" Go Alfresco Racing Club "

 

 

The 4 two year olds within our new racing syndicate can all be seen galloping on Middleham's Low Moor on the mornings of both Saturday 18th Feb and 3rd March 2012. 

 

As you may have already seen on the Horses For Sale page of this website the horses in question are two colts out of Byron and Indesatchel and two fillies by Diamond Green and Clodovil. Although a number of shares in the syndicate have now been puchased some shares do remain available  --  a cost we believe to be extremely reasonable !

 

Ben continues to be very pleased indeed with how each of the youngsters is progressing and will delighted if you can join us on either of the above Saturday's to see the horses in our Castle Hill Stables and then galloping on the Low Moor.

 

Everyone is very welcome to come along to Castle Hill Stables, Middleham, at 10am, and the 4 horses should be galloping from around 10 30am. Tea, coffee, etc, will be available at our stable and if you are interested in joining our new stable syndicate Ben will be pleased to discuss the horses, together with the costs, etc, with you.

 

Please come along to our stable on Sat 18th Feb or Sat 3rd March at 10am and see for yourself these youngsters going through their paces on the gallops, which we hope will be a prelude to them having successful 2 year old careers during the 2012 Flat season starting towards the end of March.   

 

Ben is delighted with the horses, come along and see them for yourself. We hope you will enjoy seeing the horses and will want to join our new  "Go Alfresco Racing Club ".

  

Ben is pleased to welcome a new owner to Castle Hill Stables, Sir Alex Ferguson. Although best known as being manager of Manchester United Sir Alex has taken an increasingly keen interest in racing in recent years and has shares in a number of horses. Recently Sir Alex has become part-owner ( along with Sotirios Hassiakos, who is also an owner in our 2 year old King Laertis ) of a yearling, a colt by the appropriately named Red Clubs. We hope much of Sir Alex's footballing success rubs off on the yearling, as yet unnamed, and that he can bring further success and enjoyment to his owners. Ben is already very pleased with the horse and we will look forward to detailing his progress in this column throughout 2012.

 

As the festive period approaches Ben, and all at Castle Hill Stables, send their best wishes to everyone for a very happy Christmas and an enjoyable and profitable New Year !

 

Please continue to visit this website regularly throughout 2012 to read updates on the horses at Castle Hill Stables, our runners and news updates generally, along with a few changes which we hope to make to the website in the very near future. 

2011 Flat Statistics

     Wins    2nds    3rds    4ths    Total Runners    Total Prize Money
                    
        7         5         9       10            103                   £30,119   
    

Again very few runners from Castle Hill Stables during November meaning Ben can devote his time and energies to looking after the yearlings he has recently purchased. Ben is already very pleased with this years crop of youngsters and has high hopes that many of them will turn into successful 2 year olds during the 2012 Flat season.

 

We have a number of yearlings currently for sale at Castle Hill Stables and, of course, there is also our new exciting syndicate, the " Go Alfresco " Racing Club. Ben is delighted with the interest shown in the syndicate to date and a number of shares have already been sold but some shares are still available. Please note the syndicate will have a very limited number of just 20 shares so if you wish to join the " Go Alfresco " Racing Club we strongly recommend that you contact our stable as early as possible.

 

Details of the " Go Alfresco " Racing club are as follows:

 

 

Professional, affordable, fun horse-racing ownership

 

An invitation to join

 

‘Go Alfresco’ Racing Club

 

(4 Horses – 2012 Flat season)
 

The management team have put together 4 very exciting young horses (details enclosed), which are currently being ‘broken in’ and will race as 2 year olds, on the flat, next season. These horses are:

A bay colt by Byron, dam Balwarah. 

A bay filly by Diamond Green, dam Dancing Steps. ( This filly is in fact a half sister to Dance For Julie and Dance For Livvy who each won 3 races for our stable. )

A bay colt by Indesatchel, dam Day By Day.

A bay filly by Clodovil, dam Green Life.

Each yearling is E.B.F. Nominated and all except the Clodovil filly are also eligible for the £10,000 Racing Post Yearling Bonus Scheme.

The horses will be trained by a leading young trainer, Ben Haslam, based at Castle Hill Stables, Middleham, North Yorkshire. Middleham is regarded as the Newmarket of the North and renowned for its famous moor gallops and stunning Yorkshire Dales scenery.

The proposal is that members, initially, participate for a single racing season (ie 2012) where they have the benefits of horse ownership with potential capital appreciation, owner’s access on race days and share of prize money – the team are dedicated to both the serious business of winning races and also making race days a great day out.

There are 20 shares in this 4 horse syndicate. The minimum cost for a single share is £5,000 + VAT (the VAT will, in due course, be refunded as an entitlement through the horse racing sponsorship scheme administered by Weatherbys).

Individuals can subscribe for any number of shares, subject to availability, up to 100% (ie total ownership).

The payment covers horse purchase and all training fees from now until the end of the 2012 season. At the end of the season there will be a distribution, back to the members, of both prize money and proceeds from the sale of the horses.

All enquiries please ring Ben Haslam 01969 624351 (office) or 07764 411660 (mobile).

 

In addition to the above syndicate we also have 2 further yearlings for sale. These are:

A quiet month in terms of runners but this does not stop Hi Dancer putting in a couple of good performances.

 

Hi Dancer has generally been a model of consistency throughout his career but has not been quite at his best since winning a handicap hurdle at Sedgefield in March. However the 8 year old, owned by Robert Tocher, returns to form with two runs this month, both on the Flat at Catterick.

 

Early in October Hi Dancer runs in a 2 mile handicap. With the assistance of champion jockey Paul Hanagan he leads over 3 furlongs out and runs on well only to be frustratingly caught on the line having to settle for second place, beaten a head.

 

Just over a week and a half later Hi Dancer takes in a 1 mile 6 furlong apprentice handicap. This time ridden by Daryl Byrne Hi Dancer makes headway 4 furlongs out but can only run on at one pace and has to be content with 3rd place.

