Given we are nearly a week away, wanted to drum up some build up for the season with some stable tours.

This is my first season since 10 and given I only started up again in March we'll see how we go, I have been able to get through 25 seasons and continually improving in the CK although some horses have stayed on top since the first 2 or 3 lines of breeding. Will be looking to land some big handicaps and we might pick up one or two group races along the way. I'm normally known for having good stayers, so I'm hoping Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday are challenging at the top level, no other stayers I breed bar Kew Corner can get near them so I'm hoping they are useful. Other big hopefuls include Mastermind, who blows them away in the CK over 5f and tends to romp home by 3 or 4 lengths every trial, if she faulters early then it's bad news for my sprinters. I've never had any really good middle distance horse but Suprastar rarely gets beat in the CK and normally wins trials with relative ease. Finally, The Predator is a bit of a monster 2yo and rarely gets beat over 6f but wins most trials at 5 & 7f too.

Stable Tour

2YO

Druidess - Hoping she will get to Royal Ascot with an outside chance, Queen Mary winner in game and will aim for that race.

Purple Ronnie - Likely to be aimed at mainly the sprint handicaps on the All Weather.

Lucky Berry - Similar to the above, will be aimed at the sprint handicaps on the All Weather as well. May stretch out to 7f.

The Predator - Expecting him to be my best 2yo, top performer in CK, Coventry Stakes is the first aim but can dominate in CK from 5f-7f.

Moon Crescent - Winner up to 1m in game, consistent type in CK, will be trained for the Chesham before aiming at Listed, lower group level races over 7f-1m.

Rose Alley - Very good and consistent in CK, daughter of an Arc winner and will hopefully be competitive in some top races over 7f-1m.

Lucky Brother - Will be campaigned over the staying 2yo distances from 1m-1m2f, hoping to be competitive at listed/lower group level.

3yos

Mastermind - Proper weapon in the CK, untouchable as a 3-y-o. Should be very competitive in 3yo only sprint races up to the highest level. Hopefully end up in Nunthorpe/Abbeye down the line.

Rose Of Lancaster - Very consistent in CK across all ages, 1000 Guineas winner but seems to trial better at 6-7f. Hopefully will pick up a few handicaps, listed or lower group races.

Octavian - Solid but not exceptional in CK, will stick to handicaps over a Mile and likely will come into his own at Newmarket and Goodwood in high summer.

Death Star - Flexible type that can run between 7f-1m2f. Likely to be aimed at heritage handicaps throughout the year.

Lucky Moon - Another flexible when it comes to distance and can run between 1m and 1m2f, will be aimed at Fillies & handicap races.

Dancing Moon - Useful type over 1m2-1m4f, won 2 legs of US triple crown in game so may be aimed at those again. Will come into his own on the dirt but runs well at Ascot too.

Suprastar - Monster in CK, untouchable over 1m4f and very competitive between 1m2f & 1m6f. Really hoping she can be competitive in the Oaks and top level 3yo filly races.

Kew Corner - Consistent in CK and hoping she will be competitive in top handicaps from 1m6-2m, Ebor/Melbourne Cup likely the aims.

4yo+

Master Line - Handicapper in game but consistent in CK, not expecting magic from her but should be competitive at handicap level.

Breton Rose - Pretty consistent type, again likely to be handicap quality, Wokingham and AW Sprint series races will be the aim.

Cactus Jack - Pretty average in game but consistent in CK, will be aimed at heritage handicaps between 7f-1m

Zoro - In game monster but only scrapes through in CK, another 7f-miler to be aimed at heritage handicaps.

The Outlaw - Useful between 1m1f & 1m2f, will be aimed at top handicaps throughout the season.

Disco Heaven - Just scraped through trials as had no other option at older middle distances, is a Derby winner in game so hopefully can be competitive in handicaps at middle distances up to 1m5f.

Easter Sunday - Useful from 1m6f up to 2m4f, will likely stick to 2m with the aim being the top cup handicaps

Maundy Thursday - Very strong CK performer at marathon distances, Gold Cup will be the aim hopefully.

Prized Princess - Consistent but way behind other stayers realistically, will be aimed at marathon handicaps with Ascot Stakes the aim.

Hi Nick, hi everyone!

I'm fairly excited to say the least with my first season rapidly approaching. It has been an incredibly busy few months for me trying to get enough seasons in to be competitive and I feel like I am probably about 10 seasons short of where I want to be, but I am happy with what I have got, knowing that I couldn't have done any more.
I'm realistic enough to know that I am likely to get soundly beaten, but I still have hopes and dreams of causing an upset or two!
I've finalised my flat team although still have to upload the majority of them. Still working on the NH side of things so will post those at a later date. Having not raced in the League before I have no past experiences to draw on or past horses to compare against, so this is very much a record of how they have performed in game and in trial.

2yo's
Wasn't planning on having any originally and as a result only have a handful who are there for experience only!

Master Stroke - 4 wins from 5 starts as a 2yo in game including G2 Railway Stakes. Best 2yo performer in trials over 1m.

Tiny Rebel - only 2 Novice wins from 3 starts in game but the only horse to challenge Master Stroke in trial.

Dashing Power - excited about how good this horse could be in the seasons to come. Has plenty of potential but is more of a stayer than a sprinter. Will target 1m2f races. Likes to race at the rear and fly home late.

Procrastinator - a couple of Novice wins in game. Has trialed well so gets his chance here.

Spanish Rose - my only 2yo filly to make the team. Still a maiden in game and like most of my 2yo's prefers a longer trip.

3yo's
Early Warning - a G1 winner in game of the Fillies Mile at Newmarket as a 2yo. Will be targeting another mile race at Newmarket here - the 1000 Guineas!

Symptomatic - two G1 wins as a 2yo in game and placed 3rd in both English and Irish 1000 Guineas. Don't believe she is as good as Early Warning, but who knows?!

Mountain Guest - another filly with two G1 wins as a 2yo. Runner up in the Irish 1000 Guineas, but 3rd best out of the three I believe.

Well Timed - nothing to write home about in game with just a first up maiden win in seven starts being his only success. Will target 1m races. Has trialed consistently well so deserves spot in the team.

Fighting Edge - without a shadow of a doubt my best horse. Rarely beaten in a trail and wins most "comfortably" or "not hard pressed". Has form in game too, winning both the English and Irish Derby. Hopefully a sire to many future champions after making a name for himself in my debut season!

Great Devotion - three G1 wins in game as a 2yo over a mile but trials better as a 3yo over a mile and a half. The Oaks is on her radar.

Undercover Agent - won the South African Derby and placed 3rd to Fighting Edge in the English Derby. Not as good.

Brave Spirit - Oaks winner in game and trials consistently well. Could be in the mix here for a 1m4f win.

Lucky Wrangler - no in game form apart from a 2nd in the St Leger being her best result. Always one of the best over 1m6f in my trials so gets her place here.

Recommendation - one from one of my early lines of breeding that still takes some beating in the trials. Versatile with wins from one and a half to two miles but 1m6f is his best distance.

Bad Medicine - this wouldn't be an Australian stable without some decent stayers! Very consistent in the trials, he will target the Melbourne Cup.

Bold As Brass - Lonsdale Cup winner in game and a Melbourne Cup place getter. Another consistent trialist.

Casino Lord - not quite good enough over a mile to make the team and not quite good enough over a mile and half, so why not try over 1m2f? Was third best in my trials at this distance behind Well Timed and Fighting Edge.

4yo's
Thats Outstanding - English and Irish 2000 Guineas winner in game. Has been bettered as a 3yo in my trials so gets his chance here as a 4yo over a mile.

Babble On - one of my most consistent performers in trail over many seasons so had to find a spot somewhere on the team. Can get anywhere from a mile to a mile and a half.

Voracious - unbeaten as a 2yo in game but didn't carry that form into his 3yo year with a second to Fighting Edge in the English Derby his only notable success. Has regained some form as a 4yo and is still handy over 1m4f.

Noble Eagle - good consistent trialist for a long time over 1m4f as a 4yo.

Free Market - St Leger winner in game and consistently performs well in trial over 1m6f. Will target Curragh Cup and Irish St Leger here.

Strawberry Mist - did I mention I had some good stayers?! This mare is a multiple G1 and big race winner in game. Melbourne Cup, Cesarewitch, Ascot Gold Cup and Prix du Cadran to name but a few. Will be targeting the 2m races here.

