In Summary

The bare facts will show that D. W. Whillans trained a modest total of 4 winners in Season 2011-12.

But, several near misses and a 46% of runners placed (including where 4th placed prize money is paid) paints a rather healthier picture.
However, increasing our winner's tally for the forthcoming season is the main target!

Our web team just love working with figures - beats conversation any day - so at the bottom of this review there are a couple of tables of statistics for horses and 3 of the jockeys used.
But, prior to that, here's our own take on Season 2011-12 from a Dodlands Steading perspective.

Spring 2011

We usually manage to sneak a couple of winners on the board during this early part of the National Hunt season, but we missed out this time. Having said that, our stable star of many years Harry Flashman ran 3 fine races during the course of May to June, the best of which was when he finished an agonising close second in the Perth Gold Cup under a fine ride from Graham Lee.
Elsewhere, his half sister Mia Matriarch ran a couple of promising races in bumpers, finishing 3rd at Kelso and 4th at Perth.

       Harry Flashman (Wilson Renwick in the saddle)

Autumn 2011

October is targeted as the starting point of each NH season. It's the month where the ground starts to ease, there's a bit of bite to the mornings, and the Dodlands Steading string up their workload.
And in November at Musselburgh, every thing fell into place when our home bred Sir Harry Lewis gelding Nodda High Kid won on his debut in a bumper at the rewarding odds of 80-1. He'd been showing his ability for some time on the Up-the-Middle gallop, but his racecourse debut had been delayed for a year or so for various reasons. Nodda High Kid put up an even better performance back at Musselburgh next time, when finishing 4th under a 7lb penalty.

Throughout November and December, there were several promising performances with Snapping Turtle, Mini the Minx, Charlie Bucket and Thirty Days Out all being placed without us hitting the target again..

        Nodda High Kid strides out with Callum providing the steering

Winter 2011-12

Another winter NH season affected badly by a prolonged cold spell. Sometimes the temperature dipped so low that our even our fine woodchip gallop became frozen. The team worked hard during these times to keep the string on the go, and this paid off handsomely in January when Shadow Boxer made a winning debut over fences at Newcastle, attracting a fair amount of support in the betting market in the process. 14's into 13-8 fav........somebody knew!!!

If February was a barren time for winning, then March saw us back in the winner's enclosure at Ayr with Leith Walk and Hawaii Klass scoring on consecutive days at Ayr. Both horses appreciated the heavy ground and turned in lifetime best performances.

        Leith Walk (and her regular jockey Callum)

Although that was it in terms of first past the post, the fine performances from our horses continued. Novice hurdler Snapping Turtle produced two placed efforts of immense potential, whilst seasoned handicappers Charlie Bucket and Bollin Fiona kept reaching the frame consistently. Mia Matriarch also showed a flash of what is still to come with a fine third in a handicap hurdle at Newcastle in March.

Sad to see you go

During the course of the 2011-12 season, several horses left the stable, just not quite fast enough to make an impact under Rules.
Some have gone Point-to-Pointing like Wellesley, Lockiesedge and Roslin Moss (who finished a fine third on his debut at Mosshouses).
Japp has found a good home and will make a nice horse for the Common Riding, Bollin Ruth has been retired and just recently Harry Flashman has been passed on and will re-appear in the Point field in 2013.

Sadly, we lost Thirty Days Out during the summer when out at grass.

And finally

Many thanks to those without whom none of this would be possible, and so enjoyable.

Firstly, the Jockeys.
Jockeys who've come in for regular rides - Callum, Wilson Renwick and young stable amateur Ryan Nichol.

Next, the Stable Team.
The hard-working daily staff Ryan (again!), Matthew & Lisa with the weekend teenagers Lewis, Ross & Kyle. But also the 'occasional' workers who helped us out when we most needed it - Greg, Kenny and Grahame.

Much appreciation to Sarah our Vet, and to our Blacksmith Paul.

And, of course, to our owners. It really has been such a pleasure to train for you and hopefully bring excitement and enjoyment during the season. And for making those Saturday mornings at Dodlands a buzzing experience.
Many thanks!!

 Season's Statistics

2011-12 Horses		win	2nd	3rd	4th*	other
Bollin Fiona	hurdles			1	3	3
Bollin Julie	hurdles					1
Bollin Ruth	hurdles					3
Charlie Bucket	hurdles		2	1		1
	chases					2
Harry Flashman	chases		2	1	2	1
Hawaii Klass	hurdles	1				4
Japp	NH Flat					1
	hurdles					2
King Kalium	hurdles					3
Leith Walk	hurdles	1		2	1	1
Lockiesedge	NH Flat					1
	hurdles					1
Mia Matriarch	NH Flat			1		1
	hurdles			1		3
Mini the Minx	NH Flat					1
	hurdles			1		2
Nodda High Kid	NH Flat	1			1
Roslin Moss	hurdles					1
Sam Patch	hurdles			1		2
	chases		2		1	2
Shadow Boxer	chases	1	1		1	1
Snapping Turtle	NH Flat		1
	hurdles			2
Thirty Days Out	hurdles			1	1	1
Yinfortheroad	NH Flat					2
TOTAL		4	8	12	10	40
*4th place is only applicable if place money has been paid

  

2011-12 Jockeys		win	2nd	3rd	4th*	other
Callum Whillans	NH Flat	1	1		1	5
	hurdles	1	2	9	5	18
	chases	1	1		1	3
Mr. Ryan Nichol	NH Flat
	hurdles					3
	chases
Wilson Renwick	NH Flat			1		1
	hurdles	1				4
	chases		2		1	1
*4th place is only applicable if place money has been paid