 

Hi Dancer has dropped to a lenient mark for a horse of his ability and now he has returned to form an incredible 13th win may not be far away, either still on the Flat or by returning to hurdles, which is always an option for Ben. 

 

As always Ben is pleased to have received a further horse from owner J P McManus. The latest addition to the Castle Hill Stables ranks to sport the famous green and gold hoops will be The Seanachie, a 4 year old out of Montjeu, formerly trained in Ireland by Niall Madden. To date The Seanachie has had 8 starts on the Flat in Ireland, plus 4 over hurdles. He has yet to make the frame but hopefully Ben will be able to coax the necessary improvement out of the gelding as he has done with other horses in the past. Initially Ben intends to campaign The Seanachie over hurdles at around 2 and a half miles and he has a couple of races in mind for his new acquisition early in November.

 

Incidentally, another of J P's horses, Front Of House, a winner over hurdles for Ben at Southwell in November 2010, is back from his summer break and should also be seen out, over fences, early next month.

 

Ben is continuing to attend the major yearling sales and at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in Newmarket he purchased 2 further yearlings. These are: 

 

A bay colt by Byron out of the dam City Maiden, and

 

A bay filly by Refuse To Bend out of the dam Diplomats Daughter  

 

Each of these yearlings is for sale at £10,000 + VAT, and both yearlings are E.B.F. Nominated and also eligible for the £10,000 Racing Post Yearling Bonus Scheme. 

 

Please note that our Horses For Sale page on this website has recently been updated and now features all the yearlings currently available for sale at Castle Hill Stables.

 

If you are interested in purchasing any of these yearlings ( or a share therein ) please contact our office on telephone number 01969 624351, or by E-mail at the address shown on this website, in order to discuss your personal preferences or requirements, etc.  

The month of September seems to suit Reason To Believe as he gets off the mark for the season in this month, just as he did in 2010. Ben sends Carol Aldridge's 3 year old chesnut gelding to Newcastle to contest a 7 furlong handicap. The horses previous 2 races had both been over a mile and a quarter and the drop in trip clearly has the right effect. Ben felt Reason To Believe was ready to run a big race and was keen for champion jockey Paul Hanagan to take the ride. He is rewarded with a lovely pillar to post ride as Reason To Believe makes all and keeps on well towards the finish to win by a head. Ben has always liked the horse describing him as " a bit of thinker " and remarking that " even with blinkers on he has his ears pricked the whole way ".

Nice to see our 2 year olds starting to make an impact as Tuibama shows improved form to reach a place for the first time finishing third in a maiden race at Southwell over 5 furlongs.

 

 

Later in the month Ben sends two horses to Hamilton and both make the frame. Firstly Ivestar, returning to the scene of his triumph last year and ridden by the same successful jockey Charlotte Holmes, runs in a 6 furlong amateur riders handicap. Ivestar holds a slight lead 2 furlongs out and after being headed inside the final furlong runs on well to take second place. Another of our 2 year olds, Reine Du Froid, then finishes 3rd of 4 runners in a 6 furlong claiming race.

 

Executive's Hall, who has been a revelation over hurdles since joining Ben earlier this summer, reverts to fences when contesting a Class 4 Handicap Chase over 2 miles 1 furlong at Cartmel. Executive's Hall keeps on well inside the final furlong under his recent regular pilot Andrew Tinkler but has to settle for 3rd place on this occasion, beaten just over 4 lengths.

 

Before the month ends our 2 year old filly Crimson Sea runs her best race to date finishing 4th of the 12 runners in a Ripon selling race over 6 furlongs. On the same day Blake Dean and Blue Ronnie run in a Class 4 Juvenile Hurdle on August Bank Holiday Monday at the picturesque Cartmel course. Blake Dean runs a very promising race, leading in the early stages and eventually finishing second, albeit to a very easy winner, whilst Blue Ronnie stays on in the final stages to take 4th place.

 

The Middleham Trainers Association presentation at York Races on August 17th was very successful. Many thanks to everyone who went along and especially to those who spoke to Ben and discussed racehorse ownership with him. Incidentally a feature on racehorse training in MIddleham is due to be broadcast on Sky TV in the first week or so of September.

 

Ben has recently received a further horse from owner J P McManus, a 6 year old Know The Rules formerly trained in Ireland by Niall Madden. Know The Rules has already run in hurdles and chases in Ireland, as yet without success, but hopefully Ben will work the oracle with this horse just as he did with another of J P's horses, A Stones Throw, previously. Initially Ben intends to run Know The Rules over hurdles and he has a couple of races in mind at Sedgefield early in September . Another of J P McManus's horses, Front Of House, successful for Ben over hurdles at Southwell in November 2010, has also recently returned to Castle Hill Stables after a summer break and should be out again soon.

 

Whilst there are still 2 months remaining in the 2011 Turf Flat Season it is never too soon to turn our thoughts to next year. Ben is already busy attending yearling sales with a view to purchasing youngsters to form a strong 2 year old team for the 2012 Flat season. Ben has already made 3 purchases at the recent Doncaster Bloodstock Sales and each of the yearlings is currently available for sale. The horses in question are as follows:

 

A bay colt by Byron out of the dam Balwarah. This colt is offered for sale at £5,500 + VAT.

 

A bay filly by Diamond Green out of the dam Dancing Steps. This filly is offered for sale at £10,500 + VAT. ( This filly is in fact a half sister to Dance For Julie and Dance For Livvy who have each won 3 races for our stable. )

 

A chesnut filly by the first season sire Sakhee's Secret out of the dam May Day Queen. This filly is offered for sale at £16,500 + VAT.

 

Each yearling is E.B.F. Nominated and also eligible for the £10,000 Racing Post Yearling Bonus Scheme. 

 

As always Ben will be attending all the major yearling sales, especially those at Newmarket and Doncaster, this autumn. If you are interested in buying any of the above yearlings please contact the office on telephone number 01969 624351. Alternatively if you would like Ben to purchase a horse for you at a future sales again please contact Ben on the same office phone number to discuss your personal requirements.

