Yorkshire Racing & Breeding News
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Date  
31/12/2011 A poor final day to the year with only Tim Walford's Ubi Ace, third in the £31,380 Totescoop6 Levy Board Handicap Hurdle at Newbury, providing any new year celebrations.
27/12/2011 Today sees Ferdy Murphy's Charingworth land the £10,396 Castleford Handicap Chase at Wetherby where there are also winners for Kate Walton, Richard Fahey and Malcolm Jefferson. At Southwell there are winners for Kevin Ryan, Bryan Smart and Richard Guest. Down at Chepstow John Quinn's Countrywide Flame is a good second in the Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Handicap Hurdle Gd1.
26/12/2011 The best Boxing Day result undoubtably came at Wetherby where Malcolm Jefferson's 33-1 shot According To Pete landed the Rowland Meyrick Handicap Chase Gd3 by a length. Kate Walton and Brian Ellison also had winners at Wetherby, whilst Richard Fahey scored at Wolverhampton and Alan Brown had a winner at Market Rasen.
10/12/2011 Result of the day today came at Doncaster where John Quinn's Royal Bonsai landed the Summit Juvenile Hurdle Gd2 with Tom Tate's once-raced Eagle Rock back in second. Southwell saw winners for Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston. Evening racing at Wolverhampton yields a single winner for Richard Fahey.
03/12/2011 A good result for Tim Walford today when his Ubi Ace made it three in a row when just prevailing by a neck in the Bavaria Imported Premium Lager Handicap Hurdle L at Sandown. The only other winner today was provided by Ollie Pears at Wetherby. Evening racing at Wolverhampton sees wins for David Nicholls, Ann Duffield, Tim Easterby and Ollie Pears.
26/11/2011 Today saw a treble at Newcastle for Sue Smith who won three of the opening four races on Tyneside and also had a winner at Bangor. There was no real joy in any of the major races although Ferdy Murphy's The Hollinwell was second in the At The Races Rehearsal Chase L , the closing race at Newcastle. Evening racing at Wolverhampton yields a double for Kevin Ryan and also a winner for Alan Swinbank.
19/11/2011 Yorkshire's best results today came over the border at Haydock with pride of place going to Brian Ellison's Neptune Equester who landed the £16,245 Timeform.betfair.com On Your Smartphone Handicap Chase (another snappy race title). Earlier stablemate Marsh Warbler had finished second in the £25,024 Betfair Hurdle (that's more like it) whilst Malcolm Jefferson's Attaglance was third in the £22,743 Listen To Timeform Radio Handicap Hurdle.
18/11/2011 Sue Smith's Mr Moonshine further cemented his ever growing reputation today when landing the £16,245 Junior Betfair Novices' Chase at Haydock by ten lengths following a convincing display of front running and jumping. In the prior race Smith's Shadrack ran well to be third whilst in the next Richard Fahey's Our Joe Mac, tackling obstacles for the first time in public, was second in the Newton Novices' Hurdle L, David O'Meara landed the bumper.
13/11/2011 A quiet Sunday for the Yorkshire trainers, but Brian Ellison's previously unbeaten Abergavenny puts up a good display to be third in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle Gd3 at Cheltenham.
12/11/2011 The flat season may have ended but it was a good day on the, erm, flat at Lingfield today for David Nicholls with Docoftheday landing the Golden Rose Stakes L whilst in the the previous race David Barron's Suits Me had finished third in the Churchill Stakes L. No Yorkshire winners down at Cheltenham but Ferdy Murphy's Divers put up a good display to be third in the feature Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase Gd3. On home soil there were winners at Wetherby for Mick Easterby, Elaine Burke, George Moore and Tim Walford whilst Declan Carroll had a winner at Uttoxeter. Evening racing at Wolverhampton sees winners for Mick Easterby and Geoff Oldroyd.
05/11/2011 The final meeting of the flat season at Doncaster sees no winners for either Paul Hanagan or Silvestre de Souza, which means Hanagan takes the jockey's championship for the second year in a row. The best local performance of the day comes in the penultimate race when Richard Fahey's Mayson is a neck second in the Wentworth Stakes L whilst Richard Whitaker had the honour of the last winner of the season when taking the last. Although it has been a good season for the Yorkshire based jockeys and despite Richard Fahey, Mark Johnston, Kevin Ryan and a resurgent Tim Easterby all featuring in the Top 15 trainers it hasn't exactly been a classic year at the highest level with Tangerine Trees and Jukebox Jury providing the highlights and Hoof It the headlines. Sue Smith and Malcolm Jefferson both win good races up at Kelso although, in context, Paul Nicholls had five winners down at Wincanton, including all the feature races. It's going to be a long winter ....
01/11/2011 Although European trained horses filled six of the first seven places there was no real joy in Flemington for Yorkshire. Mark Johnston's Fox Hunt was the best of the Yorkshire trained runners, finishing like a train in seventh for which he picks up £81,699 ! No luck for the Yorkshire runners at Maisons-Laffitte either, but winners at Redcar for Richard Fahey, Philip Kirby, Robin Bastiman, Mick Easterby and Alan Swinbank.
30/10/2011 Sue Smith's Mr Moonshine was an impressive 16 length winner of the £11,696 Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle today, whilst John Quinn had a winner at Huntingdon. Over at Leopardstown Richard Fahey's Take It To The Max 'took' the £14,008 Derrinstown Stud Apprentice Handicap Final. Don't forget there are four Yorkshire runners in the Melbourne Cup G1 early on Tuesday morning.
29/10/2011 At Newmarket today Mark Johnston's Abishena was a decent second in the Montrose Fillies' Stakes L whilst at Ayr there were winners for Richard Fahey, Richard Guest, Edwin Tuer and Tony Coyle. Sue Smith provided the sole local winner at Wetherby although David O'Meara's Dance For Julie was third in the bet365 Mares' Hurdle L. Kevin Ryan and Elaine Burke had a winner apiece at Wolverhampton's evening meeting where the Keith Dalgleish/Joe Fanning partnership landed a treble.
28/10/2011 Always the bridesmaid Bryan Smart's Excelette was second in the EBF Bosra Sham Stakes L today at Newmarket where Mark Johnston won the last. At Wetherby Sue Smith won the opener whilst Ferdy Murphy's Charingworth was a promising third in the bet365 Handicap Chase L whilst John Quinn's Countrywide Flame also did well to finish second in the Wensleydale Juvenile Hurdle L. David O'Meara had a winner at Uttoxeter whilst Kevin Ryan's Bajan Tryst landed the main race at this evening's Dundalk meeting.
22/10/2011 Not much joy for the Yorkshire trainers today, although Richard Guest won the last at Doncaster (where Camelot was a facile winner of the Racing Post Trophy G1) and Kate Walton landed the opener at Aintree. Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey and Mick Easterby all had winners on Wolverhampton's evening card.
21/10/2011 Over at Dundalk this evening Kevin Ryan's Breathless Kiss is a useful second in the Mercury Stakes L with Richard Fahey's Mayson back in fourth. On this side of the Irish Sea there are winners at Doncaster for Mark Johnston and John Quinn with Johnston also scoring at Newbury and Wolverhampton, where Elaine Burke also had a winner.
17/10/2011 Bryan Smart's Ptolemaic is a decent second today in the totepool Silver Tankard Stakes L at Pontefract where there are local winners for Jedd O'Leeffe, David O'Meara, Tim Walford and David Nicholls.
15/10/2011 The inaugural Champions Day at Ascot today, a concept I'm not too sure about but which seems to have gone down well. There were only three Yorkshire runners in the 'Championship' races (ie excluding the closing apprentice race) and the best of 'our' performers was Mark Johnston's Colour Vision who was third in the opening £113,420 Qipco British Champions Long Distance Cup G3 (surely the most valuable Group Three race ever run in the UK?!), beaten only a nose out of second place. At Catterick there were winners for Bryan Smart, Richard Fahey and Ruth Carr whilst Malcolm Jefferson had a winner at Kelso. Evening racing at Wolverhampton sees winners for Mark Johnston and Chris Fairhurst.
14/10/2011 A Yorkshire 1-2 in the £14,008 Irish Stallion Farms EBF Fillies' Handicap at Dundalk this evening with the Kevin Ryan trained Blue Moon (owned by Guy Reed of Copgrove and bred by the Theakston Stud) coming home three lengths in front on Richard Fahey's Sioux Rising. At Redcar there were winners for Kevin Ryan, David Nicholls, Bryan Smart, John Quinn and Robin Bastiman, whilst the trip to Haydock yielded winners for Tom Tate and Mark Johnston. Evening racing at Wolverhampton saw winners for Richard Fahey (with the Bolton Grange bred Haadeeth) and David Barron.
08/10/2011 Having finally landed his first York winner of the season yesterday Mark Johnston promptly landed a hat-trick at the Knavesmire today, with the most important being Bannock who won the Rockingham Stakes L by a handy two lengths. Richard Fahey supplied the only other local winner on the card whilst in the most valuable race at York today, the £46,688 Coral Sprint Trophy Handicap, the locals couldn't manage a win but did fill the minor placings thanks to Richard Fahey's Kaldoun Kingdom in second who was followed home by Kevin Ryan's Racy and Fahey's Sioux Rising. No joy in the big races at Newmarket with both Bapak Chinta and Red Duke running very poorly, although Mark Johnston's Colour Vision was third in the £99,600 Cesarewitch Handicap, having looked likely to win in the closing stages before fading slightly in the final few yards. Over jumps at Hexham there is a double for Sue Smith as well as winners for Kate Walton and Malcolm Jefferson.
