PARIS
A weekend at the Arqana Sale
It was an early start on Saturday morning the 4th October, as I flew out to Paris for the prestigious Arc Sale which in fact was the first ever boutique sale. Around 45 horses in training went through the ring, and I spent the day inspecting them all as a prospective buyer. It’s always hard work, but this time we didn’t come away with any new purchases.
While over there, I decided to make a weekend of it. One of our owners Stevan Crabb who’s involved in Midnight Jukebox, kindly invited me to join him on his table at a plush restaurant at Longchamp Racecourse. We enjoyed a four-course meal and plenty of drinks throughout — a real treat! It felt quite strange being at the races without working; a rare day off indeed.
Interestingly, it hardly felt like we were in France, the crowd was full of Irish and English, more reminiscent of a jumps meeting. But it made for a great atmosphere. I even managed to back the first winner of the day, so I didn’t lose out on the betting front either.
It was a fantastic opportunity to socialise with owners and catch up with people I wouldn’t normally have time to chat with on a busy race day. All in all, it was a brilliant experience — one I’d highly recommend. It’s certainly something we might look at organising as an owners’ trip next year or the year after and we’ll be sure to keep you posted.
Steven Crabb, Crossey, Corinne and Simon Devereux
Owners’ Morning
‘Adonedeal’ with Olly Murphy
After a late-night flight back from France, it was another early start on Monday morning as Pete Jones and I headed north to Olly Murphy’s yard for our first owners’ morning at Warren Chase Stables with our horse Adonedeal — who made such an impressive debut, winning his only start by 17 lengths.
Olly’s yard is a busy and impressive place and our owners were treated to a brilliant morning. They got to meet top jockeys including Champion Jockey Sean Bowen, Gavin Sheehan, and James Bowen, who were schooling horses over fences. This was followed by watching 2nd lot on the gallops, giving everyone a fantastic insight into the behind-the-scenes work that goes into Olly’s operation.
Adonedeal is quite an exuberant type, so we’ve been training him on his own. Once the main lot was finished I hopped on and gave him a nice warm-up in the school. Followed by a couple of light canters — a typical easy Monday routine. I was very pleased with how he went. He’s a forward-going horse but has really settled into his routine well and Olly and his team have done a terrific job with him.
He’s likely to be one of our first runners of the season and is pretty much ready to go when conditions allow. As many of you will have heard us say, the ground remains quite quick at the moment, so we’ll be patient and wait for safer conditions before running him. We’ve pencilled in a couple of bumper options toward the end of the month, but we’ll let the weather guide us.
A huge thank you to Olly and all his team for their great hospitality – it was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative morning and I think all the owners left very happy with how things are shaping up for Adonedeal.
Our first trip to Olly Murphy's yard
Tuesday 7th
Gallops Morning Visit to Dan Skelton’s
Ace Of Spades and his owners at Dan Skelton's yard
On Tuesday morning, we headed up to Dan Skelton’s yard to see a few of our syndicate horses in action — Mr Hope Street, Ace of Spades, Delta Blues Belle, Unnamed (Great Gatsby) and Major Fortune.
We had a lovely mix of owners along for the morning – always great company and plenty of good chat! Dan, as ever was in tip top form. There was the usual banter and he was incredibly informative for the owners, he talked through each horse’s plan with his trademark enthusiasm and insight.
At one point, I couldn’t resist putting Dan on the spot with a little challenge – we wanted a winner each month from November through to April. Dan, being the man with a plan, confidently obliged and delivered one for every month!
All in all, it was a thoroughly enjoyable and informative visit. The horses are looking great and while we’re all desperate for some rain, patience will be the key over the coming weeks.
Plenty to look forward to as the season builds and with Dan we’re in very capable hands.
