SHOPPING TRIP TO FRANCE THIS WEEK

I apologise if this blog isn't up to the usual standard, but I am writing this with a massive hang over after the Xmas party last night. I would like to thank everyone for coming and making it a good night. My staff said it must have been good as there where no arguments and no fighting!

It was nice to celebrate our 20th winner as well, after Sunny Spells won at Southwell on Saturday. Stuart Williams has sent him to me to go hurdling but as that has been a no no with the weather, it was a bonus to win on the flat first. 20 winners was our target for the season and is our best number yet.

John and I are off to Deauville on Tuesday, but not just for the Xmas wine and beer, we hope to buy a couple of French bred yearlings which we will be able to race in France next year and hopefully take advantage of their excellent prize money and French bred bonuses.

Acer Diamonds is coming back to the yard on Tuesday after going away to Eugene Stanford's to be broken in. By all accounts he is cantering nicely and very well behaved.

We hope to unleash some of the jumpers next week, but the forecast does not look good, so we might have to keep them under wraps until the thaw.

Hears hoping the snow and frost stays away.