07/10/2011 Some success in the sales ring today when the filly by Galileo out of Brigid consigned to the Tattersalls October Sales by Mark Dwyer of Oaks Farm Stables was the top lot after selling for a final bid of 1,700,000 guineas. This filly is a half sister to Liffey Dancer who made a world record price for a yearling filly of 2,500,000gns when consigned by Oaks Farm at the same sale back in 2007. Meanwhile on the track Mark Johnston finally had his first winner of the season at York where there were also winners for David Barron and Richard Fahey. Alan Swinbank had a winner over hurdles at Carlisle whilst evening racing at Wolverhampton saw victories for Brian Ellison and Richard Fahey.
02/10/2011 Tangerine Trees just holds on by a short neck and a nose to land the Prix de l'Abbaye G1 at Longchamp this afternoon, giving trainer Bryan Smart his first group one winner since he re-located to his native Yorkshire (he trained Sil Sila to win the 1996 Prix de Diane G1 when based in Lambourn) and a first winner at this level for jockey Tom Eaves. Tangerine Trees broke well and was quickly away and just managed to repel the opposition at the end to take his earnings to just over £250,000, not bad for a horse who 18 months ago was running in Class 5 handicaps at Wolverhampton ! The current Yorkshire trainers, Tim Pitt having just relocated to Newmarket, to have won Group One races are now Mark Johnston (21 wins at this level), David Nicholls (6), Tim Easterby (6), Kevin Ryan (3), Alan Swinbank (3), Robin Bastiman (2) and David Barron, Richard Fahey and Bryan Smart on one apiece, whilst application of my 'continuation' rule would also place Elaine Burke and Ben Haslam on one apiece. In terms of unique Group One winners Mark Johnston has fifteen, Tim Easterby and David Nicholls four and Kevin Ryan three. Over jumps today Brian Ellison, Kate Walton and Philip Kirby had winners at Huntingdon, Kelso and Uttoxeter respectively.
01/10/2011 An excellent day for the Yorkshire trainers, hopefully this will continue at Longchamp tomorrow! Tim Easterby's largely unheralded Ponty Acclaim kicked off the afternoon when taking the Cornwallis Stakes G3 at Ascot by a length a odds of 20-1 to give his trainer his second group victory within two weeks, having previously gone five years without scaling such heights. Later on the same card David O'Meara's Smarty Socks picked up £27,960 when second in the totescoop6 Challenge Cup Heritage Handicap whilst in the following race Bryan Smart's Move In Time (homebred by Reg Bond at Yapham Mill) landed the Rous Stakes L with Richard Fahey's Mayson back in third and Easterby's Confessional in fourth. On home soil at Redcar the locals did poorly to start with but in the third race, the Guisborough Stakes L, Richard Fahey's Majestic Myles went down by a neck to finish second. The next was the £117,787 Totepool Two-Year-Old Trophy L which is a race in which the locals traditionally do well and it was no different this year with Kevin Ryan's Bogart landing the spoils (taking his career earnings to almost £270k from only five starts!) from neighbour Bryan Smart's Excelette back in second whilst Geoff Oldroyd also had a winner later on the card (yet another homebred winner for Reg Bond!). There was no joy in the big sales races at Newmarket although Mark Johnston's Art History landed the £12,450 32red Handicap whilst the last race was the Boadicea Fillies' Stakes L which saw a victory for the Burns Farm bred and owned (but Newmarket trained) Blanche Dubawi with Richard Fahey's Rose Blossom back in third. Evening racing at Wolverhampton sees winners for John Quinn, Ollie Pears, David Barron, Richard Whitaker and Mick Easterby. Please note that the Malton Racing Association will be having a 'Breeders Cup' Charity Ball at York Racecourse on the 5th November, more details on their website.
24/09/2011 A busy day for the Yorkshire trainers today. Down at Newmarket Richard Fahey's Miss Work Of Art puts up her usual solid performance when fourth in the Cheveley Park Stakes G1. Two races later and it's the £99,600 Cambridgeshire Handicap which sees a long priced victory for Tom Tate's Prince of Johanne. There are placings in the concluding races for Richard Fahey and Mark Johnston. Over the Pennines the Yorkshire trainers dominate the main races at Haydock with David Nicholls' Askaud landing the £12,938 EBF Reprocolor Fillies' Handicap, and Richard Fahey's pair of Marine Commando and Lexington Bay landing the £19,407 Lester Piggott Handicap and the £19,407 Stainless Wire Handicap respectively, for good measure Fahey also landed the third race to make it a valuable treble. There are winners at Chester for Bryan Smart and Kevin Ryan whilst on home soil at Ripon there are winners for Alan Brown, Richard Fahey, Tim Easterby, Kevin Ryan (Advanced in the £12,450 Ripon Cathedral City Of The Dales Handicap), Paul Midgley and Tom Tate. Over jumps at Market Rasen Kate Walton's Rumble of Thunder lands the Totescoop6 'Prelude' Handicap Hurdle L, with David O'Meara's King In Waiting back in second whilst Brian Ellison's Neptune Equester is third in the Totepool 'Prelude' Handicap Chase L. Evening racing at Wolverhampton yields winners for David O'Meara, Alan Swinbank and Richard Guest.
18/09/2011 A classic winner today, well sort of, when Mark Johnston's Fox Hunt lands the Deutsches St Leger G3 at Dortmund. Up at Hamilton there were winners for Bryan Smart, Richard Fahey (with Jeannie Galloway, placed at Ayr two days ago), David Barron, Mark Johnston and James Bethell whilst Brian Ellison had a winner over fences at Uttoxeter.
17/09/2011 A very good day up at Ayr for the Yorkshire raiders today. Kevin Ryan won the opener whilst his old warrior Advanced was third in the second race, the Ayr Silver Cup. Next up was the Firth of Clyde Stakes G3 and this saw a Yorkshire 1-2 with Tim Easterby's Roger Sez coming home the easy winner with Richard Fahey's game Miss Work Of Art back in second. This was Easterby's first group winner since July 2006, although there have been plenty of near misses since then and it was always just a matter of time. Next up was the feature race the £74,700 Ayr Gold Cup itself and this went to Kevin Ryan's tough Our Jonathan who was an easy winner in the end, David Barron's Colonel Mak was back in fourth. The Tykes then won three of the last four races courtesy of a double for David Nicholls (including Don't Call Me in the Ayrshire Handicap) and a winner for Richard Fahey. At Newbury Kevin Ryan nearly made it a big race double with Masamah second in the Dubai International World Trophy G3 whilst Mark Johnston's Master Of Arts was third in the £46,688 Dubai Duty Free Handicap and Bryan Smart's Foxtrot Romeo was a promising fourth in the Mill Reef Stakes G2. Kevin Ryan capped an excellent day by taking the last at Newmarket where earlier Tim Pitt's Dark Ranger was second in the £32,345 Betfred Cesarewitch Trial Handicap. Closer to home there were winners at Catterick for David Nicholls (a double, making it four races today), Alan Swinbank and Brian Ellison.
16/09/2011 Day whatever of the Ayr Gold Cup festival (didn't this used to be the Western Isles meeting, or did I imagine that) and there is a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in the £12,450 Ayr Bronze Cup with Richard Fahey's Coolminx coming home in front of stablemate Jeannie Galloway with David Nicholls' Esprit de Midas back in third. Other Yorkshire winners on the card are provided by Tim Easterby, David Barron and that man Fahey again. Evening racing at Wolverhampton see winners for Kevin Ryan and Paul Midgley.
11/09/2011 Tim Easterby's admirable gelding Hamish McGonagall puts up the only notable Yorkshire performance today when third in the Prix du Petit Couvert G3 at Longchamp, taking his lifetime earnings over the £300,000 barrier.
10/09/2011 Well it's taken a while but we finally had the first Yorkshire trained Group One winner of the year today when the Mark Johnston trained Jukebox Jury dead-heated for the Irish St Leger G1 at the Curragh. It was a really tight battle in the final furlongs and it looked like Jukebox Jury might lose the race on the nod at the line after a gritty battle with Duncan but in the end the judge couldn't split them in the photo and an honourable draw was declared. On this side of the Irish Sea it's been the St Leger Festival at Doncaster since Wednesday, but it's been been a completely joyless festival for the locals (actually the first day was joyless for everyone ; drop it down to three days Donnie) with only a handful of winners in the some of the lesser supporting races and no places in the main races. Things looked up slightly today however with John Quinn's Red Duke finishing second in the opening Champagne Stakes G2 and Tim Easterby's Confessional a plucky second in the following Portland Handicap before Mark Johnston landed the last with Swift Alhaarth. There was more seconditis at Chester where John Quinn's Kiama Bay filled that position in the Star Sports Stand Cup L but at least Mark Johnston had won the previous race on the Roodeye and Declan Carroll had one later on the card, whilst Johnston had started (literally, as he's actually in Kentucky!) a good day with a winner in the opener at Bath.
