HONEYBALL NOW BACK BOUNCING
HAVING saddled two winners from his last two runners, Anthony Honeyball now believes his horses have turned the corner after a virus crippled his Dorset yard.
Mistress Massini has successfully flown the flag with two recent victories at Ludlow and Catterick and now Honeyball is hoping his stable star Ms Parfois can bring further rewards for the yard.
“We had to go easy with them after Acey Milan, who we thought was a certainty, was beaten at Plumpton in December,” said Honeyball.
“When he turned for home he literally curled up and walked over the finishing line.
“Another one we ran that day also failed to fire, so that was the final straw and we decided to give them a couple of weeks on the roads.
“But now they are back in work and Mistress Massini has won two in a week.”
Honeyball, who enjoyed his best season last year with 34 winners, is hoping he can now make up for lost time.
He had high hopes for
Ms Parfois in last month’s Ladbrokes Trophy at Newbury, but the mare failed to show her best after it was revealed that she was suffering from a virus.
“She was all wrong in her lungs after the race,” said Honeyball. “We had intended to go for the Welsh Grand National with her.
“On the book she would have gone close in both races as she had beaten Elegant Escape (winner of the Welsh National) and Sizing Tennessee (winner of the Ladbrokes Trophy).
“She has an entry at Exeter next month and will also have an entry in the National Trial at Haydock.
“We will give her entry in the Grand National and there are races like the Ultima for her at Cheltenham.”
Honeyball has yet to decide where he goes with the talented Acey Milan, fourth to Relegate in the Weatherbys Champion Bumper at the Festival in March. “He now seems well after his Plumpton run,” added Honeyball. “We will check him out at the end of the month. He’s only turned five but I can tell you that when he is right he’s a monster.”