Morning sports fans!
What a cracking week it’s been for Team NFR. The numbers are now in…
Across the season so far we’ve had 98 runners 🏇, 🏆 23 winners and 40 placed🥈.Things are shaping up very nicely as we move through the season.
Here’s a look at what we’ve been up to this week 👇👇
John Fitzsimons, David Crosse and Kevin Stratford (PICTURE OF THE WEEK!!!)
Jackie’s next jockey 🧐
Mark Warner pointed out at Warwick on Friday that every time Jackie Hobbs gets a new jockey, she seems to win. After a few celebratory beers, Mark & Mark Maidment were in the weighing room trashing it out as to which one of them would get the ride on her next! 😂🍻
The two Marks outside Warwick weighing room
Freddie’s debut!
On Sunday, Noel and his apprentice Freddie Fletcher headed to Larkhill for Freddie’s first ever point-to-point ride. Myself and Noel spotted this horse at the Doncaster May sales and thought he would be a suitable first horse for Freddie to learn his craft on . As the horse hadn’t run for a while, they weren’t quite sure what to expect, so Noel didn’t want to put any pressure on Freddie at all — simply told him to go out and enjoy the ride.
Farnoge was dropped in, followed the field around and Freddie had a lovely, smooth round. Farnoge jumped brilliantly and really looked after Freddie — he was the absolute perfect horse for a first point-to-point ride.
Freddie arrived at the second-last fence going very nicely behind in fourth, jumped into third and was still in third heading to the final fence. He gave a terrific jump at the final fence flew up the run-in and was only beaten by a neck!
It was a great first run from both horse and jockey. Freddie will have learnt plenty from this experience and the horse looks like a winner without a penalty. Freddie was buzzing after the race and hopefully he has a good future ahead of him!
Play Video
Play Video to watch Freddie's point-to-point
Freddie and Farnoge 2nd at Larkhill!
MOVIDDY 3RD IN HER GOLD CUP
Last Sunday Amelia set off on the long drive to Fakenham where we had Moviddy running. This had been the plan for her all season. We went there with all the head gear: cheekpieces refitted, tongue-tie reapplied and the excellent Jack Hogan on board.
She jumped off well, made the running, travelled well and jumped beautifully—something she hadn’t quite been doing in her previous runs. Despite being headed coming down the side, she battled back again and was only beaten 3 lengths in this £50,000 chase.
Going into the race we felt that if she could finish in the first three, it would be like winning the Gold Cup for a 10 y-o mare rated 101 and she certainly didn’t let us down.
We’re absolutely delighted for her owners Judy Wignall, Frank Abbott and Bill Hutchins, with a special mention to Judy, who has stuck by this mare all the way. She was rewarded with a very strong performance and Moviddy showed enough spark to suggest she could well win another race between now and the end of the season. A great run for some great owners and we’re all absolutely chuffed!
MOVIDDYS' Owners
A Roarsome Birthday Party for Jack 🦖
Last Sunday, a few days after Jack’s 5th birthday, we threw him a party at the local village hall. Many of his school mates came along, as well as plenty of his friends and there were kids running around all afternoon.
My wife Rebecca had the great idea of hiring a magician and he was a huge hit with the children. Myself and Jack’s grandad were pretty amazed by it too!!! After the cake and some food, we were joined by a surprise visitor… a dinosaur (me). The kids absolutely loved it, although as you can see from the video I ended up taking a bit of a beating, but it was all great fun.
It was a brilliant day and one we’ll remember for a long time. Everyone tells you how quickly children grow up but it’s only when you have your own that you really realise just how fast the years go by.
Play Video
Play video to watch Jacks 5th Birthday party!
Trainer Selection: Ascending Star
Ascending Star is now back trotting after having his ‘man-hood’ taken from him at the beginning of the month. He has already become much easier to handle and he continues to keep strengthening up and changing shape as he grows. He looks a very exciting prospect for the season ahead and the castration doesn’t appear to have set him back for long.
Myself and Noel have spent a lot of time discussing plans for him going forward and we feel the best place for Ascending Star this season is with Owen Burrows. We think Owen has some of the best gallops in the country, particularly his woodchip gallops, which we believe will really suit a big horse like Ascending Star.
We’re very excited to be sending him to Owen. As you all know we hold Ascending Star in very high regard. Owen is a top-class trainer and we feel this setup gives Ascending Star the best possible chance to fulfil his potential this season.
ACSENDING STAR at Chester
Ace Of Spades Books Cheltenham Ticket
On Thursday afternoon, Amelia headed to Huntingdon where we were quickly turning out Ace Of Spades once again. There was a clear objective: to finish in the first four and qualify him for the Pertemps Final at the Cheltenham Festival.