03/09/2011 A busy day of racing,where to start? At Haydock Mick Easterby's Hoof It went down by a nose and a head to be third after a late run in the Betfred Sprint Cup G1, which had strong Yorkshire representation although Richard Fahey's Wootton Bassett again put up another poor performance after giving a hint that he may be approaching a return to form in his previous outing. There were actually no Yorkshire winners at Haydock, although Mark Johnston's Leqqaa was a sound third in the Ascendant Stakes L. At Ascot David O'Meara's excellent season continued when Smarty Socks landed the £51,752 Fly London Southend Airport Handicap and in the following race Mark Johnston's Swift Alhaarth picked up £14,430 when third in the Ladbrokes Mobile Heritage Handicap. Down at Kempton Mark Johnston's Vocational was only denied by a head to be second in the Sirenia Stakes G3. There were Yorkshire winners from Ian McInnes (Ingleby Star in the £14,755 Betfair Scottish Racing Sprint Series Final Handicap), Marjorie Fife, Julie Camacho and Declan Carroll up at Musselburgh whilst David O'Meara capped a good day with a double on home turf at Thirsk where Ann Duffield provided the only other local winner. Up to this point it was looking like a 'close, but no cigar' day for Mark Johnston however, switching to overseas, in less than an hour in the early evening his Below Zero won the £41,379 September Premier Handicap at Leopardstown (his second 'Premier' handicap of the year) and then Dordogne landed the International France Galop FRBC Anatolia Trophy G2 at Veliefendi in Turkey ! less exotic evening racing at Wolverhampton saw winners for Ollie Pears and Brian Ellison.
27/08/2011 Bryan Smart's Tangerine Trees gets back to winning way today when landing the Beverley Bullet Sprint Stakes L from John Quinn's Duchess Dora back in second. Paul Midgley landed a double on the card whilst there were also winners for Ian McInnes and Richard Fahey. Whilst there were no Yorkshire trained winners at Newmarket or Goodwood (although the Burns Farm bred and owned Blanche Dubawi won the penultimate race at Goodwood) there were some decent placings down in Sussex with Mark Johnston's Eternal Heart second in the March Stakes L and Mark Campion's Webbow picking up £18,640 when second in the Betfair Summer Double Second Leg Heritage Handicap, ahead of Mark Johnston's Below Zero back in third. David O'Meara had a winner at Cartmel. Evening racing at Windsor sees David Barron's Sirvino finish second in the August Stakes L whilst there are winners at Redcar for Tim Easterby, George Moore, Richard Guest and Robin Bastiman.
21/08/2011 Mark Johnston's Jukebox Jury, tried over a distance further than an extended one and a half miles for the first time, put up an excellent performance this afternoon to land the Prix Kergorlay at Deauville by three lengths to take his career winnings to £784k. Will he now be aimed at longer distances or revert back to middle distance ? For the first time this year I feel it's time for the all-time Yorkshire trained winningmost list, horses in bold still in training (although possibly not running again till next season in the case of Borderlescott).
Horse Trainer Amount Best Performances
Collier Hill Alan Swinbank £2,317,161 Irish St Leger G1, Hong Kong Vase G1, Candian International G1, Gerling-Preis G2, Stockholm Cup International G3 (twice), Elnadim H, Old Newton Cup H., 2nd.Dubai Sheema Classic G1, Deutschlandpreis Preis G1, 3rd.Dubai Sheema Classic G1, Rheinland-Pokal der Sparkasse KolnBonn G1 etc.
Shakespearean Mark Johnston £1,001,241 Goffs Million Mile, Solario Stakes G3, 3rd.Superlative Stakes G3
Attraction Mark Johnston £899,597 1,000 Guineas G1, Irish 1,000 Guineas G1, Coronation S G1, Sun Chariot S G1, Matron S G1, Cherry Hinton S G2, Queen Mary S G3, 2nd.Matron Stakes G1, Falmouth S G1 etc.
Jukebox Jury Mark Johnston £784,169 Preis von Europa G1, Jockey Club Stakes G2, Grand Prix de Deauville G2, Royal Lodge Stakes G2, Prix Kergorlay G2, Rose of Lancaster Stakes G3, 2nd.Canadian International Stakes G1, Racing Post Trophy G1, 3rd.Prix la Rochette G3
Teleprompter Bill Watts £760,881 Arlington Million G1, Queen Elizabeth II S G2, Prix Quincey G3, Desmond S G3, Pacemaker International S. G3 (x2), 2nd.Queen Elizabeth II S. G2 (x2), Lockinge S G2, THF Mile G2, 3rd.Eclipse S. G1, Queen Anne Stakes G2 etc.
Borderlescott Robin Bastiman £748,720 Nunthorpe Stakes G1(x2), King George Stakes G2, City Wall Stakes L, Mercury Stakes L, Steward's Cup Handicap, 2nd.Temple Stakes G2(x2), Palace House Stakes G3, Bentinck Stakes G3, Ayr Gold Cup, 3rd.Prix de l'Abbaye G1, King's Stand Stakes G1, Temple Stakes G2, Palace House Stakes G3 etc.
Somnus Tim Easterby £743,966 Stanley Leisure Sprint Cup G1, Prix Maurice de Gheest G1, Prix de la Foret G1, betabet Two Year Old Trophy, £200,000 St Leger Yearling Sales Stakes, 2nd.Sprint Cup G1, Park Stakes G2, Chipchase Stakes G3, 3rd.Duke Of York Stakes G2
Yavana's Pace Mark Johnston £722,656 (plus more when trained in Ireland) Credit Suisse Private Banking Pokal G1, Prix du Conseil de Paris G2, Prix Gladiateur G3, 2nd.WGZ Bank-Deutschlandpreis G1, Preis von Europa G1, Irish St Leger G1, Princess of Wales's Stakes G2, Hardwicke Stakes G2, 3rd.Canadian International G1, Deutsche Post Euro Express-Pries von Europa G1, WGZ Bank-Deutschland Preis G1, Princess of Wales's Stakes G2, Gerling-Preis G2 etc.
Regal Parade Mainly David Nicholls £634,424 Prix Maurice de Gheest G1, Betfred Sprint Cup G1, Hackwood Stakes G3, Ayr Gold Cup, Buckingham Palace Handicap, City Plate L, 2nd.Duke Of York Stakes G2, Hungerford Stakes G2, John Of Gaunt Stakes G3, 3rd.Lennox Stakes G2, Chipchase Stakes G3, Bunbury Cup Handicap etc.
Fruits Of Love Mark Johnston £607,117 Hardwicke S G2 (x2), Dubai Turf Classic, Princess of Wales's S G2, 2nd.Canadian Int'l G1, Futurity Stakes G3, 3rd.King George VI & Queen Elizabeth II S. G1, Grosser Preis von Baden G1, Meld Stakes G3
20/08/2011 Well Brian Ellison certainly won the £130,725 Ebor Handicap, but with 25-1 shot Moyenne Corniche rather than the strongly fancied Saptapadi (who ran well enough to be fifth), whether the winner will go for the Melbourne Gold Cup or not remains to be seen, this was the winners first victory since landing a maiden in April 2008 ! The opening race at York had seen Richard Fahey's Majestic Myles go down by a head to be second in the City Of York Stakes L. In the Roses Stakes L Tim Easterby's Last Bid was a good second with Bryan Smart's Excelette back in third. Yorkshire fittingly won the last two races of the meeting with Mick Easterby's Risky Art taking the penultimate race whilst Kevin Ryan had a 1-2 in the closing £12,938 tyregiant.com Handicap with the appropriately named York Glory coming home in front of stablemate Dickie's Lad. A few minor placings at Sandown but Tim's Easterby and Fitzgerald both had winners at Chester where Richard Fahey's Ladys First put up a promising performance to be second in the fillies conditions race and the Mark Johnston pair of Below Zero and Crown Counsel were second and third in the £27,266 Toteexacta Handicap. Brian Ellison also had a nice result over hurdles at Newton Abbot with Westlin' Winds finishing third in the £19,494 Totepool A Better Way To Bet Handicap Hurdle. Evening racing at Market Rasen saw more jumps winners thanks to John Quinn, Declan Carroll and Tim Walford.
19/08/2011 Today saw our best chance of a Group One winner at the Ebor Meeting with a number of fancied runners in the Nunthorpe Stakes G1 but it didn't quite work out as planned although Tim Easterby's Hamish McGonagall, always the bridesmaid, ran an excellent race to be second, picking up a more than useful £59,168 for his efforts. Earlier Hamish McGonagall's stablemate Crackentorp had landed the opening £16,172 Racing UK On Sky Bet Mobile Handicap, with John Quinn's Kiama Bay in second. The last race, the £12,938 EBF Paul Malone Half Century Fillies' Handicap, saw a local 1-2-3 with David Barron's Shesastar coming home in front of Richard Fahey's duo of Sioux Rising and Jeannie Galloway. Brian Ellison (no doubt dreaming of the Ebor tomorrow) and Simon West both had winners at Bangor, whilst Chris Fairhurst had a winner at Wolverhampton's evening meeting.
