Monthly Archives: July 2015

26th May  Chicago wins by 15 lengths and the handicapper raises the horse 12 lb 6th June Chicago wins by 21 lengths and the handicapper raises the horse by another 12 lb now up 24 lb 21st June Chicago wins by 1  3/4 lengths and the handicapper raises the horse by another 9 lb now up a whopping 33 lb in 3 weeks Now if I was the handicapper I may be thinking have I over done this a little and been a little harsh on the horse. 18th July Chicago finishes 7th beaten 27 lengths after trying his best to make all in his usual trade mark style and the horse he beat last time out  Green Wizard finishes only 6th in the race 8 lengths in front on 4lb better terms. This suggests the form of his last win may not have been as strong as thought at the time. What does the handicapper do............nothing at all.........I am really pleased we did not get beat by only 17 lengths.......... what would he have done then ?   Raised him another few pounds ? How to frustrate owners! Martin  

Chicago Outfit is heading to Cartmel on Saturday running off his highest ever handicap mark up 33 LB from the start of the season which puts him right up against it. With some top stables represented in this class 3 chase run over 3m 2f  and also meeting the Sue Smith trained Green Wizard on 5 LB worse terms than at Hexham last time out we are  hoping for a solid run and for the horse to come home in one piece. The Cartmel track always attracts a good turn out with a party atmosphere therefore the MGR members are looking forward to a fun day out. Martin      

After a short summer out at grass the Highland and Yorkshire National 3rd place finisher Whats Up Woody had his shoes back on and returned to full training on the 1st July to prepare for an early season staying chase campaign on decent ground. We learnt quite a bit about the horse last season which was his first season for the Bewley's and hopefully  now we know what conditions he likes he will get his head in front in the not to distant future and even better if he followed in Chicago Outfit's footsteps and run up a three timer! I have two 5% shares left for sale in Woody if anyone is looking for a solid jumping staying chaser who will provide plenty fun days out racing this season and hopefully bring home some decent prize money from the Northern tracks. I was also pleased to hear that Innis Shannon has returned to full training as I am expecting this 5yo mare to step up a couple of gears in mares maiden or novice hurdle races on soft ground. I must also take my hat off to the top Irish trainer Gordon Elliott who performed an astute bit of sales business by purchasing Romany Ryme rather cheaply at Doncaster sales in May and then an even better training performance to have the horse very fit to win first time out at Perth last week in doing so breaking the horses duck over hurdles. I am really pleased the horse is thriving and  he may well go on a bit of a run and notch up another win or two. Martin