GOOD MORNING SPORTSFANS!!
Hell Hound heads to Ffos Las for an attempted double
Heart warming news on syndicate retiree ‘Shall We Go Now’
Noel and David have a busy week at the GOFFS Doncaster sales where new recruit ‘Crookhaven’ was purchased
HELL HOUND
After his impressive Southwell victory Hell Hound attempted to ‘do the double’ at Ffos Las on Wednesday under Conor O’Farrell. We always want to win but still came away delighted with his 2nd place behind the progressive Loki’s Mischief who was also attempting to follow up a recent win.
Pre-race Conor identified a lack of early pace so his plan was to sit upsides in front but when Jack’s Jury unseated at the fourth he was left with nothing to race with. When he was left in front, he went cold underneath Conor and didn’t take him forward which was far from ideal as the race then turned into a sprint which didn’t suit this stayer. A good run all the same and the team of owners had a great day out in south Wales.
HELL HOUND getting saddled at Ffos Las
SHALL WE GO NOW
It’s always heart warming to receive good news about a former member of the team who has moved on to new pastures. One of the very first horses Noel and I syndicated was SHALL WE GO NOW who duly won at Taunton on hurdles debut when ridden by future dual Champion Jockey Sean Bowen.
Unfortunately he developed a few physical problems later in his career and was retired to live with part of syndicate owners Cindy & Nigel Goodman. It was lovely of them to send some photos of the now 13-y-o Shall We Go Now looking very happy in his later life.
SHALL WE GO NOW enjoying life in retirement
GOFFS SALES
For Noel and I the Goffs Doncaster May Sale is one of our busiest weeks of the year. We travelled up on Monday, did lots of preparatory work in the hotel and then it was ‘early to bed’ as the rest of the week is constantly at full speed.
On Tuesday we inspected a long list of horses and then on Wednesday we arrived at the sale with hope of buying some horses from the UK and Ireland pointing circuit. However over the last couple of years we’ve found buying a good horse is harder as the prices have inflated to record levels. Not to be deterred we had 10 horses ‘vetted’ and from there our final list was made.
Despite being outbid in the early exchanges we kept patient until buying a 5-y-o gelding by Jack Hobbs called CROOKHAVEN who we thought was excellent value.
His form looks progressive, he impressed at Dromahane when beating a good yardstick holding previous placed form and showed lots of toe from the last fence. It was noticeable how green he was so we’re expecting plenty of improvement from this run. We are quietly confident he’ll have enough pace to drop back to two miles to win a bumper before jumping hurdles and fences later down the line.
He’s a well made 16.3 and a lovely prospect. Noel sat on him on Friday and loved everything about the horse. I’ll be at Hagg Hill (see below) on Tuesday so you’ll soon be able to view some footage and we will announce trainer then.
Thursday was a tense, nerve jangling and big day as we had 8 of our current team going through the ring. This came as a result of existing contracts coming to an end and some owners wishing to sell their share.
Our old contract served us well for many years but it did allow just one ‘selling owner’ to enforce the other nine to put a horse through the sales ring. This loophole gave the nine ‘retaining owners’ little comfort as they could lose a horse they had no desire to sell. However our 2026-27 contract has closed that door courtesy of a solicitor giving expert consumer law guidance and thereby instructing NFRS in the due process. Pleasingly our updated contract is now very fair for both selling and retaining owners.
Throughout the latter part of April and early May we made hundreds of telephone calls to owners. Thanks to everyone who played their part in allowing us to make plans to ‘buy back’ three horses thus allowing them to continue racing in NFRS colours.
Noel and David at the sales
SALES RESULTS
CASUAL OBSERVER had been a good servant albeit had his niggly problems. He raced 9 times for his syndicate winning once at Ffos Las and was placed on 4 other occasions. Bought by Abbie Willmott he’ll now go pointing in South Wales and given his love of soft ground he’ll be in the right location.
Press play on the video above to watch CASUAL OBSERVER's win at Ffos Las
CLAIM DU BRIZAIS won a bumper and novice hurdle for her syndicate. In 12 outings she also placed a further 8 times. It’s regrettable we didn’t manage to win a chase, she came so close at Ludlow on her last outing but time ran out on her contract and all 10 owners wanted to move her on. Bought by Lizzie & Sean Quinlan for £7,000 she’ll give her new owners lots of fun on the northern circuit.