Crop Duster - the reason Strawberry Mist isn't targeting the Ascot Gold Cup and Prix du Cadran. This mare stays all day and 2m is too short for her! Has won both Ascot Gold Cup and Prix du Cadran in game and no one can get close to her over 2m4f in trials.

DETAILS
NAME - PAUL RHODES
NICKNAME - THE PROFESSOR
STABLE - CURRAGH VIEW
LOCATION - KILDARE IRELAND
LEAGUE SEASONS - 17

HONOURS
CHAMPION FLAT TRAINER- 5 (S5,S6,S7,S9,S10)
N/H TRAINER CHAMPIONSHIP RUNNER UP - 1 (S5)

CAREER STATS
LEAGUE FLAT WINS - 536
LEAGUE NATIONAL HUNT WINS - 553
TOTAL LEAGUE VICTORIES - 1089
ENGLISH CLASSIC VICTORIES - 15
1000G 2 2000G 6 DERBY 3 OAKS 3 LEGER 1

Team Rhodes League History
Season - Flat Wins - NH Wins - Total Wins
S1 - 27 - 41 - 68
S2 - 28 - 26 - 54
S3 - 25 - 52 - 77
S4 - 20 - 35 - 55
S5 - 42 - 60 - 102
S6 - 72 - 51 - 123
S7 - 54 - 48 - 102
S8 - 35 - 58 - 93
S9 - 45 - 70 - 115
S10 - 66 - 20 - 86
S11 - 32 - 24 - 56
S12 - 22 - 20 - 42
S13 - 36 - 23 - 59
S14 - 16 - 26 - 42
S14 - 10 - 01 - 00
Total - 536 - 553 - 1089

League History Classic Victories - 42

UK - 15
2000 Guineas - 6 - Twilighted S3, Lamorghini S6, Cape Thorne S7, Vince Lombardi S9, Tajikstan S10, Metropulous S15
1000 Guineas - 2 - Tunisia S10, Air Defence S12,
Epsom Oaks - 3 - South Carolina S6, Treaty Of Versailles S8, Fiddler Ontheroof S13,
Epsom Derby - 3 - The Colosseim S8, Stonehenge S9, Phantom S10,
St Leger Stakes - 1 - Newsround S6

France - 4
Prix De Diane - 3 - Venus De Milo S5, Lady Jayne Felsham S8, Kinda Special S10,
Prix Du Jockey Club - 1 - Ultimately Cool S10,

Ireland - 12
Irish 1000 Guineas - 4 - Dame Helen Mirren S6, Tunisia S10, Diamond Encrusted S11, Sarratoga Slew S13,
Irish 2000 Guineas - 4 - Lamorghini S6, Cape Thorne S7, Tajikstan S10, North Pier S13,
Irish Oaks - 2 - Anne Berlin - S9, Rivera S13,
Irish Derby - 2 - Domination Glory S2, Phantom S10,

USA - 11
Kentucky Derby - 4 - Elizabeth Browning S6, Rome Conquest S9, Cool Hand Lucinda S12, Dreyden Van Dyck S13,
Belmont Stakes - 4 - South Carolina S6, Stonehenge S9, Phantom S10, Monumental S11,
Preakness Stakes - 3 - Kinda Special S10, Kimberley Lake S11, Dreyden Van Dyck S13,


League History G1 Victories - 178 in 11 Nations

Australia 28
Australian Cup - S8, S9,
Cantalia Stakes - S8, S13,
Caulfield Cup - S3,
Cox Plate - S2, S3, S6, S10,
Crown Oaks - S9,
Doncaster Handicap - S5,
Emirates Stakes - S10, S11,
Golden Slipper - S5, S6,
Lightening Stakes - S7, S10,
Melbourne Cup - S6, S8,
Metropolitan Handicap - S11
Newmarket G1 Handicap - S5,
Queen Elizabeth Stakes - S7,
Queen Of The Turf Stakes - S7,
Sydney Cup - S8,
The BMW - S9,
The Everest - S9,
TJ Smith Stakes - S11,
Victorian Derby - S8,

Canada - 1
Canadian International - S15,

France - 16
Prix Du Cadran - S10,
Prix De Diane - S5, S8, S10,
Prix Du Jockey Club - S10,
Prix De L'Abbaye - S6, S10, S11,
Prix De L'Arc De Triomphe - S9,
Prix De L'Opera - S2,
Prix Morny - S6,
Criterium St Cloud - S1, S5, S6, S10, S13,

Germany - 1
Preis Von Baden - S12,

Ireland - 17
Irish 1000 Guineas - S6, S10, S11, S13,
Irish 2000 Guineas - S6, S7, S10, S13,
Irish Champions Stakes - S6, S10,
Irish Oaks - S9, S13,
Irish Derby - S2, S10,
Matron Stakes - S6, S9, S10,

Japan - 3
Asahi Hai Futurity Stakes - S10,
Fantasy Stakes - S12,
Sansui Summer Cup Turf - S8,
Temo Sho - S14,
Singapore - 3
Kranji Mile - S6, S10,
Singapore Gold Cup - S13,

South Africa - 4
Queens Plate - S6, S10,
Tsogo Sun Sprint - S6, S12,

UAE - 3
Al Quoz Stakes - S10, S11,
Golden Shaheen - S5,

UK - 51
1000 Guineas - S10, S12,
2000 Guineas - S3, S6, S7, S9, S10, S15
Ascot Gold Cup - S11, S13, S15,
Champion Stakes - S5,
Champions Fillies Stakes - S7,
Commonwealth Cup - S7, S11,
Coronation Cup - S6,
Coronation Stakes - S6, S12,
Coronation Stakes - S7, S10, S13,
Daimond Jubilee - S6,
Eclispe Stakes - S6,
Epsom Derby - S8, S9, S10,
Epsom Oaks - S6, S8, S13,
Falmouth Srakes - S5, S10,
Fillies Mile - S6,
Juddmonte International - S6,
July Cup - S7,
King George VI Stakes - S3, S6, S9,
KIngs Stand Stakes - S6, S10, S11,
Lockinge Stakes - S9,
Middle Park Stakes - S7,
Nunthorpe Stakes - S6, S9, S10,
Queen Elizabeth II Stakes - S7, S15,
Racing Post Trophy - S9,
St James Palace Stakes - S5, S9, S10,
St Leger Stakes - S6,

USA - 49
Belmont Stakes - S6, S9, S10, S11,
Breeders Cup Classic - S9, S10, S13,
Breeders Cup Dirt Mile - S6, S11, S12, S13,
Breeders Cup Dirt Sprint - S5, S6, S7,
Breeders Cup Distaff - S6, S10,
Breeders Cup Filly & Mares - S10, S13,
Breeders Cup Juvenile Dirt (C) - S5, S6, S11,
Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (C) - S5, S13,
Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf (F) - S2, S6,
Breeders Cup Mile - S4, S5, S7,
Breeders Cup Turf Sprint - S5, S10, S12,
Haskell Stakes - S5, S6, S7, S11, S15
Kentucky Derby - S6, S9, S12, S13,
Pegasus World Cup - S6, S7, S8,
Preakness Stakes - S10, S11, S13,
United Nations Stakes - S7, S10, S12,
League History Flat Race Victories - 536


Flat Team S17- Members 25/25
TRIAL SCORES IS THE NUMBER BY DISTANCE & GENDER

4YO
2m4 S 35 - BORN TRIPPY*
2m M 64 - SCANDINAVIA*
1m6 S 43 - MAXIMUM SECURITY*
1m4 S 34 - HARRY POTTER*
1m2 M 58 - MISSILES LOCKED*
1m2 S 58 - TALLAHASSEE TYPHOON*
1m1 S 45 - MAGNUS MOHAYER*
1m M 55 - ZAMBEEZI RIVER*
6F F 52 - EMPHASIS*
6F C 32 - ROMAN GOD*
5F C 57 - ROMAN WARRIOR*
5F C 36 - SIERRA BIANCA*
3YO
1m F 49 - PREMADONNA*
1m F 35 - OCEAN GODDESS*
1m C 48 - HONG KONG FUEY*
1m C 37 - GEORGETOWN*
1m2 C 49 - ISAMBARD BRUNEL*
1m2 F 39 - BROWN THOMAS*
1m4 C 42 - KYBER PASS*
1m4 C 37 - TUNBRIDGE WELLS*
1m4 F 46 - AGENT NIRMAZZI*
1m4 F 36 - MONORAIL*
1m6 C 48 - KAOS THEORY
1m6 F 41 - FIRE POWER*

2YO
6F C 53 - BATTLESTAR GALACTICA*


Pretty much a disaster of a season last year but valuable lessons learned. I did manage
to win a classic 1 of my 10 wins on the flat

This year have concentrated on strengthening numbers and quality of the older division
Hoping my older horses will compete and if I can bag a classic it will be job done
Expectations are low but hoping for improvement if I can double last years tally of 10
I will be very pleased

Best of luck to everyone taking part and thanks to the team running the show amazing job as always

I have finalised my National Hunt team. I have absolutely zero expectations over the jumps and it was very much a last minute decision to have a team at all but figured it would be nice to have something to follow even if that is the rest of the field by ten lengths or more!

