Yorkshire Racing & Breeding News
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Date  
29/12/2007 Lot's of racing today but not much luck for the Yorkshire trainers with only wins at Musselburgh for Edwin Tuer and Ferdy Murphy and at Lingfield for Mick Easterby.
27/12/2007 Malcolm Jefferson's Calatagan lands the £19,518 Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby today for the second year in a row and there also also winners at the West Yorkshire track for Karl Burke, Sue Smith and George Moore. Danny Murphy and Richard Fahey have winners at Southwell whilst Ian McInnes provides the sole Yorkshire winner at Wolverhampton.
26/12/2007 The Boxing Day meetings see's Lothian Falcon, trained by Yorkshire permit holder Peter Maddison, land the Rowland Meyrck Handicap Chase Gd3 from the Ferdy Murphy trained Leading Man (who won this race last season) at Wetherby where there is also a double for Sue Smith. Murphy along with Brian Ellison and Mick Easterby have winners at Sedgefield whilst on the flat there is a double for Karl Burke at Wolverhampton, his near neighbour John Weymes also had a winner there as did Declan Carroll.
22/12/2007 A good day for the Yorkshire raiders at Lingfield this afternoon with the first two races won by Danny Murphy and Kevin Ryan respectively before Mick Easterby's Gentleman's Deal turned the tables on Grand Passion to edge him out by a short head in the Robert Leech Quebec Stakes L. Newcastle was abandoned but Yorkshire trainers Ferdy Murphy (Naiad du Misselot in the £16,265 Central Sports Fitness Qualifications Handicap Hurdle), Sue Smith and George Moore all had winners at Haydock.
15/12/2007 A quiet end to a quiet pre-Christmas week, all the more so when Doncaster's fixture is abandoned. Richard Fahey, Bryan Smart and John Balding all have wins at Southwell whilst evening racing at Wolverhampton sees winners for Mick Easterby and Ian McInnes.
08/12/2007 The locals win the first four races at Wetherby today thanks to Sue Smith, a Ferdy Murphy double and Kate Walton's Nevertika in the 'One Man' Novices' Chase. On the flat Mark Johnston has a winner at Lingfield.
05/12/2007 Part Three of Tattersalls December Sales today sees Garrowby Stud as the only Yorkshire vendor and they receive 12,000gns for Slipper, dam of stakes winner Cartier Opera (Garrowby's other mare 'fetches' more but is a buy back). The first Yorkshire trained jumping winners of the week come at Catterick where Mark Peill, Ferdy Murphy and Alan Swinbank are all victorious, whilst Mark Johnston has a winner at Kempton's evening meeting.
04/12/2007 Not much Yorkshire interest at Part Three of Tattersalls December Sales yesterday but today Oaks Farm Stables sell mares (belonging to clients) for 340,000gns, 250,000gns and 200,000gns as well as a couple for somewhat less. Racing at Wolverhampton sees winners for Patrick Haslam and Robin Bastiman as well as the relatively new pair of Danny Murphy and Ollie Pears (who has recently taken over from James Hetherton). Murphy doubles up at Lingfield where there are also winners for Geoff Oldroyd and Mick Easterby.
01/12/2007 Disappointment at Newbury with New Alco pulled up in the Hennessy Cognac Gold Cup Gd3 is partially alleviated with John Quinn's Character Building putting up an excellent effort to be third in the same race. Quinn has mixed fortunes at Newcastle with his Alernon finishing second in the Rehearsal Handicap Chase L but Blythe Knight not running his race in the 'Fighting Fifth' Hurdle, earlier on Tyneside there were winners for George Moore and Harry Hogarth, whilst Mark Peill scores at Towcester. Meanwhile early evening at Tattersalls saw Providence Stud sell their son of Acclamation and Venus Rising for a fantastic 90,000gns. Eveing racing at Wolverhampton sees a double for Kevin Ryan and a winner for Patrick Haslam.
29/11/2007 Not much luck on the track today but at the Tattersall's December Sales the Low Ground Stud sells a son of Compton Place for 30,000gns.
28/11/2007 Wins at Wetherby for locals Ferdy Murphy, Julie Camacho and Tim Easterby whilst at Kempton's evening meeting Karl Burke's Raptor is a good third in the digibet.com Hyde Stakes L.
27/11/2007 A good result at Newmarket today for the Hedgeholme Stud when the colt they consign by Danroad fetches a good 30,000gns bid from David Easterby. On the track there are wins at Sedgefield for Ferdy Murphy and Sue Smith and at Wolverhampton for Richard Fahey and Danny Murphy.
25/11/2007 Just the one winner today with Ferdy Murphy's Blackpool Billy winning the last at Towcester but it's a good day for Middleham's Kate Walton when her Jimmy Bond is second in the £43,841 Grand Sefton Handicap Chase at Aintree.
24/11/2007 The jumps season is really getting into swing now but there wasn't much success for the Yorkshire trainers today although Malcolm Jefferson's Roman Ark landed a valuable victory at Haydock when taking the £19,518 Betfair Casino Zero Lounge Handicap Chase. Yorkshire trained horses featured prominently in Lingfield's two listed races with Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott and Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord occupying second and third place in the Play Casino at Ladbrokes.com Stakes L and Mick Easterby's Gentleman's Deal finishing a short head second in the Play Bingo At Ladbrokes.com Stakes L.
21/11/2007 The Ferdy Murphy bandwagon continues at Hexham where the Middleham trainer lands a treble, the highlight of which is Delray Beach's victory in the £25,052 Northumberland National Handicap Chase. Other Yorkshire winners at Hexham are trained by George Moore, Kate Walton and Malcolm Jefferson. On the flat Karl Burke has a winner on Lingfield's all-weather.
17/11/2007 Ferdy Murphy may be known for his late season flurry of major winners but this season looks a little different when L'Antartique caps an excellent week for the Middleham trainer when landing the £68,424 Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase Gd3 by a neck. Roll on the Hennessy and the King George ! At Wetherby this afternoon there are local winners for Patrick Haslam, Alan Swinbank, Sue Smith and Declan Carroll, whilst Micky Hammond's Manbow is second in the main race on the card, the £11,711 Totesport.com Handicap Chase.
13/11/2007 On the day that Yorkshire legend Michael Dickinson announces that he is to retire from training in Maryland to concentrate on his Tapeta all-weather surface business Yorkshire trainers dominate at Sedgefield with wins for Patrick Haslam, Declan Carroll, Micky Hammond, Malcolm Jefferson and George Moore.
12/11/2007 A valuable victory over sticks for Ferdy Murphy up at Carlisle when New Alco lands the £15,658 wbx.com No Commission On This Race Graduation Chase by an excellent eleven lengths, Sue Smith's Super Road Train wins later on the card.
10/11/2007 The last day of the Flat season at Doncaster today and the locals got off to a good start with John Wainwright's Gunfighter landing the opener. Mark Johnston won the second division of the maiden whilst it was a Yorkshire 2-3 in the Wentworth Stakes L when Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott was just touched off, with Richard Fahey's Knot In Wood back in third. The final race of the season was the £16,193 totesportgames.com Handicap and this saw Tim Fitzgerald's Inchnadamph come home in front under a confident ride from Jamie Spencer thus ensuring the jockey's championship was a fitting tie between Spencer and Seb Sanders. John Quinn's excellent record with hurdlers continued when King's Quay landed the Elite Handicap Hurdle Gd2 at Wincanton by a mere head, whilst George Moore's The Shy Man was the sole Yorkshire winner up at Kelso.
So how has the flat season gone? In one word - poorly. There has been no Yorkshire trained Group One winner, although Tom Tate's Welsh Emperor and Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord were both runners-up at the highest level. The only Yorkshire trained horse to win multiple Group races this season was David Nicholl's Tax Free. Yorkshire trainers in the Top 50 of the Championship are, in order; Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey, Kevin Ryan, David Nicholls, Tim Easterby, Bryan Smart, Karl Burke, David Barron, Alan Swinbank, John Quinn and Ann Duffield. Mark Johnston was a disappointing ninth in the trainers championship, albeit with 128 wins. Having said that it was difficult at this point last year to see where his major winners this season would come from, and so it proved, unfortunately it appears at this juncture to be the same scenario for next year. Richard Fahey's stock continues to rise and indeed he was immediately behind Johnston in the trainers championship, albeit £400,000 adrift of his Middleham rival with 72 wins. Kevin Ryan consolidated his position whilst his neighbour Bryan Smart continues to go from strength to strength and will have a strong group of three year olds next season.
Finally a message to John Sugden - thanks for your email, I tried to reply but AOL don't like me (probably due to spoofed junk mails) and thus it gets rejected !
03/11/2007 Not a bad day at Wetherby for the locals although arguably the winners didn't come from the anticipated sources with Ferdy Murphy's Aces Four pulled up in the Charlie Hall Chase. However the previous race had been won by the Peter Maddison trained Lothian Falcon, Maddison is a former jockey who is now a builder and permit holder based at Skewsby. The race after the Charlie Hall was the bet365 Best Odds Guaranteed Mares Hurdle L and this fell to another local permit holder when Jane Makin, based just down the road at South Milford, saddled Annie's Answer to win after a 193 day lay off. On the flat there were wins at Ayr for Tom Tate, Tim Easterby and James Bethell.
02/11/2007 Over at Maisons-Laffitte Kevin Ryan's Advanced comes back to form when second in the Prix de Seine-et-Oise G3, possibly a trip to Hong Kong beckons ? The National Hunt season proper kicks off properly at Wetherby with Sue Smith's Mister McGoldrick winning the bet365.com Handicap Chase L, and Tim Easterby's Smugglers Bay a good third in the Wensleydale Juvenile Novices' Hurdle L. Back on the level Ian McInnes wins the last at Wolverhampton with Time To Regret. The last day of the October Sales (yes, it's finally finished!) sees Allerthorpe Farm Stud's son of Lomitas fetch 20,000gns.
28/10/2007 At Longchamp today Kevin Ryan's Eastern Romance, who already had some minor black type, lands the Criterium De Vitesse L by five lengths to gain her first stakes win, although later Anna Pavlova and Soapy Danger both dissapoint in the Prix Royal Oak G1. At the domestic level Malcolm Jefferson has a winner at Towcester.
27/10/2007 Not much luck at Doncaster today for the local runners, but it's a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in Aintree's opening £13,012 Intercasino.co.uk Introductory Juvenille Novices Hurdle with Tim Easterby's Smugglers Bay coming home ahead of Patrick Haslam's John Dillon and Easterby's Chip N Pin, in the next John Quinn's Leslingtaylor lands the £12,544 Intercasino.co.uk Molyneux Novices' Chase L. Still under National Hunt rules Richard Fahey's Truly Fruitful wins at the last at Stratford. No Yorkshire trained winners at Newbury, although the Burns Farm Stud bred and owned Steam Cuisine wins the £9,716 EBF Fillies Handicap.
26/10/2007 A good winner at Doncaster for Kevin Ryan when Tamagin lands the £15,545 Rectangle Group Handicap, whilst Tom Tate's Suits Me takes the last. At Ayr there are winners for David Barron, Richard Whitaker and John Wainwright whilst Richard Fahey has a hurdle winner at Fakenham and Ian McInnes get's another at Wolverhampton. In the sales ring at Doncaster the best prices are both achieved by Oaks Farm Stables who obtain 17,000gns for a son of Daylami and 15,000gns for a son of Halling.
