Like many yards around the country, Harry Fry’s team are waiting for rain. Following cancellation of Exeter’s opening card and firm ground at Wincanton in recent weeks, the weather has not made life easy for the Dorset-based team.
There are plenty of unraced prospects ready to make their mark on the upcoming season, a prospect Fry is relishing.
“There are some lovely unraced four-year-olds who we didn’t get to run in the spring because, ironically, the ground dried out so quickly and now we still can’t find anywhere to run them.”
In addition to the younger team, stalwarts such as Unowhatimeanharry and Opening Batsman are back for another campaign, while evergreen The Last Samuri has joined Manor Farm from Kim Bailey’s yard.
Despite some of the horses not performing at their best last season, the yard still managed to pick up nearly £800,000 in prize-money and Fry is hopeful of another lucrative campaign.
“Some of our horses last year weren’t quite 100 per cent but they’ve had a good break,” Fry said.
Stable profile
Yard Manor Farm
Where Seaborough, Dorset
Started training October 2012
Horses in yard 76
Members of staff 19
Assistant trainers Ciara Fry and Michael Legg
Yard Manager Rawal Singh
Secretary Rachel Brown
Jockeys Noel Fehily and Niall Madden
Amateurs Kieron Edgar, Mike Legg, Aine O’Connor, Martin McIntyre and Chris Barber
Accounts manager Brook Financial Team
Stable sponsor Citibet
Website harryfryracing.com
Twitter @HarryFryRacing1
WINNERS IN BRITAIN
2017-18 53
2016-17 67
2015-16 54
2014-15 36
PROFIT/LOSS TO £1 STAKE
2017-18 -£46.76
2016-17 +£15.04
2015-16 -£20.34
2014-15 -£24.03
TOTAL PRIZE-MONEY 2017-18
£787,617
Rival to watch
Anthony Honeyball had a great year last season so we will be egging each other on at the top of the gallops!
Race in focus
If we could get Harry [Unowhatimeanharry] back to his best it would be great to try and win the Long Walk Hurdle for the second time.
If I could sum up last season in one word . . .
Frustrating
HORSES
Seven-year-old gelding
King’s Theatre (sire) – Darrens Lass (dam)
Owner: Nigel & Barbara Collison
Form figures: 24/1119-
Racing Post Rating 154 Official rating 149
He thrived over fences and enjoys slower ground. He was slightly late back in over the summer so he won’t be ready until December and there’s a valuable 3m chase at Ascot the weekend before Christmas we could go for. He’s on quite a high mark but hopefully he can progress and seems to be one to catch fresh.
7g Mountain High – Whisky Rose
The Dons
43023P-
RPR 153 OR 147
He didn’t get any help from the handicapper last year but still ran some great races in defeat, particularly when carrying top weight at Ascot in January. He’s almost too consistent for his own good but he’s had a good summer and will start out over hurdles.
8g Malinas – Grande Sultane
The Jago Family Partnership
111/P29-
RPR 161 OR 154
He ran a very good race in the Cotswold Chase and took his chance in the soft-ground Gold Cup. He’s entered in the Ladbrokes Trophy and is one we never let completely down over the summer. He seems to have benefited as he’s much more forward than he was this time last year so he’s ready to go when we get proper rain. He’ll probably get an entry in the Betfair Chase in case it’s similar conditions to last year but the Cotswold will likely be his main target for the season.
Newbury 21.11.17 Pic: Edward Whitaker
7g Oscar – Golden Moment
Michael Pescod
8110-21
RPR 145 OR 145
We gave him a run in May over 2m which was too short but he put that experience to good use at Ffos Las where he won well. We’re looking at Wincanton for the Rising Stars and hopefully the track gets a bit of rain beforehand. He likes decent ground but doesn’t want it like a road. He did well over hurdles but we’re hoping he can progress further over fences.
Kempton 13.11.17 Pic: Edward Whitaker
6g Black Sam Bellamy – Miss Mitch
Tom Chadney and Friends
55331-F
RPR 135 OR 134
He looked set to win at Market Rasen but took a heavy fall at the last. Thankfully he was fine but we will give him another run over the smaller obstacles first.
