Blog

It was great to get Black Anthem back in the winner’s circle; he has been some fun for us over the last fortnight. The handicapper will have his say yet again and life will become tougher for him up in grade.    Horses continue to come in off their summer break, a long one it has been too. Those who have been in work will continue to build towards peak fitness nice and slowly. No...

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Naturally we were all disappointed Black Anthem didn’t manage to back up under a penalty yesterday, the race was messy and wasn’t run to suit us and he was just gunned down after the last. He’s bucking in the field this morning and will take his chance back over hurdles on Thursday at Southwell. Life gets tougher for him going forward as he’s going to be 9lbs worse off. Qui...

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We couldn’t have asked for a better week, three winners from four runners was just what we all needed at this moment in time. Any trainer is only as good as the people they have around them. I am incredibly lucky to have the team that I do. Everyone plays their part in any success this yard has and this year’s team of staff are the best we’ve ever had. We have a few new faces aro...

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Everything happened too quickly for You Name Him yesterday at Stratford, we will find him a more suitable track next time.    There seems to be a huge campaign against irresponsible/careless riding, it is of course a serious subject and not one I wish to make light of. Those, many of which continually criticize have never put one leg across the back of a horse and walked up a beach let...

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Naturally we are delighted to get the first winner of the season on the board. Black Anthem ran out a convincing winner this afternoon at Market Rasen.    The horses all had typical Monday morning canters, a little slower than they would in the winter months.    You Name Him heads to Stratford tomorrow, to read my thoughts click here.

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There is little to report, horses continue to come in off grass and a few new arrivals are appearing. We have a huge amount to look forward to and I can’t wait for the season proper to get going.    Racing is not in the greatest of places since corona virus struck. Prior to corona virus, too many people wanted to constantly talk it down, they now have a free rein to do so. Over t...

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Luck of the Legion is fine after her run at Bangor yesterday. We were delighted with her and will look to get her back out soon enough.     Piano Stairs and Forchena head to Southwell tomorrow, to read my thoughts click here. 

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It has been a very busy week with many horses returning into training. There will be be no let up now until this time next year so we will enjoy getting stuck in and be grateful of everything we have. Every day I hear of another shop, pub or café that’s not reopening. The ripple effect is huge and it goes out a long way, tough times lie ahead for many.  Since Corona virus, the...

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Those who went to Southwell have all come out of their races in good shape, Ardlair was without doubt disappointing, we knew he’d run green but had shown enough at home to expect more. Black Anthem ran to his mark and may find it easier back over fences off his current mark. Piano Stairs was running a nice race but stopped too quickly for my liking, he will have his wind checked out. You Nam...

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Ardlair, Black Anthem, Piano Stairs. You Name Him and Silk Run all head to Southwell tomorrow. To read my thoughts click here. 

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A few horses have started to come back in, they have had a super summer and the fat boys needed to start moving for their own benefit as much as anything else. The timing couldn’t have been better as I’ve noticed several horses at grass have gone backwards in this heat and the arrival of horse flies of late, followed by some pretty miserable weather.     On Thursday we...

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Thank god for horses  - THE WORLD HAS GONE MAD!!!

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This morning we worked Ardlair, Black Anthem, Yes No Maybe So, Piano Stairs, Luck of The Legion and Pirate of the Sea. You Name Him and Christopher Robin did a little more than they have been doing. Silk Run had a little blow upsides Swift Wing who heads to Newmarket tomorrow. To read my thoughts click here. Thank you to those who have continued to support Katharine House Hospice via my thoughts p...

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Swift Wing is in good nick after his trip to Newcastle, he may well be heading to Newmarket a week tomorrow. I hope those who are signed up to my “thoughts” page took my advice and had a each way bet at 14-1.  This morning we worked Silk Run, Black Anthem, Yes No Maybe So, Ardlair and Luck of the Legion. All of which will be ready to find races once NH racing resumes. Racing behi...

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Swift Wing heads north to Newcastle tomorrow, to read my thoughts click here.   Writing an entry on my white board for Tuesday at Newcastle was a huge thrill, Swift Wing is assured a run and with no issues arising he will take up the opportunity. I am ridiculously, looking forward to having that nervous, sick inducing adrenalin pumping again. It is no foregone conclusion that racing is even...

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We have never been so up together with the maintenance; under normal circumstances we are racing against time to ensure it is all done before the horses return to training at the end of June early July. The situation has been helped in that we got out of the stalls way quicker than normal. The woodchip has been topped up, the sand completely flipped on its head, every stable power washed and disin...

