Phil’s Owners’ Day

Owners can always be assured of a warm welcome at Green Oaks Farm, where Phil Kirby trains his horses, and they enjoyed exactly that late last week as they gathered to watch Hambleton’s National Hunt string on Phil Owners' Day.

As owners gathered in the peaceful surroundings at Green Oaks Farm, they enjoyed hot drinks and home-baked goodies provided by our trusted supplier Rosie, who always ensures that everyone remains well-refreshed and catered for.

On a largely wet morning, the weather thankfully relented just in time for our visit to Phil’s which was very fortunate timing and a very popular change in conditions too.

As lattes were sipped and cakes enjoyed, owners were able to soak up the relaxed atmosphere of this idyllic setting, which includes panoramic views across the Richmondshire countryside and benefits from a notably friendly atmosphere.

Whilst owners waited to watch their horses exercise, Phil’s team quietly grouped in the large outdoor arena to give everyone a close-up view of the horses before heading out onto the gallops.

Phil ensured that everyone had a good vantage point to watch multiple winner Whoshotthesheriff, due to reappear at Wetherby later this month, and Co. doing their routine canter work up Phil’s private gallops.

As you’d expect with the start of the jumps season proper on the horizon, the horses looked a picture of health and impressed onlookers they passed the gallery whilst exercising, with many a picture being taken.

On a very relaxed morning owners were given the chance to see the horses at close quarters with Phil and Sean Quinlan, the regular rider of our horses with Phil, on hand to answer any questions.

Owners enjoyed the chance to wander around the yard at their own pace, meeting some of the current stable stars, including former Rowland Merick scorer Top-Ville Ben and the people’s favourite, and one of the most popular mares training, Lady Buttons.

After leaving the yard, owners headed to the nearby Black Bull at Moulton, Richmond to enjoy a delicious lunch in a private suite, where they were joined by trainer Phil plus Helen and Lizzy from the Hambleton team.

The excellent food was particularly well-received and there was a great atmosphere throughout the day as owners looked forward to an exciting season ahead with the horses.

The relaxed event proved very popular and with a number of the horses likely to be in action soon, there is much to look forward to for owners, both in the coming weeks and beyond.

We’d like to take this chance to thanks all owners who came along to the day for helping make Phil's Owners' Day the success it was at Green Oaks Farm. It’s great to have been getting more and more owners to the stables to enjoy a little Hambleton hospitality of late and see their horses.

Plans now turn to the racing action with Whoshotthesheriff the first of our team with Phil likely to be in action as he heads to Wetherby for the Bobby Renton on Wednesday 13th October.

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