It may seem a straightforward thing for them to do but the repercussions are more severe for owners and trainers. For instance, we have Blackmore running tomorrow at Pontefract. It is the first time in a long while he has had perfectly suitable ground and yet he could have been denied a great opportunity to run well if the jockeys had forced a strike. Luckily the matter is now going to an important meeting on the same day and I hope an agreement can be reached but, as I said last week, I don't think there is anything wrong with the rules, jockeys just need to learn to stick to them.
Whilst words flew on racecourses about the new rule, many of racing great and good were at Tattersalls October yearling sales, looking for the stars of the future.
The market was incredibly strong considering the financial climate and, although there were some lovely looking individuals, I feel a lot of people could have got more for their money. Knowing this, I waited until the last day of the five-leg auction to make my move and, as a result, I think I got a real bargain.
She is a bay filly (below) by top two-year old stallion Bertolini and is related to many other juvenile winners.
I hadn't gone to the sales to specifically buy her but she really caught my eye and I hope she can emulate Red Hearts, a two year old we did really well with this summer - in the space of six months, we bought her for £6000, won a maiden with a £10,000 bonus, won another race and then sold her on for a profit. This filly looks just the type to be as successful.
Shares are available at £600 per 10th or £5500 as a whole. The majority shareholder gets to name her.
As if there aren't enough things to go against you in racing, the weather well and truly scuppered our only entry this week. When I entered Entrance for Redcar last Saturday, the official going was Firm yet come race day, the north had suffered enough wet weather to make the ground Good to Soft, Soft in places. As the filly loves top of the ground, we had no choice but to not run. Luckily we knew early enough so there was no wasted journey.
The horsebox may have had an easy time of it recently but it will be earning its fuel this week as we've got a few runners.
As already mentioned, Blackmore goes to Pontefract tomorrow with a great chance. We've managed to get Paul Hanagan to ride him and I'd love to help Paul win another jockeys' championship as he is a true role model for youngsters in the sport to follow.
We're double handed at Yarmouth the next day as Exopuntia comes back from a short break. She might just be a bit short on fitness due to a few small problems but she usually goes well fresh and if the ground has some cut in it, she should run well. Likewise with Dolly Bay who makes her handicap debut. We think her new handicap mark is generous and five furlongs is her trip so it looks like she should run well.
Khajaaly must be the only living creature around that loves going night racing to Wolverhampton but he seems to always run well at the track and heads back there on Thursday. He went up a few pounds for his win last time but is in great form and a bold bid is expected.
It looks likely that Bavarica will end her racing career this season and then be put in foal so I hope she can run well at Newbury on the weekend even though she doesn't really owe us anything. Shelley will ride her and if they can do the same as the last time they paired up, I will be delighted. Sail Home will also be entered just in case the race splits and she is really coming back to form. Her coat is one of the best in the yard at the minute as some are getting a bit woolly for winter and her second place last time was a step in the right direction.
Usually I would take Ross to the races so he could drive the horsebox back home but I'll have to do without him now as he jets off to Dubai to start work for the Dubai Racing Channel during the winter. He was meant to go out at the start of the month but the country's strict visa regulations have meant a delay in getting things sorted but he goes tomorrow looking forward to the challenge ahead.
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