April marked the close of the jumps season — and what a first season it has been. In reality, just six months with a licence, yet the results have exceeded all expectations.
20 winners, over £200,000 in prize money, multiple doubles, hattricks, our first Cheltenham runner, and over half of our runners finishing in the top four — not to mention Bollin’ Thou winning five on the bounce (there must be a word for that!). The accolades go on, and we couldn’t be more proud of the yard, the horses, or the team — nor more grateful for the support we’ve received along the way.
As the season draws to a close, the majority of our winter horses have now gone out to grass. With plenty of time ahead, they thoroughly deserve a couple of months to rest and recharge before returning for their next campaigns — and there is certainly plenty to look forward to.
Bollin’ Thou, who was denied a shot at a sixth consecutive win due to unsuitable ground, has also headed out for his break after a fantastic season. We were also delighted to see some smart novice hurdle winners towards the end of the season. Toby’s Hill was particularly impressive at Chepstow, while Itsinthename continued his progression with a win at Catterick. Race To Base ran a blinder to finish second at Sandown last weekend, with Gabby’s Cross also running well. Add to that Otie’s Friend, our bumper winner, and we have a really exciting group of horses to look forward to next season.
Looking ahead, we do have a handful of summer horses, including a couple on the Flat. One to note is a Too Darn Hot two-year-old colt, who is expected to make his debut in the coming weeks — an exciting addition to the team. While things may be a little quieter over the summer months, we’re already looking forward to building towards the backend of the year.
Finally, a huge thank you to the team at Felstead Court and to our wonderful owners. We simply couldn’t have achieved any of this without you, and we’re incredibly grateful for the part you’ve played in what has been a remarkable first season. We look forward with real excitement to what the future may bring.
Love the NS team X