Not too many runners from Castle Hill Stables in the first half of July but midway through the month Blake Dean reaches the frame in his first run over hurdles when finishing 4th in a Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle at Market Rasen.

 

On the first day of June Valantino Oyster returns to form with a comfortable 5 length success in a mile and a half selling handicap at Ripon. Owned by the Mount Racing Club and Mervyn Buckley the 4 year old tracks the leaders throughout the race before being sent on by jockey Paddy Donaghy 2 furlongs out and going clear in the final furlong.This is a deserved first ever success for the Mount Racing Club who will have been delighted with the win and with Valantino Oyster's performance. 

 

3 days later Ben's hot run continues as Dance For Livvy, making her hurdles debut, scores in a juvenile hurdle at Hexham. After tracking the leaders Dance For Livvy is driven up to lead approaching the last by jockey Barry Keniry and goes on to win by 2 and three quarter lengths. Dance For Livvy improves as the race goes on and she should learn a good deal from the experience but this is in itself a very nice introduction to her hurdling career.  Mark James's 3 year old filly is, in fact, recording a hat trick of wins with her victory here having been successful in her previous two races, and since these were Flat wins on the all-weather at Wolverhampton and on the turf at Beverley Dance for Livvy is clearly proving to be a very versatile horse. Dance for Livvy should certainly win again over hurdles but Ben may possibly switch the filly back to the Flat for her next run.

 

12 months ago Ben sent Ivestar to Hamilton for a 6 furlong Amateur Riders' handicap and was rewarded with the then 5 year old owned by Blue Lion Racing and his rider Charlotte Holmes both recording their sole victories to date. It only seemed natural therefore for the partnership to return to Hamilton for this years renewal of the race. Ivestar is behind in the early stages but makes headway over a furlong out, keeping on well inside the final furlong to finish 4th, beaten just over 3 lengths. Nevertheless this is a good run by Ivestar, particularly as this is his first race since January, and he is again well-handled by Charlotte.

 

The following day Executive's Hall attempts his own hat-trick by contesting the third hurdle race of his career and going for his third win,all in the space of a little over 2 weeks, when running in a handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter. Executive's Hall is held up early in the race but makes smooth progress from the 7th and leads 3 out to record another comfortable win, this time by 3 and three quarter lengths. As in his previous races Andrew Tinkler takes the riding honours. This is another excellent performance from Executive's Hall, especially considering he was effectively 12lbs higher for this race. Sheila Mason and Robert Stipetic's 7 year old has certainly been a revelation since joining Ben.

 

Ben himself is also currently on the hottest run of his training career and Executive's Hall's win at Uttoxeter is, in fact, Ben's 6th winner inside the last month. Ben's record for the current 2011 Flat season stands at 5 winners, and for the current 2011-12 Jumps season 4 winners, this equating to an very healthy overall strike rate of 17%.

 

Dance For Julie then makes the trip up to Hexham to try and gain recompense for her unlucky defeat at Sedgefield a couple of weeks earlier. Again Dance For Julie runs well but the concession of trying to give over a stone to a well-handicapped winner proves just beyond her and the filly has to settle for second place.  

 

2 days later Operateur and Executive's Hall make the even shorter journey up to Sedgefield. Operateur contests a 2 mile 1 furlong juvenile hurdle and whilst this is his first run over jumps he nevertheless starts favourite and runs a good race, but running on at one pace in the final furlong means he has to settle for a close third place, with the fourth horse 26 lengths behind. This is clearly a promising start to Operateur's hurdling career.

 

Executive's Hall on the other hand is rapidly becoming vastly experienced in the hurdling field and this two and a half mile handicap comes just 4 days after completing a hat-trick of wins over hurdles. Executive's Hall, starting a slight odds on favourite, runs another solid race but this time has to settle for second place, under conditional jockey Jake Greenall, beaten just a length.

 

This isn't the end of Executive's Hall's exploits for the month though as after a long 11 day break Ben finds a nice 2 mile 1 furlong handicap hurdle at Market Rasen for the 7 year old ! Reunited with Andrew Tinkler, who was in the saddle for each of his 3 victories, Executive's Hall again runs well over this shorter trip and finishes second, this time beaten just half a length. This is another great effort from Sheila Mason and Robert Stipetic's 7 year old who has gone up no less than 30lbs in the handicap since his winning run began exactly one month ago, during which time he has won 3 hurdle races and finished a close second in two more.

 

Our jumpers seem to have been holding the fort this month but its back to the Flat for our next runner as Azzurra Du Caprio takes in a five and a half furlong Class 4 handicap at Doncaster. Showing that the form of her previous race at Newmarket in May was all wrong when heavy rain fell prior to the race Azzurra Du Caprio this time has her preferred good to firm ground and certainly makes the most of it, tracking the leaders in the early stages, then making headway inside the final furlong and being driven out to score by a neck under a fine ride from jockey Tom Eaves. This is another tremendous performance by the 3 year old chesnut filly out of Captain Rio and Azzurra Du Caprio must be the apple of the eye of her owners, our own Blue Lion Racing syndicate . Ben is delighted again with the performance and now has one of the valuable sprint races on Shergar Cup day at Ascot on the first Saturday in August in mind for her next race.

 

Before the month ends there's still time for another of our 3 year old fillies, Dan's Martha, to run a nice race finishing fourth in a 7 furlong Stakes race at Catterick.

 

Another good month for Ben and everyone at Castle Hill Stables, although Ben has not been happy of late with some of our 2 year olds. Ben has not yet been able to get a run into many of the 2 year olds and those that have run have tended to come back with a slight bug. However they have been treated accordingly and Ben feels they are now over the worst of the problem and is looking forward to getting the youngsters back on the racecourse very shortly. Despite that it's 4 winners for Castle Hill Stables this month, 2 on the Flat and 2 over hurdles, to show that things are still going very well.            