The reason for my total lack of confidence is although I am using a combined game I haven't bred or trialed for National Hunt at all. Subsequently the horses you see here are flat rejects who trialed okay on the flat and have gone on to have good careers over the jumps in my game save.

Would love to be able to get one of them to Cheltenham or Aintree, anything more would be an absolute bonus. As with my stable tour with my flat horses the following comments all refer to what they have achieved in my game save.

Infatuation - 8yo Chaser - my Grand National hope! Has won both the Grand National and Scottish National twice in game. There's always a Grand National story isn't there?!

Sizzling Tale - 7yo Chaser - wasn't a bad trialist at all on the flat in my early seasons but soon got bettered by others coming through. Has won 9 G1's in game including the King George three times and the Gold Cup twice. Has a lot of speed. Will be interesting to see how he fares.

Heaven Forbid - 6yo Chaser - honest sort who can stay but prone to mistakes.

Fearless - 6yo Chaser - has one G2 win to her name over 3m1f. Nowhere near as good as Sizzling Tale but consistently runs a decent race.

Shambolic - 6yo Hurdler - winner of both the David Nicholson Hurdle and Aintree Hurdle in game. Solid performer and could be another horse that makes it to Cheltenham for me.

Archers Reign - 6yo Hurdler - versatile performer over a range of distances with wins ranging from 2m4f to 3m. The most recent being the G1 World Hurdle at Cheltenham. Has only just come on my radar so really don't know how good he could be.

Black Peppermint - 5yo Nov Chaser - another relative newbie to my team. Was a very good trialist as a 2yo on the flat but didn't translate to success as a 3yo. Has maybe found his groove over the sticks. Has never been out of the top 2 in the major novice chases over 2m4f and 2m5f.

Vanishing - 5yo Nov Chaser - another one just starting to make his name in game. Being groomed as the heir apparent to Sizzling Tale. Won the Kauto Star Novices Chase at Kempton.

And that's it....only a small stable for my NH team.

Can't wait for the action to start. I know it will be a tough slog, but looking forward to see how far I've come and how much more work I have to do.

Best of luck to all the trainers, a big shout out to all who have given me some advice so far, and a huge thanks to everyone that makes this possible.

Cheers Paul

i never ever say anything on this but forums been so quite
just uploads flat team nothing special
my favourite horses are
Catch Me White Boy 4yo 1m+
Clanachy Frances 4yo 5f and 6f
Descriptive Lens 2yo 1m1
White Scottish Mountain 2yo 1m2
White Wind At Your Heels 2yo 6f
Lady Grey 4yo 1m2
good luck all

A run down of my jumps team.

My hurdlers are very average , not had the time to improve them but my best ones are Cab On Target and Castle Sweeps . They are both 3 milers and i think they will end up around the 130 to 140ish mark.

I've really struggled improving my 2mile chasers and it wasn't until the last minute that i found some improvement , i think my best one will be Cuthill Hope who will probably be rated 125-130.

Last year my 2m4 chasers were rated about 125-130 but i think i've got a good amount of improvement out of them and i think my best Courtbrook or Rippling Road could end up hopefully rated 140+, will be disappointed if they didn't.

My 4 mile plus horses will be interesting because last year i had one rated 150+ but the others were rated 110 and around 20L of the best. I think they have improved around 10L or perhaps a bit more so hopefully be more competitive in the decent H'caps. I 'll be disappointed if one or two of the five dont get to around 140. I think Brit or Stamparland Hill could be the best ones.

My 3 mile plus chasers are probably my strongest division. If im to have a Graded horse it will be from this lot. 3 of this division are hold up horses( shocking i know ) they look good in my trials but that might be because of all the front runners in my races, with the league races run slower than my trials it might be that they end up disappointing me i've never bred any decent hold up horses ever .
I think my two best front runners in this division are Unioniste and Murtys Pride, hopefully some will be good enough to run in Graded races. If im to have a Gold Cup horse my hold up horse Night Escapade will be my best chance unless shes running in 110 rated h'caps


Its good to see some old timers like Nick and James return.

NH TEAM Season 16

Agnethas Eagle 8yo - Mare by Zafonic Belle 7 Town Cryer

Versatile Hurdler/Chaser and Named after Agnetha Faltskog and ABBA song Eagle so Personally my Favourite horse looks like sahe could be a multi winning horse this season and hopefully be even better next season when 9yo.

Baltic Sunrise 7yo Stallion - by Definite & Baltic Dragoon

this is his 4th season now 7yo 3 times a winner inckuding the Grade 2 Handicap Elite Hurdle at Wincanton looks has good has ever in Trials and now 7yo could improve again this season.


Bring Me Luck 9yo Stallion - by Carbon Neutral

Bit hit and miss at his fences won twice last season and open to better things this time round big chase win this season a possibility if he gets to pick hiss feet up.


Daemerys Geezer 7yo by Daernerys Stormborn & Diamond Geezer.

What to do ran second in Ascot Gold cup Trial in the trials but not good enough to beat my Gold Cup Horse in trials so sent has a 7yo Novice Hurdler hopefully will ran and win some races.

Langley Star 8yo Mare by Langley Streak

Novice Chaser who runs in the same season jhas his Dad Langley Streak doesn't stay has far though will try the Novice race at Galway in Week 1 and go from that might do well.


Talk Back Maire 8yo Mare by Talk Maire

Mum unable to ran this season (Talk Maire) has no 8yo file found mum was quite a good chase last season has a novece and her daughter seems to have got some ability from her hoping for s good season with her.


Ygritte 7yo - Mare By Definite Ruby & Logical

Finished 2nd in the Fred Winter has a Juvenile at the Cheltenham Festival back from 700plus days Absence seems to retain some ability at 7yo and with a starting handicap rating of 98 should be able to win minor handicap hurdle's this season.

FLAT Season 16

My flat horses are below last seasons standard to which i only have a few Comeback horses that i know can win races the newcomers will be low handicappers has usual.

Highbury In October 7yo

Twice Prix Du Cadran Winner at Longchamp comes back for another Gold Gold Compaign has its the best horse still in my Trials and this will be the fourth Season.



Gray

Breaking News I've got a flat horse

Im in my 2nd season of my life game ( my game after SO7 has finished ) dont think i'll buy SO8 and i found this 3yo horse Sang Bleu. I just bought him and have never even raced him in game , so he's unraced for me. Good news is he's a front runner so he'll be a pacemaker in the StLeger Trial . I have no idea if he can even run , he could be the worst horse to ever run in the league

Flat

Last season I managed a few group 1's and had multiple group placed. Expect more of the same with horses not quite good enough for group success, but too good for handicaps. If the race pans out right and ground is suitable I may land 1 or 2 group 1's again

I have improved over the shorter distances. Stayers have gone sideways. 3yos have better bars but have gone sideways except for my milers

Best flat horses in stable

Queen of Deception Has the speed for 6f but is really a 7f horses and should perform well.

Queen at Court Rare that a horse wins 90% of your trials and normally an indication of a good one. Sire Hood King was group placed and won multiple times in league last season

Organized State Full potential 10f horse. Rare for me. About 2 lengths better than multiple group 1 placed King of War from last season. Should go well but likely to be a group placed horse

Fusion Reactor Best stat horse in stable and better than my group winning 12f horses from last season. Doesn't get as far back and have a 12f horse to at least lead if there is no pace.