25/10/2007 A winner over fences at Carlisle for Sue Smith today whilst Ian McInnes has a winner at Wolverhampton's evening meeting. At Doncaster it is their October Yearling Sales and the highest prices from Yorkshire studs are achieved by Park Farm's son of Bertolini who fetches 11,000gns and Wold Newton's daughter of Storming home who makes 8,500gns.
21/10/2007 Over the Irish Sea Richard Fahey's Fonthill Road lands the £29,910 Joe McGrath European Breeders Fund Premier Handicap in good style at The Curragh. Even further afield in Italy Mark Johnston's Dubai's Touch is fourth in the Premio Vittorio di Capua G1 at San Siro. Closer to home John Wainwright's Oniz Tiptoes wins the last at Kempton.
20/10/2007 No Tyke winners at Newmarket today, although we do better closer to home with wins at Redcar for John Wainwright, Geoff Oldroyd, Kevin Ryan (King Orchisios in the £10,363 totesport.com Catterick Dash Handicap), Mark Johnston and Geoff Harker, whilst Micky Hammond has a winner over hurdles up at Kelso. Evening racing at Wolverhampton sess wins for David Barron and Richard Fahey.
19/10/2007 Richard Whitaker's Damika puts up an excellent performance to land the £12,464 Turftv Handicap at Newmarket today, with Tom Tate's Greek Envoy winning the next, the £12,464 Thoroughbred Owner and Breeder Magazine Handicap. Locally at Redcar there are winners for Tom Tate, Mick Easterby and Kevin Ryan whilst David Barron and Noel Wilson both have winners at Wolverhampton's evening meeting. In the sales ring Reg Bond's relatively new Yapham Mill Stud achieved the best price at the sales today with 50,000gns for a son of Monsieur Bond and Triple Tricks bought, predictably enough, by Bryan Smart.
18/10/2007 Not a spectacular day at the October Sales today with the best prices obtained both coming from Manor House Stud who got 17,000gns and 15,000gns for, respectively, a son of Lucky Story (kept in the area as the winning bidder was Middleham trainer James Bethell) and daughter of Singspiel. It was a similarly quiet day on the track with just the one Yorkshire winner namely Mark Johnston's Captain Webb landing the opener at Brighton.
17/10/2007 The highest prices achieved by Yorkshire stud's today down at Newmarket's October Yearling Sales are the 70,000gns obtained by Garrowby Stud for a son of Dr Fong and Trick and the 40,000gns that Bishop Wilton Stud earned for their daughter of Nayef and Ermine (herself a cull from Garrowby !). The sole flat winner today comes for Declan Carroll at Kempton although the Yorkshire trainers do better under National Hunt rules at Wetherby with winners for John Quinn (a double), Micky Hammond and Brian Ellison.
16/10/2007 The October Yearling Sales are off again down at Newmarket and today's best prices from the Yorkshire studs were Burton Agnes Stud's 50,000gns for a daughter of Alhaarth and Miss Lorilaw and Oaks Farm Stables 47,000gns for a son of Verglas and Pitrizza. On the track there was a winner at Leicester for Kevin Ryan and at Newcastle for Mark Johnston, David Nicholls, Bryan Smart and Tim Walford.
14/10/2007 A quiet day with a winner at Lingfield for Mark Johnston providing the sole domestic success. Over in Germany the Charles O'Brien trained (and Vincent O'Brien owned) Grecian Dancer, bred by John Ellis at his Bolton Grange Stud, was a decent second in the JAXX-Wiedenpescher L at Cologne. Ferdy Murphy's Ivoire De Beaulieu was fourth in the Grand Pardubicka .
13/10/2007 A good day on the track to follow up the sales ring success ofyesterday with Bryan Smart's Captain Gerrard leading the way when taking the Cornwallis Stakes G3 at Ascot, yet another strong run from this admirably consistent colt, Karl Burke's Cute Ass was second and Kevin Ryan's Hammadi back in fourth. It was confirmed that the winning jockey Tom Eaves will be Smart's stable jockey next season. Richard Fahey's St Savarin ran well to be second, beaten a short head, in the £46,740 ladbrokes.com Heritage Handicap, with Mark Johnston's Players Please a neck further back in third, to cap a good day in Berkshire Kevin Ryan's Godfrey Street won the last. At York Bryan Smart nearly made it a juvenile black-type one-two when Maze was beaten into second place in the Rockingham Stakes L, with Kevin Ryan's Eastern Romance back in fourth. However Richard Fahey reversed positions from his Ascot form when Fonthill Road won the £22,670 paddypower.com Sprint Trophy Handicap, with Ian McInnes' Commando Scott back in third, and Fahey followed up when Flying Clarets won the penultimate race on the card. The Yorkshire raiders won the last four races at Hexham courtesy of Sue Smith, Malcolm Jefferson, Patrick Haslam and Mick Easterby, whilst John Quinn had a winner at Bangor.
12/10/2007 There may have been no winners on the track today but it was an incredible day down at Tattersalls with Oaks Farm Stables obtaining the mind boggling price of 2,500,000gns for their daughter of Sadler's Wells and Brigid, a world record for a yearling filly ! Unfortunately they don't own the filly, but it still represents an excellent achievement for Mark Dwyer's operation. Also doing well were Garrowby Stud who's Montjeu colt out of Lady Halifax's Birthday Suit fetched 260,000gns whilst Manor House Stud obtained 170,000gns for a Dr Fong 1/2 sister to Andronikos.
11/10/2007 For the third day in a row Oaks Farm Stables lead the way down at Tattersalls with their son of Dansili fetching 220,000gns whilst Garrowby Stud achieved 125,000gns for their son of Haafhd and Spring. On the track there was a double at Newbury for the in-form Mark Johnston who also scored in the opener at Kempton's evening meeting, all three Johnston winners being ridden by Greg Fairley, Karl Burke also had a winner at Kempton.
10/10/2007 Oaks Farm Stables again have the highest price for a Yorkshire nursery down at Tattersalls when their daughter of Sadler's Wells fetches 240,000gns, whilst Bolton Grange Stud will be happy with their 100,000gns for a Dansili filly, sold on their behalf by the Battlefield Stud. There are no Yorkshire trained winners on the track today.
09/10/2007 Down in Newmarket the (frequently interrupted) marathon that is the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales begins, and the highest priced lot from a Yorkshire stud today comes from Oaks Farm Stables who obtain 280,000gns for a daughter of Barathea. There were winners close to home at Catterick for Mark Johnston, George Moore and Ronnie Barr.
07/10/2007 More Yorkshire interest at Longchamp today with Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord coming home third in the Prix de l'Abbaye G1 (which he won last year) just ahead of David Nicholls' Moss Vale in fourth. Meanwhile over at Dusseldorf Mark Johnston's Dubai's Touch was a good second, beaten only a head, in the Grosser Preis der Landeshauptstadt Dusseldorf G3. Slightly less glamourously Micky Hammond's Mr Crystal won the opening at Kelso before the remainder of the meeting was abandoned.
06/10/2007 Richard Fahey's steady rise up the training ladder continued today when his Anna Pavlova won the Prix de Royallieu G2 at Longchamp, the trainers second winner at this level following Superior Premium in 2000, and his first win in France, not to mention the mares long-overdue first group win. it cannot be long before he has a Group One winner. Earlier in Paris Tom Tate's Welsh Emperor ran his usual gutsy race to yet again finish second in the Prix de la Foret G1, loving the soft he will probably have another run this season. The race following Anna Pavlova's win was the Prix Daniel-Wildenstein G2 and here John Quinn's (inexcusably listed as Joseph Quinn(Ire) in the Yorkshire Post this morning!) Blythe Knight ran well to be a good third, he may run again on the flat before being aimed at the big hurdle prizes. Tate had a winner at Newmarket with Celtic Sultan in the £12,464 Totesport Handicap whilst earlier Brian Ellison's Teslin had run a good race to be third in the Cambridgeshire Handicap, picking up £14,928 for his efforts. At Redcar there were wins for Kevin Ryan, Declan Carroll and David Barron whilst it was again a case of 'close but no cigar' in yet another of the valuable two-year-old races with Karl Burke's Pelican Prince finishing third in the Totescoop6 Two Year Old Trophy L, picking up £23,764, and Bryan Smart's Easy Target earning £11,848 for fourth place.
Meanwhile it was announced that Bregawn, the last surviving member of Michael Dickinson's 'Famous Five' from the 1983 Cheltenham Gold Cup, and famously the winner of that race, had died in Ireland at the age of 34. As well as his famous victory in 1983 Bregawn had finished second to stablemate Silver Buck in the previous year's race and had also won the Hennessy Gold Cup in that same season.
05/10/2007 Kevin Ryan's Anosti (owned and bred by George Michael's father) added cash to the black type already earned at Ripon when second beaten only a neck in the £250,000 Tattersalls October Auction Stakes at Newmarket today, picking up £75,756 for connections. Linda Stubb's Terry's Tip was back in fourth picking up £22,726 for the run. Later Mark Johnston's Soapy Danger continued his comeback, albeit slightly dissapointingly, when third in the Godolphin Stakes L, a race like Newbury's St Simon Stakes seems tailor made for him. There were winners up at Musselburgh for Mark Johnston (with Bonny Rose, a daughter of one of his earliest top class horses, Marina Park), David Barron and Noel Wilson whilst Richard Whitaker had a rare hurdling victory up at Hexham where Malcolm Jefferson also had a winner.
04/10/2007 The start of a frantic few days of high quality racing kicks off at Newmarket where the best Yorkshire performance comes from David Nicholls' Tax Free who is third in the Rous Stakes L. There are winners at Ayr for Richard Fahey (a double), David Barker and David Chapman.
30/09/2007 A bit better today with Mark Johnston's Zaham putting up the best Yorkshire performance of the day when a doughty second in the Cumberland Lodge Stakes G3 at Ascot. At Musselburgh there are wins for John Wainwright and David Barron whilst Patrick Haslam has a winner at Market Rasen.
29/09/2007 A poor day for the Yorkshire runners today with the only winner on the flat being Karl Burke's filly Barawini at Haydock, although the winner of the £21,189 David McLean O&T Award Handicap at Chester was the Burton Agnes Stud bred Buccellati. Under National Hunt rules at Market Rasen there were winners for Anne Duffield and Brian Ellison.
28/09/2007 Only the one Yorkshire winner today, but it's an incredibly valuable one with Anne Duffield's Lady Rangali recording her fourth win in seven runs when landing the £134,354 Watership Down Stud Sales Race at Ascot, not bad for a filly who only cost 11,000gns. This is easily Duffield biggest win of her career and makes Lady Rangali ones of the biggest Yorkshire based winners of the season, second only to Mark Johnston's Boscobel thus far.
26/09/2007 One of Yorkshire longest serving and most respected trainers, David Chapman, today announced that he is to retire from training at the end of January, with his yard at Stillington to be taken over by granddaughter, and former leading amateur, Ruth Carr (nee Clark). Like the Easterby brother's Chapman started off in farming and he started training 'only' forty years ago, initially with jumpers, although he really made his name with hardy sprinters. In this time he has handled the likes of Soba, Chaplins Club, Glencroft, Higham Grey, Soaked, Redoubtable and most recently Quito. Appropriately Chapman won the last at Redcar with Paddywack, where there were also winners for Mark Johnston (a double), Brian Ellison and Declan Carroll. In addition there were winners up at Perth for Middleham trainers Ferdy Murphy and Micky Hammond.
