It’s Royal Ascot : if you fancy a flutter here are SAM HOSKINS’ FIVE TO FOLLOW - a winner each day?

Written by Sam Hoskins.

Sam Hoskins Sam Hoskins is racing manager of the Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds syndicate. Here he shares with Marlborough News Online his ‘Five to Follow’ for Royal Ascot - a horse for each day of this prestigious meeting (June 16-20) which this year has attracted a truly international entry. As ever, watch what the coming rain might do to their chances:

MAKE BELIEVE, St James’ Palace Stakes (Group 1), Tuesday. 4-1.
The St James’ Palace Stakes promises to be one of the races of the meeting with the dual Guineas-winning Gleneagles taking on the Andre Fabre pair of Territories, who was second to the former in the English 1,000 Guineas, and Make Believe, who won the French 2,000 Guineas at Longchamps a week later. With Gleneagles having had two hard races, I am inclined to side with Make Believe who was so impressive at Longchamps and who would not be running unless his masterful trainer thought he would go very close indeed.

CANNOCK CHASE, Prince Of Wales’ Stakes (Group 1), Wednesday. 12-1.
Cannock Chase goes into Royal Ascot this year as almost a slightly forgotten horse, but I still haven’t quite erased the memory of his superb Tercentenary Stakes (Group 3) win over this trip at this same meeting last year. He has had two relative warm-up runs in unsuitable conditions and they will have put him bang on for this whilst making him an interesting each-way betting proposition at the same time. He could very easily go an easier route than this but Sir Michael Stoute clearly thinks he is up to ruffling the feathers of the likes of market leaders Free Eagle and The Grey Gatsby.

FORGOTTEN RULES, Ascot Gold Cup (Group 1), Thursday, 11-4.
The Ascot Gold Cup is hotting up well with many eventualities possible in advance of this centrepiece race of the whole meeting. The most fascinating variable to consider for this race is that of the ground because if ever the ground ended up on the soft side of good, then it would heavily favour the Dermot Weld-trained Forgotten Rules, who is unbeaten in four starts including a Punchestown bumper on his debut last spring (!) and the Marco Botti-trained mudlark Tac De Boistron. Whilst the likes of Mizzou and Vent De Force represent the improving four-year-old generation form, I can’t help but think they will have their work cut out to beat Forgotten Rules, who has the world at his feet and will be very hard to beat as long as the ground is no faster than good.

ERVEDYA, Coronation Stakes (Group 1), Friday, 7-2.
Ever since the Aga Khan’s Aliysa was disqualified in the 1989 Epsom Oaks, his distinguished green colours with the red epaulettes have become a rarity on British racecourses. However, when they do turn up, they invariably go very close and I suspect this will be the case for his superstar three-year-old filly Ervedya, trained by Jean-Claude Rouget in Pau. She was scintillating in the French 1,000 Guineas last month and I think she can reverse Marcel Boussac form with the likely favourite Found.

POSTPONED, Hardwicke Stakes (Group 2), Saturday, 4-1.
Trainer Luca Cumani has a strong hand at Royal Ascot this year and I suspect he will hit the target at least twice - one of whom could be Postponed (don’t ask me who the other will be though!) Postponed was highly progressive at three-years-old last year and has run two decent races so far this term - coming third in the Group 1 Tattersalls Gold Cup at The Curragh last time behind the wonderful Al Kazeem over 10 furlongs which is shorter than ideal. He steps up to 12 furlongs here and with his newfound positive tactics, he might just lead them a merry dance and finish off a good week for his smooth Italian handler.

Our Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds (KVT) syndicates are represented on Thursday at Royal Ascot with MAXWELL in the King George V Handicap for Andover-based Ralph Beckett. Maxwelll has won his two starts to date including an impressive victory at Salisbury last time.

He promises to be suited by the step up in trip in the King George V handicap and whilst the form of his Salisbury race hasn’t worked out great, he could give us something to shout about granted a good draw and some luck in running!

