News

Please note that our Syndicates (Aconitum and Dolly Will Do) have shares available and our Racing Club is now available for membership - please phone Kay on 01980 862574 or 07769 534147 for more info....

Before we get into today's racing I want to mention Neil's first season as a Trainer. He finished 54 in the trainer's table with a total of 17 winners (16 NH 1 Flat). How brilliant is that! If you have never seen the trainers table - take time to have a look at the statistics page on the Racing Post website and you will realise how well Neil did in his first season. There are lots of other trainers on that table that would have been very pleased to have finished where Neil did - so congratulations to Neil, Liz, Georgie, Johnnie and all the team at Larkinglass. Everyone played a part in the yard's success but a special WELL DONE to Neil!

Now for the racing! The rain came just in time for Rhinestone Ruby to be able to run at Wincanton. My rain-dancing paid off! Ruby was entered in the:

2:20

Wincanton Handicap Hurdle

(Class 4) (0-100, 4yo+) 2m Good 8 hdles

Ruby has had a couple of months off and it paid dividends today with her running really well to finish second - only beaten half a length. Ruby has now finished 2nd on 3 occasions! She did look to be enjoying herself today dropping back in trip to two miles - she galloped all the way to the line. Choc Thornton gave her a peach of a ride all the way and was gutted to be "mugged" for 1st as he put it! A lot of credit must go to Neil and the team for getting Ruby back on track. The RP said: Rhinestone Ruby, who appeared not to stay over further on her handicap debut at Huntingdon, was seen to much better effect on this return to 2m and she went for home two out. However, despite rallying best she could on the run-in, she was always being held. There is a small race in her off this sort of mark.

Thank you to everyone who turned up to support Ruby (and me!) today. I really appreciated it!
Ruby coming in 2nd.

Faraday was also in this race and ran well for a long way right up until a mistake at the 2nd last before weakening to finish 7th.

Ruby and Faraday.

Next up in the novice hurdle was Lady Clarke's Barton Lora - Tom Scudamore was on board and pulled her up 3 out and quickly dismounted as he felt she had lost her action but Neil reported later that he thinks she is ok. I hope she is - she is a gorgeous mare.

Neil's next runner was You Can Of Course in the Novice Chase. He was ridden by Harry Skelton to finish 5th. This horse will probably be seen to better advantage in handicap company.

Keepholdin ran in the Handicap Hurdle (4.40pm). He is a beautiful horse as shown below and was ridden today by Aiden Coleman. He hit the 2nd hurdle quite hard and was pulled up 2 out. This horse would probably benefit from softer ground.

Beautiful Keepholdin

Last but not least was the course debut of Ban Uisce. A very gorgeous horse owned the Don't Tell Daddy Partnership. He ran in the maiden hurdle and completed admirably. This was Ban Uisce's first ever time on a racecourse. He ran well before hitting the 3rd from home. After this James Davies brought him home in his own time. This horses day will come.

Gorgeous Ban Uisce

Merlins Mate, owned by Donhead Stud (Paul Brewer) ran in the first division of the bumper at Kempton this evening. He had previously finished mid-division on both of his previous starts and he did so again tonight finishing in 7th place. However, in my opinion, this bumper is going to throw up at least 2 good horses and I believe, in the future, the form of this race will be upheld. Look out for Lush Life and Fidelis, the first two horses home tonight. Lush Life was a £90k purchase as a 3 year old!

Today three runners went to Wincanton. First up was Helen Cross's Normandy Landings, named thus because he was born on 6th June! This was Norman's debut over hurdles. Norman was entered in the

He pulled really hard going into the first hurdle but as soon as the pace increased he settled down into a good rhythm and jumped well. He finished 8th and Daryl Jacob reported that Norman was not suited by the going.

This was her first time out for a while and again it was felt that she was not suited by the going and Dougie Costello pulled her up.

He was travelling and jumping really well until he met one wrong and hit a fence. Dougie pulled him up soon after as he felt that he was no longer travelling as he was and it was found that he had sustained a cut to his stifle after hitting the fence.

Not a good day at the office today but all our horses returned safe and sound and ready to fight another day.

Three runners went to Newton Abbot today. First up was Spiritual Society ridden by the Grand National winning jockey Liam Treadwell. A slightly different venue from last week for Liam! Running in the 2m handicap chase, Spiritual Society ran prominently throughout the race only giving way in the final couple of furlongs. Spiritual Society eventually finished fourth and could probably do with a little reprieve from the handicapper. Then Neil had two runners in the 2m 6f handicap hurdle. Southfield Hall and Colonial Jim finished 8th and 9th respectively.

Larkinglass has had a few runners this week. Aconitum ran at Fontwell on 7th April and finished 6 out of 12 runners. He ran very prominently early on and galloped to the line. We were pleased with his run and he now goes on holiday for a few weeks before returning to mount a campaign over hurdles. Aconitum belongs to the Larkinglass Racing syndicate. The syndicates new year starts on 1st June and there are 3 shares up for grabs at £850.00 each if anyone is interested.

There were 3 runners sent out on 8th April. Wild Lyph and Clovis both went to Brighton. Both horses finished down the field - maybe they were not too keen on Brighton's hill.... Sula's Legend travelled to Hereford and it was hoped that he would run well but he finished 6th.