After scoring over 10 furlongs at Beverley in early April Dance For Julie returns to hurdles when contesting a Class 4 handicap hurdle at Wetherby at the start of May. Mark James' 4 year old again shows a liking for the good to firm going by running well and taking 3rd place. Dance For Julie is proving a most consistent filly having incredibly now reached the frame in all but one of her 13 races on turf, on the Flat and over hurdles.

Hi Dancer is fast out of the blocks by attempting to continue his revival in form in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle on the first day of the new month. After tracking the leaders in the early stages of the race Hi Dancer moves forward to lead 3 out before fading in the final 200 yards. Nevertheless by finishing in 3rd place this represents yet another consistent performance from the 8 year old. 

 

Three days later A Stones Throw journeys up to the Scottish Borders to take in a 2 and a quarter mile Class 4 handicap hurdle at Kelso. A Stones Throw again runs well but has to settle for 4th place. Later in the month A Stones Throw is out again in a Lady Riders handicap hurdle at Wetherby. Once more A Stones Throw runs a consistent race finishing 4th. J P McManus' 6 year old continues to show improvement on his Irish form prior to joining Ben but that first win he richly deserves continues to prove elusive.   

 

It is good to get A Stones Throw, our new recruit from owner J P McManus, on the racecourse as the New Zealand bred 6 year old takes in a Class 4 handicap hurdle at Wetherby. A Stones Throw runs a respectable race finishing 7th of the 14 runners.

 

Ben then believes he has found a suitable follow-up race for A Stones Throw at Wetherby just over 2 weeks later but elects, along with many other trainers, not to run his horse as none of the races on the card meet the Horseman's Group tariffs. Ben says of his protest " I think it's important to make a stand against the low prize money currently being offered at so many courses for the sake of everyone in racing ".

 

However another opportunity for A Stones Throw soon presents itself by way of a 2 mile 3 furlong Lady Amateur Riders' Handicap Hurdle at Catterick on the final day of February. Ably ridden by the experienced Jenny Carr A Stones Throw runs a tremendous race being both up with the leaders in the early stages and indeed then leading until weakening between the last 2 hurdles to finish 4th of the 17 runners, beaten just over 9 lengths. Ben is pleased with A Stones Throw's debut run for the stable at Wetherby and then delighted with the further progress he appears to have made in the Catterick race, especially on ground not considered ideal. Both runs represent a considerable improvement on much of his form when previously trained in Ireland.   

 

Certainly few runners from Castle Hill Stables this month as Ben eagerly awaits the start of the 2011 Flat Turf season which opens at the end of March but one further runner this month is Mark James's 3 year old filly Dance For Livvy who has her second outing  on the all-weather, and only her fifth run in all races, when contesting a mile maiden race at Southwell on the 8th of the month. Dance For Livvy makes the frame for the first time in this race, finishing 4th of the 12 runners.

 

As far as the new Flat season shortly to be upon us is concerned Ben is very pleased with the 2 year olds he has in his care at Castle Hill Stables. Ben will not rush his 2 year olds preferring to give them the necessary time needed, but he is certain there will be a few early sorts ready to run in the opening weeks and months of the new season.

 

A reminder here that the 2011 Good Friday Open Day takes place this year on April 22nd. This event is always extremely well supported and certainly one of the major attractions on the Middleham Racing Calendar during the entire year. As always all visitors will be welcomed to our Castle Hill Stables and will have the opportunity of seeing our horses, including our 2 year olds, at close hand and indeed seeing the new facilities at Castle Hill Stables. This is always a popular date so make a note in your diary  --  Good Friday Open Day, 22nd April !

 

Finally, as Ben has just completed his first 12 months as a licensed trainer in his own name this is a suitable time to update his stats. First 12 months training:

 

                    Wins    2nds    3rds    4ths    Runners

 

Flat:                10       15       12       15         141

 

Jumps:             5         2         4        5           40

 

Total:               15       17       16      20          181

 

A total of 68 runners have made the frame, a healthy strike rate of 37% of Ben's total runners !   Total prize money £ 65,769.

A quiet start to 2011 but it is good to get Dance For Julie's hurdling career back on track.

 

Mark James's juvenile hurdler looked so impressive when making her jumping debut at Market Rasen in July when scoring by 15 lengths but her career was then interrupted by injury. Following a recent run on the Flat at Southwell Dance For Julie resumes over hurdles when running at Leicester in a Class 4 Novices' Hurdle. Dance for Julie leads from the second, until two out, and then weakens approaching the last, to finish 4th of the 12 runners. This was an all-aged novice hurdle and as the only 4 year old was the youngest horse in the race, and whilst accordingly receiving the appropriate weight concession this was nevertheless a very respectable return to her hurdling career.  

 

10 days later Dance For Julie makes the trip up to Musselburgh to take in a Class 4 Juvenile Hurdle. Although starting favourite Dance For Julie can only finish third of the four runners. Dance For Julie has every chance until not being fluent at the third last and then weakening. It's possible the ground was softer than ideal for Dance For Julie in the two races this month.    

 

It is also good to see Front Of House make his chasing debut. The horse, owned by J P McManus, came to Ben as recently as last October and although now a 9 year old has very little mileage on the clock having had only 9 races ( which included 4 wins and 2 seconds ) under rules, before now contesting a Class 4 Beginners Chase at Catterick over 2 miles 3 furlongs. Having been held up early in the race by Dominic Elsworth Front Of House then hits the eighth fence but keeps on well in the latter stages of the race to finish 5th. This is an encouraging introduction to his chasing career and Front Of House is another for whom better ground would have been appreciated. 

 

On the final day of the month Ben takes Ivestar to Wolverhampton to contest a 6 furlong Amateur Riders' handicap partnered by our own Charlotte Holmes. Since winning over 6 furlongs at Hamilton last June Blue Lion Racings' 6 year old has been campaigned over longer distances but he appeared to appreciate the return to 6 furlongs and Charlotte got a fine tune out of Ivestar as he ran on well inside the final furlong finishing fastest of all to take third place at rewarding odds of 28-1.

