What a year - a dozen winners ensures 2022 will never be forgotten

What a year 2022 has been for all connected with Ursa Major Racing.

It featured our most winners in a calendar year (12), new trainers joining the ranks and plenty of new owners joining the ride too.

A major overhaul of our squad of horses has seen the quality and depth increase sharply and we now look forward to a successful 2023.

Here’s a month-by-month look at a a year that really should be celebrated.

January

  • Cityzen Serg was our first runner of 2022 on New Year’s Day when he ran at Southwell for Mike Murphy

  • Rebecca Menzies joined the team an Mr Shady was our first runner from Howe Hills. He ran three times before some niggly injuries saw him retired.

  • We welcomed two Ursa favourites to the squad with soft ground lover Moonlight Glory joining Mark Walford from Ireland and the stunning duel purpose mare Melburninan joining Rebecca Menzies.

February

  • We paid a fond farwell to Mehraki Star

  • Two Ursa legends joined on the same day - Far From A Ruby was sent to Katie Scott, while Kath’s Toyboy went to Mike Murphy and Michael Keady. Both cemented their place in Ursa Major history, winning over the summer, placing several times and getting owners to the track more than two dozen times between them.

  • Mark Walford took Battle Angel and Diamant Sur Canape for an away day at Southwell as the majority of our team reached peak fitness.

March

  • Owners enjoyed the first Ursa Major Cheltenham preview night held online with a panel of Mark Walford, Katie Scott and Craig Talbot chaired by Andrew Morris.

  • Moonlight Glory made a superb start to life in the Battenbergs with a big price second at Hexham in Cheltenham week.

  • Ghadbbaan made Mother’s Day one to remember with a stunning success at Doncaster for Mark Walford and Alex Garven as the flat season began.

  • Ursa Major marked its fourth anniversary.

  • Dis Donc made it a month to remember by battling gamely to win over Hurdles at Wetherby under Jamie Hamilton for Micky Hammond.

April

  • Kath’s Toyboy finished second on his first run the Battenbergs - a sign of the success to come for the rest of the year.

  • Aclaim To Fame became Ursa’s record signing from the Breeze Up sales. She joins Rebecca Menzies.

  • Candescence returns to action with two brilliant second places at Wolverhampton, which teed her up perfect for her seasonal target.

May

  • Candescence delivered on her promise in huge style - securing Ursa’s biggest ever win by scooping the Sunday Series Sprint at Hamilton live on ITV.

  • We bid farewell to Ursa Major legend and three time winner Kodimoor who was retired by Mark Walford.

  • Two new signings joined Mark - Buford and Fenna’s Loss.

June

  • Melburnian has her first run in the Battenbergs running a great race in second

  • Fenna’s Loss blows the field apart on Ursa debut landing a Hexham bumper in fine style.

  • Ghadbbaan continues his great year by finishing second at Newmarket.

July

  • Fenna’s Loss delivers again with a facile victory at Uttoxeter over hurdles.

  • Far From A Ruby finishes second in the tightest of photo finishes imaginable,

  • Kath’s Toyboy is first past the post but is demoted to second place despite making no contact with the eventual winner. An appeal is launched - ultimately unsuccessful - and the controversial decision is covered on the Nick Luck Daily podcast.

August

  • Ashington joins Ursa - settling in at Mark Walfords straight away.

  • Far From A Ruby bolts in at Ayr to gain a deserved win for Katie Scott and Aiden Brookes,

  • Ralphy Boy Two does the business winning at Hamilton for Ewan Whillans.

  • Our Kessaar yearling joins Rebecca Menzies; our Magna Grecia yearling joins Grant Tuer.

September

  • More than 100 owners descend on York for our annual owners day - Ghadbbaan runs a great race to thrill them in third.

  • Melburnian returns to the track and comes second at 50/1.

  • We retire Candescence, but she stays with us to become our first broodmare.

  • Impressive Irish import joins Mark Walford

  • Ghadbbaan wins for the second time this year, scoring under Phil Dennis at Ripon.

October

  • Melburnian scoots home over hurdles by more than six lengths - but sadly has to be retired after picking up a minor injury.

  • Texas Boy joins us from Ireland and takes his place at Howe Hills with Rebecca Menzies.

  • Ashington runs a huge race in third on Charlie Hall Day at Wetherby.

  • Cabinet Maker joins the ranks and makes his way to Rebecca Menzies.

November

  • We record our first ever double, with Champagne Sarah and Kath’s Toyboy winning at Newcastle for Mike Murphy, Michael Keady and Kevin Stott.

  • Ashington becomes our first ever Cheltenham runner - and he finishes a fine fifth over hurdles.

  • Event of Sivola storms to victory over 4m at Hexham.

  • Bay Dream Believer becomes a new signing, joining Mark Walford who also trained her sister Battle Angel.

December

  • Crafty Lady joins Ursa Major and we introduce our newest trainer - Sam England

  • The Turpinator joins Grant Tuer and runs a huge race on debut in third in a Class 2 at Newcastle.

  • Melburnian and Battle Angel start their new lives as broodmares in Ireland. They will never be forgotten.

  • It’s a big Boxing Day with Fenna’s Loss and Ashington in action, Ashington tanking when brought down by a faller in front of him.

Andrew Morris