Hard Work Brings Success.
In any sport, the standards are always rising and it is so important to keep up with the increasing pace. If you can't, then you get left behind. Today's visit to Eboracum Racing Stables provides a good example of hard work and success going hand in hand. 
A return to Craig Lidster's stable for the second time this year where there has been little change in the horses and staff, but the surroundings are totally different. Back in February, the former stables in Malton felt like it had been trapped in time for decades with its leaky roof and old style barns, but with the help of supportive owners, the staff and horses can call the Eboracum Racing facility as their new home. 
Based on the outskirts of York and Thirsk, the Easingwold stable was previously used by jockey-turned-trainer Phil Makin, who sent out Royal Ascot runner up Muker in 2020. The original building and facilities were in need of modernising and new owners, the Burdett Family, have worked day and night to renovate from top to bottom. A trio of bright and airy stables with spacious barns accommodate the horses with modern horse walkers and fitness equipment to keep the runners in top shape. A new gallop has been installed with a polytrack surface to replicate an all-weather racecourse is a new key addition. The owners are treated like royalty just like the horses. An owners lounge has been built with bar, sofas, TV's and entertainment along with an office for the important admin. A balcony provides a brilliant view of the gallops on the ground as well as a stunning view of the Yorkshire Dales in the distance. 
Getting Noticed.
Given the day-to-day coverage in racing, it is hard to not get noticed when you are gaining success and Craig Lidster is having a great season in what is his first full year of being a license holder. Syndicates are invaluable to new and smaller trainers and last year with the help of RacingNewgen, Craig tasted success with Masque of Anarchy three times through the summer of 2021. Masque Of Anarchy would go on to win three more races this year, making him the most successful horse of the stable. The honour of first winner from the new base also went to RacingNewgen's Divine Connection at Pontefract in April. The stable also saddled their 100th runner recently, and at the time of writing, they have won nine races and earned just over £70,000 in prize money. 
Other leading stars of the stable include the two-year-old Havana By The Sea, who won on her third start at Beverley. On the start prior to that first win, Havana By The Sea produced a very smart turn of foot to catch the eye by finish fifth in the valuable Goffs UK Sales race at York which gave her a rating of 81. Elsewhere in the yard, The Menstone Gem has proven to be a revelation in recent weeks and won as recently as a week ago. The Menstone Gem, formerly trained by Phil Makin, also provided the stable with their biggest day to date. A first runner at Newmarket for a stable of Lidster's size would be a major accomplishement regardless of the outcome. In the Amateur Jockeys' Cambridgeshire Handicap, a miniature version of the famous cavalry charge, Lidster was represented by Masque of Anarchy and The Menstone Gem. Sent off at odds of 28-1 and 20-1 respectively, the pair would lead both groups as the field split in two. As they converged in the final stages, it was The Menstone Gem who came clear to win ahead of Masque of Anarchy in a memorable finish for the ecstatic stable. 
The growing success of Craig Lidster as a trainer comes as no real surprise. He has worked with the best in the region as the travelling head lad at Richard Fahey's Malton stable and has earned a reputation for the pre-training of yearlings before they began racing. His attention to detail and patience with young racehorses sees him as an ideal candidate to train younger horses in the early stages of life. Prominent owner in the north Wendy Burdett has provided plenty of support, along with new addition the Turnbulls who of course owned the brilliant Lord Glitters. The stable has received a boost in recent months with the support of one of Britain's leading racing syndicates. 
Nick Bradley Racing. 
One of the leading racing syndicates in Britain with trainers based in Middleham, Newmarket, Ireland and Berkshire to name a few places, Nick Bradley Racing have enjoyed success at the very top. With victories at Royal Ascot, the Arc meeting and at Group One level, Nick is an expert of race planning. Carefully selecting his targets and aiming his horses at big prizes  only if he feels they have a chance of winning. A powerful figure in the sales ring, Bradley also picks out new recruits with the same meticulous planning. Always building for the future, he is a regular at yearling sales, finding the best pedigrees at the best value. This season has been one like no other, with the syndicate surpassing the £1,000,000 in earnings thanks to fifty winners.  One of the finds of the season belongs to Nick Bradley Racing in the form of Marshman, a two-year-old trained by Karl Burke. Winning the first two starts of his career, it was at Thirsk where Marshman looked exceptional. Bolting up by nine lengths, he would then run at the Ebor Festival two weeks later in the Gimcrack at York. He would finish runner-up on that day but lost nothing in defeat. Marshman was given a top five spot in the list of highest rated two-year-olds in Britain this year. 
Elsewhere, Oscula carried over her high class juvenile form into her three-year-old career by winning three times in 2022. Winning at the Glorious Goodwood meeting and then a Group Three in France, she will make an excellent broodmare in the future. A sea of white and black filled the placings in the Land O' Burns Stakes at Ayr where Nick Bradley Racing owned the first, third and fourth home. The tough Al Qareem progressed from winning a York handicap to a Group Two at Longchamp on the weekend of the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in which the world was watching. 