Delta Blues Belle and her owners at Dan Skelton's yard (above)
Unnamed 'The Grey Gatsby' and his owners at Dan Skelton's yard (above)
Major Fortune and his owners at Dan Skelton's yard (above)
Mr Hope Street and his owners at Dan Skelton's yard (above)
Wednesday 8th
A morning at Fergal O’Brien’s Yard
On Wednesday morning we had an early start as we headed up to Fergal O’Brien’s yard for a gallops morning with Syndicate Owners of Giver The Hollie, Kamsinas, and Ryan’s Rocket.
Kamsinas is now into his fourth year of ownership with us and he’s been an absolute flag-bearer the whole way through – a real superstar. We’re hopeful of owning him for many more years to come. The plan is to get him started over fences once the ground allows, likely in the middle part of November but that is down to the fella upstairs.
Kamsinas and his owners at Fergal O'Brien Racing
Ryan’s Rocket will be ready to go a little before Kamsinas, but again we’ll need to be patient with the ground. We have a race pencilled in for 8th November at Aintree, which could be his starting point if we get some rain.
Ryan's Rocket and his owners at Fergal O'Brien Racing
Then there’s Giver The Hollie, who has been off the track for well over a year. She’s in great form just a bit behind the others at the moment, doing 2 gentle canters. She’ll catch up quickly and with no rain on the horizon, she shouldn’t be too far behind the others. We’re hopeful she’ll prove to be a really nice handicapper going forward this season.
Giver The Hollie and her owners at Fergal O'Brien Racing
All the owners had a great time. The Kamsinas team, who we’ve known for quite a while now were all in good form! As were Wayne and Elizabeth who actually got to see their horse Ryan this time. Hollie’s owners have been patient but we’re confident they will be rewarded.
Another great morning had by all!
Wednesday 8th
Sergeant Fury ran at Ludlow
On Wednesday afternoon, Amelia and I headed off to Ludlow Racecourse with owners to watch Sergeant Fury for his seventh run of the season. He’s been on the go for quite a long time now, but you certainly wouldn’t have known it watching him in the parade ring — he was full of enthusiasm and looked an absolute picture. We fancied him to run a big race, and he didn’t disappoint, putting in a gallant performance to finish second.
We know exactly where we stand with him now — he’s very much in the grips of the handicapper , but that doesn’t stop him giving 200% every time he goes out. He’s an honest, genuine horse who always tries his heart out.
After the race, Jack Hogan made a great comment that summed Sergeant up perfectly. I’d described him as a unique jumper and I’m sure you’ve all seen why over the last year or so! When Jack went down to the first hurdle, he said that as Sergeant took off, he just thought, “Welcome onboard!” — which made everyone laugh and really captured Sergeant’s character.
The plan now is to keep him in training and, if the ground stays good and quick, look to get one more run into him. If the rain arrives, he’ll head back to Noel’s for a well-earned and overdue break.
He continues to be a real credit to everyone involved — honest, enthusiastic and always giving his all. Another fantastic effort from a horse who never stops trying.
Jack Hogan's de-brief!
CONFIDENCE IS EVERYTHING
WELL DONE NIAMH! KEEP GOING – WE’RE ALL CHEERING YOU ON.
It’s amazing what the right pony can do for a child. Niamh’s journey is a perfect reminder of that. Her previous pony had a habit of dropping her to the floor, enough to knock anyone’s confidence, and at the time she probably wasn’t the biggest fan of the game.
Then along came Casper, and everything changed. The two of them have grown in confidence together, building a real bond and trust in one another. The progress they’ve made has been incredible to watch.
Just look at the video above — Niamh’s now jumping with no hands on the reins! It’s absolutely brilliant to see how far she’s come and a testament to the power of patience, partnership, and self-belief.
In horses and in life you simply can’t beat confidence.
Well done, Niamh! Keep going — we’re all cheering you on.