Clowns Court Freak at 2 but didn't really train on for the race kit. Can cover 6,7 and 8f and the horse most likely to give me group success

NH Stable

Didn't really have any stand out horses last season, but did well enough. Have played a bit more so have better over all distances. Stable has a mixture of horses who can lead and hold ups so a more balanced stable. Whether that's enough to catch Josh remains to be seen

Stand out distances ( don't really have a stand out horse and all can beat each other on the day )

3 mile hurdlers

Horses have gone to another level here and all 3 are far superior to horses from last season. Ultimate Way is probably the best

2m4/5 Chasers

Dropped the trial distance to 2m4 from 2m5 as was finding a load of 3 mile chasers where making my team. So should run better over these distances this season Folk Etymology is probably the pick

3 Mile Chasers

Have way better this season but some are better on very soft others on good. Some are better at certain courses. For example Fisstech is a Cheltenham specialist. Smell of Victory and Secret Passageway are probably my best 2

Grand National Horse

Cat Memorial 4 times winner of Grand National in game. Daughter of Wayward Cats ( League Group 1 winning 2m4 hurdler ) and Fire Memorial ( Group 1 winning 4m4 chaser ) Jumping can be a bit sketchy but if she gets round will be right there

2 Milers

Massive improvement this week with both 2 mile chasers and hurdlers. Have a mixture of front running and hold ups so Volcanic Impact my only returning horse will get pace needed

2m4 Mile Hurdlers

Extreme Maneuvers is brilliant. Gold Coast is a Cheltenham specialist. Dream Surfer loves Auteil. They should all run well. Found a sire of race kit stars this week, horse is descendant from Connectivity Motion and that breeding line won me multiple 2m/2m4 hurdle league group races. Thought I had lost the line but he has taken my shorter distance hurdlers to another level

My horses should run well. Just need to make sure I place them correctly. Good league everyone with the season

Great to be back for another season! Thanks again to all that make it happen.

I wasn't going to bother with a NH stable as I lost my NH game (backup was corrupt too) and had to start over with very poor results. Eventually cobbled together a small stable with 6 returning horses and some of the 'reserves' who failed to make the cut in prior seasons but are close to the level of my last season's horses. Will have another go at The National with Chemin Du Fey who unseated last season, and Tintzin Fyral is back for a fourth season! Zaru Zeus should at least be competitive in 3m hurdle division.

Flat stable is no more than a marginal upgrade on last season. Possible exception is St Leger prospect Horst Du Die Trommeln (apologies to commentators in advance!) who looks a marked improvement on anything I've had to date in that category. Probably still not close to good enough however. Discanti Outfit and Marello Relic are decent 2yos who should pick up some decent prizemoney.

Best of luck to all, especially the new trainers!

Padraig

Jump Team

At 140 seasons my main jumps game is totally tapped out. Nothing new arrives and the game only provides a challenge through lines I sell, and even then, rarely. And the tapped out version gives me 100% potential at 8, 60% cruise and extra speed of 72%. That’s it, that’s the best I have to work with. This said since the game started when the bars were hidden there is some 80 seasons of carefully worked magic ‘ju ju’ breeding in my lines and that trumps both bars and game form. But don’t ask me what it is, how to see it or know if a horse has it or not because honestly I could not tell you. So breeding in this game is a never end grind to stand still, to hold the bars I have, cross pollenate them over lines and distances and battle against the games continuing quest to degrade you.

Now normally and for the longest time I have taken the view a horse is either a hurdler or a chaser, sure there are horses who can do both, or stars that are competent over the other obstacle, but you don’t get stars in both, not real league stars at least, so by default they are either one or the other or just not quite good enough, so keeping your breeding within these determined lines usually leads to consistent breeding results and trial outcomes, however you cannot move bars or run styles around in doing so as there is always consistency between horses with a similar lineage, so for the last 40-60 seasons I have been steadily uplifting bars whilst trying to hold lines together, not dilute my breeding, and to make the occasional breakthrough by breeding what I call hybrids.

Hybrids simply is crossing the lines between chase and hurdle and it has a significantly lower rate of breeding success. I tend to think of the pairing as ceding and acquiring relationship, so a chaser maybe ceding 60% cruise into an acquiring hurdler, with the desired end result being a hurdler with 60% cruise. Combined players are breeding hybrids from the get go and including flat lines too, but with the NH game you can be a lot clearer as to whether you are or not once you know what your horses are, and historically I have only done this sparingly, right now it is accounting for around 50% of my breeding.

So hybrids, when I take this route I tend to think about the line in terms of generations, and the outcome is predictable to an extent. The lowest probability is a generation one monster, so where the first pairing delivers the acquiring horse type with the ceding horse bars, or any uplift of the existing acquiring line. Next you get mixes, horses that are decent win capable at both but stars at neither, these are usually ‘link’ type horses and in my experience hold the key to generations two and three. Link horses can also be progressive to an extend so link one may create a slightly better link two type horse but usually by generation three or four you want to be seeing progress. You also get straight forward still good horses that replicate the acquiring or ceding type and bars, these gen ones are useful for breeding for gen two, but are fundamentally just copies of the parents.

The thing that is most predictable with hybrids is how you tell which way they go, its not an exact science but in my view it has a lot to do with ‘colour’ my chasers are all sandy coloured, my hurdlers all bay or black, if I cross hurdle black with sandy chase the colour of the foal usually tells me which way the outcome is leaning. Its really not as complicated as we think.

And from all this work effort and theorising……………… I have basically stood still again with my tapped out game and ceiling reached still waiting for someone to catch me and retire the game and compel me to start another.


Hurdlers

When the bars were released, and I had exploited the game for what was left after 80 seasons, what was clear was that my hurdlers has the best speed but lowest cruise and potential and my chasers had all the potential and the highest cruise (least at 3m) with the lowest speed. So its been my hurdlers that have been targeted as my acquiring horses mostly, especially since my chasers also been consistently better in the league for some considerable time.

And through the process my hurdle lines at some point or another have all been on the brink of collapse, usually as I get stuck in ‘link’ horse land for so long I start to lose the breeding stock I need to fix them. As of right now my 2m hurdlers are just about hanging on, with much depending on the recently bred ‘Warmonger’. My 2.4m hurdlers are at death’s door, though ‘State Your Objection’ may keep it alive for another ten years if I can breed stock from him. And my 3m hurdlers are now nailed on and fixed with a very healthy breeding pool available to me with core hurdlers and hybrid lines alike.

2m Juvenile Hurdler

Cannot breed 4you hurdlers from a NH only game, since they only have around 75-85% potential at this time with realised often far lower. So my 4yo’s come from my flat games. And now since I was so disappointed with last years US flat horse I have ditched the US line entirely and started a hurdle line in my next experimental UK game. So far the results have been positive and I think this horse will mark an improvement, though could hardly do worse.

Potential In Spades

Sire Mr Sandman
Dam Qualitee Ravenous

Breeding is somewhat irrelevant in this game, since none of these horses have been league tested yet, least not on the NH, though I trialled a horse call ‘Zip Zap Zag’ who was from a similar line and he ran 2nd at the preseason trials. Zip Zap Zag does not even make the trial sheets at home now. I expect graded class and an improvement from last season.

2m Hurdlers

Been behind the curve for a long time to both Leon and Mr Hooley, and in trying to improve the lines I flirted with destroying them by overdoing the hybrid breeding before getting is back as a line star, but after two good ‘link’ horses, the last of which who sneaks on the trial sheets, I think I am only a generation or two away from finishing a very long project. We shall see how the most recent success story plays out this year, but I think at worst I have stood still, but think minor improvement is possible.

Warmonger

Sire War Horse
Dam Breed Hurd Two Fix Required

This colt is only a whisker away from being the finished product, and has the ideal sort of lineage, 3 parts proven trial hurdle and one part hybrid ‘link’ horse. Sire ‘War Horse’ has two handicap wins in the league last season, and fellow league entrant and G1 winning novice last season ‘Building Bridges’ occupies one of the other 3 core hurdle spots in the breed. The last hurdle line accounted for G2 league winner ‘Spectacle’ from two seasons back. The hybrid link ‘Perfection’ is the perfect bar hurdler, who did not quite make it at trial (my 9th best), but shows enough for me to know he will be breeding a lot of league horses going forward. This gelding is the first real success and my best hope for the Champion Hurdle that still eludes me. Graded class.

Building Bridges

Sire Spectacle of Monsters
Dam Fork Scarlet

Older and a pure hurdle line for this returning G1 winning novice from last season. Extending lineage includes ‘Dominion of Darkness’ who won 2xG1 and 2xG2 over three seasons in the league and is likely my best 2m hurdler. But his return to the team speaks more to lack of quality and depth than is does to his talent. Graded class just but he is on a downward spiral already.

