After many winners in 2023 we have lots to look forward to in the year ahead.  Broome, a winner of over €2 million for his owners has gone to Turkey to start his new career at stud.  His younger brothers continue in training with Aiden O’Brien and time will tell if they can match the much travelled Broome’s racing performance.

It is too early to comment on the 2YO’s, but we are told that the Wootton Bassett X Ashley Hall sold in Book One and in training with Joseph O’Brien will be well worth following.  Hereunder are five older horses well worth following:-

Diego Valasques – Multiple group winner as a 2YO in 2023, he will be targeting one of the derby’s this year.

Point Lonsdale – Deigo’s older brother and the younger full brother to Broome.  Winner of multiple group races at two and at four he will be stepping in to Broome’s shoes targeting middle distance races for older horses worldwide

Idea Generation – Very lightly raced in the USA at two and at three and winning and also being placed at listed and group level.  Will be a group winner this year

Dynamic Pricing – Just raced once and winning at Aquaduct in November.  A very exciting filly for her patient owners

Lan Cinnte –  A multiple winner in 2023 and was about to start competing at group level, when she got injured in August.  She is now fully recovered and back in training with Jessica Harrington

 

We are seeing many of the yearlings we sold entered to race in the weeks ahead so it looks certain we will better the January 2023 performance which commenced with three winners.

 

January - July

Oliver Show

15th April 2024

Oliver Show won the valuable MGM Handicap at Newcastle on February 4th and went to Kempton with his new official rating of 84.  In this London Mile Series Qualifier he again carried top weight and looked to have plenty to hand from a long way out.  Staying in 3rd position for most of the race he took the lead at the 2f pole and from there it was a case of, how much he would win by.  Drawing right away he was eased close home with 2¼ lengths to spare over the 2nd.

His official rating will obviously move close to 90 but the ease at which he won suggests he has plenty more to offer.  His new owners, Pompey Ventures made a wise decision to buy him when he was offered at the Horses In Training Sale in November 2023.
How Impressive

10th March 2024

How Impressive had wins on the 5th and 14th February and was beaten by a nose over the shorter 6f trip on February 15th.  Returning at Southwell to contest the BetMGM Handicap, worth Stg. £14,000 to the winner he went to post as second favourite and did not let his backers down.  Under the experienced jockey, Oisin Murphy, he led from the stalls was never headed and had a cosy half a length to spare at the line.  His total winnings have now exceeded Stg. £50,000 and the handicapper has noticed and given him a new official rating of 85.  In addition to his five wins he has been placed 2nd on six occasions.  The handicapper may not have caught up with his ability just yet.
Optic

9th March 2024

Optic won three in a row in January but was out of luck in two starts in February, not getting a clear run.  He returned to Chelmsford on March 9th to run in the Apprentice Handicap over his favourite distance of 1m2f.  Carrying top weight he was held up at the rear and with no traffic problems on this occasion he sprinted away in the final furlong to win by a comfortable two lengths.

Apart from his four wins he has also finished 2nd on five occasions and is proving a fun horse for his owner John Cook & Partner.  Though he is creeping up in the handicap more wins can be expected.
How Impressive

14th February 2024

When How Impressive won by an eased down three lengths at Lingfield on February 5th I predicted we could expect further wins in the immediate term.  He went to Kempton just nine days later and again obliged in the Apprentice Handicap.  This brings his strike rate to four wins and seven places, six times finishing 2nd.  His young apprentice jockey Brandon Wilkie has notched up twenty three winners and Stg. £190,000 for the owners.  We must also congratulate Hugo Palmer, his trainer, for bringing How Impressive back to his best.  More wins can be expected.

 
How Impressive

5th February 2024

How Impressive had finished last at Wolverhampton on January 19th when he did not get a clear run.  At Lingfield his jockey, Oisin Murphy, had him in the first two from the start and took over at the furlong mark to run out a clear winner.  With three lengths to spare at the post he was pulling away from the field and justified his short odds as the 2/1 favourite.  This was his third victory but he has also been placed on six occasions.  Having previously won at Newcastle on the all weather and at York on grass he obviously can manage on both surfaces.  The manner in which he won would indicate that further and immediate wins will happen in the weeks ahead.

