Finally found the magic Number!

I said in last week's blog, I'd be pretty disappointed if I was still on the cold trainers' list by the time I write another blog seven days later and thankfully, I'm not feeling glum!

I was pretty sure I had found No Such Number (below) an ideal race and luckily everything went as planned. All credit must go to jockey Richard Hughes who said before the race that horses by King's Best (as NSN is) don't tend to battle so he said he would ride him with confidence and leave his challenge as late as possible. That he did and at one stage I was shouting at the television "Do something Richard!" as he still sat motionless with one furlong to race but Hughesie had timed it perfectly and won by a head.

As it was NSN's first run for us since we bought him in July, plenty of owners were present and they made for some good photos after the race, which can be seen at www.thejockey.co.uk
I must mention at this point that there are still a couple of shares available in him and hopefully this success is a stepping stone to bigger and better things.

Also at Bath that day was Entrance and I thought she too could do the business but the race wasn't run to suit her and she never clawed back the leaders after a slow start. She is so well handicapped now and should be winning soon.

Other than The Ducking Stool in the Legends' Race at Doncaster on Wednesday (the less said about that ride, the better) we didn't have any other runners but this week looks set to be a busy one.

Tomorrow, Khajaaly makes his return to the track after six months off, during which time he had an operation to remove a large bone growth from his leg. It puzzled the vets as they had seen nothing like it before but the horse seems a lot more comfortable now and is pretty fit but the handicaper hasn't given him much chance with a rating as high as 73.

On the other hand, Kampai (below right) has finally been shown some leniency by Mr Handicapper after he dropped her 5lbs in the ratings for her last run. I think she is now on a mark she can win off and after a great piece of work on Saturday, she could go close at Brighton on Friday.
Also impressing on the gallops is Sail Home (middle) and I've been eyeing up this race up for her at Yarmouth on Thursday for quite a while. She hasn't been running the greatest recently but has had excuses and is a few pounds lower in the weights as a result. The Ducking Stool could also run in this race but she is rather the opposite - having had a very successful summer, she is now rated far too high.

At the rear of this trio was Emma's Gift (below). She is always quite lazy at home so I put Ross on her so she would carry more weight and have to work a bit harder! Unfortunately, Ross thought he was Jamie Spencer and managed to get her boxed in in a three horse gallop but this kind of thing probably helps keep the filly interested and she's in good form ahead of running in a listed race at Yarmouth on Wednesday. The competition is likely to be hot but her big targets will be on the all weather during the winter.

Both Attain (below left) and Kampai (right) are becoming slightly frustrating as they have plenty of ability but haven't shown it on the track yet. As a result, Attain will be running in blinkers at Kempton on Wednesday and if they do the job, he should win as he is ridiculously well handicapped but, as he has done recently, he could throw in a stinker and finish last. The problem is, I don't know which Attain will turn up!

My daughter Shelley is adamant that Lea Valley will show her true form if ridden closer to the pace than she has been so we'll be giving the jockey those very instructions when she runs at Lingfield on Friday.

As mentioned last week, unraced juvenile Wiggo (below left) is stepping up his work gradually ahead of his debut next month and we got jockey Jimmy Quinn to ride him on Saturday. He was partnered by Exopuntia and seemed quite professional, despite getting a bit tired as it was his first proper gallop. Exopuntia is down to run at Kempton and, like Attain, it's hard to predict how she'll run but the first try on the all-weather could spark a revival.

Don't forget that next Sunday 23rd September is the Newmarket Open Day. Our yard will be open to visitors from 9am - 12noon and absolutely everyone is welcome. We'll be putting on a bit of food (Shelley has just bought the 'Great British Bake Off' cook book) and hopefully the weather will be kind to us.
In the afternoon there will be loads of activities at the Rowley Mile racecourse and we've got a team in the stable staff go-karting challenge. Judging by some of their driving of cars, they should be fast!
Be advised though that you will need tickets for this event and they can be found at http://www.newmarketopenday.co.uk/
See you there!