Latest News
March 23rd With spring now with us we are all hoping that It Must Be Love will soon make her long awaited racecourse debut. She continues to train on well and we are aiming for a suitable race, probably over 7 furlongs, at the end of April/ early May.
Nightboat To Cairo had a racecourse gallop at Southwell on the 12th of March and is now aimed towards a race on Sunday 5th April. Alternatives are Hexham over 2 miles and half a furlong or Market Rasen over 2 miles, one and a half furlongs. Entries are both dependant on suitable ground as Philip thinks she will enjoy a cut and we could therefore do with some rain over the next couple of weeks.
Merchandise I have developed a range of collectable enamel badges in the racing colours of famous racehorses. The badges are in the shape of a horseshoe with the silks in the centre and the following are currently available: Red Rum, Arkle, Persian Punch, Istabraq, Desert Orchid and Black Jack Ketchum with Kauto Star currently sold out. The badges are priced at £2.99 each plus postage at cost (60p for one badge).
March 7th A much improved display from Nightboat To Cairo in her second race with the Racing Post mark being three times higher than her debut. Still a long way to go before she becomes competitive but she is going the right way with experience and work on her general fitness should see more improvement. The ground was good/good to firm in places which may not be ideal as Philip anticipates she would prefer it more testing.
I went along to see It Must Be Love in the first lot this morning, not surprising her feed bowl was already clear when I arrived! She did some light trotting and cantering and was then turned out and had a good buck and kick in the paddock. She is just six days into her comeback and certainly looks well enough, we are all hoping she can keep sound and be on the track within seven weeks.
Check out the new website at www.thoroughbredsonfilm.com which is run by Simon Smith, Nightboat To Cairo's sponsor. Prints of all the photographs are available from Simon.
March 3rd Hearty congratulations to Philip and Pippa Kirby on the birth of their second daughter earlier today.
March 3rd Nightboat To Cairo is one of thirteen entries in tomorrows race and is again ridden by Colm McCormack. We are hoping for an improved performance to give us something to work with over the next few weeks before her next intended run.
February 28th The stable visit to It Must Be Love was a success and we now crack on in full training on Monday. Her problems over the last twelve are well documented but, with a bit of good fortune, the next few weeks will see her progress to her racecourse debut. David is desperate to give her a chance to show us her potential and the next few weeks will be make or break time.
Nightboat To Cairo will be declared in the 5:20 at Catterick on Wednesday after doing a pleasing piece of work today for Philip. Again, she will be doing her best but will be delighted if she shows some progress after last weeks disappointing debut. Philip will probably then increase her work at home for another run in approximately four weeks.
Goldan Jess is still a few weeks off returning to training but is starting to fill out at last. A summer, dual purpose, campaign is anticipated with a possible run at the Galway festival in July on the cards.
February 27th Nightboat To Cairo has been entered in the 5:20 at Catterick on March 4th, the race is a 2m mares only bumper. I shall not be able to attend due to work commitments but please advise by Monday evening if you would like to apply for tickets. She will only be declared to run if she shows sufficient progress in her home work over the next few days.
February 25th There will be a stable visit for It Must Be Love members on Saturday 28th February at 11:00am. Unfortunately David will not be available but Snowy and Leanne will be on hand. IMBL is due to go back into training next week so this will be the ideal opportunity to see her and make comparisons of her condition and progress in a few weeks time.
Please e-mail for directions if you wish to attend.
Nightboat to Cairo has come out of her race sound and was turned out into the paddocks today.
February 24th A disappointing debut run from Nightboat To Cairo. In the race, which was run at a "fair pace" according to the Racing Post, she struggled to go with the field and was already behind with a circuit to go. Although we anticipated she would run green we did think she would show a little more. On the plus side, she looked in great condition and handled the preliminaries very well and will no doubt improve for the experience. Providing she comes out of the race sound the initial reaction is to step up her work and get her out again as soon as possible, probably in the next two to three weeks. In the longer term, it could be she will need a longer trip with possibly more testing ground. Many thanks to Helen, Simon and Richard for your support at the track, I hope you enjoyed your day.
February 23rd Nightboat To Cairo has been declared to make her debut tomorrow in the 5:10 at Catterick.
