You and I Race Reports 2008~2009

27th May 2009, Stephen Bacon Happy 50th Birthday ‘NH’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle Race, Southwell. Now what is it they say – ‘good things come to those who wait!!!!’ Nicky had been very deliberate in his plan of attack for Yogi’s campaign this season and it all went to plan last week. Nicky had spotted this race for You and I ten days previously and knew it would be the perfect trip and conditions for our fella (also knowing that if we won it, we couldn’t get too hammered by the Handicapper with it only being 0-105 rated race). Having established that a front running position would suit You and I (based on Felix’s observations from his Stratford run and the way that his half brother Mr Gardner had obliterated the field at Newbury from the front on his last outing), Nicky was very confident of a big run from Yogi.

As it turned out the race cut up into a fairly competitive affair, with AP turning down the ride (that will teach him!!) on Yogi for the decent Egerton trained, Illicit Spirit, (this came 2nd to Strawberry at Newbury a couple of season’s ago). In a field of eleven, the two time winning Senor Shane went off as favourite, with You and I at the very tasty odds of 9/1 – I hope you had the house keeping on it!

Felix jumped off first and set a decent gallop, leaving a four length gap between him and the rest of the field. Yogi maintained this lead for the first circuit and it wasn’t until the second time down the back straight that the pressure was applied from the other runners, shortening our lead by a length or so. On the whole You and I jumped really well but it was Felix driving him into each and every flight that gave him confidence and enabled them to maintain the lead. Felix showed his strength and determination by scrubbing away at Yogi, but turning in for home it started to look like we wouldn’t be able to keep up the pressure on the other runners; however Felix had judged the pace to perfection, as just when it looked like we were beaten, the others folded and in a very exciting four way tussle to the line You and I held up to win by half a length (a total of one length and a nose between the first four home). It is only in watching the race, that you are able to fully appreciate what a great ride Felix gave Yogi and also what a gutsy run You and I put in. Some consolation as Felix was given a three day ban for the ride – but it was well worth it from our point of view! Felix is only two wins away from turning professional and I for one would be more than happy if he continued to ride for NewROG after Wednesday performance (even thecommentator compared his style to Fitzy!).

When I spoke to Felix on his way home from Southwell and he relayed how delighted he was with You and I's performance: ‘a little novicey at times in his jumping but when it counted Yogi battened down the hatches and found more when asked, gamely pushing out to the line in a very genuine fashion.’ You and I travelled well and although the ground was ‘perfect jumping ground’, being on the soft side of good, Felix said that all the horses came home tired from it and ideally You and I would prefer slightly less of a cut in the ground. The front running position also suited Yogi according to Felix, who said that last time out at Stratford, he was quite 'green' amongst the other horses but the added space allowed Yogi to concentrate on what was being asked of him. Felix also thinks that Yogi will get a further trip too, which opens up our options hugely for next season. Felix thanked NewROG for the ride and I reassured him that he couldn't have given You and I a more professional ride and we wouldn't have wanted anybody else on board.

Nicky wasn't at Southwell as he was at the Doncaster Sales but I spoke to him straight after the race. Nicky was delighted with You and I's performance - he always knew he had it in him! I can't tell you how pleased I am with last week’s result, it really has shown that Nicky's plans (although frustrating at times for us) and experience have paid off and he has achieved what he wanted for You and I all along, which was to ease him into his hurdling career nicely and then win off a decent mark 4th time out and therefore putting us in the best possible position for the future.

Post Race Update:  I went up to see You and I on Thursday afternoon and he has come out of his race fit and well – in fact he looked incredible. Now having spoken to Nicky at some length, we have decided that the best plan for You and I is to turn him away straight away for the summer (he will go to Jo Winter’s yard in Kingstone Lisle) and then bring him back for an autumn campaign; with the view of looking to send Yogi novice chasing next season. Although Yogi has not had an overly hard season, Wednesday’s race would have been his hardest to date and realistically we wouldn't be looking to run him until late June, which of course would then mean that he would not be turned away until much later, with the knock on effect of him not coming back to the yard until very late summer and therefore not being race fit until much later than we would want. Also if this hot weather continues we won’t be able to find any decent ground for him anyway.

