Flat Season Preview 2025

Last season’s two excitements Rumstar and Two Tempting are back in training and we hope they can both continue to fly the Whitcoombe flag.

Both have had decent winter breaks. Two Tempting holds a Lincoln Handicap entry and Rumstar will aim for 5f pattern races all being well.

Two Tempting’s older brother Sweet Reward is 8 years old now but can hopefully remain competitive in his grade as he thrives on racing. His younger brother Newfangled is one of our very few four year olds remaining in training and there is every chance he can maintain subtle improvement.

Three year olds who were lightly raced last year that we have hopes for are the geldings Bulletin and Abundance. Both looked as if this season would suit them better. The filly Personal Best ran once and won once so hopefully she can show that was no fluke occurrence. Another filly we like but was clearly too immature to show her best last season is Bizou. John T has just had the one run to date but could shape up into an interesting middle distance performer in time.

Solid handicappers but at their level should be the geldings Bownder and Pine Cliffs.

An interesting new addition from another stable is the Blue Point gelding Deauville Blue. He raced twice for C Hills showing a modicum of promise but has clearly had issues so hopefully we can straighten those out.

We never expected the older horses to do as well as they did this time last year just as we never expected the two year olds to have not started winning until into the latter part of the season. Mindful that the older horses are now even older and not necessarily so well handicapped it may well be we turn to this year’s crop of two year olds to help us along a little.

It is still early days for any of them to have been fully assessed but we feel that one or two are ready to get on with and earlier types could be Un named colt (Cable Bay), Well Read (Dream Ahead), Takeitorleaveit (Ubetterbelieveit).

Fillies Southern Spirit (A’Ali), Sparkling Pink (Due Diligence) and Un named (Sergei Prokofiev) ought not to take too long.

Of course there are others lurking in the wings who have yet to show their full credentials but any of whom could, let’s hope, give us a day in the sun.

Bradley Clark heads the team as head lad. Ned Curtis as assistant trainer. Reg Payne is into his 23rd season as travelling lad. Olivia Tubb resumes as apprentice jockey having spent the winter with Graham Motion in Florida. Tyler Saunders took a winter sabbatical overseas but returns as part of the family. Brandon Williamson is a newcomer with his eyes on an amateur licence. Emily Wingate has been a regular loyal fixture here and Lily Sephton has been doing great things having joined us in 2024 as a British Racing School. Yard staff Phil and Tul are working away doing their bit. Farrier James Stewart remains a vital cog in the wheel.