WINNERS

Hourless (Time Test x Poly Pomona) opened his account on Handicap Debut this afternoon by winning the At The Races App Market Movers Handicap at Lingfield over 1m1f, albeit of the lowly mark of 47. He was given a fine ride by Hollie Doyle, having to drop in and suffer a little from a wide draw. Before waiting for a gap in the home straight winning by 3/4 of a length from Maramara Star under a strong hands and heels drive from Hollie. We hope the handicapper is kind and we feel there should be more to come from Hourless.

ROBERT (CHOC) THORNTON Racing/Stud manager Lunar Returns With A Win At Lingfield 31/03/23 Lunar Shadow (Sea The Moon x The Pirates Queen) returned this afternoon at Lingfield with a win in the 1m4f BetUK's Acca Club £5 Free Bet Handicap beating Anisoptera by a Neck. This give us [...]

Heavenly Breath (Dark Angel x Astonishing) 2yo filly opened her account at Kempton this afternoon when winning the Unibet/British Stallion Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes by 4 lengths from Liberty Mountain for Archie Watson under a lovely ride from Jim Crowley. She is a home bred filly out of AppleTrees mare Astonishing. Heavenly Breath is the third foal to reach the track and win making Astonishing 3 winners from 3 runners, her half brothers both achieved stakes form and it would be a dream to get some black type for our filly. Having said this we went to Kempton's all weather track as Archie Watson and I did not want to run the filly on rattling ground. We have time now so Archie will wait for the weather to break, we also think Heavenly Breath will be progressive as a 3yo.

Lunar Shadow (Sea The Moon x The Pirates Queen) made it 2 wind from 3 starts over hurdles with a smooth success in the Total Waste Management Mares' Novices' Hurdle over 2miles at Uttoxeter this afternoon, She  settled well behind the leaders and jumped nicely showing no ill effect from her fall at Stratford on her previous start before coming away to win by 6 1/2 length from Betty's Banjo. AppleTree's filly may find life a little more difficult now under a double penalty, although we do have the option of a spin back on the flat. Hurdles can often sharpen a horse up and she looks an attractive proposition back on the level off her mark of 60. We will fiddle away through the rest of the summer before Lunar is retired to paddocks.

BLAAST (Showcasing x Absolute Blast) made it 3 winners in 10 days for AppleTree by taking the Free Tips Daily On attheraces.com Handicap over 6f at Brighton in style. The filly broke well under Hollie Doyle grabbing the rail from the 2 stall to never look in doubt and possibly won with a little in hand. Blaast is another home bred winner for AppleTree and a first winner for her dam Absolute Blast being her first foal. Absolute Blast has a Dark Angel yearling filly, an Oasis Dream filly foal at foot and is in foal to Pinatubo. Blaast's win also makes the farm stats 10 winners from 11 home bred runners with almost 30% black type performers. Blaast will be offered for sale at Tattersalls July sale as we have the fillies coming through behind. We wanted to make sure she was a winner for the mare before selling but have left plenty for potential purchasers to have fun with and an active page makes her a broodmare prospect also.

Inchicore (Galileo x Luas Line) won well at Goodwood this afternoon in the competitive Brenda Reid Memorial Handicap class 2 over 1m6f. Andrea Atzeni tooked the mare in early to settle, the pair had to sit and suffer for a time till they reached the cut away in the straight, getting a perfect run up the inside to seize the lead about 1f out and always looking in control from that point. Inchicore will continue in training this season having a crack at the big handicaps before hunting for black type in the  Autumn. she is already Listed placed and looks sure to gain more wins this season. All being well we look forward to welcoming Inchicore back to AppleTree for the 2023 breeding season, she is an exciting prospect.