The Ravenswell Round Up - The Jumps Return
Welcome
There is a particular magic about this time of year, when the mornings grow colder, the days draw shorter and the familiar rhythm of the jumping season begins to stir the blood once more. The promise of winter is in the air, and with Cheltenham’s first fixture of the season starting yesterday, the curtain was raised on another wonderful chapter of National Hunt racing… and it started in the perfect way for us. Frontier Prince won the first race, just getting up on the line. The dream starts and a first winner at Cheltenham for Jack Hogan, well done Jack!
Here at Fergal O’Brien Racing, there is a palpable sense of anticipation around the yard. Our winter horses are coming to the boil, their preparations gathering momentum as the long-awaited return to the racecourse edges ever closer. Months of steady work, quiet hopes and careful planning are beginning to take shape, and there is nothing quite like the excitement of wondering what the coming months might bring.
The weather, too, has finally begun to turn in winter’s favour. The rain has started to fall and the ground has needed every drop, but at last there are signs of a change in the conditions. Cheltenham, meanwhile, has been watering for several months, and the ground should be just right for the opening meeting, a fitting stage on which to begin the journey towards the months that lie ahead.
For now, it is a time for optimism, for fresh beginnings and for dreams that have yet to be tested. Most of the horses are ready, the big meetings beckon, and the unique theatre of the winter jumps season is about to come alive again.
Cheltenham: Ready for the Winter
There are few places in racing that stir the soul quite like Cheltenham, and as another winter season beckons, the home of jump racing has been busy preparing for the months ahead. A summer of investment has seen improvements to the course’s drainage, while every bar has been renovated and further enhancements made to the racegoing experience. It is encouraging to see Cheltenham investing in both the ground beneath the horses’ hooves and the experience of those who come to watch them.
You may not know but the CEO of Cheltenham Racecourse, Guy Lavender, has been coming into Ravenswell for a few months now to ride out. It's always a pleasure to have Guy Lavender down at Ravenswell and we’d like to wish him and all the team at Cheltenham our very best wishes for a fantastic season ahead. You’ll read more about Guy and his experience riding out at Ravenswell in the next edition!
Stable Visits
In recent weeks we’ve had a number of stable visits from racing syndicate members across many of the syndicates that have horses here. We’ve hosted owners from Nick Brown Racing, Hot To Trot, Middleham Park, Paddy Brennan Synciates and most recently The Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates. Syndicate ownership is such a brilliant way to enjoy the thrill of owning a racehorse, while also making new friends on the way.
We’d encourage all of you to look into syndicate ownership as a way to get involved. We also run our own syndicates here at Ravenswell, Sally Randall does such a good job at finding really competitive horses to suit all budgets. If you are interested in getting involved, please do get in touch!
In the Spotlight – Liam O'Hara
In this edition of ‘In The Spotlight’, we chat to Liam O’Hara (RAF Liam as he’s affectionately known) about his dreams of riding in point to points and eventually the military races this season.
Could you introduce yourself and how you got into racing and riding racehorses?
“My interest in horse racing started through watching the sport and enjoying the social side of racing, particularly attending meetings at Chepstow. Having never sat on a horse until I was 17, I certainly didn’t take the conventional route into racehorse riding”.
“After joining the RAF, I started riding as a hobby, which eventually led to being given the opportunity to take part in a charity race in 2022. That was the real turning point in my racing journey and sparked my ambition to take things further”.
“Since then, I’ve had the opportunity to ride out for a number of trainers, including Tim Vaughan, Jamie Snowden, Richard Bandey and Sam Thomas, and I’m now riding at Fergal O’Brien’s yard”.
“Alongside racing, I’ve served in the RAF for nine years, initially as an electrician and now as an Electrical Medical Technician. I’m keen to continue developing as a rider and pursue further opportunities in military racing”.
Tell me about your aims to ride in P2Ps this season and the pointer that you’ve recently acquired?
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to gain the support of JockeyStart this year, an initiative run by Will Ramsay, himself a former military jockey, to help aspiring jockeys get started in Point-to-Points by providing opportunities with horses. Will has very kindly sent a horse called Harjo down to me for the upcoming season, and we’ve syndicated him among family, friends and a number of military racing supporters”.
“I’m hugely grateful for the opportunity and excited to get the season underway. The aim is to gain as much experience as possible, get plenty of rides under my belt and, hopefully, enjoy a successful season with Harjo, starting at Badbury on the 22nd”.
What is your big goal this season? Do you have any targets in mind?