The stable at Craig Lidster Racing has been given a boost by the addition of eight arrivals to wear the colours of Nick Bradley Racing to go with Tollerton Forest, the filly who began the partnership. The new faces come in the form of yearlings and older horses from other stables, all of whom have shown useful form already and could progress further for this shrewd and ever growing outfit. You can find out more information about the horses in training further down this page as well as the full stable visit gallery or you also learn more about Nick Bradley Racing at www.nickbradleyracing.co.uk.
Finally, a big thank you to Nick Bradley Racing for allowing me onto the visit and to everyone at Eboracum Racing Stables. An extra well done for the success this year. 

Meet The Horses: Nick Bradley Racing. *Stats are correct as of 8/1/23

DICKIEBURD
Sire: Cracksman - Dam: Lydia's Place
Colour: Bay
Races: Four runs, one win. 
A juvenile who found a sudden jolt of improvement when dropped in distance, he was highly tried on his latest start which acknowledges the regard he is held in at the stable. Owned from the start by Wendy Burdett, Dickieburd is a son of dual Champions Stakes winner Cracksman who saw his first crop of progeny take to the track this season. Cracksman, a son of the mighty Frankel, was a top class colt for John Gosden, best known for his Ascot wins on heavy ground and has made a bright start to his new career. Amongst his first crop include listed race winner Dance In The Grass and the promising Ndaawi. Dickieburd's dam Lydia's Place was a speedy and smart two-year-old, winning three times in her first season which adds precocity to the pedigree. The early signs in Dickieburd's career didn't look promising, finishing eighth in two starts and beaten heavily both times over six furlongs. His next start was a fresh start as he dropped to five furlongs at the very tight and turning Chester. A prominent position is critical at the sharp Roodee track and he burst quickly out of the stalls. Making all the running, he came clear turning for home and had the race sewn up a long way from the finish. Easing up near the winning line to win comfortably ahead of a horse who had finished runner-up twice previously. It was a smart performance which rewarded Dickieburd with a rating of 81. 
Nick Bradley Racing were clearly impressed with the display and quickly moved to form a partnership with Wendy Burdett. With the Glorious Goodwood festival on the horizon, the Group Three Molecomb Stakes which is a similar high speed downhill sprint. In opposition, the likes of Royal Ascot placed duo Walbank and Rocket Rodney, future Super Sprint winner Eddie's Boy and future Flying Childers Stakes winner Trillium all lined up in the race, making it a tough test for Dickieburd. Although weakening out of the equation and finishing last of eight, it was still a memorable day out for those involved. He hasn't raced since that day and the lightly raced nature of him means he could still progress in the future. The influence of Cracksman will mean a potential preference for slower ground and he could be best suited kept to the flying five furlongs.

