END OF SEASON REVIEW 2023/24 . . . . . . . . . .

We had plenty to celebrate at the conclusion of our best season by far since we moved to Potwell.

You always try to improve year on year and it was great to set a new personal record of 42 winners which was two more than in 2022-23.

Our horses earned the impressive total of £760,665 in prize money which helped us finish eighteenth in the trainers’ table.

That’s a big step forward after finishing thirty first in the list twelve months ago.

The horses maintained their form through the season with Blackjack Magic, Forward Plan, Gabriel’s Getaway and the evergreen veteran Sam Brown among those to land valuable handicap chases.

A big Saturday double at Wincanton early in November set the tone for the rest of the winter, with Blackjack Magic’s victory in the Badger Beer Chase and Good Look Charm winning the Richard Barber Memorial Mares’ Handicap Hurdle .

Coquelicot then landed a valuable mares’ Listed hurdle race at Kempton the same month before the ever-improving Forward Plan was triumphant in the bet365 Chase at Doncaster the following month.

Next it was the turn of Tim Frost’s hardy campaigner Sam Brown to strike in the Unibet Veterans Chase Final at Sandown on January 13. A fortnight later Gabriel’s Getaway won the SGB Chase at Doncaster.

Forward Plan kept up the momentum of the yard with a tremendous late run to claim a first prize of £85,425 in the Coral Trophy at Kempton in February.

Others to play their part include Credo, successful in the Desert Orchid Cup at Wincanton while Sam Brown later added a £30,000 Chase at Ascot to his impressive CV before going tantalisingly close in a valuable race at Aintree that he won two years ago.

Kilbeg King finished in the money several times over fences in top company including a fine run into third place in Grade 1 Kauto Star Chase at Kempton over Christmas.

I felt he had unfinished business as a chaser and it was a big blow to lose him with a fatal injury at Punchestown last week as he was bidding to win the same handicap hurdle for the second year running.

On a brighter note our decision a couple of years ago to expand our facilities by building an extra barn and adding a new office and owners’ room has certainly paid off.

Now that the new season is under way our focus is on improving the strength and quality of the team.