I dreamt of owning a racehorse ever since those first vists to Taunton Races at the age of 11. Those dreams came true when my friends and I bought our first horse, a 4 year old mare called Tashlee Grove in training with our friend Brian Forsey when I was 18. She never got to the racecourse but a few horses later I had my first ever winner in my own colours on 14th May 1991, when Lady Primrose won a selling handicap hurdle at Newton Abbot under young jump jockey Carl Llewellyn (who went on to win the Grand National on Party Politics the following spring).

There followed one more winner in my colours (Aldahe at Lingfield Park over hurdles) before grown up things like work, mortgage, marriage and children took up more of my finances. I became a serial Syndicate member with Elite, Full Circle, Henry Ponsonby to name but a few before I took a share in Outset with Mark Kilner Racing. Outset was very successful on both the flat and over jumps and took me to some big racedays which gave me a taste of the life of the owner.

In Autumn 2005, I took the plunge and took a share in a 2 horse syndicate with Highclere Thoroughbred Racing. The 2 horses were Squadron trained by Amanda Perrett and Treat trained by Mick Channon. Treat surpassed all my wildest dreams by finishing 2nd in the Fillies Mile at Ascot as a 2 year old and then 4th in the 1000 Guineas before eventually being sold to Sheik Mohammed to stand at Darley Stud in Japan.

In Jan 2008, I bought into my first horse managed by Middleham Park Racing, Bonnie Prince Blue, quickly followed by my first 2 year old Victoire de Lyphar. I have become very impressed by the syndicate and Nick, Tim and Mike who run it and have got carried away to the extent of now owning shares (generally 5 percent) of 18 different horses in separate syndicates with MPR.

I thought I would share my thoughts and experiences with anyone who might be interested. If you have any interest in racing, I hope that my experiences may tempt you into the wonderful world of racehorse ownership.

I hope you enjoy reading my blog.

Saturday 23 March 2013

THE STUBBORN ONE

THE STUBBORN ONE
 
 
 
Wednesday at the Cheltenham Festival was a massive day for the Twiston-Davies team as Sam drove The New One home, clear of Irish hotpot Pont Alexandre for his Dad Nigel, to set up a great week for the team, despite the pre-festival concerns over a bug in the yard.
 
 

Thursday brought the excitement of Mad Moose's intended run in the Byrne Group Plate. The meeting already had a sense of perspective as I was attending, as usual, with my brother Pete, who was recovering from a heart attack, only 3 weeks previously, so we were determined to enjoy our day.

The previous day, I had bumped into Oli Bell from Racing UK, who had been in touch, following reading my blog and we had agreed to meet up to do a piece for Racing UK about Mad Moose's chances and the excitement of having a runner at the festival. To my delight, we were able to do this on Thursday and Oli had mentioned that Moose was 'Quirky' to which I replied that he wasn't called Mad Moose for nothing. Neither of us or the Racing UK viewers were to know that this was to be a portent of what was to happen later in the afternoon.

Immediately after Solwhit had won the World Hurdle, we rushed down to the pre-parade ring to see our hero being saddled. Moose looked relaxed and was in tip top form, with everything in his favour. In the parade ring amongst the throng of connections of 24 horses, Sam was his usual really positive self, letting us know how he was going to hold on to Moose for as long as possible before going for it from the bottom of the mighty Cheltenham hill.

We rushed up to the Owners and Trainers viewing area, just behind Venetia Williams and her owners and exchanged Best of Lucks with Tim Vaughan, standing alongside of us. As had been the case all week, the horses were at the start very early and they circled for what seemed like ages before the crowd's roar told us that the horses were rushing out through the small gap to the shute to the very close starting line. Watching on the Big Screen, the field rushed to the first fence to be greeted by the Flag Man and the starter calling them back. No sight of Mad Moose until he was walked into view as the field regrouped at the starting line. Unfortunately the starter didn't ask them to circle to get Moose back into the group, so sadly the inevitable happened when he let them go again and Moose stood stock still as the field went on their way. After removing Head from Hands, we watched the finish before rushing back to the unsaddling for the story from Sam.