 

Ben is pleased to have received another horse owned by J P McManus. This is the New Zealand bred 6 year old gelding A Stones Throw, formerly trained in Ireland by Niall Madden. A Stones Throw is by the renowned sire Montjeu and Ben is looking forward to getting his new recruit on to the racecourse initially aiming him at handicap hurdle races.

 

Late news from Castle Hill Stables is that the BBC TV programme Inside Out which was mentioned on our website on a number of occasions last year has finally been shown on TV. The actual date of broadcast was dependent on the viewing region but certainly in the North East and Cumbria region the programme was broadcast on Monday 31st January at 7 30pm. The programme included a 10 minute feature on Ben showing how he was coping in his first year as a trainer, having taken over from his father Patrick in February 2010 and thus becoming the youngest trainer in the country ! Also featured were Castle Hill Stables themselves and the programme also accompanied Ben and some of our owners to a race meeting at Thirsk.

 

The programme was excellent viewing and we apologise for not having the opportunity to mention the broadcast date beforehand on our website but unfortunately we did not know ourselves. However the programme can still be viewed via the internet on the BBC TV website until Monday 7th February by clicking on to the link http://www.bbc.co.uk/i/y5bkj/
The feature on Ben is approximately 20 minutes into the programme.
 
Well worth a look !  

Ben is delighted to have received a further horse from leading owner J P McManus. In recent years Ben, and previously his father Patrick, have been sent a number of horses by the legendary " J P " to have trained in Middleham and the latest horse is the 8 year old Front Of House.

 

Previously trained by Nicky Henderson at Upper Lambourn, Front Of House has good form in National Hunt Flat Races and Novice Hurdles having won 3 of his 7 races. Front Of House is lightly raced to date and Ben is looking forward to getting his latest recruit on to the racecourse as soon as possible.

 

It's always nice to receive plaudits and whilst Operateur's 4th place in a Wolverhampton Maiden over an extended mile on the first day of October may not immediately seem an outstanding performance it is nevertheless a promising second run for Alistair Dinsmore's 2 year old colt by Oratorio as he is badly hampered when staying on over a furlong out. This is an encouraging run as Operateur is bred to want middle distances in time and the performance is not lost on At The Races pundit Hugh Taylor who is generous in his praise of Operateur's run following the race. 

 

Just over 2 weeks later Operateur returns to Wolverhampton to contest another 9 furlong maiden. Whilst this time he has to settle for 5th place Operateur finishes closer to the winner, and also closer to the second horse who also finished in front of him in the previous race, so effectively this effort is another step forward and reinforces the view that this is a promising horse to look forward to next year.

 

Back to the first week of October and another of Alistair Dinsmore's 2 year olds, the filly Oldmeldrum, takes in a 5 furlong maiden race at Catterick. Oldmeldrum is another horse who catches the eye for after being in the rear early in the race makes good headway later although being a little short of room 2 furlongs out and is staying on nicely at the finish. As in her debut race Oldmeldrum again finishes in 5th place, though this time beaten under 3 and a half lengths. Again a promising performance.

 

Two days later our September Hamilton scorer, Reason To Believe, tries his hand at Wolverhampton's Polytrack surface for the first time in a 7 furlong nursery. After tracking the leaders Reason To Believe has every chance a furlong out under the seasons leading jockey Paul Hanagan but is eventually run out of it towards the line finishing 3rd, beaten under a length. Considering Reason To Believe was up 5lb for his Hamilton victory this is a very decent effort.

 

Later in the month Adam De Beaulieu runs in the final of the " Hands And Heels " Apprentice Series Handicap over 7 furlongs at Doncaster, ridden by promising apprentice Ian Burns who is attached to Michael Bell's Newmarket stable. Although Adam De Beaulieu is still a maiden he has run a number of good races since making his debut just under 12 months ago and this race certainly represents one of his best efforts, despite being 2lb out of the handicap. Adam De Beaulieu tracks the leaders and then leads over a furlong out before running on at one pace and finishing third. This is the fifth occasion Adam De Beaulieu has finished in the first three, though the first time he has done so on turf, and he surely now deserves to achieve his first career success.

 

We started this months news update with details of the latest horse owned by J P McManus to be trained at Castle Hill Stables, Front Of House. Before the month ends Ben elects to send the 8 year old to Wetherby to get an early opportunity to see Front Of House on the racecourse as he contests a 2 and a half miles Class 4 Novices' Hurdle under Barry Keniry. This proves to be a pleasing introduction as, despite getting badly hampered on the bend approaching 3 out, Front Of House runs on to finish 2nd, and although beaten 10 lengths this would have been much reduced but for being hampered at a vital stage. Ben is hoping to get another run into the horse very shortly.   

 

Ben has recently been attending the major yearling sales at both Newmarket and Doncaster, and 4 of the yearlings purchased are currently available for sale. These are:

 

100%, chesnut filly by Motivator - Chetwynd. Filly offered for sale at £10,000 + VAT. Please note no training fees in respect of this filly will be payable until 1 March 2011.

 

100%, brown colt by Baltic King - Vitava. Colt offered for sale at £10,000 + VAT.  Please note no training fees in respect of this filly will be payable until 1 March 2011.

 

50%, bay filly by Acclamation - Discover Roma. 50% of this filly offered for sale at £5,000 + VAT.

 

50%, bay filly by Baltic King - Meranie Girl. 50% of this filly offered for sale at £4,000 + VAT.

 

Additionally each of these yearlings is eligible for the £10,000 Racing Post Yearlings Bonus Scheme.

 

For further details of each of these yearlings please view our " Horses for sale " page of this website. The " Horses for sale " page will continue to be updated regularly as and when further horses become available for sale. If you are interested in purchasing shares in any of these yearlings, or you would like to arrange a visit to Castle Hill Stables to view any of these horses, please contact our office on tel. no. 01969 624351 at any time.

