Ayr was a long way to go to for members to witness the very unfortunate U/R statistic that has since been flagged up against Fill the Powers form figures, especially as he was going as well as anything at the time, and it is highly likely he would have been contesting the finish had the partnership remained intact.

Special commiserations to member Phillips who was hoping to spend his overnight stay in Kilmarnock celebrating Fills success. Instead it was an early night ready to face the long haul back to West Yorkshire on the Saturday morning.

Special commiserations also to yours truly who believed Auroras Encore was worth a few quid ew at 25/1 in the Scottish National, then, just like the previous Saturdays National at Aintree when a similar  few quid each way was placed on Sunnyhill Boy at 20/1, both getting mugged on the line.

Didn`t mind the Merigo win so much, but to be mugged on the line at Aintree is heartbreaking enough, but by one of  Paul Nicholls horses..(most people know he`s not my favourite Trainer) was almost too much to bear, especially watching all the post race euphoria as his doting followers from the TV and media ranks fought in lumps to grab their interviews with him....and, as always with Mr Nicholls, he was only too willing to accommodate all of them...and more besides.

Having taken a few minutes to compose myself again, lets get back to Fill the Power.

He took nothing out of himself at Ayr, and came back home sound and was seen to be happily rolling about in the paddock at Craiglands Farm on Monday morning,

As a result I spoke to Sue who told me she had entered him in a 2ml 6f Maiden Chase at Wetherby on Sunday the 29th April 2012.

I understand Ryan Mania will be schooling him on Wednesday morning ...the 25th...in preparation for his first attempt in public over fences.

Sue has always said Chasing would be his game, so lets get on with it.

 

Richard

It was a great thrill for all members of the Fill the Power Partnership to have a runner at Cheltenham on Gold Cup day, even though, if truth be known, A)  we never thought we would get into the race, and B)   the 150-1 on offer was, in my opinion, a true reflection of our chances of success.

Some of us thought, and dreamt of another Mister McGoldrick style shock result, but it was obvious after only a mile this was not going to happen.

We were out of our depth, and fair play to Shane Byrne, he accepted the situation and let FTP come home in his own time. 

I would anticipate we will now look for his next hurdle race to be of a more realistic choice which will allow him to compete and succeed to end his season on a high note before his Novice Chasing career starts next season.....and maybe, always the optimist....a trip to Cheltenham in 2013 with a better chance of success over fences

Wearing my Mr Grumpy hat, I`ve got to say that for me the thrill and anticipation of having a runner on Gold Cup day was tarnished by the sheer volume and masses of people there. 

You just could not move anywhere without having to fight your way through the throng, and in my opinion, and many others as well, the official "full house" attendance figures were probably 10 to 15,000 short of the true number of human sardines present in the can.  

How, for example, when Owners and Trainers badges are restricted to FOUR per Owner and SIX per syndicate, could there be ...even allowing for some who have paid for extra tickets....over 600 people in the Parade Ring for a race with 20 runners?    30 Badges on average per runner ?  even allowing for press and media....I don`t think so.

We were not even allowed into the Owners and Trainers viewing stand because Stewards were telling us there was no room, so we ended up watching the race on TV .... just like my wife at home!!!

Maybe I`m getting old.?.... would appreciate any comments if you were there on the day.   Just click on "add a comment" below and let me know.

Richard

 

Considering the problematic nasty abscess that became evident after FTP`s lacklustre race at Newbury on New Years Day, followed by the  recent "big freeze,"  on balance, whilst we were hoping to go to Newcastle and repeat our C and D victory of November last year, there was always going to be a nagging doubt...especially when we saw the declarations...and realised this would be a much better quality race,  and as the race panned out, our doubts were duly confirmed.

However, despite ATR`s ever deteriorating coverage of Racing, especially on a busy Saturday, when viewers are expected to watch adverts for "no win, no fee injury lawyers, and online Bingo Companies, and despite the split screen sharing of a race in Ireland, I managed to watch a re run of FTP`s race after which I made the following analysis.

FTP ran on in grand style confirming his genuine attitude towards racing.

The time of the race in comparison with his C and D win in Nov 2011 was exactly the same to within half a second, this time on Good ground as opposed to G/S in Nov

He carried exactly the same weight.

