Jumping out of their skins

It definitely seems as though autumn is now well and truly here as I look out the window and see the trees blowing in the wind and rain lashing the window.
Although the racing bandwagon never really stops, it will be a sad sight to see the end of the turf season as it means we are restricted to just the four all-weather tracks for the winter so I'll be trying to make the most of the flat season's last few months.

We've got a busy week ahead as some proper rain has hit the country and I can finally get some of the soft ground horses out.
Bestfootforward has never run for us but all her homework has been very pleasing since she joined the yard in the summer. She hasn't shown much form for her other trainers but I think seven furlongs is a good distance for her to start out at and at Brighton you can get some shock results so let's just hope she can be one of them.

Entrance (Julia), Tiger's Home (Adam) & Bestfootforward (Alfie)

Another shock would be if Tiger's Home got her nose in front at Yarmouth on Tuesday, not because of her ability but because it is likely to be a hot race. There aren't any suitable handicaps for her so we have to go into maiden company again but the drop back to six furlongs will be ideal for her and she loves soft ground so she might just upset the big guns.

Now and again we like to school some of the older horses just to give them a change to their routine and let them enjoy themselves.
Silver Alliance has been jumping for a while now and the natural ability he shows for the game has encouraged me to run him under National Hunt rules. There's a nice introductory race for him at Market Rasen in a fortnight's time so, with his owners' consent, that would be a good target. He has already had a successful flat campaign with three wins but his handicap mark is now very high so maybe we can squeeze a few more wins out of him over the timber.

Silver Alliance (Alfie)

No Such Number ran another great race at Bath yesterday, finishing fourth but just one length behind the winner. It's frustrating that he hasn't won yet but I'm sure there's a success just around the corner when everything goes right. He did jump well though considering it was his first time off the ground so jumping could be an option if he can't get a win on the flat.

No Such Number (Reno)

One who wasn't so natural over the sticks was Handheld. Having started life as Frankel's work companion, I think he was a bit mortified to be pointed at a hurdle! The experience seems to have sharpened him up though as he pulled my arms out up the canter this morning. He runs in a fortnight at Leicester now he has some soft ground.

Handheld (Graham)

After a few glasses of wine on Wednesday night, I must have been feeling brave as I volunteered to school a horse too. After a few hurdles I was starting to regret the decision but luckily Attain has jumped before so he was a safe conveyance!
Attain runs at Beverley on Wednesday and, providing the ground is soft, I really think he will run well. It's a bad race and he is well handicapped so hopefully it will be his day.

Attain (Julia)

The horse I expected to jump the worse was actually the best. Hamble doesn't strike me as one who would enjoy jumping but he pinged all the hurdles and seemed to love it. A run over jumps could be an option for him but I'd like to win on the flat with him first.

Hamble (Ross)

One who definitely won't run over jumps is Entrance. She is a bit mad anyway but the experience will do her good and make her think about trying a bit harder on the flat!

Entrance (Shelley)

The filly provided some hair-raising moments for her rider Shelley as you ca see from her facial expression!

For the rest of the week, we have The Ducking Stool at her beloved Yarmouth on Wednesday. She is very high in the handicap so winning might prove difficult but she will be there giving her all as always.
Bethan also has her second career run at Sandown on Wednesday. She has come on for her debut but this is another hot race so she will likely need the experience once again.