At The Races

Kim Bailey Stable Tour
27 Jan 2010

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Kim Bailey has led something of a nomadic existence in the last 20 years moving from East Ilsley, to Lambourn the on to Norton Canes in Northampton and finally to Andoversford in Gloucestershire.

It is at the latter base from which Bailey is regrouping after a fantastic spell in the mid-nineties when landing the Cheltenham Gold Cup - Champion Hurdle double with Master Oats and Alderbrook. At the beginning of that decade he also won the Grand National with Mr Frisk.

The quest to find such horses is never easy but Bailey continues to rebuild his stable strength and as we enter this most significant stage of the season he has a team full of young horses that have shown marked potential

Here he discusses his hopes and plans for them and a visit to his always entertaining website, kimbaileyracing.com, is strongly recommended.

ADMIRAL DUNDAS
5 b g Noverre - Brandish.
Useful mile to 10 furlong handicapper on the flat for William Jarvis winning three from 16 and reaching career high 84 in October 2008. Running to high seventies when bought for £16,000 Doncaster October sale. Yet to race for present yard.
"He's schooled and jumps very well and I'm staggered that I haven't been able to sell him yet. He won't run until I have but he will do a fantastic job for somebody. Tailor made for jumping, loves it"

ALLFORMARY
4 b f Tobougg - Bollin Rita.
Twice a winner on soft and heavy in 11 outings for Bryan Smart from seven furlongs to a mile reaching 74. Bought for £18,000 Doncaster October sale. Yet to race for present yard.
"Schooled very well and wants soft ground but pulled a muscle and is just back cantering again. I think she'll get two miles alright, coming out of the same family as Bollin Eric."

BEHINDCLOSEDDOORS
4 b g Tillerman - Vivacious Lass.
Won second of two bumper starts in November for Pam Sly, beating Di Kaprio a length and a half in 14-runner even over 13 furlongs on all weather at Lingfield. Bought for £50,000 Doncaster December sale. Yet to race for present yard.
"This is a lovely horse, one of two that was bought for the Help For Heroes Partnership. They race for this season and next, go to Doncaster sales in 18 months to be sold. It costs £5,000 to join, £1,000 going to Help For Heroes. We're still looking for more members and want to buy two more. This horse is good and won't run over hurdles this season but I'll be looking at another bumper including the one at the National meeting."

BRAVE DEALER
4 ch g Falbrav - Sharp Term.
Some ability in three starts for Roger Charlton over ten furlongs May to July. Cost just 4,500gns Newmarket October sale. Yet to race for present yard.
"Very cheap horse that I'm really pleased with. Ready to run in mid-February and jumps well."

BUFFALO BOB
7 b g Bob's Return - Back In Kansas.
Maiden hurdler in ten attempts but started relatively high off 108 in November 2008. Dropped to 98 when winning chase debut over two and a half miles on heavy at Uttoxeter in November beating Soprano five lengths. Up to 106 when pulled up in three mile chase at Huntingdon December 10.
"The race at Huntingdon was a disaster, two fences were taken out and what he does is jump so I should never have run him there and waited. He's got plenty if imminent entries and he'll run in the most suitable. Might be suited by better ground and while the ground is on the heavy side two and a half might be better than three."

DOCTOR DISNY
7 ch g Alflora - Levantine Rose.
Left sole bumper and one hurdle run behind latest start in November when six lengths second of nine to stablemate Mallusk at Uttoxeter in two mile novice hurdle in November. Bred to get long distances.
"A horse that has potential which might not come to fruition until he goes over fences over longer distances. Got a nasty cut last time and has only just started cantering. Still on a learning curve."

DOUBLE MEAD
8 b m Double Trigger - Normead Lass.
Game and consistent mare, two from six over fences, won second on penultimate start over two miles five at Leicester early December beating Manmoon three and a quarter lengths off career high 115. Up to 120 latest run later that month and fair 11 length third of 13 to Noun De La Thinthe same course and distance.
"She wants a trip and fast ground, simple as that. Three miles will be fine when the ground dries. Very tough."

