16th January 2020

The horses between races and in full work put in some hard yards around the sand, those coming off the back of races had quiet canters up the hill or quietly around the sand.

I think enough is enough of this rain now, it has become very tedious. I was cold to the bones at Ludlow today, running in the second race and the last makes for a long day in those conditions. 

Hunting Percival ran a super race and will certainly be winning again at some stage when the ground finally dries back, You Name Him also pleased me, it was hard work for a four-year old and physical weakness just found him wanting in the home straight. He travelled in to the race off a proper gallop very nicely and will improve for the run and experience. He won’t be rushed back on to the track. 

Floating Rock poor showing was most likely my fault for being naive about ground conditions and I don’t know why I allow myself to be drawn into going descriptions. I feel that clerks of courses should be more specific in such conditions and add “holding” into their description. I have raised it with a couple of exceptional clerks and they are in agreement with me that they need to supply a little more info when conditions are as they currently are at a lot of tracks. The jockeys at Ludlow were plastered in mud yet those I saw on television at Market Rasen look spotless. When they can slop through the ground it makes an unquantifiable difference.  

Thomas Patrick is heading to the beach tomorrow as we’ve no runners. He needs a few different things thrown at him in the hope he can find some enthusiasm for racing. He’s been around our banks and around Eastnor Castle in the mud, tomorrow he’s taking his bucket and spade to the beach.