Tag Archive for: Noel Fehily

Fehily seeking more Newbury riches in Betfair Hurdle

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The Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate could be doubly represented in next month’s Betfair Hurdle at Newbury, with both Hansard and Kamsinas in line for the lucrative handicap.

Gary Moore’s Hansard showed his liking for the Berkshire track when landing the Gerry Feilden in November, since when he has finished a creditable fifth under a big weight in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot.

Kamsinas looked a potential star novice for Fergal O’Brien after landing a Grade Two prize at Haydock on his penultimate start, but having since come up short in the inaugural running of the Grade One Formby Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree on Boxing Day, he is set for a switch to handicap company.

Kamsinas (right) on his way to victory at Haydock
Kamsinas (right) on his way to victory at Haydock (Nigel French/PA)

“The plan at the moment remains for them both to run at Newbury, as long as everything stays okay between now and then,” Fehily confirmed.

“Hansard won the Gerry Feilden on his second to last start and I think the track suits him, so the Betfair Hurdle is very much the aim for him.

“Kamsinas won a Grade Two at Haydock, he was beaten in a Grade One last time out, but I think this race could just suit the likes of him as well. He is a novice and is hopefully still improving.”

Neil King is also considering another crack at handicap riches with his stable star Lookaway.

The seven-year-old completed a hat-trick of novice wins when beating Kamsinas in Grade Two company at Cheltenham towards the end of October.

He then performed with credit against seasoned campaigners when second in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle back at Prestbury Park, only being headed on the run-in by Iberico Lord.

Lookaway filled the same position behind Captain Teague in the Grade One Challow at Newbury over the festive period and Britain’s most valuable handicap hurdle is now one of his upcoming options.

“We have the three options for him now following his huge run in the Challow Hurdle; we either go to Cheltenham Trials Day, back to Newbury for the Betfair Hurdle or the Sidney Banks Hurdle at Huntingdon,” said King.

“I thought Trials Day would come too soon after the Challow but he has come out of the race so well, I don’t think he had as hard a race as we anticipated, he is in great form.

“We will review entries and ground conditions and make a decision as to where we go next, but the Betfair Hurdle is very much an option.”

Iberico Lord with connections after winning the Greatwood Hurdle
Iberico Lord with connections after winning the Greatwood Hurdle (Nigel French/PA)

With a total prize fund of £155,000 up for grabs on February 10, the Betfair Hurdle has predictably attracted a strong book of entries.

Nicky Henderson has six of the 40 possible contenders, with the aforementioned Iberico Lord joined by Betfair Exchange Trophy one-two Luccia and Impose Toi, plus Under Control, First Street and Doddiethegreat.

Paul Nicholls has Elite Hurdle hero Rubaud and Long Walk Hurdle fifth Blueking d’Oroux, while Willie Mullins has three of the four potential Irish raiders in Alvaniy, French recruit Ocastle Des Mottes and Onlyamatteroftime.

Olly Murphy’s Go Dante is one of four early co-favourites with the sponsors and Betfair spokesman Barry Orr commented: “It’s a cracking list of entries and that’s reflected in the market at 8-1 the field.

Go Dante is among the market principals
Go Dante is among the market principals (Simon Marper/PA)

“Last month’s Betfair Exchange Trophy, which was won by Luccia, could hold the key to this race, with eight of the nine runners entered here.

“The winner looked a different proposition at Ascot and she would be considerably shorter if taking up this engagement, while Onlyamatteroftime, Impose Toi and Altobelli will all be in the mix.

“Rubaud would also be an interesting contender having disappointed in this race last season as a novice but rated 19lb more in this renewal.”



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Fehily pleased to see Tahmuras back to winning ways

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Options are open for Tahmuras after he made amends for a below-par chasing debut with a pleasing Aintree victory.

The Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old was a Grade One winner over hurdles after taking the Tolworth at Sandown this time last year.

He was previously a point-to-point and bumper winner and was well-fancied to land his chasing debut at Chepstow in November.

Under Harry Cobden he never appeared to take to the task, however, and came home last of three in a performance that showed little of his previous ability.

He then headed to Aintree on Boxing Day to try again over fences and this time he was successful, winning by three lengths.

Noel Fehily heads the syndicate that own the gelding and the former jockey was pleased to see him regain his form.

“We were pretty happy with that run the other day, he looked a bit more like the old Tahmuras,” he said.

“He hadn’t actually done that much wrong, his first run over fences didn’t go to plan but it was nice to see him put it all together the other day.

“He was under top weight and it was a good performance, we were happy with that. He’s come out of the race well so I’m sure Paul will have some plan up his sleeve.”

On the same card the ownership group ran Fergal O’Brien’s Kamsinas, winner of the Grade Two Newton Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock and a 15-2 chance for the William Hill Formby Novices’ Hurdle – the same race Tahmuras won last season but relocated and renamed.

Kamsinas in action at Haydock Park
Kamsinas in action at Haydock Park (Nigel French/PA)

Under Paddy Brennan the seven-year-old finished sixth of nine runners and although he was hampered by a late faller, Fehily considers him to have been beaten at that point regardless.

“I thought he was beat at the time, he’s probably not quite a Grade One horse and he got found out a bit,” he said.