RESILIENCE
Sire: Aclaim - Dam: Calypso Choir
Colour: Bay
Races: 19 runs, 5 wins (career total)
A mid-season transfer from Worcestershire to North Yorkshire saw a multiple winner and smart handicapper join the team of Nick Bradley Racing and Craig Lidster. Resilience is a son of Group One winner Aclaim, also the sire of this year's 1000 Guineas winner Cachet. He is a half brother to the two-time winner Expert Opinion, a winner on good to firm ground at a low level. His dam Calypso Choir won on debut before placing numerous times over five furlongs. 
Resilience has moved home three times in his short career. Starting with Sylvester Kirk, he progressed gradually before winning on fourth start at Wolverhampton. A switch to the shrewd stable of Tony Carroll saw further progress unlocked as Resilience landed his first two starts for new trainer and would finish fourth on All-Weather Finals day at Lingfield. His form would transfer to the turf with two more wins in the spring, including a qualifier for Windsor's Sprint Series. With a rating of 87, he was one of the more classier prospects to be sold at the mid-season Horses In Training sales at Newmarket. It was there where Nick Bradley purchased the three-year-old and moved him north in partnership with Wendy Burdett. Progress has stalled somewhat in four starts for Craig Lidster, finishing tailed off in a competitive York handicap when last seen in September. His best run for the stable came at Doncaster over five furlongs, finishing just under four lengths behind Epsom Dash and listed race winner Tees Spirit. 
The busy year has presumably caught up with Resilience as he struggled in higher class handicaps with a rating of 86. A much needed break over the autumn will do him the world of good before a potential return to the all-weather at the start of next year with Newcastle's All-Weather Championships an early big race aim. 

LIOSA
Sire: The Last Lion - Dam: Sally Is The Boss
Colour: Bay
Races: Three starts, no wins.
A very nicely bred filly who has yet to show any of the potential promised in her family, it is hoped Liosa can improve with age. A daughter of the extremely tough The Last Lion, her sire was best known for winning the Brocklesby Stakes at the start of the season and the Group One Middle Park Stakes in the same year, beating star sprinter Blue Point in the process. His time at stud was short lived due to a poor strike rate and his progeny were limited. The highest rated son of The Last Lion is the progressive Godophin owned Wild Lion, a four time winner. Liosa's dam Sally Is The Boss was unraced but produced Liosa's famous half-sister Suesa, a leading sprinter in 2021 who tasted defeat once in her first six starts, winning the Group Two King George Stakes at Goodwood and finishing fourth in the Nunthorpe at York.
An attractive pedigree doesn't always guarantee success however and Liosa has shown a mixed bag on the racecourse. Making her debut at Hamilton over six furlongs, Liosa broke smartly from the gates but chose to race freely in the early stages; going much faster than jockey Barry McHugh would prefer. Tearing off into a clear lead, the petrol gauge ran empty and she came back to the field before finishing third of four. Despite the wayward tendency on debut, she wasn't beaten far and there was something to work with. Dropping to five furlongs at the undulating Catterick racecourse, it is possible she wasn't able to handle the unique track and finished seventh, weakening inside the final furlong again. Her most recent start was the most promising. Making her all-weather bow at Wolverhampton, she raced keenly again but began to make ground in the home straight. She made forward ground but also made lateral ground in the process by drifting badly to the right. She never troubled the leaders but came home a solid fourth. 
With some apparent quirks, there has been some promise shown amongst the madness. Another winter to develop physically should help and once the issues are ironed out, the potential could be found again. 

TOLLERTON FOREST
Sire: Oasis Dream - Dam: Sommers Daughter
Colour: Bay
Races: Six starts, Two win. 
The first yearling to join Craig Lidster's stable on behalf of Nick Bradley Racing, her first season of racing has been unspectacular but patience could be rewarded in the future. A daughter of the exceptional sire Oasis Dream, winner of the July Cup and Nunthorpe for owner/breeders Juddmonte, she joins a star-studded list of progeny from the sprinting star of 2003. Tollerton Forest is the first foal of Sommers Daughter who was unraced on the track, but herself a half sister to useful handicappers Water's Edge and Zola Sakura. 
On the track, Tollerton Forest appears to be a long term project with three starts and no better than eighth. Making her debut in late May over six furlongs at Ripon, she made minor progress mid-race before greenness showed and she tailed off into last. Similar stories followed suit at Haydock and Newcastle which yielded an eighth and ninth place finish. 
While Tollerton Forest has disappointed to date, there is evidence deep in her pedigree which offers hope for the future. The aforementioned pair of Water's Edge and Zola Sakura, half siblings to Tollerton Forest's dam Sommers Daughter, didn't win as a two-year-old and found progress over middle distances. Water's Edge became a useful handicapper in Britain for George Baker, winning four times over ten furlongs and a similar comment applies to Zola Sakura, twice a winner for trainer Ger Lyons including most recently on heavy ground by eight lengths. 
With some racehorses, the growth in development between two years and three years can be spectacular and there are reasons to be optimistic of better next year once she tackles longer distances. 2023 has already begun with a bang for the stable and the horse in particular. Considerably better suited by handicaps, Tollerton Forest landed her first win at Wolverhampton and the very next day she followed up with her second win at Kempton. A quick fire double for connections and a sign of things to come this year. 

