Pedigree

                                                                      Spectrum
                                        Gamut
                                                                      Greektown
Paper Roses (IRE)
2011 bay mare
                                                                      Old Vic
                                        Rose Vic
                                                                      Greek Melody

The family

'Niamh' is the first progeny of the unraced mare Rose Vic, a daughter of theexcellent NH sire Old Vic, and the elder sister to Mrs. Smith's Paper Promise.
Rose Vic also has bumper/hurdle winner Way Out West (b 2013 by Westerner), a filly (b 2014) also by Westerner and colts (b 2017 & 2018) by Jet Away. In August '19, her 3yr-old half-sister by Califet has been purchased to also join Dodlands.
The grand dam, Greek Melody, was placed in 4 bumpers before prevailing in a similar event over 2½ miles at Dundalk in the mid 90s. She followed that up with a 3rd place again over 2½ miles in her sole hurdle race.
As a broodmare, she has bred 3 winners, all achieving black type, in the mare Best Wait (placed in a Royal Bond), Grade 3 placed Spartan Angel and Grade 1 placed Arrive Sir Clive.
The 3rd dam Kazama, placed in France, has proved an excellent broodmare, with 7 individual winners from 8 foals. The best of these
was race mare Kiora, Group 3 placed on the level, Listed placed over
hurdles, the winner of 6 races in all.

About the sire

Gamut (bay horse, born 1999) raced in each of 5 seasons from 2 to 6 when trained by Sir Michael Stoute in the early 2000s. He won 6 races, and was ridden by Keiron Fallon in each of those victories.
And he showed himself as a top class racehorse, with all those wins coming at around 12f, including the Group 1 Grand prix de Saint-Cloud as a 5yr old.

At stud, Gamut was initially marketed as a dual purpose sire while standing at Sunnyhill Stud in Ireland before moving on to Rosshill Farm stud (Co. Galway) in 2014, where his progeny have been almost totally NH focused (Stud fee €3-4k).
Road to Riches (b 2007) is from Gamut's first crop and a top class chaser (a dual Grade 1 winner), as Gamut has built a reputation as a sire of strong gallopers. Road to Respect, from his 4th crop, a dual Grade 1 winning chaser is another top class jumper.
In addition, Joshua Lane finished 3rd in the 2014 Festival Bumper whilst Any Drama and Springtown Lake are classy horses in recent times.

Form Summary

In the last decade, there has been no better barometer of the World Financial Market than Bloodstock Sales. The market crashes of 2008 / 09 were quickly reflected in the downturn in all bloodstock sales around the world, obviously more keenly felt at the yearling sales at Fasig-Tipton, Keeneland and Tattersalls. National Hunt sales (Tattersall, Goffs, and the then DBS) did not escape with huge drops in median, average and numbers sold.
Whilst the foal levels were still high, buyers were overwhelmed with lots during 2010-11 with figures of 50% unsold not uncommon. Well, 2014 saw bloodstock companies reporting returns to the level of 2007. Since 2014, our pocket has always favoured the Tattersalls Ireland 3 day August NH Store Sale, ranked below the major NH sales of May, June & July but with many a gem to be found.
Having been impressed with the strong, galloping nature of the produce of Gamut, and having this confirmed with experience that Callum advised whilst employed by large yards south of the border, we set out with a few of his progeny marked in our inspection list at the NH Sale in August 2014.
And we were delighted to come home with this lovely filly, plus the gelding Keyboard Gangster.
Anyway, 'Niamh' had a full season of training in 2014-15, finished off with a racecourse gallop at Kelso in May before being turned out to grass for that summer. Her racecourse debut came in a Musselburgh bumper in November 2015 finishing 3rd of 12 beaten just 3l. She followed up in the middle of March '16 with an excellent 2nd place in another bumper, travelling very well but just outlasted by the well regarded winner.
Paper Roses continued very much in the same vein in 2016-17 season, running some very good and promising races, being placed but not having much luck in terms of winning. She ended the season finishing 2nd at Perth in April ' 17 just failing by a length to peg back Miss Maiden Over in a 2m 4f hdcp hurdle.
Almost a repeat in 2017-18, with 'Niamh' running well in 2nd in a couple of handicap hurdles but her form did dip off so we roughed her off for the season in March.

Paper Roses is a bit of an enigma, and 2018-19 season was no exception. She was placed in each of her 3 handicap hurdles, showing a consistent level of form, but without really looking like winning. She has come down 6lb in the handicap, which can only help.