“At the same time I think he ran OK, but I don’t think there are any excuses for him.

“We’ll see what Fergal has got in mind for him but I suppose we’ll look for a handicap now.”



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Crambo may take direct route to Festival

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Fergal O’Brien’s Crambo could head straight to the Cheltenham Festival after doing his connections proud in the Long Walk over the festive period.

The seven-year-old claimed Grade One glory at Ascot on December 23 after coming out on top in a titanic tussle with staying stalwart Paisley Park.

The extended three-mile contest was rightly hailed as one of best of the races season so far and victory was particularly meaningful to former jockey Noel Fehily, who bred the winner and is the racing manager to owner Chris Giles.

Fehily also did the early work with Crambo and takes him for pre-training ahead of each season, meaning his involvement with the promising stayer runs even deeper still.

The Saddler Maker gelding is currently a 10-1 chance for the Paddy Power Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival in March and may not run again beforehand.

“Crambo is doing well, I’m presuming he’ll go straight to Cheltenham, but I’ve yet to talk to Fergal about it,” Fehily said.

“It was great to see him do that, that was a mighty race between him and Paisley Park – we were very happy with him.

“I bred him and I had the mare, so it’s lovely to see one you’ve known from day one go and win at that level.

“We broke him, pre-trained him, we pre-train him every year before he goes back to Fergal’s.

“He’s an absolute joy to deal with, he’s a dude of a horse. He goes out, does his thing, he’s so straightforward.”



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Silviniaco’s King George successes live long in Fehily memory

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Noel Fehily rates winning the King George VI Chase as “one of the highlights of my career” 10 years on from his first success aboard Silviniaco Conti.

A product of the Charlie Mann academy, few in the weighing room can produce a CV to match that of the Irishman and lay claim to being the go-to jockey for some of the biggest operators in the sport.

Among his 1,352 winners were victories for both Paul Nicholls and Nicky Henderson in the Champion Hurdle, while he also counts a Champion Chase triumph aboard Special Tiara in his Cheltenham Festival haul.

Noel Fehily deputising on Altior at Sandown
Noel Fehily deputising on Altior at Sandown (Julian Herbert/PA)

He was the first port of call for the master of Seven Barrows when injury to Nico de Boinville presented Fehily the opportunity to ride Altior, while he was in pole position to ride Kauto Star in the absence of Ruby Walsh before his own injury woes curtailed that particular dream.

Fehily may have missed out on the opportunity to link up with one of Ditcheat’s greats in the King George, but there was only one man owners Chris Giles and Jared Sullivan wanted aboard Silviniaco Conti once Walsh had ended his long association with the 14-time champion trainer.

The pair had enjoyed a brief association in 2010 when landing both the Persian War and Ascot Hurdle, but would have to settle for minor honours behind Cue Card in their Betfair Chase reunion.

However, it would not be long before they would turn the tables on the Tizzard stalwart when arriving on the outskirts of London on Boxing Day 2013 for a race no trainer has mastered quite like Nicholls.

“It was an amazing day and is an amazing race really,” said Fehily.

“Cue Card had won the Betfair Chase before that and Dynaste was second and we were third, but we did think Conti would come on that year from that Betfair run.

“Cue Card was an excellent horse and him and Conti did battle plenty of times. After jumping three out, I kind of thought Cue Card had got away and gone and won the race, but Conti stayed very well that day and picked him up. Whether Cue Card stopped a little bit as well maybe, but it was a hell of a good race.”

Although riding at Kempton 340 times over the course of his career, it was the first time Fehily would ride in the King George and get his hands on the trophy.

Noel Fehily with the King George trophy
Noel Fehily with the King George trophy (David Davies/PA)

“The King George is a massive race and is one every jockey wants on their CV,” continued Fehily.

“I suppose in a season, after the Gold Cup, it is the one you want to win for that sort of horse.

“It is the big race at Christmas every season and to have a horse good enough – Silviniaco Conti was amazing – it was one of the highlights of my career, I think.”

Although never quite conquering Prestbury Park with the Cheltenham Gold Cup eluding him, Kempton at Christmas was Silviniaco Conti’s playground and he returned 12 months later to put on a flawless display and retain his title.

Noel Fehily celebrates his victory on Silviniaco Conti in 2014
Noel Fehily celebrates his victory on Silviniaco Conti in 2014 (David Davies/PA)

“The second King George was probably the best performance of Silviniaco Conti’s career,” added Fehily.

“I think that was the best performance he put up. He was just on fire that day – he jumped, he galloped and dictated the race.”

Silviniaco Conti failed to sparkle in his hat-trick bid in 2015, but went out on his shield in third behind Thistlecrack and old adversary Cue Card in 2016 before retiring at the end of that campaign.

Fehily would bow out of the saddle in 2019 and since retiring has enjoyed plenty of success with his burgeoning ownership operation, the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates.

The likes of Love Envoi and Hansard have given Fehily and his growing band of owners the chance to celebrate big-race glory and on the 10-year anniversary of Silviniaco Conti’s first King George triumph, Fehily will be represented by the Fergal O’Brien-trained Kamsinas in Aintree’s Grade One Formby Hurdle.

