Sunshine, Soft Ground Wishes, and Three Very Happy Yards
For once, the Emris Racing universe has delivered a week with no bees, no rescues, no pyrotechnics, and no unexpected drama. I’m not sure whether to celebrate or brace myself.
Ravenswell Farm — Ellie’s Mini‑Break and Maximum Fuss
Just Passing Bye (Ellie) has been enjoying a very gentle week at Ravenswell. At only three, she’s still very much a baby, and giving her time to freshen up is absolutely the right call.
With Fergal granted a rare week off from our relentless pestering, the ever‑cheerful Charlotte stepped into the firing line. She’s one of the unsung heroes of Ravenswell — always smiling, always helpful, and always making sure the horses are happy.
Ellie has been lapping up the attention from her groom Joanne, who has chosen her as her horse for the season. The photos Charlotte sent over show a filly looking bright, relaxed, and thriving.
Her sire, the late Passing Glance, has also had a cracking week on the track — two winners and a 100‑1 third from just three National Hunt runners. A lovely bit of pedigree momentum for Ellie’s syndicate.
Cottage Field Stables — Freya Tightening the Screws
Silverhill Freya continues to impress at Tom Lacey’s. Tom, Cameron, and the whole team are delighted with her progress. Her work is now stepping up as we edge closer to her first run — and it’s not far away now.
We just need the weather gods to cooperate. A bit of rain, a bit of “soft” in the going, and we’ll be ready.
Her syndicate received another excellent update video from Cameron, featuring Freya working with Jo (yes, another Jo — we’re collecting them).
We’re also counting down to our syndicate morning on 15th October. If you’d like to meet Freya in person, drop me a WhatsApp and I’ll add you to the list.
Seven Barrows — Maisie Makes an Impression
We also caught up with Nicky Henderson, who is genuinely excited about welcoming Maisie to Seven Barrows. He’s such a fan of her that he’s planning another trip back to Kingwood House Stables just to see her again.
Maisie has flown through the breaking‑in process — record speed, by all accounts — and is now enjoying a well‑earned break. She’s clearly a filly who likes to get on with things, which bodes very well for her future.
The plan:
4–6 weeks in the field
Back into work with David and Katie
Then off to Marcus Foley for jumping
And, all being well, a run or two this season
Exciting times ahead.
Charlock Stud — Peace, Sunshine, and Plotting
Charlock Stud has been unusually quiet. No bees, no fires, no heroic tractor dashes and no car rescues, the yard has been serene.
Paul, Pam, and Ellie are loving life in the fields. The warm weather has kept them out longer than usual, and they’re thriving for it.
In other news, we’ve successfully persuaded Carla to let us follow her around the sales ring later in the year. She has strict instructions not to let us buy anything — and has challenged us not to let her buy anything either. This has all the makings of a fun (and potentially expensive) outing.
Until Next Time
A rare quiet week, but plenty bubbling away behind the scenes. Ellie freshening up, Freya sharpening, Maisie impressing, and the Charlock youngsters glowing.
If the calm continues, I’ll be amazed. But for now, we’ll take it.
