The Sunday Syndicates Post – Vol. 3, Issue 11

And breathe. What a week. It had everything. A week that encapsulated the sport of horse racing in its purest, most exciting form. It really was a dream to share with everyone. So many storylines but has any sport ever seen such a reaction as to the one Rachel, Honeysuckle and the de Bromhead family got on Tuesday after the mares hurdle? In all my life I can never remember a horse not being able to walk up the centre of the Cheltenham parade ring en route to the hallowed ground of the winners enclosure. It was a truly remarkable moment not just for the sport of horse racing but it will go down as one of the greatest sporting memories ever.

A mere 30 mins before Honey’s heroics we may have witnessed one of the best displays of an equine talent in the history of the sport. Not only does Constitution Hill look like a burly flat horse he has the turn of foot akin to Kingsgate Native. In a matter of strides he put the uber talented State Man to the sword and strode up the Cheltenham hill to win by an eased down 9 lengths. Nicky Henderson quipped “we might go annoy the flat boys now” with a possible tilt at the Ascot Gold Cup on the cards whilst owner Michael Buckley has stated his intent on a pop at the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

We’re all dreamers in this game but I still think what the Glesson family achieved with A Dream To Share was even beyond their wildest dreams. Never has a horse been so aptly named to take a share of the spotlight in one of the most magical weeks in horse racing. 18yo John Glesson pulled of a ride that someone 10 years his senior may not have been able to conjure. Ice cool he was last one to hit the go button and he duly crossed the line in first place to give John Kiely his first Festival winner. Both horse and jockey are ones to keep an eye on as both have the star qualities to reach the very top of the sport in the years to come.

Envoi Allen rolled back the years and reminded everyone just what a talent he is winning his 8th Grade 1 race in the Ryanair taking Henry’s tally for the week to three after ThoroughBid graduate Maskada ran away with the Grand Annual on Wednesday. John McConnel and Sam Curling both recorded their first Festival successes courtesy of Seddon and Angels Dawn.

A performance for the ages from Constitution Hill would have sufficed in any other year but the 2023 Festival was no ordinary year. Galopin des Champs recorded a third Gold Cup victory for the Mullins / Townend axis and what a victory it was, what a race it was. A truly run Gold Cup with the best horses from both sides of the Irish Sea saw Paul Townend produce one of the best rides of the century on the hot favorite to take the showpiece by 7 lengths from the King George winner Bravemansgame. Only a 7yo Galopin looks to have the World at his feet. Next year is the 100th year of the Gold Cup and as Willie approaches on a century of Festival winners next year could be even better for the Closutton maestro. We could even witness Constitution Hill vs. Gallopin des Champs in the race next year who knows?

Willie took home yet another Champion trainers title with 6 winners whilst Paul won the Champion Jockey title with 5 winners. Ireland won another Prestbury Cup with double the amount of UK winners at 18 vs. 9. There were 27 different winning sires of 28 races showing that fashion in the sales ring is just a choice and doesn’t always reflect where it matters. Shantou took the title of Champion sire with special mention going to the mare Impervious who threw up one of the races of the week after her battle with Allegorie de Vassy in the Mare Chase. That victory secured JP McManus as the leading Festival owner with a tally of four winners. Syndicates were well represented in the winner’s enclosure courtesy of Seddon, Stage Star, Good Time Johnny and The Real Whacker. A week that will live long into the memory.

Freedom Falls set for seasonal debut

Yes jumps fans I am following a Cheltenham Festival rundown with a flat piece as the flat is indeed back next weekend and we’re set to have a runner on the very first weekend of the season. Freedom Falls is being lined out for the 5.9f Maiden on Sunday in Naas for Jack Davison. She was rated 81 as a 2yo last year and we’re hoping that she will train on this year and bring her owners on another exciting journey. She will likely come on for the run but we’re looking forward to getting her season started and where better to do it than at Naas racecourse.

Star NH mares covered

Our breeding syndicate’s Lady Breffni visited Constitution Hill’s sire during the week, Blue Bresil. Due to his phenomenal start to stud the sire is in hot demand and is completely booked out so we were delighted to get Lady Breffni in. Cabaret Queen is also set for a date with the rising star of NH breeding and as she is by Kings Theatre it would be the exact same cross as the aforementioned Constitution Hill.

We were delighted to hear that Grangee made a safe return to her home country of France and was covered by No Risk At All. She scanned in foal to the exciting sire who counts Eptante and Allaho as his top performers. We look forward to trying to buy some of her progeny to race in the not so distant future.

Cheltenham Competition

We had 29 individual winners of our Twitter and Instagram competitions during the week which sparked a frenzied push on share sales. Throw in good performances from both our trainers and sires most of our National Hunt fillies are almost sold out. We had great craic interacting with you all and if you have not yet redeemed your prize get in touch with aimee@syndicates.racing. If you need any advice or have any questions on any of our horses please do get in touch. We would be delighted to help you make an informed decision to best suit your needs.

Foal Watch

The fillies have just started to get the upper hand on the colts in Tinnakill as the foaling season has really kicked up a notch. Former Syndicates.Racing winner Munaajaat welcomed a strapping Dandy Man colt over the weekend. He’s a good, strong bodied, quality colt.

Tivitation comes from one of the best families in the book being a Montjeu half sister to Attraction, Elarqam and Fountain Of Youth. She has played her own significant part in the family having produced the stakes winning Titi Makfi. She foaled a nice deep bay Kodi Bear filly over the weekend.

Blue Point has to be one of the most exciting FSS prospects this year and he’s my tip to go cose to topping the charts. We tried so very hard to buy a couple last year as they were all belting physicals but they inevitably ended up being too pricey for us. The early rumours are good from trainers and breeze-up men so Tinnakill were delighted to welcome a 57kg colt out of Baheeja on Thursday night.

Syndicates member Marianne welcomed a Space Blues filly out of her exciting broodmare Woodland Scene. Space Blues has very exciting credentials as a sire and Woodland Scene is already a proven stakes producer so this filly is an exciting addition.

Far Above’s brother wins first time out

Whilst Far Above is still siring monstrous, good looking foals his family’s legacy is still continuing on the track. His half brother by Dawn Approach called Dubai Dawn won quite comfortably on debut for James Tate and Billy Loughnane in Wolverhampton on Saturday night. He was a €70k foal purchase by Mark McStay and looks one to keep an eye on going forward.

ITBA NH Bonus: Residual value is the key to Syndicates.Racing success

A big thank you to Mark Costello from the Irish Field who took the time to speak to me during the week about West End Victory’s success and the ITBA NH Bonus scheme which we have now won three times. The article was published in this weeks Irish Field which you can read here.

Thank you.

Thanks for reading. If there’s anything we can do to help please get in touch john@syndicates.racing.