UNNAMED FILLY
Sire: Cable Bay - Dam: Koduro
Colour: Bay
Races: Unraced.
The first of a bunch of yearlings to arrive at the Easingwold stable for Nick Bradley Racing. Purchased at the Goffs UK sales at Doncaster in late August, that particular sale has seen plenty of talented yearlings pass through the ring. The added incentive of the eligibility to run the Goffs UK Premier Yearling Stakes at next year's Ebor Festival brings about bonus windfalls.
The bay filly is a daughter of the leading juvenile of his generation, Cable Bay. The Charlie Hills-trained colt finished second the Group 2 Richmond Stakes at Glorious Goodwood and the Group One Dewhurst before enjoying plenty of success as an older horse, including wins in the Challenge Stakes and John O' Gaunt Stakes over seven furlongs. Amongst his progeny include the speedy Dragon Symbol and Liberty Beach, both Group Two winners. The filly is the first foal of Koduro, a winner as a juvenile and fourth in a listed race. Further back in the pedigree, Koduro is a half sister to the 104 rated My Lord And Master, who finished second in two Derby trials as a three year old and the 90 rated Aura Blue, who placed in listed company last year.
Using his eagle eye on the lots, Nick felt this filly looked the best of all at this particular sale, a thought shared by many others. In a potential coincidence, Nick purchased star filly Fev Rover from the same sales in 2019 and the Richard Fahey trained filly would go on to finish third in a 1,000 Guineas and has the impression that this filly could live up to those comparisons, with an expected distance range of six and seven furlongs. 

UNNAMED FILLY
Sire: Ribchester - Dam: Petite Georgia
Colour: Bay
Races: Unraced.
A potential bargain steal from the sales, this filly has a good temperament and shows the right signs in appearance. It will be a matter of transferring looks into speed on the track. 
Purchased from the Tattersalls Ireland September Sales this year, the filly is a daughter of the brilliant miler Ribchester, who was high class in all seasons he raced. A career which included wins in the Mill Reef Stakes, Jersey Stakes, Prix Jacques Le Marois, a Lockinge Stakes, Queen Anne Stakes and Prix du Moulin as well as near misses in a 2000 Guineas and two QEII Stakes, he has been a brilliant all-rounder with promising progeny stepping onto the track. The multiple time winning juvenile Flaming Rib is a particular highlight from Ribchester's first crop along with Nick Bradley Racing's own Nurseclaire. 
The dam Petite Georgia failed to win, but is well bred in her own right as a descendent of Camacho. The yearling filly is a half sister to a pair of two-time winners in the form of Royal Ambition and Kartvelian, who won over seven furlongs and a mile. An attractive yearling with the right shape and movement needed for a good racehorse, there is the possibility she will be a bargain buy for just 11,000 euros. 