EASTERN SUPREME
5 b g Norwich - Kitty Supreme.
Winner and third in two bumper attempts for Peter Niven. Beat Fairynuff four and half lengths over 18 furlongs at Market Rasen in September then 12 lengths third of 13 to Bridlingtonbygones at Musselburgh in November. Bought £52,000 Doncaster December sale. Yet to race for present yard.
"I tried to buy him after he won at Market Rasen but couldn't come to a deal. Really nice horse at 17.2. His winning bumper has worked out and Musselburgh was far too sharp for him so he's run well. He's another of the Heroes Partnership so he stays in bumpers this season and goes hurdling next. Certainly has the ability to defy a penalty on good ground."

EVEN FLO
9 b m River Falls - Re-Spin.
Staying mare in good form last season wining twice, second off career high 102 when beating Bougoure two and a half lengths in three runner novice handicap at Ayr in April. Up to 106 and six lengths fifth of nine to Free World over three miles at Leicester late November. Fair fifth of 15 in three mile Uttoxeter handicap hurdle in between and stays on competitive 98.
"Needs good fast ground so we are stuffed at the moment - she ran over hurdles because we couldn't find anything else. Under the circumstances it wasn't a bad run at Leicester last time. Capable of winning off both marks under the right conditions."

GOLDEN BUTTON
5 ch m Trans Island - Velvet Appeal.
Nine furlong maiden winner at Wolverhampton in August for Sir Mark Prescott. Rated 72 next three starts around that trip and ran to that on penultimate. Cost 27,000gns Newmarket October sales. Yet to race for present yard.
"Works and schools well and goes to Southwell on February 8 but she does want good ground. She's big enough to jump a fence but I'd like to think she can win a novice hurdle. I gave her a break when she came and an I'm very happy with what she's achieved since."

LADY SAMANTHA
7 ch m Fraam - Lady Rebecca.
Sole win in 11 jump starts when beating Blueland five lengths off 75 in extended three mile handicap hurdle at Taunton last February. Pulled up both starts this season, first on chase debut then back to two miles on heavy at Folkestone and stays on 80. on 75 over fences.
"You can forget her last run because she rebelled against the tongue strap. She doesn't jump that well and wants bad ground and soft races. I haven't given up on fences but she won't have a tongue strap next time. I am desperate to win with her because of her pedigree."

LION ON THE PROWL
6 b g Saddler's Wells - Ballerina.
Ability on belated racecourse debut when nine lengths second of 11 to Owen Glendower in Taunton bumper December 30.
"He was short of work when he ran but we were desperate to get him out because the weather forecast was bad and the race bought him on physically and mentally. He is developing and his a nice horse that I might well run in another bumper quite soon. John Oxx kept him going on the flat because he was sure he had ability."

MALLUSK
5 b g Exit To Nowhere - Saucy Nun.
Ability in four Irish points. Beat stablemate Doctor Disny on hurdle debut over two miles at Uttoxeter in November. Prominent for a long way and jumped well before weakening only subsequent run over two miles at Wincanton January 23.
"I'm hoping that he'll be rated after his last run although he was bought to go chasing and I was surprised that he won a hurdle although the top-rated horse in the race was 89. He wants good ground and will improve for Wincanton but he won't have much more racing this season - he's 17.2 and wants further than two miles."

MIDNIGHT HAZE
8 b g Midnight Legend - Gypsy Haze.
Lightly raced with nine career starts, missed over hurdles after winning bumper but won fourth chase start off 99 in two mile five Kempton handicap in November. Penalised to 106 and fair effort when ten lengths second of 14 to Far More Serious at Hereford six days later. Now off ominous 115.
"Goes to Kempton on February 1. It really annoys me when I have to run a horse quickly which I had to with him last time because of the imminent weight rise, but he needs at least three weeks between races. In the circumstances he ran very well against a horse that won again next time. He's had entries but needed another bit of work so waits for Kempton in a 0-115 handicap chase so he's got top weight which isn't ideal but he's not easy to place. He must go right handed and wouldn't want it fast."