 

Finally, we are still awaiting a date for the broadcast of the BBC TV programme " Inside Out " which includes a feature on Ben. The Inside Out series has now started and is being shown on BBC 1 on Monday evenings at 7 30pm. As soon as the date for the broadcast of the programme featuring Ben is known it will be shown on this page of Ben's website. This should now be only a couple of weeks away and should make for essential viewing ! 

 

Ben's most successful month to date starts with River Ardeche putting in a good performance to finish 4th of 8 in the Class 4 Hambleton Cup at Thirsk.

 

Over jumps at Sedgefield both Teela and Valantino Oyster run reasonable races in a Class 4 Juvenile maiden hurdle. Teela, having been held up in the early stages, makes headway to finish 4th, whilst Valantino Oyster leads until weakening 2 out and takes 5th place. 

 

Back to the Flat and our leading 2 year old to date, Azzurra Du Caprio, runs at Doncaster's St Leger Meeting in a £25,000 Class 2 six and a half furlong nursery. Our Blue Lion Racing syndicates' filly runs another good race under jockey P J McDonald but after chasing the leaders can only run on at one pace approaching the final furlong nevertheless finishing a respectable 6th of 18 runners.

 

Another of our 2 year olds, Blake Dean, shows improved form from her racecourse debut to take 3rd place in a one mile maiden race at Newcastle. The colt, by Halling, stays on well inside the final furlong only narrowly failing to take second place. 

 

This is followed by a great 6 days for Ben with 3 winners, including 2 two year old winners, Reason To Believe and Kinlochrannoch both owned by Mrs Carol Aldridge, and Cross The Boss carrying the colours of the Widdop Wanderers.

On Sept 19th Ben takes Reason To Believe to Hamilton Park for a Class 5 nursery and the chesnut gelding keeps up Ben's remarkable record at the course by achieving his first victory under leading apprentice Ian Brennan. Reason To Believe, making his handicap debut, leads over a furlong out and stays on well, appearing to win with a little in hand. After the race Ben says that he has always liked this horse, adding that he now needs a mile. As well as Carol Aldridge, Reason To Believe has other lucky owners as shares in the horse were offered as a raffle prize at our Good Friday Open Day.

We mentioned on our July news page that shares in Reason To Believe were still available and that this could well be a shrewd purchase. A small share is in fact still available and perhaps this victory will instill further interest  --  please contact our office on 01969 624351 if you are interested in buying a share in this winning 2 year old.

2 days later another of our 2 year olds, Kinlochrannoch, runs in a Class 4 maiden race at Beverley in the hands of Paul Hanagan. The champion jockey elect has the Kyllachy filly quickly away and she ia able to make all, being ridden out to win by no less than 5 lengths, again carrying the colours of Mrs Carol Aldridge.  Ben is delighted with the victory saying that the filly had come to hand sooner than he had expected. Ben added " That's the first winner Paul { Hanagan } has ridden for me and I'm glad to have given him a winner as he fully deserves to be champion jockey ".

 

Finally, just five days after Reason To Believe's win at Hamilton, Cross The Boss opens his account be winning a one mile and a half furlong handicap at Wolverhampton. The three year old gelding out of Cape Cross is having his first run for almost 4 months and having been held up in the early stages of the race makes headway 2 out to lead inside the final furlong under jockey Philip Makin. This is an improved performance by Cross The Boss for his owners the Widdop Wanderers and  sets the seal on a memorable 6 days for Castle Hill Stables.

 

Still no precise date is known for the broadcasting of the TV programme "Inside Out" featuring Ben but it is still likely to be around the end of this month. The date will, of course, appear on our website immediately it is known.

 

Please also continue to view our website for details of yearlings purchased by Ben and which are available for sale.

August opens with Ben taking 4 horses to Carlisle on the 2nd day of the month with 2 of the runners performing creditably and making the frame. Firstly Norwegian Liberty, who had only made her racecourse debut 6 days earlier, runs another promising race to take third place beaten just over 3 lengths after keeping on in the final furlong in a Class 5 maiden race. Then, an hour and a half later, Destiny's Dancer, returning to the Flat after two good runs over hurdles, also runs on well towards the finish under Paddy Donaghy to take 2nd place, beaten just a neck, in a 1 mile 3 and a half furlong handicap.

 

The middle of the month heralds a busy, and pleasingly successful, period for Castle Hill Stables. Ben chooses to send our leading 2 year old to date, Azzurra Du Caprio, to the big York meeting to challenge for a Class 2 Nursery over 6 furlongs and is rewarded  with Blue Lions Racing's filly staying on strongly in the final furlong under Kelly Harrison to take an excellent 2nd place.

 

Over to the jumps and Ben sends Valantino Oyster, bought out of a Beverley seller, to Stratford to contest a Class 3 Juvenile Hurdle. Valantino Oyster equips himself well for his first hurdle race but after chasing the leader a mistake 3 out leaves him having to settle for 3rd place. He is entitled to come on for the experience. 

 

Bateau Bleu is next to try his hand over hurdles as he makes the journey to Market Rasen to run in a Class 4 Juvenile Hurdle. Again this is a reasonable introduction to his hurdling career and after being left in second place at the last Bateau Bleu runs on at one pace to finish second. Barry Keniry also being in the saddle for both Valantino Oyster and Bateau Bleu's races. 

 

It's then back to the Flat as Hi Dancer takes in an Amateur Riders' Handicap at Hamilton Park over 1 mile 5 furlongs. Robert Tocher's 7 year old, a course and distance winner last season, is prominent early in the race and chases the leader inside the final furlong, keeping on well in the hands of Charlotte Holmes to record a highly satisfactory 2nd place.

 

Just 10 days after her excellent second at York Ben also takes Azzurra Du Caprio up to Hamilton Park to run in a Class 4 Nursery over 6 furlongs. The move pays off as Azzurra Du Caprio leads over a furlong out and despite being hard pressed in the final furlong keeps on gamely to win by a neck under jockey P J McDonald who is achieving his first victory for our stable. This is the third winner of what is proving to be a very successful Flat season for the owners, our own Blue Lion Racing syndicate. Ben is very pleased with Azzurra Du Caprio's performance and says "She is a tough sort who holds her condition well. The right race for her to go for is the fillies nursery at Doncaster's St Leger Meeting over 6 and a half furlongs. It's a decent prize ".

