HORSE RACING: Jules rediscovers her love of racing

‘If you don’t take a chance, you don’t stand a chance’ is the motto of make-up artist Jules Osmany who brings a passion and enthusiasm to the sport few could rival.

Now she is adopting that maxim to the letter...

After Quiet Reflection’s stylish victory in the Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot, Osmany is hopeful the Karl Burke-trained three-year-old can make it seven wins in eight starts in the Darley July Cup when tackling the older generation for the first time under Dougie Costello in the Group 1 sprint, the feature event of the three-day meeting which gets underway on Thursday.

Opposition looks like being stiff with the likes of Profitable, Twilight Son and Dermot Weld’s heavy ground raider Bobbys Kitten seemingly up for the task.

The racing addict, who also splits her working world as a larger than life member of the BBC Radio Northampton team, became hooked again by racing in the winter after a break of more than 30 years and is set to follow up trips to the Cheltenham Festival and Royal Ascot by embracing the elegance of Glorious Goodwood at the end of the month.

Joining the Ontoawinner Racing Club, which runs the Arc Syndicate, means involvement with runners such as the Burke-trained Yeeow and Yourartisonfire, the latter partly owned by footballers Wayne Rooney and John O’Shea and a winner at Doncaster on Friday, although the spread of horses involves other trainers such as Richard Hannon.

The buzz of racing had always been lurking in the background for Osmany but a three-month recovery period from a wrist injury last year acted as a catalyst in reigniting those fires. You might even say it was a moment for quiet reflection...

She explained: “I started watching the racing on Channel 4 again as a result and it brought back memories from more than 30 years ago when I was growing up.

“I am originally from Hartlepool in the north east and we used to have family holidays down to a farm at Middleham in Yorkshire which is full of racing stables. I just love the sight, sound, smell and atmosphere of racing.

“When I received a tax rebate I decided to get involved in a racing syndicate and knew it needed to be based around Middleham. Staying at the Richard III hotel in the town which is full of racing photographs and memorabilia as you can imagine was wonderful and a gentleman named Ernie Weymes, who is into his 80s and the father of the trainer John Weymes, took us around to different yards.

“We more or less did what we wanted but Karl Burke’s beautiful yard was the one that really got to me, although it rained that day and I don’t think I have ever been so wet in my life!

“It all brought back so many memories just being up there in Yorkshire again. I was awake from 3am because I was so excited. You can hear the horses outside from 7am and it was just marvellous to be back up there again.”

When the Ontoawinner horse landed the Commonwealth Cup, Osmany bought cakes iced in the yellow and white colours of the club for the Radio Northampton staff.

Now an increasingly growing army of followers will be sweet on the chances of Quiet Reflection on Saturday...

THE Karl Burke-trained Eastern Shore made a pleasing debut for Towcester based flooring businessman Gordon Reboul in the 1m maiden at Haydock Park last Friday evening.

Eastern Shore, a son of Kodiac, was not seen out as a juvenile but the three-year-old finished fifth of 10 behind Throckley under Dougie Costello and the early indications are that Reboul may have a promising individual on his hands.

Having enjoyed success with Lady Of Gibraltar which is now being covered by Golden Horn.

EDGCOTE trainer Ben Case did not enjoy his most successful National Hunt season during 2014/15 but the early indications are that his fortunes are taking a subtle upturn in the new season, yet of course to fully ignite.

Case explained: “I only had eight winners in the whole of last season but have already had four this time round and they all seem to be running fairly well.”

Case sent Ginger Fizz, Breaking The Bank and My Renaissance to Uttoxeter on Tuesday evening where a clutch of other Northamptonshire entries were also trying to make early inroads on the winners scoreboard.