The Ravenswell Round Up - Summer 2026
- Fergal O'Brien Racing
- a few seconds ago
- 13 min read
Welcome
Summer is traditionally a quieter time for National Hunt yards, but that certainly doesn't mean things come to a standstill here at Ravenswell. While many of our winter stars have been enjoying a well-earned break, we've continued to keep busy with runners on both the Flat and over hurdles, enjoying some pleasing success along the way.
Over the past couple of weeks, our winter horses have been gradually returning to the yard, and it's always one of the special times of the year. Seeing so many familiar faces now back at Ravenswell reminds us that another exciting National Hunt season isn't too far away. The buzz around the yard begins to build once again, and it's great to welcome both horses and their owners back.
Back on the Roads
As the Winter team eases back into work, many of them have been heading out on gentle hacks around the village. This year we've discovered a lovely new loop across the fields that provides the perfect introduction for their early fitness work.
Road work was once a staple of every racehorse's routine, but in recent years it has become less common for a variety of reasons. The rise of excellent pre-training yards means many horses now arrive back with a solid fitness base already in place, while the increasing traffic on busy roads has understandably made road work more challenging in many areas.
We are fortunate here at Ravenswell to be based in a quiet village with access to plenty of peaceful lanes and off-road tracks, allowing our horses to enjoy varied exercise in a safe and relaxed environment as they begin preparations for the season ahead.
Horses heading out to do roadwork
Summer Successes
Although our focus is gradually shifting towards the winter campaign, we've continued to enjoy some memorable results throughout the summer.
A particular highlight was Tripoli Flyer, who showed his versatility with an impressive handicap win on the Flat at Kempton. It is always rewarding to see our horses performing across different disciplines and he thoroughly deserved his success.
Since our last newsletter, we've also celebrated winners with Tuba, Mistral Blue, Mojo Ego, Jorah D'Alma and Jager Time each providing connections with plenty to cheer about. Every winner is a real team effort, and it's fantastic to see the hard work of everyone at Ravenswell being rewarded.
Beating the Heat
This summer has brought several periods of exceptionally hot weather, creating extra challenges for both horses and staff. Keeping everyone cool and comfortable has been a real priority, with routines adapted to make the most of the cooler mornings and evenings.
From early starts to constant monitoring of the horses, plenty of extra work goes on behind the scenes during a heatwave. We'd like to say a huge thank you to our brilliant team, whose dedication and professionalism ensure our horses continue to receive the very best care, whatever the weather.
In the Spotlight – Beth McCabe
There are plenty of talented people at Ravenswell, and Beth McCabe is certainly one of them……
Alongside riding out each morning and looking after Tripoli Flyer, Beth has developed an impressive talent for photography and much of her summer is spent travelling the country photographing some of the biggest Flat racing fixtures.
We're not just talking about an evening meeting at Bath—Beth regularly photographs the sport's most prestigious occasions, including Epsom, Ascot and Newmarket.
Below, Beth tells us more about her summer behind the camera and what it's like photographing racing's biggest moments.
…….“Each summer, while the yard is in its quieter months, I take a few weeks away to do some photography work for many of the big flat meetings. It’s something that I’ve done for the last 12 years and I thoroughly enjoy it”.
“It’s a real bonus to be able to work for Fergal throughout the jump season and then be able to also do my photography in the summer months as well. So I get the best of both worlds! This year has been a special one, though. Where I have been doing my regular tracks like Sandown and Newmarket, I’ve also been lucky enough to photograph my first Epsom Derby (albeit a very wet one!) and all 5 scorching days at Royal Ascot. I’m very privileged to get to go to these big meetings and call it work!”
Below are some of Beth's favourite photos from the summer so far…
The Ravenswell Reporter
Talking about Ascot, our Ravenswell Reporter Sam Juckes has been digesting Royal Ascot. Such a good week, many of the team here had the privalige of attending. Let's hear what Sam had to say...
Royal Ascot returned in 2026 with its customary display of pageantry, elegance and world class entertainment, whilst the calibre of equine class on show was every bit as exceptional.