One of our other stars, TULLIUS, bypasses Ascot for a tilt at the Coral Eclipse (Group 1) on Saturday, July 4 at Sandown. However, he needs some softer ground to increase his chances..

For more information on our syndicates, visit the KVT website or email Sam on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Ogbourne Maizey's Bonita Racing Stables for sale as Peter Makin decides to retire

Written by Tony Millett.

Bonita stables - as shown on the Windsor Clive International websitePeter Makin's Bonita training yard at Ogbourne Maizey is up for sale following the trainer's decision to retire in November. He has been training for 48 years and has trained 780 winners - he is 71.

Bonita racehorse training centre has some of the finest gallops in the country - 154 private acres of them. With 54 boxes in two yards, two houses, two flats, a cottage, a staff hostel and 45 acres of paddocks, the agents are asking for offers "in the region of £3,000,000".

Explaining his decision to the Racing Post, Makin said: "I still love being with the horses on top of the downs every morning, but I find driving to the likes of Wolverhampton, Nottingham and Lingfield too tiring these days, which, at the age of 71, is probably something I must accept."

He added: "The time is right for me now. I feel privileged to have been involved in the sport for such a time. If I don't retire this season I'd be tempted to make it 50 years, by which time I'll be 73."

Makin sent out many winners of group races and high class handicaps from Bonita including the King’s Stand Stakes at Royal Ascot twice, the Stewards Cup at Goodwood and the Magnet Cup at York.

Bonita was set up by George Edwardes, the theatrical impresario in the 1890s. Former trainers there include the Hartigan brothers, Sir Gordon Richards and the leading national hunt trainer Bob Turnell who used the gallops and facilities to train many winners including the Gold Cup and the Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham. Bonita has been owned by only two families in the last 120 years.

One of Makin's most successful horses was Elbio who won Ascot's King's Stand Stakes twice - and Makin thinks Elbio would have made it a hat-trick if there had not been interference during that third race.

Full details of the sale can be found on the Windsor Clive International website.

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AP McCoy back in the saddle for Barbury's JCB Champions Challenge at July's International Horse Trials

Written by Tony Millett.

AP McCoy (photo by Niels Van Gijn - courtesy JCB Champions Challenge)Twenty times champion jump jockey AP McCoy is set to make a return to the saddle at this year's St. James’s Place Wealth Management Barbury International Horse Trials in the JCB Champions Challenge on Saturday, July 11.

McCoy retired from race riding in April following an extraordinary record-breaking career with 20 consecutive jump jockey titles and over 4,300 winners. The 'Champ' will be joined by a trio of jump jockeys in the second running of the JCB Champions Challenge, a unique horse race between the country's top riders held in aid of Injured Jockeys Fund.

The race will feature jump jockeys versus event riders over a specially designed course - including a water jump. The winning junior and senior teams from the Inter Hunt Scurry, held on the same day with over 30 teams taking part, will form the other two teams.

Joining AP McCoy will be Sam Twiston-Davies, at 22 one of the brightest of the new generation of young jump jockeys, Richard Johnson, who is the second-most successful jockey in jumps history with over 2000 winners, and Wayne Hutchinson, stable jockey to Barbury trainer Alan King.

The eventers boast an awesome line-up: Andrew Nicholson, who has won the Barbury International three star and Burghley horse trials three times in a row with his grey Avebury, will lead the team.

He will be joined by fellow New Zealander, Sir Mark Todd, and two of Britain's finest riders Harry Meade, who finished second at last year's Badminton Horse Trials, and multiple Olympic medallist Tina Cook. Nicholson last raced for the Injured Jockeys Fund at this year's Cheltenham Festival.

Nigel Bunter, Chairman of the Barbury International Horse Trials expects a 'nail biting' contest: "Last year the jump jockeys were victorious in the inaugural running of this John Francome and Zara Phillips battle it out at Barbury in 2014's inaugural JCB Champions Challenge at the St James's Place Wealth Management Barbury International Horse Trials (photo by Trevor Meeks - courtesy JCB Champions Challenge)event and with the some of the greatest names in horseracing and eventing taking part and it's also very exciting we will be welcoming AP McCoy to Barbury."

