What a Super Sunday yesterday turned out to be for Mervyn Buckley & the Brough Farm Racing Partnership, and everyone at the yard, when Fiddlers Bow and our own Emma Beag both won at Ayr!
Fiddlers was making the return journey to Scotland following on from his win at the course 12 days ago. Ridden on this occasion by Henry (Brooke) he faced nine rivals and a step up in trip to 2m5½f in the 0-120 handicap chase.
Henry had Fiddlers tracking the leaders from the outset and sent him on to lead from five out. With the exception of one small error in an otherwise exemplary round of jumping, the pair stayed on strongly from the last to win by a comfortable 4½ lengths.
In the following race Emma Beag faced 15 rivals in the 3m½f, 0-100 handicap hurdle. After a break of 300 days, this game little mare took an enthusiastic hold under Henry from the outset and was held up in touch with the leaders on the outside of the field.
When the commentator made the observation on turning in to the home straight for the final time that most of the jockeys appeared to be “flexing their muscles…” (energetically pushing along) “…with the exception of Henry Brooke” (motionless), he perhaps underestimated how much strain Henry’s biceps were under!
Emma was then allowed to go on and lead from the 8th flight and she scampered clear after two out. Thereafter she kept on strongly and won unchallenged by five lengths.
She may be small in stature but her heart & will to win are enormous. As with many of our horses at the time, Emma just wasn’t quite right last year so it was lovely to see her produce what we always believed her to be capable of.
Along with Fiddlers performance, and with Henry giving both horses a great ride, it was a very proud day for the yard.
End
21/01/19
….That’s what owners Mervyn Buckley and the Brough Farm Racing Partnership can currently be found doing after Fiddlers Bow ran out a comfortable winner of the 2m 1/2f, 0-120 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase at Ayr today.
Having his first run since a wind operation, Fiddlers was also trying a new trip over fences after previously running for us over 3m 1f and 2m4f. It appears he can also count backwards as he’s now finished 3rd, 2nd & 1st (!) on his three runs since joining our yard in early Spring last year.
Partnered on this occasion by the in form Ross Chapman (jockey of Copt Hill winning fame!), Fiddlers was always in touch, held up on the outside and jumping superbly. He then made smooth headway to lead from 4 out and was pushed out comfortably from the last to win by 2 1/2 lengths from the favourite.
For various reasons only Mervyn & Jennifer Buckley were able to make the journey north to enjoy Ayr’s superb owners hospitality and support their horse, but the Brough Farm Racing Partnership gang were definitely there in spirit!
We are extremely lucky to have such a lovely group of people involved in Fiddlers Bow – some have been in other horses with us and for some Fiddlers is their first experience of ownership.
And for the horse; surprisingly this was his first win over fences from 16 attempts, despite the fact he’s been ultra consistent throughout his career to date without actually managing to get his head in front.
Maybe it was his gorgeous new brow band that matched his racing colours, kindly provided by Mervyn & Jen, that motivated him that tiny bit extra to make the most of the Winner’s photo opportunity? Onwards and upwards for this lovely horse & his owners.
End
08/01/19