UNNAMED FILLY
Sire: Adaay - Dam: Inspirational
Colour: Bay
Races: Unraced.
Another filly to have been purchased at the Tattersalls Ireland September Sales, she could be a very sharp two-year-old next season with some very quick horses as close relations.
The filly is by Adaay, a high class sprinter on the track who won on first two career starts before going on to land Group Two events over six and seven furlongs later in his spell on the racecourse. He is gained a lot of attention as a new sire as his first crop progeny looked above average straight from the box with some winning first time out. The listed race winner Twaasol featured amongst the first crop, and Adaay has since sired the likes of Harry Three, Adaay To Remember and Adaay In Asia. Nick Bradley Racing have a fondness for Adaay due to their own Honey Sweet, a tough juvenile and winner of a listed race as a two-year-old and three-year-old. 
The filly is the first foal of Inspirational, a modest racehorse, but well bred for a future as a broodmare. Inspirational is a half sister to the likes of useful handicapper Rabat, a winner over five furlongs; and to Snap Shots, a two time winner as a juvenile and placed in listed company.
At the sales ring, the filly caught the eye with her size and physicality for a horse of that age. Purchased for 18,000 euros, it was felt the filly would attract more interest if she was by a different sire. Adaay isn't considered a fashionable sire, despite the success of his progeny but Nick used the trust gained courtesy of his own Honey Sweet as a persuader of Adaay's ability. Likely to be ready to roll straight away, it is expected the filly will be aimed over five furlongs at the beginning of the season. 

UNNAMED FILLY
Sire: Highland Reel - Dam: Bouvardia
Colour: Bay
Races: Unraced.
A produce of two of the best breeding operations in Britain, Coolmore and Juddmonte, there is a hint of class in the pedigree which makes this filly an exciting addition to Craig Lidster's stable and the Nick Bradley Racing syndicates. 
The filly's sire Highland Reel needs little introduction as he was hugely popular as a globetrotting superstar, leading him to be one of the highest earning horses ever. Trained by the master of Ballydoyle, Aidan O'Brien, Highland Reel was a Group Two winner as a two-year-old before finishing second in a French Derby in the early stages of his racing career. It was on the world stage where Highand Reel made a name for himself. Winning a Group One in America, Hong Kong and Britain as well as being placed in Australia and in an Arc, he won over £7,500,000 in prize money. As a sire, things have taken off slowly with plenty of stamina in his progeny. The likes of triple winner Highland Premiere, Inverness and Reel Rosie improved with experience and distance. 
The yearling's dam is a bred in the purple, a trait which is expected from the Juddmonte set up. Bouvardia won three times over six furlongs and was placed in listed company on the track, but her pedigree was always going to be much sought after at the sales. A half sister to brilliant sprinters and high class sires Showcasing and Camacho as well as the listed race winner Vesela. 
With a mix of stamina and speed in the pedigree, it is hard to grasp where the filly will be aimed at next year but with two very stoutly bred parents, there will a good amount of talent in her DNA.

UNNAMED FILLY 
Sire: Outstrip - Dam: Cornlaw.
Colour: Grey
Races: Unraced. 
The ninth and final member of the Craig Lidster stable for Nick Brown Racing is this grey filly who is a homebred, so a lot of pride and joy will be carried by this filly.
A daughter of Outstrip, a high class juvenile for Godolphin by winning the Champagne Stakes at Doncaster and Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf in America, those wins were flanked by placings in the Dewhurst and Vintage Stakes. Although Outstrip never performed to the same level as an older horse, his displays as a two-year-old made him an attractive prospect at stud. From his first crop, the speedy Flippa The Strippa was an early season listed race winner for Outstrip and this year's progressive handicapper Outgate is another son of the grey stallion. Best of the whole progeny though is Gold Trip. The French-trained colt finished fourth in the 2020 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe but very recently landed the prestigious Melbourne Cup at Flemington, the race that stops a nation.
The dam Cornlaw is owned by Nick Bradley himself and has produced two other racehorses. Despite producing one winner out of the pair, it is hoped the influence of Outstrip will produce a higher quality yearling. Cornlaw herself is a half sister to high class handicap sprinter Louis The Pious, a winner at Royal Ascot and of the Ayr Gold Cup during a rich 2014 campaign.
The yearling filly ticks all the boxes for a good quality racehorse without looking outstanding physically. She could be the type to have plenty of fun along the way, possibly at smaller and more local racecourses. Sprint distances are expected to suit, so without any issues, she may appear at the start of next season.

Eboracum Racing Stable Visit.