News updates concerning The Racing Guild's two racehorses:

Guilded Warrior (Stablename 'Muffin') and Joy in the Guild (Stablename 'Molly')

August 2nd, 2006: It appears that it's not just beaten horses who are desperate to catch up with Molly. The handicapper seems pretty keen to keep up too, raising her official handicap mark from 49 to 55 as a result of her recent Folkestone win.

July 27th, 2006: Double Joy! Molly makes it two out of two with her best run so far as she trounces a nine runner field at Folkestone. Stepping up yet again in distance to 1m4f, regular pilot Fergus Sweeney once more kept Molly completely switched off at the back of the field for the majority of the race. The early pace was provided by Polish Welcome but it was insufficient to drop off any of the chasing pack except for the struggling Rockatorri, the only horse behind Molly for most of the race. With just over two furlongs to go, Sweeney made his move. The early leaders were engulfed and while Irish Whispers and Captain Bolsh were able to match Molly's initial burst, she soon eased away from them to win by two and a half lengths. The heavily backed favourite, Kings Fable, trailed home in seventh.

Despite winning her previous race, Molly was sent off at a surprisingly long price of 10/1, not that Racing Guild members were complaining, especially as she was still going away strongly at the finish, hinting that there could perhaps be even more to come.

The win is also continued evidence of the hot streak of form being enjoyed by Racing Guild trainer Stuart Kittow. This is already his most successful season in terms of winners for the past five years - and with plenty more races still to come.

Reporting on Molly's second career win, the Racing Post said "JOY IN THE GUILD was given a patient ride by Fergus Sweeney, who sat his mount off the pace and made his move as the field turned for home. He poked through a gap towards the inside rail and was pulled away in the final furlong. She only got off the mark in a seller last time and is an improving type".

May 30, 2006: In what could prove to be an interesting guide to Muffin's future prospects, two of his sparring partners from this season 's early races 'Gavarnie Beau and Garstang' step up to class 4 racing and finish 1st and 2nd respectively on heavy ground at Haydock on May 26. Gavarnie Beau follows up that win four days later with another class 4 win at Leicester, despite his six pound penalty.

May 21, 2006: Guild members assemble at the Kittow stables in Cullompton in Devon for the annual stable visit. This is a unique opportunity to see the Guild's two horses, along with rest of trainer Stuart Kittow's 16-strong string, at close quarters.

Molly looks in fine form on the gallops, although the driving rain makes it slightly less of a spectacle than the viewing members may have hoped for!  

Muffin makes a sedate appearance in the yard as he continues to rest after his run just three days earlier. Both horses look in fine fettle and hopes are high for the rest of the season. As well as seeing the horses, the visit is a good opportunity for the members, many of whom have never been anywhere near a stable, to see how a fully operational racing yard works and to quiz Stuart at length about the future plans for both Molly and Muffin.

May 18, 2006: Muffin again makes the prize money frame but Guild members have to settle for a fourth place finish from their promising three year old.

Running over six furlongs at Salisbury, Muffin was installed as the 6/1 second favourite out of 16 runners as they went to post. Strongly fancied favourite George the Second paid for a strong early gallop and soon faded. As Muffin' s two fellow topweights faded back to 14th and last, the path to victory seemed clear as jockey Fergus Sweeney nosed Muffin into the lead with a furlong to go. Unfortunately, Muffin seemed unable to find another gear on this occasion and had to hang on grimly for the minor places as three of the lesser fancied horses came past him, led by 14/1 shot Patavium Prince and Arculinge and Catherines Café both of whom were returned at 20/1.

May 15, 2006: Molly 's latest run ends with a 5th place finish in an eight furlong race at Kempton. As with her races last year, Molly found herself much nearer the front of the pack than is ideal for her. The fast early pace was set by The Jailer - whose similar tactics in Molly 's previous race at Wolverhampton had seen him collared on the line in a tight finish . Neither horse was to improve on their positions from that earlier race, paying for their early speed when Maidford came from the rear of the field to land the spoils by four clear lengths. One piece of the Wolverhampton form was turned around however as Skye Boat Song, who pipped Molly for third in a photo finish, ended the race as last but one of the 14 runners.

May 3rd, 2006: The good performances just keep on coming as Muffin follows up his third place at Folkestone; this time over six furlongs at Lingfield, being returned at a price of 6/1. Undoubtedly disadvantaged by an outside draw which saw him forced wide as the pack rounded the tight Lingfield bends almost four abreast, Muffin still clung on to the leaders gamely but was ultimately beaten by three lengths by Garstang. Considering the extra hundred yards he must have run compared to anyone else in the field, this was still no mean achievement. The improvement in Muffin after his first run was evident as Gavarnie Beau, who finished ahead of Muffin at Folkestone, was relegated to fifth place, despite going off as the 9/4 favourite.