Problem was  he didn`t get the uncontested lead he got last time here, and as a consequence, couldn`t keep up with the early pace of the race. But as the others began to run out of steam, our fella began to pick them all off one by one and from a hopeless position entering the home straight, the result will show he was a fast finishing fourth

Good to tell he came back into the unsaddling enclosure....was not even blowing...thus  the conclusion had to be drawn that he ran a cracker, but was very much in need of the race, and will strip fitter next time.

Whether the next time will be the Albert Bartlett remains to be seen.

 

Just as we were preparing him for a race at Newcastle on Tuesday March 6th, High Hoylander has sustained a leg injury in training which will need 6/7 weeks rest before he can resume training.

As a consequence, the plan will now be to bring him back for a summer campaign in the hope that there will be plenty of chances for him to lose his maiden status as a hurdler,  and, if that plan is successful, maybe look at one or two Novice Chases, as many believe he is well capable of handling the larger obstacles.

Frustrating business Horseracing, but whilst he might never aspire to racing at the Cheltenham Festival, nevertheless we believe HH has a future at this game, and, with a bit of sun on his back, our planned summer campaign will hopefully reward syndicate members patience.

Richard

Delighted to be able to say that McG has now moved to his retirement luxury "pad" in North Yorkshire.

Sue drove him there last Sunday morning (19th Feb) and reported back to say she couldn`t be happier with the choice of his new home.

Amazing landscapes surround the area of  Yorkshire countryside on 35 acres of land owned by Lord Halifax which has been allocated with the primary aim "to provide a safe and supportive environment for ex racehorses to be re-homed after they have retired from racing."

I am assured by Keith and Pam at "New Beginnings" that McG is fine, and I have arranged to go over to see him in a week or so, once he has had time to adjust to his new way of life.

I`m really looking forward to seeing him in his new surroundings, after which I will be updating this website page, providing more information for all those many kind people who have been in touch enquiring after his well being.

Please use the "add a comment" link across if  you wish to keep in touch.

Richard

I don`t intend to dwell too much on High Hoylanders run at Rasen last Sunday 22nd Jan.

The plan was to break prominently and follow Will Kennedys mount, the front running Gross Prophet, but with 16 keen horses milling around in a circle waiting for the starter to send them on their way, Shane Byrne, in the circling melee of horses, try as he did, found himself trapped at the back of the circling mass when the tape went up, instead of the intended prominent front position, and as a consequence was last away. 

After half a furlong HH was a good 20/25 lengths behind the front running Gross Prophet leaving him with a mountain to climb.

Kennedy, as we knew, was not for hanging about, and even though HH was staying on at the end, the 20 plus lengths we lost at the start made it mission impossible.

Enough said.

 

 

 

First of all, as existing members already know, yours truly isn`t fully conversant with the likes of "Twittering" Googling" etc., but when we retired Mister McGoldrick my mate Danny offered to set up a Facebook page for him and suggested we called it  "Mister McGoldrick - a True Legend"  Why not said I...and so if you`re interested have a look and why not join us.

Our rising star Fill the Power was nothing like 100% in his last run at Newbury and the day after the race he was not eating and very much under the weather. Shortly afterwards a nasty abscess was found behind his jaw which has now been treated with anti biotics which have done the trick.

When I saw him in his box last Friday, he was eating up and looking more lik his old self...thank goodness.  Obviously this problem has been a bit of a setback for us all, but at least it more than explains his lacklustre performance at Newbury on New Years Day, and we can be happy in the knowledge that FTP is well on the way back to the level of fitness that saw him to great effect winning at Newcastle in the Class 2 French Furze Hurdle.

HIgh Hoylander is fit and well after being given a short break. He is well entered up right now at Catterick on the 20th Jan and in two races at Rasen on Sunday 22nd.

We are desperate for him to lose his maiden status, especially as he has proved to be very much a reformed character this season. Lets hope that...weather and ground conditions permitting...we can choose the best of the three options for him to enable him to be visiting the winners enclosure for the first time.

Richard

January the 2nd 2012, Christmas and the new year seasonal celebrations are behind us, and its back to the real world for all of us.

Time now  to reflect on our Partnership horses over the Christmas period.

On the back of an emotional send off for Mister McGoldrick at Wetherby on Boxing Day I had hoped that High Hoylander, on such a high profile day for us, would give the McGoldrick Partnership a big publicity boost by going out and doing the business in the 2ml 4f Novices Hcp Hdle.

Alas his recent improvement failed to continue as HH finished a disappointing 6th of 12...beaten 25 lengths in a race where we were expecting better things from him.

