I almost had kittens!

It has been quite a busy week runner's wise, but my mind was occupied on Tuesday by the arrival of 4 feral kittens. A friend had found them and asked if I was willing to house them as their mother was run over and were left to fend for themselves at the tender age of about 6 weeks, they are still quite wild but this one didn't mind having his/ her photo taken!

Blackmore ran another puzzling run on Monday at Pontefract, when he seemed to travel much better but his jockey Paul Hanagan reported than he was unrideable due to his hanging. He's had back problems in the past but we cannot seem to find the reason now, I even blew off the dust off my riding boots yesterday to have a sit on him in a bit of work and he seemed very well physically, maybe the problem is in his head after his back issues.

We had a seaside trip to Yarmouth on Tuesday with Dolly Bay and Exopuntia. The former was racing for the first time in handicap company and seemed to struggle with the bit of give in the ground, but the latter, Exopuntia relished the conditions to come home a much improved 2nd. She's been a bit in and out this season but she runs best fresh and will hopefully have a lucrative all- weather season at Southwell.

Thursday saw Khajaaly back to the place he knows best, Wolverhampton. He has never been out of the first 4 in all his visits and he kept his record in tact when coming in 4th under Jimmy Quinn's substitute Paul Hanagan. They didn't seem to go a quick pace like he enjoys but will be back to regain his crown in the coming months.

Bavarica went to her favourite track, Newbury, on Saturday in the lady amateur rider's race under Shelley, but only managed 5th after travelling sweetly in behind she was left with daylight in the straight and could not throw down a challenge.

We managed to find a home for injury plagued Dakota Hues on Sunday. The 5 year old had only managed one visit to the racecourse, but he was finally sound enough for a lovely riding home in Lakenheath where we have sent other retired horses in the past.

Next week sees the start of the Horses in Training Sale at Tattersalls where I will be spending most of my time so I may send John off to the races. On Wednesday Sancho Panza will look to forward his consistent season and Sail Home may run in the amateur race if she gets some rain, Entrance is also entered in this race but being a 3 year old she is finding it hard to get in races with older horses due to the weight allowance. Bavarica may contest in a Listed race at Lingfield on Thursday, it is probably the last chance we'll get in going for the black type for her before she goes to stud and would be nice if she could bow out in style.