainly helped him, he is a nice stayer, his brother was the same.’

By Pivotal out of a Perugino mare now with one win from five starts looks a type that will be better for another winter, still not looking the full package, but one surly to watch from a trainer that will surly bite back from a fairly quite season behind him.

‘The horse has a lot of heart and gelding him has certainly helped him, he is a nice stayer, his brother was the same.’

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