22/09/2007 It keeps getting better, the Yorkshire stables were totally dominant up at Ayr today with Kevin Ryan's Cobo Bay leading home a Yorkshire 1-2-3-4 in the opening £12,950 You Can't Predict FA Nursery Handicap, which later proved to be a taste of things to come. The next was the Firth of Clyde Stakes G3 and here Bryan Smart's Unilateral capitalised on her York placing to win by 3/4 length from Richard Fahey's Broken Applause back in second. The third was the £16,024 Ayrshire Handicap and this was won by David Nicholls' Fremen. The fourth race was the big one and Kevin Ryan's recent good run continued when Advanced just came home in front by a neck to land the spoils in the £72,859 Ayr Gold Cup, to continue Yorkshire's recent success in the most valuable sprint handicap in Europe. The run continued when Ian McInnes' Commando Scott took the next, the £11,218 Weir Memorial Trophy and Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova ran her usual good race to make it six Yorkshire wins in as many races when winning the Doonside Cup L, after which the run was unfortunately thwarted, although Declan Carroll managed to win the last with She's Our Lass. We faired less well down at Newbury although Karl Burke's Speedy Sam picked up a more than useful £18,660 by finishing second in the John Smith's Heritage Handicap. Kevin Ryan's good form even extended to France where Dubai Time was a very creditable second in the Prix des Chenes G3. Somewhat closer to home at Catterick there were wins for Kevin Ryan (Hammadi in the opener) and David Barron (Singleb in the seven furlong maiden) whilst Brian Ellison's Teslin won the £12,954 Victor Chandler Nijinsky Handicap under top weight at Newmarket. Phew!
21/09/2007 A good day at the office for the Yorkshire trainers with David Nicholls' Boy Blue getting the Tyke raiders up at Ayr off to a flying start in the opener. The Nicholls' team made it a quick double when landing the third race with Cape Vale, after which Bryan Smart's Captain Gerrard recorded a facile victory to take the Harry Rosebery Stakes L by two lengths, his second listed win in his last three runs. The next was the Gold Cup 'consolation race' - the £21,812 Ayr Silver Cup and this was won by Richard Fahey's Utmost Respect with David Nicholls' Northern Dare back in second. Kevin Ryan's Wigwam Willie took the next to make it five victories up in Scotland for the Yorkshire trainers. Not to be outdone Mark Johnston's Soapy Danger made his long awaited seasonal debut at Newbury and ran a good race to be an excellent second in the Dubai Duty Free Arc Trial G3, beaten only a neck. Looking in need of the race, Soapy Danger may yet head for Longchamp.
20/09/2007 Winners aplenty today with the highlight being Tim Walford's The Grey Berry who won the £12,954 Knight Frank Handicap at Ayr where there were also winners for David Nicholls, Richard Fahey and Ian McInnes. Mark Johnston had a winner at Yarmouth and David Chapman at Wolverhampton whilst locally at Pontefract Tim Walford made it a double for the day and there was also a winner for Brian Ellison.
16/09/2007 Result of the day came on 'Arc Trial Day' at Longchamp where Dandy Nicholls' Tax Free put up his usual sound performance to land the Prix du Petit Couvert G3 by a thrilling short neck. At Goodwood Mark Johnston's Zaham was a good second in the Select Stakes G3. Meanwhile it was announced that Malton trainer James Hetherton is to retire aged 49, he will continue to live at Old Farmhouse Stables (adjacent to Highfield), where the yard will be leased to former jockey Ollie Pears who will be commencing his training career, having most recently been Assistant Trainer to Howard Johnson, followed by a summer with ex-Yorkshire legend Michael Dickinson in the States.
15/09/2007 A much much better day at Doncaster for the locals today, kicked off in the best possible style when Mark Johnston's McCartney landed the Champagne Stakes G2 by two and a half lengths with Kevin Ryan's Alexander Castle an excellent second. No doubt the winner will be running for Godolphin next season, but there is at least a tilt at the Racing Post Trophy to look forward to first. The next was the £46,740 Portland Handicap and this saw Tim Etherington's faithful servant Fullandby land his second major win of the season (by a head) to give his trainer a massive boost. Not much luck in the rest of the races at Town Moor with the St Leger won by Lucarno. Over at The Curragh David Nicholls' Moss Vale was second in the Renaissance Stakes G3 whilst George Moore's Macorville put up a plucky effort to be fourth in the Irish St Leger G1. Back on home soil David Nicholls had a winner at Chester with Circuit Dancer. Eveing racing at Kempton saw a winner for Karl Burke with Atlantic Gamble.
14/09/2007 Finally a local winner at the St Leger meeting when Alan Dickman's Inter Vision wins the last. Earlier James Bethell's Kasthari was a good second in the Mallard Handicap and Karl Burke's Cute Ass held off Bryan Smart's Captain Gerrard for third place in the Flying Childers Stakes G2. Evening racing at Wolverhampton sees wins for Tim Easterby's Ryedane and Alan Brown's Royal Melbourne (bred at the Star Cottage Stud).
13/09/2007 Another poor day at Doncaster for the locals, with Alan Swinbank's Turbo Linn finally losing her 'unbeaten' tag in the Park Hill Stakes G2, finishing well down the field. Chris Fairhurst's Passion Fruit ran another good race to pick up more black type when third in the Sceptre Stakes L. The only Yorkshire winner of the day comes at Wolverhampton's evening meeting where Bryan Smart's Choisette lands the Nursery. The sale ring action in the evening sees Hellwood Farm Stud's son of Pyrus sell to Nigel Tinkler for 12,000gns.
12/09/2007 Day one of Doncaster's St Leger meeting, and not a single Yorkshire winner on Town Moor, although Richard Fahey's Mister Hardy picks up an incredible £9,566 for finishing ninth in the £300,000 St Leger Two Year Old Stakes and David Nicholls' Peace Offering is second in the Scarbrough Stakes L with Kevin Ryan's Green Manalishi back in fourth.The sole Yorkshire winner of the day comes at Haydock thanks to that man Richard Fahey again. To coincide with the racing the new St Leger 'Festival' Yearling Sales kick off today and the highest price for a Yorkshire stud is the 16,000gns for East Layton Stud's son of Fruits of Love, consigned by Oaks Farms Stables.
09/09/2007 The retirement was announced today of Alan Swinbank's globe-trotting gelding Collier Hill. The son of Dr Devious has won 15 races (including a bumper and a maiden hurdle!) and £2,317,161 in prize money - more than double the next Yorkshire trained horse (Attraction) and a record for a British trained gelding. Collier Hill has not been seen on the course since his win in last December's Hong Kong Vase G1, and it has proved impossible to get the winner of the Irish St Leger G1 and Canadian International G1 100% fit. Racing at York sees winners for Patrick Haslam, Richard Fahey (a double), Richard Whitaker, Brian Ellison and James Bethell - almost a clean sweep winning six of the seven races.
08/09/2007 Karl Burke has an excellent start to the day when his Philario lands the opening race at Kempton, the Sirenia Stakes G3, his first ever group winner. Incredibly there is a second group winner for Middleham when Mark Johnston get's his second of the week when Hearthstead Maison takes the Kilternan Stakes G3 at Leopardstown under a driving ride from Ryan Moore. At Haydock David Nicholls' Indian Trail wins the opening £18,696 Be Friendly Handicap, the Yorkshire runners in the Sprint Cup G1 perform poorly, howevr later on the card Mark Johnston's Campanologist lands the £12,954 Text Betfred Conditions Stakes. At Thirsk there is a solitary local winner courtesy of George Moore's Veronicas Way in the opener. Evening racing on the all-weather at Wolverhampton sees wins for Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston.
05/09/2007 Local winners at York today for Mark Johnston, Kevin Ryan (Philanthrophy in the £11,659 Garrowby Handicap), Bryan Smart and Mick Easterby. In addition Kandidate, bred by a partnership consisting of the Providence and Foston Studs, is third in the Strensall Stakes G3, his best run for a few months.
04/09/2007 Just the one Yorkshire trained winner today, but it's a good one with Mark Johnston's progressive Lovelace just holding on to land the Supreme Stakes G3 in a very tight finish. Earlier the Burton Agnes Stud owned and bred The Jostler had won the fillies maiden.
02/09/2007 Over at the Curragh today Dandy Nicholls' Moss Vale put up another good performance to be third in the Nolan & Brophy Auctioneers Flying Five G3, surely it can only be a matter of time before he manages to win another group race? Slightly closer to home there are wins at Market Rasen for John Quinn and James Hetherton.
01/09/2007 A busy day with a major disappointment early on when Bryan Smart's Maze sweats up badly before the Solario Stakes at Sandown and can only manage sixth place, later on the same card Dandy Nicholls' Indian Trail lands the £11,218 Variety Club Handicap from John Quinn's evergreen Fantasy Believer. At Ripon Tim Easterby lands the opener whilst Richard Whitaker's Damika wins the £11,218 Ripon Cathedral City of the Dales Handicap. There is a winner at Chester for Kevin Ryan where earlier Yorkshire trained runners, led home by Mark Johnston's Laa Rayb, fill places two to five in the Heritage Handicap, but cannot manage the win. Evening racing at Musselburgh sees wins for David Nicholls (a double), Alan Swinbank and Mark Johnston.
31/08/2007 Winners at Chester today for Ian McInnes and Kevin Ryan whilst at Hamilton Park the winners come from Mark Johnston, Tim Easterby and Richard Fahey (a double). Result of the day however comes at Salisbury's evening meeting where the Mark Johnston trained colt McCartney lands the Stonehenge Stakes L, albeit only by a head.
29/08/2007 Day two of Doncaster's St Leger Sales sees Norton Grove Stud's son of Kyllachy achieve the best price of the day from a Yorkshire stud when fetching 52,000gns. On the track there is a double at Ayr for the back in form Declan Carroll , with Kevin Ryan also having a winner up in Scotland. Closer to home at Catterick there are winners for David Nicholls, Mark Johnston and Tim Easterby.
28/08/2007 The opening day of the St Leger Sales at Doncaster today and the highest price from a Yorkshire stud comes, not for the first time, from Oaks Farms Stables who's Danetime colt fetches 100,000gns. On the track there are winners at Ripon for David Barron, David Nicholls, Tom Tate, Kevin Ryan and Chris Fairhurst.
27/08/2007 Bank Holiday action at Ripon today where there are wins for locals Richard Fahey (relatively local!) and Mark Johnston (pretty damn local!) but the best results come in the Ripon Champion Two Year Old Trophy L where Kevin Ryan's Anosti is second and Tim Easterby's Cristal Clear runs another good race to be third. Only the one Yorkshire winner up at Newcastle, thanks to Kevin Ryan. Meanwhile it has been announced that Tim Pitt is to resume his training career in Yorkshire, specifically in Malton where he will be renting 15 boxes at Tim Fitzgerald's Norton Grange Stables.
25/08/2007 A good day at Beverley for the locals with Mark Johnston and Richard Whitaker winning the second and third races. The fourth is the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes L and this sees a Yorkshire 1-2-3 with Bryan Smart's Hellvelyn returning to form to deny Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott by a short head with David Nicholls' Peace Offering back in third. The next is the £32,385 totesport.com Heritage Handicap and this goes to Brian Ellison's Teslin whilst Richard Fahey and Tim Easterby land the next two races. At Goodwood Richard Fahey's Land 'N Stars is a decent third in the March Stakes L. Mick Easterby lands the opener at Redcar's evening meeting where Mark Johnston and Tim Easterby also have winners.