Winning never really entered our thoughts. It was always about securing that top-four finish in order to qualify. Harry rode him with his usual confidence, keeping him settled at the back before bringing him through the field smoothly. Two very brave jumps at the final 2 flights showed just how much he loves a challenge and when he gets into a battle there is usually only one winner. He stayed on strongly to win by half a length, winning another decent prize pot.
That victory means he is now Cheltenham-bound. The owners were absolutely delighted and this horse continues to be the dream. He has improved with every run throughout his career. We will see what the handicapper does on Tuesday to see what chance we have at the Festival, but it was a brilliant day with a very enthusiastic group of owners. Roll on march🕺🕺🕺
Play Video
Play the video to watch ACE OF SPADES' Winners video!
Jackie Hobbs Back to Her Best
Jackie Hobbs was entered at Warwick on Friday, so I headed up there. On this rare occasion I wasn’t on hospitality duties, which made it even more enjoyable to simply go racing and enjoy the day.
It was made all the better by a winner. Jackie travelled strongly throughout and was given a confident ride by Harry Skelton from start to finish. We were able to quickly put our disappointing run at Haydock behind us and get back on track with this very talented mare. She has now shown her ability in two of her three runs this season.
As a GBB-registered horse, she picked up an additional £20,000 bonus for her owners, bringing her total bonus earnings to £60,000 so far.
The next likely stop for her is the Cheltenham Festival, although a race we would dearly love to target is the Grade 1 at Fairyhouse over Easter. Myself, Noel and Harry Derham will sit down over the coming days to finalise plans, but it was fantastic to see her back to her best.
Without set backs there no comebacks.
Play Video
Play the video to watch JACKIE HOBBS' Winners video!
Hollie Begins Her Next Chapter
We are delighted to have found Giver The Hollie a new home as she retires from her racing career and begins the next chapter of her life. She had a nice first season but injury has held her back from her showing her true potential.
Hollie will now be cared for by Molly Parsons, who hopes to do some dressage with her, with the long-term goal of eventually eventing her. We will keep you updated on their journey and are very excited to follow Hollie’s progress in this new direction.
GIVER THE HOLLIE
Kamsinas at cheltenham
On Saturday, Kamsinas and Adondeal both went to Cheltenham, they were both competing in Grade 2 hurdles.l races.
First up was Kamsinas, who faced a very tough task at the weights. We went there with realistic expectations, simply hoping to pick up some prize money for his owners. On paper, sixth place looked the best we could hope for, but Strong Leader didn’t run to form which is usually the case at Cheltenham, but Kamsinas stayed on well to finish a very respectable fifth.
We had been open beforehand about how competitive the race would be, so to come away with a fifth-place finish was better than expected. As always, he gave his all right to the line and the owners were delighted. After all, any day at Cheltenham is a good one.
KAMSINAS' Owners
adonedeal at cheltenham
Next up was Adondeal. There was a long delay before the final race and with the light fading there was some doubt as to whether it would go ahead, but thankfully it did.
Adondeal went into the race unbeaten and came out beaten, but we did learn plenty. It looks as though he may benefit from dropping back slightly in trip and running on better ground. We will look to get him out again in three to four weeks on more suitable conditions and reassess from there.
Despite the delay, the owners still enjoyed a great day at Cheltenham and we were pleased to at least get the race run and learn more about this horse.
ADONEDEALS' Owners
Next week…
Diary Dates
Just a few upcoming dates for you to note:
⛳ Golf Trip to Vilamoura | 14th–18th March
🍀 Punchestown Festival Owners’ Trip – 27th April–1st May
⛳ Owners Golf Day at Newbury | 8th June
🏇 Owners Day at Hagg Hill | 1st August
GOLF TRIP DETAILs
Hotel
Hotel Vila Gale Ampalius (Bed & Breakfast)
Transfers
Airport and Golf transfers included
Golf
Sunday 15th March – Old Course – 1324.
Monday 16th March – Vale Do Lobo Royal – 1200
Tuesday 17th March – Quinta South – 0832 (tee time subject to change to later in the morning)
Wednesday 18th March – Quinta Laranjal – 0944
Cost
£979 – Standard Twin Sharing
£1099 – Standard Single
Extra nights:
£60pp – Standard Twin Sharing
£110 – Standard Single
If interested, please whats app Gian on 07977015987 by 14th Jan. He will take your requirements and add you to a group.
PUNCHESTOWN FESTIVAL TRIP DETAILS
Tues 28th – Thursday for 2 night package
Tues 28th – Friday for 3 night package
Price from £775 (*includes flight which is a change from previous years*)
PLEASE CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO BOOK
NOEL FEHILY RACING BRANDED CLOTHING
https://www.michaelhope.co.uk/products/club-shops/noel-fehily/noel-fehily
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Have a great week.
David/Noel
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