CLIVE COX ON A CREST OF A WAVE,A VISIT TO BEECHDOWN FARM STABLES

Not the mad hustle and bustle of a work day, or the anticipation of a major race day. But Clive cox's Beechdown farm stables is a shop that never stops working.
Nestled on the top of Sheepdrove lane in Lambourn, you'll find cox's self contained industry working away to prepare his charges for the last part of the Flat turf season.

A good attendance from the West Berkshire racing club, some members being syndicate owners, watch one string glide a steady Severn furlong canter up gallops that have seen both the great and the good ply their trade up the hallowed turf.

Beechdown Farm stables

Alls well, so off the string go.

While the group pondered in the indoor school, the master of Beechdown Farm, talked passionatly about his horses. The relaxed,friendly atmosphere was plain to witness as he disscussed and joked with visitors and staff alike while he gave orders for what work he wanted his horses to do.
A quick look in the mirror  and it was off to the gallops. The guvnor choosing to walk with his guests the short way to the top of the all weather gallop.



Nothing showed their paces this morning, but all completed a steady canter to the top of the severn furlong all weather gallop.
Fruity a three year old filly by Camacho out of a Blues Traveller mare led the string as she tends to take a strong hold. The three year old third in her latest outing at Kempton, seems a progressive sort, and would hope soon double her tally from her win at Leicester in July.

Fruity

The rest of the horses followed on.....................................

Next a tour of the stables.

Little Palaver

Stable star Kodi Bear was well locked away in one of Clive's three americam style barns. The three year old dual group winner, by Kodiac is not adversed to taking chunks out of those who get in his space, so the superstar was viewed only behind the bars of his stall. Others on show though.
Little Palaver by showcasing out of a Emperors fountain mare, who was second at Chepstow at the end of August with stable apprentice Megan Nicholls on board

And Lucky Henry, a six year old by Lucky story out of a Selkirk mare.
Five runs under his belt this season, but not being able to capaltilize on his victory back in 2013 at Windsor

Lucky Henry winning at Windsor 2013

Magic Strike
Know, back to earlier, when writing that the membership secretary of the West berkshire racing club told me she was part of a small syndication of two horses in the yard.Barbra Allen, waxed liberally about how the yard, staff and trainer were so welcoming to groups and sydicates, and showed how proud she was of both her steeds.

Outback Ruler, by Aussie rules out of a Wolfhound mare, is a three year old colt who has had five runs this summer. Winning his contests from 7 furlongs to a mile at Chepstow and Haydock.

Outback Ruler

Magic strike, a two year old colt,by Zebedee out of a Smart Stike mare, has had three runs in it's career, the last one a fourth at Bath at the end of July.

Barbra was right. Beechdown Farm stable has a perfect enviroment for training racehorses. Friendly staff, beautiful surrounding and above all, a trainer, whose progression up the ranks shows onlt there is more to come from him. Clive cox, one to watch and take note.

Images of the visit to Clive's yard can be seen in the horse racing folder of

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DETTORI TREBLE AND ONLY MONDAY

As summer racing draws to a close for Monday racing at Royal Windsor racecourse, the maestro strikes up the band for one final tune.
Frankie Dettori, with a good book of rides for the afternoon, shows just why he is the punter favourite.

The first race of the eight race bumper card at the Berkshire racecourse, saw the Italian take the even money favourite to post in Heroic Heart trained by John Gosden. But it was the Roger Charlton trained Quick March who carried away this division 1 of the maiden fillies race over the six furlongs.

Quick March

This two year old filly by Lawman, owned and bred by Lord and Lady Rothschild beat her field well when taking the race by five lengths, showing progression for her third place at Goodwood nine days previous.
In form Harry Bentley was meant to be in the saddle, but unable to take the ride. David Probert took the mount, and a lucky spare ride it was to.




Probert quickly finished off the divided maiden by taking 7/2 shot Sunflower to post for trainer and ambassador to Windsor racecourse Andrew Balding. This chestnut filly by Dutch art with her debut on the sun drenched racecourse, took up the race at the furlong marker and held on by a neck from the Willie Haggas trained Gravity Flow. The two year old learning her trade and if well enough coming out from this race will take her chances again before the season comes to the end, and looks a type that would improve in time.

