Bradford City 'til I Die

Do you ever bet on the horses? If so, have you ever backed Flying Bantam, Big Bradford or Claret and Amber?

If you're the occasional punter that only bets on the Grand National you are unlikely to have come across any of the trio as they are all raced on the flat. However, as they are all trained by Malton-based Richard Fahey, you may have encountered them at one of Yorkshire's racecourses if you enjoy a day out at the races, or you may have at least seen their names on the racecards in the paper.

Flying Bantam is a 6 year old Irish male who started his racing career in 2003 and is the most raced of these three horses. He has had most success when Paul Hanagan has taken to the saddle, and is typically raced over 5-7 furlongs. He is often tipped by the industry paper, the Racing Post, to be placed and is currently in flat racing action across the country. He was in particularly impressive form during January and February 2007, finishing 3rd at Southwell, and then only 1.5 lengths off Dapple Dawn in 2nd at Wolverhampton. And that fine form continued to improve when he ran out a 7/1 winner at Southwell when reunited with Paul Hanagan on 15th February. Flying Bantam then ran three times over 7f at Wolverhampton, each time losing out to Kabis Amigos, but he reversed the form when running back on the turf when he beat Dandy Nicholls' charge at Thirsk over 7f on the 20th April with a victory by a neck.

Although none of his next three runs on the turf proved successful, he was placed when third behind Dispol Isle by a length at Musselbrugh and then second behind High Ambition by 3.5 lengths when 2nd at Yarmouth during May. However, after those placed efforts he did manage to get his neck in front at Beverley in mid-June when he won off his highest mark of 2007, 65, over 7 furlongs at class 5 level. Flying Bantam had opened as a favourite in the betting that day but drifted out to an SP of 9/2 as second favorite behind Franksalot as he clinched victory by three quarters of a length with Paul Hanagan the pilot.

Claret and Amber is a four year old male that made his racing debut in 2004 when finishing 3rd of 13 at Beverley. After two wins on his fourth and fifth starts he was stepped up to racing at Grade 1 level where he was beaten by only a neck at Salisbury. He failed to land further victories in the races that followed and was dropped in grade but although he failed to win on the all weather (in his best attempt he was beaten by only a neck), he returned to winning ways in July 2006 at Beverley where Paul Hanagan rode him to success over 8 furlongs after being sent off at odds of 7/2. He has been placed in second or third 5 times during his 23 career runs and has earned prize money that totals just under Ł43,500. Claret and Amber, like Flying Bantam, is owned by the Matthewman Partnership.

Big Bradford, a five year old male, has been less successful that the other two 'City' horses mentioned here. Although he started his career promisingly with second placed finishes on his first and second run outs and a win over Carlisle over 5 furlongs in his third race, he has struggled to match that early promise since and has switched trainers on numerous occasions throughout his career. He has finished second or third ten times, but in his latest run out, in September 2006, he finished only 13th of 17, despite the fact he was ridden by Fahey's stable jockey Paul Hanagan. Big Bradford is owned by The Ipso Facto Syndicate.


Do you ever bet on the horses? If so, have you ever backed Flying Bantam, Big Bradford or Claret and Amber? If you're the occasional punter that only bets on the Grand National you are unlikely to have come across any of the trio as they are all raced on the flat. However, as they are all trained by Malton-based Richard Fahey, you may have encountered them at one of Yorkshire's racecourses if you enjoy a day out at the races, or you may have at least seen their names on the racecards in the paper. Flying Bantam is a 6 year old Irish male who started his racing career in 2003 and is the most raced of these three horses. He has had most success when Paul Hanagan has taken to the saddle, and is typically raced over 5-7 furlongs. He is often tipped by the industry paper, the Racing Post, to be placed and is currently in flat racing action across the country. He was in particularly impressive form during January and February 2007, finishing 3rd at Southwell, and then only 1.5 lengths off Dapple Dawn in 2nd at Wolverhampton. And that fine form continued to improve when he ran out a 7/1 winner at Southwell when reunited with Paul Hanagan on 15th February. Flying Bantam then ran three times over 7f at Wolverhampton, each time losing out to Kabis Amigos, but he reversed the form when running back on the turf when he beat Dandy Nicholls' charge at Thirsk over 7f on the 20th April with a victory by a neck. Although none of his next three runs on the turf proved successful, he was placed when third behind Dispol Isle by a length at Musselbrugh and then second behind High Ambition by 3.5 lengths when 2nd at Yarmouth during May. However, after those placed efforts he did manage to get his neck in front at Beverley in mid-June when he won off his highest mark of 2007, 65, over 7 furlongs at class 5 level. Flying Bantam had opened as a favourite in the betting that day but drifted out to an SP of 9/2 as second favorite behind Franksalot as he clinched victory by three quarters of a length with Paul Hanagan the pilot. Claret and Amber is a four year old male that made his racing debut in 2004 when finishing 3rd of 13 at Beverley. After two wins on his fourth and fifth starts he was stepped up to racing at Grade 1 level where he was beaten by only a neck at Salisbury. He failed to land further victories in the races that followed and was dropped in grade but although he failed to win on the all weather (in his best attempt he was beaten by only a neck), he returned to winning ways in July 2006 at Beverley where Paul Hanagan rode him to success over 8 furlongs after being sent off at odds of 7/2. He has been placed in second or third 5 times during his 23 career runs and has earned prize money that totals just under Ł43,500. Claret and Amber, like Flying Bantam, is owned by the Matthewman Partnership. Big Bradford, a five year old male, has been less successful that the other two 'City' horses mentioned here. Although he started his career promisingly with second placed finishes on his first and second run outs and a win over Carlisle over 5 furlongs in his third race, he has struggled to match that early promise since and has switched trainers on numerous occasions throughout his career. He has finished second or third ten times, but in his latest run out, in September 2006, he finished only 13th of 17, despite the fact he was ridden by Fahey's stable jockey Paul Hanagan. Big Bradford is owned by The Ipso Facto Syndicate.
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