Can't get in.

A lot of false dawns arose this week with plenty of runners forecast and few horses actually going to the races.
Firstly, we never went to Nottingham on Wednesday as King Columbo had a slightly tight muscle in his back and our physio said he would not be 100% for the run. Pyjoma was in A1 form but she didn't get in her maiden. She had never run before and horses making their debuts like her are given preference to get into an over-subscribed race but because there were so many first-timers like her, she was low in the ballot.
There has been a hell of a lot of entries all over the country in the past week. As the season comes to a close, trainers are desperate to run their horses and hence you get many races with well over 50 horses entered.

Sancho Panza and Always De One suffered a similar fate at Warwick as they were low in the weights and had little chance of getting in the race. It is frustrating because Sancho is in incredibly good form - he has been 1st and 2nd on his last two runs - and he loves the soft ground that is predominant at the minute but he just cannot get in a race.
Despite not running this week, Always De One made a name for herself by burying my daughter Shelley. As the pair were going up the canter, Always spooked at something and Shelley had little chance of staying aboard. She was laying on the ground for a while as the horse cantered on and claims she 'popped her shoulder back in' so the jury is out as to whether Shelley did dislocate her shoulder or not but either way, both horse and rider are fine now with the latter sporting a black eye to school.

Pyjoma managed to get a race today (Monday) at Pontefract. We hadn't got her fully race-ready at home because she is a very short-tempered filly and one could wind her up too much but she ran a nice race to finish in midfield and she will do a lot better next time. Night Orbit also ran there just because there were few entries in his race and he picked up £800 for coming 4th of 4th. Easy money if you can find it.

It looks set to be a quiet week. Spirit of Sharjah is in at York on Friday but won't want the ground too soft and Ocean Rosie should run at Wolverhampton the following day. Also in on Saturday is Bushy Dell. She is a really likable filly who tries her heart out and has won three races. She has had some time off because we had her operated on for a form of skin cancer. It is not a terrible thing or anything but it was uncomfortable for her and I'm pleased to say she is back to her best now and will be winning more races soon.