“My main goal is to keep developing as a rider, building my confidence and gaining valuable experience on the racecourse, while making sure I enjoy every minute of it along the way”.
“I’m particularly keen to make the most of my Category A licence and get out in the military races over hurdles this season. Longer term, one of my biggest ambitions is to put myself in a position to be considered for a ride in the historic Military Chases at Sandown. I know that takes a lot of hard work, experience and commitment, so my focus is on improving all aspects of my riding and fitness, learning as much as I can, and taking every opportunity that comes my way”.
Having ridden at a number of yards now, is there anything in particular you’ve learned?
“One of the biggest things I’ve learned is that every trainer has their own way of doing things, and there’s something valuable to take from each of them”.
“Some take a very hands-on approach, offering advice and pointers while riding alongside you. Others provide invaluable insight into the day-to-day running of a yard, the preparation that goes into getting a horse ready, and what they expect from you when you’re on board”.
“Everyone has their own preferences and methods, and I’ve learned that there isn’t necessarily one right or wrong way. Being able to experience those different approaches has given me a much broader understanding of the sport, and I’m keen to keep learning from as many people as possible”.
What’s it like balancing your riding with your day job in the RAF? What does a typical day look like?
“It can be demanding, but I’m fortunate to have fantastic support from both my management in the RAF and the team at Fergal O’Brien’s”.
“I start work at 0800 every day apart from Thursdays, so on a typical morning I’ll get to the yard for 0600, ride a couple of early lots and then head off to do a full day’s work — if you can call it that”!
“Thursdays are slightly different, as I start work later, which gives me the opportunity to get around five lots in. One thing I’ve learned from other military riders is just how important time in the saddle is, so I try to make the most of every opportunity to ride”.
“The team at the yard have been brilliant in understanding that I have a full-time career alongside my riding, and I’m equally fortunate to have supportive management at work. I still have to uphold my end of duties, I can be on call to cover any Critical Care flights around the world if work needs me too while also balancing courses and day to day military life”.
We’d like to wish Liam the very best of luck for the upcoming point-to-point season! We hope all his hard work pays off and that he can fulfil his ambition of riding in the Military Races at Sandown. We’ll certainly be cheering him on and keeping our fingers crossed that he achieves his dream!
The perfect Christmas gift for any racing lover?
While everyone loves a bit of FOB merchandise under the Christmas tree, why not give the gift of an experience this year?
We’re offering stable tour packages through our online shop, making the perfect gift for any racing enthusiast or someone who has always wanted to see what goes on behind the scenes at a racing yard.
It's a fantastic opportunity to get up close to the horses, meet the team and discover just how much hard work and care goes into getting our horses ready for the racecourse, and who knows, you might even meet a future star that you'll be cheering on at one of the big meetings next spring…
So, if you're looking for a Christmas present that's a little more memorable this year, head over to the FOB Shop and take a look!
Where Are They Now?
Always a popular section of our newsletters is the ‘Where are they now?’ feature, where we visit a past Fergal O’Brien racehorse in its life after racing. This month we caught up with Bay Of Intrigue in his retirement with Liberty Alvis.
“Since retiring from racing, Benny has been thoroughly enjoying his next chapter in life! He’s become a bit of an all-rounder, having a go at a little bit of everything. Benny is living like a true prince, perhaps enjoying the treats a little too much, as he’s become a slightly rounder version of himself! Most importantly, he’s settled, loved and thoroughly enjoying life beyond the racetrack”.
“After a year of getting to know each other, I’m really excited to see what the future holds for us. We’ve come a long way together, and I’m looking forward to continuing our journey and getting out competing more”.
Bay Of Intrigue spent three seasons in training with us and, although he never quite managed to get his head in front on the racecourse, he picked up a few placings along the way. As we always say, every horse is treated like a king or queen, regardless of their ability on the track. That care and commitment doesn't stop when their racing career comes to an end. So many thoroughbreds go on to thrive in new careers after racing, and it's wonderful to see them enjoying life beyond the racecourse.
‘Benny’ has a home for life, and we absolutely love hearing updates about what our former horses are getting up to. It's always so rewarding to see them happy and thriving in their new chapters.
Please keep the photos, messages and updates coming!
Bay of Intrigue and Lib
New Years Day at Cheltenham
We've had a few messages from people asking whether we will be hosting out annual NYD hospitality at Cheltenham...
This is still being arranged with the racecourse, we're just trying to find the perfect facility for us. As soon as we have more information we will send messages out over email and on our social media accounts so keep an eye out. We apologise for the delay!