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Little change since last weekend, one can only hope that we get racing again on 1stJune. I am disappointed that we didn’t get going sooner and believe Ralph Beckett and Mark Johnson were right. The BHA were not on the front foot when they should have been. I think, public perception was their over riding concern and as you will know I do not agree that public perception should have been a go...

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The resumption of racing still seems a very emotive topic, one of which I have resisted the temptation to comment on on social media. I thought Ralph Beckett stated some important points last week on Luck on Sunday and my view of public perception remain unchanged. There are knockers around every corner and I think it is vitally important that they gain no more power than they seem to have accumul...

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We have been keeping busy this week topping up the woodchip gallop. It is now as good, if not better than the day it went in. Our new woodchip turnout pens are coming along and the drainage is nearly in, the welcome rain stopped us for a few days but they will be a huge asset to those horses who show signs of sensitivity to dust when stabled. The rain allowed us the opportunity to roll some of the...

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There is little to report at the moment as things go quietly on. Lossiemouth and Swift Wing worked this morning having warmed up on our freshly turned sand gallop. Luck of the Legion, Silk Run and an unnamed four-year-old went a gear slower. They certainly blow on the sand now and we were much need to apply the handbrake when riding around it.  This afternoon, I walked the woodchip checking ...

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Last week was spent taking horses off to grass. I maybe criticized for driving around the country in the current crisis but it is a necessity and in the best interest of the horses’ welfare. They can’t be locked up here when we have destroyed our paddocks throughout the winter and have no grass. What I did notice on Friday was the number of cars on the road again, prior to yesterday se...

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More stalls practice for Lossiemouth, Swift Wing is showing him how to do it and Obi 1 Knobi is showing Sholto how to do it too.    Most days seem pretty much the same at this desperate time for everyone around the world, no one is escaping this and the scarring it will leave behind is daunting to say the least. I choose not to think we are locked in at home but instead believe we are ...

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Having taken delivery of our starting stalls and having my flat license approved, I didn’t expect to receive five two years olds from Sheik Mohammed quite so quickly. They have settled in well and will be through the stalls before they know it. Just when everything seems to be so desperate a glimmer of hope appears and another chapter in my training career begins.    The steam cl...

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Typical Monday morning canters for the horses, Monday didn’t seem to come around quite as quickly as normal. Many horses bobbing away are waiting for the warmer weather and grass to grow. Others are waiting for fencing contactors or the likes of but the reality is horses will be leaving in their droves this week. Flashing Glance, Fair Kate, Kateson and Outlaw Jesses James were all taken home...

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Yesterdays news of a return to racing in May was welcome news although, I fear it is somewhat optimistic given the current crisis.    Little to report this end, we are continuing to train half a dozen for the summer and a couple for the flat. Otherwise, the horses are just lobbing away waiting for the weather to change. They have lost their rugs day and night and are having to cope in ...

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There are few positives in the current situation but today I have realized several. Waitrose have started to operate a one in one out policy. The sun is shining and I have realized I have been self isolating since 2002.    Sophie's shopping experience was somewhat more pleasurable than it was this time last week when she was attacked and accused of stock piling. Kids eat a lot of food,...

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We are continuing to let the vast majority of the horses down for their summer break, we have removed their rugs during the day for now but these nights are still too cold to leave them stripped. The weather is being kind for a change, given another week or more of this weather and we can seriously think about getting some out day and night if the fields dry back sufficiently.    I&rsq...

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The rain continues to fall and the temperature is as low as it has been most of the winter. We are potentially weeks, if not months away from spring grass. No one is escaping the effects of this health crisis and economic disaster.  I don’t wish to make light of the Corona virus, it is incredibly serious but my mind hasn’t change, I still believe the BHA threw the industry u...

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Fair Kate did nothing wrong in defeat and was simply beaten by a well handicapped horse. It was a very strange experience racing behind closed doors and one I wish we could all have experienced more of. I am not in agreement with the BHA’s decision to pull stumps and throw everyone under the bus. This is an economical disaster as much as anything else. My understanding is that the ambulances...

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I think we all expected that racing would be behind closed doors sooner rather than later and it has to be a proactive move to keep the wheels turning. The horror stories I’m hearing about businesses suffering in light of he Corona virus is just chilling. I think, given we function outdoors is a huge advantage. We can only hope racing can continue behind closed doors for as long as required ...

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