The winter jumping season is once again approaching, and we will have many familiar old faces returning, as well as several new ones making their debuts. Over the coming days and weeks I will be providing detailed essays on some of our horses that will hopefully be in the winners enclosure very shortly.
ENFIN PHIL 12 March 2014 No Risk At All-Nheyranne-Chestnut Gelding Owner-Randall Orchard & Partners.
Enfin Phil started his career in French bumpers, before graduating to hurdles, when getting off the mark at the third attempt at Vichy racecourse in a four year old hurdle, when still an entire, for his trainer Emmanual Clayeux.
He was subsequently gelded and sent to us at Oakwood Stables, where he made his British debut at Hexham finishing sixth after racing too freely. We saw the real Enfin Phil over Christmas at Wetherby when he finished third to the Ruth Jefferson trained Northern Soul, Enfin Phil would probably have won that race, but he was carrying a 6lb penalty having of course already won in France. A disappointing run at Catterick next time was put behind him when going down by only a length and a quarter to Phil Kirby's classy Whoshotthesheriff at Sedgefield. His final run before his break was in good company at Newcastle where he finished a respectable fourth.
He returned at Wetherby in October 2019, and after making a noise, it was decided that minor wind surgery was required. Within weeks he was back on the track, finishing fourth at Wetherby again. That run put him spot on for Boxing Day at Sedgefield where he was only just touched off in the handicap hurdle from a mark of 114. He made no mistake at Catterick two weeks later when making all under Alain Cawley, storming home by three and a half lengths. Hopes were high back at the same venue at the end of the month of following up under a 6lb penalty, but after trailing in last of the five, he was found to have a snotty nose, so that run can be forgotten.
Enfin Phil began his 2020/2021 season at Wetherby in October from a mark of 120, but nine months away from the track took it's toll and he trailed in a distant sixth. He was out of form on all his next three runs, pulling up at Wetherby in November, and also at Doncaster in January 2021. He was given a break until April, but once again failed to get competitive. He finally began to show his old form at Kelso in May when finishing a six lengths third at Kelso, which was all the more admirable as he probably didn't see out the extended two miles and six furlongs. From a reduced mark of 109 at Uttoxeter 25 days later Enfin Phil got himself back in the winners enclosure, when making all under Alain Cawley to win by two lengths. TO BE CONTINUED.
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