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.