18/08/2011 Ebor meeting day two (of four, yes ; four, they've introduced a pleb's day on Saturday, I despair) and there's only one Yorkshire victory albeit a valuable one when Kevin Ryan's Bogart lands the £136,867 DBS Premier Yearling Stakes, with Richard Fahey's Miss Work Of Art picking up £54,769 for second place. David O'Meara's Smarty Socks is second in the £28,463 Addleshaw Goddard Handicap whilst Richard Fahey's Cracking Lass is a decent second in the Galtres Stakes L and Brian Ellison's Chilly Filly is second in the last race with Tim Easterby's Deauville Flyer back in third. There are Yorkshire winners up at Hamilton thanks to Bryan Smart, Kevin Ryan, Ian McInnes, Alan Swinbank and Mark Johnston with the later doubling up with a thirteen length winner at Southwell's evening meeting where David Nicholls and Robin Bastiman also having winners. Philip Kirby has a winner over hurdles at Stratford.
17/08/2011 No joy in any of the major races on the first day of the Ebor Festival at York, with Namibian being particularly disappointing when finishing only fifth in the Great Voltigeur. The opening £19,407 Symphony Group Handicap had seen a Yorkshire 2-3-4 with Kevin Ryan's Racy coming home in second ahead of Tin Easterby's Favourite Girl and Richard Fahey's Irish Heartbeat. There were local winners later on the card however with Nigel Tinkler's Bomber Jet 'landing' the £9,703 sportingbet.com Nursery and Richard Fahey's Our Joe Mac taking the closing £12,938 Partington Haven Leisure Park Handicap from James Bethell's Arlequin. At Carlisle meanwhile there were Yorkshire winners from David O'Meara, David Nicholls, Bryan Smart, Tim Walford, Brian Ellison and George Moore.
14/08/2011 The Ebor meeting is almost upon us and the Yorkshire trainers continue in good form with Richard Fahey's Rose Blossom putting up a strong performance to land the EBF 'Showcasing' Flying Fillies' Stakes L at Pontefract today with stablemate Polar Kite taking the next and further local winners thanks to George Moore, David O'Meara and Ollie Pears. Over at Dundalk Mark Johnston's Below Zero landed the £21,012 Bar One Racing Premier Handicap whilst Tim Walford won the last at Southwell's jumps meeting.
13/08/2011 A good day at Ripon today for the locals with Yorkshire trainers fielding the first ten home in the £43,575 Great St.Wilfrid Handicap, the richest race ever run at Ripon, with David O'Meara's Pepper Lane coming home in front of Kevin Ryan's Our Jonathan and Richard Fahey's Mayson. Other winners on the card were provided by Tim Easterby (a double), Ann Duffield and David Barron. It was a similar story further afield at Newmarket with David Barron's Bertiewhittle landing the £24,900 Premier League Kick Off On Skybet Mobile Handicap (love these snappy race names) from stablemate Elusive Prince with Kevin Ryan's Louis The Pious back in third. At Newbury Mark Johnston's Leqqaa was third in the Washington Singer Stakes L whilst Tim Easterby landed the main race at Doncaster with Grissom, whilst Alan Swinbank took the last.
12/08/2011 Thirsk trainers are in control at Newbury this afternoon when David Barron's Kohala takes the St.Hugh's Stakes L, the main race of the day, with Bryan Smart's Excelette back in second. Newcastle sees winners for Richard Fahey, Ronnie Barr and Paul Midgley whilst Bryan Smart and David O'Meara have winners at Nottingham. Evening racing sees winners at Catterick for Edwin Tuer, David Nicholls, Tim Easterby, Mark Johnston and Declan Carroll whilst Richard Fahey has a winner at Kempton and David Nicholls' scores at Newmarket.
06/08/2011 Pride of place today goes to Richard Fahey's ultra tough and ultra consistent Lily's Angel who finished a good (but distant) second in the Sweet Solera Stakes G3 at Newmarket, where Kevin Ryan's Captain Ramius had won the prior race. At Haydock another tough filly, Tim Easterby's Off Chance (homebred by Brook Holliday), was also second ; in the Dick Hern Fillies' Stakes L, Nigel Tinkler and David Nicholls provided the other Yorkshire winners on old enemy territory. No Yorkshire winners on Shergar Cup day at Ascot although Ruth Carr, John Quinn and Mark Johnston all provided placed horses with perhaps the best performance coming from Johnston's Ithoughtitwasover who was second in the Shergar Cup Classic Handicap. Local winners at Redcar came from Richard Fahey (a double), Bryan Smart, Tim Easterby, John Quinn, Richard Whitaker and Tim Walford ; a clean sweep. Evening racing sees winners at Ayr for Alan Swinbank and Declan Carroll.
05/08/2011 A Yorkshire (well, Thirsk area!) 1-2-4 over at Tipperary this evening with David Nicholls' Inxile landing the Abergaun Stakes L from Bryan Smart's Move In Time in second and David Barron's Group Therapy in fourth. Not much action domestically with just a winner for Richard Whitaker down at Brighton.
31/07/2011 A good day at Chester with a double for Mark Johnston and winners for Kevin Ryan and Richard Fahey with the later's Rose Blossom a good second in the feature Queensferry Stakes L. David O'Meara had a winner over hurdles at Market Rasen.
30/07/2011 The final day of Glorious Goodwood and in the opening Stewards' Cup 'Consolation' race, the £18,675 Stewards' Sprint Handicap, Yorkshire have seven of the first eight home but unfortunately not including the first past the post with Tim Easterby's Confessional, Richard Fahey's Valery Borzov and David Nicholls' Joseph Henry (a permanent fixture in this race) having to be content with the minor placings. However it was a different case in the main event, the £62,250 Stewards' Cup Handicap with a Yorkshire 1-2-4 seeing Mick Easterby's Hoof It (homebred by Reg Bond at Yapham Mill) coming home very strongly in front under top-weight with David Nicholls' Tax Free in second and stablemate Nasri back in fourth. Barefoot Lady disappointed in the Nassau Stakes G1 whilst there were also placings for David Barron and Mark Johnston in the supporting races. At Newmarket meanwhile Tim Easterby registered a valuable 1-2 in the £25,876 Adnams Spindift Fillies' Nursery Handicap with Roger Sez coming home ahead of stablemate Nearly A Gift. A poor show by the locals at Thirsk with Elaine Burke providing the sole winner whilst Bryan Smart and Mick Easterby had winners at Doncaster. Evening racing at Hamilton yields a double for Alan Swinbank and a winner for Bryan Smart whilst Mark Johnston has a winner at Lingfield.
29/07/2011 Oh well, no Yorkshire winners at Goodwood today. Still, the Mark Johnston pair of Jukebox Jury and Bannock put up decent performances with the former being third in the Glorious Stakes G3, only beaten a head and a neck, and the later finishing second in the Richmond Stakes G2. In form Simon West had a winner at Bangor whilst Tim Pitt, Paul Midgley, Noel Wilson and Ruth Carr flew the local colours at Thirsk. Evening racing saw Kevin Ryan land the last at Newmarket whilst Bryan Smart, Ruth Carr and Nigel Tinkler all had winners at Musselburgh.
28/07/2011 Another good day at Goodwood with Kevin Ryan's Masamah grabbing the rail and the lead in the King George Stakes G2 and not giving up either to win his first group race nicely with David Barron's Group Therapy back in third. The next was the Goodwood Cup G2 and here David O'Meara's Blue Bajan was third and Mark Johnston's Fox Hunt a creditable fourth. Simon West had a winner at Stratford.
27/07/2011 Day Two of Goodwood starts in the same manner as Day One with a Middleham victory in the opening race, with the honours going to Micky Hammond's Hollins this time when he lands the £18,675 Goodwood Stakes Handicap. The next is the Vintage Stakes G3 where John Quinn's Red Duke is a respectable, if slightly dissapointing, third. Luckily perhaps there are no Yorkshire runners in the Sussex Stakes G1 which sees yet another mammoth performance by Frankel, confounding many of the critics. Yorkshire is back on form in the penultimate race with a Tyke 1-2-3 in the £12,450 Harwoods EBF 'Hellvelyn' Classified Stakes with Mark Campion registering his first flat win of the year in grand style courtesy of Webbow. David Nicholls rounds off a good day down in Sussex for the Yorkshire raiders by winning the last with Askaud. Redcar sees home winners for Tony Coyle, David O'Meara and Tim Walford whilst Mick Easterby and John Quinn are amongst the winners up at Perth. Evening racing saw a winner for Elaine Burke at Sandown and a double for Geoff Harker at Leicester where Ann Duffield and Mick Easterby also had winners.
26/07/2011 Day One of Glorious Goodwood and it's hard to imagine a better start for the Yorkshire runners with James Bethell's Arlequin (bred at Manor House Stud by Dr.Anne Gillespie) landing the opening £28,012 bet365.com Handicap (with Richard Fahey's Our Joe Mac in third) by a neck, and Mark Johnston's Namibian putting up a very gutsy performance to land the second race, the Gordon Stakes G3, by the same margin. Arlequin may now go for a continental group race, whilst Namibian seems St Leger bound, presumably via York. At Beverley there were winners for Mark Johnston, Tim Easterby, David Nicholls and Simon West and a double for Mel Brittain.