 

Finally on the last day of the month another of our 2 year olds, Kinlochrannoch, makes the short journey to Ripon to contest a Class 5 maiden race. This is only the second run for Mrs Carol Aldridge's filly out of Kyllachy and she shows significant improvement by keeping on in the final 2 furlongs to take second place under the seasons leading jockey Paul Hanagan. Another of our 2 year olds, Maunby Rumba, finishes seventh in the same race.

 

August was therefore a successful month for Castle Hill Stables with 2 winners and 7 places. Ben is particularly proud of his record at Hamilton which currently reads, 2 wins, 5 seconds and a third, from just 8 runners !

 

We still do not have a date for the " Inside Out " TV programme featuring Ben. It is likely to be around the end of October but details of the precise date will be given on this website as soon as it becomes known.

 

Finally, as usual, Ben attended the St Leger Yearling Sales at Doncaster towards the end of August and will also be attending all the other major yearling sales throughout the remainder of 2010.

 

At present Castle Hill Stables have one yearling available for sale bought by Ben at the Doncaster Sales. This is a bay filly by Acclamation out of the dam Dream Vision. The dam's brother incidentally very recently won a Group 3 race in France. Ben naturally has high hopes for this filly who is being offered for sale at £7,000 plus VAT. If you are interested in purchasing this yearling, or a share of the yearling, please telephone our office on 01969 624351.
Full details of all yearlings bought be Ben at future sales and available for purchase will, of course, appear on this website. If you would like Ben to make a specific purchase on your behalf at any of the future sales, or wish to discuss the possibility of a purchase, you are welcome to contact Ben by telephone on the number shown above.           

 

         

 

July itself starts with Azzurro Du Caprio returning to Redcar, scene of her May victory, on the opening day of the month. Upped in both trip, to 6 furlongs for the first time, and in class ,to a Class 4 nursery, Azzurro Du Caprio runs another fine race under Kelly Harrison taking second place inside the final furlong. Later in the month Blue Lion Racing's 2 year old filly finishes 5th in a 7 furlong nursery at Catterick on softer ground than she has previously encountered.

 

Ben then sends River Ardeche to Pontefract for a 10 furlong handicap. With usual rider Paddy Donaghy in the saddle, Mark James and Christine Barclay's 5 year old has to be switched over a furlong out and stays on strongly in the final furlong to finish second, beaten only a neck. 10 days later River Ardeche is seen out again this time over 9 furlongs at Hamilton Park. Ridden on this occasion by the promising 7lb claimer Lee Topliss River Ardeche again keeps on well in the final furlong and frustratingly again has to settle for 2nd place, this time beaten just one length. 

 

Another of Mark James's  horses, Destiny's Dancer, makes the journey down to Stratford to contest her second juvenile hurdle. Ridden by another good claimer, the 5lb conditional jockey Giles Hawkins, Destiny's Dancer runs well but stays on at one pace to finish third, one place better than on her debut run over hurdles.

 

Later in the month Reason To Believe runs a further 2 races following his promising 5th on his debut at Ripon in June. Firstly he finishes 4th in a Class 5 maiden race over 6 furlongs at Catterick and follows this with a 6th placing when upped in grade to a Class 4 maiden over the minimum trip at Thirsk.  In these races Reason To Believe is beaten just over 7 lengths and 5 lengths respectively. These are both decent races and Ben is very pleased with the progress Reason To Believe is making .Readers of our Horses For Sale page on this website will note that shares are still available in Reason To Believe, amongst other horses. This could be a shrewd purchase  --   please contact our office on 01969 624351 if you are interested. 

 

Shortly before the end of July Ben introduces two more of our 2 year olds for the first time. Kinlochrannoch, a filly out of Kyllachy, runs 4th in a 5 furlong maiden race at Carlisle, and this is followed by Norwegian Liberty, a brown filly by Stature of Liberty, taking 5th place in a similar Beverley maiden. Norwegian Liberty is doing her best work at the finish to be beaten just over 5 lengths and this is a highly promising first race.

 

Earlier in the same afternoon at Beverley Ben buys the winner of the 3 year old selling handicap, Valantino Oyster. Ben believes this horse could develop into a very useful juvenile hurdler and he is likely to make his first appearance for Castle Hill Stables in this sphere shortly, carrying the colours of Alistair Dinsmore. 

 

Since taking over the licence at Castle Hill Stables Ben has had 3 flat winners (+ a further 3 over jumps) and no less than 10 second places ! Whilst this is naturally a source of frustration the main thing is our horses are continuing to run very well and Ben is still delighted with his horses.

 

Finally, exciting news for Castle Hill Stables  --  the BBC have recently made 2 visits here in connection with a feature they are doing on Ben in their " Inside Out " TV series. The programme featuring Ben is expected to be broadcast within the next 2 months, the precise date and time of the programme will, of course, be given on the news page of this website as soon as it is known  --  WATCH THIS SPACE !! 

 Later the same week Ben takes 2 horses up to Hamilton Park, Destiny’s Dancer and Tia Juana. Both horses acquit themselves well, running on nicely in the closing stages with both frustratingly having to settle for second places in their retrospective races.

Visitors to our Good Friday Open Day will recall that we offered as a raffle prize a free share in a 2 year old chesnut colt out of Sparticus. Ultimately 2 lucky winners won shares in the colt. The horse has subsequently been gelded and has been named Reason To Believe and he made his racecourse debut in the middle of June in a Class 5 maiden race over 6 furlongs at Ripon. Reason To Believe has already pleased Ben at home and former champion jockey Seb Sanders takes the ride. He runs an extremely promising race, only fading inside the final two furlongs to finish a highly creditable 5th of the 13 runners. This first run certainly shows significant promise for the future and should have delighted his 2 new owners from our Open Day, along with Mrs Carol Aldridge in whose colours Reason To Believe now runs. 