Kamsinas will fly the flag for the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates on Boxing Day
Kamsinas will fly the flag for the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates on Boxing Day (Nigel French/PA)

“Kamsinas goes to Aintree for the Grade One and was good at Haydock when he won the Grade Two,” said Fehily.

“He’s lightly raced and hopefully he can keep on improving. It will be a stiff task but hopefully he can keep on improving and he is up to the task.

“We want to be on the big stage and at the big days and when we buy horses, that is the horse we are looking for, ones who can compete on the big stage.

“It’s not always easy finding them horses, but we’ve got some nice youngsters coming through and we hope the likes of Kamsinas can keep flying the flag for us.”



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Love Envoi team expecting more to come after Fighting Fifth second

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Love Envoi is pencilled in for a Sandown return after her second-placed performance in the relocated Fighting Fifth on Saturday.

The seven-year-old was back in action after 224 days off the track, her final run of last season being a beaten effort at Punchestown where she picked up an injury.

Prior to that she was enjoying a very successful campaign, however, winning twice at Sandown before being finding just the great Honeysuckle too good in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival.

The complexion of the Fighting Fifth changed twice before the race, firstly because of the relocation of the contest from Newcastle to Sandown and secondly because of the withdrawal of leading hurdler Constitution Hill.

Without Nicky Henderson’s champion in the line-up the Harry Fry-trained Love Envoi started at 6-4 with only Jamie Snowden’s You Wear It Well more fancied as the 5-4 favourite.

Harry Fry's Love Envoi
Harry Fry’s Love Envoi (Steven Paston/PA)

Love Envoi was held up in last place in the early stages of the race and did not jump fluently to start with, but as the contest unfolded she stayed on to chase home Hughie Morrison’s veteran Not So Sleepy, who was an eight-length winner at 9-1.

The runner-up is owned by Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates and the former jockey was not disheartened by the performance after a significant lay-off for the mare.

“She’s fine, she did well to finish second but she was a bit slow and ring rusty early on,” he said.

“Then when she got into it she actually ran a good race in the end.

“The first two she jumped really up in the air and slow, she was definitely ring-rusty but she warmed up into it and came from a long way back.

Love Envoi at Cheltenham
Love Envoi at Cheltenham (John Walton/PA)

“Overall it was a good run. I wouldn’t think the ground had anything to to do with it, I’d be surprised if it did.

“Harry always said she was only just about ready to start so I think she will come on plenty for the run.”

One of Love Envoi’s Sandown successes last term was the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Mares’ Hurdle in early January, a race that she will now target again.

Fehily said: “We’ll head to Sandown for the mares’ hurdle she won last year, all roads lead back there at the minute.”

The Fehily syndicates also had another runner-up at the meeting as Insurrection came home second in the Grade Two Betfair Beacons Winter Novices’ Hurdle.

Insurrection and Harry Cobden at Sandown
Insurrection and Harry Cobden at Sandown (John Walton/PA)

The Paul Nicholls-trained gelding was making his second start over obstacles after an easy win on debut last month, lining up at Sandown a 5-2 chance under Harry Cobden.

He looked the winner for almost all of the race and was only passed on the run to the line as Dan Skelton’s Deafening Silence headed him before the post.

“We were very happy with him, he looked the winner jumping the last but he just didn’t quite stay on that ground up the hill,” said Fehily.

“He’s a lovely young horse, he jumps for fun, we were very impressed with him.

“We don’t have any plans at the minute, we’ll give him a week or two and then make plans, it’ll be after Christmas and new year probably.”



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Ascot riches the Christmas aim for Hansard

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A festive outing at Ascot is next on the agenda for Hansard following his coming-of-age victory at Newbury.

A bumper winner in Ireland for Charles O’Brien, the five-year-old was subsequently snapped up for 48,000 to join Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates and was sent to Gary Moore.

He won his first two starts over hurdles for his new connections last winter, finished fourth in a Grade One at Aintree in the spring and finished second to a race-fit Rubaud on his seasonal reappearance in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton last month.

Making his handicap debut in the Gerry Feilden at Newbury, Hansard showed his class to get back on the winning trail and is now being readied for the £150,000 Betfair Exchange Trophy on December 23.

Fehily said: “We were delighted with Hansard in Newbury the other day. I think riding him for speed in a fast-run handicap suited him.

“We were probably a bit disappointed after Wincanton, but he hasn’t had that much racing and I think he’s just learning to settle and learning to do his job properly, hopefully.

“We’re looking towards Ascot with him just before Christmas.”

Another horse who will look to carry the colours of the successful ownership group to big-race honours over the Christmas period is the Fergal O’Brien-trained Kamsinas.

Having landed the Grade Two Newton Novices’ Hurdle on his latest start, the six-year-old is poised for a Grade One bid in the newly-named Formby Novices’ Hurdle – formerly the Tolworth – which for the first time will take place at Aintree on Boxing Day.

“That is probably the plan. He’s come out of the race at Haydock really well, so we’re probably looking at going to Aintree with him,” Fehily added.

“We were delighted with him the other day and Aintree should suit him well, I’d say.

“He’s an improving horse, so hopefully there’s more to come from him.”



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Nicholls targeting Winter double with Insurrection

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Insurrection bids to provide trainer Paul Nicholls with back-to-back victories in the Betfair Beacons Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown on Friday.