24/07/2011 Only a pathetic three runners in Pontefract's main race today, the Pomfret Stakes L, so it was perhaps no great surprise that local runners picked up cheap black type by finishing second and third ; specifically David Nicholls' St Moritz and Tim Easterby's Off Chance (homebred by Brook Holliday) . There were also winners for Kevin Ryan, Jedd O'Keeffe, Tim Easterby and John Wainwright. No joy at Ascot, although Blanche Dubawi, owned and bred by Burns Farm, won the second race. Up at Carlisle there were Yorkshire winners for Nigel Tinkler, George Moore, John Quinn and David Nicholls. Wootton Bassett is out of Goodwood (the Lennox Stakes, rather than the Sussex) after a dirty scope.
23/07/2011 At good result for the locals at York today with Mick Easterby's Hoof It landing the £32,245 Sky Bet Dash Handicap from David Nicholls' Tajneed in second. Easterby made it a double later on the card whilst there were also winners for nephew Tim Easterby and Jedd O'Keeffe and David Nicholls. No joy in any of the main races at Ascot, but it was a Yorkshire 1-2-3 in the opening Longines Lady Amateurs Handicap with Kevin Ryan's Captain Ramius coming home in front of stablemate Lightning Cloud and David Nicholls' Don't Call Me. Up at Newcastle there were Yorkshire winners from George Moore, Kevin Ryan (a double), Ruth Carr and Michael Herrington.
16/07/2011 No Yorkshire winners down at Newbury this afternoon but Richard Fahey's ultra game filly Lily's Angel still managed to pick up £41,820 for finishing second in the Weatherbys Super Sprint, with Kevin Ryan's Nagham back in third, earlier on the card David Nicholls' Regal Parade had finished fourth in the Hackwood Stakes G3. At Market Rasen David O'Meara's Viva Colonia picked up the opening totescoop6 Summer Hurdle Handicap L whilst John Quinn and Brian Ellison provided the winners of the following two races. On home soil at Ripon the start of the Yorkshire Festival Of Racing saw Richard Fahey's Bridle Belle land the £12,450 Ripon Bell-Ringer Handicap with Tim Easterby's King Of The Celts in second, there were also local winners for Elaine Burke, Tim Easterby (a double) and Paul Midgley. Evening racing at Haydock sees winners for Tim Easterby, Elaine Burke and Richard Fahey.
15/07/2011 Evening racing up at Hamilton this evening saw Richard Fahey's Quest For Success land the £20,542 Scottish Stewards' Cup Handicap, with David Barron's Colonel Mak in second and David O'Meara's Roker Park in third. Fahey also took the last whilst the other Yorkshire winners on the card were supplied by Bryan Smart (a double), Ann Duffield, Tim Fitzgerald and Tom Tate. Earlier Mark Johnston had a winner at Newbury and at Haydock where Elaine Burke had a double and there was also a winner for Kevin Ryan. Pontefract's evening meeting saw winners for John Quinn, Mel Brittain and Ian McInness.
14/07/2011 Mark Johnston's Malthouse is second in the Glasgow Stakes L at Hamilton today, beaten only a neck, the winners up in Scotland come from Kevin Ryan, David Nicholls, Mark Johnston, John Quinn and Ann Duffield. At Leicester there are winners for Kevin Ryan, James Bethell and Mick Easterby whilst Ollie Pears keeps up local pride by landing the last at Doncaster's evening meeting.
09/07/2011 A mad day with five meetings in the British Isles with black type races on the card, not to mention several valuable handicaps and Yorkshire runners involved in most of them. Pride of place goes to John Quinn's Red Duke who held on by a neck to take the opening Superlative Stakes G2 at Newmarket to provide the Malton trainer with his second group winner and his third group race win. Later on the same card David Barron's Hitchens confirmed himself as one of the most consistent sprinters around when third in the July Cup G1. At York Kevin Ryan's Masamah landed the opening John Smith's City Walls Stakes L with Tim Easterby's Hamish McGonagall back in third. The next was the John Smith's Silver Cup Handicap L in which Mark Johnston's progressive Fox Hunt was a decent second under top weight. There was no Yorkshire trained winner of the John Smith's Cup, although winning trainer Willie Haggas is a Yorkshireman (unlike a lot of the so-called 'Yorkshire' trainers!), Richard Fahey, Tim Easterby and David Nicholls rounded out proceedings on the Knavesmire by taking the last three races. At Chester Richard Fahey's Majestic Myles landed the feature Totepool City Plate L and there were also winners for Bryan Smart, David O'Meara, Mark Johnston and Kevin Ryan. No joy at Ascot but Kevin Ryan's Dam Beautiful was third in the Tipperary Stakes L over the Irish Sea. Evening racing at Hamilton sees winners for George Moore, Declan Carroll and David Nicholls.
08/07/2011 An excellent day at York for Geoff Oldroyd when his Ladies Are Forever (homebred by Reg Bond at Yapham Mill) lands the Summer Stakes G3 to provide him with his first ever group winner, Richard Fahey's Rose Blossom is back in third. There were also winners at York for Tim Fitzgerald, Ruth Carr and Paul Midgley. No joy down at Newmarket although Kevin Ryan's Lexi's Hero was second in the £62,250 totesport.com Heritage Handicap whilst stablemate Inetrobil was fourth in the Cherry Hinton Stakes G2. Kevin Ryan won the last at Ascot and also had a winner at Chester's evening meeting where Brian Ellison, Mark Johnston, Richard Fahey and James Bethell were also amongst the winners. Tomorrow is a manic day.
07/07/2011 Day one of Newmarket's July Meeting .... I wish they wouldn't keep messing around with the calendar. Not a particularly good start for the Yorkshire troops with Mark Johnston coming out best with Bannock finishing third in the July Stakes G2 and fourth places for Hurricane Higgins (in the Bahrain Trophy G3) and Malthouse (in the sportingbet.com Handicap) although Dordogne ran poorly in the Princess of Wales' Stakes G2, Declan Carroll's Whozthecat was second in the last. Ruth Carr had a winner at Warwick.
05/07/2011 Tim Easterby's Off Chance (homebred by Brook Holliday) was back on the black-type trail after a blip last time out when third (beaten only a nose out of second) in the Pipalong Stakes L at Pontefract today where there were also winners for Kevin Ryan, Geoff Oldroyd, David Nicholls and Paul Midgley. Nicholls' winner was Thunderball in the King Richard III Handicap, but I can't help feeling it would have been more appropriate is his other runner, My Kingdom (who finished third), had won the race ...... At Wolverhampton there were winners for John Weymes, Ann Duffield and Linda Stubbs whilst evening racing at Southwell saw victories for Kevin Ryan, Mark Johnston, Elaine Burke and the in-form Ruth Carr.
01/07/2011 Another low value listed race, this time at Sandown, sees a Yorkshire 1-2 with Linda Stubbs' Forevertheoptimisit landing the Dragon Stakes L by a head from David Barron's Kohala. Mark Johnston also had a winner at Sandown whilst George Moore, Noel Wilson and James Bethell ensured there was for once at decent haul for the locals at Doncaster. Evening racing at Beverley saw winners for Richard Fahey, Mark Johnston, Geoff Harker, Paul Midgley and George Moore and Tim Easterby landed the last at Haydock.
26/06/2011 Most of the high quality action today takes places over the waters. At the Curragh Tim Easterby's Hamish McGonagall is second in the Sapphire Stakes G3 on the Irish Derby card, with David Nicholls' Inxile back in fourth. Declan Carroll has a winner over hurdles at Uttoxeter.
25/06/2011 A good day at Newmarket today for Team Yorkshire with Richard Fahey's Lily's Angel kicking off proceedings when landing the Empress Stakes L (worth a pitiful £12,206 ; appaling for a listed race at 'HQ'). Next up Mark Johnston's Jukebox Jury, off the track for 343 days, won the Fred Archer Stakes L and will presumably now be aimed towards larger prizes on the continent. In the 150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3yo Cup Johnston's Malthouse ran well to pick up the £38,011 second prize. There was no Yorkshire winner of the Northumberland Plate up at Newcastle with Tim Easterby's Deauville Flyer best placed in third, the same position that was taken earlier on the card by David Nicholls' Regal Parade in the Chipchase Stakes G3. Later on however Ruth Carr had a one-two in the £12,462 Totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap and there were also winners for David O'Meara and David Barron. Barron only had one runner at Windsor but his Sirvino landed the prize in the £12,952 Bet On Wimbledon Handicap, 15 minutes after stablemate Bertiewhittle had won the £12,616 Trafford Centre Gift Card Handicap at Chester (where John Quinn had a double) to make it a good day for the Thirsk handler. Evening racing at Doncaster sees Ben Haslam as the only winning local trainer.
22/06/2011 Carlisle's biggest meeting of the year today sees the Yorkshire raiders go through the card. Pride of place goes to Elaine Burke's Miami Gator who landed the £15,542 Carlisle Bell Handicap off bottom weight and to Edwin Tuer's Easy Terms, victorious in the £15,542 Cumberland Plate Handicap. The remainder of the winners were trained by Richard Fahey (a double), Bryan Smart, David O'Meara and Kevin Ryan. Evening racing sees winners for Mark Johnston at both Bath and Kempton.
19/06/2011 The calm after the Royal Ascot storm sees Tom Tate's Distant Memories just hold on by a nose to land the Pontefract Castle Stakes L at, erm, Pontefract, where there are also local winners for Tim Easterby, David Barron, Ollie Pears and Mark Johnston. George Moore provides the sole Yorkshire success at Hexham.