Attention now switches to Molly as she makes her second appearance of the season on May 15th at Kempton.

April 25th, 2006: The start to the 2006 season just gets better and better as Molly finishes 4th in her first appearance of the season. Racing over a mile at Wolverhampton, Molly was held up right at the back of the field by jockey Liam Keniry for the first half-mile but was then produced late to display a previously unseen finishing kick. While this effort was not quite enough to catch the two leaders, she did appear to have collared Skye Boat Song on the line for 3rd place but was denied in a photo finish.

Running at a greater distance than six furlongs for the first time in her career, the run represents a major success for trainer Stuart Kittow and his decision to try the longer distance and insist on holding her up at the rear of the field in the early stages. A second run over a mile on the all-weather now seems a certainty for Molly's next run.

Meanwhile, stablemate Muffin is still scheduled to run at Lingfield on May 3rd, subject to any changes to his handicap.

April 21st, 2006: The good run of form for the yard of Guild trainer Stuart Kittow continues as his 100/1 shot Rydal Mount claims a place finish at Newbury. Kittow confirms that Molly will now make her reappearance at Wolverhampton on April 25 while Muffin is pencilled in for a run at Lingfield on May 3

April 11th, 2006: The Racing Guild's 2006 campaign gets up and running in good style as Muffin claims a credible third place finish in a six furlong race at Folkestone. Prominent throughout, he was eventually beaten by two horses who had already had one run under their belt this year - Roman Quest and the fast-finishing Gavarnie Beau. Returned at a price of 9/1, Muffin's run hinted at much better things to come and trainer Stuart Kittow certainly feels Muffin will benefit immensely from this race.

On the same day, the Kittow yard found itself celebrating at Bath as Carson's Spirit landed the spoils in a 13 runner 5f sprint. With Chris Catlin on board, this was Carson's Spirit's racecourse debut and the first time that Kittow has landed a win with a horse on debut.

April 4th, 2006: Trainer Stuart Kittow gets his 2006 season up and running as he saddles his first two runners of the year. Dancing Storm is the first one back out on track on April 3rd and duly finishes a credible 6th out of 14 in a six furlong sprint at Southwell. She was followed out the next day by Dove Cottage who came second in an eleven furlong race at Warwick eturned at odds of 11/1.

March 20th, 2006: Trainer Stuart Kittow confirms that it is now more likely that Muffin will make his racecourse reappearance in April - ahead of Molly - as his training has progressed ahead of schedule. With soft ground preferred for the three year old colt, an appearance on an all-weather course is not being ruled out.

January 31st, 2006: Both of the Guild's 3yos are now back on the gallops as training is stepped up ahead of the 2006 Flat season. Early indications are that Molly is being aimed at a racecourse return in April with Muffin to follow a month later.

January 14th, 2006: Trainer Stuart Kittow reports that both Molly and Muffin are now back in training and will be undertaking road work for most of the month. Both horses have grown a lot over the winter months, with Molly in particular having filled out and looking a lot stronger.

October 22nd, 2005: Guilded Warrior's form is franked somewhat after Soviet Legend, beaten a full 13 lengths behind Guilded Warrior at Wolverhampton, wins next time out, squeaking home by a short head from Tombalina in a five furlong maiden at Wolverhampton.

October 10th, 2005: Guilded Warrior's stablemate, Joy in the Guild (stablename Molly), fails to make the frame in a six furlong race at Leicester. Allowed to run too freely in the early stages, Molly tires and drops back down the field. However, the 2yo mare continues to show good early speed; something which bodes well for the 2006 campaign - which she will begin with an official rating of 45. After four races in 2005, Molly now joins her stablemate Muffin in being turned out for the winter. Both horses will return to training in January.

October 1st, 2005: The second generation of Racing Guild racehorses register their first win as Guilded Warrior storms home to land the spoils in a six furlong race at Wolverhampton. In just his second career race, Guilded Warrior (stablename Muffin) comes through the pack late on to beat Shunkawakhan by a length and is returned at a price of 14/1. After a quiet year waiting for the two new two-year olds to be broken in, Muffin's win is the Guild's first win since Guilded Flyer landed the spoils at Chester in May 2004.

Jockey Fergus Sweeney reports that Muffin "did his job perfectly", allowing him an easy ride as he timed his run to the line brilliantly. The Racing Post report that "there was plenty to like about GUILDED WARRIOR's success on only his second start. He looked a galloping sort who is strengthening into his frame".