On Sunday 25th September, we welcomed owners, family, and friends to Woodway Farm to celebrate the success we’ve had over the last few years and to parade our team for the upcoming season.
The afternoon started with a select parade of some of the horses, including a few of the yard superstars, some exciting new additions, and unraced 3yos.
Hawkhurst (IRE)
2010 Flemensfirth x Silaoce
Hawk joined the team in 2017, bought privately by Tom Malone from Ben Haslam, where he was very well known for his antics both on and off the racecourse. Hawk has relished life at Woodway Farm and has now become a yard superstar, winning 16 Point to Points, including 4 Opens last season. Hawk has decided that he would prefer to always get his head in front to win at the very last moment, which he has done very impressively over the years. Although he has thrown a few curveballs during his races, he has given the team some of our best days racing and we all adore his character. Joe and Hawk have developed a great relationship and lead the string without fail every day. Hopefully a wind operation and running in heavy Winter ground will see Hawk back in the winner’s enclosure this season.
2021/22 Form: 1113122423
Hawkhurst and Charlotte
Duke of Rockingham (GB)
2016 Kayf Tara x Our Jess
Duke was purchased this Summer from Olly Murphy and has shown extremely promising form on the track. He won a NHF in October 2021 at Uttoxeter and has since been placed 2nd in three of his four starts over hurdles. He is eligible for Restricted Point to Points and will hopefully go up through the grades this season. There is still 1 leg available to purchase.
2021/22 Form: 12252
Duke of Rockingham and Harry
Our Brother John
John was purchased by Jimmy Kelly in early 2022 having shown good form in Irish Maidens. John then won a competitive Maiden on his yard debut at Holnicote Point to Point in May. He is an exciting prospect for next season and will be campaigned to go up through the grades in Point to Points this year. He is a smart individual by Champion National Hunt sire Yeats, and he is a lovely character at home. There are shares still available in John.
2021/22 Form: P3PP1
Our Brother John and Walter
Sir Mangan (IRE)
2008 Darsi x Lady Pep
Roy was purchased from Dan Skelton at the Tattersalls Ascot March Sale in 2019 and has been one of the best additions to the yard to date! Roy has thrived on the Point to Point circuit and was an integral part of Ben Sutton’s successful campaign to win the National Mens’ Novice Riders Championship in 2020/21, winning five races. That season, Roy was also crowned National Champion Point to Point Horse. Although a veteran now at 14 years old, Roy is in as good as form as ever, winning three of his five starts last season. Hopefully he will be back in the winners’ enclosure again very soon!
2021/22 Form: 21311
Sir Mangan and Harriet
Coolagh Park (GB)
2014 Kapgarde x Gaspaie
Cooley joined the team last season, bought by David Minton privately from Dennis Murphy’s yard. Cooley had shown a good standard of form in Ireland, both in Point to Points and under rules. He was pleasing everyone at home before his yard debut at Horseheath Point to Point on New Year’s Eve 2021, where he won the Maiden by 50 lengths. This particular race threw up a lot of winners from the beaten horses, including Artic Oscar, Precious Bounty and Go Go Geronimo, which definitely solidifies his performance. A small setback later in the season caused him to have an early summer holiday. Cooley was the highest rated Maiden winner of the 2021/22 season with a rating of 111, and we are looking forward to seeing his progression through the ranks this year.
2021/22 Form: 1
Coolagh Park and Patrik
Clondaw Westie (IRE)
2011 Westerner x You’re A Native
Westie has been a real yard superstar over the years, purchased as a 4yo in 2015, he went on to win six handicap chases and a Hunters’ Chase for the yard. But his best performance to date was finishing a fine 4th in the Randox Foxhunters Open Hunters’ Chase at Aintree in April 2021. Westie is known for being a bit of a character, both at home and on the racecourse, and had an up and down season last year, but definitely has the Aintree fences back in his sights this season.
