The Ravenswell Round Up - May 2026
- Fergal O'Brien Racing
- 5 days ago
- 8 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
May is always an interesting month for a National Hunt yard. It marks the beginning of a new season, whilst also giving us the chance to despatch many of our winter horses off on their well-earned summer holidays. They need plenty of shade though now with the temperatures reaching record highs!
It is also the time of year when thoughts start turning to the future. The Doncaster Sales last week were, as always, a busy three days, with everyone involved in our sport trying to find the next exciting prospect, the next Saturday horse, or maybe even the next Gold Cup winner!
Hence it is the perfect moment to look back on the 2025/26 campaign with plenty of fond memories....
The headline highlight of the season was undoubtedly Sixmilebridge winning the Grade 1 Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase at Sandown on 31 January, ridden by Kielan Woods. It was a brilliant performance and a very special day for everyone connected with the yard, not least because it was our first Grade 1 success over fences.
We finished the season in a very respectable 11th place in the Jump Trainers’ Championship, reaching the £1 million prize-money mark for a fifth consecutive season, which is an achievement rightly to be proud of.
In December, we also reached a major milestone by passing the 1,000 career winners mark. That achievement is a reflection of the hard work, loyalty and dedication of the whole team at Ravenswell Farm. These milestones do not happen by accident, and they certainly do not happen without a huge amount of effort from everyone behind the scenes.
As always, we would like to say a huge thank you to all of our loyal owners for their continued support and for trusting us with their lovely horses. Thank you also to our families, friends and supporters, who make the days in the yard and at the racecourse that much more enjoyable.
And, of course, a special thank you must go to everyone who has brought us cake over the past year. The standards have been exceptionally high, and we are pleased to report that this remains one of the yard’s most fiercely contested competitions. Remember Fergal's favourite is a victoria sponge!
Highlights from the track
Chicker became our first winner of the 2026/27 season in brilliant style at Uttoxeter, taking the Novices’ Hurdle over 2m4f under a lovely ride from Fern. Owned by very special Cox family, Chicker carries a very special memory, having been named after James’s late father, which made the victory all the more meaningful.
He is ridden every day at home by Fern, so to see the two of them jump, travel and battle their way to the front before crossing the line together was a really special moment for everyone involved. Chicker has always shown us plenty of class, something he proved in his bumpers last season, and this was a great step forward as he opened the new campaign in the best possible way.
Fergal Takes the Leap
On 14 May, Fergal took part in a Skydive to raise money and awareness for Dementia Carers Respite, a charity set up by owners of ours, Walid and Paula Marzouk.
Beforehand, Fergal reported that “I'm not afraid of heights, but am afraid of falling”, which did not exactly fill us with confidence about how well he would feel when jumping out of a plane at 13,000 feet.
Thankfully, he lived to tell the tale, and more importantly, it was all in support of a wonderful cause.
Dementia Carers Respite aims to support those who are caring for someone with dementia. Existing dementia charities provide excellent advice and guidance for people with dementia and their family carers, but there remains a real gap when it comes to helping families access desperately needed respite care.
As the charity explains:
“Carers feed back that, if only they had an occasional break from the burden of care, knowing their loved one was being cared for professionally, they could more effectively manage the stresses of being a carer. This is where Dementia Carers Respite can help.”
You can find out more about the charity HERE, and you can also donate via Fergal’s Skydive GoFundMe page HERE.
The team also headed off to Worcester races to support the cause and to enjoy a great evening together where the video was played out on the big screens and lots of donations were made!
In the Spotlight
Each month we intend to highlight some of our fantastic loyal team here at Ravenswell Farm. Our guest blogger this month is Albi Tufnell.
In the previous edition of our Newsletter, we shared some pictures of Albi schooling his horse, A Moments Madness, over the Aintree fences at Lambourn in preparation for the Aintree Foxhunters’ Chase.
We are delighted to say that Albi and A Moments Madness had a great spin in the race. Here is more about the experience in Albi’s own words…
"It’s an overdone cliché for any jockey to say they grew up dreaming of winning the Grand National but when you’re riding from a young age, that race and those fences inevitably become the dream. However, as a slightly overweight and tall amateur the Grand National was always going to be a dream too far! The Foxhunters on the other hand, that was the aim. It’s a race that is the pinnacle for any amateur jockey in the UK. Cheltenham is obviously very special but a ride over the ‘National’ fences is something every amateur wants on their CV, although I can now assure you it’s not an easy route to take!
When working at Ravenswell on my gap year in 2020-21 I got very close to riding Captain Cattistock in the race but luck was not on our side. I then went to University, where beers and kebabs took over, and the thought of ever being able to ride over those fences became a distant blurred memory.