Records were smashed and crowd figures rose, with a 2.8 per cent increase upon last year seeing overall attendance surpass 294,000 for the week.
On the track itself, participation was strong. 634 runners across the meeting breaking the previous record set in 2024, with representation from racing jurisdictions around the globe.
The week began as it always does, with the Queen Anne Stakes over the straight mile. This year won by Ten Bob Tony, with a thundering late run in the hands of Kieran Shoemark getting up close home. The day continued with a duo of Aidan O’Brien winners and the mightily impressive Bow Echo, who survived a wide berth off the bend to score by a short head in the St James’s Palace Stakes.
Day 2 meant Prince of Wales’ Stakes Day, and what a renewal it was. Ombudsman sauntering past 2025 Arc winner Daryz and multiple Oaks winning Minnie Hauk to claim a 4th Group 1 and back up his success in the race last year.
Day 3 and feature race of the week saw a fabulous tussle between two of the best stayers around, the ever so brave and veteran stayer Trawlerman, and the up and comer Scandinavia. It was the latter who came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Ascot Gold Cup, breaking the 100 winner’s milestone at the Royal Meeting for Aidan O’Brien.
Winners for the master of Ballydoyle didn’t end there, with Precise proving spot on in the Coronation Stakes, whilst weight drama and a dropped overgirth caused chaos to the close of play on Friday in the Holyroodhouse.
It was an international affair in the Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Stakes, which became a showcase of world racing. Home advantage prevailed in the form of the William Haggas trained Almeraq, with Japan, Australia and France filling out the placings in front of a packed crowd of over 71,000.
Away from the Royal Meeting, news in the sport has been plentiful. The controversial decision to open the Prix de L’Arc de Triomphe to geldings, the summer heatwave causing havoc to fixture lists and the retirement of the much-loved Hewick, whose price tag remains anything but a mystery.
Where Are They Now?
Our popular ‘Where Are They Now?’ feature returns as we continue to follow former Fergal O'Brien Racing horses into their retirement and discover how they are enjoying life after racing.
In this edition, we catch up with Kaitlin, who has extensive experience with retired thoroughbreds. She shares her thoughts on retraining former racehorses, the versatility of the breed, and how some familiar faces from Ravenswell are thriving in their second careers.
……“I currently own Tequila Blaze and Chase the Spud. Tequila Blaze (Dolly) is still in the process of being retrained, definitely a more challenging one to retrain to a different career, hoping to get her out to some events towards the end of the season”.
“Chase the Spud (Spud) is living his best life, hacks occasionally through the summer and thus providing the best babysitting services to his yard friends. He also loves hunting through the Winter.
I started with one thoroughbred and then soon had three! But I’m now back to a sensible number with the two of them. I love how rewarding it can be to retrain them, seeing them progress in a different career, also still seeing that they enjoy their job no matter what they’re doing!
Dolly has certainly proved to be my most difficult to retrain, we’ve taken everything back to basics from long reining and lunging to just letting her relax under saddle. She’s heading in the right direction and I can't wait to see what she’ll do in the future!
Spud has been the easiest…He gets on with whatever is asked of him and it’s lovely to see he’s still loving his job at the age of 18.
I rode and looked after Dolly in my whole time at Fergs, and never thought I'd have the chance to buy her. So obviously when the offer came around I couldn’t refuse, she arrived on my 21st birthday.
Spud, I hadn't actually ridden in training, however when lockdown first happened we had plenty of fun out hacking and showjumping at the yard”.
Tequila Blaze & Chase the Spud
Hearing so many positive stories about horses that have retired from Ravenswell and finished their racing careers is truly heartwarming. There is often a misconception that once a horse retires from racing, it can no longer go on to have another career. We hope that, as you read this section of our newsletter, you'll see that Thoroughbreds are incredibly versatile and make wonderful partners across a wide range of disciplines and activities.
If you have ever considered retraining or owning a retired thoroughbred, or you are interested in rehoming, it’s always worth contacting us. Finding the right home for horses after their racing careers is always paramount for us. Luckily there are many stories like Kaitlin's throughout the racing industry.
The ‘Sales’ and… the dreams of the future!