Sunflower and David Probert

Another maiden on the card this time over the Windsor mile, fourteen runners went to post. 

Dettori on the 13/8 favourite Four On Eight, trained by Luca Cumani bought the Lawman colt home by two lengths, again for a owner/breeder combination Stuart Stuckey. Taking the race from best of Oregon ridden by fellow Italian Antonio Fresu.

The two year old out of a Pivotal mare finished third in a Severn furlong contest at Newmarket last month, a race that also saw the horse behind Four On Eight on that day take honours at Ascot at the weekend, so the form is encouraging.

Owner Stuckey, who regularly uses the services of Dettori was promised a flying dismount if the horse came up trumps, and the promise was kept.

Four On Eight

Dettori struck again in the next, again over the mile. Cartago, trained by John Gosden and owned and ridden in the famous maroon and green silks of Khalid Abdullah made short work of his top weight of 9 st 7 lbs to beat Boutan by two lengths. The well attended winners enclosure wanted more of the Dettori flamboyancy, but was disappointed as no flying dismount was offered, however much they showed their disappointment, ' you should be all at work' bayed the Italian and he dismounted amidst the groans.

This son of Dansili, showed his previous four placed efforts were not to be sniffed at, and with a an increase in trip showed he was worth the wait.

Cartago

A five furlong dash for the next race, The John Wood Memorial handicap Stakes. Fourteen runners going to post, and it was a 14/1 shot that came up with the winner by the shortest of margins. Equally Fast, ridden by Martin Dwyer and trained by William Muir, managed to get this three year old gelding home despite the geldings previous efforts to floor his races, and this time he did no one any favours at all by hanging away from the rail when put under pressure. Post race chat was about how best to serve this son of Equiano, as he surely holds some talent, but unwilling to use it.

                            Equally Fast

Step up again Mr Dettori, as he took 13/8 favourite Lemoncetta to the start of the 1m 3f Silver Peak Accelerator Handicap stakes. Trained by John Gosden this three year old filly by the aptly named Lemon Drop Kid, showed she needed give in the ground and a longer trip, and took the race by 3/4 of a length from Silver Quay. A delighted Dettori after his weekend big win on Jack Hobbs, made sure this beautiful looking filly held on in the final furlong to give him his treble for the afternoon.

                                                                             Lemoncetta

Light Wave made his debut to the turf, in the 1m 2f  handicap stakes, and kept on in the final furlong to beat Royal Roslea by 3/4 of a length. Trained by James Tate,ridden by Pat Cosgrove this three year old showed that a increase in distance and the feel of turf under the hoof made all the difference from it's previous all weather track run under a month ago.

The handicapper know will surly take notice of this Echo of light colt, and next time will have to contest off a higher mark.

                               Light Wave

                                                                                                                   Secret Bird

Dean Ivory and Robert Winston took the eighth race on the card, The Unibet offer Daily Jockey/Trainer Specials Handicap Stakes over the six furlongs. Secret Bird went off at 3/1 and stayed on after taking the lead two furlongs out, to beat and deny Frankie taking home a four timer for the afternoon by half a length. This improving son of Arcano made better from his 3lb drop in weight from his run at Chepstow thirteen days ago.

A break for a month now at Windsor, with three meetings still to run in October we may see some of these winners back before being put out to grass for the winter.

But images and blogs write ups of this, and previous Windsor meetings can be seen at

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SUN,SPILLS AND THRILLS AT FONTWELL

James Bowen on Cudlic Verona winner of 148 cm race

Fontwell park racecourse worked some late summer magic, with a Severn race National Hunt Card.,not only that, it also offered to it;s well packed grandstand enjoying the last throws of the summer. Two pony races,Run under the Charles Owen racecourse series pony racing championship.

Winning rider and pony in the 138 cm race

The two categories,this being 138 cm and 148cm in height of horse and gives the young jockeys a taste of riding on a professional course, and run around the country, after racing throughout the summer.