"The eventers will be hungry for a win. We are delighted to host the Champions Challenge again together with JCB and supporting the Injured Jockeys Fund. May the best team win!"

Tickets for the Barbury International Horse Trials start from £12 per person per day booked in advance. Children under 12 years go free.

For information and tickets visit the Barbury website or call 01672 516125.

And keep checking @Barburycastle #championschallenge

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The Willis Brothers of Malmesbury to build Rio Olympics cross country course

Written by Tony Millett.

Willis Brothers team repairing an obstacle at Barbury Castler Horse Trials 2014The Willis Brothers have been selected to build the cross country course for the eventing competition at the Rio Olympics next year.

The family business based near Malmesbury have specialised for over 30 years in building fixed and portable cross country obstacles for eventing and steeplechase jumps and hurdle fences for the racing industry.

They build and maintain the St James's Place Barbury International Horse Trials cross country course - as well as courses for Badminton, Gatcombe Park and many other events large and small throughout the UK and the world.

The Willis Brothers built cross country fences and courses for the Olympic Games in Barcelona (1992), Atlanta (1996) and in Sydney (2000) as well as the World Equestrian Games.

This is their first Olympic Games contract for sixteen years. As Ashley Willis told Marlborough News Online: "It's an honour - it really is."

For many years the Brothers have sourced some of their most essential materials from Savernake Forest - by arrangement with the Forestry Commission they cut young birch brushwood which they use for jumps at Cheltenham and racecourses far wide.

Six members of the Willis team will go to Brazil in July to build the course for the Olympic test competition at two-star level. That will stretch the family a bit as July sees the Barbury Castle Horse Trials - so some members of this long-standing family firm will be staying behind to make sure every goes to plan at Wiltshire's premier eventing competition.

The course is being designed by Pierre Michelet who designed the course for last summer's World Equestrian Games in Normandy.

The Rio Olympic eventing competition will take place between 6 and 9 August 2016. But work has already started and they will soon start shipping fences out to Brazil.

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Night of Thunder wins the richest ever Lockinge Stakes at Newbury for Marlborough trainer Richard Hannon

Written by Tony Millett.

IRichard Hannon receives his Lockinge trophyt was the first time Newbury Racecourse's Lockinge Day was sponsored by Al Shaqab - the major equestrian and training centre in Qatar. And the card's prize money topped £750,000 making it Newbury's richest ever in the course's 110-year history.

The Al Shaqab Lockinge Stakes - with a total prize fund this year of £350,000 - was won by the Godolphin owned four-year-old colt Night of Thunder, trained at Richard Hannon's Marlborough stables and ridden by James Doyle.

Second by a neck in the 15 horse field was another Hannon trained horse, Toormore ridden by champion jockey Richard Hughes, who is Hannon's stable jockey.

For Richard Hannon it was his second consecutive win in the Lockinge after Olympic Glory won the 2014 race: “We are delighted. Toormore has run a super race and Night Of Thunder looked to me that he was going to go and win very well and has probably just got tired after a long time off the track. I couldn’t be more pleased."

Night of Thunder was Godolphin's sixth Lockinge Stakes victory - a new record for the race. The race was watched by a crowd of 13,343 - up on last year's attendance.

Ryan Moore and Mrs Charlton on the podiumThe race before the Lockinge Stakes was the Al Zubarah London Gold Cup - won by another local trainer, Roger Charlton of Beckhampton. Time Test was ridden by Ryan Moore who won five of the day's seven races - a spectacular achievement which enthralled the crowds. His feat was said to be a 1,961.6/1 chance - if anyone had thought to lay a bet with the bookies on the number of his winning rides.

Roger Charlton reported on his website: "Time Test behaved beautifully in the prelims and the work that had been done on away days at other racecourses appeared to help him. They went slowly, as the time suggested and Time Test sat at the rear of the field. Ryan rode him as confidently as we had hoped and he quickened through the field in taking fashion, having to be brave along the way."

