Fergal O’Brien Racing, Friday 31st July

The first time we picked up a camera and photographed some racehorses since lockdown, shutdown and resumption of racing was a picture-postcard of a morning at Ravenswell Farm in the Cotswolds, home to Fergal O’Brien Racing. Always happy to see us, and vica versa, it was a huge relief to blow the cobwebs away with some equine photography finally taking some sort of return, as much as it could without any racing for us.

It’s been a fruitful period for the team since the resumption of racing in June, where as of this time of writing they sit on 33 winners, which is their entire 2015/16 tally of winners in a whole season, and we haven’t even got started properly yet!

The team are very much a close knit bunch, who do everything for the horses to make sure they are healthy and being the best they can be. Therefore, it’s necessary to reward them with cake, as long as you can keep Fergal busy and away from there long enough for the rest of the staff to grab a slice before he does!

We had chosen a superb morning to attend the gallops, with a cloudless sunrise resulting in some dramatic silhouette opportunities as first lot went up the gallops. The Flickr album for the images is here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/153708976@N07/albums/72157715369798383

Some fantastic and mouth-watering news was revealed at the yard, as Molly informed Tom that her idol Champagne Well was being prepared for a novice chasing campaign this upcoming season. it was also revealed that during his summer holiday he had been hobdayed ( had a wind operation ), as last season he wasn't quite finishing his races at 3 miles, so Fergal and his owners had taken him for the procedure so that he may just be able to stay the extra few furlongs and be keeping on at the business end. The way he tamely dropped off at Doncaster in the River Don behind Ramses De Teillee underlined the need for the procedure, particularly after Paddy Brennan detailed he wasn't quite finishing his races compared to the 2m 5f he had been running at previously. He is a very exciting horse to be sending over a fence, and is one to follow for the future.

It was excellent to see everyone again, both human and equine, after being so far deep in the doldrums of recent months, and as always we are hugely appreciative of any opportunity to attend the gallops. Do feel free to see their social media if you need a laugh, it is @FOBRacing, and if you would like to pay the yard a visit, drop them a message and they will be glad to speak to you and arrange it. JUST BRING CAKE!