FERGAL O’BRIEN’S HORSES PROVING DIFFICULT TO BEAT IN EARLY SEASON
With almost half the season behind us Fergal O’Brien’s Naunton yard has proved that it is a match for any stable in the country.
Due to its location and the requirements of its owners O’Brien’s horses are qualified with both the North Cotswold and Cotswold Hunts.
Those racing under a Cotswold certificate include Patricia Duncan’s Fergals Find who ran on strongly to take the Harkaway Club Intermediate at Chaddesley Corbett in early February.
As that was deemed to be a Club Race he followed up by winning the Beaufort Intermediate when his nearest rival fell at the penultimate.
O’Brien was disappointed with Hambaphambili’s run at Larkhill during the early weeks of the season but that horse cruised to success when winning at Badbury Rings under a fine ride by Sam Drinkwater, who rides out for Nigel Twiston Davies.
James Richardson’s yard at Andoversford is just a stone throw from the Cotswold kennels and this stable got off the mark when they sent out Celestial Dragon to win a Staff College Maiden in January.
In the words of the trainer, both he and the jockey made a hash of the tactics in two subsequent outings but the horse showed his true capabilities when coming back to form at Didmarton.
Cotswold Joint Master Sarah Stafford has had a couple of second places with Full Minty who was beaten by Ballylusky at Cottenham in December and by the progressive The Hookie Bookie when favourite for the Heythrop Confined.
Ben Tulloch moved into Robert and Caroline Hicks yard at Aylworth on the borders of the Cotswold and Heythrop countries before the start of the season and immediately reaped the benefits when Moonoki won a hot Ladies Open at Whitwick in mid-February.
Peter Mansell |
