First of all, a Happy New Year to all of our owners, supporters and readers of the blog - hopefully it’s a happy, healthy and prosperous one for everyone.
We kicked off 2022 with one runner at Musselburgh yesterday, Diable De Sivola ridden by his owner Will Ramsay. Once again Will gave him a fantastic ride as he took a step forward from the Kelso run in December to finish third. At one stage coming round the bottom bend we thought he might even win it! We were all thrilled with the way he ran and again top marks to the jockey taking on the professionals for only the second time. We'll look for another opportinity now for them in the weeks ahead.
We head to Ayr with two runners today, with Rath an Iuir making his long-awaited and eagerly-anticipated comeback. First FAMOUS MOMENT (12.45) will line up in the 2m4f handicap hurdle. He struck into himself at Perth back in May, so that’s why his reappearance this season has been delayed until now. There’s no doubt he has been a bit disappointing so far but, having said that, he’s on a good rating and is going well at home.
When we stepped him up to two-and-a-half at Perth he definitely ran better so after today we will probably move him up again. The ground at Ayr will be an unknown so we’ll see how he gets on with that, but hopefully we’ll get an encouraging comeback with plenty to look forward to going into the second half of the season.
RATH AN IUIR (3.40) was our most exciting novice chaser last season, winning his first two races and looking set to take us to some big days. Unfortunately he fractured his pedal bone in a freak accident at home so it has been a long way back, especially as his return has been delayed further by a splint.
But he’s back and ready to go so we’re excited to get him back on the track again. We have had him entered before now, including at Haydock the other day, but we felt this would be the better option. The ground will suit him, it can’t be soft enough underfoot for him really. He’s not a showy horse on the gallops, he wouldn’t be one to blow you away, but he’s done it on the track for us and that’s what counts, so we have every reason to believe he’ll retain his ability after almost four hundred days out.
It’s a competitive race and he’s been away from it for a long time so we’ll just see how he goes and the main thing is getting him out again. Hopefully after the race, he'll have run well and we’re looking forward to the next few months planning nice targets for him.