October 2026 Blog
Jobbing
Autumn arrived; the leaves seemingly changed overnight to hues of pumpkin, terracotta and fox. The jobs around the yard changed too. The routine ones, like the washing and yard duties, never change and seasonal ones, like strimming and mowing, ceased. Over a week, the lads took it in turns to climb into the cherry-picker, get lifted high by the forklift or the telehandler, to clean dead leaves and debris from the many metres of guttering all around the yard, office and hostels. They then daubed on a gloopy sealant that had such a intoxicating stench it was smelt in the stables below.
As the clocks changed, there was less time for jobs. Daylight trickled away into the dark evenings of winter.
Don’t Joke
Chepstow is the first of the bigger National Hunt fixtures. So, having a winner over the three-day meeting always feels that we’re starting the season off right! This year, it was limited to hurdle races; the chases were held elsewhere due to ground conditions.
How perfect when, on the Friday, Pioneer Pete won the Welsh Champion Hurdle. He’s on a run of perfection: winning his last three races and finishing second at Punchestown in April. Groom Chloe Cullen is always by his side, and is bursting with pride after Pete’s successes and an Aintree winner with Wellington Arch, plus getting engaged to longtime boyfriend Madalin ‘Doc’ Radu, who is head of maintenance round the estate.
That evening, on bumping into head of travelling Alex Howitt, I joked that a winner each of the days would be great – I shouldn’t have joked! The next day, fabulous mare Onefournine won and then on the Sunday, Gower Prince also won.
He is looked after by parttime rider Tobey Combes, who is very dedicated to the buzzy gelding. Until this summer, Tobey only ever rode out, but struck up this partnership, riding him every day and taking him racing. It was Tobey’s first ever winner, so Chepstow proved a very memorable meeting.
Chloe and Pete, Tobey and Gower Prince (Photo Credit: Nigel Kirby) and Jay with Seanie
Cheltenham
The following week, the first meeting at Cheltenham reiterated that the really competitive jumps were up and running. Saturday was brilliant when Seaniecon won the Pertemps Qualifier. He portrayed a lovely attitude, battling back to win, ears snapping forwards over the line.
Groom Jay Boulden grew up locally, so lived his dream leading up a winner at Cheltenham Racecourse. It made sealing the gutters worth it! Can Seanie win the Final in March – who knows? But, at the moment, the dream is very much alive!
Austin and Boeleo
Back-to-back storms brought lashing rainfall and charging winds, whipping the trees into a frenzy and chucking leaves, sticks and twigs to the ground. Aintree’s Old Roan Chase Day was abandoned and head lad Alan Berry’s garden fence was blown flat. Whether riding or mucking out in continuous rain and wind, everyone felt that making the winner’s enclosures was a distant memory. Plus, all that cleaning out of the guttering seemed fruitless too!
Where Are They Now?
During an eight-year racing career running in Mrs Gay, Twirling Magnet won a bumper, a Sandown hurdle race and five chases, including novice chases at Newbury and Cheltenham under AP McCoy. A handsome, imposing looker, he won the best-turned-out for the 2014 Aintree Grand National. Later in his career, Twirling Magnet, who has always been nicknamed Twirly or Twirls, gave the then-young amateur Tommie O’Brien consecutive victories in hunter chases, before finishing sixth in the Aintree version in April ’15.
Twirly was gifted to Caroline Arkell, whose husband Tom is the yard’s head of digital marketing and blissfully retired nearby in Moreton in Marsh. He joined Caroline’s other ex-racehorse Doubloon. ‘I came to ride out at Jonjo’s in 2016,’ Caroline explains. ‘Having never ridden a racehorse before, Twirly was one of the first I sat on. He was always a complete gentleman and looked after me. The love affair started! He then retired from racing and it didn’t take any convincing when Joe O’Neill messaged and I picked him up on Thursday 23rd February 2017.’
Twirly winning a Ludlow Hunter Chase, showing with Caroline and relaxing with Mouse
Those good looks that won many best-turned-out awards stood Twirly in good stead in the show ring. ‘He was always a dream right from the start and we had lots of fun together. He did brilliantly well in the ROR showing world with numerous wins and championships. He only sometimes let his cheeky side get the better of him, usually in the go round or when the ride judge got on!’
Nowadays, due to turning twenty on January 1st, Twirly lives a quieter existence, hacking out rather than competing and going on fun rides. ‘He still loves a good gallop and field time with his best friend Mouse (Doubloon),’ laughs Caroline.
She lovingly summed up: ‘Twirls is the kindest, gentlest boy. It has been an absolute pleasure and privilege to look after him. Plus, he’s totally gorgeous and wonderful to ride – a total Ferrari!’
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