His dam Bright New Day has produced a full sister which will be sold at Newmarket later this year.

 
Oliver Show

4th February 2024

Oliver Show (No Nay Never X Ashley Hall) was lightly raced when trained by Sir Michael Stoute in 2023.  With just five runs he was never out of the first four and won at Kempton on June 28th.  Moving to Newmarket trainer George Boughey he finished a close 2nd at Newcastle on January 16th. He returned to Newcastle on Saturday to run in Valuable Bet MGM Handicap, worth Stg. £15,000 to the winner.  Though carrying top weight he made light of the task and chalked up his second career win.

Oliver Show’s dam , Ashley Hall, did not go in foal in 2022 and 2023 and has now been retired.  Her last foal a colt by Wootton Bassett was sold in the Book One Yearling Sale at Newmarket for Stg. £550,000.  Ashley Hall’s legacy will carry on with both a daughter and a half sister still at Croom.

 
Optik

25th January 2024

Having won on both the 13th and 16th of January Optic was given little time to rest and made the long journey to Newcastle on January 25th.  Carrying top weight and penalised with 11 lbs more than he carried on his first win on January 13th he again went to post as the money on favourite.  Again he went to the front inside the final furlong and given just a hands and heels ride by Hayley Turner it was always doing enough with a head to spare at the line.  We can expect to see him on the racecourse again in the coming weeks where hopefully he can get his four timer.

We would like to congratulate his owners John Cook and Partner and trainer David Simcock for pulling off this three timer within a short two weeks.

With no further runners until February 3rd January has given us four wins and a very good start to the year.
Optik

16th January 2023

Optik won at Wolverhampton on January 13th and we predicted that further wins would be on the cards.  Reappearing again just three days later at the same venue he went to post at 5/6F and though carrying a 5 lb penalty he made light of the task.  Going to the front 1F out he again had a comfortable 1½ lengths to spare at the line.

We can expect Optik to seek a third victory in the weeks ahead, giving his owner, trainer and jockey a great start to 2024.
Optik

13th January 2023

Optic (Expert Eye X Sliabh Luachra) finished second on four occasions in 2023 and his connections must have wondered if their luck would ever turn when he was beaten by just one length at Kempton on the 6th January when denied a clear run in the final furlong.  He made a fast appearance just seven days later and with Hayley Turner again in the saddle he recorded his first win.  With the longer straight at Wolverhampton Hayley had him in front 1f out and went on to win by a comfortable 1½ lengths.  Further wins in this handicap company look to be on the cards.

Optik is the third runner and third winner out of the mare Sliabh Luachra – Sliabh Luachra being a daughter of Lucina the dam of Mehmas.  Her fourth foal by Dark Angel has yet to run and her yearling by No Nay Never was sold in Book One for Stg. £240,000.  Sliabh Luachra is in foal to Lope de Vega.
I'm Too Tired

12th January 2024

We may not like the name and we never give a mention to one of our horses who has gone the national hunt route.  However me must make an exception for I’m Too Tired trained by Harry and Roger Charlton when placed in running on the flat in 2023 he went to the National Hunt Stable of Jennie Candlish on October 16th 2023.  Knowing little about jumping hurdles he took to it like a duck to water six days later being beaten by just half a length on his first outing over hurdles.  During the next eight weeks he ran four times being placed on each occasion.  On the 12th January 2024 he went back too Sedgefield, where he had his first narrow defeat and with his original jockey, Sean Quinlan and a step up in trip he took on eleven other runners going to post as joint favourite.  Instead of staying up with the pace he bided his time and joined the leaders when jumping the final hurdle.  From there he led to the line, winning by a comfortable one length and though he has run five times in less than twelve weeks an early run and a further win looks inevitable.

We would like to congratulate his new owners and trainer Jennie Candlish who look to have a real jumping prospect and a fun year to look forward to.