With the time fast approaching for both both Fill the Power and Delusionofgrandeur to come in off the moors, it was time for me to pay a visit to Craiglands Farm to see how things were.
Fill the Power has been off the racecourse since his gutsy win at Carlisle way back on the 7th May 2015.
He appeared to be sound, but two or three days after the race, it became evident that something was amiss, and a scan showed up a tendon injury to one of his legs.
After a period of box rest, then further time spent in the paddock, he was sound enough to be turned out on to the moors where he remained until the end of August 2015.
A further scan revealed the injury was healing nicely, but the advice from Matt, Sues vet, was to go steady, and work towards a return to racing in the early weeks of Jan / Feb 2016, more than half way through the season.
Its a well known fact that with a tendon injury, the longer the rest time given, the more the probability of a full recovery,and so the decision was taken to give him a full 12 months break.
FTP, at this time was, in terms of his racing career, a lightly raced 9yo, so for him to miss the whole of the 2015 / 2016 NH season, we all agreed that when he did return as a 10 yo there would be plenty of opportunities ahead for him to continue where he left off….in the winners enclosure.
Sue drove me down to the field on the moors which had been FTP`s winter home along with his mate, whose name I just can`t remember, and from the photo accompanying this update, you can see for yourselves just how big and well he looks.
His legs were cool, and sound, and in early July, he will return to base camp, be scanned by the vet, and we fully expect the word from the vet will be “full steam ahead”
In which case, there will be plenty of mouthwatering options ahead…including veterans chases, for us to contemplate in the near future, and hopefully, our patience will be rewarded.
Delusionofgrandeur was in a field about half a mile from FTP along with five or six others, and again, just like FTP, he looked in grand order….big, fat, and healthy as a result of his back to nature spell on the moors.
I will never win any prizes for photography, but nevertheless you can see from the photo, just how Sues horses benefit from time spent in such a natural and beautiful environment on Baildon moor.
Its been agreed that DoG`s first race of the season will be an introduction to novice chasing, and as he has already won a PtP in Ireland, there should be no problems for him to adapt from hurdles to fences.
He went into many peoples notebooks last season for his performances over hurdles, and we are all excited and looking forward to him racing in our McGoldrick Racing colours this coming season.