The champion trainer plundered the Grade Two prize with Henri The Second 12 months ago and will have high hopes of striking gold once more with a horse who looked an exciting prospect when making a successful hurdling debut at Exeter last month.

The six-year-old won in the Irish point-to-point field before being snapped up to join the Noel Fehily Racing ownership group – and the former jockey is looking forward to seeing how he fares at a higher level.

“He won well at Exeter, we were very happy with him there, so we’ll step him up in class at Sandown and see how we get on,” said Fehily.

“We liked him a lot going to Exeter. We probably didn’t expect him to win in the fashion he did, but we were very happy to see him go and do what he did.

“The step up in trip (to two and a half miles) won’t do him any harm, I think. I’m not sure about the slower ground, but we won’t know until we run him in it.”

Insurrection is opposed by four rivals, all of whom also won on their most recent starts.

Southoftheborder returns to the Sandown winner's enclosure
Southoftheborder returns to the Sandown winner’s enclosure (PA)

Dan and Harry Skelton team up with Deafening Silence, who like the Nicholls runner impressed at Exeter four weeks ago, while the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained Josh The Boss is two from two over timber following victories at Warwick and Aintree.

Southoftheborder was bought for £145,000 after winning an Irish point-to-point and has since struck gold in a Ffos Las bumper and a maiden hurdle at Sandown for Nicky Henderson.

“He’s already won around Sandown and it was pretty soft that day,” said Henderson.

“He’s a lovely horse – he’s won a point-to-point, a bumper and his maiden hurdle but this might be very soft ground, it’s going to be horrible but we may as well find out if he handles it.”

Completing the small but select field is Personal Ambition, who won on his introduction at Warwick for Ben Pauling.



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Love Envoi could take on Constitution Hill at Newcastle

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Love Envoi could make her seasonal debut against Constitution Hill, as the BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle is considered by connections.

Harry Fry’s mare is an eight-time winner who landed the 2022 Dawn Run at the Cheltenham Festival at the height of an unbeaten run that lasted until the final start of her novice season.

Last term she stepped into open company and held her own, winning a handicap and then a Listed event at Sandown before going down by a length and a half when beaten by Honeysuckle in the Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Festival this year.

Her final run was an uncharacteristic beaten effort in the Mares Champion Hurdle at Punchestown, but an injury later proved to be the cause of that disappointment – which was the first time she had been out of the top two in her life.

The issue has left her a little late in her preparation for this season but she is faring well at home and if Fry is content she will return to action at the highest level in a race that is also the likely destination of Nicky Henderson’s superstar.

Love Envoi winning the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival
Love Envoi winning the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the 2022 Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

“Harry’s very happy with her, the plan was always to look at the Fighting Fifth,” said Noel Fehily of owners Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates.

“She’s not guaranteed to go there, depending on how she’s training up to the time of the race, but if Harry’s happy with her she’ll go.

“If not she probably won’t start under after Christmas because there’s not a lot else for her. We will be looking at the Fighting Fifth closely until the last minute and we will see how she’s working.”

On the possibility of facing the unbeaten Constitution Hill, he added: “With the mares’ allowance she’d be the next best thing I suppose, it’d be a lovely place to go and start but she did have a hold up.

“She was late coming into training but if Harry feels she’s ready to go then she’ll go.”

Fehily’s syndicate could have another good hurdler ready to climb the ranks this season in Insurrection, trained by Paul Nicholls to an easy eight-and-a-half-length novice hurdle victory when seen for the first time this season at Exeter recently.

The Formby Novices’ Hurdle, previously known at the Tolworth, could possibly beckon at Aintree on Boxing Day.

“He’s a lovely horse, we were really happy with him at Exeter the other day,” Fehily said.

“He’ll go for another novice hurdle somewhere, I spoke to Paul the other day and he hadn’t made up his mind on where’ll we’ll go with him but we will be running in a novice hurdle in the next couple of weeks.”

Of heading for Aintree, Fehily said: “Quite possibly, whether Paul goes straight for a race like that or whether he goes at a lower level under a penalty, I’m not sure yet.

“He’s a lovely horse, a chaser in the making, we loved him when we bought him and I’m glad he’s living up to expectations.”



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Love Envoi camp considering Fighting Fifth return

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Love Envoi could be tasked with taking on the all-conquering Constitution Hill if making her return in Newcastle’s BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle next month.

It was thought Harry Fry’s stable star would not be seen until the new year, having suffered an injury when racing at the Punchestown Festival in the spring.

However, having returned to training at Fry’s Dorset base, connections are keen to take their chance at Gosforth Park on December 2 providing the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate-owned seven-year-old is giving the right signals in her homework.

Love Envoi winning at Sandown last season
Love Envoi winning at Sandown last season (Steven Paston/PA)

“It is definitely a possibility and it was a race we earmarked when we got her back going this year,” said Fehily.

“Obviously, she got started a little bit later this year and Harry will see how she is training, and if he is happy with her, we may go there.

“It will be down to what Harry thinks, how she is doing and whether she is ready to go there. It will definitely be a decision that will be left until closer to the time, I would say.”

