May May go away!

The saying "never cast a clout until May be out" is usually used as a warning against getting your hopes up about the weather before the month of May is over but it seems to apply to our yard as our usual May drought ended in the best way possible with two winners this week.
Spirit Of Sarwan had shown on his Newmarket debut that he has plenty of ability and he improved a whole chunk more from that experience to get up late at Brighton on Monday. It was a relief to have a two-year old winner as it has been a while since our last one but that is mainly because we hadn't really had many over the past few years. This season is the first time we have made a concerted effort to buy some nice and precocious juveniles and I'm glad it's starting to pay off.
The second winner of the week required a bit more patience from his owners as Duke Of Diamonds finally lost his maiden tag at the age of four. It was only his sixth career run and his owners, Carol Bushnell and Jonathan Kinge, had bought him knowing he would need time to mature and I'm delighted that their belief in the horse and my team paid off. Duke has really thrived this year and I think there is more to come.

Patience rewarded: Carol & Jonathan collected their prize at Nottingham

As well as the two winners, both Silver Alliance and The Ducking Stool bounced back to form with a second and a third this week so I can only be happy about the well-being of the string.
Having said that, we don't have many runners this week as there just weren't the right races for them.
I'm delighted to report that after a three-month battle with the BHA, our apprentice Liam Doran has been granted an apprentice licence. At the age of 25, the BHA thought he was too old but, after compiling substantial evidence to prove he was capable, they eventually caved in (probably helped by the fact they've had enough bad press recently due to their own inadequacies) and Liam will be making his debut for us on Friday night at Newmarket aboard Attain. The poor horse has had no luck recently, being caught in the wrong position in his last three races. He remains in good order and goes on most types of going.

Attain (Liam)

Forecasters are predicting it to be a wet Royal Ascot next week with soft ground an important factor. Sadly we won't be represented at the big meeting but the ease in the going could provide Valley Lodge with a great opportunity at Lingfield on Saturday. He was disappointing last time but is much better than that and soft ground will be right up his street. Hopefully the mud is flying and he can too.

The rest of the two-year old squad continue to improve fast and I'm delighted with the way the Requinto gelding I bought from the Breeze-Ups is coming along. I'd love to run him but he still needs to be paid for and named so don't miss this opportunity to get involved in an exciting juvenile for £1550 per 10% share. Email me on juliafeilden@aol.com for more details.
Also improving fast is Mungo Madness. A few years back his mother, Emma's Gift, finished fifth this week at Royal Ascot in the Albany Stakes and, although he isn't as early as she was, he certainly is catching up fast and should be hitting the racetrack in a few weeks' time.
Tallulah's Quest is a lovely, big filly who has grown some more over the past couple of weeks and has gone a bit weak as a result so I may back off her for a week or two just to let her body catch up. I do love her though and she will be worth the wait.

Tallulah's Quest, My Name Is Jeff,  Requinto gelding & Mungo Madness

Both Dakota City and Sabre Rock are all-weather specialists and run over the same trip with nearly the same ratings so it's no wonder they are likely to go head to head at Newcastle in a couple of weeks. Both seem in good form and fit for the task.

Sabre Rock (Mark) & Dakota City (Tess)

Little Orchid probably suffered the most out of the whole yard when the pollen count was high last month but she is now feeling a lot better and going really well. She is a tough and genuine filly who will pay her way.

Little Orchid (Sam)

After much deliberation between syndicate members, Limerick Lord has got the go-ahead to run over hurdles in a fortnight's time. We schooled him a while ago just to perk him up and he was a natural and, with no races on the all-weather at Southwell for him to run in, a change of tack will do no harm. He jumped brilliantly again this week and, if he stays the two mile trip, I think he could do very well in this sphere.

Limerick Lord (Ross)

After years of no hurdle runners, we'll probably have two in the same race as Harry Bosch is likely to go jumping the same day as well. His owners are mad keen National Hunt fans and, with Harry showing little interest on the flat, a go over the jumps could wake him up. He jumps well at home too and could prove useful if staying the distance.

'Flying' Harry Bosch (Graham)

THREE TO FOLLOW LEADER BOARD

Annette Hall	45
Jonathan Kinge	41
David Haddrell	37
Barbara Walton	35
Maureen Case	33
Anthea Telford	33
Pauline Kennedy	31
Jean Allen	29
Dudley Lever	28
Chris Shirran	28
Gay Chalklin	28