2021/22 Form: P2F2U52
Clondaw Westie and Clemmie
Purple Empora (IRE)
2018 Famous Name x Winged Empress
Wonky has always been a yard favourite since he was purchased by Ed Bailey and Joe at the Doncaster May Store Sale in 2021. This flashy son of Famous Name was impressing us at home and when taken away to gallop and school. Wonky made his racecourse debut at Mollington in a competitive 4 & 5yo Maiden in April this year, finishing 2nd. He and the winner drew 20 lengths clear of the rest of the field and he was just outstayed in the final few yards. This impressive run saw Wonky being rated the joint 2nd highest 4yo runner in the UK last season, as well as the race winner selling for £120,000. Wonky will aim to run this Autumn and is an exciting prospect to have in the yard.
2021/22 Form: 2
Puprle Empora and Harry
Normofthenorth (IRE)
2014 Gold Well x Aughwilliam Lady
Norm was purchased from the Tattersalls Ascot March Sale in 2019 from Dennis Murphy, having finished placed in three Irish Maiden Point to Points, seeming to want quicker ground than he had been running on. Norm made his yard and winning debut at Kimble on Easter Saturday in the Maiden shortly after. He has progressed up through the grades well and has now won 8 of his 13 starts for the yard and has never finished outside of the first three. Norm finished the 2021/22 season on a high, winning the Maiden Hunters’ Chase at Fakenham in May on his rules debut. Norm is a pleasure to do in every way and we are really looking forward to his return this season, hopefully back in the winners’ enclosure again soon.
2021/22 Form: 32211
Normofthenorth and Izzie
I K Brunel (GB)
2014 Midnight Legend x Somethinaboutmolly
I K was purchased in Summer 2022 from Olly Murphy and has been a top-class horse on the track, most recently winning a Class 3 Novice Handicap Chase at Newbury in December 2021. I K will aim to run in Open Point to Points and Hunters’ Chases next season, and hopefully his class will allow him to be very competitive. There is still a 25% share available.
2021/22 Form: 3156
I K Brunel and Charlotte
Goleirihem (IRE)
2016 Shirocco x Corona Moon
Gorilla was purchased in Summer 2022 having shown good form in Irish points, and since under rules with Olly Murphy, finishing in the top 3 in four of his six starts. Gorilla is an exciting prospect for next season as Maiden Point to Pointer and we look forward to his yard debut. There are still 25% and 50% shares available.
2021/22 Form: 36233
Goleirihem and Walter
Everything’sontick (IRE)
2014 Scorpion x Atomic Betty
Nipper joined the yard as a 4yo during the height of the pandemic, which allowed him to have lots of individual attention and intense schooling. This has paid dividends as Nipper showed great promise on his racecourse debut in a NHF at Huntingdon in 2020, finishing 5th. Since then, Nipper has continued to strengthen and improve, with last season’s results showing this. Nipper finished 3rd in his first run over hurdles at Chepstow, to then return 2 motnhs later to storm home to win a Maiden Hurdle very impressively by 13 lengths under David Bass. He is an exciting prospect to go Novice Chasing this season and may have a bit in hand off his mark of 121.
2021/22 Form: 313
Everything'sontick and Patrik
Paul Manate (FR)
2019 Manatee x Paulmie
Bojo was purchased this year from the Doncaster May Store Sales by Joe and Ed Bailey, from Hannah Mahon (who rode lots of winners for the yard!), and is by the exciting up and coming sire Manatee. Bojo was a pleasure to break in and has shown natural athleticism when jumping and cantering. He seems to really enjoy his work and is definitely a very exciting recruit to the team and will hopefully make his racecourse debut next Spring.
Paul Manate and Harriet
Everyone enjoyed having a look around the yard in the glorious sunshine, as well as feasting on fresh fish and chips!
Thank you to our amazing team for all of their hard work and to Carl Evans for the beautiful photos and write up on the National Point to Point website. The full article can be viewed here https://www.pointtopoint.co.uk/news_articles/hills-priming-team-for-exciting-season
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