Welcome to Our New Website and Weekly Blog
We’re delighted to welcome you to the official home of all things Ewan Whillans Racing. This is where you’ll find our weekly blog and news hub, keeping you updated every Sunday morning with everything happening both on and off the track. From race reviews and upcoming entries to training updates and behind-the-scenes insights from the yard, this is your one-stop destination to stay connected with the team.
Let’s begin with a look back at the week just gone—and what a week it’s been, kicking off with three runners at Ayr.
Monday at Ayr – A Winning Start
Ramon Di Loria got the ball rolling in fine style, justifying 3/1 favouritism under a confident ride from Tommie Jakes, winning by 1½ lengths. Congratulations to all connections and everyone involved!
Next up was Sure And Steadfast, who is gradually slipping down the handicap. With Jason Hart in the saddle, he was tucked in behind the leaders but didn’t get the clear run he needed, finishing 8th of 14, beaten only 7 lengths.
Rounding off the day was Stand Strong, stepping up in trip after his reappearance run. The move paid off, as he ran a solid race to finish 4th, beaten just 2 lengths in a promising performance.
Thursday at Ayr – Back Tomorrow Returns
After a short break, we returned to Ayr on Thursday with Back Tomorrow making his seasonal turf debut. Despite his now characteristic slow break, he stayed on powerfully under Sean Kirrane, just 1¼ lengths off the winner. A sharper start might well have seen him add to his winning tally.
Zephlyn followed, going off favourite after an impressive win at Newcastle in March. He was slightly outpaced as the race unfolded and had to settle for 3rd of 4, beaten 3½ lengths. That wasn’t quite his true showing, and we expect him to bounce back very soon.
Friday – Two Tracks, Three Runners, One Winner
Ramon Di Loria was back out again this time at Musselburgh, aiming for a quickfire double. Under the experienced Joe Fanning, he ran honestly, but the race may have come too soon. He’ll now enjoy a short break before returning refreshed.
Over at Newcastle, we had Ebony Maw and Billy Bathgate lining up in the same race. Despite a strong favourite from the George Boughey yard, Billy Bathgate defied the odds with a gutsy performance under PJ McDonald, hitting the front at the furlong pole and holding on gamely—giving us our second win of the week. A long-awaited and well-deserved victory. Well done to all involved!
Saturday at Hexham – Tartan Cookie Delivers a Sweet Finish
We ended the week with just one runner: Tartan Cookie at Hexham. With little recent form, expectations were modest, but Danny McMenamin delivered a superbly judged ride—switching sides at the crucial moment and powering home to win by a convincing margin at a fantastic 16/1 SP. A brilliant ride and another victory for the team! (Winning picture below!)
Three Winners in One Week!
A huge well done to all the connections, jockeys, owners, and our hardworking team behind the scenes. Three wins in a week is an outstanding achievement for our small, dedicated local yard, and it’s a testament to the effort everyone puts in day in, day out.
Thanks for visiting our website—feel free to explore, and don’t forget to check back every Sunday for the latest updates. For enquiries, use the Contact page—we’d love to hear from you!
