CHARLIE Longsdon, who saddles the strongly-fancied Songe in the totesport Trophy at Newbury on Saturday, is moving to a new yard near Chipping Norton later this year, writes Russell Smith.
Now in his third season at the Cotswold Stud stables at Sezincote, near Moreton-in-Marsh, Longsdon, 33, has enjoyed a highly successful start to his training career with more than 30 winners and £200,000 in prize money.
But now he is looking to expand his operation, and is planning to move in May or June to a new purpose-built facility at the 500-acre farm of point-to-point enthusiasts Chris and Fran Marriott in between Chipping Norton and Great Rollright.
Plans are in store for 50 boxes at the yard – with room for expansion – and for new all-weather gallops to be installed.
Longsdon, a former assistant to Kim Bailey and Nicky Henderson, said: “Potentially it is very exciting. I hope we will be going onwards and upwards from the first three seasons.”
In the meantime, his thoughts are concentrated on Songe’s big date this weekend.
The five-year-old gave him his most notable success when beating Afsoun in the Blue Square Champion Hurdle Trial at Haydock last month.
And Longsdon said: “We have huge hopes. He has quite a lot of weight to carry, but has a great each-way chance.”
Paul Webber, who trains at Mollington, near Banbury, suffered the heartbreak of seeing the highly-regarded Pressgang put down after he broke a leg at Sandown.
The seven-year-old was lying third in the Grade 1 toteswinger Challengers Novices’ Chase when he snapped his off fore cannon bone just before take-off and crashed to the ground at the seventh fence.
Pressgang’s death took the gloss off Time For Rupert’s win at Catterick the previous day.
The five-year-old got off the mark over hurdles when beating Be Brief by two and three-quarter lengths.
On the Flat, West Ilsley trainer Mick Channon reports Youmzain to be bang on course as he attempts to make it third time lucky in next month’s Sheema Classic in Dubai.
The six-year-old, best known for finishing second in the last two Prix de l’Arc de Triomphes, had a spin around Kempton’s all-weather track under Eddie Creighton on Sunday with three stablemates in preparation for a crack at the Grade 1 event at Nad Al Sheba on March 28.
Channon said: "I just wanted to get his blood up before he left for Dubai and he seemed to enjoy himself."
Meanwhile, Channon sent out Woolston Ferry to justify odds-on favouritism in a Lingfield claimer under Tony Culhane.
And My Best Bet lived up to his name to score at Kempton.
Blue Hills recorded his tenth career Flat win with victory for Hook Norton trainer Peter Haitt at Southwell.
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