June & July 2025 Blog

May slipped into June without a break from hot sunny days. July continued in this shimmering, hazy heat… and still it hasn’t rained properly...

Have you ever grown grass seed?

The lawn at the back of our cottage, which is near to the yard at Jackdaws Castle, is very patchy, interspersed with weeds, moss and miniature thistles. Also, where a line of Triffid-proportioned Leylandii had been removed a strip of soil remained. So, I bought grass seed from B&Q, scattered it liberally, religiously watered twice daily and closely inspected it many times... Nothing happened and disappointment crept into my mind.

Then, after about ten days, as if a wand had been waved or black magic occurred, the grass started sprouting. A toupee-covering at first that grew into a thick thatch of emerald. Smugness and success made me feel rather like Alan Titchmarsh. I’ve now bought  more seed and a watering can. Watch out for my lawn as it becomes as green as a golf course.

Costa del Jackdaws

My little lawn was a stark contrast to the rest of the estate. There had been no decent rainfall since before the Cheltenham Festival in March. By the end of June, the grass had turned a dry yellowy brown, like in southern Spain, which doesn't usually occur until August. Course and spiky as beach grass, it crunched like fallen leaves underfoot. The ground was cracked like stale pastry and soil was dusty and drought-ridden. On the pathways and round gallop, busy hooves kicked up in sandy eddies. Wildflowers wilted and withered, stems a dull green and leaves curled and crunched like pot pouri. The Cotswolds weren't quite as thirsty as Lake Mead but it felt like we weren’t far off Deadpool.

Our local farmer, Richard Jones, whose sheep graze parts of the Jackdaws Castle estate, was able to move a herd onto the grass gallop and the grass schooling ground. He said without this extra grazing he would have been at a loss to find a solution for the grass not growing, forcing him to sell a few sheep. To begin with, there were the usual woolly escapees but largely the sheep were happy in their new fields. Also, it meant the maintenance team didn't have to waste time mowing.

By July, however, the sheep had become increasingly fed up with their confines or grass that had little goodness left so, like woolly Houdinis, escaped the fencing and romped wherever they chose. Probably fed up with all the phone calls saying his sheep were out again, Richard rounded them up and took them elsewhere.

Luke Harvey

              The highlight of ITV Racing's coverage, especially during the week of Royal Ascot, was presenter Luke Harvey. Stationed down at the starting stalls, which on the hottest day was an unshaded suntrap, Luke Harvey cooled off by jumping into a neighbouring swimming pool. The camera zoomed in and he was revealed in (hopefully) boxer shorts and top hat standing in ripples of blue water. Did anyone else notice that the other people in the pool were playing catch with an oversized rubber duck?

Luke Harvey is definitely the best racing presenter. His love for the sport shines through and he often interviews stable staff with as much gumption as the most famous trainers and jockeys. Flamboyant hats and dapper morning suits, the King’s procession and Union Jack bunting are as much a part of the Royal meeting as Coolmore having winners, but then there's Luke Harvey portraying what it's really like to be wearing a morning suit in the heat.

End of Holidays, Film Debuts and Leavers

For some horses, July meant the end to their holidays. The stables started filling up with horses fat from the fields, manes long and coats sun-bleached like a dodgy dye job. Bobby Taylor left to try her hand at working in a Flat yard at Newmarket-based Willie Haggis, and Cain Rees started a new career as a yard assistant at a local equine veterinary practice. Part-timer Adam Taluka, who is also studying for a degree at Hartpury College, waved us a temporary farewell before joining the team at Joseph O’Brien’s for the remainder of the summer.

Bobby on the left, Cain with Red Dirt Road and Kayanna

Far the most glamorous summer adventure was Kayanna Pilgrim’s four-week stint in Malta filming on horseback for a movie that’s coming out next year. She couldn’t tell me any details but I’m sure Hollywood beckons. ‘It was such a fun experience,’ Kayanna described working alongside The Devil’s Horsemen, who are the leading name in stunt riding and supplying equines for the film industry. ‘Everyone I worked with was so lovely and encouraging, and even suggested it as a career path I should get into.’

Colleague Spotlight

It’s safe to say that racing is in Liah Corcoran’s blood: ‘All of my family are involved in racing,’ she explains. ‘My dad, Liam Corcoran trains point-to-pointers, my mum, Sarah Kerswell is head of travelling for a Flat yard and my brother, Rian Corcoran, is now going to be a conditional for David Pipe.’

Liah, 19, started at O’Neill Racing as a member of the yard staff, began riding out before finding her preferred role of splitting her time between working in the office and yard. Her days are never the same and she has a very varied skill set.  Being a driver, Liah also goes racing with ‘her’ five: Wilful, Mammies Boy, Jack To Bat, Royal Rhythm and Bill Joyce. She led up her first winner with Wilful in a Catterick bumper and hasn’t looked back.

Ben and Liah with a winning All The Glory at Mussleburgh in November '24

Having grown up in Salcombe, Devon, Liah moved to Gloucestershire in December 2023. She goes out with the yard conditional jockey, Ben Macey and has a dog, Milo, back home.

Did you have a horsey childhood? Yes, I did very much so! I was very lucky to have a handful of amazing ponies. I did a lot of hunting and showing when I was younger and really enjoyed it. My parents used to be trainers so a lot of my childhood was spent at the races in the evenings.

How did you get into racing? I have grown up in the racing industry from the day I was born and I have been lucky to experience all the different sides of the sport! We have always owned horses as a family so to experience being an owner has been really enjoyable and to see the horses we bred going out to win races has been amazing!

Trainers you have worked for: I used to work for the Flat trainer Rod Millman as a racing groom.

How did you start working for O'Neill Racing? My mum and dad were amateur jockeys for Jonjo when he trained up in Cumbria. They both said how amazing it was to work for him, so, ever since I was young, I always said the trainer I would love to work for was Jonjo! 

Liah and Bill Joyce, winning Employee of the Month in January and with Wilful in Punchestown

Best aspects of working for O’Neill Racing: You get so many amazing opportunities working for O’Neill Racing. For example, like driving the horse boxes – I didn’t think I would have been given the opportunity to do that! Also, seeing the horses you look after going to the big meetings and run well!

Worst aspects for working for O’Neill Racing: The long hours in the winter when the weather really challenges you.

Favourite racehorse: Bill Joyce and Wilful.

Best day in racing so far: Wilful finishing second at the Punchestown festival. Plus, when Bill Joyce won a Grade 2 at Sandown.

Racing hero: I have two racing heroes: the retired Rachel Blackmore and Hollie Doyle. 

Favourite racecourse: I love Exeter as it is my local track, and also Ascot and Cheltenham.

Favourite canteen: Ludlow because the food is homemade and the salad bar at Aintree is very nice!

Has racing ever taken you abroad? I went over to Punchestown festival in April with two of my favourite horses, which I was very lucky to do!

Favourite meal: I love a roast dinner and also a Caesar salad

Favourite drink: Coca-Cola.

Favourite snack: Strawberries. 

Favourite film: Mamma Mia. 

Favourite book: I have read a couple of the Twilight books and enjoyed them.

Favourite music: I don’t have a favourite type of music; I like listening to a variety.