23/08/2007 Not the day I hoped it might be at the Knavesmire today. The promising fourth place of Bryan Smart's Unilateral, beaten only a short head for third, at 100-1 in the Lowther Stakes G2 was the highlight of the first three races, with minor 'local' placings in the races either side. The fourth race was the Nunthorpe Stakes G1 and we finally got on the board in one of the major races of the week when Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord was second to the two-year-old Kingsgate Native, who was a maiden to boot! Desert Lord picks up £51,604 for his efforts and this bodes well for his autumn campaign. The next was the City Of York Stakes L and here there was another runner-up placing for Ryan with his Advanced occupying that position, with James Bethell's talisman Mine back in fourth. Ian McInnes won the opener at Chester's evening meeting.
22/08/2007 The locals start reasonably well at York today when Richard Fahey's Peruvian Prince is second in the opener. The Gimcrack sees Kevin Ryan's Mint Imperial finish fourth whilst Yorkshire horses make no impression in the Ebor (Peppertree Lane was withdrawn) and are not represented in the Yorkshire Oaks, won in devastating fashion by Peeping Fawn. Finally there is a black type winner for the meeting when Bryan Smart's Captain Gerrard lands the Roses Stakes L by two lengths, with Mick Easterby's Fred's Lad (bred at the Hedgeholme Stud) back in third, the winner will now go for the Flying Childers at the St Leger meeting. David Nicholls' Northern Peak lands the closing £16,193 Eventmasters Handicap by a neck and a neck to make it a reasonable day overall for the locals. Tomorrow could potentially be our best day with live chances (and numerical supremacy) in many of the main races. David Chapman, Ronnie Barr and Mick Easterby have winners at Carlisle whilst the Yorkshire winners up at Hamilton are provided by Kevin Ryan, Karl Burke, Richard Fahey and Mick Easterby.
21/08/2007 Day one of York's Ebor meeting (it could be four days next year incidentally) sees a reasonable start when Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova is a decent third in the Lonsdale Stakes G2. No luck in the Voltigeur, and no runners in the Juddmonte International (won by Derby winner Authorized) whilst Mark Johnston's Campanologist is vaguely disappointing in the Acomb Stakes G3, although he should improve further next time. 'We' finally have a winner when Tim Easterby's Cristal Clear lands the £16,193 Irwin Mitchell Solicitors Nursery Handicap by a neck, whilst Yorkshire runners fill minor placings in the last.
19/08/2007 A welcome boost for Mark Johnston ahead of York's Ebor Meeting when Majounes Song lands the Walther J Jacobs-Stutenpreis G3 at Bremen this afternoon, albeit by only a head. Earlier Johnston had scored a winner somewhat closer to home at Pontefract where there was also a winner for Jedd O'Keeffee whilst Sue Smith won the Beginners Chase at Perth.
18/08/2007 At Newbury today Richard Fahey's Land 'N Stars finally put up a good performance for the Malton handler when third in the Geoffrey Freer Stakes G3. The next was the Hungerford Stakes G2 and here Tom Tate's Welsh Emperor narrowly failed to repeat his win of last year, being placed second by a short head after a photo. The following race finally saw a Yorkshire winner in Berkshire when Mark Johnston's Lovelace won the £12,464 CGA Ladies Day Handicap, her third win in a row, surely she'll be aimed at a listed race next? Closer to home it was one of Ripon's biggest meetings of the season and there were local wins for Karl Burke and Tim Easterby although the best we could manage in the 'big one' - the £37,392 Great St Wilfrid Heritage Handicap - was the third place of David Nicholls' Indian Trial. Anne Duffield had a winner over hurdles at Bangor. Evening racing sees a win for Karl Burke at Lingfield and over hurdles for John Quinn at Market Rasen.
17/08/2007 With staff and contactors working through the night Doncaster reopened today following its £32m redevelopment. Appropriately there were local winners for Mark Johnston (with Lady Jane Digby in the 'hot' opening maiden), Tim Easterby (with Webbow in the valuable mile handicap) and Alan Swinbank (in the last with Phreeze). Slightly further away at Newcastle there is a winner for David Barron whilst Mark Johnston has a winner at Newbury. Evening racing at Catterick for Anne Duffield, David Chapman and Declan Carroll (now training at Sledmere).
11/08/2007 Shergar Cup Day at Ascot and, after some minor placings, Yorkshire get a winner in the last when Richard Fahey's Benandonner wins the £17,234 Sodexho Prestige Shergar Cup Mile Handicap under Australian jock Hugh Bowman. At Haydock there are wins for Mark Johnston (Annemasse in the £14,573 Commhoist Handicap) and Kevin Ryan whilst the Johnston pair of Zaham and Hearthstead Maison are third and fourth respectively in the Rose of Lancaster Stakes G3, neither having the clearest of runs. Fahey gets a double at Redcar where there are also wins for Chris Fairhurst and James Bethell. Ayr's evening meeting sees wins for Mark Johnston (the Manor House Stud bred Arctic Cape) and Mick Easterby.
05/08/2007 On a balmy day at Haydock Yorkshire trainers win both the major races by a short head with Kevin Ryan's Green Manalishi landing the Queensferry Stakes L and John Quinn's Robema the £10,039 Halliwell Jones BMW Mile Handicap. Mark Johnston's Gothenburg wins the nursery at Newbury.
04/08/2007 A much better effort on the final day of Glorious Goodwood with Mark Johnston's Dubai's Touch (with Royston Ffrench up, deputising for Joe Fanning, injured in yesterdays pile up) hanging on gamely to land the Thoroughbred Stakes L by a short head a head and a neck. The big handicap is the £62,320 Stewards' Cup and although there is no Yorkshire winner we do fill second and third places courtesy of Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott and Richard Fahey's Knot In Wood. The £11,659 bluesquarepoker.com Nursery Handicap sees David Nicholls' Fol Hollow hold off Mark Johnston's Atabaas Pride by a head. Just the one local winner at Thirsk thanks to Tim Easterby's Webbow. No luck at Newmarket or Windsor but Linda Stubbs, John Weymes and Mark Johnston all have winners at Hamilton's evening meeting.
03/08/2007 Not a good day at Goodwood with three Yorkshire trained runners falling in the totesport Mile Heritage Handicap, luckily there are no serious injuries to man or beast. The best that can be reported from Sussex is that David Nicholls reaped a second and two thirds in the last two races. Closer to home there are wins for John Weymes, Richard Whitaker and Mel Brittain at Thirsk, whilst Tim Walford has a winner at Bangor. Evening racing at Haydock sees wins for Alan Swinbank, Anne Duffield and Karl Burke.
02/08/2007 Finally a win in one of the big races at this years Goodwood when the Bryan Smart trained Moorhouse Lad lands the Audi Stakes G3 by two lengths, with David Nicholls' Tax Free back in third and Kevin Ryan's Wi Dud in fourth. Unfortunately the winner is not entered in the Nunthorpe but he seems to have a bright future over the minimum trip. A couple of minor Mark Johnston placings in the following races before David Nicholls' old hand Continent lands the closing £10,363 Audi Q7 Cup Handicap, an excellent result for this ten year old gelding who is of course well known as one of the leading sprinters of a few seasons ago. No wins at Galway today but Richard Fahey's Freeloader runs an excellent race to be second in the feature Guinness Galway Hurdle Handicap, picking up £27,364 for his efforts. Evening racing sees a winner at Sandown for Mark Johnston whilst at Musselburgh the Yorkshire trainers only have a small number of runners but manage to go through the card with winners for Chris Thornton, Karl Burke, Richard Fahey, Alan Swinbank (a double) and Ronnie Barr.
01/08/2007 Day two of Glorious Goodwood and although there are no 'black type' performances on the Downs today we do better winner wise than yesterday when Mark Johnston scores a double by taking two of the last three races with Fongs Gazelle triumphing by a neck in the £10,906 Weatherbys Bank Fillies' Handicap and Laa Rayb coming back to form to land the £12,776 Kennels EBF Classified Stakes. At Redcar there are wins for David Barker and Alan Swinbank whilst Kevin Ryan and James Bethell both have wins on Leicester's evening card. Meanwhile it was announced that Mark Johnston and Kevin Darley have broken their on/off, not freelance/but no retainer arrangement (again) with Darley seemingly not feeling it was working to his advantage. It has to be said that Johnston's relatively poor (but by no means disastrous) opening half to the season has probably contributed to this development. Perhaps significantly Royston Ffrench, not much used by Johnston so far this season compared to previous years, rode the stables only runner at Redcar today. Darley (who ironically was down as Fongs Gazelle's jockey this morning, replaced by Richard Hills!) has ridden even less horses for Johnston this year than Greg Fairley, and Murphy's Law states that Johnston will now proceed to have an excellent second half to the season ..... here's hoping !
31/07/2007 Glorious Goodwood, Day One. Richard Fahey's Peruvian Prince is third in the opener, whilst Mark Johnston's Champery is fourth in a close finish in the Gordon Stakes G3. With Bryan Smart's Captain Gerrard finishing third in the Molecomb Stakes G3, and Brian Ellison's Tilt occupying the same position in the fifth race it looks like a day of minor placings for the Yorkshire runners before David Nicholls' Fremen wins the closing £9,716 Turftv Handicap. Closer to home at Beverley there are local wins for Nevile Bycroft, Richard Whitaker, Tim Easterby and Mick Easterby. Evening racing at Perth sees a win for Sue Smith whilst there are no Yorkshire winners at the Galway Festival, although Richard Fahey did strike there yesterday.
28/07/2007 Another quiet week in the run up to Glorious Goodwood, but a very busy weekend begins with the local horses doing well at York today. At the Knavesmire Richard Whitaker's Nevada Desert kicked things off by winning the opener whilst in the third race, the Skybet.com Silver Cup Handicap L, there is a Yorkshire 1-2 with Tim Easterby's Wing Collar coming home ahead of George Moore's Macorville, the pair eight lengths ahead of the opposition. The big handicap at York today is the £31,160 Sky Bet Dash Heritage Handicap and this sees total Yorkshire domination with John Quinn's Zomerlust coming home ahead of David Nicholls' Turnkey and the Richard Fahey duo of Green Park and Philharmonic. Patrick Haslam and Brian Ellison take the last two races to round off a good day for the locals. Elsewhere there are wins at Newcastle for John Weymes and Richard Fahey and Richard Fahey's Mister Hardy is a good third in the Winkfield Stakes L at Ascot.
21/07/2007 After a quiet few days, the highlight of which was a Kevin Ryan treble at Hamilton on Thursday, we are back into the (slightly weather curtailed) weekend action. The highlight today was confirmation of the continued progress of Alan Swinbank's Turbo Linn who defied a 7lb penalty to land the Plantation Stud Stakes L by a handy one and three quarter lengths at Newmarket this afternoon. Her next target will probably be in France, although she may be supplemented for the Yorkshire Oaks. A good result in Market Rasen's opener for John Quinn when his Kings Quay lands the £25,052 Totescoop6 Summer Handicap Hurdle. Locally at Ripon there are wins for Patrick Haslam, Tim Easterby, Mick Easterby and Tom Tate, the later with Suits Me, bred by Bob Urquart at his Hunsley House Stud.
