| What a great day we had at Ffos Las on Thursday, with yet another double on the card!
Bolsover Bill was first to go, straight off the back of his win the previous week at Catterick- he and Dylan Kitts (7) were reunited, this time in the Handicap Chase over 2 miles. Warren thought the shortened trip on heavy ground would play to Bill’s strengths, and he was absolutely right! Bolsover Bill jumped boldly the whole way round for Dylan and travelled very comfortably, before taking up the mantle 4 out, and storming up the home straight to win by 4 and a quarter lengths!
This made it 3 back-to-back wins for Bolsover Bill, who has really come into his own since stepping up to the larger obstacles. It is great to see a horse like this who was bought by Warren and Tessa as a store horse for Jim and Claire Bryce and have had to be very patient with him, as he hasn’t always been entirely straight forward on the track! He has now hit his rhythm, and hopefully he should have a few more wins ahead of him!
   
Next to go was Art Of Illusion in the 2m 5f Handicap Chase, with James Bowen on board. Having previously won over 3 miles, Warren felt the shorter trip on Heavy ground would also be the best option for Art Of Illusion, and yet again, it produced a winner!
Art Of Illusion raced prominently throughout and jumped well, the left handed track seemed to play to his strengths and when he hit the front 2 fences out, he battled on really gamely under James’ strong drive to come home in front by 1 and a half lengths.
Again, it is great to see this horse grow in confidence and get his head in front yet again for his owner Alex Pegley. Unfortunately Alex couldn’t be at Ffos Las as he is on holiday skiing, but we heard he had fun celebrating his win Apres- Ski!
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| ICI LA REINE WINS ON DEBUT
Saturday was a very busy day for the yard with some great runs from the horses, but the highlight of the day was no doubt seeing Ici La Reine win her Bumper on Racecourse Debut!
Ici La Reine made the long trip up to Newcastle for her run in the Sky Sports Racing EBF Mares’ National Hunt Flat Race (Amateur Riders and Conditional Jockeys). She was ridden by our own Dylan Kitts (7), who is riding with great confidence and having a great time of it at the moment, with 3 winners from his last 4 rides!
Ici La Reine settled well and travelled strongly throughout the race, Dylan sat still on her for as long as he could before taking up the lead 2 furlongs out and bounding clear to win by 6 and a half lengths!
This promising young mare is very special to us, as she is related to the great La Bague Au Roi who Warren trained to win multiple races, including a Listed Hurdle, a Grade 2 Hurdle, a Grade 2 Chase and no fewer than two Grade 1 Chases! Warren remains the only British Trainer to have won a Grade 1 Race at the Dublin Horse Racing Festival at Leopardstown, and we have La Bague Au Roi to thank.
What makes it all the more special, is that Ici La Reine is owned by the very same people who owned La Bague Au Roi! Nicky Turner and Jean and Andrew Merriam sourced Ici La Reine as a store horse from the 2021 Goffs Land Rover Sale, having retired La Bague Au Roi earlier in the year. Nicky, Jean and Andrew have been great supporters of Warren over the years and have allowed him to take his time to get this mare ready for the track- and wasn’t she worth the wait?!
A special well done goes to Lucy, who rides Ici La Reine everyday and hones her bountiful energy to great effect, much to look forward to with this mare!
 
A QUIET WEEK
This week will be much more quiet than the last few, as the horses have had their 6-monthly Equine Influenza Vaccinations, and will be taking it easy with quiet exercise, and no entries.
It is a good time for everyone at the yard to have a bit of a mid-season breather, and I’m sure the horses and staff will enter the second half of the season with renewed vigor, ready to keep our winning streak going!
 
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