Luckily, when I started as a maths teacher in Central London my Mum brought me to my senses. She said I should put the 65 working days holiday a year to good use. So we went to Doncaster sales and came home with ‘A Moment’s Madness’, and the dream of the journey to Aintree began again.
However, as with everything in racing, you need a lot of luck. The first time I rode MM, or Mo, was at Carlisle on 8 March, just over a month before Aintree. We duly finished in the first three and that meant we had actually qualified for the Foxhunter's.
Thankfully, when you have to teach Maths to a classroom of thirty 11-15 year old schoolkids during the week it doesn’t leave a lot of time to think and get nervous about Aintree! The Easter holidays also meant that I was able to spend the week before the race riding out at Ravenswell and got a lot of very useful advice from everyone at the yard. Apart from race tactics and making sure to slip the reins over the chair, it was Liam Harrisons advice that stuck in my head the most: ‘Just make sure you take a couple of moments throughout the day to soak it all in and enjoy it!’.
The day itself was a bit of a blur and I thought the race was going to be rather too short for Mo and I after an awkward jump at the first he found a lovely rhythm and gave me the most exhilarating ride round. After he winged Bechers, the Canal Turn, and Valentines, I couldn’t help but get a little bit excited and I give him a pat down the shoulder, which with hindsight was probably a bit of an amateur move! When we crossed the Melling Road for the second time we were sat in third and I thought we might be in with a shout of actually winning!!!! We were upsides the winner going into the second last but it was he who quickened on to win very convincingly. Ultimately, we finished a respectable 11th but when I got to the unsaddling area that didn’t seem too relevant as everyone was overcome with emotion revelling in the race.
It’s such an incredible adrenaline rush and experience that now the only thing we can do is go back again next year and try to win it! The staffroom was buzzing on Monday morning and my fellow teachers all want to come and watch next year!
Where are they now?
Crambo
Former racehorse Crambo has been settling beautifully into his new life after racing, and it sounds as though he is thoroughly enjoying learning his new job. His owner, Eve Nicholls, looked after him everyday at Ravenswell and was alongside him throughout his whole racing career.
Eve says he has especially taken to hacking, which has quickly become one of his favourite parts of his new routine. Racehorses are creatures of habit, so adapting to a different way of life is not always straightforward, but Crambo is in experienced hands. Eve has already achieved a great deal retraining thoroughbreds, most notably with her other horse and former Ravenswell resident, Falloway Dubreau.
Crambo has already made a promising start in a different discipline, winning his first dressage competition and gaining the scores needed to head to the RoR Regionals, which Eve hopes to attend in July. Should he qualify there, the next exciting aim would be the RoR Championships at Aintree in August, a wonderful target for a horse who is clearly embracing this next chapter.
Alongside his dressage plans, Eve is also hoping to introduce him to Showing towards the end of the summer, providing he is ready. It is lovely to hear that Crambo is enjoying life, learning new skills, and showing the same willing attitude that made him such a special racehorse.
Crambo enjoying his retirement with Eve Nicholls
Have you ever wondered where to purchase FOB merch?
The Howden Way Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme
Last week we were delighted to welcome The Howden Way Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme (TAP), an initiative founded by racehorse owner David Howden with a strong focus on supporting the long-term welfare and retraining of former racehorses.
Through its network of Level 3 and above accredited coaches, TAP delivers subsidised regional training sessions across England, Scotland and Wales. The programme is designed to provide accessible, practical training and expert guidance to help thoroughbreds transition successfully into life beyond racing.
TAP aims to equip riders with the confidence, knowledge and support needed when retraining ex-racehorses, while also helping to address common challenges and dispel some of the myths often associated with ex-racehorses. Alongside in-person training, members can access an extensive online portal featuring educational resources tailored to every stage of the retraining journey, from those just starting out through to riders competing.
We were pleased to welcome our local TAP coach Lucy Jackson, who runs regular monthly training sessions, with lessons available from as little as £15.
The enthusiasm surrounding TAP continues to grow, with more than 2,500 training sessions already booked and membership numbers increasing nationwide.
To learn more about TAP, find local training opportunities, or discover how you can get involved, visit The Howden Way | Thoroughbred Aftercare Programme or email info@thehowdenway.com.
Coach Lucy Jackson and Programme Director Justine Parker
Date For Your Diary - The Annual FOB Golf Day
We have a date for our annual FOB golf day! This year it will take place on Tuesday September 1st at our usual venue, Brickhampton Golf Complex. Details of how to book your team will be sent out shortly so please take a note of the date in your diaries and get practicing. The format will be the same as in previous years with teams of 4 playing Texas Scramble!