Racing over obstacles, saw the first race of the afternoon. The MS Society Novices Hurdle over     2 m 1 f take four runners to post. The favourite Great fighter ridden by Aidan Coleman beaten well into third by the Dr Newland trained Gioia Di Vita ridden by Will Kennedy. This dual runner over flat and hurdles has shown great strengths over the summer months, and showed that his top weight of  11 st 12 lbs would not ruin his day.

Jockey Will Kennedy dedicated the race, when interviewed on At the Races to his mum who was celebrating her birthday. Which only goes to show Natiional Hunt jockeys are hard on the outside but soft in the middle

Gio Di Vita

Aidan Coleman continued his supeb run of weekend winners when seeing home a treble at Stratford the previous day,by taking the next race a 2 m 1 f juvenile event

Mountainside, a three year old by Dubawi, beat his three other rivals by making all of the running, the John Ferguson trained horse taking Coleman to his fiftieth winner of the new campaign without AP McCoy.

Coleman said he would of been happy with his tally even if it had come a few months later, but it was an added bonus reaching the half centery early in September.

Moutainside

The first race over the fences of the afternoon was over the 2 m 5 f. Five runners went to post, Kim Bailey saddling the favourite West End going off at 15/8. 

But it was the veteran thirteen year old Hercomesthetruth,trained by Chris Gordon and ridden by three times top jockey at the Sussex track Tom Cannon, who took up the lead four from home with the Brendan Powell trained Alla Svelta. Both horses came to the last, and looked as if it would be a good contest up the inclined finish of Fontwell. But the challenge was to much for Alla Svelta taking a crashing fall, leaving the veteran to run the finish alone, well ahead of any rivals.

Hercomesthetruth at the last fence

Both horse and jockey came away from their spill with no lasting damage, and it was the bumper crowd who showed appreciation of this, by bursting out with a rousing round of applause as the nine year old faller rose to his feet.

Hercomesthe truth

The main race of the afternoon, The Stephanie Rees Rainbow Child Foundation Handicap hurdle over 2 m 3 f, saw eight runner contest for the £6'498 purse.

Jockey Leighton Aspell taking a crashing fall early on in the race, which left him unable to take up the rest of his rides for the afternoon with an unforeseen trip to the local hospital.

                                                                                            Low key, trained by David Pipe and ridden by Tom Scudamore stayed on well during the last strides of the race, to beat in form Coleman by a short head. The eight year old gelding increasing his tally of wins from his last one at Stratford, despite the handicapper allotting top weight to the horse for his efforts with a 11 st 12 lbs  mark.

Low Key beating Mantou by a short head

The second and last chase of the afternoon, was a 2m 1 f event, six runners went to post and again it was the partnership of Tom Cannon and Chris Gordon who took the race honours.

Owner Occupier and ten year old that often graces the Sussex turf. The last effort a second over the same distance twelve days ago.

Cannon with fouteen wins under his belt for the season, with a double for the afternoon.

Tom Cannon on Owner Occupier

Another riding double for the aftenoon, this time went to the  five time winning jockey for the weekend Aidan Coleman. Taradrewe, trained by Anthony Honyball under top weight of 12 st 1 lbs staying on well to beat Surf in September comfortably in the 2 m 5 f Fontwell Park supports M.S Society mares handicap hurdle. Irishman coleman who is riding very well at present, mentioned he fancied this eight year old by Kayf  chances more than his last winner.

Crashing fall for No 6 Tom O'Brien in the  2m 5 f mares handicap hurdle

Taradrewe

The last race of the afternoon a 1m 5 f open National Hunt flat race, saw Brendan Powell. None the worse from his earlier fall on Alla Svelta, bring home Belcanto, trained by Jamie Snowden in his third attempt of the season by a length.

Belcanto

This irish bred five year old seeing off the team of Pipe and Scudamore at 4/1, preventing yet another double for a trainer/rider combination.

Images from all the afternoon sport can be seen as usuale at

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BENTLEY DRIVE AND A GROUP THREE AT WINDSOR

What should of been a beautiful late summer evening for the Royal Windsor racecourse ladies day meeting, turned out to be a rain soaked,overcast more mid autumnal like day on the banks of the River Thames in Berkshire.
But still the crowd turned out and the ladies adorned their finery, to see the best racing at the Windsor racecourse this summer. A group three worth £26'736 to the winner. The Unibet Winter Hill stakes. And a listed £16'487 race, The Sri Lanka August Stakes.

