Weekly Update 25.01.2021
Every week is a busy week at Ursa Major Racing! We only had 1 runner at Ayr Racecourse but there were lots of other exciting updates to tell you about. Ursa Major has featured on a Racing blog article, gained a new trainer to add to our expanding list of active trainers and started a new partnership with NewGen Racing.
Mark Walford Horses Update
All our horses with Mark have continued with their training and preparations for the up coming Spring NH and Flat campaigns. We only had the one runner with Mark this week – Event Of Sivola but more news about his run in the Racing Update section of this news article. Let’s Go Lucky has been dropped 1lb by the handicapper and will be racing off a mark of 66 when she makes her debut for the club. Clifftop Heaven was enjoying himself when being taken out this week, as can be seen in the images below.
Mark Walford himself had a very successful week overall with a 40/1 winner – Quest For Life (owned by Ursa legend Emma Todd) and 25/1 place for Jante Law on the same card at Musselburgh. Every winner Mark has is always cheered home by the Ursa family, as he is a trainer that deserves every success he achieves.
Irish Horse Update
Sweettasteoflove was scheduled to race at the 22nd Jan Dundalk meeting but the club and Pat Murphy decided it is a better to wait for an alternative race in the next couple of weeks at Dundalk. Her last placed effort at Dundalk means she will be likely to get into a race at the track, so we are prepared to wait for the right race.
One of our Irish members was able to see Sweettasteoflove at the yard as you can see in the pictures below.
Micky Hammond Horse Update
We have continued to receive frequent updates on Furax’s training and general wellbeing ahead of his eagerly anticipated debut which will hopefully be at Newcastle’s next Jumps meeting on 2nd February. Please see the video updates of Furax below:
Introducing Stephen Hanlon
This week Ursa Major Racing sold a 50% share of Mizen Master to Stephen Hanlon and NewGen Racing. Ursa Major have retained the other 50% share and he will continue to run in our world-famous Battenberg silks. Mizen will now join Stephen at his Butterton Grange Stables, Newcastle-Under-Lyme, Staffordshire. More information on this can be read in the separate article and also more information about Stephen can be read in Our Trainers section of the website.
Racing Updates
Event Of Sivola
EOS was the club’s only runner this week at Ayr. Unfortunately, it was a short race for EOS as he fell at the first fence and we didn’t get to see how he would have performed at a higher-class level. More importantly, EOS and Tommy Dowson were both fine and unscathed from the incident. As EOS barely had a race, he will be turned out quickly and running again in January. More information can be seen below..
Future Horses, Runners & Plans
As at the time of writing Event of Sivola has been declared for the 3m1f (3m1f54y) Racing TV Handicap Chase (Northern Lights Staying Chase Series Qualifier) (Class 5) (5yo+ 0-100) at 3:15pm on Wednesday 27th January. There are 14 runners in the field with EOS being ridden by 7lb claimer Joe Williamson, who has ridden for the club on Mizen Master recently.
For the remainder of the month and into February we can expect to see Furax, Sweetasteoflove and Lets Go Lucky (LGL entered for 28th Jan at Newcastle but may not go) on the track and entered for races. Exciting times ahead as these are new horses for the club and will be making their debuts in the Battenberg silks! In Furax’s case it will be his UK Debut full stop!
We are still searching for a permanent Southern horse to be based with a Southern trainer full time. There is a special group set up for this with some current members involved, but all new members are welcome as well! We are searching the sales catalogues for a good horse at a reasonable price. Please use the contact us or get in touch via social media if you want to be involved in the new horse or any of our horses! We have share options available in most club horses!
Ursa in the Media
This week, Ursa Major Racing Club featured in the REIN IT IN Racing blog under their Syndicate Spotlight section. This is a fantastic article by the young talented writer Samantha Martin and a great piece of exposure for the club. More can be read in the main news article for REIN IT IN Racing.
