First and foremost, we sadly have to start with Sixteen Letters. Unfortunately we lost him at Badbury Rings whilst he was doing the job he loved the most. He had been a huge yard stalwart for the past 9 seasons, picking up 16 wins along the way and a further 16 placings. Adored by John and Floss Symes, who purchased him when he first arrived at Big Brook, before moving with the team to Blackmore Farm. He refused on all accounts to ever walk whilst being ridden and even after doing his work, still considered there was the slimmest of chances of going up the gallops again on the way home! He was most recently loved and cared for by Hannah and he will be missed immensely by the whole team here at Blackmore Farm.

Since our last blog we have been at various Point to Points starting with Buckfastleigh. Clondaw Drake ran a huge race in defeat to come 2nd in the Intermediate and Whitsand Bay ran a blinder for his seasonal debut run to finish 3rd behind him. Noble Blue backed up his Maiden win to take the Restricted but was pushed all the way to the line by Liwah. It was another gallant run from her and she will get her day soon! It was not long before El Capitaine was back in the winners enclosure two weeks later, when taking the Restricted under a penalty at Kingston Blount and Talimar Pearl was back to form and battled hard to win the Restricted at Badbury Rings. It was so lovely to have Paloma Blue back in the winners enclosure for the first time since his win at the Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening back in 2023. He needed his first run of the season at Milborne and still showed plenty of enthusiasm for the game when cantering home unchallenged at Larkhill on the 2nd March. We had a mixed day at Charlton Horethorne with a couple hot fancied runners disliking the ground but Outside Adesa did not seem to mind it and won the Maiden for a new owner to us, Simon Rushworth. Outside Adesa arrived just before Christmas and after falling at Milborne, we were happy for him to just get a clear round!!! Looking ahead to this weekend, we have entries at both Cothelstone and Buckfastleigh again.

Diamatiste became the 6th winner to come from the Chaddesley Corbett Maiden back in December 2023 and galloped the rest of the field into submission when coming home in front at Exeter under Josh for David and Steph Stevens. Vol Royale made a pleasing debut for us to finish 4th at Kempton for new syndicate, Kayley Woollacott Racing Club. Lucky Bere keeps running into the placings with a 3rd at Warwick under Callum Pritchard and 3rd at Sandown under Josh. Five Quarters ran a brilliant race at Chepstow to come 3rd and looks like he is going to give his new owners a huge amount of enjoyment.

We have a few new recruits here at Blackmore Farm. Sparkling Duke has come from Joe Tizzard’s and will now head Pointing for his new syndicate. He schooled and galloped around Charlton Horethorne Point to Point this morning and should be out in a couple of weeks. Another new face is Buddah Castle, who made his racecourse debut at Charlton Horethorne in the Young Horse Maiden and should give Blackmore Racing Club a lot of fun over the coming weeks!

Onto Cheltenham week and the hotly anticipated Blackmore Farm Sweepstakes will soon be underway. Bun’s tactic is to choose Number 2 through the whole card as she is too busy lambing to study the racing but still wants to enjoy the fun. Tom takes it to the other extreme and chooses all the big priced runners in the hope that we feel sorry for him and double his points if something does get into the winners enclosure!

Top Picture: Outside Adesa

Below: Sparkling Duke

Far Below: Buddah Castle (Sarah Stockham)