Missy Blue Eyes and Papa Luig

The first race, a two year old,six furlong maiden, Saw the unmistakable Richard Hannon place one of his maidens into the mix. Papa Luigi went to post the bookies favourite, but with ground on the soft side of good with the recent deluge of rain in Berkshire over the last few days the Zoffany colt could not get up, and lost out by a neck to the eventual winner Missy Blue Eyes, trained in Lambourn by William Muir and ridden by Sam Hitchcott.
This two year old gelding had his debut at Nottingham a few weeks ago and has come on a lot. Costing £18000 at sales, this Son of Kyllachy out of a Sadlers wells mare seemed to love the give in the ground.

The fillies took to the stage in the second race over the Windsor mile, The Brain Tumour Research Fillies handicap for three year olds. And saw David Elsworth saddle the 5/2 favourite La Superba, who got up in the last few strides driven by 5 lbs claimer Tom Marquand to beat the Roger Varian trained Privileged by a neck, whose 7 lbs weight difference told in the testing going.

La Superba

Another mile race, this time open to all three year olds, saw Keystroke, trained in Newmarket by Jeremy Noseda and ridden by stable jockey Jimmy Fortune, hold off the 15/8 favourite Critical risk by a length.

The three year old by Pivotal, whose offspring had a very good afternoon at the Royal Berkshire course, and must sire horses that love the give in the ground.

Keystroke

The main race of the meeting, the group three Winter hill stakes, saw eight runners go to post for the  one mile two furlong event.

Dermot Weld sent Fascinating Rock over from Ireland to contest but found the now cut up and soft going at Windsor, and the fact that recent form saw the Fasnet Rock colt shoulder 9 st 5 lbs too much, and finished well down the field.

Godolphin's entry Racing History, who disappointed as a two year old but has bought his A game to the table as a three year old by winning his last two outings,the last one being at Chester could not be sniffed at carrying 8 st 7 lbs. Saeed Bin Suroor flying in to make a rare appearance at the Berkshire track.

The son of Pivotal, whose offspring already in the winners enclosure, went to post under William Buick 9/2, and saw off by a length, Class contender Cannock Chase.

Cannock Chase

This quality three year old must be one to watch over the next few months as the ground begins to yield. Could this run see this colt enter into the French group race scene. Only time will tell.

Racing History winner of the group three Winter Hill Stakes

The one mile three furlong listed August stakes, saw again eight runners go to post.

Gospel Choir, who already has two group 2 races to his name, went to post the 7/4 favourite. But it was again the Godolpin team with Beautiful Romance whose only win has come off soft ground at Doncaster last October and since was a creditable third in the Neil Gwyn at Newmarket in early season who took the race honours. Ridden by Harry Bentley this New approach filly out of a cape cross mare won easily in the now cut up ground, and showed she was a good contender on give in the ground.

Beautiful Romance winner of the Listed August Stakes

Bentley who in the last race of the evening, a one mile three furlong handicap. Showed also he was one who like the soft going. And steered home 5/4 favourite Instill  by a length.

Instill

The stallion Pivotal, completing a hat trick of off winners for the evening with this three year old colt trained by Ivan Futado.

Images of the evening events can be seen at

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TROPICIAL FONTWELL HAS EIGHT ON THE CARD

Fontwell park racecourse, scheduled their 'Ladies Day' and hoped to be engulfed in late summer sun, but rain,thunderstorms and humitity threw itself at the West Sussex racecourse.
A good eight race card, and the ladies of West Sussex were at their best
Early season, and trainers put their charges into action. Some for the first time,some who have started the National Hunt game a little earlier. But no horse looked poor in coat or stature.
The ground at the Sussex course was good to soft, with all jockeys coming into the weighting room saying this was perfect jumping ground. Which is needed for this tight,figure of eight course.

The first race, a 2 m 1 f handicap hurdle for three year olds saw eight runners going to post. The favourite 9/4 shot Royal skies,ridden by possible contender for the vacant jockeys championship Aidan Coleman.Could only manage a 6 lenghths fourth,beaten by Gary Moore trained Royal Battalion.