Honeysuckle (left) and Love Envoi (right) in action at the Cheltenham Festival
Honeysuckle (left) and Love Envoi (right) in action at the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

A Cheltenham Festival winner in her own right, taking on the reigning Champion Hurdle winner holds no fears for the Love Envoi team, with their eight-time scorer proving she is more than game for a battle with the best when a brave second to Honeysuckle at Prestbury Park in March.

“Constitution Hill looks exceptional but somebody has to finish second to him and hopefully it might be us,” continued Fehily.

“If you are not in, you can’t win, but she’s been a wonderful mare and we’ll only run if Harry is happy with her. If he is happy, we will take our chance and it is a great race to be involved in.”



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Hansard ready for Rubaud Elite clash

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Connections are keen to take advantage of a chance change of plan with Hansard, who will bid for JenningsBet Elite Hurdle glory at Wincanton on Saturday.

The able five-year-old has won two of his four starts for Gary Moore and bounced back from a disappointing outing when sent off favourite for the Dovecote at Kempton with a creditable fourth in the Top Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree in the spring.

Owned by the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates, he was being aimed at Cheltenham’s Greatwood Hurdle later this month, but having seen his intended prep race on the Flat at Nottingham washed out, there has been a change of heart and Hansard will now head to Wincanton for his seasonal return.

Hansard and Jamie Moore (left) in action at Aintree in April
Hansard and Jamie Moore (left) in action at Aintree in April (Tim Goode/PA)

Fehily said: “We were gearing up to run him on the Flat with the plan of going for the Greatwood, but then we didn’t get the chance to run him on the Flat and this race presented itself, so we thought this may be a better starting point. We’re rolling the dice here and we’ll see how we get on.

“He’s a horse we like and he’s only had four runs over hurdles. He’s won two and was obviously fourth in the Grade One at Liverpool. He’s a nice horse and hopefully he can progress a little bit this season and we can have some fun with him.”

There is a maximum field of five for a race won last year by Paul Nicholls’ Knappers Hill and the champion trainer is set to be well represented once again by Rubaud.

The mount of Harry Cobden arrives having won his last three starts and impressed at Kempton on reappearance, with his handler hoping to tee up a shot at Constitution Hill at the Sunbury track on Boxing Day.

Rubaud returns to the Kempton winner's enclosure
Rubaud returns to the Kempton winner’s enclosure (PA)

“An improving young horse with a bright future, he has plenty in his favour after a classy success at Kempton on his seasonal debut in a Listed event last month when he gave weight to all his rivals,” Nicholls told Betfair.

“He continues to work stylishly at home and is at his best going right-handed on a flat track like Wincanton. I’ve left off the hood he has worn on his last three starts because he doesn’t need it any more.

“The ground should be fine for Rubaud who has a first-rate chance and could well be taking on Constitution Hill at Kempton over Christmas.”

Knappers Hill himself has a fine chance of scoring at the meeting for the second year running when he lines up in the Boodles “Rising Stars” Novices’ Chase.

Although only second on his chasing bow at Chepstow, he is by far the classiest operator in the field for the Grade Two event and is fancied better than his initial outing over the larger obstacles.

Nicholls continued: “He’s a classy horse, has won 10 of his 17 starts, and jumped nicely when second on his chasing debut at Chepstow.

“That was a pleasing start, he has come on bundles since then and has strong claims in this.

“I remember Silviniaco Conti getting beaten in the same Chepstow race before winning the Rising Stars at Wincanton.”

The unbeaten Doyen Star and highly-regarded Givega will make their fencing bows in opposition, while Irish raider Captain Conby impressed at Killarney in the summer before bumping into Willie Mullins’ Sharjah in a Grade Three at Tipperary.

It will be trainer Eamon ‘Dusty’ Sheehy’s first runner at Wincanton and he said: “It’s probably a stronger race than I thought it might have turned out to be, but I’m looking forward to running him and we will see where he fits in the pecking order.

“He jumps his fences good and I do believe he has improved a little bit from his Tipperary run. We’re hoping for the best.”



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Punchestown consideration for Love Envoi ‘if she’s bouncing’

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Noel Fehily was delighted with Love Envoi, who produced a career best when going down on her shield to Honeysuckle at the Cheltenham Festival.

A Festival hero for Harry Fry and the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate in 2022, the seven-year-old headed back to Prestbury Park having won eight of her nine career starts and on the back of an emphatic 13-length success at Sandown in January.

Sent off at 11-1 in the hands of Johnny Burke, Love Envoi proved she was well worth her place in a red-hot renewal of the Mares’ Hurdle on the opening day – and having led Honeysuckle along at the head of proceedings, became embroiled in a titanic tussle with the two-time Champion Hurdle heroine in the closing stages.

The pair could not be separated jumping the final flight and although Love Envoi gave way to Henry de Bromhead’s departing superstar in the final 100 yards, Fehily believes his mare only enhanced her reputation in defeat and the result is proof she is still on an upwards curve.

“She ran an absolute blinder,” said the former Festival-winning jockey.

“All she does is improve every run. I think it’s fair to say Tuesday was her best performance to date. I thought Sandown the last day was her best performance before that, so she just seems like she is getting better every time and she never lets us down every time she goes on to a racecourse.”

“We were very happy with her heading into the Festival, her preparation went very well. All the best mares stood their ground and it was a really hot race.

