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Typical Monday morning canters soon come around. Dorking Rogue and Gold Clermont jumped a line or two of hurdles, Grizzman and Thais Toir had a little blow on the hill.    Our new gallop master arrived from Ireland late morning, local roads were closed for drainage work and felling of trees. Getting a high sided artic lorry onto the farm is challenging at the best of times. Not one for...

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Not such a beautiful morning but a very satisfying one, we schooled a heap of horses on grass over hurdles. JohnBB, Kimberlite Candy and Glory and Fortune schooled over fences on the all weather strip. Robbie Dunne was in to ride Pounding Poet who could run at Uttoxeter next week. Johnny Burke was here all morning and rode plenty of them.    Anyone who knows me or has horses in trainin...

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A beautiful autumnal morning, the horses put in hard yards around the sand, those coming out of races had quiet canters either on the sand or up the hill.    San Agustin, Quick Draw and Capac all seem in good shape this morning. Scipion and Algesiras jumped fences on the grass.    This afternoon, I went for lunch with my godfather who has a share in Pirate of the Sea. Pirat...

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Quiet canters for the horses this morning excluding L’Incorrigible and Sebastopol who both worked.    Red Nika and Immortal Fame are fine this morning, both there for another day.    Quick Draw ran his usual consistent race, he is only four and looks as if he still hasn’t quite worked out how to race. It was only his second run over hurdles and his day will come...

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The Dorkings are in fine shape this morning, those that worked yesterday put in some yards on the sand, those who are behind with their fitness levels had to work a little harder and for a little longer.    I was concerned about the sharpness of the track for Red Nika and Johnny confirmed he was just out on his head from flag fall, he may get some help from the handicapper having been ...

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It feels like déjà vu with the weather forecast, rain is promised only for it to have disappeared when expected.    This morning we worked Hazzaar, Sebastopol, JohnBB, Kimberlite Candy, Lamanver Storm, Yes No Maybe So, Highstakes Player, Lagonda, Unohu, Grizzman, Algesiras, Scipion, Thomas Patrick, Pounding Poet, Stung for Cash, Sinndarella, Pirate of the Sea, King Ferdin...

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Typical Monday morning canters for most horses. Red Nika and Dorking Boy had a little blow on the hill Dorking Rogue jumped some hurdles as did a few of the babies. The babies will be moving onto fences in the very near future as they are all jumping the hurdle with barrels very nicely and I don’t want them getting into bad habits.    I had to check the date yesterday when I read...

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This morning we worked, Adrimel, Highstakes Player, Pounding Poet, Red Nika, Velasco, Sinndarella, Dorking Boy, Stung For Cash, Thomas Patrick, Quick Draw, Christopher Robin, Kimberlite Candy, Lamanver Storm, Sebastopol, Yes No Maybe So, Dorking Rogue, Scipion, Lagonda, Le Grand Fromage, Unohu, Grizzman, Glory and Honour, Algesiras, Kateson, King Ferdinand, JonhBB and Fair Kate. Many others had a ...

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Vado Forte, Glory and Fortune, Stunsail, You Name Him and Polydora all seem in good nick after there runs. Vado ran his usual consistent race, he deserves to win and race and we may look to run him a decent handicap off a low weight in the near future. Glory and Fortune warmed to the task and gained valuable experience, he blew up and will come on heaps for the run. You Name Him ran a super race a...

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This morning we worked Sebastopol, Pounding Poet, Velasco, Kerala, Grizzman, Fair Kate, Dorking Rogue, Red Nika, Adrimel. Immortal Fame, Highstakesplayer, Scipion, Marty Time, Sinndarella, Lagonda, Lamanver Storm, Christopher Robin, Kimberlite Candy, Kateson, Johnbb, Thomas Patrick, Dorking Boy, Quick Draw, Unohu and King Ferdinand. The babies jumped down on the schooling strip again and will be d...

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A very last minuet schooling morning arranged late last night, it was one of the only mornings we will not be rushing off racing and Johnny Burke was able to join the fun of the fair too.   We schooled Lagonda, Sebastopol, Sinndarelle, Ginflix, Pounding Poet, Thais Toir, Velasco, Kerala, Floating Rock, Dorking Rogue, Unohu, You Name Him, Grizzman, Moo Moo’s Milan, Neville’s Cros...

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A little earlier start than normal this morning, Glory and Fortune and Thomas Patrick schooled over ten fences on the grass, those that worked yesterday had a couple of quiet canters up the hill and others put in some hard yards around the sand. Tom Macfarlane and his parents were here to see a few horses canter around the sand.    Tea Clipper certainly didn’t disappoint and did ...

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Glory and Honour is in good nick this morning. This morning we worked Vado Forte, Adrimel, Glory and Fortune, Neville’s Cross, Kimberlite Candy, Lamanver Storm, Stunsail, Pounding Poet, Velasco, Highstakes Player, You Name Him, Stung for Cash, Marty Time and Thais Toir. Toni and David were here to see Pounding Poet work.    Dorking Boy, Polydora, Algesiras and Scipion all school...

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Quiet canters for the horses this morning, Adrimel, You Name Him and Tea Clipper jumped a line of hurdles having cantered around the sand.    We are naturally disappointed that Glory and Honour was beaten and many pennies were left scattered around bookmakers up and down the country. Glory and Honour looks to have bumped into a good one who’s a year old with, no doubt a handful o...