18/06/2011 The last day of Royal Ascot 2011 and there's no joy in the early races but in the Wokingham Handicap David Barron's Waffle runs an excellent race to be narrowly beaten into second place by only a neck. The next is the Duke Of Edinburgh Handicap and in this Mark Johnston gets his second win of the meeting with Fox Hunt. Up at Ayr Geoff Oldroyd's Ladies Are Forever is third in the opening Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes L whilst Tim Easterby's Mariachi Man wins the next, the £15,578 Scottish Sun Handicap. Richard Fahey has double in the next two races and Ruth Carr wins the next and Fahey makes it a treble by taking the last. Winners galore on home turf at Redcar with the locals going through the card thanks to victories for Lawrence Mullaney, John Quinn, Tim Walford, Brian Ellison, Paul Midgley, Ann Duffield, Bryan Smart and Robin Bastiman. Evening racing at Haydock sees yet more winners for Richard Fahey who lands a double whilst Tim Easterby and David O'Meara also find the winners enclosure.
17/06/2011 A much better day at Royal Ascot today. It was again that man Kevin Ryan who led the charge when his Inetrobil was a good second in the opening Albany Stakes G3. Two races later and it was the Coronation Stakes G1 in which Richard Fahey's Barefoot Lady ran yet another excellent race to be third. We then got our second winner of the meeting when Mark Johnston's Namibian landed the Queen's Vase G3 by a neck with stablemate Eternal Heart a further seven lengths back in third (reversing their recent Musselburgh placings) and the third Johnston runner Halifax back in fifth. Finally in the last race, the Buckingham Palace Stakes Handicap Tim Easterby's Striking Spirit was a decent third. Up at Musselburgh there was a double for Noel Wilson as well as winners for Ann Duffield, David Barron, Kevin Ryan and Edwin Tuer. On home soil at Redcar there were wins for David Griffiths, Bryan Smart and Geoff Harker. Evening racing at Newmarket sees winners for James Bethell and Mark Johnston whilst up at Ayr there are winners for Brian Ellison (a double) and David Barron.
16/06/2011 Finally, a Royal Ascot 2011 winner for Yorkshire .... by this stage I would have been happy with a placing ! Yes folks Kevin Ryan's Bapak Chinta landed the opening Norfolk Stakes G2 today by a length, mind you it was downhill after that with no further showings, we should land something else tomorrow though, surely.?!? Ripon saw a double for Ruth Carr and winners for John Quinn, George Moore, Richard Fahey and Paul Midgley, whilst Kevin Ryan and Declan Carroll both had winners at Warwick. Evening racing at Beverley yielded winners for Geoff Oldroyd, Simon West and David Nicholls, whilst Mark Johnston won the opener on Leicester's evening card.
15/06/2011 Another day of disaster and dissapointment at Royal Ascot, the best result for the Tyke's today was Brian Ellison's Pendragon finishing fourth in the Royal Hunt Cup. There's a double at Hamilton for Kevin Ryan and winners for Paul Midgley, Mark Johnston, Declan Carroll and David Nicholls. Evening racing saw winners at Ripon for Brian Ellison, Tim Easterby, Geoff Harker, Mick Easterby and James Bethell whilst David Nicholls had a winner at Kempton.
14/06/2011 Royal Ascot day one and Yorkshire dreams of glory are scattered all over the Berkshire turf with not a single placing from seventeen runners on the card. The sole crumbs of comfort (sort of) came in the closing Windsor Castle Stakes L which was won by David Brown's Frederick Engels (Brown was until recently Yorkshire based but is now in Nottinghamshire) and the second horse was the Keith Dalgleish trained Stonefield Flyer. Rather closer to home at Thirsk there are winners for Tim Easterby (a double), Edwin Tuer and Kevin Ryan.
12/06/2011 Yet another black type win for David Nicholls' Inxile who lands the Galtee Midsummer Sprint Stakes L at Cork by 3/4 of a length. As usual there's a distinct lack of local winners at Doncaster with only Brian Ellison scoring.
11/06/2011 Only two local winners at York today but they're good ones. Following doubles for both Tim and Mick Easterby at York yesterday today's opening combined both sides of the family with Mick's granddaughter Jacqueline Coward winning the opening Queen Mother's Cup Handicap aboard Crackentorp for her mother's cousin Tim Easterby. Two races later Easterby's Cocktail Charlie is second in the £51,808 Bond Tyres Trophy Handicap but the winner was Kevin Ryan's Lexi's Hero, a very valuable win for the Hambleton trainer. There were also two Yorkshire winners at Chester with the highlight being Mark Johnston's Jutland winning the £22,709 Bet at Corbettsports.com Handicap, the other winner was provided by Brian Ellison. No winners at Sandown although Kevin Ryan's Our Jonathan was a good second in the £21,808 Totesport 0800 221 221 Handicap and Bryan Smart's Move In Time third in the Scurry Stakes L. Over sticks Kate Walton won the opener at Hexham.
05/06/2011 No joy in the meagre domestic offerings today but David Nicholls' Inxile was third in the Prix du Gros-Chene G2 at Chantilly, just a short head in front of Tim Easterby's Hamish McGonagall.
04/06/2011 There may have been no Yorkshire runners in the Derby (or the Oaks yesterday for that matter) but the Yorkshire raiders still had an excellent day down on Epsom Downs which started when the Mark Johnston trained Fulbright took the Woodcote Stakes L with Kevin Ryan's On The Dark Side back in third. The next was the Diomed Stakes G3 in which David Nicholls' St.Moritz was a good second. Next up was the £46,732 Investec Entrepreneurial Class 'Dash' Handicap and this saw an excellent one-two for Tim Easterby with his top-weighted Captain Dunne landing the spoils from stablemate Confessional. Mark Johnston then proceeded to win the race after the Derby with Fox Hunt. Racing up at Musselburgh saw an equally strong performance with all the races apart from the opener going to Yorkshire stables .... sort of. David Brown's Frederick Engels, a twice run maiden, put up a good performance to land the second race, but unfortunately he has recently moved to Averham Park in Nottinghamshire, but the big win was in the next which was the £49,848 Totesport.com Edinburgh Gold Cup which went to Mark Johnston's Eternal Heart (a half brother to Yavana's Pace and Littlepacepaddocks) with Richard Fahey's Mica Mika in second and the Johnston pair of Namibian and Swift Alhaarth making up the minor placings. The next was the £24,924 Totescoop6 Scottish Sprint Cup Handicap in which Tim Etherington's renaissance continued with his Burning Thread coming home the 50-1 winner ahead of Bryan's Smart's bottom weighted Verinco and Richard Fahey's top weighted Kaldoun Kingdom. Richard Fahey, David Barron and Mark Johnston then took the last three races up in Edinburgh. As often seems to be the case the locals did less well at Doncaster but there were still winners for David O'Meara and Tom Tate, whilst Ben Haslam had a winner at Hexham. Evening racing at Newcastle saw winners for Nigel Tinkler (with the Burton Agnes bred debutante Belle Chance) and Brian Ellison. Roll on Royal Ascot !
29/05/2011 No domestic winners today from limited pickings but over in Hong Kong Dim Sum, bred by the late Leslie Carey at Tibthorpe Stud, wins the Sha Tin Vase Handicap G3 to take his lifetime earnings close to £800k.
28/05/2011 A packed bank holiday Saturday of racing with the main meeting being held at Haydock where there are no Yorkshire winners although David Nicholls' Regal Parade put up a strong performance to be second in the feature race, the John Of Gaunt Stakes G3. At Newmarket Richard Fahey's Majestic Myles took the £27,416 Coral.co.uk Sprint Handicap. Closer to home Beverley saw the locals go through the card with winners for Mark Johnston, Kevin Ryan, Geoff Harker, Richard Fahey, Robin Bastiman, John Quinn and Bryan Smart whilst at Catterick there were winners for Richard Whitaker, David Griffiths and Ollie Pears. Evening racing at Cartmel sees a winner for George Moore.
26/05/2011 An excellent evening at Sandown for David O'Meara when Blue Bajan provides the Nawton trainer with his first group winner when landing the Henry II Stakes G2 by two and a half lengths. In the prior race Mark Johnston's Bannock was a decent second in the National Stakes L. Earlier in the day there were winners at Ayr for Nigel Tinkler, Richard Fahey, Ruth Carr, Elaine Burke and Richard Whitaker. Evening racing at Newcastle meanwhile provided winners for Richard Fahey, Mark Johnston (a double) and David Nicholls whilst Micky Hammond and Philip Kirby had winners at Wetherby.
21/05/2011 A good day at the Curragh today with David Barron's Hitchens taking the Greenlands Stakes G3 from Kevin Ryan's Tiddliwinks (homebred by Guy Reed at Copgrove), reversing their respective Duke of York Stakes form. Kevin Ryan has the upper hand closer to home at York though with Masamah landing the £28,494 sportingbet.com Sprint Handicap. Ryan doubled up in the maiden whilst there were also Knavesmire winners for Ann Duffield, Richard Fahey and Brian Ellison. No joy for Yorkshire in the big races at Haydock with Robin Bastiman's Borderlescott finishing best to be fourth in the Temple Stakes G2 although Paul Midgley did win the closing race. At Chester there was a double for Mark Johnston and yet another winner for Kevin Ryan whilst Richard Fahey also had a winner.
