The Brough Farm Racing Partnership enjoyed a really fun day at Catterick yesterday when More Madness ran his best race for the stable finishing 2nd to one of the favourites by just neck (and closing) in the 3m1f handicap chase under Brian Hughes.
Despite Madness’s confident assurance to Copt Hill (our other runner on the day) yesterday morning that racing, in his opinion, was highly unlikely to be on, he was then most surprised to find himself en route to Catterick after the course passed an early inspection.
In actual fact it was a perfect day to be racing in bright winter sunshine and a great atmosphere, with the course enjoying one of its busiest jumps meetings of the calendar.
With the Brough Farm Racing Partnership out in force to support Madness, he seemed to know all eyes were on him as he strutted round the paddock – in fact he looked so good that Lilly Flude, who was leading up, deservedly won the Best Turned Out prize. Whether the commentator’s announcement that More Madness had “won” (referring to the said BTO award) whilst the horses were circling at the start confused or inspired him, in any event he went on to run a fantastic race. Brian stuck exactly to his race plan and had Madness precisely where he wanted him……or perhaps more importantly precisely where Madness thought he wanted to be?? The pair were fluent at every fence and Brian kicked him on into the lead turning in with three fences to go. They were joined by the eventual winner two out and headed but they didn’t miss a beat when the pressure was on. Despite going four lengths down with a furlong to run, Madness rallied gamely and was closing on the winner who was all out to hold him at the line.
The genuine elation amongst his connections was brilliant to see & More Madness could be forgiven for thinking he’d won as he made his way into the winners enclosure, such was his greeting.
Short of actually winning it couldn’t have been a better day out for all concerned.
Making their way back in to the winners enclosure
29/12/17