Enlightened

Sire Perfection
Dam Native Ogan

My second ray of sunshine and another who has a good line, but as a direct descendant of the ‘link’ horse ‘Perfection’ he’s a 50/50 pure hurdle and hybrid mix though it’s a gen three at this point, have to go back four generations to find the chaser ‘The Space Cowboy’. Building Bridges is again the main player in the pure hurdle side. The hybrid line also includes ‘Tilts At Windmills’ G1 winner last season who was herself a generation one hybrid. Graded class and a likely player in the novice division.

Valkyrie

Sire War Horse
Dam Degradation

Last of my team for this season, since I decided not to include a designated NHF horse, though she does those well so may feature in one from time to time, to either hide her from the handicapper or when no other options are available. She is another 50/50, with the pure side being the ‘War’ line and ‘War Horse’ once again, and the hybrid line of both ‘Perfection’ and ‘Tilts At Windmills’. She is technically a generation four. Graded class, very little to split her from novice stablemate ‘Enlightened’

2.4m Hurdlers

This is an ongoing work in progress and has proven to be the hardest distance to make my hybrid breeding stick, the line is genuinely in peril with many of the pure breeding hurdle lines aged 15 and upwards in the barn, so the clock is measured in time of maybe 3-5 years to fix this, and I am already using both my 2m and 3m hurdlers to try and help save it. My weakest area of my team and probably the one place where I think I have gotten worse.

Itsa Game Of Inches

Sire Add Insult To Injury
Dam Breed Hurd High Class

Failed attempt to fix the line with 3m hurdlers, and could actually be a decent ‘link’ horse, but his breeding so far has sucked. The sire ‘Add Insult To Injury’ had five league wins last season including the G1 Albert Bartlett and has in contrast been a breeding monster, he is written up later. The dam is from a generation two hybrid 2m hurdle line. Generation three type, most likely a low graded sort with prospects in the handicap. His inclusions shows my lack of progress.

Emotional

Sire Emotional Pain
Dam Damage Control

Returning mud lark who had 4 league wins last season 2x G2. The line looks really old to me now but sire ‘Emotional Pain’ was a two time league winner to G2. His inclusion nails on the decline in this line, but he will still be competitive on the right ground in graded company.

Judge Anderson

Sire Judge Dredd
Dam World Of Endurance

Returning G1 winner from last season. My hurdle lines, least pre-hybrid breeding at scale, did not age well, so that she still dominates my trials makes it clear this is a line that has declined. But she won both the Mares and Aintree hurdle last season so she will still need to be respected. Breed to be a 3m hurdler but never took to it. Pure line. Graded class I think.

State Your Objection

Sire Statescraft
Dam Needs Of The Many

Breed in my last gasp preparation for the league and was another attempt to save the line. Is the typical hybrid sort with a pure hurdle line on the sire side, including ‘Building Bridges’ and ‘Emotional Pain’ and a generation two link horse as the dam, who held a minor place on the trial sheets for a season. So he is technically a generation three, but he has none of the bars of the hybrid, in essence he is a copy hurdler from the pure line, but since ‘Statescraft’ is on his last legs, he’s a line saver of sorts. Graded class but not a star.

Try And Keep Your Hat On

Sire Perfection
Dam Breed Hurd All Good Here

For a short period I thought this horse was going to be the one. But he did not quite measure up at trial. Is a 2m hurdle linked line saving attempt from ‘Perfection’, and may also be another who is a ‘link’ horse at this distance to the next step. Dam is a pure hurdle line with consistent names like ‘Building Bridges’ and ‘Emotional Pain’ in the lineage. May be a surprise package, but likely lower level graded prospects.

3m Hurdlers

Historically a line that has had a lot of league success, but one that has always suffered from less than full potential. So I have been working to fix that and generally uplifting the bars from 3m chase. This line is right now in a very nice place with three distinct breeding colts to feed it. I think I have stood still, but this season all four are tip top horses and that’s still a very high bar to set.

Add Insult To Injury

Sire Statescraft
Dam Breed Hybrid Generation One

Returning star who should have really run open last season as he was far better than the two I returned. But as a generation two hybrid (The Devastator G1 winner last season), even though he never quite hit full potential, the chase part of the breed hold until 9/10 so he is every bit as good this year as he was last. Nothing less than the World Hurdle to pair with the Albert Bartlett already won, will do. Star.

Just Want To Check

Sire Add Insult To Injury
Dam Breed Uber Monster Hurd

Interesting breed this one, technically a hybrid of sorts, on both sides of her line, but arguably her sire is back to hurdle so in x generations more I will consider this a pure hurdle line. Dam is a gen three with a game breed (from my line) sprinkled in. Sired by a monster, who sired the whole 3m hurdle team this season. Potential was low as a yearling, hence the name, but I am glad I checked as it happens. Graded class, 3rd on trial form in the team.


Change For The Better

Sire Add Insult To Injury
Dam Breed Uber Chase Spartan

Great though he is, ‘Add Insult to Injury’ is not a perfect bar horse, 5% down on cruise and 3% off on potential so this pairing directly to a uber bar stock 3m chaser from the proven ‘spartan’ line was an attempt to uplift, and this generation one monster is every bit as good as his sire, with an added 4% cruise and 3% potential. Will be having his pick of the mares for breeding, something I have yet to start with him. Novices this year as like his sire he holds to 9yo. Star, technically 2nd best, but it’s a hairs breath between them at home.

Shot To The Heart

Sire Add Insult To Injury
Dam The Longshot

And since generation one pairings are (usually) hard to stick, like the attempt above this is another surprise generation one monster, though a smaller one than the other three. Sire really needs no further narration, but the dam is interesting, since she is a 3.4m-4m chaser line, really old and a horse who has links to my current ‘National’ chase lines. The result is a 3m hurdler who happily stays to 3.4. 4th in the team at home, but has the ‘long walk’ hurdle in mind as a more extended stayer type. May even flirt with the national races if I can sneak her in the handicap and if she takes to them, never trialled fences. Graded class


Chasers

My chasers are the finished product and have been for some time, they have the cruise and they have the potential and both are fairly ingrained in all distances now. They do lack a little speed and at some point I may try for hybrids the other way, but for now most of my chase breeding tends to be pure chase line to chase line, when I do mix I am always looking for a hurdler from my superior chasers. And for context nearly the whole team last year won at least one G1, several won multiple. I may have even improved over two and three miles.

2m Chasers

The last of my chase line to adopt the highest possible bar combination from my 2.4m chase line, but its now available in breeding and via horses who are also trial stars. ‘The Balance of Judgment’ who is featured on my discord channel, the main exponent and breeding horse, and he would be in the team this year if he was not for his full bother ‘The Pretty Boy’ who just sneaks it at trial. I think this has improved fractionally.

The Pretty Boy

Sire The Space Cowboy
Dam The Playhouse

The younger brother of ‘The Balance of Judgement’ but is slightly more consistent at trial, front running and jumps for fun with no noticeable issue over differing grounds. Sire was a ‘link’ horse of sorts, between 2m and 2.4m chase and really did his work over 2.2m, but he trialled ok at 2m and was the perfect bar specimen, and the shift out of the 2.4m range was from ‘The Stormtrooper’ who has been an excellent breeding horse though a trial failure himself, has a hand in a lot of the team. Dam’s lineage is littered with G1 league horses. Graded class and I think a stable star.

The Line Of The King

Sire The Balance Of Judgement
Dam The Bloody Queen

Though I cannot use his sire, the son is pretty decent himself and there is really very little between them at trial. I will need to repeat the process at some point to diversify my breeding, but he is one of many monster stallions I have at my disposal right now. Dam is again a line littered with G1 league winners, and comes from the same progression down from 2.4m ‘The Mighty’ 6 league wins over two seasons 2x G1 in the extended lineage.

To Pause

Sire The Space Cowboy
Dam The Breakup

More of the same for the horse who I brought in last min as a replacement for ‘Balance’. She’s a lesser version, but not by much and shares the same sire as stable star ‘The Pretty Boy’ above. The dam was a league horse last season, but no star, two handicap wins to her name. Ranges to 2.2m at home, 4th ranked in the team. Graded class but may struggle with her stable mate in the novice division.

