Blog

The horses have come out of the weekend races in good shape, we didn’t make them all favorite and that I am afraid is someone else’s problem, not mind. I was delighted with the way they all ran excluding Dorking Cock who was a slow starter last time around. Le Grand Fromage ran above my expectations, Floating Rock was green and he too had a decent blow, Neveille’s Cross bumped in...

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Nothing too serious for any of the horses this morning, routine canters up the hill. Some covered more yards than others. We schooled some three year olds over hurdles, barrels and two plain fences.   I have a lot to sort out this evening. Neville’s Cross, Le Grand Fromage, Floating Rock and Dorking Cock went north after breakfast this morning. Saint Arvans will head to Chepstow after...

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Hunting Percival won well yesterday, our task could possibly have been helped by the favourite coming out on the day. You can only beat what is put in front of you and he did it nicely and nothing should be taken away from him. In time, we will send him over hurdles as he doesn’t strike me as a horse to win under a penalty as the season gears up.  He has come out of the race in A1 ...

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Forchena  -  thoughts

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This morning we worked Johnbb, Sebastopol, Floating Rock, Dorking Boy, Vado Forte, Quick Draw, Gold Clermont, Neville’s Cross, You Name Him, Lamanver Storm, Saint Arvans, Le Grand Fromage, Red Nika, Christopher Robin, Snapdragon Fire, Coningsby and Kimberlite Candy. Polydora and Kateson schooled on the schooling strip, Lossiemouth and Glory and Fortune Jumped ten hurdles on the grass. The ot...

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Typical Monday morning canters for the horses soon came around again. Luck of The Legion is in good order after Fontwell and had another day chilling in the field, she will start to bob away again tomorrow. This morning Glory and Fortune, Christopher Robin, Lossiemouth, Red Nika, Le Grand Fromage, Sebastopol and Floating Rock jumped four hurdles on the all weather schooling strip and then five or ...

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It is seldom I don’t go racing but today was just one of those days I needed and wanted to be at home. We worked, Le Grand Fromage, Lossiemouth, Snapdragon Fire, Christopher Robin, Floating Rock, Coningsby, JohnBB, Sebastopol, Glory and Fortune, Quick Draw, Kimberlite Candy, Polydora, Gold Clermont, Vado Forte, Dorking Cock, Neveille’s Cross, Saint Arvans, Hunting Percival, Polydora, Y...

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There is never a dull moment when Jerry Hinds is around, yesterday morning he paid us a visit with Ashley Head a few rough diamonds in behind. Amongst other amusing comments, when he was unable to identify a horse on the gallops he reminded his muckers, with a few expletives chucked in for good measure, that it ain’t all champagne and skittles and that he has a job to do too. The banter is h...

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Those that worked yesterday had a quiet hack up the hill, many others but in some hard yards around the sand. Those that have held their summer coats have had a couple of nights in heavy rugs, the whole lot of them have been wrapped up this evening as temperatures plummet to 4 degrees. It was a sharp start to the morning with a light frost on the windscreen of the lorries.    Towcester...

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This morning we worked, Vado Forte, Glory and Fortune, Lossiemouth, Hunting Percival, You Name Him, Dorking Cock, Neveille’s Cross, Meep Meep, Saint Arvans, Sebastopol, Floating Rock and JohnBB. Thais Toir, Tea Clipper and Equus Amadeus had little blows on the hill. All the others had quiet canters. I’m constantly told to be careful what you wish for. The rain has certainly softened th...

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Flashing Glance ran a very decent race and was unlucky not to grab some black type and a bit more prize money after making a hash of the last hurdle, he has a habit of messing up the last having jumped beautifully throughout. Flash is in good order after his run.  It was a long journey home having been to bed for three hours the night before. On Friday evening we won the award at The McC...

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The rain is most welcome and seems to be hanging around. It can stop in Market Rasen now as I’d imagine the ground will be more agreeable for Flashing Glance who’s heading there tomorrow. To read my thought click here.   Noting too crazy for the horses this morning, routine canters around the sand or up the hill. A few three year olds schooled over our new Easy-Fix fences i...

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Heavy going description at Perth today, thank goodness the forecasters were correct and we didn’t take Snapdragon Fire who loves quick ground.    Nothing too strenuous for the horse this last couple of days, routine canters other than Sebastopol and Dorking Cock who covered a little more ground than the majority.    Robert and Jackie Chugg popped in to see a horse or ...

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We were all naturally delighted to see Luck of the Legion win yesterday, the trip and the ease in the ground helped her cause. It has been a very long journey with Luck of the Legion. I bought her unraced aged three and she has finally won a race three years later. Within that period, she has also had a foal that she put up for adoption.    I can honestly say I’ve never been so p...

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To read my thoughts on Luck of the Legion click here

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A beautiful morning schooling horses over hurdles, to name a few - Lossiemouth, Glory and Fortune, Tea Clipper, Le Grande Fromage, Neville’s Cross, Dorking Boy, Lamanver Storm, Thais Toir, Sebastopol, Red Nika, Luck of the Legion and Meep Meep were all present. Some unnamed three-year-olds joined the party, they will eventually jump hurdles in public probably in the autumn of their four-year...