Love Envoi (right) jumps the last neck-and-neck with Honeysuckle (left) in a thrilling Close Brothers Mares' Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival
Love Envoi (right) jumps the last neck-and-neck with Honeysuckle (left) in a thrilling Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival (Tim Goode/PA)

“I thought for a second when she landed after the last she might get there, but Honeysuckle was a hard champion to beat and if you are going to get beaten by one I suppose that was the most acceptable one to get beat by.

“It was one of the races of the Festival and to see the two of them come over the last together neck and neck, it was just a fantastic race to be a part of.”

With options limited for mares in the closing months of the season, a trip to Ireland for the Grade One Mares’ Hurdle (April 29) won last year by Marie’s Rock could be on the cards providing she recovers sufficiently from her huge Cheltenham effort.

“It would only be Punchestown really – the mares’ race there,” continued Fehily when pondering Love Envoi’s next move.

“But we will see how she is in a few days. She had a very hard race the other day and we’ll just see how she is. If she’s bouncing we’ll consider Punchestown, if she’s not we’ll put her away for next season.”

Meanwhile, there is no rush to get Tahmuras to Aintree following his disappointing showing in the Supreme’ Novices Hurdle – with novice chasing next term already in the back of connections’ minds.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Tolworth Hurdle winner was a leading fancy for the Festival opener, but struggled to make his presence felt and finished a well-held 10th of the 14 runners.

“He probably under performed a little bit,” added Fehily.

“I’m not sure if he maybe didn’t act on the track, but we probably didn’t see the best of him.

Tahmuras ridden by jockey Harry Cobden on their way to winning the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park
Tahmuras ridden by jockey Harry Cobden on their way to winning the Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park (Steven Paston/PA)

“He probably wasn’t good enough either, but I think he is better than what he showed on the day.

“I spoke to Paul Nicholls and he said he would see how he is through the week and if anything comes to light. But he is better than what we saw anyway.”

On future plans, he continued: “He might be done for the year – I’m not sure. We’ll have to see how he comes out of the race before we decide if we go to Aintree or not with him.

“We will be minding him for a novice chase campaign next year, so if he goes to Aintree or not isn’t the be-all and end-all. He’s probably had a busy enough year and we’ll see how he is in the week and then make a plan whether we run again or put him away for next season.”



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Fehily looks to ‘unbelievable’ Envoi for further Festival glory

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Noel Fehily is hopeful for another day to remember as Love Envoi and Tahmuras fly the flag for his syndicate at the Cheltenham Festival.

The Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate enjoyed an unforgettable afternoon last season when Love Envoi landed the Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle on the Thursday of the meeting.

That success was followed by a second place behind Brandy Love at Fairyhouse and this season the mare stepped up to open company with two impressive wins at Sandown – the latter of which was a 13-length victory in a Listed event.

She will now line up for the Grade One Close Brothers Mares’ Hurdle, a highly-competitive race that includes former winner Marie’s Rock and Champion Hurdle heroines Epatante and Honeysuckle.

Broadly considered to be one of the races of the meeting, Love Envoi will be supported by a band of syndicate members as she tries to recreate the jubilation of last year.

Love Envoi after a racecourse gallop at Kempton
Love Envoi after a racecourse gallop at Kempton (Zac Goodwin/PA)

“She’s unbelievable, every question we’ve asked her, she’s answered and more,” Fehily said of the mare.

“She just keeps on getting better, I thought her last run at Sandown was probably her best.

“She looks like she’s improving and she’ll need to, it’s an unbelievably tough Mares’ Hurdle but it’s very exciting to be a part of it.”

Of the members of his syndicate, which he runs with fellow former jockey David Crosse, Fehily added: “They’re all very realistic and they’ve joined the syndicate to have a bit of fun and have some winners, but the dream is always to go to the Cheltenham Festival.

“We all know that doesn’t happen very often, to get a winner last season with Love Envoi and go there this season with a real chance, and with a few others, is great and the members are so excited.”

Love Envoi at Sandown earlier in the season
Love Envoi at Sandown earlier in the season (Steven Paston/PA)

The other key hope for the partnership is Tahmuras, a 10-1 chance at present for the Sky Bet Supreme Novices’ Hurdle.

Unbeaten this season in three runs over hurdles, including a Listed race and the Grade One Tolworth, Tahmuras has seen his stock rise as the form from the latter race has proved solid with Nemean Lion and Colonel Harry, third and fourth, subsequently finishing first and second in the Grade Two Premier Novices’ Hurdle at Kelso.

Fehily said: “The third and fourth ran well at Kelso the other day and were first and second, the form is working out well. He’s had a great preparation so we’re really looking forward to getting him out.

“He’ll definitely stay, he has that stamina and he’ll probably end up being a three-mile chaser one day. Staying is his thing and he’s got a bit of quality as well, hopefully he can travel early and be coming home well.”

The night before the Cheltenham Festival begins has something of a Christmas Eve atmosphere and that is particularly true for Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates, whose key chances are both on the opening day of the meeting.

Tahmuras at Haydock
Tahmuras at Haydock (Nigel French/PA)

“We’re really looking forward to it, to me Cheltenham is the Olympics of our sport. To have a few horses good enough to go there, hopefully with live chances, it’s pretty exciting for everybody involved,” he said.