The Handsome Dan

Sire The Pretty Boy
Dam Breed Broke Two Chase Min

Going with a father and son combination for the open races. Not quite as consistent as dad, unless on his preferred good ground, but with dad being better on soft and heavy, the combination seems ideal. Same front running style, but he is less forceful at it and can run off another if one takes it up. Dam is a more traditional line, directly from ‘The Dragon Keeper’ 4 wins and one at G1 last season. Graded class, not far behind his sire at home.

2.4m Chasers

I probably throw away multiple G1 capable horses in this division ever year. Since the best bars started at 3m chase and I have worked that down from there to 2m, I have a load of mid range chase breeders that have taken on the best of both. The inclusion of my only returning chaser from last year in this section of the team is the only thing that tempers my expectations, but he is there mostly for ground preference so in the round this unit may have also made a slight improvement.

The Phoenix

Sire The Stormtrooper
Dam Kens Detail

With one less hurdler than usual, I have added an extra 2.4m chaser and this girl was the top horse I left behind last season (something I usually try to do, to baseline future trials) so gets the nod, she is also a little more rangey than others at this distance. Sire was an uber bar 2.4m chaser who has had a hand in a lot of my recent successes. Dam is a stock mare with at least 3 different multi G1 winners in her extended lineage. Graded Class

The Miss

Sire The Space Cowboy
Dam War And Peace

Her sire was a horse I used a lot to try and move chase properties into my hurdle lines and this breed is one such attempt, so whilst technically a hybrid she is really a copy of her sire, the only change is her range, since both sides occasionally spit out a longer distance type, together these 2m range horses bred a very nice looking 2.4m chaser. She nabbed the higher hurdle speed in the process so an unintended hybrid. Graded class, I rate her.

The Best Is Yet To Come

Sire The Stormtrooper
Dam Dego Lemon

My only returning chaser and a horse who was uber consistent with 3 wins, rarely outside the top three but never quite put it together when it matters. As good at 9 and is a slightly better jumper, makes the team as he gives me a good ground type. Sire is mentioned above. Dam is just a stock mare but with a stack of successful league horses behind her.

The With Queen

Sire Breed Uber Witch Chase
Dam Breed Chase Might Storm

A pure breeding pairing, where neither horse had nailed on realised potential, but both the lines are rich with breeding successes and league winners, ‘The Stormtrooper’ is the main influence in on the dams side along with ‘The Mighty’, the sire was from last years league horse ‘The Witch King’ single G2 winner, but the sire took on the best available bars. Graded class.

The Faultline

Sire The Last Spartan
Dam Breed Line Is Solid Chase

My stable star at this distance and he stays nicely to 2.6m so the Ryanair and Ascot chase are well within his range. Solid and on all goings too. Breeding on the sire side is from a top bar, solid trialling sort who has been excellent in my breeding and connects to league winners like ‘The Ranger’ and ‘The Mighty’. Dam is far newer and includes team member ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ and ‘The Balance of Judgement’. Star.

3m Chasers

I had a lot of success last season with wins in both the Gold Cup and the RSA, along with a number of other top races, and last years ‘The Devastator’ still romped home in the first of the preseason trial weeks……..this lot are better and ‘The Devastator’ hardly gets a look in, and with team selection done won’t be back again, such is my confidence in them. Another area that may have genuinely improved, lets find out if anyone else has.

The Phalanx

Sire The Last Spartan
Dam The Breed Chaser

He’s a monster, and is probably my best pure 3m horse, but does not stay as well as others over 3.2m so he goes in as a novice with the RSA firmly in his mind. Sire has hand in a range of horses at 3m and 2.4m being one of the early best bar trial successes, and there is a load of G1 winning names in his extended lineage. The dam is a very old, original 3m chase lines, back before all my chasers were prefixed ‘The’ and the 3m chasers had their own ‘Master’ prefix. Interesting sort and I like the fact he rekindles a long expired line. Star.


The Wild Witch

Sire Breed Uber Witch Chase
Dam Breeds Mega Cruise Chase
Another full breed type successful paring, second horse in the team for the sire who is a best bar breeder at 2.4m see above, here paired with a dam that has a mixed 2.4m and 3m line, ‘The Stormtrooper’ again and the 3m range she adopts goes back to ‘The Freight Train’ who also sired last seasons RSA winner ‘The Last Train’. Not a star but she’ll be graded class.

The Treeman

Sire The Best Is Here
Dam The Tree Snake

This horse could be a real monster, but he can be a little hit and miss at home, when he hits he is several lengths removed from the rest, including ‘The Phalanx’ who is otherwise more consistent. His sire was out of league team member ‘The Best Is Yet To Come’ and was the version that finished off the bars, but he trailed badly and was switched out to breed for a few seasons. This was his main success. Dam is from an older line, that ultimately produced ‘The Devastator’ 2x G1 winner last season and set up my ‘National’ line, but it is ‘The Devastator’ that this horse reminds me of. Potential Star.

The Widow

Sire The Last Spartan
Dam The King Brown

Gets a bit dull at this point since I also think she is a monster and is my cover horse for when ‘The Treeman’ has an off day, she does not have off days and she does not really have ground preferences. Gold cup is as much in her thinking as it is ‘The Treeman’. Sire is already covered above this is his third and final direct descendent in the team. Dam is basically a copy of ‘The Treeman’ another from my long distance chase ‘Snake’ line, and yes she also reminds me of ‘The Devastator’ but she is less bullish in her front running. Star

The Lineup

Sire The Python
Dam The High Life

This horse has been on the trial sheets for a long time, mostly as I don’t specifically breed for 3.4m chasers, least not right now. I would have brought back last years G1 winner ‘The Teacher’ but a high rated horse at this range has next to no suitable options, so I decided to reset the clock. Line is ancient in my terms, with the sire being the original ‘snake’ horse top available bars line that’s mentioned above. Dam is actually on a 2.4m chase line that includes ‘The Mighty’ but he is only a few generations removed on this occasion. Still expect graded class.

4m Chasers

The one area I have not messed with in a long time and I have not yet merged the best available bars into this range. I sort of settled when I decided on even weights I had as good as anyone else, maybe better, but its now on my list to address. I may actually try and hide one of these two from the handicapper and actually try and win the Grand National, but I bet they are both rated out by the time they have their three races.

National Prince

Sire National King
Dam National Queen

Breed a king with a queen, got to get a prince right, love it when this sort of stuff works out. Is one of three top class stallions I have in the barn right now and the youngest of them so he is the future, and got the spot over the last one a coin toss, the most likely of the two I can hide. There is basically a long list of league horses in both sides ‘National Apocalypse’ being the main influence. Graded.

National King

Sire Breeding National Reserve
Dam National Park

Been kicking around for a while and was in the mix for the team last season. Was a line saver at the time I had bred him, since I struggled to get a new breeding colt for a long time and ended up putting a breeder in as reserve in case, and the reserve saved the line that he has since extended. Graded class, will be hard to hide how good he is.

Glad to read you have improved. My chasers maybe consistently better less convinced about my hurdlers. So game on. Quite excited for once.

Flat Team

I think people tend to assume I am really only a NH trainer, in reality that’s not true, indeed when I do the calculation, I get to about 170 NH seasons played for purposes of the league. The flat includes my original Australian game, 95 seasons, my current US game 60 seasons and my new UK game 35 seasons. And between this season and last I have definitely spent more time playing my flat games. It is fair to say I have been less dialled in on the flat and more haphazard in my approach, but for this season I have made a real push to close the gap on Vinny, and my new UK game, though a long way from the finished product looks like a peach. I just spent too long flogging my Australian game, after discovering my game ceiling.

The split on my games is pretty straight forward, US produces all my 5f – 1m horses and my new UK game handles everything from 1.2m upwards, its not by design and within both games I spend time breeding into different ranges, but the split at trial is a mile wide. Ultimately the UK game likely spells the death knoll for the US one, but for now they compliment each other well.

For context my US game I consider to be largely tapped out, I can squeeze 95% pot at 3yo, though normally 90-92%, and have a few who max at 4yo. I get cruise to 69% and 95% speed. My best bar horses historically have all been 1m types and for this cycle of breeding I have been focussed on breeding this into my sprinters. My UK game is a different animal, I think I have mostly grabbed the best the game offers, but I am still in search mode, and the breeding is a bit of a mud sling since I am still refining my lines, but I have potential at a more consistent 95% range at 3yo and more often than not they peak too 99-100% at 4. Speed is 95% but more consistently 90% and cruise is a very nice 80%, though in terms of usable cruise I am averaging 70-75% in my best horses right now, that’s a healthy position when the game also has the magic trial ‘ju ju’. O and I decided you might like some front running flat horses to chase like my NH range

This could be my best flat season in recent memory, but I have a lot of uncertainly with a lot of unproven league lines in the US and a largely unproven new game in the UK, so could go either-way, but I am coming for you Vinny, maybe not this year but I am coming .