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Lossiemouth, Snapdragon Fire, Equus Amadeus, Glory and Fortune, Tea Clipper, Le Grande Fromage, Neville’s Cross, Dorking Boy, Lamanver Storm, Flashing Glance, Thais Toir, Vado Forte, Kateson, Sebastopol, Saint Arvans, Red Nika, Unohu, Dorking Cock, Miss Mondito, Meep Meep, Polydora, Outlaw Jessie James and Coningsby all cantered around the sand and a little quicker than normal up the hill.&n...

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Those Monday morning canters come around far too quickly, given the weather forecast there is no rush.  I spent most of the afternoon clearing the schooling strip before power harrowing the surface and putting it all back in place, it looks fit for a king having had the hedge trimmed too.    A bit too much a bit too late in The Ashes, but what a summer of cricket we have all be a...

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Hard yards on the sand for most of the horses, the weather is set fine for the next few weeks so we won’t be rushing anywhere.    The three year olds jumped in the ménage and will be heading down onto the schooling strip next week. Kateson and Johnbb also had a pop over a fence in the ménage.     

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Lossiemouth, Snapdragon Fire, Dorking Boy, Dorking Cock, Vado Forte, Sebastopol, Tea Clipper, Le Grand Fromage, Neville’s Cross, Red Nika, Thais Toir, Lamanver Storm, Christopher Robin, Saint Arvans, Fair Kate, Equus Amadeus, Flashing Glance, Hunting Percival, Luck of the Legion all cantered around the sand and went a little quicker twice up the hill. Donna Christensen came all the way up fr...

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A busy morning schooling horses, Richard Johnson was in and we schooled Lossiemouth, Meep Meep, Floating Rock, Dorking Boy, Sebastopol, Tea Clipper, Neville’s Cross, Thais Toir, Red Nika, Christopher Robin, Saint Arvans and an unnamed 4-year-old filly half sister to Interconnected. Ford Associated Racing Team were here to watch Christopher Robin under the champ. Many of the associates came u...

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Typical Monday morning canters soon come around.    Silk Run will now have a well deserved holiday, she’s won three races for us and has dug pretty deep in doing so. She appears to have lost her will to go to those lengths again. She will get the best of everything with Pete the hugs granddaughter who’s going to fiddle about with her over the winter months before a decision...

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Flashing Glance has walked off the lorry sound and bulling! The only thing I can put his hanging right down to is he possibly was just feeling the quick ground. He jumped straight yet wanted to go right on the flat. We will see where we are with him and we will definitely be going right handed next time.    Richard blamed himself for the fall at the last, he asked him for a big one whe...

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Morning when I’m taken out of my routine always seem to be strange ones. This morning we were delighted to have Racing TV here filming for Racing Life, I think it will be aired the week after next. Annoyingly, we couldn’t feature or talk about every horse but covered, I hope the ones that most people will know. The rain stayed away and I’m sure they will put together something th...

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Had Snapdragon Fire of winged the last I think he have won in spite of jumping to his right throughout. We always knew running left handed wasn’t ideal but there are simply no suitable race until Perth at the end of the month. A big thank you must go to the punter who informed me he needs to go right handed. Needless to say he soon knew he hadn’t told us anything we didn’t k...

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Lossiemouth, Glory and Fortune, Tea Clipper, Neville’s Cross, Floating Rock, Thais Toir, Le Grand Fromage, Saint Arvans, Dorking Cock, Lamanver Storm, Coningsby and Unohu all did what I would describe as their first swinging canters up the hill having cantered around the sand. We will be increasing their work load through September and then, I guess, picking them up and putting them down acc...

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Dorking Boy and Luck of the Legion seem in fine shape after their runs over the weekend.  Typical Monday morning canters for the horses. Thankfully, no loose ones this week but they all appear to be in a good place. Cries for rain will be forthcoming in a few weeks’ time. I’m very much looking forward to the winter and the winter tracks opening their doors for racing. 

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A more civil day, although, just as busy. The horses cantered a couple of miles around the deep sand, a few cantered one mile and gently up the hill. Naturally, their work load is relevant to their fitness levels. We have them where we want them for the time of year. It is always nice to have the winter horses back in work the first week of July as no one feel under any pressure and we can take ou...

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Equus Amadeus The champion jockey and Alan Johns were in this morning, we schooled, Vado Forte, Dorking Cock, Equus Amadeus, Lamanver Odyssey, Snapdragon Fire and Harold’s Arrow over fences. Le Grand Fromage, Tea Clipper, Red Nika, Neveille’s Cross, Thais Tior, Miss Mondito, Floating Rock, Christopher Robin and Dorking Boy schooled over hurdles. Len Attrill was here to watch Floatin...

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Typical Monday morning canters for the horses, well not that typical as we had three jockeys on the floor! The horses are in great nick and will soon have to start earning their supper. Flashing Glance, Equus Amadeus and Snapdragon Fire are already earning their grub.    If you haven’t fallen in love with cricket this summer, the likelihood is we will never get along. Ben Stokes ...

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