Niamh on her pony Casper
Gallops Morning at Noel Williams
The gallops mornings didn’t stop at Fergal O’Brien’s yesterday — on Thursday we headed over to Noel Williams’ yard, where we’ve got a fantastic team of horses: Metkayina, Queenofthejukebox, Gowitdflow, Moviddy, and Millstatt Abbey.
We had a great group of owners down for the morning. It was a bit cold around the yard to start with, but by the time we were up at the gallops the temperature had risen nicely.
I started the morning sitting on Millstatt Abbey (shares for sale). She only arrived three days earlier but has already settled in well. She’s a very straightforward filly who gave me a lovely feel up the gallops. She’ll continue to settle into her work and her new surroundings over the next few weeks before stepping things up — we’ll be looking to start her in a bumper towards the back end of November.
Queenofthejukebox led the string up the gallops. She’s a beautiful grey mare who improved massively last season, winning two bumpers at Wetherby and then a £20,000 bumper at Uttoxeter — which turned out to be very strong form. She’s an exciting filly going forward. We’ll look to start her off in mid-November in a 2-mile maiden hurdle. As the season progresses, she’s likely to step up in trip, and a race like the Grade 2 Jane Seymour Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle over 2½ miles at Sandown in February could be a realistic target for her.
Queenofthejukebox with her owners at Noel Williams Racing
Moviddy looked great, as always, and she’s in a really good place. Judy Wignall now owns her outright, with Bill Hutchins keeping a 10% share. We’re delighted to still have her on the books. She won plenty of prize money last season, and this year it’ll be a case of a bit of pot hunting and trying to add to her winnings through the season.
Moviddy with her owners at Noel Williams Racing
Gowitdflow is a new filly to us. She won her only start in good style but came back carrying a bit of extra condition. She’s lost quite a bit of that now and is really starting to look the part. She’ll step up her work through the second half of the month, and the plan is to make her debut in a bumper around mid-November when the ground is suitable. She’s a really nice type with a lovely attitude, and it’ll be interesting to see how she progresses over the coming weeks.
Gowitdflow and her owners at Noel Williams Racing
Last but by no means least, Metkayina looked a bigger, stronger filly this season. Gavin Sheehan, who won on her at Lingfield on December 9th, 2024, had a sit on her for a couple of canters and then schooled her in front of the owners. She jumped ten hurdles and did it very, very well. Over the next few weeks, we’ll start schooling her over fences, and she could potentially make her chase debut in a £40,000 race at Bangor in mid-November, depending on how her schooling goes. She’s an exciting mare, having finished fifth in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season, beaten just 11¼ lengths by the winner.
Metkayina and her owners at Noel Williams Racing
It’s always a pleasure working with Noel and Claire Williams — they’re excellent trainers and have assembled a very strong bunch of fillies. It looks like a really exciting season ahead for this talented group of young mares!
Diary Dates
JUST 3 PLACES REMAINING
November 23rd to 26th November – Golf Trip to Vilamoura, Portugal.
We’ll be playing – Old Course, San Lorenzo, Quinta South Course and laranjul.
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Have a great week.
David/Noel
Next Week…
As you’re reading this, Noel and I are on our way to the Tattersalls Book 2 Yearling Sales in Newmarket, where we’ll be for the next four days. We’re hoping to purchase one or two new syndicate horses for the flat season next year. It was a very productive sale for us last year — we bought a lovely colt — and we’ll be hoping for similar luck again this time around.
Later in the week, on Thursday, we’re looking forward to welcoming the owners of Casual Observer, Jackie Hobbs, Sergeant Fury & Jasmine Bliss for a morning on the gallops at Harry Derhams.
Then on Friday, we have another exciting day lined up as we head to Alan King’s yard at Barbury Castle. We’ll be welcoming the owners of Out In De Wild, Ski Lodge, Baron Noir, and Helnwein for what promises to be a fantastic morning.
It’s shaping up to be another busy but exciting week — full of new opportunities, familiar faces and hopefully a few future stars in the making!
Noel and David in attendance at the sales
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