James Doyle talks with Godoplhin representatives

Richard Hannon talks to Channel 4 Racing

Richard Hughes - second by a neck

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Laura Thomas's successful point-to-point season - and a Fontwell winner

Written by Tony Millett.

Laura Thomas rides Full Trottle up the long gallopAt Hackpen Farm - just below the downs near Barbury Castle - Laura Thomas trains point-to-pointers. Her yard always hopes to have a horse ready to go beyond the point-to-point circuit and tackle a Hunter Chase and on Thursday (May 14) she had a winner in the evening's Hunter Chase race at Fontwell Park.

Ridden by Mr Jonathan Bailey, the six year-old gelding Full Trottle won by one and three-quarters lengths in the starspreads.com Maiden Hunters' Chase over two miles and six furlongs. He was last of the 12 runners at the ninth fence, but was in fourth position by the thirteenth and led before the next fence.

Full Trottle is owned by Laura's father, Norman Thomas.

With the end of the point-to-point season now in sight, Laura's yard has had ten winners so far.

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Will the weather and Badminton's famous cross country course suit locals Jonelle and Tim Price?

Written by Tony Millett.

Tim Price with 7-year-old novice DaisyAll eyes will be on the weather forecast for Wednesday's (May 6) start of Europe's first four star eventing competition of the season: the Mitsubishi Motors Badminton Horse Trials.

New Zealander Tim Price, based at Mere Farm, Mildenhall and just back from his second place with Wesko in the Kentucky competition, is one of those hoping for some dry weather. He's riding 12-year-old gelding Ringwood Sky Boy: "He's ready for a good performance. I'm hoping it'll be dry so he won't have to jump out of the mud."

Ringwood Sky Boy hit four star standard two years ago. And at last year's Badminton Tim rode him for the fastest cross country time - putting them in second place. But he had four rails down in the show jumping and they finished in ninth place. Then at Burghley in September they fell.

Tim got back from the United States on Monday and Wesko got back on Tuesday. Tim is really pleased with Wesko's Kentucky performance - but pretty cross not to make first place: "We so nearly made it - one rail down."

But second place was a handsome result. Kentucky is an expensive trip for eventers based in Europe. It costs about £20,000 to get horse and rider to the Kentucky arena: "You have to win or come second to pay for the trip."

Tim wanted to give Wesko "a bit of mileage in the sky" - if a horse shows it can cope with a long flight they will have put down a marker for the Rio Olympics in 2016.

Jonelle Price takes a break from teachingTim's wife Jonelle Price is currently ranked second in the International Federation rankings as the world's leading lady rider. She is taking two horses to Badminton: "They're both fully experienced four star horses."

It was with twelve year-old mare Classic Moet - known to all at Mere Farm as Molly - that Jonelle took fourth place at the World Equestrian Games in Normandy last year.

Her other horse at Badminton will be the 13-year-old The Deputy - aka 'Hero'. They have done well at Burghley for the past two years - coming sixth and ninth. Last year at Badminton they retired.

Hero is one of Jonelle's favourite horses. He went to Kentucky in 2013 and then last year gave a fantastic performance at Burghley with a double clear for ninth place. He is certainly an experienced campaigner. As Jonelle puts it: "He's not a classical dressage horse, but excels at show jumping. We should be there or thereabouts."

This year entries for Badminton are a little down. 104 horses have been entered, which is 37 below last year's number of entries. And with some notable withdrawals, all the 'wait list' entries have got places in the draw - for the first time since 2008.

Several pairs have withdrawn as they were entered for both Kentucky and Badminton - in case their horses were not ready or fit for the earlier competition. However, Zara Phillips who had to withdraw High Kingdom in Kentucky after the horse got a knock, has also withdrawn from Badminton.

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Lil Rockerfeller tops off Neil King's successful first season training on the Marlborough Downs

Written by Tony Millett.