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Nothing to strenuous for the horses this morning, New Moon jumped some hurdles the majority of the others put in some hard yards around the sand. A few who are where we want them for the moment just went quietly up the hill.   The ground at Ludlow seemed to take center stage over and above the horse racing. Racing reporters were more interested in asking trainers their views on what was rig...

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Tom Bennett and Nico having won the Exeter bumper on Thursday evening, Tom sold his horse Glory and Honour to Ashley Head and Jerry Hinds during the summer.       Glory and Fortune, Tea Clipper, Immortal Fame, Vado Forte, Neville’s Cross, Dorking Boy, Scipion, Algesiras, Polydora, Pounding Poet, Lagonda, Velasco, Marty Time, Stung for Cash, Floating Rock and You Name...

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We were naturally disappointed for Yes No Maybe So to lose his winning streak; the handicapper was always going to catch up with him eventually. He’s run five times for us, won four and been placed third. He has been some horse for us and I’m sure he will win again before he jumps a fence. He is in fine shape this morning and we shall hope to run him again before the winter ground sets...

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Glory and Fortune, Flashing Glance, Vado Forte, King Ferdinand and Algesiras jumped fences on the schooling strip. Glory and Fortune was jumping fences for the first time out of the school and he was very good indeed, he is incredibly slick and very quick getting to the other side. I’ve now put wings up on the hurdlers on the grass. This rain isn’t in the ground yet and Exeter will ne...

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Nocte Volatus is in fine shape this morning, he will improve for the run. Many of our horses always need their first run and it is something I’m never disappointed with. It is a long season to have them cherry ripe during the first week of October. They don’t blow up as such, but all seem to step forward for the benefit of their first run.    This rain looks set for a few d...

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San Agustin and Le Grand Fromage are in fine fettle this morning. I certainly sleep better when there is some juice in the ground. Tossing and turning all night wondering what legs I’m going to fine in the morning is no fun.    Quiet canters for many, the rain is arriving but for how long it has an effect on the ground is to be seen, we are not suddenly going to go mad with the h...

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Within a week we are taking horses out for firm and heavy ground. We seem to be getting nothing but extreme weather patterns of late and it is frustrating for all.    I don’t think I would call Bangor heavy today, but it was certainly soft and must have been verging on heavy by the time the bumper was run.  Le Grand Fromage ran his race as did San Agustin, both horses w...

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Tuesday are becoming my least favorite days given new handicap rating are published. Red Nika was given 4lb for finishing second at Warwick last week, he’s still a maiden and they seem set on stopping horses winning rather than giving them a chance to do so.    This morning we worked Tea Clipper, Glory and Fortune, Stunsail, Algesiras, Outlaw Jesse James, King Ferdinand, Dorking ...

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Typical Monday morning canters yet again, how the weeks fly by is just scary. Christopher Robin had a little blow in preparation for his outing to Bangor tomorrow, to read my thoughts click here.   We were very pleased to see Sebastopol, Hazzaar and Sinndarella who returned in training today.    The horses have one of their winter rugs on and today we went back to working winter...

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Quick Draw and New Moon are both in good shape this morning. I wasn’t expecting too much at Market Rasen this afternoon but I didn’t expect either horse to disappoint quite like they did. Ginflix will be heading for an MOT at Ben Brain’s as soon as she had a chance to get over todays efforts. We will sleep on Dorking Rogue as it was too bad to be true, his work had been bett...

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Quick Draw ran as we expected him to, he needs a stiff two and half mile and a little more jucie in the ground. New Moon wasn’t quite as free as I thought he might be; he will have to learn to go through his races in a more relaxed manner before he has any chance of doing his better work where it matters. Racing will be the only answer to solving that problem. The ground was drying out fast ...

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We lobbed quietly around the sand and up the hill this morning. I would be surprised if there is a better sand gallop in the country, it’s like a new pin. The three year olds had another pop in the ménage having cantered around the sand and did it all nicely.   I have never been a fan of the novice chase ruling and do not see why owners should be forced to run in a novice chase...

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A wet morning but short lived here in Herefordshire. This morning we schooled Tea Clipper, Highstakesplayer, Le Grand Fromage, Nocte Volatus, Quick Draw, Forchena, Outlaw Jesse James, Ginflix, Unohu, Marty Time, Stung for Cash, You Name Him and New Moon over hurdles. Forchena got a fall, Eamonn a bloody nose so will miss her engagement at Uttoxeter on Friday. The 3 year olds we bought in this year...

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In hope of the rain arriving Tea Clipper, Quick Draw, New Moon, and Ginflix all did a bit more than others in preparation for their intended targets at the end of the week. The other horses all had quiet canters.    We decided to pull all the horses out at Warwick this afternoon, it is along season and the risk to reward was not sufficient for me to run nice young horses.   The ...

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Typical Monday morning canters for most, those running tomorrow had little blows on the hill.    Today has been one of those days to dust oneself down and start a fresh tomorrow, anyone who tells me I should be delighted with a horse finishing second doesn’t have the same mind set as I do. I know Red Nika ran a great race but second doesn’t do it for me. To add insult to in...

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This week’s runners were all ridden this morning. Luck of The Legion and San Agustin popped over eight hurdles. I have been leveling old sand on the walk ways home since.    Ardlair was disappointing and will now have to find another job in life.   Red Nika and Luck of the Legion head to Warwick tomorrow, to read my thoughts click here. 

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