2YO’s

The distance split above plays out in my 2yo team, so only the 1.2m ‘Ruination’ is from the UK. And my US game also produces a few lines of specialist 2yo’s so horses who fade at trial from 3yo’s, but I don’t frequently breed specifically to get these specialists.

So mostly in the US game I have abandoned my traditional sprint breeders and instead have used my best bar 1m colts to breed into my traditional 5/6f sprint lines, and some of them were G1 winners last season against Vinny, so the theory was sound. My mile range has suffered a little as a consequence, but I think I may have landed it.

But as those who have tried, will know, its hard to breed down, and since I largely stopped breeding the old lines altogether I really cannot tell if I have a range of total freaks now, since the max bars are in a number of 5f and 6f trial types, or if I have just buggered my breeding up so badly that I have basically have a load of 7f types who have no real competition at trial. I think the former, but it maybe the later and this uncertainty sums up my 2yo team. Might be uber or they might be all wrong.

Flexible

Sire Serendipity
Dam Princess of Pain

First one who came from the breeding attempt to breed down, and lit up my trials from 5f to 1m originally, as I have added depth she has ranged down to 5-6f, but still is a consistent name on the sheets. Sire serendipity, was winless in the league last season but ran a 2nd and 3rd at G1 so the potential was there, was not long in the breeding barn though. Dam was ok at trial but not star but is directly linked to ‘Prince of Darkness’ who won five G1’s over two league seasons. I think she is group class, maybe G1.

Intergenerational

Sire Breed the Perfect Storm
Dam Generational

Was supposed to be a monster for my 1m range, but I misread his sire’s true breeding distance and he has landed at around 6f, I think, he actually dominates from 5f to 7f and flirts with the 1m range too, but I am not sure he is really a 5f sprinter in the league. Sadly falls away as a 3yo, but has only gone through one trial so far. Sire is a breeding stud, who has the best bar combination and connects to ‘Storm Front’ 3x G1 winner in the league over 2 seasons. Dam is in the league team as a 2yo and is one I expect to see back when she is three. I think he is group class, but likely at around 6-7f.

Notebook

Sire Breed the Perfect Storm
Dam Breed Basic Average

Another freak at trial and from the same ‘Perfect Storm’ line as above, in trial she claims the filly prize at 5f to 7f and still features heavily over 1m. The Dam side the ‘Sand’ line is where the 2yo specialist comes into play and she does not make the cut as a 3yo. Could be special, could be a bust, at this stage I am not sure what she will be in the league.

Generational

Sire Finale
Dam Princess of Chaos

Never quite lived up to her billing, was featured on my discord write ups, but shes nice at 2yo and very good at 3yo, I just fancied two years out of her. Sire won three times in the league including once at G1. Dam is a solid trial sort, again directly linked to 5x G1 winner ‘Prince Of Darkness’. Group class and in the right races probably G1.

Get On With It

Sire Finale
Dam Get in Early

The one I am most doubtful about, and he is another specialist 2yo. Sired by ‘Finale’ above is encouraging, and the dam and her ‘sand’ line heritage accounted for ‘Quickly Does It’ and ‘Quicksand’ who have 3x G1’s between them, so maybe the real deal too. Group class but maybe not G1 outside the US.

Ruination

Sire Breed Speed Its Needed
Dam Wrack and Ruin

First of my new UK game, though I had a couple from the same game in last season. There is not much to say about the lines, and no real league history to speak of, and am largely still plotting the trial lines from what is currently a massive breeding stock. Hold up sort who comes late, and closes like a train, competent at 1.1m too. Group possibilities in this limited race option. All about the St Cloud.

3YO’s

I have been a lot more focussed on balancing my team this year, usually I stack my 3yo’s with my best and have a few extra slots to boot. This year I have slimmed it down to planned 3yo only races, but I still have a good number of my best horses in a division I have recently been competitive in.

Thundercloud

Sire Elixir
Dam Breed From Stormline

Took too much sprint from the storm line the dam provided and not enough from the 1m elixir side, and he’s a team member at 4 and returning G1 winner from last year. Does his best work at 6f but I expect he will be just as good at 7f and may sneak the odd 1m race too. Early best bar example of my sprint program, just not an intended one since ‘Elixir’ was not used. I think he is group class but I have been wrong before.

Titillating

Sire Finale
Dam Breed Is Nearly Uber

Total game flop, but a perfect bar sort at 1m. Flopped in game as he was skittish, pacifier type and not genuine, but in my experience that means exactly dick at trial, so I kept him and his 60 odd rating, and he turned out to be very good indeed. Finale again as the sire, and a dam who connects to some of my best 1m horses. Is probably not going to trouble the main UK and Ireland classics, but the Preakness and breeders cup he will be all over. Group class. Loves the Dirt.

Monsterous

Sire Breed More Interesting Pot
Dam Breed Uber Finale Line

I hope………is an experimental line, the Dam as her name suggests is a perfect bar ‘Finale’ line horse. The sire is a second attempt at a ‘link’ potential line that’s really old, his sire was the same and only copied himself once and never with the promised potential realised. She is the first horse I have bred from the line who got all the right elements from both sides, 95% pot at three. Could be a monster, looks like it at trial, will she manage it in the UK remains to be seen, but good luck beating her in the US. Group class possible star.


Time To Play The Game

Sire Play with the Big Boys
Dam Breed All Good Fix Pot

I love this horse……….and he is just as good when he is older, I just want the Kentucky Derby and Prix Du Jockey with him this year. Is he going to be good enough, I don’t know I have nothing to measure the UK team against. But I am pretty sure he is the best 1.2m horse I have ever had. Fingers crossed. Group class and possible star.

Show Me Something

Sire Plays with the Bigger Boys
Dam Breed Solid Star

Has a fairly similar line to ‘Time to play the Game’ above, the sires are one generation father and son. And there is enough trial heritage in the side to the dam to make me think she may also be a decent league sort. She’s not up to the level of her stablemate above, but against her own sex she maybe a handful. Group class maybe.

Time Of The Beast

Sire Time To Play The Game
Dam Heart Of Oak

This is a punt, he did not win a single race at trial, though placed in about five and that was as good as my colts did against my fillies, but I think my fillies maybe uber, so there might be some talent in him yet, and there are just too many 1.4m 3yo only colt races to leave the spot empty. Plus his lineage is pretty good with both parents being my top 3yo’s in their respective distances. Handicapper? Jury is out.

Heart Of Oak

Sire Breed High Speed Him Up
Dam Breed Is Uber

She’s a monster, I am almost sure of it. Not been this excited about an Oaks prospect since the mighty ‘Belladona’ but she also shows how little I have grasped my games breeding, since her sire was sold to the game the year after I bred her and before I took her to trial……….meh. Dam is a 2m cruise delivery line. Group class, could be a dominant 3yo force.

Save Yourselves

Sire Breed Long Monsters
Dam Breed FP From Hammer Fix Con

And this is where my new found confidence fades, 1.6m to 2.4m remains a work in progress, she is aimed at the general direction of the St Leger, but I do not think this range is quite up to snuff yet, too many older US horses still get close ish…….. Handicapper.


4YO’s

Yes my 3yo’s are loaded, but there are a good few best in class entrants here too as this year I am going to have a more specific focus on my older horses. And there maybe some good ones hiding amongst them.

Blessed

Sire Breed The Perfect Storm
Dam They Are All Nuts

One of two equally good 5f horses I had to choose from, decided to keep the other back for later teams, though I am not completely sold he is a league level 5f sort. Sire was the perfect bar horse used to uplift my sprinters and has accounted for four team members in total. Dam was a semi decent trial sort with ties to ‘Flash Harry’ who won the G1H Newmarket handicap. Jury is out.

Magical

Sire Thundercloud
Dam Flexible

She could be a monster with both parents already written up above, she is nicely consistent and ranges down to 5f but I think 6f will be her ideal trip. Group class I think.

Misfire

Sire Breed The Perfect Storm
Dam Breed Is So So Uplift

This one was supposed to be a 1m horse, I mis read how exacting the ‘Perfect Storm’ breeder would at making sprinters, so is in for 6f but I am equally unsure that this might not be another sprinter who flatters to deceive. ‘Finale’ is the main influence on the side of the dam. Jury is out.

