29th October 2015

A wet wind swept morning which I thoroughly enjoyed. I got the feeling that all the cobwebs were being blown away and the air becoming so much clearer having had such mild weather of late.

Most of the horses had routine canters either on the deep sand gallop or up the woodchip. The deep sand gallop is 2 furlongs round and a massive asset to the facilities here. It allows us the chance to get some core fitness into the horses without having to use the hill 6 days a week. It also teaches the younger horses to balance and breath.

Diamond Joel was castrated today; he is a 3 year old owned by Norma Harris who supplied me with my first winner under rules with Cloudy Spirit, (in foal to Dunaden). Diamond Joel had had a hard enough campaign on the flat during the summer and will now have a well-earned break before going back to Mick Channon for another flat season, after which, the plan is to send him hurdling again. I think we’ll all see a different horse hurdling now he’s gelded. Hurdles and colts aren’t a good combination in my experience.

It is rather alarming when Sophie asks me to set up her email accounts……………….

Next time we read about Kim driving his box the length and breath of Britian, please bare in mind it is lefthand drive!