16/07/2007 Tim Etherington's Fullandby finally scored a well deserved big race win when landing the £29,147 Giles Insurance 40th Anniversary Heritage Handicap at Ayr today, coming home three quarters of a length in front of Tim Easterby's Gallery Girl. Alan Swinbank had winner earlier on the card whilst George Moore and David Nicholls won the last two races. Kevin Ryan had winners at both the evening meetings - Windsor and Wolverhampton.
14/07/2007 John Smith's Day at York today turned, appropriately enough, into something of a Yorkshire trainer benefit. Events got off to a good start when Richard Whitaker's Vicious Warrior (bred at his trainers Hellwood Stud) won the opener nicely. The second race saw the only blip when there was a Scottish trained winner (with locals in second and third) but from then on it was a clean sweep for the locals with Richard Fahey landing a historic 1-2 in the £93,480 John Smith's Cup Heritage Handicap (The Magnet Cup to all true Tykes) with Charlie Tokyo coming home ahead of stablemate Flying Clarets and Tim Easterby's Collateral Damage back in third. The next was the £12,464 John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap which saw Tim Easterby's Countdown land the spoils from David Barron's pair of Imperial Echo and Skhilling Spirit. The next saw another win for Richard Fahey whilst Karl Burke and Anne Duffield took the last two races. Yorkshire 6, Scotland 1, Southerners 0, and very satisfactory result, although it was rather worrying that the Mark Johnston runners ran so terribly especially White Deer and Black Charmer. Over at Chester there were wins for David Nicholls, Geoff Oldroyd and David Chapman although the most notable results came in defeat with Bryan Smart's Fathom Five, Geoff Oldroyd's Bond City and David Nicholls' Peace Offering filling the minor placings in the City Wall Stakes L. Karl Burke's Pelican Prince won at Ascot whilst evening racing at Hamilton saw a clear sweep for the Yorkshire raiders with wins for David Barron, Kevin Ryan, John Weymes (a double), Mick Easterby and Mark Johnston.
13/07/2007 Today John Wainwright has a winner at York whilst Kevin Ryan, Bryan Smart and Tim Easterby have wins at Chester's evening meeting whilst David Nicholls, Patrick Haslam, Richard Fahey (Knot In Wood in the £20,812 Scottish Stewards Cup Handicap) and George Moore all score at Hamilton.
12/07/2007 Another good day at Newmarket for the Yorkshire connections with Winker Watson, bred at the East Layton Stud, rising further up the ante-post market for next years 2,000 Guineas when just holding on to land the July Stakes G2 by a short head. The next is the £43,624 Kleinwort Benson Handicap and this goes to Mark Johnston's top weight Hearthstead Maison, now back in form and apparantely heading back to the Group race arena instead of the previously contemplated Ebor. The last is the £9,716 Voute Sales Handicap and this sees a Yorkshire 1-2 with Bryan Smart's Moorhouse Lad coming home in front of John Norton's Turn On The Style. Richard Fahey's Sadler's Kingdom is a winner on Nottingham's evening card.
11/07/2007 A couple of minor placings early on at Newmarket's July meeting, but the venue really comes to light in the fifth race when Alan Swinbank's Turbo Linn lands the Lancashire Oaks G3 (relocated from last weeks flooded Haydock meeting) by four lengths in extremely promising fashion. This makes it seven in a row for the four year old filly after five bumper wins (culminating in a listed win at Aintree) and a Catterick maiden, the sky's the limit for this horse who has the profile of a female Collier Hill ! Locally at Catterick there are wins for Kevin Ryan, Tim Fitzgerald, David Nicholls, David Barker and Richard Whitaker.
08/07/2007 Result of the day comes up at Ayr where the David Barker trained Mecca's Mate (bred by the late Cherry Tagart at her Melbourne Hall Stud) lands the Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes L by a head. The seaside course also sees a win for Brian Ellison, whilst Patrick Haslam, John Quinn and Richard Fahey all score at Market Rasen.
07/07/2007 The opener at Sandown sees the Kevin Ryan trained Wi Dud come home in second place in the Champagne Sprint Stakes G3 with Geoff Oldroyd's Bond City back in third. There is another Yorkshire runner up in the next when Mark Johnston's Colorado Rapid picks up £18,660 in the Totescoop6 Heritage Handicap. At Beverley there are wins for Chris Fairhurst, Bryan Smart, Tim Walford and Chris Thornton (with the Copgrove bred Vesuvio in the maiden). In the week in which Mick Easterby's gallops were under water comes the news that Mark Johnston is hatching plans to build his own gallops (presumably at Park Farm) after efforts to fence off Middleham's famous Low Moor Gallops from sheep have been challenged by one of the gaitholders, to the disgust of the many of the Middleham trainers.
06/07/2007 After a quiet week the run up to the weekend sees the Kevin Ryan trained New Jersey run a good race to the second in the National Stakes L at Sandown. A curtailed Beverley sees wins for Bill Ratcliffe, Tim Easterby and John Norton.
01/07/2007 No luck domestically today, although the cancellations don't help, but all the big action is at The Curragh anyway. Here David Nicholls' Tax Free was second in the Bud Light Stakes L with better-fancied stablemate Peace Offering back in fourth. The next was the £43,986 John Roarty Memorial Scurry Premier Handicap and Nicholls went one better here with Machinist winning by four lengths. Eventually we reached the Irish Derby G1 but the Yorkshire challenger, Mark Johnston's Boscobel, faded after leading in the straight to finish four, picking up £32,432 for connections. All change at Willie McKay's Martin Grange Stables where Tim Pitt has resigned as trainer following the owners decision to also appoint Danny Murphy, a trainer formerly based in Singapore. Last season, his first, Pitt trained former hurdler Les Arc to win two Group One races and also had Admiral who won the Chester Cup. Hopefully Pitt will turn up elsewhere in the Yorkshire training ranks.
30/06/2007 Richard Fahey's Fonthill Road was best placed of the multiple Yorkshire runners in the opening Chipchase Stakes G3 at Newcastle today, coming third. Last years winner Fayr Jag still had the blinkers on when the stalls opened .... words fail me. The next was the £18,696 Northern Sprint Handicap, in which there was only one non-Yorkshire trained runner but unfortunately it won, leaving John Quinn's Zomerlust and Richard Whitaker's Damika to lead home the Yorkshire challenge. George Moore nearly made it back-to-back Northumberland Plate's with Macorville making an early break in the £123,320 contest, but he was caught on the line to be beaten by a short head, with Brian Ellison's Tilt back in third, they still picked up over £55,000 between them though. Tim Easterby's Game Lad (bred by his father Peter at Easthorpe Hall Stud) won the next, the £12,464 Journal 175 Anniversary Handicap, whilst Alan Swinbank won two of the last three races including Copgrove bred Champfleurie taking the last. Karl Burke's good week continued when Aahayson landed the £31,160 Totesport Heritage Handicap at Windsor by half a length. Over at the Curragh Mark Johnston got in the Irish Derby mood when Peppertree Lane made all to romp to an excellent three length winner of the Curragh Cup G3, taking his lifetime earnings over the £200,000 mark, Alan Swinbank's Alfie Flits was back in third, both horses ran at Pontefract last Sunday. Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston both had winners at Chester, whilst evening racing at Wolverhampton saw wins for Kevin Ryan and Geoff Oldroyd.
Is it me or do the Yorkshire trained and bred horses seem to be doing particularly well in these particularly wet weather conditions? Odd that really ...... !
29/06/2007 A fine week so far, which might culminate in an Irish Derby victory, and today is no different with Richard Fahey's Green Park leading home a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in the £18,696 Gosforth Park Cup Handicap at Newcastle's evening meeting, finishing ahead of David Barker's Mecca's Mate and John Quinn's Caribbean Coral. There were also winners on the card for David Barron, Kevin Ryan and John Wainwright whilst Alan Swinbank had a winner at Newmarket and Tim Walford at Wolverhampton.
28/06/2007 A very good day for Julie Camacho when Rio Riva (bred by mother Sarah at Star Cottage Stud) lands the £15,580 Seaton Delaval Trophy Handicap at Newcastle by a fantastic five lengths, and she later doubles up with Elkhorn winning at Hamilton Park. Kevin Ryan was amongst the other winners at Newcastle (with Copgrove bred Apache Dawn) whilst Micky Hammond, Mark Johnston, Ann Duffield and Nigel Tinkler all scored at Hamilton and John Weymes had a winner down at Yarmouth.
27/06/2007 Carlisle's most important meeting of the season sees the Yorkshire trainers rampant with Patrick Haslam, Bryan Smart and Tim Easterby winning the opening three races. This takes us to the historic Carlisle Bell Handicap, worth £19,431 to the winner, and here Karl Burke's Bold Marc comes home in front of Alan Swinbank's Prince Evelith. Burke makes it a double later on the card whilst Alan Swinbank wins the last.
24/06/2007 A good day down at Warwick for Tim Easterby with Paris Bell (by Beechwood Grange stallion Paris House) winning the sprint handicap and Ponty Rossa (by Hedgeholme stallion Distant Music) landing the Eternal Stakes L - a black type win in only her second attempt at this level. Easterby registered a treble for the day with Thewhirlingdervish winning at Pontefract where there were also wins for Alan Swinbank and David Barker whilst Mark Johnston's Peppertree Lane was third in the Pontefract Castle Stakes L.
23/06/2007 Two Yorkshire trained winners at Royal Ascot today, and both in very tight finishes. Bryan Smart's Maze put up a strong performance to land the opening Chesham Stakes L by the wafer thin margin of two necks and a head, the trainer plans to now give this Dr Fong colt a rest and bring him back for the Racing Post Trophy. Later on the card John Quinn's Pevensey also triumphed in a close finish when landing the £34,276 Duke of Edinburgh Handicap, to give his progressive trainer his first ever Royal Ascot win. So four wins for Yorkshire wasn't too bad in the end, roll on Goodwood ! Closer to home at Redcar there were wins for George Moore, David Barron, Patrick Haslam, Ian McInnes, Neville Bycroft and Ronnie Barr, whilsy up at Ayr Bryan Smart had a winner and Tim Easterby had a double - albeit Gallery Girl's victory in the penultimate race was actually a dead heat ! It has been announced that former Richmond trainer Jack Ormston died at Darlington yesterday. Although he never had a 'big horse' he died train the remarkable Le Garcon d'Or who recorded 34 wins in 13 seasons, a record for flat race wins.
22/06/2007 Another Mark Johnston winner at Royal Ascot when Boscobel makes a convincing step up in class to land the King Edward VII Stakes G2 (the most valuable Group Two race in Britain perhaps with £113,560 to the winner) after an excellent display of typical Johnston front-running under Joe Fanning. The St Leger seems to beckon, although connections may perhaps be praying for similiarly damp conditions on Town Moor as there were today in Berkshire. Elsewhere it was winners galore with Mick Easterby, Mark Johnston, David Nicholls and Neville Bycroft scoring at Redcar and David Barron, Mel Brittain, Mick Easterby and Richard Fahey at Ayr. Evening race saw wins for David Nicholls and David Barron at Musselburgh, and at Newmarket for Tim Walford.
21/06/2007 Royal Ascot may have started quietly in terms of Yorkshire interest, but it gets a bit better every day. Today events started well with Winker Watson, bred at the East Layton Stud and still partly owned by Mrs.Trotter, winning the opening Norfolk Stakes G2 in good style. Trainer Peter Chapple-Hyam rates the colt as his best two-year-old and a raid on the Prix Morny seems to be the next target for this son of Piccolo. The penultimate race on the card was the Hampton Court Stakes L and this saw a tight head, neck, head finish with Mark Johnston's Zaham coming home in front to record Yorkshire's first win of the 2007 meeting. Ripon saw wins for Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey and Tom Tate whilst Kevin Ryan's Champagne Shadow won at Lingfield. Tim Easterby's Smugglers Bay provided the sole local winner when taking the last at Beverley's evening meeting.
