Dobbin stable hits second best season

Their first winner came in the 2009/10 season and to date the best year was 2017/18 with 25 winners and prior to that three consecutive seasons with 16.

However, this term which ‘officially’ ends at the close of April, has witnessed 17 wins to date

So far in 2020/21, these are:

RATH AN LUIR and, LE CHEVAL NOIR (with two wins apiece), plus JONNIESOFA, SOME REIGN, DEFINITE WISDOM, DO NOT DISTURB, CHOSEN FLAME, FETE CHAMPETRE, DREAM OVER, TROOPER TURNBULL, WILD POLLY, ESPOIR MORIVIERE, PERMISSION GRANTED, HITMAN FRED and SEVEN EYE BRIDGE (all with one each)

However, several of the yard's winners are now taking a break from competitive action, either through retirement or injury.

Stable star, 11 year old JONNIESOFA (who has six wins over Hurdles and Chases for the stable) has now been retired and he has been a great servant to the Houghton family and the Dobbin’s.

On top of that, season winners, RATH AN LUIR, TROOPER TURNBULL, WILD POLLY plus VINTAGE GLEN are all resting after picking up knocks and won’t be out again until the autumn at the earliest.

The former, had two chase wins from only two races this season but recently required an operation at Newmarket, on a fractured pedal bone. However, it went well and recovery is now well under way.

Meanwhile, Seahouses trainer Adam Nicol, who only started in November past and had an early National Hunt win with at Newcastle, saw the same horse WISE EAGLE win on the All Weather Flat course at the same track, two weeks ago.

Billy Garritty was on board in a two mile Handicap and it was a nervous wait for the photo finish to give a ‘nose’ win!

Another stable horse, Hurdler VELKERA was fifth in a recent Kelso race and had been backed down to 9/2. Adam currently has four in training at his North Sunderland yard