 On the same Ripon card Ivestar runs again. He is another horse upped in trip by 2 furlongs as he contests a one mile handicap. Ivestar again runs well but is denied a clear run in the late stages of the race and finishes a never nearer 4th at the line.

 

 

April 2010

April starts with Hi Dancer, who got Ben off the mark as a trainer when successful at Newcastle on 9th March, is reunited with his winning pilot that day, Giles Hawkins, when contesting a 2 mile 5 furlong conditional jockeys' handicap hurdle at Huntingdon. After a mistake at the first Hi Dancer makes headway in the middle section of the race and takes third place 2 furlongs from home before running on at one pace. Considering the race was almost three quarters of a mile further than at Newcastle 3rd place here was another typically good consistent effert by Robert Tocher's 7 year old.
 

Destiny's Dancer, Ben's other winning horse to date, is also out later in in April when she takes in a 10 furlong handicap at Nottingham. As with Hi Dancer, this race represents a step up in trip for Destiny's Dancer as her previous success at Wolverhampton had been over 7 furlongs. However Mark James' 3 year old filly runs another sound race leading all the way until 3 out before being headed and finding no extra inside the final furlong, eventually finishing 5th. 3 days later Destiny's Dancer returns to Wolverhampton's polytrack to finish 8th of 12 runners in a 9 furlong handicap.
 

Later in the month we introduce our second 2 year old runner of the season, Vienna Woods, a chesnut filly owned by Alistair Dinsmore and the Mount Racing Club. Vienna Woods, ridden by Kelly Harrison, dwells at the start but makes good headway 2 furlongs out and looks a threat at the furlong mark but can make no further impression in the final furlong, finishing fourth beaten under 2 lengths. Beling her odds of 33/1 this was a highly encouraging debut by Vienna Woods.
 

Before April closes Mark James' 3 year old filly Dance For Julie takes in a Class 4 one mile handicap at Newcastle. Dance For Julie makes headway 2 furlongs out but again cannot make any further impression inside the last furlong but nevertheless finishes a respectable 4th.
 

Many thanks to everyone who attended the Good Friday Open Day on 2nd April. We hope everyone enjoyed seeing Castle Hill Stables for the first time and we look forward to seeing everyone again next year. Your support of our stable is always very much appreciated.
 

Ben continues to be pleased with his horses, and the coming month should see many more of our 2 year olds making their first appearance on the racecourse. Certainly many are held in high regard and everyone at Castle Hill Stables eagerly awaits their debut performances.      

February / March 2010

Wednesday 24th February 2010 goes down as the date on which Ben saddles his first runner as a licensed trainer in his own right. Just a few days after having taken over the licence at Castle Hill Stables previously held by his father, Patrick, Ben has his first runner, Hi Dancer at Doncaster and who better to ride your first runner than the legendary 14 times Champion National Hunt Jockey, A P McCoy!
Hi Dancer, who has been a model of consistency in recent seasons, contests a highly competitive Class 3 handicap hurdle and after being held up in the early stages of the race makes headway 3 furlongs out under A P, but although keeping on well cannot catch reach the leaders and finishes a very creditable 5th of the 17 runners.

Into March and Adam De Beaulieu makes his third consecutive trip to Wolverhampton for a Maiden Stakes race. Following third and second places over 7 furlongs today’s race is over an extra one and a half furlongs. Adam De Beaulieu however puts in another solid performance under jockey Tom Eaves, challenging 2 furlongs out but running on at one pace in the final furlong to record another third placing.
 

Less than 2 weeks after his first runner 9th March 2010 goes down as a never to be forgotten day for Ben as he registers his first winner as a trainer, and again it’s Hi Dancer who takes the plaudits. The 7 year old, owned by Robert Tocher, is sent off a hot 2/1 favourite for an 11 runner Class 4 handicap hurdle at Newcastle in view of his previous good run. Dropped in trip to 2 miles and always in touch, Hi Dancer, given a beautiful ride by the excellent 7lb conditional jockey Giles Hawkins, makes headway 2 out and is ridden clear in the final furlong to record a 3 lengths success. This is certainly a red-letter day for Ben and a most pleasing result for everyone at Castle Hill Stables.

Later in the month Ben sends both Charmaxjoanne and Destiny’s Dancer to an evening meeting at Wolverhampton and both horses put in career best performances. Charmaxjoanne makes her handicap debut over 7 furlongs and is prominent throughout the race under Kelly Harrison. The 3 year old filly leads a furlong out but is headed close home and agonisingly loses out in a 3 way photo for the runners up spot and has to settle for 4th place. Still this is a most encouraging reappearance for her owners, the Blue Lion Racing syndicate.
 

On the same card Destiny’s Dancer also makes her handicap debut in the 2nd Division of the same 7 furlong handicap. Destiny’s Dancer is not unfancied but the 3 year old filly by Dubai Destination is denied a clear run on the inside in the early stages of the race and after making headway over a furlong out has to be switched entering the final furlong to lead in the last stride in a power packed finish. This is an excellent ride by Paddy Donaghy and a well deserved first success for Mark James’ 3 year old.
 

Adam De Beaulieu is kept on the go throughout the month. Following his third at Wolverhampton early in March he later finished in 9th place at Lingfield and is seen out again on the final day of the month in a Class 5 handicap at Southwell over 7 furlongs. Phillip Makin has the ride on this occasion and Adam De Beaulieu makes headway on the leaders 3 out, but after taking second place a furlong out can only run on at one place. Nevertheless this is another good performance by Alistair Dinsmore’s 3 year old and this second place now means he’s finished runner-up twice and third twice from just 5 runs in 2010. A win would now be richly deserved !
 

Clearly our horses have run well throughout the 5 weeks since Ben took over the licence at Castle Hill Stables and having 2 winners, plus 3 others making the frame, from only 13 runners represents a very satisfactory start to Ben’s training career.