20/06/2007 A slightly better day at Royal Ascot with David Barron's Flipando finishing second in the Royal Hunt Cup. There are wins at Hamilton for Mark Johnston, John Quinn and David Barker.
19/06/2007 Royal Ascot Day One, and if you thought yesterdays five Yorkshire winners at Carlisle were a signal to back the Tyke raiders in Berkshire you'll have come home much poorer. The only Yorkshire performance of any vague note was Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord finishing 6th in the King's Stand Stakes G2, behind the Aussie onslaught. Somehow winners for George Moore, Tim Easterby, David Barron, Micky Hammond and David Nicholls at Thirsk are no compensation.
16/06/2007 A quiet pre-Ascot Saturday, not helped by the cancellation of York, sees Mark Johnston's Black Charmer finally come good again to land the £12,464 RBS Handicap at Sandown. Evening racing at Leicester heralds yet another win for the in-form Bryan Smart.
14/06/2007 The Mark Johnston trained Majounes Song, third last time out in a listed race at Baden-Baden, picks up more black type when third in the Lord Weinstock Memorial Stakes L at Newbury this afternoon. Sole winner of the day game courtesy of Mick Easterby's Soto down at Yarmouth.
12/06/2007 A treble for Bryan Smart at Redcar today, where Richard Whitaker also had a winner, whilst Richard Fahey and Ian McInnes scored at Chester.
11/06/2007 Good placing by Chris Fairhurst sees Passion Fruit (raised at Hedgeholme Stud) pick up black type by finishing third in the Pipalong Stakes L at Pontefract this evening. The usual double edged sword however means this will no doubt make her even harder to place in handicaps in the near future. Brian Ellison, Ian McInnes and Noel Wilson also scored at Ponty.
09/06/2007 A good day up at Musselburgh for the Yorkshire trainers, highlighted by a 1-2-3-4 in the £31,160 Scottish Sprint Cup Heritage Handicap with Bryan Smart's bottom weighted Aegean Dancer winning from David Barker's Celtic Mill and Geoff Oldroyd's Bond City. Earlier David Barron's How's She Cuttin' had won the 'consolation' £9,348 Smirnoff Sprint Trophy Handicap and Alan Swinbank's Alfie Flits and Mark Johnston's Golden Quest had been second and third respectively in the Edinburgh Grand Cup L, whilst Ian McInnes' H Harrison won the last. At Haydock this afternoon Mark Johnston's Eradicate won the opening £14,022 J.W.Lees Handicap in good style and now seems destined for Ascot, although whether in handicap or group company remains to be seen.
07/06/2007 Plenty of winners so far this week but the first notable performance comes from James Bethell's old-faithful Mine who, reunited with the returning Richard Quinn, put up a sound performance to land the John Of Gaunt Stakes L at Haydock today, with David Chapman's Quito back in fourth. The winner now reportedly heads for Newmarket's Criterion Stakes. Earlier there had been a win for David Nicholls, whilst Richard Fahey took the last. Hamilton saw wins for Patrick Haslam, Kevin Ryan, John Wainwright and Alan Swinbank.
04/06/2007 Hard to keep track of the winners today, at Carlisle there are victories for Karl Burke, Richard Fahey, Tim Easterby, David Barker and John Quinn, whilst at Leicester the winners come from Kevin Ryan, Nigel Tinkler, Tom Tate and Mark Johnston. Evening racing at Windsor sees Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott come second in the SEI Investments Stakes L (The Leisure Stakes for those of us who look the traditional names) whilst at Thirsk Mark Johnston and Tim Easterby double up for the day and there is also a winner for Jedd O'Keeffe. Over at Naas Dandy Nicholls notched up another decent sprint when Tax Free won the Naas Sprint Stakes L , with Kevin Ryan's Desert Lord back in third.
03/06/2007 No lucky domestically today but overseas the Dandy Nicholls duo of Peace Offering and Moss Vale are second and third respectively in the Prix du Gros-Chene G2 at Chantilly on French Derby day.
02/06/2007 A much better day at Epsom today for the Yorkshire raiders, no runners in the big race notwithstanding. Mark Johnston's Zaham got events off to a good start when landing the opening £46,740 Vodafone Make The Most Of Now Handicap, with Kevin Ryan's Golden Dagger back in third. Patrick Haslam's Bespoke Boy was a very encouraging second in the next race, the Woodcote Stakes L. and must surely be heading for Ascot. In the next race John Quinn's remarkable Blythe Knight gave the Malton trainer his first ever flat pattern race win when landing the Diomed Stakes G3, with Tom Tate's Welsh Emperor back in third. Quinn nearly made it a double when Caribbean Coral was third in the £46,740 Vodafone 'Dash' Heritage Handicap, behind Bryan Smart's runner-up Moorhouse Lad and Anne Duffield's Prince Namid was second in the closing race. At Musselburgh numerous Yorkshire trained horses ran well but the only victory came in the opener, courtesy of David Chapman's Raccoon. Kate Walton had a double at Hexham, where Ferdy Murphy won the last. Evening racing saw Yorkshire trained horse win five of the six races at Newcastle thanks to Bryan Smart, George Moore, Richard Fahey, David Barker and Tim Easterby.
01/06/2007 No joy for the Yorkshire raiders on Day One of the Epsom Derby meeting. Better luck closer to home at Catterick with winners for Mark Johnston, Robin Bastiman, Alan Dickman and Patrick Haslam. Nigel Tinkler has a winner at Wolverhampton whilst Brian Ellison lands a win at Goodwood's evening meeting.
31/05/2007 Another good evening meeting for the Yorkshire horses when David Barker lands the Temple Stakes G2 for the second time in three years when Sierra Vista (bred at Melbourne Hall Stud) comes home ahead of the David Nicholls trained Moss Vale. The winner will now be aimed at Haydock, and bypasses Ascot. The daytime meetings had seen wins for Karl Burke, Mick Easterby and David Barron at Ayr and Burke doubled up with a win at Yarmouth.
30/05/2007 John Wainwright scores a useful looking black type winner when his Loch Jipp triumphs impressively in the Hilary Needler Trophy L at Beverley this evening, with Kevin Ryan's Eastern Romance back in third. Loch Jipp will now be heading for Royal Ascot. Mark Johnston had won the opener whilst there were winners later on the card for Richard Fahey and Tim Easterby. Earlier Noel Wilson had won the last race at Cartmel.
28/05/2007 A good Bank Holiday Monday at Redcar for the Yorkshire horses with a 1-2-3 in the £32,385 Zetland Gold Cup where David Barron's Flipando comes home in front of Alan Swinbank's Wind Star and Brian Ellison's Bailieborough. Other Yorkshire winners up at Teeside came courtesy of Alan Swinbank, Jedd O'Keeffe and Brian Ellison. At Leicester Richard Fahey and John Norton saddled winners whilst David Barron made it a double for the day when winning the second race on a curtailed Carlisle card.
26/05/2007 Haydock arguably saw the best of the Yorkshire horses today with David Barker's Sierra Vista (bred at Melbourne Hall Stud) starting the day off in good style when landing the £19,431 Rectangle Group Handicap. In the £62,320 Yorkshire may not have won but they filled second to fifth places with Mark Johnston's Annemasse coming home in second ahead of Richard Fahey's Billy Dane. With Karl Burke's Nold Marc winning the next and Mark Johnston's Lovelace the last it was a reasonably good cross-boarder raid into Lancashire. Over at Beverley there was a winner drought in the opening three races but Mick Easterby was dreaming of Royal Ascot after Fred's Lad (bred at the Hedgeholme Stud) landed the £12,464 Brian Yeardley Two Year Old Trophy, Easterby made it a double when Vice Admiral won later on the card and Ann Duffield's Just Lille took the last. At Catterick there were wins for Mark Johnston's Doctor Scott and David Nicholls' Maia (bred at West Moor Stud) whilst Johnston's Hearthstead Maison was a faintly dissapointing third in the Fairway Stakes L at Newmarket. Meanwhile over at the Curragh David Nicholls' Moss Vale shows better form to be second in the Greenlands Stakes G3. Evening racing at Cartmel saw Micky Hammond take the opener with Trafalgar Man, and his neighbour George Moore the last with In Dream's.
25/05/2007 Mark Johnston's Road To Love finally showed something approaching a return to form when second in the Festival Stakes L at Goodwood today, with progressive stablemate Record Breaker winning later on the card. At Haydock there were wins for Tim Easterby, Brian Ellison and Ann Duffield whilst evening racing at Pontefract saw yet another win for the Mark Johnston team.
20/05/2007 Mark Johnston's Champery lands the Premio Tullio Righetti L at Capannelle today, which is some compensation for stablemate Zar Soliatario's disappointing performance later in the afternoon in the Derby Italiano G1. Somewhat closer to home at Ripon there are wins for Patrick Haslam and Kevin Ryan. Over jumps Lynn Sidall and Patrick Haslam have winners at Fakenham.
19/05/2007 Another good day for Mark Johnston with a valuable double at Newbury where Peppertree Lane wins the Aston Park Stakes L and Zaham the £38,638 London Gold Cup Heritage Handicap. At Newmarket Alan Swinbank has his first runner for Guy Reed and promptly wins the opening maiden with Champfleurie, bred at Reed's Copgrove Stud. The local's start off poorly at Thirsk but David Barron's My Gacho and Mick Easterby's Colorus eventual provide some local cheer.
18/05/2007 Only the one local winner at York today with Richard Fahey's Wyatt Earp winning the £12,954 Sporting Index Handicap, earlier the same trainers Mutawaffer was second in the £31,160 Reland Jorvik Heritage Handicap whilst Tm Easterby's Cristal Clear gained some black type when third in the Marygate Stakes L. At Newbury Kevin Ryan's Fontana Amorosa also picked up valuable black type when finishing second in the Carnarvon Stakes L, even though beaten three lengths this is a major step up in form for the well bred Cadeaux Genereux filly, now a valuable broodmare prospect. Bryan Smart's Fathom Five won the closing race at Newmarket. Evening racing at Hamilton sees the Yorkshire raiders win the first three races with Bryan Smart's Lieutenant Pigeon winning the opener on his debut and Karl Burke's Aahayson the £11,659 Sprint Handicap. The Tyke Triple is completed when Mark Johnston's Boscobel lands the Glasgow Stakes L in good style by six lengths, this race was formerly a recognized classic trial held at York, but this winner is not entered at Epsom and seems likely to go to Royal Ascot. Finally Alan Swinbank's Theatrical Moment wins the £18,789 Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree's evening meeting.
17/05/2007 Day two of the Dante meeting, and the main race falls to hot favourite Authorized, meaning it looks like both Epsom favourites will have come via the well worn York path. In the previous race Richard Fahey's Anna Pavlova was only beaten a neck when second in the Middleton Stakes G3, with Patrick Haslam's Maroussies Wings someway back in fourth. The race after the Dante is the Hambleton Stakes L and this is won by John Quinn's Blythe Knight, not long back from hurdling! Tim Easterby makes it a double for the meeting when Bollin Derek wins the last, his Pay Attention having earlier won up at Perth.