He was keen enough, thats for sure, but one can only surmise whether it was a combination of top weight and very soft ground over a distance which, in those ground conditions would test his stamina to the very limit, were to blame.    The winner and 2nd horse both carried just over 10st  which proved too much for us off 11st 9lbs, and also Brian Ellisons "good thing"  Dizzy River, the 15/8 fav which could only finish a well beaten 3rd.

Despite the result, our horse came home and ate up ok, so we will soon be looking for his next race, which, after discussions with Sue and Shane Byrne after the race, will probably be over a lesser distance in our efforts after 14 races now, to get rid of his maiden status.

And so to Newbury on the afternoon of New Years Eve.  Fill the Power running in the Challow Hurdle....thats right, our potential 3ml Chaser running in the Challow Hurdle, the main race of the day, which pitched our rising star into battle with the likes of Fingal Bay and other aspiring top class novice hurdlers.

The way he won the Class 2 French Furze Novice Hurdle at Newcastle in November, added to the fact that opportunities up North for him are few and far between gave us the justification to have a crack at this top Novice race.  Our maybe, just maybe hopes were raised, sky high, whilst at the same time logic was telling us he had a mountain to climb to get near Phillip Hobbs Cheltenham Festival bound Fingal Bay. But even finishing runner up to such a rising star would look fantastic on his CV....the prize money for 2nd place would be well received as well!!

The actual race turned out to be a complete non event for members and connections of FTP,  and our feet....for so long in the air in the days leading up to the race, were planted firmly back on the heavy ground as our pride and joy trailed home tailed off behind the other four participants.

What went wrong....if anything ?

Suggestions have been put forward such as  "thought he might have been good enough to be 2nd"      "does not like heavy going"..... "some horses don`t like travelling long distances and overnight stays"......"was he ok after the race?"

But the best response was from a guy who emailed saying "it was worth a go, and even though, for whatever reasons, things didn`t work out, you`ve still got a fantastic prospect in Fill the Power and for the Smiths to have thought it worthwhile to send him all the way to Newbury tells me they rate the horse very highly and also tells me he must be a young a horse with a big future."

With my feet back firmly on the ground again, I wholeheartedly agree, and could not have put it better myself.

It was worth having a go, if you don`t try you don`t win. 

There are still many good days ahead for members of the McGoldrick Fill the Power Partnership.

Happy New Year.

Richard

It was a day of mixed emotions as Mister McGoldrick said farewell to his beloved Wetherby Racecourse and his legion of fans who turned up to wish him well.

Mixed emotions yes....

Sadness at the thought of never being able to enjoy the spectacle of such a genuine horse.... racing and producing those prodigious leaps as he attacked his fences wherever and whenever he ran......always doing his best.... win or lose.... whatever the task.

Relief because history will show his "innings" as being NINETY ONE races not out, and there won`t  be a 92nd race, or 93rd etc., where, especially in the last 2 seasons, the thought of a "one race too many scenario," and having to live with the consequences afterwards, had increasingly played on my mind.

He can now retire with honour, fit and well and unscathed after a long career in which he made so many admirers throughout the Country in general, but  the North of England  in particular.

Finally happiness that Sue and I retired him at the right time AND place.....Wetherbys Boxing Day fixture....their biggest and best days racing of the season where McG won two Castleford Chases as well as SIX  other races, to return an impressive EIGHT wins out of his career total of FIFTEEN  at his favourite track.

Mister McGoldrick loved Wetherby, and Wetherby racegoers loved Mister McGoldrick, and I`m grateful to Chief Executive Jonjo Sanderson for allowing us to bring McG to be paraded both in the Ring and in front of the stands to great applause from spectators before being driven back to Craiglands Farm to hang up his boots/shoes before tucking into the enormous box of carrots with which he was presented by staff at the Racecourse.

Thats all for now, but I am already in the process of gathering as much TV footage as possible, together with many photographs of the big day, and I will get as much material as possible on to the website over the next few days.

Richard

 

 

FOR  DETAILS   REGARDING MISTER   MCGOLDRICKS RETIREMENT  APPEARANCE  AT  WETHERBY  RACECOURSE ON BOXING  DAY,

PLEASE GO TO     www.wetherbyracing.co.uk        look  for LATEST  NEWS  then click on   "Wetherby Course Specialist Retires"   for further details.