Press play on the video above to watch CLAIM DU BRIZAIS' successes with the syndicate
MOVIDDY has been tremendous for her owner Judy Wignall since 2023 with 26 outings, 3 wins, 13 placed efforts and with ‘Black Type’ included. Bought for just £25k she won nearly £58k and has given everyone connected so much enjoyment. Purchased by APL Equine Ltd she may race again or become a mother when covered. Come what may she’ll have a lovely home for life.
Press play on the video above to watch MOVIDDY's successes with the syndicate
HIDDEN HISTORY sold well for £10k to William Easterby. In his Noel Fehily Racing career Hidden History ran 11 times, won 3, placed 3 times and accumulated nearly £30 in prize money. Perhaps the best day for his syndicate was when winning an Aintree chase on a busy Saturday card headlined by the Grand Sefton run over the National fences.
William Easterby will race Hidden History on the northern pointing circuit and we hope he’ll have plenty of fun. He knows the family well having trained and ridden horses on the dam side of the pedigree.
Press play on the video above to watch HIDDEN HISTORY's successes with the syndicate
INSURRECTION had been a wonderful servant to his syndicate owners. He ran 16 times in Noel Fehily colours winning 3 races and placed 9 times. He won £69k in his career which is no mean feat.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing as back in 2024 we left Taunton disappointed after Insurrection had finished 3rd in a novice hurdle. That day he was beaten 7L but had attempted to give a stone to Golden Ace who subsequently won the Cheltenham Mares Novice and a year later the Champion Hurdle.
He was bought by trainer Nick Scholfield for £24k but Nick needs to find an owner. Therefore conversations will take place and hopefully we’ll be able to re-syndicate the horse for 2026-27 as there definitely petrol left in Insurrection’s tank.
Press play on the video above to watch INSURRECTIONs successes with the syndicate
KAMSINAS went through the ring but we are thrilled our ‘old warrior’ will be returning to race in Noel Fehily colours. He had been a superb servant to his owners winning 5 from 21 and in the process accumulating just £1,101 short of £100k. These horses are so hard to find, his latest outing showed there are some big days still to come, so it’s lovely to know some of his current owners will form a new smaller syndicate. Bought for £65k in 2022 he sold at Goffs for £70k so it’s ‘Win Win’ for both the selling and retaining owners – everyone happy which is perfect.
ROCK SENSATION was also ‘bought back’ for £18k as there was no way we could let her go. She won a bumper and was subsequently a whisker away from ‘black type’ in a high class Cheltenham bumper so we know there is an engine under the bonnet. It’s not gone as smoothly as we wanted since switching to hurdles but she now looks in good condition and once handicapped she will be a mare to follow. Both Noel and I are delighted many of her current owners will enter into a new contract for 2026-27.
STAR WALKING was our third entrant to be ‘bought back’ for £20k. Just one owner wished to sell but the other nine wanted to continue so it was an easy call. Her recent form from Chepstow (2nd) looks all the better for the winner Roaring Home winning again off a higher mark at Uttoxeter. Star Walking has won 3 from 10 and is a lovely mare with scope to jump a fence when wanted.
Next week…
It’s holiday time for some of the team !
Noel, Tash, Michael & Niamh are flying abroad to have some ‘fun in the Barbados sun’ for ten days. Steph and her family are heading north to Scotland so myself and Ballo (Mark Ball) will be managing the fort.
On Tuesday I’ll be at Hagg Hill to film footage of our newest arrival CROOKHAVEN who will be ridden by Freddie Fletcher. My back does not allow me on a horse yet so I’m confined to watching from the sidelines with a camera in hand.
On Wednesday I’m flying to Ireland to inspect approximately 70 horses entered into the Tattersalls ‘May Point To Point and Horses In Training Sale’ at Fairyhouse. On Thursday I’ll be attending the sale and will hopefully buy a lovely horse. Time will tell !
ENTRIES
TUE – ASCENDING STAR Lingfield
WED – ASCENDING STAR Kempton Park
Diary Dates
Owners Golf Day at Newbury | 8th June
Owners Day at Hagg Hill | 1st AugustNOEL FEHILY BRANDED CLOTHING:
https://www.michaelhope.co.uk/products/club-shops/noel-fehily/noel-fehily