A much deserved update….

Good evening all,

Time for a well deserved update, briefly detailing what exactly we have been up to since May last year.

Friday 5th May was a night we will never forget, as it was our first ever accredited raceday photography. It was Hunter Chase Evening, and a thoroughly enjoyable night was had by all. Are They Your Own and Miss Brodie Hampson took the opener for trainer Fergal O'Brien on what was her first ride at the course, and a hugely poignant one it was too!

Further success followed for the Cotswolds based yards, with Lilly Pinchin, who is based at Fergal's, scoring on Knockaderry Flyer and trainer Ben Pauling, based at Bourton-On-The-Water, sending Dolatulo to win the 4 mile contest. Many thanks Cheltenham for the opportunity, very much hope to be on course again soon!

After a few months of not much happening for us, due to the end of the National Hunt and Pointing seasons, September and October brought three yard visits and three racedays of accredited photography, 1 at Worcester and the remaining two at Cheltenham. The first yard visit was to Ben Pauling’s yard at Bourton-On-The-Water in the Cotswolds at his Open Day on the 9th September, followed shortly after by a visit to Oliver Greenall’s at Stockton Hall, Malpas during his Open Day on the 18th September. Finally, in the first full weekend of October, it was time to high tail it back to the Cotswolds, for a visit to Fergal O’Brien’s at Naunton on the 7th. If you haven’t been on a yard visit, I highly recommend you ask to do so, and if visiting Fergal’s, don’t forget the cake, it’s a rule that must not be broken!

Raceday wise, we were extremely grateful to be offered a visit to Worcester on the 12th October, of which we wholeheartedly accepted. Our first visit to the course, which is celebrating it’s 300th Anniversary this year, so hopefully we will be back to photograph at this wonderful course during the summer jumps season that lies ahead. One course that you must visit this summer is Worcester, as it hosts the stars of the summer, if Flat racing isn’t your thing. For example, Black Corton won during the summer in a Class 4 novice chase, and has since gone on to win the Grade 1 Kauto Star ( Registered as the Feltham ) Novices’ Chase at Kempton Park on Boxing Day.

Also in October was the first meeting of Cheltenham’s season, the Showcase Meeting on the 27th and 28th October. As always at Cheltenham, it was a superb few days of action, of course made better by the fact that we had accreditation for it.

We saw the beginning of the jumps season proper in with this meeting, and it produced some stars to follow for the rest of the season, including the aforementioned Black Corton, winning under promising rider Bryony Frost. They have struck a real partnership together, and will be one to keep an eye on when they are next on the track.

Also appearing was the much touted Slate House, who went on to break his maiden in the Foundation Developments Maiden Hurdle, before going on the next month to victory in the Grade 2 Supreme Novices Hurdle Trial at Cheltenham.

The meeting did produce a stellar, battling performance from one horse that was loved by many, but sadly is no longer with us. That horse was North Hill Harvey, who gritted his teeth and battled back to beat Sceau Royal, who went on to win the Henry VIII Novices Chase at Sandown Park, overturning his defeat at Cheltenham. North Hill Harvey was unfortunately lost in the Grand Annual when falling at the third last in last month’s Cheltenham Festival, and our condolences go to the Skelton team. He was gearing up to be a superstar, and it is a terrible shame we will not get to see his full potential on the racecourse.

The next meeting we attended was our first ever Grade 1, the Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Reigning Champion Hurdler Buveur D’Air was making his seasonal debut, and made a Grade 1 look like a piece of work, striding away from the field and making some good horses behind look like mere mortals. He had to work hard at Cheltenham to retain his title, but he looks once again to have the world at his feet. Many thanks to Newcastle for the opportunity to photograph at the meeting!

A few point to point meetings at Chaddesley Corbett, Sheriff Hutton, Cocklebarrow and Bangor-On-Dee have followed, and if you wish to see more from us on that, I’ll post up a review of the meeting when I can!

Finally, the most recent bit of photography for us was split between two days, those being Tuesday 27th March and Friday 30th March. We went back to Oliver Greenall’s yard to photograph the team on the gallops and around the yard. They were extremely welcoming to us, and we had a fantastic time, couldn’t have asked for better from them. It’s times and people like them that make this job worth it, especially when they adore the images you have produced, and are very grateful for them.