She is one of eleven runners in what looks to be a quite competitive maiden. Most of the runners have been out before and hopefully they will help show her the ropes. Philip reports that she was initially very green in her work at Malton last Thursday but pleased him later when she got to know what was expected of her. We will be delighted if she runs a decent race as she is bound to come on for the experience.
February 21st Nightboat To Cairo holds entries at Catterick on the 24th and Bangor on the 25th both races are over subscribed and we need 5 and 13 horses not to declare respectively to get in. Please advise by 10:00pm on Sunday 22nd if you wish to attend either meeting.
February 18th Philip has entered Nightboat To Cairo in the 5:10 at Catterick on Tuesday 24th February, please advise if you wish to attend the meeting as soon as possible. There are 30 horses entered and updates on wether we will declare to run will be posted here.
February 17th after a naming mix up Tilly has been renamed Nightboat To Cairo, this name came second in the members ballot behind One Step Beyond which was unfortunately rejected by Weatherbys.
February 10th One Step Beyond continues to work well and show improvement, the debut target is now Catterick on February 24th with a backup of Bangor on Dee the following day. As always these dates are provisional, please keep an eye on the website or Racing Post for further details. If we do enter a race please advise if you wish to attend at least three days before the fixture by calling me on 01978 845988 any evening before 9:00pm.
There are nice photographs of OSB cantering in the snow and Jess in a snowy paddock on the Philip Kirby website.
Stable Visit, we are hoping to arrange a stable visit to see It Must Be Love on Saturday 28th February. This will be subject to David having runners on the day and will be the perfect opportunity to see she has developed over the winter. Further details to follow.
Double your interest! For a limited period we are giving the chance to double your stake in your horse for just an extra 50% of the original price. For example 1% = £300, 2% will be just £450, please call for further details.
February 2nd Visited the stables on Saturday with my wife and Richard from Bristol. Firstly, a special mention to Philip and his team for a very enjoyable, but very cold, visit.
We started with a quick tour of the yard to see Jess and One Step Beyond along with all the other horses. Jess looked well in his box but Philip would like to see him fill out more over the next few weeks to give him something to work with when he starts back in training. OSB again looked very well and she looks a real strong, compact type, she still has her moments, kicking out at unsuspecting bystanders and bucking at the start of the gallops.
This was as followed by a trip to Reveley's yard to see OSB work alongside Hazy Oaks in three trips up the very stiff 6f gallop.
She had a real good blow after work and should come on a lot for it, we then discussed potential debut race dates as follows:
Sunday 15th February, Sedgefield NH flat over 2m 1f
Saturday 21st February, Newcastle NH flat over 2 m
Tuesday 24th February, Catterick NH flat over 2 m
These dates are provisional and could well be effected by the current bad weather as it:
a) might effect the amount of work she can do in the next few days and
b) turn the ground too heavy.
I'll update this site with further information as soon as possible or please fell free to e-mail me if you have any specific queries.
January 27th Stable visit update, we will now meet at the stables for 12:30 to see Jess and One Step Beyond and then on to the gallops at Reveleys to watch One Step Beyond canter. Please advise asap if you can attend.
We are delighted to announce that PERFECT IMAGES UK will sponsor One Step Beyond for the term of the lease agreement. Please visit www.perfect-imagesprophotos.co.uk for their details.
Trainers updates:
David reports that It Must Be Love has had treatment for an abscess on a rear foot. All still on course for a resumption of training on March 1st.
Philip advises that One Step Beyond is coming on nicely and that she still has plenty of size for him to work with. She has done successful steady cantering both on the gallops and Redcar beach but has not been asked to do fast work as yet. Still on for a February debut if she keeps sound.
Goldan Jess, is still enjoying his winter break.
January 12th Private boxes available at Kempton Park for £57.50 pp including 2 course meal, further details in the latest newsletter.
January 10th A visit to Dibble Bridge Stables has been arranged for Saturday 31st January at 9:30, this will be a great opportunity to meet Philip and his team and to see the horses. Please advise as soon as possible if you wish to attend.
January 9th Message from the stables " Phil has not looked specifically yet for races (for One Step Beyond), but she is coming along grand. No doubt somewhere nice and local for first run. He thinks she will want some cut. She canters easily 3 times up Reveleys and not many can do this when they first start. And she is only small to be carrying Phil. Definitely got some stamina, just hope she will be quick enough now!"
January 3rd Tilly's new members choose ONE STEP BEYOND as her racing name.