Neil King with Lil Rockerfeller Trainer Neil King's "best season ever" ended on an especially high note with Lil Rockerfeller's win at Sandown on the last day of the 2014-2015 jump season - also remembered widely as the day of AP McCoy's last professional ride.

A year after moving from Newmarket to Upper Herdswick Farm on the Marlborough Downs just by Barbury Castle, King is really pleased with his new Ridgeway Racing stables: "We're over the moon. We're so fortunate the ball has rolled for us - it won't always happen like that when you've just moved."

During the jump season he has had 29 winners and his horses have won £240,000 in prize money. And he has gained more owners and has more horses at the yard. You only have to look at the well groomed state of the yard itself to see what a busy year it has been.

Lil Rockerfeller's win at Sandown is a story all of its own. "Disappointingly", Neil told Marlborough News Online, "after all the work we had done with him, neither I nor his usual jockey, Trevor Whelan, were there to see his victory." Neil was in Ireland to see Trevor getting married: "So it was his fault!!"

But the story has another twist: the ride went to another conditional jockey (the jump equivalent of flat racing's apprentice jockeys): Sean Bowen. And with his win on Lil Rockefeller he clinched the Conditional Jockeys Championship for the season - edging out Nico de Boinville, who won the Cheltenham Gold Cup in March.

Sean Bowen is seventeen. He is the son of Peter and Karen Bowen - Peter trains in Pembrokeshire. After the race Sean said: "It was brilliant of Neil to put me on him. This week I've been working hard to get in front of Nico and he's been hard to beat. It's been good and there's been plenty of highlights."

Trevor Whelan There is, as it were, a sub-plot to this story, Trevor Whelan finished third in the Conditional Jockeys Championship.

Neil King bought Lil Rockerfeller last August, but it took until Christmas to find buyers for him: "Since we started racing him, he's improved and improved."

At the end of March, he won at Ascot with Trevor Whelan aboard - running on well to win the Coutts Juvenile Handicap Hurdle by six lengths. After the race Whelan was very positive about the horse: "He's a nice horse, but he only ran last week, so he's been busy. That's my first Ascot winner and it's been a good season for me."

For the next jump season - which has, it should be said, already started - Neil will still have Trevor Whelan as his stable jockey. There will also be another conditional Lizzie Kelly at Newburyjockey, 22-year-old Lizzie Kelly who joined the yard earlier this year.

She too has had a season to remember. On New Year's Day she won at Cheltenham on Aubusson - leaving AP McCoy eight lengths behind her. A couple of weeks later she won Kempton's Lanzarote Hurdle on Tea for Tea.

Both horses are trained by her step-father Nick Williams and she rode them both at the Cheltenham Festival - though without a place. She's gathering quite a fan club of youngsters who admire the way she takes on the big and male names in racing.

Last week, on her twenty-second birthday, she rode another winner for Neil King - Dire Straits won at Plumpton in a novices' hurdle - never mind it was a two horse field. She brought Dire Straits through to beat the favourite, Thats My rabbit.

Southway StarZeroeshadesofgreyOther Ridgeway success stories have included Southway Star who had four wins in a row at the start of the season - having been bought by King at the October sales for £2,300. One of her wins, at Fontwell, gave King a hat trick of winners in a day - with Zeroeshadesofgrey and The Boss's Dream winning at Uttoxeter.

On New Year's Day Zeroeshadesofgrey made his debut at Cheltenham - coming a creditable third.

But before Neil King starts to plan for next winter's campaign and the stable's open day in September, he has some horses at the yard for the flat season - and stepping up to hurdles. In March Conserve won on Wolverhampton's all-weather track and on Tuesday (May 5) is entered at Fakenham - over hurdles. Regulation is entered for an amateur riders hurdle race at Kempton on Monday (May 4) and later at Royal Ascot.

FOOTNOTE: You can get odds of 25-1 on Sean Bowen succeeding Tony McCoy as champion jump jockey - for the 2015-2016 season.

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