Paper Roses, an athletic filly, not overbig in stature and as already alluded to, she remains a maiden. Look out for her over hurdles at around the 2m - 2m 4f distance and is a mare, given her pedigree, we'd love to win a race with.

Season		win	2nd	3rd	4th	other
2015-16	NH Flat		1	1
2016-17	NH Flat			1
2016-17	hurdles		1	1		3
2017-18	hurdles		2		1	1
2018-19	hurdles		2		1
2019-20	hurdles			1		2

Current Season Form

27 February 20 Musselburgh : 2m 4f Novices Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 107 Soft 4 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 3rd (beaten 38l)

Tracked leaders in 3rd, ridden after 5 out, lost touch after 4 out, kept on in distant 3rd

Paper Roses didn't seem to enjoy this much but she's a lovely filly and if this is her last race before retirement then it's full circle. Her first race was in a bumper at Musselburgh and she finished 3rd.

20 January 20 Newcastle : 2m Handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-110) OR 109 Heavy 10 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 6th (beaten 17½l)

Towards rear, ridden after 4 out, weakened before 2 out

Paper Roses had been receiving treatment for the issue that caused slight lameness last time at Kelso, so despite being beaten a fair way we were pleased she finished sound. In the grips of the handicapper now..............

9 November 19 Kelso : 2m 5f Hdcp Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 109 heavy 9 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 6th (beaten 23l)

Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out

Paper Roses finished this race feelingly, and was checked out by the racecourse vet afterwards. We'll see how she is in the next few days.

Previous Season Form

14 March 19 Hexham : 2m Conditional Jockeys Mares' Hdcp Hurdle (Class 4 0-110) OR109 heavy 6 ran (B Campbell) - 2nd (btn 2¾l)

Tracked leaders, ridden and outpaced 2 out, stayed on well flat but not reach winner

Paper Roses ran probably her best race for some time over a distance a couple of furlongs short of her optimum. Jumped well, but just outpaced at the bottom of the hill turning for home. Finished strongly to pick off 2 or 3 on run-in but held by winner

6 February 19 Ayr : 2m 3½f Mares handicap Hurdle (Class 4 0-120) OR 112 soft 7 ran (C Whillans(3) - 4th (beaten 20l)

Took keen hold, led, hit 2nd, headed after 3 out, weakened from next, left modest fourth last

Paper Roses set a moderate pace and held every chance 3 out, but was soon beaten.

12 December 18 Hexham : 2m mares novice hurdle (Class 4) soft 5 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd (beaten 3l)

Tracked leaders, effort at omitted 2 out but never able to challenge winner

Paper Roses ran a nice enough race here but wasn't able to match the pace of the winner in the last half mile, in what was a slowly run race.

23 March 18 Sedgefield : 2m 1f mares novice hurdle (Class 4) soft 10 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 4th beaten 11l

Tracked leaders, ridden after 3 out, one pace and no impression from 2 out

Paper Roses again wasn't at her best here. She looked a bit stiff behind after the race and we'll have her checked out during the week and see if anything comes to light.

11 January 18 Catterick : 2m mares novice hurdle (Class 4) soft 7 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 5th beaten 20l

Prominent, ridden after 3 out, weakened 2 out

Oh well......Paper Roses started favourite and came into the race with the best form but ran a below par race. For a horse that usually travels so well, there were early warning indications as she was being nudged along soon in the back straight.

3 Dec 17 Carlisle : 2m 4f hdcp hurdle (Northern Lights Mares Series Final) (Class 2 0-125) OR 112 soft 7 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd (btn hd)

Tracked leaders going well, smooth headway to lead 3 out, headed last, kept on well flat, just failed

Heart-stopping really. Paper Roses, under a top class ride from Callum, just failed to win this good prize. Carrying top weight, on ground far from suitable, she gave her all, battling on to the line. She'll probably need time to recover, but an easier opportunity will be sought next time.

15 Nov Ayr : 2m 4½f hdcp hurdle (Northern Lights Mares Series) (Class 4 0-120) OR 112 Class 4 Heavy 11 ran (C Whillans (3)) - 2nd btn 5l

In rear, good headway into mid div after 5th, joined leaders 4 out, disputed lead from 3 out to appr last, ridden and no extra

Marvellous seasonal debut from the mare, travelling well and jumping soundly. She held every chance as she drew clear with the well handicapped, in-form winner after 3 out but Attention Seaker put her flat pace to good use after the last. Possible tilt at Carlisle finals day in December?