16/05/2007 And so my annual pilgrimage to the Dante meeting at York. Henry Cecil (almost local by virtue of his ownership of the Cliff Stud) receives raptuous applause when Passage Of Time confirms Oaks favouritism when landing the Musidora Stakes G3, but upto this point it's looking fairly grim for the local trainers with only second places from Richard Fahey and Tim Easterby to show for their efforts. Things improve in the next however when Kevin Ryan's Amadeus Wolf puts up a storming performance to land the Duke of York Stakes G2 in grand style, his first win since landing the Middle Park in September of 2005, albeit he performed well at the highest level last season. The next is won by Tim Easterby's Tcherina whilst Ryan makes it a double for the day when New Jersey wins the penultimate race to make it, eventually, a grand day for the locals. Spotted in the paddock - David O'Leary with Saeed Bin Suroor of all people, maybe Godolphin are taking performance tips from the former Leeds United boss? Would explain a lot. Elsewhere the only other Yorkshire victory comes at Perth where Ferdy Murphy's Caipiroska wins the staying chase.
Click the pictures below for larger images.

Frankie Dettori on the subsequent
winner of the opener, Emirates Skyline.

Hot favourite Passage of Time, Richard
Hughes up, tidily lands the Musidora G3

Neil Callan gives the traditional clenched fist after
Amadeus Wolf lands the Duke of York Stakes G2

Tcherina under Duran Fentiman hits the front
in the fifth race, and stays there.
13/05/2007 David 'The Sprint King' Nicholls adds to his reputation today when favourite Peace Offering lands the Prix de Saint-George G3 at Longchamp in good style by half a length, only a week after running second to stablemate Tax Free at Newmarket. A somewhat bizarre domestic fixture list saw only one Yorkshire winner courtesy of Sue Smith at Worcester.
12/05/2007 Pride of place today goes to John Quinn's Leslingtaylor who bounced back from a poor performance last time out to land the £42,765 Swinton Hurdle Gd3 at Haydock this afternoon. Tim Easterby's Harvest Warrior, won the following 'Flat v Jump Jockeys' race, whilst the £10,906 Text Betfred Conditions Stakes saw a Yorkshire 1-2-3 with David Barker's Sierra Vista coming home in front of Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott and Richard Fahey's Fonthill Road. At Lingfield Mark Johnston's Hearthstead Maison ran a decent enough race to be second in the Totesport Derby Trial Stakes G3, overcoming a somewhat difficult route to the finish line. At Ascot Karl Burke's Akarem set the Tykes off in a good manner by coming second in the Buckhounds Stakes L, and the following race, the £52,972 Victoria Cup Heritage Handicap, saw Yorkshire trained horses finish 2-3-4 with David Barron's Skhilling Spirit picking up £15,861 for finishing second ahead of Tim Etherington's Fullandby and Barron's Partners In Jazz, who won this race last year. The sole winner at Nottingham was Karl Burke's Dickie Le Davoir who took the opening £11,659 Toteplacepot Handicap, whilst the only Yorkshire trained winner at Hexham also came in the opener courtesy of Alan Swinbank's Programme Girl. Evening racing at Thirsk sees victories for Paul Midgley, Richard Fahey and Linda Stubbs.
10/05/2007 More winners at Chester today with John Quinn's Caribbean Coral taking the £13,249 Alexander Events Handicap, and Mark Johnston's Annemasse the £13,249 Halifax Handicap. Up at Ayr there are winners for Nigel Tinkler and Alan Brown whilst George Moore and Patrick Haslam are successful at Wetherby's evening meeting.
09/05/2007 Chester Cup Day at, erm, Chester ... and the winner of the £74,784 feature race is Richard Fahey's Greenwich Meantime, who was third in the same race last season. Mark Johnston keeps up his good form when Swiss Act wins thr £10,039 Walker Smith Way Handicap. On home turf there are winners at Beverley for Tim Easterby, Mark Johnston, Bryan Smart and Brian Ellison.
06/05/2007 A Yorkshire trained horse is classic placed today .... in Germany, where the Mark Johnston trained Champery is a strong third in the Mehl-Mulhens-Rennen G2 (German 2,000 Guineas) ! Closer to home there was no luck for the two Yorkshire runners in the 1,000 Guineas, but the next race, the Palace House Stakes G3, was a different story with the David Nicholls pair of Tax Free and Peace Offering coming home ahead of Geoff Oldroyd's Bond City back in third with the distances being a short head and half a length. The last race at 'HQ', the £12,954 Stan James Telebetting Handicap, was won by Mark Johnston's progressive Regal Parade, his third victory in as many starts. Up at Hamilton there were wins for Linda Stubbs, Ann Duffield, Ian McInnes and David Barker.
05/05/2007 2,000 Guineas Day at Newmarket and the three Yorkshire runners performed pretty much as anticipated - miserably. The good news is that non of the 'Big Three' Trainers won the opening classic which will be music to the ears of a certain M.Johnston from Middleham in his, unlikely but not impossible, tilt for the Trainers Championship. Currently at the head of the table Mark Johnston had a winner on the card today when Hearthstead Maison won the £12,464 Stan James Handicap by a head from stablemate Boscobel, early Kevin Ryan's Mutamared was a good second in the £31,160 Stanjames.com Heritage Handicap. Johnston also had a winner at Goodwood when Serengeti won the £9,716 McInnes Handicap. At Thirsk there were local winners for Kevin Ryan (My Paris in the Thirsk Hunt Cup), Tim Easterby, David Nicholls and David Barron. Over jumps George Moore and Malcolm Jefferson both scored at Uttoxeter.
02/05/2007 Hinton Admiral bounces back to form for Mark Johnston when a good second in the Pavilion Stakes L at Ascot. A poor day at Ponty for the locals with only Brian Ellison going home with a winner, whilst David Chapman has a winner at Nottingham.
29/04/2007 An overseas foray for Mark Johnston reaps rewards today when three-year-old Zar Solitario wins the Premio Botticelli L at Capannelle, Italy in good style by two lengths, successfully making the transition from handicap company. Domestically Bawtry trainer Alan Lockwood has a double at Wetherby, and Karl Burke has a winner down at Brighton.
28/04/2007 Ferdy Murphy bags another valuable end-of-term prize when Hot Weld follows up his Scottish National success of last weekend by landing the £91,232 Betfred Gold Cup Handicap Chase G3 in grand style at Sandown this afternoon. The locals dominate at Ripon with wins for David Nicholls, Mick Easterby, Tom Tate (Raucous in the feature £12,464 totesport.com Handicap), Brian Ellison and Mark Johnston. David Nicholls doubles up with a win at Leicester and then makes it an across-the-card treble when saddling a winner at Haydock's evening meeting, while Julie Camacho lands a winner on Wolverhampton's evening card. Over jumps there are wins for Noel Wilson and Malcolm Jefferson at Market Rasen.
26/04/2007 The seemingly annual Ferdy Murphy end-of-season bandwagon continues when the highly rated Another Promise lands the Swordlestown Cup Novice Chase Gd 1 over at Punchestown this afternoon, Gold Cup of 2009 anyone? Later the same stable's Noir Et Vert almost lives upto his favourite tag when a short head second in the £30,790 Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase. Domestically there were wins for Mark Johnston, Chris Fairhurst and Ian McInnes at Beverley, with the later also having a winner at Yarmouth and Mick Easterby doing the same at Southwell.
21/04/2007 An excellent one-two in the £96,934 Scottish Grand National Gd3 for Ferdy Murphy with Hot Weld coming home the winner in front of his better fancied stablemate Nine de Sivola, who also filled the runner-up position in the Irish equivalent. Never one to rest on his laurels Murphy quickly follows up in the next when Spring Breeze lands the £13,012 Scottish Sun Handicap Hurdle. Not much luck for the Yorkshire raiders at Newbury but they do a better on home turf at Thirsk with wins for Alan Swinbank, David Nicholls and Bryan Smart. A winner at Bangor for Sue Smith whilst evening racing sees a win at Nottingham for David Barron and at Wolverhampton for Mark Johnston.
20/04/2007 A good day up at Ayr for Ferdy Murphy with Sparkling Taff landing the opener and Three Mirrors the £18,789 Hillhouse Quarry Handicap Chase by nine lengths. Kevin Ryan appears to have another good sprinter on his hands when Green Manalishi (who has already won over £100,000 before his move north) wins the £9,971 Dubai Duty Free Full Of Surprises Handicap at Newbury. Thirsk sees wins for Alan Swinbank, Richard Fahey, Bryan Smart, Mel Brittain and David Nicholls.
18/04/2007 For some the true start of the flat season today with the Craven meeting at Newmarket, certainly this seems more so this year with a non-Doncaster kick-off. The best performance at Newmarket comes from Tim Pitt's Blue Rocket who must surely have an outsiders chance in the 1,000 Guineas after finishing a close-up third in the Nell Gwyn Stakes G3. Another good performance comes from Richard Fahey's Fishforcompliments who is third in the Feilden Stakes L. Closer to home at Beverley there are wins for David Barron and Tim Walford.
15/04/2007 Malcolm Jefferson's team is in sparkling form at Market Rasen today winning the last three races, where earlier John Quinn, Tim Easterby and Karl Burke had all had winners whilst Ferdy Murphy scored up at Kelso.
14/04/2007 Another good start at Aintree for the Yorkshire trainers when John Quinn's Kings Quay, a Derby runner when trained by Richard Hannon, wins the opening John Smith's Extra Smooth Handicap Hurdle L , Quinn's second win of the meeting, Richard Fahey's Dancing Lyra is third. Unfortunately the Tyke's form didn't continue in the big race itself with the highly fancied Joe's Edge not figuring. At Lingfield Mark Johnston's classic entry Champery is overhauled in the dying moments to be second in the betdirect.com International Trial Stakes L. At Newcastle there is a winner in the shape of Brocklesby winner Mister Hardy for Richard Fahey.
13/04/2007 A much better day at Aintree for the Yorkshire trainers with a superb three winners. First up is Ferdy Murphy's Aces Four who wins the opening Mildmay Novices' Chase Gd2 in good style, a victory which, incredibly, pushes him into the upper reaches of next years Gold Cup betting. Later in the day John Quinn gains an equally prestigious victory when Blythe Knight lands the Top Novices' Hurdle Gd2, easily his best hurdling performance to date. Finally Alan Swinbank's Turbo Linn makes it five wins in her last six outings when winning the John Smith's Mares' NH Flat Race L. All-weather racing at Southwell sees wins for David Barker and Kevin Ryan.
12/04/2007 Day one at Aintree and the only Yorkshire interest is provided by Ferdy Murphy's Marshall Hall who is a good second in the Red Rum Handicap Chase Gd3. On the flat there is a double for Kevin Ryan and a winner for Mark Johnston at Leicester.
10/04/2007 The Mark Johnston bandwagon continues at Pontefract when Salaasa wins the opener, whilst later on Richard Fahey's Charlie Tokyo wins the main race of the day, the £11,218 High-Rise Handicap. Ian McInnes' Poppy's Rose takes the first division of the fillies maiden, but perhaps the most significant result of the day occurs in the second division when Guy Reed's Cha Cha Cha, bred at the Copgrove Stud, wins for Kevin Ryan, the first winner for the new Reed-Ryan combination.
