BBC Bitesize

Then it was something completely different… we swapped wellies for studio lights! We spent a few days filming modules for BBC Bitesize as part of their GCSE maths educational platform. It’s always refreshing to do some studio-based work, and the change of pace was a nice one.

Wedding celebrations

Next up, Chepstow’s jump season opener was on the horizon — but this year, Louis traded fences for festivities! One of our dearest friends, Joe Lever, married his lovely bride Olive at a stunning venue near Dorchester. It was such a beautiful day and a great excuse to catch up with some familiar faces and some new ones (little Mina). We wish Joe and Olive every happiness for the future!

Jamie Snowden Racing

We seemed to spend half the month in Lambourn, which is never a bad thing — we love the place. Our first stop was Jamie Snowden’s yard, filming a new horse for Old Gold Racing and Walking With The Wounded. Despite Jamie’s trademark hospitality, the weather didn’t play ball; thick fog rolled in and limited what we could shoot. Luckily, Jamie welcomed us back the following Monday for take two, and we got the footage we needed.

GBR, Lamourn Gallops

The next job took us back to Lambourn again, this time at The Jockey Club-run gallops, filming a course on gallop maintenance. Our good friends David Killahena and Mick Finn were taking part, so it was great fun catching up with them while learning more about the science and care behind racing surfaces. It was a fascinating topic — especially for the racing nerds among us — and a reminder of the incredibly high standards of horse welfare in our sport.

Worcester Schooling

One of the standout moments of the month came at Worcester, where we covered a schooling day held after their final fixture. The track was alive with top jockeys, trainers, and horses — all putting in valuable educational work over fences, hurdles and in bumpers. It’s something the Irish do regularly, 
and a great example of why they produce such top-class jumpers. We interviewed several familiar faces, including Olly Murphy, James Bowen, Harry Skelton, Kielan Woods, and Brian Hughes — all of whom praised the initiative. We’d love to see more days like this in Britain!

Lilly Pinchin x Georgie West saddle swap

Another highlight came via Great British Racing, where we filmed a saddle swap between Lilly Pinchin and dressage rider Georgie West at Charlie Longsdon’s yard. Georgie instantly fell in love with racehorse Zestful Hope, while Lilly took to dressage like a natural, riding Georgie’s own horse with surprising finesse. Georgie was seriously impressed — keep your eyes peeled for that one soon!

Chris Gordon Racing

We rounded off the month at Chris Gordon’s yard, filming once again for Old Gold Racing. It’s been a while since we’ve visited Chris, and he didn’t disappoint — full of character, quick wit, and infectious enthusiasm. The morning absolutely flew by!

Welcome to the team

Inside the business, we’ve got some exciting news — we’re delighted to welcome Brooke Young to the Cotswold Film Company team! Brooke joins us to lead our communications and admin, and she’s already proving to be a huge asset. Described by many as the most organised person in the world, she’s exactly what we need during this busy period of growth. Brooke’s love of racing and her excellent knowledge of the sport make her an even better fit for the team. It’s so rewarding to see the company growing — and with people like Brooke joining, the future looks very bright indeed.

What have we been up to away from CFC?

On the personal side, Louis was thrilled when his horse Bebside Banter won at Worcester — a brilliant result for both the syndicate and trainer Max Comley, who’s had an incredible start to the season. From his base in Naunton, Max has built a thriving, friendly, and forward-thinking yard that’s going from strength to strength. He and his team work tirelessly and have supported our business since day one — so it’s especially rewarding to see them enjoying the success they deserve. Massive thanks also to Matt Chapman for interviewing Louis after the race and giving the business a nice bit of airtime!

To round off the month, Pete and Louis headed to Cheltenham for the first meeting of the season — always a special feeling to be back at jump racing HQ. Lots of our footage was played out on the big screens. Pete managed to back some winners, Louis did not.

Meanwhile, Billie has been hard at work on a very special piece filmed last month at Nicky Henderson’s yard. It’s due for release soon, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Billie deserves a huge shoutout for her dedication and creative drive — she works tirelessly behind the scenes, and it’s always a pleasure to see her projects come to life and be enjoyed by all of you.

You’ll all be delighted to hear that Pete has invested in his first pair of wellies. They’re a bit shiny and clean still, but I'm sure they will get lots of mileage!

Winter is well and truly here now, and we can’t wait to see what’s ahead. Thanks so much for reading — and as always, please share this newsletter far and wide!

Warm regards,

Louis, Pete, Billie and Brooke