The delay in a more recent blog just shows how busy we still are at Blackmore Farm. As most National Hunt yards seem to quieten down, we are still extremely busy with the Pointers! The team is still endlessly working hard and it is showing in the huge amount of success we are having. 

The Point to Pointers are in rude health and Sparkling Duke’s win at Maisemore made it winner 29 for the season, which equalled our seasonal best tally which we gained last season. A huge achievement from the team and a credit to them all.

Clondaw Drake continues to be in great form and has won at both Buckfastleigh and Trebudannon, now totting up 5 wins for the season for John and Sonia Gardener. He had been on Kayley’s radar for some time before purchasing him and it is amazing that he has shown the ability that we thought he had. Hannah and Emilie have both been hugely influential in the making of this horse at home and he has been very rewarding. Punch Perfect is another to have turned into the horse we thought he could be and took the Maiden at Buckfastleigh with ease giving Blackmore Racing Club another winner. He has since been purchased by Dan Cherriman, who rode him at Bitterley to finish 2nd and we wish them the best of luck together in the future. El Capitaine made it 4 winners for the season at Kilworthy and came home unchallenged. Purchased privately from Chris Jones through JD Moore, he has truly been a superstar for Ivan Thompson and we must also thank Redmills who have very kindly been powering him on their Define and Shine! 

We were lucky enough to have a treble at Trebudannon and a 4 timer across the board with a winner at Maisemore Park. Clondaw Drake got the day rolling taking the Intermediate. Hannah and The Kings Writ made all and came home 30 lengths clear of their nearest rivals to take the Mixed Open in tremendous style. Buddah Castle supplied Blackmore Racing Club with their third winner of the season by winning the Maiden. Albeit being green, he is definitely a horse for the future with time and is for sale. At Maisemore, we had a brilliant day. Idaho Fire made his debut to finish 2nd, with the winner being sold on to Willie Mullins. Sparkling Duke won a 15 runner Maiden for horses 6yo and over. It was his first run for the yard having been purchased privately out of Joe Tizzards. He did it easily enough although looking a little green in front. The two bumper horses ran with huge credit. About Time Too made her debut and showed a huge amount of guts to battle all the way to the line to finish 2nd. Will To Power took a big step forward from his debut run to finish 2nd in the other division. Another amazing day for the team.

Five Quarters backed up his first two starts over hurdles with a win at Chepstow under Josh. Marie Walters and Kevin Pearce purchased Five Quarters after his 2nd in a Point to Point at Larkhill and the form of the race has worked out really well and he will give them plenty of fun in the future. Bruce Gobbler ran a very promising race at Taunton to finish 5th under Callum Pritchard. He was only beaten 4 lengths and hopefully can reward the House family with a winner soon! Barford Groove made her debut for us at Wincanton, which was also her debut run over hurdles and put up a very pleasing performance under Sean Houlihan. 

We will begin to start roughing off a few National Hunt horses and it will not be very long until the pressure washer is back out and the paint brushes will start appearing again! The next generation of youngsters will start to be educated and before we know it, summer will be around the corner! First though, fingers crossed for some rain!!

Main Picture: Sparkling Duke winning at Maisemore Park

Below: Clondaw Drake at Buckfastleigh

Far Below: Katie & Five Quarters