Cold day at the seaside

Hardly any runners through the week meant that they call came at once, on Thursday Sail Home was out again at Folkestone. She didn't travel as strongly as she usually does and had some trouble with the sharp home turn but still plugged on into 3rd. Then the deluge of runners came today at Yarmouth, we sent four horses there all with a few decent chances between them, however with a few mishaps none of them managed to bring home the bacon. Exopuntia ran first, she likes to dominate but there were a few other front runners and was never able to dictate, she is also quite one paced so any with some toe will come past her and they did with her fading into 5th place. Then the in form The Ducking Stool, who has been a bridesmaid quite a bit of late, was up in class and it showed when they quickened passed her she also faded into mid-division. Hopes then turned to the lightly raced Omega Omega, she again travelled well but possibly doesn't stay the 1m 6f trip and soon faded. The best chance of the day was the last runner, Entrance, who has been running well of late, she broke badly and was unable to get into a competitive position but did manage to stay on to pick up fourth place.

With the weather (until yesterday) being so lovely the horses have been enjoying a bit of sun on their backs. Here are the two greys in the yard Silver Alliance (lighter grey) and Emma's Gift who both worked well on the Peat Moss gallop. I've had a frustrating time with Emma at the minute because she wants fast ground but everytime I enter her it rains, she runs in a conditions race tomorrow at Epsom, even if the ground turns too soft then atleast there are only 5 runners and she may be able to surprise us. Silver runs on Wednesday at Kempton Park, his wins have all been on the all-weather so hopefully that can see him get his head infront again.

Lea Valley (noseband) and Attain worked together on the Cambridge Road polytrack, both are entered up next week. The former is also in at Kempton on Wednesday, she will be going for her third run, I think a right handed track will suit her as she seems to favour that side more at home, however we are still learning with her trip-wise so she may just be one to watch although she does have alot of ability. Then Attain is entered for Wolverhampton on Friday, he seems to be getting a bit lazy in his races so headgear will be applied to try and spark a revival of form.

A horse I have been riding quite alot is the new horse No Such Number, another Juddmonte cast-off he has just started doing fast bits of work and is impressing me with his attitude and movement. He is not far off a run, he's already had 3 runs in Ireland so is handicapped and ready to go, a few shares in him still remain. Believe In Me worked along side him, the penny is slowly dropping with her, after having such high expectations of her at the start of the season she has some what been a bit of  a handful to train with her no-can-do attitude. She is entered to run next week at Wolverhampton on Wednesday.

The kittens that we found in the tree (!) a while ago have all gone bar two that we can't shift, they are quite nosey now, this one was showing off doing the tightrope walk along the fence! 

Wish the heat would extend to the cold list

It was a busy week but with them all running creditably we're getting further up that cold trainers list. Exopuntia and Canning Vale set the week up on Tuesday at Yarmouth, the latter is struggling to get competitive and will be in the December sales, she is really well bred so hopefully she'll be of use at stud. Then Exo ran another consistent race back in 5th, she is quite one paced so the few that have go a little toe always have that little extra in the dying strides. Emma's Gift was meant to run at Salisbury the next day but due to heavy rain (declared on Good to Firm, raced on Soft) she didn't run, so it would of been a wasted journey. We had our first jump runner of the year with Verona Bay at Stratford on Wednesday and seemed a little green on his hurdling debut before fading to be pulled up. Omega Omega ran the next day again at Nottingham, she ran better coming home in 5th and seemed to be staying on all the time. All hope then rested on the consistent The Ducking Stool on Saturday at Newbury, she made the running everywhere but the line as she was just pipped on the line coming home second again! She is a wonderful horse who has been unlucky bumping into a few well handicapped horses.

It was lovely summer ground on the Peat Moss gallop on Saturday, we worked a few two-year-olds together, all with varying experience. Entrance led (second left) and was joined by the unraced Didn't I Do Well (far side) who was only doing his second serious it of work, then next was the colt Wiggo, who was doing his first bit of work. He was a bit green but was helped out with the others around him and kept up well with the older horse, shares are still available in him. Then near side is Believe In Me, she's had 3 runs and did it easy which would of filled her with confidence.

A horse I have been riding alot recently is new boy No Such Number, this was his first bit of work and was led along by prolific winner Silver Alliance, as you can tell I've got a double handful as he went like a dream and would not be long off a run, shares are also still available in him.



