As a small yard you can get a bit spoilt by having a winner every week, as we had done over the past month or so, so it was a bit disappointing not to get into the winner's circle over the past seven days but the horses did all run well.
Bethan had her third career run at Windsor on Monday and she will now qualify for handicap races. We will find out on Tuesday what her mark is but hopefully it will be in the region of 60 and off that mark on soft ground over a long trip, she is definitely capable of winning a race.
Attain and Bestfootforward went down south for the last meeting of 2013 at Brighton and ran with credit. Bestfootforward was racing in a grade above what she is used to and just found it a bit too much for her but still picked up a bit of prize money in 4th. Also filling the same spot was Attain who ran great but it is infuriating that he hasn't won a race yet. He loves soft ground so we've just got to keep firing him while conditions are ideal and hope he hits the target!
There's just a trio of runners this week, kicked off by Hamble and The Ducking Stool at Yarmouth tomorrow.
Ducky has excelled herself this season with three wins, all at Yarmouth, but as a result is a bit high in the handicap. She surprised us last time by pulling out enough to win so you couldn't rule her out at her favourite track with soft ground in her favour.
Hamble is another genuine horse and he too loves some give in the ground. He ran a blinder at Leicester last time and if he doesn't get too outpaced, he will be in the mix at the finish.
No Such Number goes to Newbury on Friday for the finale of the apprentice riders' 'Hands and Heels' series. Our apprentice Shelley Birkett has already won the title after a couple of wins in other races throughout the year but she will be riding for us still and has to collect her prize of a brand new mechanical horse to practice riding a finish on. Number could end the series on a high for her though as he is in top form and ran another solid race at Goodwood last time. He's finding winning a bit difficult at present as he is so consistent the handicapper doesn't drop him but the step up to two miles could eek out a bit more improvement in him.
Shelley had a great ride in the valuable apprentice race at Ascot on Champions' Day. She finished third and was arguably a bit unlucky as the field split in two groups across the track and she won her side but unfortunately the first and second were over the other end of the course. She said it was a great thrill though and it was an honour to ride on the big stage.
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