“It’s great to see, they’ve all been absolutely buzzing for the last week or so.

“Hopefully they can all have a good day out and the horses will run well. It’s such a tough place to have winners but we’ll certainly be giving it a good go.”



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I can’t believe it actually happened – Noel Fehily savours a huge day

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Though he has ridden Queen Mother Champion Chase and Champion Hurdle winners in a stellar career, Noel Fehily has seldom had too many better moments than he had at Sandown on Saturday.

The retired jump jockey’s Midas touch has continued out of the saddle, for his burgeoning ownership venture with Dave Crosse enjoyed a golden afternoon when Tahmuras and Love Envoi gave the Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates major victories in the Grade One Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle and Listed mares’ hurdle respectively.

Tahmuras was only the syndicate’s second Grade One runner, with Love Envoi having finished a creditable second over hurdles at Fairyhouse last season.

Yet both won in impressive fashion on a rain-sodden afternoon at the Esher track, leaving Fehily, 47, delighted and stunned in equal measure.

Noel Fehily (right) walks in behind Tahmuras
Noel Fehily (right) walks in behind Tahmuras (PA)

“That was some day!” he said. “It’s been an unbelievable day for us, really.

“It is bit different being a jockey when you are riding. It is very hard to compare the two, but it is a great feeling when you get one across the line and you have 10 owners there. Their expectations are high and when you get the job done, it is a massive feeling.

“It is unreal. It has obviously been in the pipeline since they won their last starts, they were coming here. The build-up was obviously going to be big.

“I woke up this morning thinking it would be great to get one of them to win. That would be a massive day for us, but to get two of them to win – and in the manner in which they did – was just unbelievable, really.”

Tahmuras gave champion trainer Paul Nicholls his fifth success in the Tolworth Hurdle, the last coming 15 years ago with Breedsbreeze.

The six-year-old is now expected to go straight to the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, providing his jumping improves.

He clattered through the last two flights of hurdles in the two-mile event and while he had travelled supremely well in the soft ground, jockey Harry Cobden did well to regain momentum to score by two and a half lengths.

Fehily said: “He did improve massively over the summer and grew, and he won nicely first time out this season.

“I think that race he won at Chepstow was quite a nice race. Paul said after the race that he would go to the Tolworth, which was a brilliant dream to have, but I thought he might be flying a bit high. But all he’s done is improve.

“He was much better at Haydock (when winning a Listed novices’ hurdle) and I think he was better again today.

“On that ground, to take the last two out of the ground, and stop the way he did, and then pick up again, it is the sign of a very good horse. Only very good horses can do that.

Love Envoi and Jonathan Burke won with plenty to spare
Love Envoi and Jonathan Burke won with plenty to spare (Steven Paston/PA)

“I think he won today despite the ground. I’m not sure he was actually in love with that ground.

“He is a hell of a good horse.”

That completed the double on the card for the syndicate after Love Envoi took her record to seven wins over hurdles from eight starts for trainer Harry Fry, scoring with consummate ease by 13 lengths

Fehily added: “Harry Fry does a brilliant job training her and knows her inside out. I suppose the pressure was on today.

“The pressure is on every time she runs now, because she has been running up such a sequence of wins.

“She was 100-30 on today and was expected to win, and you kind of fear something will go wrong, but I thought she was brilliant the way she went through the race.

“She is getting more professional as she goes, and she finished off the race strong. She just looks to me like she is improving all the time.

“It is quite possible we will go to Warwick with her. We’ll see how she comes out of the race, but there is every chance she will go there before Cheltenham.”

The magnificent brace on a big Saturday was the perfect advertisement for the business, which offers a 10 per cent share in each horse and allows each of the 10 owners to receive tickets and see the horses run each time.

The Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates have 26 horses in training currently and Fehily added: “We have a lot of nice young horses coming through and they’re the ones we want to have, the likes of the Love Envois and the Tahmuras, who start off in bumpers and progress to hurdlers and chasers in time. Those are the types we are buying.

“But honestly, we could not have had a better day. It is unbelievable. I can’t believe it actually happened. It has been a brilliant day!”



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Tahmuras takes top honours in Tolworth for Nicholls and Cobden

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Tahmuras gave Paul Nicholls a fifth Unibet Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle in sauntering to an easy success at Sandown.

A stylish winner of a Listed contest at Haydock on his previous run, Harry Cobden’s mount travelled supremely well throughout in the two-mile contest, and was content to allow Colonel Harry to make the running under Gavin Sheehan.

Though clearly green, he loomed large approaching the last two flights as the disappointing favourite Authorised Speed laboured in the soft ground.

Despite walking through the last two hurdles, Cobden quickly got the six-year-old back on an even keel and the 5-2 second-favourite scored in style by two and a half lengths, giving the champion trainer a first win in the race since Breedsbreeze some 15 years ago.

The Evan Williams-trained L’Astroboy stayed on for second, having the tables turned on him by the winner who had been beaten a neck by that rival in a Ffos Las bumper in February last year, while Nemean Lion stuck on for third, a further length behind.

It was also a stellar afternoon for the owners Noel Fehily Racing Syndicates, who had earlier taken the Listed mares’ hurdle with the Harry Fry-trained Love Envoi.

