We took our season’s prizemoney haul to a seasonal personal best at over £430k. That was largely due to the success of Two Tempting who won us five races including two Heritage handicaps and an Oaks day victory at Epsom.

Our stable star Rumstar had to wait until late in the season to come good but he did just that when romping home in the Listed Rous Stakes at Ascot in October. He had a more trouble free season this year and it was lovely for owners Vincent and Russell Ward for him to confirm our belief in him.

6 year old gelding Strike found a true vein of form winning three races for his devoted owner breeders the Emmet family. This horse is so popular here and nothing short of a miracle having undergone two wind operations as a youngster when his racing career looked very much in jeopardy.

We call them the Dangle brothers but Sweet Reward, Two Tempting and Newfangled are all from the dam Dangle and have all given us so much fun and reward. Sweet Reward is 7 years old and is leased to Old Stoic Racing Club in partnership with Eddie Ankarcrona. He didn’t manage to win but he got himself into the winner’s enclosure five times from 10 runs. His five year old brother Two Tempting won five times from nine runs and his three year old brother Newfangled won three races from ten runs, only once finishing out of the first four after an inauspicious start last season.

Six year old gelding Way of life had a busy 2024 with over 13 runs. The handicapper has made winning hard for him but he was in the winner’s enclosure eight times.

Other veterans here who came good were 6 year old mare Hellavapace who won a race and was placed 7 times from 12 runs in 2014 having had a mid season pause with a nasty wither infection. 7 year old Russian Rumour battled through a troublesome sesamoid joint with two wins and two places from eight runs.

Four year old gelding One More Wave had ten runs with a winner and five places. He still could be a force to be reckoned with if we can control his respiratory issues.

We said a sad goodbye to four year old Enochdhu at the October sales. He had 10 runs this season with a win and four places to his name. We will miss him as he was sound horse who was reliable in his grade.

Last season’s two year olds were in the main underwhelming so we didn’t expect fireworks in the three year old division this year so it was only really Newfangled, Make A Scene and Thunderous Love who flew the flag by winning.

We had to sweat a bit until later in the season until the two year olds got going. Bownder was an early runner but not being bred for sprinting he was not going to be seen to best effect until trying further and when that was possible he rewarded us with two wins and four places. Pine Cliffs scored over 10f. Personal Best won on her only run, over 8f. We lacked the sharp early types but the likes of Bulletin, Abundance and Wondrous Light all shaped like next year would be something to look forward to.

Everyone has worked really hard for this season’s results. Getting wet more days than not! Head lad Bradley Clark, assistant trainer Ned Curtis, Travelling Lad Reg Payne, amateur rider James Harding, former apprentice Tyler Saunders, newcomer Lily Sephton, hardworking Emily Wingate, yardmen Tul Singh and Phil Donnelly can all take a bow. Apprentice jockey Olivia Tubb has ridden eight of our 24 or so winners this year and has been a huge asset to us and is making a decent name for herself in the sport. Jockeys Rob Hornby and Trevor Whelan have attended on a weekly basis to ride fast work and their input has been much appreciated.

Our in house syndicates Berkeley Racing, Whitcoombe Park Racing, Portlee Bloodstock and Fillies First have all had something to cheer about.

Farrier James Stewart has not missed a beat all year and his role is not to be underestimated. Just as we have been well served by our vets Donnington Grove Veterinary Practice. Our long time yard sponsor Pump Technology Ltd have once again been invaluable to us under the leadership of their MD Jeremy Brownlee.