28th April 2009, Champagne Lanson Maiden Hurdle Race, Wincanton. In what was not an overly competitive maiden hurdle race and despite You and I’s lengthy break and the decent form of the 2nd favourite and Racing Post tip - Theophrastus, You and I went off as the 7/4 favourite (no doubt due to all the NewROG millions going on him!). With the much needed rain the day before, the official Going was changed to Good, but speaking to Felix afterwards he said that there was definitely more cut in it than that. All 11 runners jumped off and Allperksonice set a decent enough pace and soon had a sizeable lead on the rest of the field. As per instructions, Felix held You and I in mid-division and he jumped nicely (all bar one – the 3rd from home) and then after the 6th hurdle Felix asked You and I to step up a gear as the pace quickened, and pleasingly he did so with enough turn of foot to put him in 2nd place. However Yogi soon began to weaken and turning in for home, Felix knew that there was no chance of beating Theophrastus (he finished 13 lengths clear of the runner-up in the end), who had moved into first place after the third to last hurdle, and with this being Yogi's first run back after a long break. In the end You and I finished 6th in the 11-strong field. Felix said that You and I travelled very well for the most part but flattened out over the last half mile, which he puts down to weakness from his recent growth spurt as well as the length of time since his last and 2nd run. Tthe ground suited You and I, although Felix said that he wouldn't want it much slower than that, also the way that You and I plugged on, he may well get a further trip in time, plus a front running approach may also help as well.

The positive thing to take from Tuesday’s race is that there is a very good chance that You and I will now receive a decent Handicap mark (as soon as he is given a mark I shall update you) which will put us in a good position next time out, plus we know that You and I does have a lot more potential than his first three race placings have shown (especially if you read the RP post race report!). On top of this, the way that Yogi moved through the field when Felix asked him to step up a gear, indicates that he does have a decent engine.

Post Race Update: Thankfully, You and I has come out of the race fit, well and sound. Nicky was satisfied with the way that Yogi ran and that he will come on a lot, in terms of fitness, from the race. My suggestion is that we keep going with You and I, and whilst the ground is still on our side (we wouldn’t want to run him on firm ground) try and get another run into him in the next 2-3 weeks.

17th December 2008, European Breeders' Fund "National Hunt" Novices' Hurdle (Qualifier), Newbury. With the weather conspiring against British racing at the moment, it was good to get a run on Wednesday at Newbury and see Yogi out again before the year is out. Nicky has been reporting on how well our chap has been working at home on the fast riding all-weather gallop but we knew with the ground on the testing side of slow that Yogi wasn’t going to find things easy at all. With so many horses desperate for a run it was a large and very competitive field with a total of three runners from Seven Barrows alone. Nicky did a valiant effort to get round to all the owners of all three horses and was able to outline his plans for the race before Marcus Foley joined the NewROG gaggle – which was to drop Yogi in mid-division, let him bowl along enjoying his jumping and keeping out of trouble bearing in mind that we would like one more run out of him in the next couple of weeks before he is given a break to be brought back when the ground quickens in the Spring and he has been given a handicap mark. Yogi’s lad, Mohammed, had done his usual sterling job of turning You and I out and it was good to see him looking so well in himself as well as nicely relaxed – the horse that is! Marcus was legged up after reiterating his instructions from Nicky back to us and we watched him canter down to post. Nicholls’ runner, Picture This, was backed into favouritism with Alan King’s Bakbenscher; Vic Dartnell’s Jokers Legacy and Henderson’s Linderman (half sister to Denman) all looking pretty interesting prospects too. The 2m 3f start is on the Home Straight, so once the tapes came up a sensible pace was set by Mark Bradburne on Quentin Collonges and we watched the field come past the Stands with Yogi lobbing along on the rails in mid-division as planned. It was nice to see You and I enjoying himself and jumping well; he was kept nicely in touch with the leading pack but turning in for home the pace quickened and the pressure increased, resulting in Marcus having to go to work on Yogi. But all credit to You and I, he plugged on in the unfavourable conditions and whilst there was a good 29 ¼ lengths between the eventual winner, Bakbenscher, and us we finished 9th of 16, which Nicky was pleased with. In the unsaddling enclosure Marcus reported that Yogi had jumped very well but had found the ground exceptionally hard work, and whilst he found a stride into each flight he struggled to move away quickly after landing as the ground was so sticky. Marcus suggested that with a longer trip and on much better ground You and I would be very effective, a point that the Racing Post picked up afterwards "Bumper winner Lindeman was never a factor on this hurdling debut, but plugged on to finish ahead of her stablemates You And I, who probably needs further, and Huntingdon winner Bonikos." Nicky also pointed out that all three of his horses had finished pretty much together and as he respects all of them individually in their own right we should not be disappointed with You and I’s run.

