Beyond The Clouds Kicks Off New Year In Style
2016 was a very good season for the team when they travelled North to Scotland with Hamilton, Musselburgh and Ayr providing plenty of winners throughout the year. It didn’t take Kevin long to get off the mark for the new year and although it was a track regularly visited, Musselburgh, it was a change of rules as Beyond The Clouds tackled the 1m7f RacingUK.com Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race winning in impressive style on his racecourse debut.
Owned and bred by Guy Reed Racing, Beyond The Clouds was a horse that had history with Hambleton Lodge before he even arrived at the yard. Half Brothers Moonlight Venture and Beautiful Day were both multiple winners for connections and Clouds looked a very similar type to both. Being a big, raw horse he was given plenty of time to grow meaning a racecourse debut would have to wait.
Having missed his 2 year old season Clouds began to come to hand late the following year. After showing promise in his home work Kevin quickly felt that his future would lie in races providing a good stamina test. With this in mind it was decided that Beyond The Clouds would go down the Bumper route, which should play to his strengths whilst also giving him that extra time to continue his progression.
Travelling up to Musselburgh to make his debut, Beyond The Cloud looked to have a tough task with what looked like an above average Bumper. There were plenty of talking horses and he would need to learn quickly if he wanted to make an impression. Brian Hughes was booked for the ride, as he had been in to sit on Clouds and is the jockey that Kevin turns to whenever he sends out a NH runner. Having ridden him work and on other occasions, Brian knew what he wanted to do and so tactics were left entirely up to the in form jockey.
When the tape released Beyond The Clouds jumped off to the inner looking to be positive from the off. As a couple of rivals moved forward to lead, Brian just sat on their tails to gain a nice bit of cover. The pace looked steady from the early stages and allowed all of the 12 runners time to get into their stride, with little covering the entire field. With the slow gallop Clouds suddenly felt he wanted to go quicker. Brian had to try and settle the chestnut as he threw his head around, attempting to gain control and do as he wanted.
Through the first half mile the race was run as more of morning canter. Clouds had quickly given up his fight sensing that Brian would not give in and travelled well in third. There was still very little to split first to last but then a little injection of pace upped the tempo. The leaders decided to go a stride which gave them a bigger lead and also stretched the runners out a little. Clouds enjoyed the faster gallop and stretched out to maintain his position.
Little was to change until the latter stages and with a good, even gallop the race was being run to suit all running styles so there should be no hard luck stories. Beyond The Clouds travelled smoothly and handled the tight turns despite his inexperience. Brian was riding him with plenty of confidence and it was easy to see why. As the leaders took the field along to the final half mile, they continued to increased the tempo and stretch the field. this caught one or two on their heels and gaps began to appear. Clouds managed to go with the two front runners and this opened up a couple of lengths to the rest, with the favourite Hattab just a little outpaced.
Rounding the home bend the leaders kicked for home with just over 2f left to run. Brian had taken the shortest route all the way and continued to creep up the inner. There was a clear break to the rest and with the front two hard at it, confidence was growing with Beyond the Clouds. Still travelling well on the bridle he moved up to close up to the leaders and looked to be full of running. Brian was patient and allowed his mount to move through the gears before he went for the finish.
Between the 2f and 1f marker Clouds had moved up to join in with the leaders but within strides he kicked clear. Moving into the final furlong Brian loosened the reins and the pair bounded clear. The race was put to bed in a matter of strides and all Brian had to do was decide how far he wanted to win. The favourite rallied late to stay on through the field but Clouds was gone. With every yard of turf Clouds went further and further clear. Accelerating all the way to the line, Beyond The Clouds clinched an emphatic win by 12 lengths and it could have been more.
Beyond The Clouds Wining In Emphatic Fashion On His First Career Start
This was a very impressive debut and one that will take the eye of many people. Not only did Beyond The Clouds travel extremely well but he quickened up smartly and put the race to bed when asked. There is nothing but positives to take from this win and it shows that Clouds has a bright future. Where that future lies will be decided in the coming months. He could easily look for bigger opportunities in the NH flat races or could potentially be a smart prospect for the 2017 flat season. He has certainly got his career off to a great start and has connections excited for the coming months.