July 2026 Blog

The last month can be summed up in one word: winners! We’re still in the midst of holiday season for the staff, but the racing continues, especially the summer jumpers at Newton Abbot, Uttoxeter and Worcester.

Crunchy and John

On 26^th June, groom John Dina had a brilliant day – one he’d waited a long time for – when Country Park (Crunchy) finally won at Bangor. John has looked after Crunchy since he arrived back in the spring of 2023 and they have ridden the rollercoaster of race days together. Known to be a complete character, Crunchy has placed many times, including a second at Cheltenham one November but on other occasions he has been brought down, fallen and slipped up when he had good chances of winning. John stuck by the big, bay, clumsy gelding and this loyalty was rewarded.

Any winners are brilliant – but sometimes the one that was a genuine surprise, long awaited, a miracle or just really sought is just that bit more special.

More Winners and Stunt Doubles

Local entrepreneurial gamekeeper Ben Hughes owned his second ever winner when God Of Fire (Godfrey) won at Newton Abbot on 13^th, making a sunny day even sunnier. It was a huge day out for his family, with fiancée Olivia and six-month-old daughter Purdey witnessing the winner.

Kayanna Pilgrim was another proud groom after ‘her’ Cawthorne Banker won two on the bounce. He’s another character, very kind in the stable but a Jekyll and Hyde to ride. When he’s in full work, he’s reasonably trustworthy but when fresh, he can be very naughty and even gets the best jockeys off. Usually nicknamed Banker, on such days the capital B gets swapped for a W.

Recently, Banker has been ridden by work rider Finn Shoemark, who likes him and has yet to be thrown off, so the fondness must be mutual. Kayanna loves Banker and couldn’t have been prouder when he won again. She certainly wore the biggest smile at Uttoxeter!

Last summer, Kayanna worked with the renowned stunt riders The Devil’s Horsemen in Malta – but she couldn’t tell us it was on Enola Holmes 3 until it came out last month. She rode in place of actress Sharon Duncan, who played the baddie Mira Troy. Kay spoke about the wonderful costumes, the highly trained horses and how lovely the cast were.

In one particular shot, Kay’s racing experience came into its own when she had to ride a galloping horse along a clifftop. The main actress then got switched into shot after Kay had flung herself off on a flying dismount – the best thing was that Kay’s name was in the rolling credits at the end.

Kayanna and her Banker (Photo Credit: Nigel Kirby), Kay in the movie Enola Holmes

and Lucy Westlake leading in Worcester winner Without Burlington (Photo Credit:Matthew Stephenson)

Sometimes it’s the colours that the winners carry that mean a lot. Without Burlington, a gorgeous bright bay gelding with a large white stripe down his cheeky face, won at Worcester on 22^nd. He was purchased by co-owners Toby Cole and Sir Martin Broughton, meaning that he will run in either Mr Cole’s purple and white or Sir Martin’s red and green colours. For this first run and win, ‘Burly’ used Sir Martin’s, which have also been carried to Cheltenham Festival and Grade 1 glory in the past. It was lovely to see such well-loved colours back in the winner’s enclosure, and hopefully, it’ll be the start of loads more.

Mt Fugi Park had won earlier on in the afternoon – so it was great to have a double.

Adding Knightsbridge, Likewhatyousee, Boston Savr and The Great Escape to the tally of winners made July a great month.

 Back To Work and Painting Pools

Many of the winter horses (including my favourite Monbeg Genius) have come back in, which always makes this part of the summer exciting. They have been shod, wormed, manes pulled and tails trimmed, and are back to having weekly weigh-ins to track their weight. They started walking and trotting on the round gallops, and by now are cantering steadily, which means hot, sweaty and sandy lots every morning.

Also, in preparation for the annual owners’ day, the office has been non-stop organising invites, brochure, caterers, drinks, order of the parade… whilst the yard has been spruced up even more after it’s summer deep clean. The cushioning surface on the walkers have been renewed – it’s made from shredded tyres and makes the walker barn smell like Kwick Fit, but protects the horses when they’re on light work.

Head of maintenance Madalin ‘Doc’ Radu had to turn into a contortionist to paint the partially emptied pool from above; how he didn’t end up in the murky water whilst being upside down is a miracle. Painting the raised edges an egg-yolk yellow was the far safer task.

So with a sparklingly blue pool to show off, lots of promising youngsters to sell and boxes of champagne to sip, the owners will have a fun time – more on behind-the-scenes next month!