Spring and Summer are always busy times for the team as we head to sales across the UK and Ireland in search of the stars of the future. Fergal, Sally and Max have been hard at work sourcing a fantastic mix of horses, including horses already in training, stores, point-to-pointers and juveniles and we are delighted with the exciting new recruits that have joined the yard for this season.
Many of the stores have now been broken in and have begun their pre-training, giving them the very best foundation as they embark on their racing careers.
There is something truly special about watching unbroken horses at the Sales. Seeing the way they move and carry themselves, while imagining what the future might hold, is one of the most exciting parts of the job.
A huge thank you to our owners for their continued support and investment in providing us with another wonderful crop of young horses. We hope they will give us many memorable days on the racecourse in the years ahead and the dreams are very much alive. Owning a racehorse is a fairytale of a journey, and we look forward to sharing it with you.
Charity Races with Faster Bee!
The Chris Coley-owned Faster Bee has certainly been a busy bee this summer, although perhaps not in the way you might expect.
Alongside his racing commitments, he has taken part in two charity races, competing in the HEROS Charity Race at Newbury and the Property Race Day Charity Race at Ascot.
Once jokingly nicknamed ‘Slow Wasp’, Faster Bee has proved the doubters wrong in recent months, winning twice on the Flat so far this year. However, it is not only his ability under rules that has impressed. His enthusiasm for racing and kind temperament have made him the perfect partner for two young riders, giving them experiences they will never forget while also helping to raise a fantastic amount of money for charity.
His charity race campaign began at Newbury, where he competed in the HEROS Charity Race under Holly Nicholson, a name that may sound familiar. Holly is the granddaughter of legendary National Hunt trainer David ‘The Duke’ Nicholson.
Holly and Faster Bee enjoyed a memorable spin around the iconic Berkshire racecourse before he turned his attention to Ascot.
At the Property Race Day Charity Race, Faster Bee was partnered by Susie Hoare. We caught up with Susie to hear more about her experience of riding at one of the most famous racecourses in the world.
When did you first have the idea of riding in a charity race, how did it come about? – The idea came from me learning about Property Race Day, just a couple months into my graduate scheme at Colliers. I was not hugely aware of the charity race ‘circuit’ and that this opportunity was something ‘anyone’ could get involved in. My eyes were then opened. Being a huge lover of going racing, and previously riding out for Sue Gardner during my time at Exeter University then it was something I was keen to apply for. So I promptly did the online application.
What did you have to do to prepare/qualify for the race? – To qualify, you needed to provide details on your riding experience, situation and ability to fit in riding training, fitness ability regards the fitness test training, and your plans for fundraising and securing a horse. When I received the news I had a place in the race, things were kicked off – raise a minimum of £5,000 for one of four chosen charities, find a flat horse in training with a licensed trainer for the race (rated 0-90), and pass a fitness test at the BRS, Newmarket at the beginning of May (3 months later). And so I started planning and kicking things off to make that happen.
Did you have any coaching? – Already a keen runner, I took to the fitness training myself, joining a gym – starting pretty below par with my strength, trying to build it up by consistently going through similar exercises required in the fitness test itself. Planks, press-ups, squat holds, leg raises and a good few spin classes. I did have a PT session with a jockey coach, Rob, at Oaksey House in Lambourn, to do a practise run through of the test a couple weeks before I was due to be in Newmarket. I also had a couple of sessions with Will Kennedy, jockey coach, on an equsizer to learn how to actually ride a race. These were so helpful and completely crucial!
How did you end up riding Faster Bee? – Knowing Fergal and Fern from Pony Club days, I reached out to them quite promptly to see if they would be wiling and able to help me. Fergal was very kind to invite me up to ride out and see if they had something appropriate. I then started riding out for Fergal at the beginning of March, a couple of weeks after receiving the news I had secured the spot. Faster Bee was a horse I was put on quite early on. He is one of a few flat horses Fergal trains and given his impeccable nature I think he is the perfect ride for first time jockeys!
