Blog

It’s a slow drive to Aintree on a Friday afternoon and an even longer one home when the horses leave you guessing. Silk Run has always been incredibly consistent yet she never looked happy from the moment she jumped off yesterday. Had she not of won in a tongue tie at Chepstow I would have thought she didn’t face it, the blinkers seemed to work wonders at home so the only thing we can ...

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Lake Washington certainly put in a career best last week, he has an entry to run again on Saturday at Uttoxeter, a decision is yet to be made as to whether he will be declared or head straight to the sales. He’s in good order after his run but went up 5lbs and will hopefully have come on a little for the run.    July will be around soon enough and we will soon be flat out again. ...

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Lake Washington put in a career best at Worcester yesterday afternoon and will now possibkly head to the sales. In the meantime, he may run again. He pulled out this morning in good order and was very pleased with himself. Vivant heads to Warwick tomorrow to read my thoughts click here. 

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There is little excitement to report, this morning Silk Run and an unnamed 4-year-old by Midnight Legend jumped 8 hurdles, Vivant jumped 8 fences and Lake Washington 8 hurdles.    The builders are back; a section of a paddock has been stolen to create a car park, it is something we have been toying with for a period of time now and it has certainly cleared the yard of boxes, trailers e...

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Another season comes to close all too quickly.    On reflection, we had a decent season falling just one short of last years total of 39 winners, operating at a 21% strike rate when compared to the previous seasons 25%. However, we increased our prize money won by £18,609.00. It certainly hasn’t felt like plain sailing this time around, a few horses hit pot holes in the roa...

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We popped Silk Run over some hurdles this morning and she seems to have developed a habit of jumping left having done it for the first time in her life at Ludlow.  There doesn’t appear to be anything niggling her so we will work on restoring some normality to her jumping.  Nothing else too exciting for the horses at home, I spent the afternoon at Cheltenham sales where the ...

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Fairyhouse is as good a racecourse as I’ve ever seen, it is 1.7 miles round with beautiful fences, I thoroughly enjoyed walking it. Kimberlite Candy was, on that ground, flat out from flag fall. No horse can sustain that at any grade. He has stayed over in Ireland for his holiday and has come out of the race in great shape. When he gets his conditions he will win a nice race.    ...

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Silk Run goes to Chepstow tomorrow and Kimberlite Candy runs in the Irish National to read my thoughts click here.   There will be no blogs until Thursday evening. 

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Kimberlite Candy went for a quiet hack up the hill before setting sail for Fairyhouse, he should be somewhere near by now. He is used to sailing as he has always returned to Martinstown Stud for his summer holidays. Vivant and a couple of unnamed four year olds jumped six fences and two open ditches. Vivant seems to have taken to fences without batting an eye lid and seems to be very accurate over...

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Via Delle Volte seems fine after her exertions at Cheltenham yesterday, I think we are all in agreement she will now get a well deserved break.   Kimberlite Candy had a little blow on the hill this morning and sets sail for Fairyhouse tomorrow afternoon. All the others had quiet canters.    The mowing challenge is complete, the lawn now resembles a lawn rather than a hay field, ...

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Via Delle Volte ran a nice race in a race that was run to suit her. She certainly hadn’t galloped into hurdles so fast. Which, certainly put her jumping to the test. She seems to love the faster ground and it is incredibly tempting to keep her on the go if we can identify a nice target, otherwise she will get a well deserved rest. How the winner has mark of 125 is way beyond my comprehension...

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Kimberlite Candy, Vivant and an unnamed 4-year-old schooled over fences, all went well. Those that worked yesterday had an easier day and cantered quietly up the hill a couple of times.   It looks as if Kimberlite Candy will get a run at Fairyhouse on Monday so ferries are booked and flights paid for. Late booking of flights is not advisable.    The babies carry on riding around...

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Kimberlite Candy, Snapdragon Fire, Silk Run, Via Delle Volte and Lady Cylla all worked. The steam cleaner is fired up and the spring clean has started.    There is little to report on the horse front. Last night I went to “An evening dinner with Jonathan Agnew” if you enjoy your cricket and get the chance to go and listen to him I highly recommend it. He is a fabulous afte...

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Typical Monday morning canters for those left to run, some of the babies hacked around the farm or loose schooled, others are still learning to lunge. A couple more horses headed to the paddocks and Kateson follows tomorrow.  Sholto has been busy with his birthday present, I've no doubt he will be following horses up the gallop with it soon.  Equus Amadeus ran a super race finishing ...

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He's a Goer in fine this morning.  Vivant and Johnbb jumped eight hurdles having cantered a mile around the sand.  Vivant runs at Ayr tomorrow in the mares’ handicap hurdle, reading below suggests that the columnist ought to pay a little more attention! To read my thoughts click here. She headed up north mid morning and should soon be comfortable in her bed. Equus Amadeus is on t...