15/05/2011 No joy for Wootton Bassett today, although he did manage not-a-complete-disaster fifth, but it's a Yorkshire 1-2 in the Prix de Saint-Georges G3 at Longchamp with David Nicholls' Inxile coming home a nose ahead of Tim Easterby's Captain Dunne. Tim Easterby, David O'Meara, Richard Fahey and Ann Duffield have winners at Ripon whilst there is also a winner at Market Rasen for Philip Kirby.
14/05/2011 With no Yorkshire runners in the Lockinge today was a bit of a let down after the Dante meeting, however there was a good result at Newmarket where Mark Johnston's Yorgunnabelucky took the £27,416 Eddie Stobart Handicap. There were local winners at Thirsk for Richard Fahey (a double), David O'Meara, Brian Ellison, Robin Bastiman, Kevin Ryan (Le Toreador, homebred by Guy Reed at Copgrove) and Mick Easterby. Richard Fahey provides the sole local winner at Doncaster's evening meeting. Tomorrow at Longchamp we have two runners in the Prix Saint-Georges G3 and the mighty Wootton Bassett goes in the Poule d'Essai des Poulains G1 , aka the French 2,000 Guineas.
13/05/2011 Third and final day of the Dante Meeting and it's the best of the three for the local runners. Richard Fahey led the way by winning the opening two races ; the Marygate Stakes L with Miss Work Of Art (with Mark Johnston's Vocational back in second) and the £25,904 Jorvik Handicap with Tepmokea. Next was the Doncaster Cup G2 and although we didn't win this there was an excellent performance by David O'Meara's new recruit Blue Bajan to be second. Next up was the Michael Seely Memorial Stakes L and Elaine Burke's Wrekin Sunset did well to be placed third here. To cap an excellent afternoon Mick Easterby then won the next two races (one with the Yapham Mill bred Hoof It); to add to his winner yesterday. Evening racing at Hamilton saw Richard Fahey's Cracking Lass and Brian Ellison's Moyenne Corniche finish second and third respectively in the Braveheart Handicap L whilst there were winners in the supporting races for Kevin Ryan, Richard Fahey and Ann Duffield. At Newcastle's evening meeting there were winners for Tim Easterby (a double), Richard Fahey and Ron Barr whilst Kate Walton won the Novices' Hurdle at Aintree.
12/05/2011 Day two of the Dante Meeting and again the locals did well with David Nicholls' St Moritz leading the way by landing the Hambleton Handicap L by a head and there were other wins on the card for Mick Easterby and Tim Pitt.
11/05/2011 Day one of York's Dante meeting, arguably my favourite meeting of the year (although this year I'm not going for the first time in about five years!). It's a fairly good start for the locals on the Knavesmire with wins for Richard Fahey and Alan Swinbank whilst Fahey's Lady Barefoot is only beaten a head when second in the Musidora Stakes G3 and the Yorkshire trio of Regal Parade (David Nicholls), Tiddliwinks (Kevin Ryan homebred by Guy Reed at Copgrove) and Hitchens (David Barron) pick up second, third and fourth places respectively in the Duke Of York Stakes G2.
07/05/2011 Mark Johnston's Dordogne, who blotted his copybook last time out in what was apparently unsuitable going, put up a good performance today to land the Lingfield Derby Trial Stakes G3, although arguably stablemate Hurricane Higgins put up the more alluring performance, finishing second he was all over the track in the closing stages and appeared to have plenty left in the tank at the end. Neither colt in likely to be supplemented for the Derby and the King Edward VII Stakes at Royal Ascot is more likely at this time. This was Yorkshire second group winner in two days, and the fifth of the season thus far. Johnston also had a winner at Haydock where David Nicholls' Redford was third in the Spring Trophy Stakes L. Kevin Ryan had a double at Nottingham (with Dickie's Lad landing his maiden by 14 lengths!) where Tim Easterby was also amongst the winners, and Sue Smith won the bumper at Hexham. Evening racing at Thirsk yielded winners for David Nicholls, Alan Swinbank, Edwin Tuer and Ruth Carr.
06/05/2011 The third, final and best day of the Chester May meeting for the Yorkshire raiders starts well when Richard Fahey's Kyllachy Star lands the opening £15,770 Layla Hotel Earl Grosvenor Handicap and the Musley Bank team double up in the next when Glen's Diamond wins the recognised Derby trial the Dee Stakes G3, although he won't be going to Epsom and is seen more as a stayer in the making, with the Melbourne Cup already being talked of, even at this early stage. The last two races go to Ruth Carr and a possibly-hitting-form Mark Johnston. Elsewhere Kevin Ryan and Elaine Burke have winners at Nottingham. Evening racing at Ascot sees a winner for Elaine Burke who makes it three wins at three courses with a winner at Hamilton where Kevin Ryan (a double), Ann Duffield, Richard Fahey and Ruth Carr also have winners. Local trainers go through the card at Ripon with wins for George Moore (a double), Ann Duffield, Tim Easterby, Tom Tate and David Barron.
05/05/2011 Day Two of the Chester May meeting, we had a modest start yesterday with just the one winner (Richard Fahey's Lily's Angel making it three in a row in the appropriate Lily Agnes Conditions Stakes) but did much better today. Leading the way was Mark Johnston who had a valuable double with Crown Counsel winning the £14,193 Boodles Diamond Eternity Handicap and Jutland the £14,193 Times+ Handicap. There were also winners for Richard Fahey and Kevin Ryan whilst Tom Tate's Distant Memories made a good start to his season when second in the Huxley Stakes G3.
03/05/2011 It has been announced today that popular former trainer David Chapman died in York Hospital last night after collapsing during evening stables at his yard at Stillington, now run by his granddaughter Ruth Carr. Chapman, aged 77, was well known for his training of tough and popular sprint handicappers such as Chaplins Club, Glencroft, Absolution, Sully's Choice and Redoubtable and his last good horse was the excellent Quito. However he will probably always be best remembered as the trainer of the remarkable 'rags to riches' sprinter Soba (bred at Bramham by his sister Muriel Hills) who was unfortunate to be racing at the same time as Habibti but still managed to win the King George Stakes G3, the Scarborough Stakes L (twice), the Stewards Cup (in a new track record) and the Great St Wilfrid Handicap as well as finishing runner up to Habibti in the King's Stand Stakes G1, July Cup G1, Vernons Sprint Cup G2 and the Prix de l'Abbaye G1. At Newcastle this afternoon there were winners for Richard Fahey, Mick Easterby and, appropriately, David Nicholls, who rode Soba. Evening racing at Catterick saw winners for Ann Duffield, David Nicholls, Micky Hammond, Paul Midgley and Ron Barr.
01/05/2011 No real joy at Newmarket today, although Richard Fahey's Barefoot Lady was a thoroughly respectable fifth in the 1,000 Guineas G1, only just edged out of fourth place and there were some minor placings in some of the supporting races. Up at Hamilton there was a double for Kevin Ryan and other winners for Alan Swinbank, Paul Midgley, Mark Johnston and David Nicholls.
30/04/2011 Inspired by the mighty Frankel in the previous race (the 2,000 Guineas) Bryan Smart's Tangerine Trees put up a blistering performance in the Palace House Stakes G3 to lead from start to finish and put Royal Ascot firmly on the map, albeit with a possible diversion to Sandown en route. At Goodwood Tim Easterby's Off Chance (homebred by Brook Holliday) put up yet another strong performance to be third in the Conqueror Stakes L. At Thirsk it was a local 1-2-3 in the £12,952 Thirsk Hunt Cup with Richard Fahey's Justonefortheroad coming home ahead of David Nicholls' Snow Bay and Mick Easterby's Space War. Other local winners at Thirsk were provided by Ruth Carr (a double), David Barron, Tim Easterby, Uncle Mick Easterby (the Hedgeholme Stud bred Iceblast) and Kevin Ryan (the Manor House Stud bred Oldjoesaid). Evening racing at Doncaster sees winners for Elaine Burke, Linda Stubbs and Bryan Smart.
27/04/2011 More black type for the David Nicholls trained St Moritz when he is second in the Paradise Stakes L at Ascot today where earlier Richard Fahey's promising two-year-old filly Miss Work Of Art had made it two out of two when landing the opening conditions race. Elsewhere there were winners at Pontefract for David Barron, Mark Johnston and Tim Easterby and at Newcastle for Jedd O'Keeffe, Edwin Tuer, David Nicholls and Robin Bastiman.
24/04/2011 Yorkshire's great colts classic hope (with Wootton Bassett not running in the guineas), Mark Johnston's Dordogne, ran a stinker today to finish last in the bet365 Classic Trial Stakes G3. Better news for Johnston at Musselburgh where Yavana's Pace's 1/2 brother Eternal Heart won the maiden and there were also winners for Richard Fahey (a double), Brian Ellison, David Nicholls and Paul Midgley.