Did you ride Faster Bee at Fergal's before your big day? - I was very lucky to have some certainty so early in the journey, on who I could be riding. So I could then ride Faster Bee almost every weekend I’d go to Fergal’s to ride out! I also rode a mix of lovely other horses over the course of the five months I consistently rode out for, normally doing an average of 2/3 lots on a Friday/Saturday morning.
Why was Faster Bee a good horse to ride in the charity race? – Faster Bee is incredibly loved by all on the yard, and is such a little dude who gives an awful lot! He isn’t hot headed so you can have confidence that he would be sensible walking round the parade ring and going down to the start on race day. Also he will stand still when being legged up, all things that make the experience on the day much more pleasant, and safe for everyone involved. It was so nice being so comfortable riding Faster Bee, and being sure I could focus on the race itself without added worries.
Describe your day leading up to the race? – It was a hot day! I had about three bags with all my kit, wore my dress in an effort to stay cooler - which didn’t last long. Then trekked myself and my bags via the bus to Clapham Junction, before I set sail to Ascot train station, where I met one of the jockeys I had become friends with. From when we arrived it was all such a fab experience. We collected our passes from Owners & Trainers and the race card – it was cool to straight away see our profiles for the charity
race race, just a couple pages over from the top jockey riding in the earlier races on the day. We then met the rest of the charity jockeys and PRD Committee at the weighing room, where we were briefed. Next was the course walk – I couldn’t believe what a hill the straight mile was on, so different from the perspective you get from watching on TV or from the grandstands. Then we were free from 1pm to 4pm – so I joined my friends and family! The day was kicked off with a big picnic and congregation in Car Park 2 with everyone supporting! It felt weird not having a rose in hand at this stage. 4pm it was time to go and get ready. I quickly met Fern prior to this, and collected my saddle/silks, I was super excited!
What was it like riding at Ascot, arguably the best racecourse in the world!? – Riding at Ascot was so cool – its an incredible racecourse and venue. Having grown up racing at Cheltenham I find it’s a completely different vibe. It felt even more special to have friends and family all supporting me ride, even coming into the parade ring before and after the race, knowing and feeling the prestige of the racecourse! Coming out the shoot, under the Ascot tunnel and onto the course, ahead of making my way to the start was a serious thrill, particularly as Faster Bee was feeling so up for it. It was so cool!
Where did you finish and how did you feel after the race? I finished fourth in the race – I was so chuffed. I hadn’t completely forgotten what I learnt from Will Kennedy about how to ride over a straight mile. Also, I came across the line adjacent with Brasil Power, a horse who had just ran at Royal Ascot, rated 88. Faster Bee is 56. With the three first horses’ home, being the mostly highly rated horses in the race (in order, rated 89, 85 and 88) – there was some certainty this would be two separate races. Four of the other runners in addition to the top three, were all rated higher than Faster Bee so to come fourth, I was so ecstatic. Even better, the way Faster Bee responded and how he tried, he gave me an amazing feeling, I was so pleased to come away feeling like I’d given it a good shot!
How much money did you raise and for what cause? – I raised £6,180 for through various fundraising activities and lots of generous support from friends and family. I did a Charity Sweepstake over Cheltenham Festival week, and a charity sweepstake for the Grand National. I then organised a big charity quiz night and raffle, which I hosted at the Durrel Arms in Fulham with about 50 of my friends across ten teams. And finally I did a big bake sale at work. These funds were raised for LandAid, a charity supported by the property industry, raising money to support youth homelessness in the UK.
Can people still donate? - Absolutely, my JustGiving link is still live here...
The Annual FOB Golf Day
We have a couple of spaces left for our annual FOB golf day! This year it will take place on Tuesday September 1st at our usual venue, Brickhampton Golf Complex. If you'd like to enter a team, it's on a first come first serve basis...
Please contact Max Kendrick: maxkendrick95@gmail.com
To finish, we are delighted to share the final total raised from Fergal’s skydive.
An incredible £13,623 was raised for Dementia Carers Respite. To put that into perspective, this will provide approximately 545 hours of respite care for family members supporting loved ones with dementia.
This will make a huge difference to so many people. Thank you to everyone who donated, supported and helped make the fundraiser such a success. Your generosity is greatly appreciated.