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Triopas is fine this morning.    Quiet canters for all those that worked yesterday, given the weather forecast, I fear that they too could be soon in the field with their heads down eating grass. I can’t recall shipping horses out to grass in these numbers so early in the year previously.    Midnight Henry and Fair Kate headed home for the summer, prior to doing so Da...

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This morning Johnbb, Coningsby, Kimberlite Candy, Vado Forte, Equus Amadeus and Vivant all worked, the rest had quiet canters.    Triopas seemed to half enjoy himself this afternoon at Exeter, the ground was plenty quick enough for him. Hopefully, he has regained some confidence having not taken to fences, in fact his first start over fences was foot perfect and the rot set in after he...

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I had just told him he needed to earn a name plate. Last week, I realized how special the previous year at Aintree had been, Thomas Patrick and Jester Jet won, Kateson was second and Meep Meep fourth. It all went over my head at the time as I was probably more shell shocked than anyone. This year we failed to get in to the unsaddling enclosure and a good lesson was learnt. I was delighted ...

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Capac is fine this morning and spent the morning in the paddock with Kateson. Kateson, Polydora and Flashing Glance head to Aintree tomorrow. To read my thoughts click here.  Those heading to Aintree had a canter around the sand a small blow up the hill. Not to be there today with Lossiemouth is hugely disappointing. He pulled out lame on Wednesday and we got a reaction off his foot, overnig...

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Polydora jumped eight fences having cantered quietly around the sand, he is aiming for Aintree on Saturday. Those that worked yesterday had quiet canters. The yard is getting quieter by the day, I think most yards work better under pressure as days seem to drag when quiet.    Capac goes down to Taunton tomorrow, he is owned by Eamonns’ in-law’s, he slots into the string eac...

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Snapdragon Fire and Silk Run seem fine this morning.    Kateson, Lossiemouth, Polydora and Flashing Glance all did their last bit of work before Aintree, the rain is forecast and some trainers with multiple entries are now looking to run early in the week. It won’t get too soft for three of our four runners. Vado Forte, Vivant, Equus Amadeus, Kimberlite Candy, Via Delle Volte all...

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Kateson, Johnbb and Lake Washington jumped 8 hurdles on the strip. Richard Johnson did the steering on Kateson. All the other horses had routine Monday morning canters up the hill. It could be rematch time for Kateson and others at Aintree.    Snapdragon Fire was beaten by the horse we feared most and if you read my thoughts page you may have done the forecast. Snapdragon ran a super r...

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Quiet canters for all this morning or futher education in the loose school for the babies. Another beautiful day but I have just heard on the radio that a band of rain is crossing the country from Wales, not according to the weather websites I visit, almost hourly.     Uttoxeter was like an open air pub again, I left well before the last race and was glad to get out of the place, ...

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Kateson, Lossiemouth, JohnBB, Vivant, Flashing Glance all worked having cantered around the sand. Many others continue to be let down and just quietly hacked around the place or loose schooled. There will be a large sending of horses to the fields once Aintree is over and done with. A few will be departing for their summer holidays on Monday.    We currently have to sign and fill out a...

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Those in full work put in some hard yards around the sand gallop, since the digger flipped it and the two loads of sand have been added it rides like a sponge, you can’t hear the horses put their feet down.    Those who have finished have had their rugs removed tonight having been stripped throughout the day for a week or more.    The sound of strimmer’s working...

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Routine canters for the horses that worked yesterday and nothing too strenuous for those that are being let down for the summer. The babies trotted and hacked around the sand. I spent the later part of the morning tidying up the schooling strip and working the surface. Since we have been able to get horses jumping on the grass the strip had become rather wind swept and neglected. Given the heat of...

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Lossiemouth, JohnBB, Polydora, Kateson, Flashing Glance, Vivant, Snapdragon Fire, He’s a Goer and Thais Toir all worked once or twice up the hill after warming up on the sand. Otherwise, it was routine canters for those waiting from rain or being let down for the summer.    By Order Of didn’t disgrace himself against season campaigners, he was always going to struggle as a ...

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It was a relief to get back in the winner’s enclosure again yesterday. This can be a difficult time of year; horses have been on the go plenty long enough which inevitably can lead to a disappointing runs. Coningsby is fine this morning. The theme continues with no rain is on the horizon. The chances of getting him out under a penalty look slim given the weather. No doubt, given the winning ...

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As Willie Mullins was famously quoted “involvement with racehorses is 90% disappointment and 10% joy.” Thankfully, there is no other feeling that 10% can give you. Hence, why so many of us stick at it. For whatever reason, Meep Meep certainly disappointed us today, she was never travelling and Tom Scu said she was changing her legs time after time as she did at Haydock. We scoped her a...

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I hope this morning will be the last 4 A.M start until next winter, we set off bright and early with Kateson, Thais Toir and two unnamed four year olds for an away day. The four year olds will now ease off and head to the fields for the summer after Aintree. Kateson will have some entries at Aintree and Thais Toir may go to Warwick next week if the ground is safe before being targeted at the Tatte...

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