Post Race Update: Happily Yogi has come out of the race fit, well and sound. As outlined earlier, the plans is now to try and find another race for him in the next 2 or so weeks, then give him January/Feb off and wait for the better ground so that we can go handicap hurdling with him. He is a young horse and there is no point over racing him and risking him on unsuitable ground at the start of his career so he will benefit from a small break mid-season before coming back fresh for a spring campaign.

30th October 2008, Ben Morgan is 18 Today Maiden Hurdle Race, Stratford. What better way to start the 2008-2009 Season than with a runner before the start of November.  It was an especially freezing day on Thursday but it didn’t deter us and it was great to see so many of Yogi’s owners out to support his first run in the NewROG Colours at Stratford. Wrapped up in his rather smart NewROG rug, Yogi looked a picture of health as he was led round by his lad, Mohammed. Despite it being a pretty competitive race and with many of the runners from the 15 strong field having already run this season and Yogi being the only runner to come fresh from the Point-to-Point field, I thought that it was slightly unfair that the odds were sew-sawing favouritism with Pritchard’s runner – Tisfreetdream. However with NJ Henderson having a wonderful start to the season and with the champion AP McCoy on board this may have had something to do with it!

As ever we swamped the Paddock at Stratford and as we eagerly awaited the arrival of our esteemed pilot, Nicky’s assistant Tom chatted to us. Having not ridden for us before (I still haven’t forgiven him for beating Papini on the line at Cheltenham on Opentide some years ago!) AP was escorted to us by Johnny Worrall just in case he was in any doubt which throng of excited owners we were. Having already spoken to him earlier, AP relayed Nicky’s instructions to us, which were to ‘drop You and I into 4th or 5th place and let him bowl along nicely and then try and make all in the run-in for the line’. I asked AP what the ground was riding like and he said that despite the official Going of Good it was riding very testing indeed and most certainly on the Soft side of Good.

The race started without incidence and the T J O’Brien ridden, Matako set a pretty decent clip from the Off with Alaminos, Fire and Rain and Sexy Rexy prominent as they chased the leader. As instructed, AP kept Yogi held up but in touch with the leading group but also wide on the outside away from any possible incidences. Passing the Stands for the first time it was apparent that You and I was enjoying himself with ears pricked and very keenly on the bridle; after the 5th flight of hurdles Yogi started to make headway on the leaders and the race started to hot up. Unlike many of the other runners if not the majority, Yogi’s jumping was exemplary but passing the Stands for the second and last time, AP was hard at work on our chap. But all credit to horse and jockey because despite Yogi’s tank rapidly emptying under the driving hands of the steely AP, You and I kept plugging on and thanks to his efficient jumping AP was able to galvanize You and I into running on to finish 6th. The whole field was strung out like Monday morning washing with 42 ½ lengths between us and the winner – Tisfreetdream, who has snatched victory after 19 times of asking over hurdles – I think his owners deserve a win in all fairness!!

Back in the un-saddling enclosure AP dismounted a heavily blowing You and I and reported that Yogi really hadn’t enjoyed the race at all and he really struggled on the testing ground. AP was very complimentary about Yogi’s jumping and said that it was that, that had kept Yogi in the race for so long despite being beaten with a circuit to go. You and I showed a game and genuine willingness which shouldn’t be over looked and that it was the ground that had beaten us on this occasion and that as a syndicate we shouldn’t be overly disappointed with You and I’s first run. He suggested that whilst the trip didn’t appear to be a problem that better, quicker ground would suit Yogi more and that it might be wise to go down the Handicapping route in terms of future plans.

Post Race Update:  The good news is that Yogi has come out of his debut race sound, fit and well. You and I has had a canter up the all-weather and was A1; so the plans are now to give Yogi a quiet week with the intention of looking for another race for him in the next 3 weeks or so on better, quicker ground. Onwards and upwards…