Fehily said: “I was a little bit worried as the ground looked really chewed up and you are never sure how a young horse will handle it, but I loved the way he turned into the straight and Harry was riding him with loads of confidence and he was the last horse to come off the bridle.

“He will be in the Supreme and the Ballymore at the Festival and we will speak to Paul about where he goes, but he looks pretty good and reminds me of Summerville Boy on whom I won the Supreme.

Tahmuras and Harry Cobden proved too good
Tahmuras and Harry Cobden proved too good (Steven Paston/PA)

“He’s a good staying horse with a bit of quality and I would say Hansard isn’t far behind him. Gary (Moore) loves him and he will be stepped up for his next run.

“This is absolutely massive. We put our hands in our pockets to buy these horses myself and David Crosse and we try to find members for them and when they get a great day out like this it is brilliant for everyone and that is very important.”

Nicholls said: “It was good. It took 15 years, but you have got to have the right sort of horses, haven’t you?

“To be fair, we thought he’d go very close. Scott Marshall, who rides him every day, said it would take a good one to beat him and I’ve got a lot of faith in Scott.”

Betfair cut Tahmuras to 10-1 for both the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle and Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham in March.

Nicholls added: “He has just done nothing but improve and he is like Noland and Al Ferof, who both won the Supreme for us – they are both strong and good stayers with good enough boot for two (miles).

“So I guess we will go to the Supreme with him – we’ll so straight there – but he is the mirror of Noland and Al Ferof.

Harry Cobden returns victorious with Tahmuras
Harry Cobden returns victorious with Tahmuras (PA)

“He is an improving young horse and we will sharpen his jumping on better ground. We are delighted with him.

“It is hard jumping out of that deep ground up that Sandown hill. They all jumped fairly ordinary, but he’s fairly adequate and when we get that better ground in the spring, we will sharpen his jumping up.”

Cobden – bagging this third Grade One in a matter of weeks, after the King George and Challow Hurdle – said: “The only time he ever got beat was in a bumper at Ffos Las, but he’s right up there and cantered all over them today.

“He did struggle for a few strides down the back, but it was very soft back there.

“Paul’s really put his foot on the gas with the horses and this is clearly one of the best (novice) hurdlers in the country.

“I don’t know if he is quite as good as (Challow winner) Hermes Allen yet, but he isn’t far off. I think Hermes Allen would be the best at the moment if you were to put me on the spot to ride one tomorrow. This lad is pretty good.

“You would run him over two and Hermes Allen over two and a half. I’m not sure he would be quite good enough to beat Hermes Allen. They are the sort of horses that surprise you the more you ask the more they give.”



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Fehily team lining up dual Sandown assault

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The Noel Fehily Racing Syndicate have a Saturday to savour as both Love Envoi and Tahmuras are aiming to shine at Sandown.

The ownership group is run by Fehily and fellow former rider David Crosse, with both Sandown entrants flying the flag in their silks across the past few seasons.

The Paul Nicholls-trained Tahmuras was a point-to-point winner and then a good bumper horse last year, winning one National Hunt Flat contest and going down by just a neck in another.

He made his hurdles debut at Chepstow in November, contesting a 15-runner maiden and prevailing by eight lengths under Nicholls’ stable jockey Harry Cobden.

Later in the same month he headed to Haydock for the Listed Newton Novices’ Hurdle, and again the six-year-old was a winner when coming home five and a half lengths clear of his nearest rival.

Tahmuras and Harry Cobden
Tahmuras and Harry Cobden (Nigel French/PA)

A step up in class for the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle now awaits on Saturday, with Fehily hopeful the bay can prove up to the task.

“He’s been brilliant this season, he’s won his two hurdle races and was quite impressive at Haydock,” Fehily said.

“It’s a step up in class but we’ve got to see if he’s up to it.”

Sandown is also the target for Harry Fry’s Love Envoi, winner of the Grade Two Ryanair Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival last season.

The seven-year-old started her campaign at Sandown in early December, winning a handicap hurdle under a heavy allocation in open company.

Love Envoi winning her seasonal debut
Love Envoi winning her seasonal debut (Steven Paston/PA)

She will contest the Listed Unibet 3 Uniboosts A Day Mares’ Hurdle at the same track at the weekend, a race intended to pave the way back to the Cheltenham Festival.

“Love Envoi won around Sandown last time, she’s been in good form so we’re looking forward to getting her out again,” Fehily said.

“She was really tough and the second (Playful Saint) has gone out and won under top weight since and that’s always nice to see.

“She’s won around the track twice before, so we’re looking forward to going back there.

“That will be the plan, the Mares’ Hurdle is where we want to go and hopefully Saturday is another stepping stone to getting back there.”

The pair are providing Crosse and Fehily’s syndication venture with a great deal of success in what is a relatively early stage in their partnership.

Love Envoi
Love Envoi (John Walton/PA)

“Myself and David Crosse do it together, we both have the same ambition. We both want horses that are good enough to compete in these sorts of races and luckily we’ve got a few nice ones this season,” Fehily said.

“Cheltenham Festival winners, as I know from when I was riding, are so hard to come by.

“To get one last year was unbelievable and the dream will be to get another one, but we won’t be taking anything for granted because I know how hard they are to get.

“We’ll go back there this year and give it our best, it’s a very hard place to win.”



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