Wiggo getting a much deserved wash down.

Next runners aren't until Thursday with Sail Home at Folkestone, she ran a bit flat last time, possibly sulking in the Wolverhampton kickback, so should fair better on the turf. Then The Ducking Stool might be out again on Sunday at Yarmouth if she comes out of her race ok. 



Never a day off in paradise

It's been really hectic this week due to staff shortages and various runners all over the country. On Monday was the journey up to Wolverhampton with Sail Home and Lea Valley, neither managed to land a blow but it is easy to excuse runs there at the minute as the kickback is terrible and alot of horses can sulk if they find themselves in it. The next  day we were again on the all-weather, at the newly refurbished Kempton, they've re-done the polytrack and it has had mixed reviews but Kampai didn't seem to mind it as the plugged on into 4th place, she's a lovely filly who is lightly raced and will be making hay this season once we are certain on the right distance. The kids favourite at the minute, The Ducking Stool made a quick re-appearance at Pontefract on Wednesday, after being narrowly defeated last Sunday, she again was runner up but ran a great race on a track that probably wouldn't suit her best. Here she is below with my daughter Shelley on last Sunday, before she got caught!

With the fantastic weather we've been having it has had a great impact on the mood of the horses in the yard, their spirits are lifted a little when they know they can go out in the field. It isn't so great though for them on the heath, due to most of the walking grounds being made up of sand it can get very dusty out there and the heathmen are forced to water most of the heath. So it's good that they can get some fresh air to make up for it...



Kampai and Bushy Dell, getting a bigger baby bump every day.





From left, Silver Alliance, Sand Repeal and Sancho Panza take a good look at the camera!

I'm really looking forward to Wednesday this week when Emma's Gift makes a re-appearance after a short break in the Listed race at Salisbury, we have been waiting for ages for her ground and although it looks strong enough I really hope she can get some of that elusive Black Type that she deserves. Also next week will be Verona Bay making his debut over hurdles at Stratford on Thursday, he has been jumping well at home but it's completely different when they get to the race track and they can often be quite green. Then Omega Omega, who has been taking her racing well, goes to Nottingham on Friday, the track will suit but we are just unsure about her ideal trip at the moment.

Weird weather? Switch to the all-weather!

Quite a few runners this week and it all kicked off at the sea side with Believe In Me (Honeymoon Express a non-runner) at Yarmouth. She was able to get infront again and showed some cracking early speed but could not maintain it, the ground could of been firmer after a shower or two and a little race will be in her sometime soon. Then we were up at Nottingham on Thursday with Omega Omega, with a step up in trip on her handicap debut she too was able to dominate but is quite one paced and could not go with them. Last runners were at Newbury today, Entrance was giving her rider Dean Smith his first ride and ran creditably after receiving a not so clear passage. The Ducking Stool ran in the next, she was able to sit handy and kick early but could not maintain the gallop and got caught on the line to finish 2nd, she's ran another brilliant race showing she is still at the top of her game.

The rain provided nice going on the grass gallops this week, but on Wednesday Lea Valley (brown cap) completed her preparation for her second outing at Wolverhampton tomorrow, she has come on an awful lot since her debut which has really woke her up and is flying up the gallops, here with Entrance, if she handles the all-weather than I would be surprised of she's not there abouts.

Galloping on the Peat Moss on Saturday was Silver Alliance (first grey) and Emma's Gift (nearside grey), they're both well after having a short break each. Emma goes for a race on Shergar Cup day at Ascot on Saturday, she loves the place and it would be great to have a winner there on a day like that. Just behind is Khajaaly still maintaining steady progression after his leg operation.

Here is Attain striding out with Verona Bay (behind), they've both become lazy types who need a bit more encouragement. Verona runs in a couple of weeks in a juvenile hurdle at Stratford if he schools well again and Attain will be out soon seen with headgear.

This is new boy No Such Number giving me a hard time up the canter this week, he has really settled in well and I can't wait to start getting some fast bits of work into him to see how good he is.

Runners next week also consist of The Ducking Stool who, depending on how she comes out of her race today, is in at Pontefract on Wednesday.

Just a quick word about Tuesday, which was my fathers funeral. Everything went smoothly and we received a good turn out of people, we all went back to the father-in-laws house after to watch Glorious Goodwood which is what he would of wanted! Once again thank you everyone for all the kind words and messages I have received over the past week or so.