09/04/2007 An excellent run over at Leopardstown for the Ferdy Murphy trained Nine De Sivola when the six year old, 6lbs out of the handicap, ran the race of his live to be second in the Irish Grand National, not bad for a horse who has yet to win over chasing fences! At a more mundane level there was a win at Yarmouth for Mark Johnston who also scored at Musselburgh were there was a double for David Barron and wins for Brian Ellison and Alan Swinbank. Under National Hunt rules there were wins for Tim Walford, Ferdy Murphy and Grant Tuer at Sedgefield and for Alan Brown and Lyn Siddall at Fakenham.
07/04/2007 After the Good Friday lull (although not for Middleham and Lambourn) racing recommences and the unstoppable Kingsley House bandwagon continues when Mark Johnston has a valuable double at Kempton courtesy of Zaham and Luberon, the later named in the £24,928 Rosebery Handicap. Across at Haydock Tim Easterby's Turgeonev wins for the first time in over three years, all the more incredible by the winning margin of 11 lengths ! Carlisle meanwhile see victories for Malcom Jefferson's Elvis Returns in the £16,265 totescoop6 Handicap Chase, and for Ferdy Murphy's Noir et Vert in the Novices' Chase.
04/04/2007 After four winners at Wetherby yesterday the local trainers have another good day at the office today when going through the card at Catterick Bridge. Mark Johnston led the way with a double whilst the other winners came from David Nicholls, Malcolm Jefferson, Richard Fahey, David Barron and David Barker. Nicholls and Mick Easterby (with the Hedgeholme bred Fred's Lad) also score winners down at Nottingham.
31/03/2007 With Alan Swinbank's Collier Hill out of his race due to injury Yorkshire interest in the World Cup meeting at Nad Al Sheba was rather diminished (although Yorkshire bred Kandidate ran respectably in the feature race). At Newcastle events started well with Richard Fahey's Mister Hardy winning the opening race, the historic Brocklesby Stakes. The next was the Spring Mile and this almost saw a Yorkshire clean sweep apart from the minor technicality of the winner being unconnected with Yorkshire, second placed Dancing Lyra, again trained by that man Fahey, being the first of a wave of Yorkshire horses filling the minor places. The following race was the Cammidge Trophy L and this saw no such technicalities with David Barron's Rising Shadow coming home ahead of David Barker's Sierra Vista and the winner's stablemate Skhilling Spirit. In the £61,660 Lincoln Handicap Julie Camacho's Rio Riva was a game second with Richard Fahey's Mutawaffer in third and Karl Burke's Raptor in fourth. Meanwhile down at Kempton Yorkshire trained horses won both the classic trials, albeit it seems unlikely that either winner will feature at Newmarket. The Masaka Stakes L saw the tighest finish of the day and was won by Karl Burke's Precocious Star, fit from a Dubai campaign, whilst the Easter Stakes L was landed by Mark Johnston's consistent Dubai's Touch, who is one of three Kingsley House inmates still entered in the 2,000 Guineas.
Meanwhile it was announced that Welburn trainer Bob Woodhouse has taken out of three year lease of Breckenbrough House Stables near Thirsk. These stables were formerly the home of Lynda Ramsden and are now owned by Derrick Welford. Woodhouse has leased 35 of the 50 boxes, the remaining 15 will continue to be leased by Allan Dickman.
29/03/2007 It's going to be another odd year in terms of venues with Doncaster out of action this term and thus the traditional start to the turf season arguably happened on the all weather Polytrack at Lingfield this afternoon ! Tim Pitt's Chicken Soup was a good second in the Doncaster Mile L whilst David Nicholls' Merlin's Dancer won the £11,218 sprint handicap, with Kevin Ryan's Captain Jacksparra having earlier won the seven furlong handicap.
24/03/2007 At excellent day at Lingfield for the Yorkshire raiders. Mark Johnston's Hinton Admiral stole the Spring Cup L from under the noses of the opposition and the £42,585 first prize secured the All-Weather Trainers Championship (and accompanying £15,000 cheque) for the Middleham trainer, Kevin Ryan's Evens Ands Odds took third place in the same race. The next was the Winter Derby G3 and here Mick Easterby's Gentleman's Deal, still moonlighting as a racehorse from his other task as a stallion at Norton Grove Stud , was the comfortable winner. The next race was another Yorkshire 1-3 in the a listed race with Kevin Ryan's King Orchisios landing the Hever Sprint Stakes L with David Nicholls' Strike Up The Band, back from Dubai, in third place. Ryan had another winner at Kempton with Fontana Amorosa whilst under National Hunt rules Harry Hogarth's Apache Brace won the bumper at Bangor. Evening racing at Wolverhampton saw a double for David Nicholls thanks to Sawwaah and Kabis Amigos.
17/03/2007 The locals almost went through the card at Wetherby today, only to be denied in the last race following winners from Ferdy Murphy, Harry Hogarth (a double), Sue Smith (a double) and Alan Swinbank. Ferdy Murphy and John Quinn also had winners up at Newcastle.
15/02/2007 Not much luck yesterday but it is again Ferdy Murphy who provides Yorkshire with a Cheltenham festival winner today when L'Antartique wins the opening Jewson Novices' Handicap Chase L, again at long odds, this time of 40-1. Elsewhere Brian Ellison has a winner at Hexham.
13/02/2007 An excellent start to Cheltenham for the Yorkshire contigent when Ferdy Murphy's New Alco comes home two short heads in front to land the Wm Hill Trophy Handicap Chase Gd3 at 50-1 ! This was a second win of the day for Murphy as he won the opener at Sedgefield where Noel Wilson, Tim Walford, Ronnie Barr and Alan Swinbank also had winners whilst Patrick Haslam and Kevin Ryan struck on Southwell's all-weather.
10/03/2007 A quiet day on the Saturday before Cheltenham, with no Yorkshire contenders in the big races at Sandown. Ferdy Murphy however will have taken great heart from his treble at Ayr, with all three ridden by stable jock Graham Lee.
06/03/2007 Yorkshire trainers were totally dominant up at Newcastle today with Peter Beaumont, Sue Smith, Brian Ellison, George Moore, Alan Swinbank (a double) and Ferdy Murphy winning all seven races between them. Down at Southwell there were flat winners for Kevin Ryan and Richard Fahey.
03/03/2007 A very quiet day for the Yorkshire trainers, with the cancellation of Southwell not helping, but John Quinn had a good win up at Kelso when his Bellaney Jewel landed the £28,184 Scottish Borders National Handicap.
01/03/2007 After a quiet Dubai season for the Tyke trainers we finally got on the board in one of the bigger races when David Nicholls' Lost Soldier Three was an odds-defying third in the Intikhab Dubai City Of Gold Stakes G3. A quiet day domestically sees a bumper winner at Ludlow for Mick Easterby.
24/02/2007 Kevin Ryan landed Yorkshire's second flat listed win of 2007 today when King Orchisios landed the Cleve Stakes L at Lingfield. Up at Newcastle Ferby Murphy's Nine de Sivola was a decent second in the £43,379 Eider Chase, whilst his former charge Truckers Tavern, now trained by Sue Smith, sadly died in the same race. Earlier on the same card there were wins for Sue Smith and Grant Tuer whilst George Moore won the last.
08/02/2007 Some good news from Dubai when Kandidate, bred by a partnership consisting of the Providence and Foston Studs, lands the £61,224 Haafhd Al Maktoum Challenge RII G3 at Nad Al Sheba in excellent style by almost six lengths, this is his second group win, following on from the September Stakes G3 last season. Later on the same card Karl Burke's Speedy Sam is third in one of the valuable supporting races. More parochially David Barron's Et Dona Ferentes is the sole Yorkshire winner at Southwell.
04/02/2007 The first flat stakes winner of the year comes today at Kempton where the Mick Easterby trained Gentleman's Deal puts up the performance of his life to land the Ladybird Stakes L. Possibly it's his 'day job' covering mares at the Norton Grove Stud which has fired up this impeccably bred stallion on the track?!? Easterby had also won the previous race whilst up at Musselburgh the John Quinn trained Kings Quay was a good second in the £18,789 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle L.
03/02/2007 Another quiet week comes to an end and today's highlight was the brave effort of Sue Smith's St.Matthew who fought back in grand style to land the £12,526 totesport Handicap Chase at Wetherby, where earlier Easingwold trainer Simon Griffiths had saddled Diamond Vein to win the selling hurdle. At Lingfield Karl Burke's Linda's Colin won the seller.
27/01/2007 Ferdy Murphy nearly made it two group races for the week when New Alco was held off by 1/2 a length in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase Gd3 at Cheltenham this afternoon, with Malcolm Jefferson's Roman Ark back in fourth. Over jumps at Southwell Micky Hammond's Charlotte Vale was a promising third in the £19,518 skybet.com Mares Handicap Hurdle whilst it fell to Alan Swinbank to provide the only Yorkshire winner of the day when Loulou Nivernais struck at Uttoxeter.
24/01/2007 The rescheduled H.B.L.B. Lightning Novices' Chase Gd2 at Huntingdon may have cut up badly, which will bother the racecourse management, but it was of little concern to Ferdy Murphy as his Another Promise took the prize in good style, without exactly setting the Cheltenham betting alight. Elsewhere Mick Easterby, Kate Millgan and George Swinbank had winners at Catterick, whilst Kevin Ryan's Danetime Lord struck on Lingfield's all-weather. Perhaps of more long term significance was the news that Guy Reed, owner of the Copgrove Stud, had removed the majority of his 20 strong string from the Lambourn yard of Barry Hills, with just Vesuvio remaining. Already eight of the Reed horses have joined Kevin Ryan at Hambleton whilst Mark Johnston and Chris Thornton will no doubt all be towards the head of the queue to train the remainder.
20/01/2007 Sue Smith's Truckers Tavern (formerly trained by Ferdy Murphy) was a decent enough third in the Peter Marsh Handicap Chase Gd2 at Haydock today, albeit some distance behind the winner. Tim Easterby's Lease Lend won the closing bumper. Plenty of Yorkshire trained winners from a curtailed programme this week, but nothing to write home about, even from sun-kissed Dubai.
13/01/2007 Another quiet week, a few Yorkshire winners. Will someone wake me up for Cheltenham please? Winners at Wetherby today for Harry Hogarth, Brian Ellison and George Moore. Meanwhile down at Lingfield Mark Johnston's Boscobel wins the opener.
06/01/2007 A quiet week in the post Christmas lull, with not much to get excited about, although there have been a few Yorkshire trained winners. Today was little different although Yorkshire trained horses landed both the televised races from Haydock courtesy of Kate Walton's Huka Lodge and Malcolm Jefferson's Roman Ark. Meanwhile Middleham has gained a new trainer with a familiar name as it has been announced that Paul Murphy, son of Ferdy, has been granted a dual purpose licence.
01/01/2007 A good start to the year for the Yorkshire trainers who are totally dominant at Catterick today, winning five of the six races with Ferdy Murphy taking the honours for the first Yorkshire trained winner of the year when landing the opener with Poker De Sivola, the other winners coming from Muriel Naughton, Sue Smith and Alan Swinbank (a double). It was almost as good for the Tykes at Southwell with wins for David Nicholls (a double), Bryan Smart (Moorhouse Lad in the £11,335 Photo Albums from Bonusprint Handicap) and Mick Easterby (who's Gentleman's Deal landed the £11,335 Canvas Prints From bonusprint.com Handicap from Karl Burke's Speedy Sam and Kevin Ryan's Uhoomagoo).

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