Stable Tour: Gary Hanmer

Katie Midwinter (04/09/23)

A glorious September morning at the home of Gary Hanmer Racing at Church Farm in Tattenhall, where forty-four horses currently reside on fifty-four acres of land in a rural area of scenic beauty. It is a tranquil haven that is peaceful and quiet despite being the site of a busy racing yard. 

The sun shines down on the equine athletes, their coats gleaming, as they prepare for a piece of work on the stiff hill gallops. The hands-on trainer, Gary Hanmer, along with his hard-working and dedicated staff, radiate happiness and contentment, with their camaraderie and clear love and affection for the horses. It is a friendly and welcoming yard intending to develop and grow with the imminent addition of a new schooling lane, as well as the installation of a circular sand canter and the plans to potentially expand further.

Horses are regularly schooled with National Hunt the main focus, but the recent success of both Lockdown Lass and Tio Mio, respectively, on the Flat, offers the option to take advantage of opportunities in both codes, with stalls present to be used if needed.

Hanmer’s interest in horses began at a young age with ponies and show-jumping before a career as a Point-To-Point jockey followed. A North-West champion in his sport, in 1989 he began training as well as riding, enjoying plenty of success as a well respected horseman.

For the past eight years, Hanmer has been based at this training facility in Cheshire. In the 2021/22 season, he saddled 31 winners at a strike rate of 21%, with a profit of 71.82 to a £1 level stake. Sir Tivo recorded six wins during that season and has continued his progression, earning himself a career-high chase rating of 132. 

Wbee also played his part with four successive victories, including three at Stratford, and his handicap mark has been increasing ever since. Rated 101 when landing his first handicap success, up to 137, his rating when last seen at Bangor-On-Dee, the son of Yeats has been a magnificent addition to the yard. Purchased for £800 as an unbroken three-year-old, he has amassed almost £60,000 in prize money, performing at a 37.5% strike rate over hurdles.

Ten winners so far this season, jockey’s championship leader Sean Bowen has ridden half of them. Bowen, “super” to work with, has ridden 76 winners to date this term, 30 clear of reigning champion Brian Hughes. The Welsh jockey has a 31% success rate aboard his Hanmer-trained mounts, and is a lucrative rider in demand. 

Conditional jockey Tabitha Worsley rides the majority of the horses on track for the yard and has ridden eleven winners overall for Hanmer. She rode the first leg of a magnificent treble at Stratford in July, steering eight-year-old mare Bright Sunbird to victory in a handicap hurdle, in what was a prosperous spell for Hanmer.

The plan this autumn is to continue running the quick ground horses whilst the sun is shining, and wait for the rain to come for those who need softer conditions. It is currently a busy period at the yard as the winter horses are preparing for the season ahead, and those who have been busy over the summer are still raring to go. There is a buzz of excitement surrounding many horses including some new recruits that could show plenty of promise in the coming months.

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BRIGHT SUNBIRD

An eight-year-old mare that has won three times, most recently as part of the treble at Stratford when sent off at odds of 7/1. Now up 5lbs for that success, rated 100, she has previously won off 104 in novice company.

CABHFUILFUNGI

A son of Mahler that has improved with eat run. Lots of potential and an exciting prospect for the coming season. He will be ready to run in mid-October.

DARANOVA

The nine-year-old gelding finished third under his owner, 81-year-old Colin Moore, in the Newmarket Town Plate last month. He is now 7lbs lower than his last winning mark after failing to complete the last twice under rules.

DEE STAR

Five wins over fences for the yard, he recently finished second at Cartmel off a mark of 114. Following a win at Cartmel in May he was given a 8lbs rise by the handicapper, giving him a career-high mark of 117.

FLAMING AMBITION

An exciting prospect. Fine, big youngster who has won only point-to-point followed up with winning his maiden hurdle at Warwick. He was then second having been narrowly beaten in his novice and will be going chasing this year.

FLOUEUR

A former resident at Gordon Elliott’s Cullentra, the French-bred once finished third behind Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap when representing Carriganóg for Joseph O’Brien. 

He will be aimed at the long distance chases and potentially the Midlands National, with the Welsh Grand National also a possible target. Soft ground is needed to be seen to his best.

GRANGE ROAD

The son of Oscar has made two starts for his new yard and is a nice type going forward, possibly one to keep an eye on this coming season.

HILLVIEW

With four wins over hurdles under his belt, Hillview is set to go novice chasing and could be aimed at Cheltenham.

INISHBIGGLE

The nine-year-old gelding last won by twenty-five-lengths under Brian Hughes in February 2022. He was given an 11lbs rise by the handicapper, up to a high mark of 122. Despite struggling in his races since, he has been jumping well and seems to be coming into himself of late, perhaps indicating that a change of fortune is in the offing and he is set to run at Uttoxeter later this month.

MINELLA RESCUE

A £55,000 purchase after finishing third at Tipperary, the five-year-old gelding made a winning start to life in England with a ten-length victory in a recent Stratford bumper. The exciting prospect is likely to run in another bumper under a penalty before potentially going hurdling, with a step up in class in the offing if his progression continues.

MONTE IGUELDO

Arrived at the yard late in the season and his sole run was over an insufficient two-miles over hurdles but they are looking forward to running him over fences.

PROFESSOR HIGGINS

Seen in one bumper for previous trainer Nicky Henderson, this four-year-old son of Milan will make his yard debut soon, but will likely need softer ground.

SIR TIVO

A cheap acquisition, Sir Tivo has won over £80,000 throughout his career to date and has been exceptionally consistent this season prior to slightly underperforming when last seen. He is better treated over hurdles, rated 112, in comparison to his 131 chase mark, and may be seen back over timber at some point this term.

STEEL WAVE 

The veteran performer landed a tenth career success at Stratford in July at the grand age of thirteen, during a fruitful period for the yard. The wily character has been at the yard since making the switch from Closutton in 2018 and will make his 74th start at Stratford, a track he loves, on Saturday.

STONIFIC

Son of Sea The Stars, the ten-year-old gelding has been out of sorts this year, running below par but having his excuses. He is a horse that prefers better ground and will be aimed at Market Rasen, where he won the 2021 Summer Handicap Hurdle at odds of 40/1.

STONY MAN

Once seen competing in Point-To-Point races against the likes of Velvet Elvis and Mahler Mission, the Getaway gelding won his maiden hurdle by fourteen-lengths and was subsequently given a mark of 119. He is set to go chasing this season.

STREAMSFORTH LAD

Named after a village in Galway, the five-year-old son of Mahler has run in two bumpers but looks a chasing prospect and is one to look forward to.

SUNSHINE GIRL

The chestnut mare had an interrupted preparation prior to her run at Cartmel last month. Whilst she struggled to find much after the last under Richie McLernon, she came out of the race well and could be one to watch if her muscle issues are behind her.

SUPERIOR GLANCE

Point-To-Point winning mare Superior Glance is a nice type going forward that will want softer ground to be seen to her best. She has recently come back into training after being in foal, and is an exciting prospect.

TIME TO TINKER

A new recruit from the Paul Nicholls yard. Ready to run before suffering a slight setback but is back cantering and is a nice, big horse for the coming season.

WBEE

A likable type described as a real character, the eight-year-old has won twice already in this calendar year, including at Cheltenham.

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Many thanks to Gary Hanmer and his wife, his staff and the horses for the warm welcome.