The team continue to run really well and a week on from Helluvaboy's win at Kempton Park, it was fantastic to see Laurence Bellman's colours carried to victory once again yesterday, this time Lake Sand the one shedding his maiden tag.

The four year old son of Footstepsinthesand has had a light campaign this year, but he had shown promise on his return from a couple of months off at Chelmsford in September and, returning to the same track and with that run bringing him on from a fitness perspective, he duly took a step forwards to win in great style, though the success was certainly in no small part down to Ray Dawson, who gave him an excellent ride, finding a gap on the rail and producing a very well-timed challenge.

He is unlikely to go up much in the handicap for that success and I'm confident there is more to come now that he has got his head in front, so hopefully he can make a bold bid to follow up next time.  

We've always thought a bit of Helluvaboy, so it was fantastic to see him get off the mark at Kempton Park yesterday under a well-judged ride from Ray Dawson.

The three year old son of Helmet was sent straight into the lead and travelled sweetly in front in the first-time blinkers.  Ray dictated a sensible pace in front and was able to ensure Helluvaboy had saved a bit for the sprint to the line - he certainly needed to be very game to fend off the late challenge of the runner-up.

A really well-bred individual, he has just needed time to find his feet, but starts off at the right end of the handicap and looks capable of plenty of improvement in the coming months.  I am delighted for his owners Laurence Bellman and Keith Trowbridge, and hopefully Helluvaboy can give them more to celebratew in due course.

Storm Melody is in fine fettle at present and the evergreen eight year old recorded the ninth success of this career in impressive fashion at Lingfield Park yesterday.

Close up from the outset, Rab Havlin sent him into the lead on the home turn and he soon shot clear of his field, looking in no danger some way from home.  It was a well-judged ride and another excellent performance from the Shaw Racing-owned gelding, who has been such a star for us since being purchased three years ago, this being his seventh win for the yard.

We'll see what the handicapper does before making a plan for his next run, but hopefully he can continue in a similar vein in the weeks to come!

Runner-up on his previous two starts, including at Chelmsford a week ago, Storm Melody returned to winning ways with a decisive success at Chelmsford yesterday evening under Rab Havlin, who was on board the eight year old for the first time.

A winner on the All-Weather in February, he wasn't at his best on turf this summer, but a return to artificial surfaces has suited him and followed two very good efforts in defeat, he gained a deserved win yesterday, going to the front before the home bend and keeping on really strongly in the re-applied blinkers, which he was sporting for just the third time in his career to date.

The switch of headgear obviously looks to have had a positive effect and hopefully that win will give him plenty of confidence.  Now the winner of six races since joining us for just £2,800 in August 2018, he is a real favourite in the yard and it would be great to see him go on to further success this autumn.  Congratulations to his owners Shaw Racing!

A triple winner on the All-Weather last year, Estrela Star is lightly-raced on turf and off the back of a good effort on his previous start, he returned to winning ways at Newbury yesterday under a really good ride from Sophie Smith.

He travelled with plenty of enthusiasm behind the leaders, but he came off the bridle a little earlier than several of his rivals and Sophie did well to negotiate a passage near the far rail, hitting the front before the furlong pole and keeping on really strongly to score for the fourth time.

He holds an entry at Beverley next Tuesday and all being well, he is likely to head there under a penalty.  It was great to see him bounce back and congratulations to Sophie on her ninth career success!

Renardeau has been a real star for us in recent seasons, winning four times and placing on a further eight occasions on the flat, and he made his second start over hurdles a winning one with a game success at Worcester yesterday under James Bowen.

The son of Foxwedge had run well at Stratford in June and duly took a step forward yesterday, doing really well to reel in the front pair approaching the last hurdle and producing a fine finishing kick to get the better of the odds-on favourite.

He has always schooled well at home and I'm delighted that his owner Laurence Bellman gave us the green light to give hurdling a go - particularly as it meant we could provide Laurence with a first ever National Hunt winner in his colours!

We'll most likely look for a novice hurdle under a penalty next time before then switching to handicap company and hopefully there is plenty of improvement to come in this sphere.

Grandscape galloped home a convincing winner by 2 1/4  lengths in the 'Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Amateur Jockeys Handicap' at Wolverhampton under a confident ride from the accomplished Sophie Smith.

This was a particularly special victory as she was riding in her mothers colours Kate Smith and was the first amateur race on the flat since the return of covid restrictions for amateurs.

Grandscape should  continue to give Sophie, Kate and all the family many more great days this season.

Congratulations to all connections.
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We were delighted with the debut of Helluvaboy, who finished a staying-on fourth in the 7f novice at Kempton Park yesterday evening.

The three-year-old son of Helmet has been showing us plenty of the gallops at home and has a wonderful pedigree to boot, being a half-brother to two smart performers at 1m-1m4f.  

I am sure he will improve with time and a trip, but it was a really promising start and hopefully it won't be long before he gets his head in front for owners Laurence Bellman and Keith Trowbridge.

Storm Melody won the Heed Your Hunch At Betway Handicap (Div II) by a neck at Wolverhampton this afternoon in the hands of Franny Norton and the colours of Shaw Racing. 

He continues to be a model of consistency through out his al-weather campaign this winter - this being his 5th victory since being with the yard.

Huge congratulations to all the connections.

​Zayriyan had gone close on more than one occasion for us in the past year, reaching the first four seven times in 2020, so it was a relief to see him get his head in front at a chilly Lingfield Park yesterday.  Hollie Doyle brought him from last place to challenge the leaders on the home turn and Zayriyan responded really well to Hollie’s urgings to come home a comfortable winner by just over two lengths.

He seems to be gaining in confidence in his three runs since his wind op in December and providing the handicapper isn’t too harsh on him, he should hold solid claims of winning another of these contests in the weeks ahead.  Congratulations to his owners in the ‘Friends Of Castle Piece’ syndicate!