FIVE TO FOLLOW 2025/2026: STATION YARD RACING

The Station Yard operation run by Francesca and Charlie Poste is one of the leading point-to-point stables in the country with nearly 100 winners in the last five seasons – and has long struck a successful balance between producing young horses to sell on to the professional game, progressing through the grades with ex-rules maidens and winning with more mature types. With Francesca currently occupied with their newborn, Isaac, Charlie talked through five to watch in the early part of the 2025/2026 campaign.

Guseakie

A horse we recruited from Irish points. He’s had four starts and, while the form doesn’t amount to much on the face of it, he was fourth on his third run, getting a rating of 73. He was favourite when disappointing last time, but had four quick runs, having not started until April. We like to buy Irish pointers early and give them a good break and, with Leading Light as his sire, he moves well and has size and scope. We’re looking forward to getting started with him and he’s for sale to stay in the yard (contact Charlie on 07879 452690).

Jasmin Des Blins

Another ex-Irish pointer we picked up in the summer with the help of David Phelan. Had eight starts in points, was unlucky not to win one, and his latest run was third in a Maiden Hurdle – the winner has been second in a listed race since, so the form looks good. He’s a big scopey horse who moves well and has benefitted from a break and we’d like to think a Maiden should be a formality. The plan is to start before Christmas and hopefully progress through the grades to Novice Hunter Chases. He’s been bought for the same owners as Kilfilum Woods, plus Liz Inman, and we hope he’ll give them as much fun as ‘Woody’.

Kilfilum Woods

Had a great first season for us, having been bought out of Paul Webber’s yard. He won five, but also had a couple of bumps in the road and was probably unfortunate not to win more. He did a tremendous job, progressing from a Maiden on the first day of the season to winning a Huntingdon Hunter Chase, before unseating at the first in the John Corbet. He’s come back in good form and we may look at a race in the new 0-110 ratings series before Opens then Hunter Chasing in the spring. I don’t think he’s reached his ceiling yet and, fingers crossed, he can be a flagship horse for us.

Kilfilum Woods en route to Restricted success at Larkhill (Tim Holt)

Kneel Diamond

Only six, and had a frustrating start. We bought him as a sales horse and he ran well first time out as a four-year-old, but picked up an injury and had to have a year off. We put him in the Picnic Partnership, nursed him back to full fitness and weren’t sure whether to run him when it was dry last season, but decided to take him to Edgcote, who do a great job watering, in May, where he showed a good attitude and some quality to get up after the last. From what we see at home, he’s capable of going well beyond that, and he’ll start in a Restricted before Christmas – we hope he can progress to Hunter Chases by next spring. He’ll again run for the Picnic Partnership, and we always welcome new members (contact Charlie as above).

Kneel Diamond wins at Edgcote (Neale Blackburn)

Major Dundee

A lovely horse to have in the yard. A former Midlands National winner rated 137 at his peak, also placed in the Scottish National and last ran in the Eider Chase. Hemmings Racing manager Michael Meagher suggested to his owners that a spell pointing and Hunter Chasing may rejuvenate him and we’re grateful for their support, having had some luck for them in recent seasons – it’s great to have winners in these famous colours and hopefully this horse can carry on that trend. He’s cantering and would want cut in the ground, but nothing too soft. He’ll start in an Open before Christmas, then maybe the Walrus Hunter Chase at Haydock Park could be a target if he’s back on track.