5g Gold Well – Dontcallerthat
Phil Fry & Charlie Walker
1/2-
RPR 118 OR –
He won a valuable sales bumper on his debut at Newbury and then went straight for that Listed bumper at Ascot. He did remarkably well to finish second as he was very keen that day. We’ve done loads of work at home getting him to settle and he’s been schooled with novice hurdling in mind this year. Hopefully he can now progress over the obstacles.
5g Getaway – Julika
Gary Stevens and Brian and Sandy Lambert
21-
RPR 109 OR –
He made a winning debut for us in a bumper at Towcester. Having being placed in a Irish point-to-point he’s been entered up and ready to go and we will step him up in trip. He’ll make a lovely chaser in 12 months.
Dark horse
5g Ballingarry – Cardamine
Phil Fry & Charlie Walker
121-
RPR 124 OR –
He’s a galloper and will appreciate the step up in trip to two and a half, although he’s not slow. He won’t be seen until the end of November as he’s a big horse and wants plenty of cut in the ground.
5m Bachir – Misery
Mme Marc Boudot
51/0114-
RPR 143 OR –
She has got winning form in France, twice at Listed level over hurdles, so she’s got quite a high rating. I hope the handicapper is right because we could have some fun with her. There’s a really good mares’ programme now and we’ll look to go novice chasing with her.
5m Oscar – Bobs Article
Jago And Taylor
P3/112-F
RPR 113 OR –
She took a heavy fall at Chepstow but thankfully she and Noel were both fine. She won on her debut for us in the spring in a bumper and she’s one who appreciates better ground so you won’t see her out in the depths of the winter.
7g Robin Des Champs – Mille Et Une
John P McManus
2/3/2U1P-
RPR 153 OR 145
He can be too exuberant for his own good sometimes but won nicely at Kempton on Boxing Day in a 2m4½f novices’ handicap chase. He’s ready to get started and hopefully he can develop into a useful second-season chaser.
6g Milan – Derravaragh Sayra
Paul & Clare Rooney
114/111-
RPR 145 OR 147
He was three from three over hurdles last season and then had a setback a couple of weeks before Cheltenham that ruled him out of the spring festivals. He’s come back looking 100 per cent and is entered in the Greatwood Hurdle. It’s a different kettle of fish to what he’s been running in but he won nicely on Boxing Day and we’re hopeful he can develop into a top hurdler this season.
Kempton 26.12.17 Pic: Edward Whitaker
9g Astarabad – Jolly Harbour
Gdm Partnership
596/31/0/
RPR 147 OR 138
He won a Ladbroke Hurdle for us in 2015 and ran in the race the following year. That’s been his only start since as he’s had leg troubles but he’s come back in good form. He’s also entered in the Greatwood but wants slow ground. If we can keep him in one piece then we will have some fun this season.
6g Scorpion – Shanann Lady
Nigel & Barbara Collison
1/2338-1
RPR 132 OR 131
He made a pleasing debut over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter in quite a strong novices’ handicap. We were disappointed not to win over hurdles with him last year but that was down to the ground. He enjoys better ground and will run in another novices’ handicap. At some point during the season he will step up in trip.
4g Stowaway – Kiltiernan Robin
T Lacey
–
RPR – OR –
A winning point-to-pointer in England who we are looking forward to seeing in action.
9g Revoque – One Of The Last
M J McMahon & Denis Gallagher
54/P32P-
RPR 163 OR 151
We feel we’ve got a better handle on him this time round. Two and a half is his distance but he’s in that territory where he’s either top weight in the handicaps or a few pounds off the best in level-weights races. Hopefully he can get his head in front this season.
5m Soldier Of Fortune – Cigalia
John P McManus
931-141
RPR 137 OR 138
She’s built up a great rapport with Aine [O’Connor] and she could head to Wincanton a week on Saturday for a valuable handicap mares’ hurdle.
3g High Chaparral – Ripley
Qatar Racing
–
RPR – OR –
He had two runs on the Flat and will be ready to go in a couple of weeks. We’ve been pleased with what he’s been showing us.
7g Oscar – Montys Miss
Masterton Holdings Limited
11/P7-23
RPR 157 OR 149
He ran a great race at the Galway festival this year where he finished second to the subsequent Cesarewitch winner [Low Sun]. He jumped well on his chasing debut but it’s always this time of year that he just goes off the boil a bit. He needs better ground and enjoys the sun on his back.
Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723
7g Sagamix – Mighty Splash
Wilkin, Orr, Boileau & Sim
P21/129-
RPR 144 OR 141
He was just touched off in the Greatwood and will go chasing. He’s versatile and jumps really well so I’m looking forward to seeing him over the larger obstacles. There’s a beginners’ chase at Exeter or Taunton the following day and soft to good ground is no problem for him.
4f Stowaway – Whisky Rose
Distillery Stud
–
RPR – OR –
She’s a half-sister to our own Air Force One.
6m Sholokhov – Missing Link
Holt, Clark, Macnabb, Nugent & Robinson
1/11213-
RPR 140 OR 142
She arrived in the summer and had some good form for Dan [Skelton] last season, including when finishing third in a Grade 1 behind Black Op at Aintree. She looks a lovely mare and there’s a 3m Listed mares’ hurdle at Kempton in November that we will look to get her started in. We’re sticking to hurdles for the time being but she should definitely make a chaser in time.
3g Camelot – Field Of Hope
W J and T C O Gredley
–
RPR – OR –
He is a lovely, big horse by Camelot who has taken to jumping nicely. We don’t often have many juvenile hurdlers so it’s nice to have a couple to go to war with.
Alain Barr
12g Morozov – Jolly Signal
The Twelfth Man Partnership
011/443-
RPR 151 OR 129
He’s going to run back in handicap company and has been a great servant for the yard. This is almost certainly his last season but he was our first big winner and he’s been given a chance by the handicapper. Hopefully we can find him a nice opportunity to get his head in front again and bow out on a high.
5m Shantou – Mystic Masie
Chasing Gold Racing Club
1/0-U
RPR 102 OR –
She crumpled on landing on her debut over hurdles at Market Rasen but was none the worse for that. She wasn’t right last year, she only had the one run in a Listed bumper, but won on debut nicely. We’re looking forward to a novice campaign over hurdles.
5g Stowaway – Arcuate
John P McManus
form
RPR – OR –
A nice Stowaway horse who will be starting out over 2m and we will go from there.
4g Malinas – Samandara
Phil Fry and Charlie Walker
1-
RPR 109 OR –
Won on his bumper debut at Wincanton in April and is a lovely Malinas gelding. He’s ready to go but we’ve been waiting for somewhere safe to run him.
7g Al Namix – Schoune
The Rate Chasers
72U54-4
RPR 144 OR 132
He’s another one who’s a bit exuberant and needs the first run to get the freshness out of him. He had some good form last year, he won first time out over fences last May and ran well behind Benatar at Ascot. Two miles to 2m2f in slow ground is ideal for him.
10g Flemensfirth – Howaboutthis
Paul & Clare Rooney
0/2243P-
RPR 163 OR 157
Kim Bailey has done a very good job with him so we’ve got some big shoes to fill. He’ll be ready for the end of November/early December and will be entered in the Becher, and hopefully all roads will lead back to the Grand National. He’s 10 so we’ll try and find a race for him to get his head in front. He’s a good horse who’s been there and done it and we’re learning about him all the time. We’re very happy with what we’ve seen so far.
Star quality
10g Sir Harry Lewis – Red Nose Lady
John P McManus
31/1230-
RPR 166 OR 159
He’s come back really well. He started last year with a win at Aintree and he could go back there this time around. Things didn’t quite go to plan there after but some of our horses weren’t quite right and he was definitely one we could never get right. He’s had a good break and has had another small minor wind op. He’s 10 but we couldn’t be more pleased with how he’s going and we could go to Aintree [a week on Saturday] and then on to Newbury, or we could go straight to Newbury for the Long Distance Hurdle.
Photograph by Grossick Racing Photography 0771 046 1723
Horse to follow
Looked extremely useful when winning on debut in a competitive running of the Newbury Goffs bumper in March 2017 and those immediately in behind have proven they are above average (rated 128, 134 and 127). Had a break after that and made his only other appearance when runner-up in a Listed contest at Ascot in December. Has so much ability and could prove to be a Graded horse this year if staying sound.
Tom Collins