Yesterday there were 4 runners at Wincanton. The ground was said to be GD, GD-FRM in places but from the times being recorded and the mud on the returning horses and jockeys, it was more like GD-SFT! Winsley Hill ran in the Axminster Carpets Handicap Hurdle and finished 9th. She did not like the ground and ran accordingly. Neil fielded 3 mares in the Mares Novice hurdle. Classical Act and Meet Me At Dawn completed and Hardly Humble pulled up.

Larkinglass has plenty of entries coming up next week - look out for our runners at Newton Abbot and Plumpton.

Five runners set off for Chepstow on a beautiful sunny Dorset morning. Everyone seemed in high spirits today - must have been Grand National fervour! Our first runner of the day was Sir Bumble who has increasingly been showing signs of not really wanting to be a racehorse anymore. He was entered in the Selling Hurdle. The RP said: Held up behind, not fluent 3rd and 6th, soon ridden, weakened next, tailed off when pulled up before 4 out. After the race, Bumble's Owner Mike Burbidge decided to retire him and sent him off to a nice new home. Happy retirement Bumble!

Next up was Roofing Spirit in the Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 4). Roofing Spirit ran really well, partnered by Dougie Costello who rode all the horses today except I'm Henrietta. He finished in third place, only beaten a couple of lengths, having jumped well all the way round. The RP said: Roofing Spirit just managed to muscle Amble Forge out of the frame close home. His C&D win in November 2006 remains his only score in his last 15 runs, with cheekpieces having failed to inspire a significant improvement the last twice now.

Roofing Spirit having a well earned drink!

Everyone's attention then turned to the big screen to watch the Grand National from Aintree. The atmosphere was great with all the crowd cheering the runners on just as if we had been at Aintree! Congratulations must go to Venetia Williams for training Mon Mome to win by 12 lengths. He ran out an easy winner in the end! An amazing win for Liam Treadwell who was having his first ride in the race! The RP said: The most famous steeplechase in the world, and in recent years modifications to the fences and lenient handicapping of high-class horses has resulted in it attracting a better standard of runner. However, no horse has won with an official rating of more than 144 in the last ten years and that was Hedgehunter in 2005 (carrying 11st 1lb), although he finished runner-up off 156 the following year having been second in the Gold Cup on his previous start.

However, on this occasion numerous statistics wereblown out of the window as MON MOME sprinted clear up the run-in to score easily. He became the first horse to win at 100-1 since Foinavon in 1967. Venetia Williams became only the second woman to train the winner, Jenny Pitman having been the first 26 years ago, and Mon Mome�s official rating of 148 was the highest of any winner this century.

Mon Mome had finished tenth last year when he was hampered at Becher�s second time, but his form earlier this season had meant that he was 7lb higher. He had seemed best suited by soft ground so the overnight rain might just have helped him.

Hunted around on the inside, he crept steadily into contention on the second circuit and was on the leaders� heels at the third last. He jumped the last upsides when there were still plenty in with a chance, and then came right away as Liam Treadwell, having his first ride in the race, asked him for more.

Larkinglass's next runner at Chepstow was You Can Of Course in the Handicap Steeple Chase (Class 5). You Can Of Course jumped really well in his first chase for Neil showing how important it is to put in the effort that Neil and the staff do on the schooling field. He finished 7th which was no disgrace for his first chase. The RP said: Held up towards rear, some headway after 13th, soon ridden, weakened 5 out

Then came the Bumper in which Larkinglass was represented by 2 runners - Elsafeer who won last time out at Market Rasen and I'm Henrietta (Owned and Bred by Mrs Helen Cross) who was making her racecourse debut. Elsafeer was ridden by Dougie Costello. He finished 12th and Dougie reported that the horse did not like the going or the track!

I'm Henrietta was making her debut and behaved quite well until her jockey, Wilson Renwick, was legged up. Before Wilson could get into the saddle properly, she promptly dumped him on the floor. Neil then decided to try putting the jockey on out on the track and the same thing duly happened. Anyway trainer and jockey both persevered and I'm Henrietta made it to the start and once she got into stride, she galloped in the race satisfactorily to finish 11th. Praise must go to Wilson Renwick who gave her a very nice introduction to the racing game after a shaky start!

It has been a busy week - especially for Faraday! He raced at Exeter on Wednesday and ran a very good race to finish 4th and then turned out again yesterday for a match at Taunton. He finished 2nd as expected but definitely earned his keep.

Today was Dolly Will Do's debut at Bath in a 5f maiden. She was very green in the preliminaries. Dolly was rather excited being saddled and also in the parade ring she thought she would show off her tummy to the crowd! On the way to the start again she showed her greenness but when Jim managed to get a lead down to the start then Dolly was fine. She was very good to load and although she finished 10th she was only 5 lengths off the winner so everyone was really pleased. Dolly is available for syndication at £500.00 per share - there will only be 12 shares max.

Send mail to kay@bradleycomputers.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site. Copyright © 2008 Neil Mulholland Racing Last modified: 04/12/09

Send mail to kay@bradleycomputers.co.uk with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 2008 Neil Mulholland Racing
Last modified: 04/12/09