23/04/2011 An absolutely fantastic day for the Yorkshire trainers and we can only start at Sandown where Ferdy Murphy's Poker de Sivola put up the performance of his life to land the bet365 Gold Cup Gd3 having slowly worked his way through the field over the last circuit. Two races later and Tom Tate's Kings Gambit put up an equally strong performance, but the opposite way around, taking the Gordon Richards Stakes G3 by a short head, having led all the way. Over at Cork David Nicholls' Inxile made it two listed wins in eight days when winning the Cork Stakes L. At Musselburgh there was a Richard Fahey treble (including Glen's Diamond in the £12,462 Racing UK Handicap and High Office in the £12,462 Musselburgh Gold Cup Handicap), whilst Tim Easterby's Hamish McGonagall took the £12,462 Scottish Racing Conditions Stakes and there were also winners for Lawrence Mullaney and Brian Ellison. Philip Kirby had a hurdles winner at Haydock where Ferdy Murphy's Watch My Back was second in the £21,917 betfair.com/Paul Nicholls Handicap Chase and there were winners at Carlisle for Sue Smith and Harry Hogarth. Evening racing at Kelso sees a double for Tim Easterby as well as a winner for Kate Walton.
16/04/2011 An excellent day for David Nicholls with Inxile landing the Woodlands Stakes L at Naas and Light From Mars the £18,693 Spring Cup Handicap at Newbury, not to mention landing the opening two races at Ripon, where Tim Easterby also had a winner. Over jumps at Ayr it was Graham Lee taking the plaudits with wins on Malcolm Jefferson's Gilbarry in the Scottish Sun Future Champion Novices' Chase Gd2 (by a facile 16 lengths) and on Ferdy Murphy's Beggars Cap in the £14,311 Scotty Brand Handicap Chase. Evening racing sees yet more joy for David Nicholls with St Moritz landing the Doncaster Mile L from Tim Easterby's Off Chance (homebred by Brook Holliday) in second and Tom Tate's Balcarce Nov in third, other local winners on Town Moor comes from Richard Fahey, Alan Swinbank and James Bethell, whilst Haydock's evening meet yields wins for Tom Tate, Richard Fahey, Elaine Burke and Ruth Carr.
13/04/2011 The opening day of Newmarket's Craven meeting (which many regard as the true start of the season) and it's an excellent day for the Yorkshire raiders with Richard Fahey's largely unheralded Barefoot Lady landing the Nell Gwyn Stakes G3 and stablemate Sir Reginald taking the home £83,653 when coming home first in the £150,000 Tattersalls Millions 3yo Sprint. Not to be outdone Mark Johnston's Dordogne lands the Feilden Stakes L. On the jumps side of the equation Ferdy Murphy's De Boitron is third in the Masterson Holdings Silver Trophy Chase Handicap Gd2 at Cheltenham whilst at less exulted levels there are winners for Tim Easterby, David O'Meara and Noel Wilson at Catterick and over jumps at Southwell for Ferdy Murphy and Philip Kirby.
09/04/2011 No joy on the National card for the Yorkshire stables. On home soil at Thirsk there were winners for David Nicholls (a treble), Tom Tate and Tim Walford. Mick Easterby had a winner over hurdles at Bangor. Evening racing at Wolverhampton sees a winner for Ollie Pears.
07/04/2011 Day One of the Aintree festival and there's no real joy for the Yorkshire runners who've made their way over the Pennines, although Ferdy Murphy's I'm Delilah is decent enough third in the £34,206 Red Rum Handicap Chase. Meanwhile back in God's Own County the locals almost go through the card at Ripon, only failing in the last race, with winners for Tim Easterby, David Nicholls (a double), Richard Fahey, Mark Johnston and Ruth Carr.
02/04/2011 This is more like it, albeit the main success of the day did come on the all-weather at Kempton where Richard Fahey's Cosmic Sun landed the £18,693 Rosebery Handicap, although stablemate Brae Hill won almost as much money when second in the Lincoln Handicap at Doncaster, in which Bryan Smart's Dubai Hills was third. However there was no joy in any of the other main races today although the locals did take the last three races on Town Moor courtesy of Tim Easterby, John Quinn and Elaine Burke.
30/03/2011 Proper racing (on the green stuff, no fences) started again today ...... at Catterick of all places, whoever is in charge of marketing at the BHB should be ..... sacked. Anyway, the locals did well at the kick off with winners for Kevin Ryan, John Quinn (a double), Brian Ellison, Paul Midgley and Alan Brown. Richard Fahey's sole runner at Lingfield was a winner.
26/03/2011 No real joy today in the big races at Lingfield, although David Nicholls' Silaah was second in the Hever Sprint Stakes L. Sue Smith had a winner at Bangor.
19/03/2011 Only one winner today, courtesy of Kate Walton at Newcastle, however Yorkshire racing followers will no doubt take interest in the winner of the opening race at Lingfield, Frequency, who was the first winner in the nascent training career of former Middleham based jockey Keith Dalgleish, who was forced into early retirement aged 21 with weight difficulties. Dalgleish, having ridden work for former governor Mark Johnston since his retirement from the racetrack and had a spell breaking yearlings, has taken over as the salaried trainer at Belstane Racing Stables at Carluke in Lanarkshire, owned by Gordon McDowell.
18/03/2011 No joy at all on the final day of the Cheltenham Festival although it's winners galore elsewhere with a Mark Johnston double at Lingfield, a Brian Ellison winner at Fakenham, a winner at Wolverhampton for David Barron and a winner at Deauville for Mark Johnston.
17/03/2011 The penultimate day of the Cheltenham Festival sees Ferdy Murphy's Kalahari King run a blinder to be second on the Ryanair Chase Festival Trophy Gd1 ; his third placing in a festival Grade One race in three years ! Andy Crook has a winner at Hexham whilst there are flat winners at Wolverhampton for Kevin Ryan and Julie Camacho.
16/03/2011 Day Two of Cheltenham and whilst we have no winners today there is a good result when Brian Ellison's Bothy (always the bridesmaid) is second in the Coral Cup Handicap Hurdle Gd3. On the flat there is a double at Southwell for Bryan Smart whilst David Nicholls also has a winner.
15/03/2011 Day One of the Cheltenham Festival and it seems like a poor start for the small band of Yorkshire raiders until the last race when Ferdy Murphy's Divers pops up to land the Centenary Novices' Handicap Chase L. Meanwhile there were winners at Southwell for David Barron (a double), David O'Meara, Mick Easterby and David Nicholls.
12/03/2011 Only one winner over jumps today, with Sue Smith having a winner up at Ayr. Better news on the all-weather at Wolverhampton where David Nicholls' Docofthebay was second in the Lady Wulfruna Stakes L, with Tim Easterby's Malcheek third. There were also winners at Wolves for Mark Johnston (who's Tartan Gigha was second in the Lincoln Trial), Kevin Ryan and David Barron.
26/02/2011 An excellent day at Lingfield with four Yorkshire winners, the highlight being David Barron's Waveband landing the Cleves Stakes L by a neck, short head and head whilst the other winners came from Mark Johnston, Kevin Ryan and Tom Tate. Meanwhile over fences at Newcastle there were winners for Sue Smith and Tim Easterby whilst Kate Walton's Morgan Be was third in the Eider Handicap Chase, albeit some considerable distance behind the two in front.
19/02/2011 Another good placing for a Brian Ellison runner, this time at Haydock where Neptune Equester is third in the Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle Gd2. Sue Smith also had a winner at Haydock whilst there were also winners for Linda Stubbs and Richard Fahey at Lingfield.
18/02/2011 The restaged Newbury meeting sees an excellent result for the Tykes in the totesport Trophy Handicap Hurdle Gd3 with John Quinn's Recession Proof coming home in first place from Brian Ellison's Bothy in second. At Wolverhampton there are winners for Kevin Ryan and Mick Easterby.
17/02/2011 David Nicholls' Silaah puts up by far his best performance since joining Nicholls when second in the Attijari Al Islami Visa Infinite Card Handicap at Meydan today, picking up £19,230 for his efforts. Nicholls also scored a double at Wolverhampton whilst Kevin Ryan had a winner at Southwell with Steed ; his fifth win on the trot.
07/02/2011 There will be a Stallion Parade at Hedgeholme Stud on Sunday 13th Feb, between 10am and 12pm. Anyone planning to attend should contact Andrew Spalding on 07990 518751.
05/02/2011 Dim Sum, bred by the late Leslie Carey at Tibthorpe Stud, wins the Chairman's Sprint Prize G1 at Sha Tin for the second time. At Wetherby Malcolm Jefferson's Cape Tribulation is a good second in the Towton Novices' Chase Gd2 whilst there are winners for Chris Fairhurst and John Quinn (a double).
16/01/2011 Dim Sum, bred by the late Leslie Carey at Tibthorpe Stud, is a decent second in the Centenary Sprint Cup G1 at Sha Tin today. Domestically Sally Hall has her first flat winner since February last year at Southwell, where Kevin Ryan also tastes victory.
15/01/2011 A treble in consecutive races for Tim Easterby at Wetherby today, where Sue Smith also has a winner. No luck for Bocamix down at Kempton but there's another nice result for Brian Ellison when his Palomar is third in the Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle.
13/01/2011 A good result at Meydan today for David Nicholls when Inxile picks up £14,102 when second in the Conquest Conditions Race. Domestically Micky Hammond lands a double at Catterick whilst there are winners at Southwell for Noel Wilson, Bryan Smart and Richard Fahey.
08/01/2011 A fantastic day for Brian Ellison today when his Marsh Marbler makes it three in a row to land the Coral Future Champions Finale Juvenile Hurdle Gd1 at Chepstow; his first winner at the highest level. Elsewhere Tom Tate has a winner at Sandown and Mark Johnston at Lingfield.

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