TRAINER ROB CUNDY’S PROSPECTS FOR THE NEW SEASON
By Mike Ashby
Rob Cundy trains his horses at Semer, near Hadleigh in Suffolk, in a rural location about 12 miles west of Ipswich. Rob achieved his personal best season in 2021/22 with seven winners from 24 runners and some of those horses, who contributed to that total are due to be running for the stable, again, this season.
CASTLE TRUMP ( bg Presenting – Ella Watson ( Supreme Leader )
Will be 10yo on 01/01/2024
Won five races in 2021/22 and landed another success on his seasonal debut last season, at Revesby Park. From then on, the trainer states, he picked up something which they couldn’t get to the bottom of, although he was never disgraced in his subsequent defeats. Horseheath or Ampton would be his early season target outings and he has been a winner at the latter course.
JOSH THE PLOD ( bg Arcano – Dune Breeze (Azamour)
Will be 10yo on 01/01/2024.
Contributed two wins to the trainer’s 2021/22 total and as the trainer notes needs ground that has “firm” in the description and for a little ex- flat horse, can really ping his fences on that type of ground.
He will be out, when it dries up, and usually has a couple of runs as Rob puts it “to keep him sane” whilst waiting for the drier ground and connections would like to explore a couple of hunter ‘chases, over some shorter trips.
MYPLACEATMIDNIGHT ( bg Midnight Legend – Zahra’s Place (Zaha)
Will be 12yo on 01/01/2024
Described by his trainer as “Great fun horse to have around the yard, who still absolutely loves the game. If he ran on course like he does gallops at home he would be unbelievable. Just likes to save a little for himself in his old age, and seems to have a great affinity with 4th place so hopefully he will creep onto podium a bit more this season. We will stick to points and would imagine the Ampton Veterans’ race, as a nice place to start.”
Two new recruits, to the Cundy yard, for the 2023/24 season are:-
DRIVEONDONN ( bg Court Cave – Queen Medbh (Presenting) will be 5yo on 01/01/2024
An ex-Irish recruit, purchased at the Doncaster Sales, who ran in two Maiden Irish points during May 2023. Finished 6th of 10 on racecourse debut and followed this with a runner-up position, beaten 4 lengths, in a field of 8 at Ballingarry. Comments in running “ Prominent, kept on, ridden before last , kept on well on flat , could not reach the winner, who made all.”
New trainer states “ Settled in very well and really pleasing us in his work, so far. Ideally would like to get him to the New Year’s Eve meeting at Horseheath, where he will still be in receipt of a weight allowance. Then in a perfect world would aim for the Restricted Final at Stratford, at the end of the season but we won’t rush him as he is a nice horse for the future.”
MYLESTOWN UPPER (bg Balko – Lady Heart (Double Heart ) will be 8yo on 01/01/2024
Another ex-Irish recruit , formerly with Gordon Elliott. Ran in two bumper races before winning a Maiden hurdle, at Kilbeggan, all in 2021. Had a year off and ran three times during March 2023, which included winning a 2m5f Beginner’s ‘chase at Thurles before being an unlucky faller at Wexford, in a Novice H’cap ‘chase. Post-race comments “ In touch with leaders, soon went 3rd, 4 lengths down when fell 3 out “
Trainer Cundy states “ Obviously has had his problems but with a clean run we can have some success in points. Slightly frustrating, because of his winning record, he will have to step into Open or Novice Riders’ contests but if all goes well, we can maybe look at a hunter ‘chase, further down the line. Could look at Ampton, in January, as a starting point.”
He is owned by the “No Win No Fee” partnership and is a replacement for Rock On Rocco who unfortunately suffered a tendon injury, at the end of last season and is currently enjoying the mud and grass, on a year off.