Elixir

Sire Finale
Dam Night On The Town

Returning G1 winner from last season, just as good as a 4yo, limited though to 1m so does not offer much scope. Sire is well covered at this point, Dam was an old league horse with three wins to her name, including one at G1 and a G1H. Expect he will be G1 class again.

French Fries

Sire Breed Speed Its Needed
Dam Frenchie
And so the UK invasion begins and here with the first of my UK horses to breach my US lines. I don’t really need three 1m 4yo’s, but I am win focussed and they have more chances than some of my lesser horse options at different distances. Is a front runner so always at risk of getting caught, but he is mustard and trial and I want to test the line. Might be group class.

Stimulate

Sire Titillating
Dam Breed Uber Fix Con

Shes a good one, and gives me both turf and dirt options. The Falmouth and the Matron are two in thinking with her along with the US races, rangy as her sire too so will stay for the 1.1m tweeners. Dam is ancient, she must have been around twenty when they paired. Has both my original speed and cruise breeders only 2 and 3 generations removed. Group class.

Path Master

Sire Breed Speed To Change
Dam High As She Can

Back to the UK now at 1.2m, and everything else from here is from the same game. I did think he might be a 1m miler and he showed early promise at trial, but got caught too often in his second round and seemed to find his lot at 1.2m. Another front runner who will make you earn it and another who will likely frustrate by getting caught as often as not. Handicapper maybe group class.

You Belong To Me

Sire Breed Speed Its Needed
Dam Breed Very Solid High Line

Pretty sure she is a monster too and another who likes to front run, every bit as good as my 3yo star ‘Heart Of Oak. Breed is not interesting enough to explain but all the bits I see with the ‘juju’ horses. Star I think.

Stormhammer

Sire Breed Long Monsters
Dam Breed Hammer Standard Slow

Once again my expectation dimmish at 1.6m upwards, he may be ok, but probably just ok. Handicapper.

Dubious Debbie

Sire Hammer And Anvil
Dam Breed Full Pot Make Better

I am not actually dubious about Debbie, she is a consistent 2m trial sort at home, I was dubious she would blossom when she was two, but she filled out nicely ………. Might sneak in some of the G1H handicaps.

Bellringer

Sire Hammer And Anvil
Dam Titled Dish

The pick of the 2m horses I have to offer this year, usually a hold up sort, but has pretty decent closing speed. Might be group class.

The one thing I've been able to do in this game is keep battling qualities in my horses, I think a lot of mine have been 25% to 40% . Normally I'd start of with them and within a few generations they would disappear. Even after all these years playing the game u learn new things, I didn't realise how important the distance bar was. I've never taken any notice before until I started some late trials and some of mine like Unionist was decent between 3m to 3m4 and I just looked at the bar and noticed he had 25% distance bar. Before this restart I bet all my horses had 0% bar , I think if I did get SO8 ( real doubtful) I would take a lot more notice of it and make sure I got it in my lines. It might be behind running style -potential-cruise-speed but it would be added to importance.

I may have slightly messed up both NH an Flat squads by not commiting to one this season. Hopeful my flat team already had enough to carry me through.

I have changed the running style of my trials, trying to get handier types, and it could well be anything. If it worked, I have the same level of quality horses who will challenge earlier, and therefore should improve my team a lot in the league. OR they are simply getting to easy a time of it in my trials an winning from the front because of all the hold up horses, which will mean I have ruined half my team.


I finally got to 50 seasons in my NH game. The first 10-20 were probably more aimed at flat horses, but it seems to be translating over ok. I have improved most distances, but not by as much as I had hoped. I think I may end up with chances in the big handicaps, but only my 2 mile chasers will likely be group level. There's a chance my 2m4 chasers too, based off last season.



Flat Team

Sprinters - My 5f horses have become very good recently, where as my 6f horses went backwards last season. I think it's likely to stay like this in this season.

Yima Twister 5f - Some very good breeding here, from Hejian Wonder and Xingtai Mayhem. She was pretty good in the league last season. This horse is a million miles my best ever 5f horse at home. High hopes

Jixi Speedster 5f - Bred from Hejian Wonder who won on the final trials day over 6. More of a 5.5f horse, but when he's good in the trials he's very good. Likely to be staying on over 5f

Hejian Wonder 6f - Bred pretty all of my sprinters for the league. He narrowly missed out on making my team last season, an shouldn't be in my team based on trials this season. But I'm sure he's one of those timeless horses that will always do well in the league. Great stats, lasted longer in my trials than horses who were technically better. Hopeful more than anything. He's also a handier type who finishes well.

Jixi Sensation 6f - Another Hejian Wonder horse. I've gone back to hold up horses with this one after my failed front runners over 6 last season. He comes very late, but very fast. Might pick up the odd group race


Milers - Once again, I just cant get my milers going. My worst distance in every season so far. I don't feel like I've improved them much this season

Yuma Schoolboy 3yo colt - 2000 Guineas horse, didn't make the trials last season, but since I took out pacemakers in my trials, he looks a lot better as a handier horse. Not holding much hope

Laguna Beach Dust 3yo Filly - Just can't see her being too competitive unfortunately. better than last seasons, who I guess was ok, but usually a pace in the guineas at best

Yuma Genes - Returning from last season. 2nd in both English an Irish Guineas. A little bit worrying that he still gets in from my trials though

Arkansas Auctioneer - Another who missed out last season in my trials, but since I took out the pacemakers. More hopeful than anything


1m2 horses - A big experiment for these, they seem to have improved a lot, but with a different running style for some. I'm very hopeful for these

Devils Lake Tantrum - Bred from Fujin Cold who was a multiple group1 winning sprinter last season in the league. A front running type. She will either be a huge success or a complete dud. Very good in my new trials

Ithaca Zitca - Bred from Sacramento Montceau another multiple gp1 winning horse from last season. This one will likely be tried over 10 an 12 furlongs, and s much more like my usual hold up type

Ithaca Circle - Big front running type. Another bred from the sprinter Fujin Cold. I feel like he's much more likely to gout in front an be caught unfortunately. If he gets an easy lead he could be a big player, may end up as a pacemaker for Ithaca Zitca though an I may need to avoid Devils Lake Tantrum

Grand Forks Great - Some very good breeding, from Monterey Kool who is in the stable this season too. I would be less enthused about this than my others over 10f, however, I think the running style of sitting handy may suit better than the front runners an hold up of the others.

1m4 horses - These are very similar to my 10f horses. A few front running types now making the league team, mixed in with some hold up. My 3yos not improved much though

Grand Forks Mountain 3yo Colt - Was only my second choice for the Derby, but Monterey Kool was uploaded at 4 instead. Another middle distance horse bred from Fujin Cold, a sprinter

Grand Forks Desperation 3yo Filly - My 3rd choice for the Oaks, however the other 2 got uploaded as 4yo's. Bred from Ypsilanti Malyoon who won 6 from 8 in the league last season. Including the Arc an Breeders cup Turf.

Monterey Kool - Front runs in my trials, bred out of Sacramento Montceau again. May well be too much of a front runner for the league to last out the races

Monterey Truth - Another Ypsilanti Malyoon horse. Seems to adjust it's running style more than any other in my trials, can run handy, front run an hold up. Exceptional in my trials, very hopeful

Jurado Pudding - Back to my hold up types with this one. I wont be able to breed from him as I used a couple of bonus seasons to ad =d a few horses at the end. He wont be there when I go back to my main game. Bred from Ithaca Zitca, he will definitely be finishing off races strongly

Stayers - I've done zero work on these horses, and these are all just rejects from last season league trials.

Yulin Potential St Leger Horse - A real hold up type an it was the only reason she wasn't uploaded last season. Every bit as good as last seasons Leger winner, Chickasaw Nova. Others may have improved beyond now though.

Rocky Mount Desert 2m - Aagain just my 2nd best horse from last seasons trials. Had some very good staying types, but likely to be consistent without picking up too many races

Yonkers Stargazer Gold Cup Horse - Not as good as last seasons Gold Cup winning Santa Rosa Monkey. But not a million miles off. Should be there or thereabouts


Stable Star - Likely to be Yima Twister although over 5f not much stands out over the season. Monterey Kool an Monterey Truth have the potential to be exceptional, but could end up being duds just as easily