David Ord visited Brian Ellison's impressive Spring Cottage Stables to get the lowdown on his team for the new National Hunt season.
APTERIX
He’s been out this season and won at Sedgefield and just got beat the next time. He’ll have another go over fences at some stage. He had a bad back last year and we took him over to Ger Kelly and he’s done a great job with him. He’ll go to Wetherby at the end of the month.
ARCHIVE
We bought him from Gigginstown and he came out and won a £20,000 chase. We decided to run him on the Flat this summer and he won at Carlisle and ran fourth at Galway. He’s won a bumper, flat, hurdles and a chase. He isn’t the biggest but tries hard.
BALLYCRISTAL
He won is novice chase lat season but has been a bit disappointing in two starts this year. When you run him over three miles he looks like he wants two-and-half, run him over two-and-a-half and he looks like he wants three. We'll keep trying with him and he’s won a bumper, hurdle and chase for us. He'll win again.
BALLYVIC BORU
He’s won over hurdles and fences but is a little prone to injury and you have to treat him with kid gloves. He has a lot of talent and will be alight.
BARRYS JACK
He won three for us last year having got him from Ireland. He loves heavy ground and while he isn’t the biggest he’s come in fresh and well and will hopefully win a race or two.
BORDEAUX BILL
He's a horse I like. We took him to Ger Kelly because he had back issues but he’s in great fettle now and ready to run. He looks ready to roll and we’ll kick on with him. He’ll win.
CONTRE TOUS
He likes going right-handed and wants an easy track and returned at Ludlow last week. He’s capable when conditions are right.
DEFINITLY RED
He's a star and a horse who loves his work. He’ll return at Wetherby in either the Charlie Hall or three-mile hurdle. I’ll talk to Phil Martin and we’ll decide what to do. We’ll see what season we have but the Magners Cheltenham Gold Cup would be on our mind. He handles soft ground but it was too testing for him in it last season. He could go there again though. He’s improved ten pounds each year and is rated 167 now. We space his runs out, he’ll have four or five again, and has come back looking great. We’ll go to Wetherby and plan from there.
FAIR LOCH
He's the owner's pet and we didn’t pay a lot for him. He’s won a fair few races for us and runs on the flat, over hurdles and fences. He's a grand old horse.
FOREST BIHAN
He’s a horse with a lot of ability and I still think he’s better than he's shown so far. We're going to give him a spin on the flat soon and see how good he is at that. He's a good horse and takes some working with, he’s a proper work horse. There are some good pots around on the Flat nowadays but he's a horse who could go anywhere over hurdles and fences too.
INSTANT REPLAY
He ran in a few hurdle races and disappointed us so we put him over fences and he was a different horse. He won a couple but the handicapper hammered him. He started off over hurdles but will go chasing again.
LUCKY ROBIN
We got him from Ireland where he didn’t have much form but he’s won a couple for us. He was second at Sedgefield last time and is a handy sort who can go on the flat or over fences.
NIETSCHE
A good flat horse, he had a great juvenile season over hurdles, finishing third in the Fred Winter. He suffered a bit last year as they often do from four to five. He’s come in looking great and will go over fences.
PISTOL PARK
His owners love him and every year he wins. He wants soft ground and has come in looking great. He’ll win again when conditions are right.
RAVENHILL ROAD
He's pleased me with his schooling and he’s class over a fence. He’ll start out in novice chases and should be winning races. He’s a very good horse. I’m lucky to have Phil and Julie Martin in the yard as they buy good ones – and this fellow is one of them.
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SAM'S ADVENTURE:
I love Sam. He won his bumpers including a nice one at Newbury. He’s a very, very good horse and last year just got a problem midway through the season which just stopped us. This time he’s come back looking great and is ready to run. He’s schooled great.
SIANNES STAR
A half-brother to Ballycristal but a bit more hyper. Bally is very laid back but this fellow is a bit more on the bridle and keen. He needs to settle down and learn about his racing. He’ll be fine and maybe just wants a fence to get him to concentrate properly. He was third on his reappearance at Sedgefield.
SNOOKERED
I bought him from Richard Fahey and he came out and won on the Flat. We ran him over run hurdles last backend but he was probably just over the top. He’s ready to go again now and just wants a bit of soft ground. He’s tough and hardy and should take to it.
TICKERTY BOO
She’s had nine races now and I just don’t know why she isn't winning. We probably need to make more use of her. She jumps nicely and is well handicapped. She’d jump a fence one day.
TOMNGERRY
He’s come back in and looks great. He’s not a bad horse and is another who will be winning races.
WINDSOR AVENUE
Probably the best novice in the yard. He won his two bumpers last year and made a good start over hurdles when second to Al Dancer at Carlisle. He jumps for fun and I’m very excited by him.
FERRY HALL
Phil bought him from France and he's a half-brother to Apterix. He's very different physically, much bigger, and is nice. We’ll have a lot of fun with him.
WHEATFIELD
A very, very nice horse who we’re just waiting for some soft ground with. He works well and will win races. He’s one I’m excited about for bumpers.
