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Racehorse Profile

This daughter of Belardo had a torrid time as a 2YO, having to battle against an accident that left her needing stitches in her mouth, and also a nasty bug that laid her and the yard low for a month. However, she overcame both these setbacks to run creditably for her shareholders in her opening season.

Her luck didn't really improve in 2022, although it wasn't of her own making. Big Bear Hug loves having some cut in the ground and prefers racing on grass. With the hottest period on record meant almost every track was reporting quick ground from May through to early September 2022, most of this her races had to be planned for the autumn.

It was as a 4YO that Big Bear Hug really started to make progress, winning in the early part of the season at Leicester and after a break in the summer winning again at Newmarket in November. That afternoon at Newmarket she looked imperious. She continued her good form as a 5YO with another win at Epsom and a consistent sequence of runs.

Until 2024, Big Bear Hug was trained by Adam West. However, with the news reaching us in late October that Adam was moving to France, this lovely mare was sent to Jim Boyle, also based in Epsom, for the 2025 season. She won on her first run for the Yard at Goodwood in May off a career high mark of 80. Although not as consistent as previous seasons, her final run at Newbury, over a trip that may have been a little short for her, she showed she retained her enthusiasm for racing.

There is no doubt that Big Bear Hug is a talented mare. However, she needs conditions to be right for her. She is currently rated in the 70s and we believe she has the ability to be very competitive off that sort of mark behind when the conditions are in her favour.

Her 2024 win at Epsom was a special day for her previous trainer Adam West and ourselves and the numerous shareholders who attended the meeting as it was part of a quick-fire double for two Ownaracehorse syndicates trained by Adam, as our horses won back-to-back races at Epsom when the three-year-old gelding Hello Cotai won half an hour after Big Bear Hug.

Jim Boyle told us:

“It was a great thrill to win with her at Goodwood on her first run. She ran well at Epsom after that but ran a couple of disappointing races in the summer which left us scratching our heads a bit. She did well back at Epsom in September and again at Newbury and that showed she retained her ability and enthusiasm, so I’m looking forward to going again with her in 2026.”

Jim also commented:

“She is a very popular horse in the Yard and very easy to look after. She works well and I would have liked to get another run into her in the autumn as she was working well. She can be a bit feisty at the races and sometimes out on the gallops but it shows she has some spirit!”

Although Big Bear Hug registered a win on ‘Good’ ground at Epsom, Jim Boyle will be looking to concentrate her season in the spring and autumn when she is more likely to get her preferred conditions. If that turns out to be the case she may have a short mid-season break to miss some of the less favourable ground.”

Big Bear Hug is not only a multiple winner herself, but is related to several winners and could still make up into a lovely broodmare. However, we are pleased that this won’t be for at least another season which will give her the opportunity to enhance her reputation through the 2026 season.

Form & Race Plans

Her 2025 campaign seemed to indicate that Big Bear Hug now found 10f a little on the short side these days. She is likely to be raced at 12f and may possibly try further if conditions are suitable. However, her campaign will be primarily based around getting her preferred soft ground as and when possible. She has raced on Good to Firm but really doesn't act on ground without some cut in it.

She is likely to contest decent Class 3 and Class 4 races. We may try to achieve some black type for her (winning or being placed in a Listed race) at some point during the season.

Your online Racehorse Manager will provide full details of all developments in terms of the horse's progress and race planning as the season progresses.

Big Bear Hug 2026 Guarantee

We expect to get 5-7 runs and sometimes more from all our older horses per share period/season, however, you should expect periods of no racing as a result of recuperation from injury or training setbacks. This share period starts properly at the start of the turf season on April 1st 2026 and runs through the turf season until November 1st 2026, however, we will be reporting on the horse before the share period starts (from January 2026) should we have anything of importance to share with shareholders.

During the season the horse may be rested or have time away from the track to recover and it is quite normal for a flat horse to have periods of 3-6 weeks of rest between races.

We provide guarantees with all our racehorses. If this horse has a season-ending injury and has not already RACED TWICE during the share period, we will replace her with an alternative horse for the remainder of the season. Replacement horses may not be of the same quality, are provided with no further guarantees, and no alternative choice can be provided. Prize-money cannot be paid on any replacements, but all other benefits such as yard visits and race day badges are available.

As a shareholder you MUST ACCEPT that we cannot guarantee your horse's performance, a specific volume of runs (beyond our minimum guarantee), or that runs will be evenly spaced throughout the share period. This is the chance you take when owning any racehorse and participating in this ownership experience. If you will be disappointed with only 2-3 runs from your racehorse during the season, then please DO NOT PARTICIPATE IN THIS OR ANY OTHER RACEHORSE, as you could be disappointed.

We believe in being crystal clear with our shareholders - any participation in racehorse ownership is a risk, and we are UNABLE TO PROVIDE REFUNDS because of share periods which finish early due to injury or retirement - as training, vets, and livery fees for the horse still remain whether they are racing or not. Also, part of your lease payment covers the five months of their pre-season training.

This risk is the chance all shareholders take, as we do ourselves when participating in the ownership of a racehorse.