14th December 2015

Sugar Loaf Sholto ran very well indeed, he will come on an awful lot for the experience, he has been a slow learner and is a raw, big backward 4 year old.  Many people I have respect feel that he was an unlucky loser. I would imagine we will take him back to Larkhill in January 2016. Pinnacle Peter has an entry for the 3 mile maiden at Chaddesley and the ground will need to be soft or he too will go to Larkhill in January.

Monday morning canters for all horses this morning.

Why Sam Twiston-Davies felt the need to make a public apology for being unseated on the run in at Southwell yesterday I do not know. It happens weekly in every yard up and down the country. If you ride horses you will fall off, Sam rides more than most and I suspect he falls off less than most, Sam is a beautifully balanced rider. Some critics may benefit from reading Alan King’s feature in the Racing Post yesterday. He spoke about putting your arm around someone when things aren’t going so well, constantly criticising a jockey is not advantageous to anyone. Jockeys as any sportsman preform on confidence. There was an article in the Racing Post several weeks ago about jockeys being regarded and treated as elite sportsman. In my opinion, jockeys need to earn that respect and if anyone of them should be considered an elite sportsman it is Sam. He doesn’t drink or smoke and is always running around the race tracks. Not only he is one of the most dedicated he is a smashing guy to boot.