MYSORTOFMAN
6 gr g Alflora - Charlotte Gray.
Ability sole bumper start and progressive in two hurdles, second on latest when length and a half second of 16 to Black Apache over two miles on heavy at Uttoxeter late November.
"This is a horse to remember for handicap chases next season. Weak and immature but should be ok of 107."

REAL TREASURE
6 b m Rainbow High - Karen's Lady Luck.
Ability sole bumper start when length and a quarter second of seven to Good Faloue at Huntingdon on Boxing Day.
"She's doing well and by a sire that I like. There are plenty of mares races for her and I'm keen to qualify her for the DBS Mares bumper at Sandown in March. I haven't won a bumper for a very long time!"

REGAL APPROACH
7 b g Bob Back - Crash Approach.
Maiden in 11 jump starts but signs of ability particularly latest when staying on well after hitting third last when under five lengths fourth of 24 to Lord Ragnar over two miles five at Cheltenham in November. Stays on 110.
"Ran well last time, nearly got brought down and sliced his leg quite badly. Came back and did his first serious bit of work on January 23. I thought he was unlucky not to win at Cheltenham because his head was on the floor and he stayed on the same mark. Cheltenham was his first run since a wind operation which seems to have worked. "

RUBY CROWN
8 b m Rakaposhi King - Suilven.
In good form with three wins last season starting on 82 and finishing on 89 at Towcester in April beating Topflight Wildbird two and a half lengths. Has struggled both starts this season off 98 and now only 97.
"She won two bad races last season on soft ground but she does want good ground. When she won the ground was sloppy, this season it's been tacky and holding which hasn't suited her. I think she can win off this mark under the right conditions and she's in at Huntingdon on January 27. She wants two and a half miles."

SARDE
6 b g Lost World - Stenoree.
In good form March to November 2008, winning off 110, finishing third twice off same mark and finishing second off 117 over extended three miles at Newbury. Only two runs last year and struggled off 120 and 117, pulled up latest in November and now 115.
"This horse has stacks of ability and I really rate him but an unlucky horse who has had everything go wrong for him. Going novice chasing and jumps fences really well and has never shown on the track what he's capable of. Going for a three mile novice handicap on a flat track."

SONNY MULLEN
6 br g Bob's Return - Agua Caliente.
Won bumper in July then second and a winner in three mile novice hurdle, beating Son Histoire at Uttoxeter November in heavy. Rated possibly harsh 118 and well beaten fourth of ten to Radium in two mile handicap at Cheltenham January 1. Stays on that mark.
"There wasn't a race for him when he ran at Cheltenham and we though the soft ground would slow the others down and it didn't because it ended up being fast! Considering it was literally miles too short he did well. He jumps very well and will be a better chaser than he is a hurdler. I can see him fulfilling himself in one of the Aintree handicaps around national time over three miles or at Ayr. Needs to go up to around 125."

SUPREME PLAN
7 b g Flemensfirth - Castlehill Lady.
Won Irish point and some ability in bumpers same country but disappointing only British start when well behind in two and a half mile Hereford maiden won by Wishfull Thinking in December.
"Stacks of ability but stopped like he was shot last time and apparently had a calcium deficiency. He might be the sort that needs experience so handicaps might be the way forward when he's got a mark."

VALENTO
5 ch g Noverre - My Valentina.
Flat maiden around a mile but won modest Warwick hurdle by three and three quarter lengths from Gold Award in March. Rated lumpy 124 and has struggled since, including latest run when distant third of six to You're The Top over two miles off 121. Now only a pound lower.
"A nightmare because he should be rated 110. It was a poor race he won and he goes to Wincanton on February 4 because he wants two miles and a flat track."

The knowledge
BEHINDCLOSEDDOORS: certainly has enough ability to defy a bumper penalty, despite the trainers self-confessed lack of recent success in such races.
BUFFALO BOB'S: last run is best ignored and one to look out for on better ground.
EASTERN SUPREME: is another bumper winner that shows enough to defy a bumper penalty.
EVEN FLOW: has the right mark to win over hurdles and fences.
REGAL APPROACH: was unlucky last time and stays on the same mark.
SARDE: has yet to show anything of which he is capable.