Royal Battalion

Trainer Gary Moore,whose family is a very strong addition to the racing industry,not only in training,but with both sons and daughters strong in the saddle in both discipline's. Gave Jockey Tom Cannon the leg up on this four year old gelding by See the Stars. And duly went up the Fontwell hill a length and a half to claim the £2477.00 prize money.
Cannon came off saying the horse had improved well from his run at Worcester over the same distance finishing third in July.

Royal Battalion

No Nation Hunt race meeting would be complete without the addition to the popular Yellow and green colours of John.P. McManus. And so be it at Fontwell.
Trainer Jonjo O'Neill,who trains at the home of the jumps game at Cheltenham sent to post I'dliketheoption, for this 2 m 1 f novices hurdle. Top weight Antony again trained by the formidable Gary Moore found his top weight of 11st 5 lbs just too much for the inclined finish and a 1 lbs difference between horses found this four year old by Presenting get up to win by a neck.

I'dliketheoption

Jockey Richie McLeron said the ground was perfect to race on. A good covering of grass, and the earlier rain made this perfect going. and also making his poor performance at Bangor last month even more of a mystery to the McManus team







The first race over fences for the afternoon, The Aviator bar and resturant Bongnor Regis Handicap Steeplechase over  2m 4 f saw only four runners go to post. The rails not really making their minds up who the favorite for the race was, it was Marie Des Anges Trained by Anthony Honyball and ridden by amatuer Mr D Noonan who rode his 7 lbs clain well off the handicap weight of 11st 11 lbs.
With two upsides coming to the second last. Formal Bid ridden by another claimer James Banks took to the ground, this left the seven year old well clear of rival Try Catch Me by a distance, who tried but could'nt.
Jockey Mr Noonan, who had a fair good set of point to point rides and winners last season has no plans at present to take the step foward into the professional market, but would not put it out of the question for the future.

Marie Des Angles

The name of Scudamore and pipe has been senominous within the jumps fixture throughout the years. Now the next generation, David and Tom work together to hopefully dominate the winter racing game.

 For 'N' Against went to post  for the  2m 4 f handicap hurdle, and from the home turn looked like a true contender for a big race within the season.The 3/1 shot, six year old won by a comfortable distance from the Aidan Cloeman ridden Skint, and looks a true contender. The horse not having an outing since a second place run at Exeter in March looked to take his break well.

Tom Scudamore and For'N'Against

Sylvan Legend, trained in Umpley Stoke by Neil Mulholland  and ridden by Mark Quinlan went to post with nine other contenders  for the second of the two races over the fences in the afternoon.

The seven year old by Midnight Legend off the weight of  10 st 1 lbs got up in the final 100 yrd to beat The wee midget by one and a half lengths, making his 3 lb drop in weight from his previuos Newton Abbott fourth tell.

Quinlan, who is in the yard of Mulholland most days, reports all horses well and an increase in contenders coming out from the yard, which can only be a blessing for both trainer and jockey in the current climate.

Sylvan Legend

Sylvan Legend

Two divisions of the £50 Welcome bonus at Racebets.com Handicap Hurdle over 2 m 3 f saw Gary Moore trainer, take his tally of the afternnoon to three winners.

Osgood off top weight 11 st 12 lbs and the price of 20/1 took division 1 by three lenghts. Jockey George Gorman making his 10 lbs claim beat the handicapper, holding on from the second last hurdle.

Osgood

Shalianzi

Shalianzi, gave the Horsham based trainer his third winner of the afteroon as the five year old gelding took  division two of the handicap hurdle by 16 lengths at the price of  10/1.

The horses last run was on the flat at Windsor in July and ridden by none other than recently retired Richard Hughes finishing on that occasion fifth of a six runner field.

The eighth race of the afternoon, a 2 m 1 f national hnt flat race went to Nicely Indeed. Ridden by 7 lbs claimer Mikey Hamill and trained in Lambourn by Seamus Durack. The five year old running his first race under rules previuosly running point to points, last time unseating his rider. Hamill taking his mount up in the closing stages to beat 11/10 favorite Amirr by three lengths.

Nicely Indeed

Images of the afternoon can be seen at

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