Sam's smile had turned to a scowl by the time he rode the 'Quirky' Mad Moose back to greet us. No reason but 'The Stubborn One' had just dug his heels in with no warning and from then on was never going to start. Sam was annoyed, Nigel embarrassed and the owners a mixture of amazement, laughter and disbelief. But as we said the Nigel, there's always another day.

Hindsight is a marvellous thing but the sight of the screens around the stricken Matuhi, who had fallen when challenging at the last in our race, was a real smack of perspective, as sadly were the horrific injuries that took jockey JT McNamara off to Frenchay hospital, where he still lies one week later.

Our prayers and sympathies are with JT and his family as they watch over him and not to forget the owners and stable staff of the David Pipe trained Matuhi, who lost his life when challenging for the lead at the last fence. Not for them the chance to pat their horse and call him a 'Naughty Boy' and refer to him as 'Quirky' next time he runs.

Mad Moose (The Stubborn One) will be back to prove himself at either Aintree or Punchestown (or both) and we might just leave him in a couple of races - 'JUST IN CASE!!!'





Sunday 10 March 2013

IS IT MADNESS TO BELIEVE WE CAN WIN AT THE FESTIVAL?

It's Cheltenham Eve and I'm lucky enough to have an interest in a horse entered in two races this week, giving me the chance to have a runner at the Festival for the second year running.

MAD MOOSE exceeded all expectations last month when finishing an amazing second to Jump Racing Superstar SPRINTER SACRE in the Grade 1 Victor Chandler Chase. This was Moose's best ever performance and earnt him a 5lb rise from the handicapper. During the week we toyed with the possibility of spending £17,500 to supplement Moose for the Champion Chase and another showdown with the Sprinter. In the end all horses stood their ground,, so we decided to stick to the handicap route of either the Byrne Group Plate over 2m 5f on Thursday or the Grand Annual over 2m on Friday. As Sam Twiston-Davies gets on so well with Moose, we will run where Sam is able to ride, with Moose being pretty adaptable between 2m and 3m.

As the weeks have approached, my enthusiasm and positivity have increased and I cannot see how Moose is not a much shorter price for either handicap, given his last run. I'm sure if Somersby was entered off Moose's mark he would be single figures but Moosie stands at a lovely 33/1 for either race, to my biased mind, an enormous price given his brilliant course form.

But surely the bookies can't be wrong, His 2nd to Sprinter Sacre must have been a complete fluke, as must his previous good runs against Top Class opposition.Surely he can't win a big Cheltenham Handicap off his increased weight - after all, these races are won by unexposed types from France (usually trained by Henderson, Nicholls or Pipe)




But Moose doesn't know how to run a bad race and come race time his loyal owners will lap up the atmosphere in the Parade ring before young Sam comes and explains how he is going to win and then we will make our way up to the viewing steps to watch through shaking binoculars.

He's already given us some amazing days and we love him to bits (as do his adoring Cheltenham Fan Club), but if he could get us into the winners enclosure, then Dreams will be coming true.

AND WHAT ABOUT IF HE WINS.............................

Friday 1 March 2013

NAME THAT HORSE?

As Cheltenham approaches I have a connundrum for you.

The horse in question has performed as follows over the last 15 months:

Grade 2 Novice Chase - 2nd to Silvianaco Conti

Grade 2 Novice Chase - 3rd to Bob's Worth and Cue Card

Grade 1 Hurdle - 4th to Zarkandar, Rock on Ruby and Grandouet

Grade 1 Chase - 2nd to Sprinter Sacre

Now I know I'm incredibly biased but that's one hell of a Cheltenham 2013 Who's Who.

 
 
Our superstar MAD MOOSE is back on track for the festival after his heroics at Cheltenham last month behind Sprinter Sacre.
 
Only raised 5 lbs by the handicapper he is back to a mark only 1 lb higher than when he finished 3rd at Cheltenham over 3m when he was still learning the game l5 months ago.
 
Racing Post Ratings have Moose only 2lbs behind the Pipe Hot Pot, BALLYNAGOUR but still 33/1 NRNB with Paddy Power for the Byrne Group Plate and 33s generally.
 
 
Now, I know I'm biased but..................................??