Sunday 3 April 2016

One swallow does make a summer!

They say one swallow doesn't make a summer but hopefully the return of the yard birds from their winter holiday in Africa means that the better weather is on its way. It certainly needs to as the turf season got off to a wet start this weekend, despite sunny conditions, the ground looked very soft and tiring at Doncaster so we couldn't get stable star Sabre Rock back in action. He has had leg troubles so it was not worth the risk on dodgy ground. There's a long year ahead of him so we'll just have to wait until conditions improve.
The first swallow of spring

Soft ground isn't a bad thing though as there are plenty of horses who like those conditions, including Handheld. He had to miss most of last turf season and I didn't run him on the all-weather as he doesn't like it so he has been kept fresh for this coming campaign. He goes to Pontefract on Tuesday and, despite needing the run after so long off, I hope he can get off to a good start and make the most of his preferred ground.
Silver Alliance and Handheld

It looked last week as though the handicapper has caught up with Kemsing after his successful winter but, with opportunities drying up at his favourite course of Southwell, I'm going to step him up in trip to see if we can squeeze some more improvement out of him on Thursday. All he does is gallop so, providing he can settle early on, I think 1m4f should be within his compass.
Kemsing and Limerick Lord

With some better weather this week, the horses' coats have suddenly started to shine and I'm really happy with the health of the string.
Go On Gal has come out of her winter holiday in great order and I'm looking forward to getting her back in action in the coming weeks. She is well handicapped so I'm waiting to find the perfect race for her.
Duke Of Diamonds is another who has done well over the winter and his homework has got better every week. He is still quite immature but he is learning all the time and won't be far off running.
Attain is a reliable yardstick and he heads back to his favourite course of Lingfield on Saturday. He has had a little break but it has freshened him up and he seems well in himself.
Go On Gal (Chloe), Duke Of Diamonds (Liam) & Attain (Ross)
Photo: Thoroughbred Sports Photography - jason.bax@btopenworld.com

Dakota City had a successful winter with a couple of wins and, with all-weather opportunities becoming rarer this time of year, he is having a small break until the next suitable race in June. I think he deserves a rest and he was a bit stiff after his last run so the holiday will do him good.
Vastly was another winner this winter and he is off to the sales later this month. We have had a good time with him but have done as well as we can and it is the best time to sell him on as he could have a future over hurdles for anyone interested.
Dakota City, Vastly and Silver Alliance

Harry Bosch has been enjoying life leading the two-year olds recently and it seems to have kept him very happy. He galloped this weekend and seems in great order. He's likely to be out again this month and he always wins one a year but guessing when is very difficult!
Moment To Dream went on a bit of a hunger strike when her workload was stepped up but she seems to be eating again fine now and it means we can start looking for a race with her. She is unexposed and has more to come.
Moment To Dream (Nick) & Harry Bosch (Tess)
Architech (Mark)

Secret Ballerina continues to do all her work nicely and looks the sharpest of our juveniles at this point. We will probably pass her through the stalls this week and it will be another step on the way to making her racecourse debut.
Star Of The Stage (Mark) & Secret Ballerina (Liam) 
Eight-legged Sunset Bounty! (with the help of Our Cilla)
Candesta (Sam)



THREE TO FOLLOW UPDATE
Annette Hall 21
Paul Matthews 16
Pauline Kennedy 15
Jonathan Kinge 15
Sam Feilden 14
Jean Allen 13
Dudley Lever 12
David Haddrell 12
Ivan Gibbs 11
Barbara Walton 11
John Chalkin 11
Michael Buckley 7
Dee Clarke 7
Jane Shirran 6
George Hall 6
Dave Morris 6
Linda Wright 6
Dave Barnett 6
Dominic Lisle 6
Trevor Fuller 5
David Smyth 5
PLUS: 6 on 4 points, 6 on 3 points, 20 on 2 points, 26 on 1 point & 10 on 0 points.

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