A desperately sad week at Ditcheat puts racing into perspective | V39858D | 2024-02-10 09:08:01
Final Sunday, we discovered the devastating news one in every of our pals and colleagues on the yard, Keagan Kirkby, had passed away
THE last week has been extremely robust for everybody at Ditcheat.
Final Sunday, we discovered the devastating news one in every of our pals and colleagues on the yard, Keagan Kirkby, had passed away.
For those of you who don't know, Keagan was a eager newbie rider and a massively widespread member of the Ditcheat household.
Keagan had completed runner-up on a horse referred to as Ripper Roo in the second-last race at a point-to-point assembly at Charing, a village close to Ashford in Kent.
Then, in the final race there, he was driving a horse referred to as Westtara who, coming to a fence, ran by means of a wing.
Keagan fell and was fatally injured.
On-course paramedics did all they might to save lots of Keagan and an air ambulance was referred to as. Sadly he died from his injuries. He was 25.
Keagan's passing has shocked us all and left so many people surprised and heartbroken.
I worked with Keagan nearly daily for the previous five years, and you possibly can not meet a nicer younger man.
He was so enthusiastic and keen about his job and, like all of us at Ditcheat, he beloved his horses and working with them.
Keagan was simply an incredibly pleasant and type individual and he might be missed by everyone who knew him. My heart goes out to his loved ones.
Sadly, we also lost Hermes Allen in a fall at Sandown final weekend.
He was a gentleman of a horse who gave the yard some nice days — it may be a really cruel recreation.
Nevertheless it was pretty to see the new boy Caldwell Potter arrive at the yard after he broke a couple of data at the gross sales in Ireland.
It's thrilling for everybody to have a horse of his calibre arrive mid-season and we will't wait to see what he can do on the monitor.
I acquired the leg up on another good prospect at Huntingdon on Thursday when Jax Junior finished second at an enormous worth within the bumper for Lucy Wadham.
I rode out at Lucy's before racing and the weather was absolutely diabolical!
However this lad seemingly doesn't thoughts it when the mud is flying and the race rode like a robust one — I feel he has a shiny future over hurdles.
Which brings me on to at present's huge Betfair Hurdle, and I'm excited to get the call-up from Willie Mullins for the experience on ALVANIY (three.15).
I've ridden for Willie before and anything he runs over here clearly calls for respect, and we all know Alvaniy loves delicate ground and continues to be fairly unexposed.
We're down the bottom of the weights and I'm hopeful he can run an enormous one with plenty of prize-money up for grabs.
I additionally experience DAVID'S WELL (12.55) in the opener for Chris Gordon. He's a good-looking young horse who is aware of Newbury nicely and has some strong type around there.
My ultimate journey of the day is ROMAN ROY (four.25), who's owned by Graeme Brooks and runs in the same colours as my previous pal Black Corton, in the final for Paul.
He is a gorgeous horse, a proper athlete to take a look at, and was a great second in an enormous subject bumper on his debut. He has a pleasant probability.
Nevertheless, no matter occurs out there at the moment — and for the rest of the season — Keagan will never be far from our ideas. His passing definitely places every little thing into perspective.
More >> https://ift.tt/LNpfKzO Source: MAG NEWS
