29th May 2012

Once the horses were exercised I headed over to the grass gallop and put the fences and hurdles away for the summer. The fences will need some TLC before next season as the effort made earlier in the year by a fence builder was rather pathetic, unlike his bill!!

Tomorrow I will ride out a few lots starting at 5 a.m before heading up to Doncaster sales. I like to view the horses the day before and then see them again the morning of the sale. Being on the sales ground you pick up lots of snips of information. Some of which you have to take with a pinch of salt others are very useful.

On paper there is about 40 or 50 horses worth seeing, I am sure some of those will get a line straight through them when I see them as individuals. Sometimes one ends up drawn to an individual on looks and the pedigree can go out the window.

28th May 2012

Mrs Lacey tells me that the last 7 years have been the best of her life, today is our 7th anniversary! I am a saint!

We backed the Wills 2 year old filly today and she behaved beautifully, we'll ride her around for a few weeks and she'll then be allowed to head back out to grass to mature having learnt a lot.

I am heading to Doncaster May sales on Wednesday with a view to filling 2 orders for 3 year old stores for a syndicate. I hope that I see a few that I like and more importantly a few that I can afford. The yard is quiet at the moment and it is always a tough time of year financially. The wages still have to be paid as does the rent, rates etc etc.

I've had a few easy days and am now ready to start filling it up again.

I had hoped that Sam would ride out 4 or 5 days a week next year but he has decided to take a full time job elsewhere. He will still come in one morning a week and I will be approaching someone else to ride out 2 days a week. Sam and the someone else will share the rides. I am also keen to give James a chance on something. James is going to have to work harder next year and take himself off to Noel Feily clinics in Lambourn. James rides well over a fence but needs to strengthen up and fine tune his finishing technique.

25th May 2012

Proximo made £26,000 and Harris £3,500. Proximo has been bought to go point to pointing and I've had a small bet with someone that he is champion novice next year. Harris was obviously disappointing and is considered a "car crash" when balance sheets are viewed! It was great to see Isabel Tompsett at the sales last night and she appears to be making massive steps forward in her recovery. Seeing Isabel makes one realise what is important and what isn't so important in life. Isabel used to do all my grastroscopes and is a very good vet. She still has a long way to go but if anyone can recover from such a horrific accident I am sure she can.

Brightwells are doing a great job at these sales and DBS ought to learn from them and see how clients should be treated. It is impossible to get a cup of tea off DBS yet Brightwells serve food and drink all day long for vendors and purchasers. Brightwells can't do enough to help their clients and are certainly leading the way in the UK when it comes to National Hunt horse sales.

It was nice to be back at the yard for a full day and to see all the horses again. I'm very lucky to have a team of good lads who raise their game when I'm away. Once evening stables finished I hosed down my golf bag and headed to the range. A mouse has had 2 years of chewing my putter head cover to bits! I hit 50 balls and was pleasantly surprised how straight they went.

24th May 2012

A very hot day spent at Cheltenham sales. I rode the King's Theatre gelding early and Sam and Sergey saw to all the others.

Chelteham was painfully hot and the poor horses spent most of the day sweating. I was constantly taking my 2 down to the cold hose and washing them down. Most importantly they both sailed through their vetting and lets hope they make a sensible price tomorrow afternoon. There seemed to be plenty of people looking and it is not always easy to separate out the tyre kickers!

I'll be riding out early before I head on there tomorrow and will report how they get on tomorrow evening.

23rd May 2012

It isn't easy writing this blog at the moment as so little is going on. We've a few babies about the place and a few cantering away in pre-training.

There is noting of any interest to report. I moan when I can't catch my breath and moan when I've not got enough to do.

Paying staff in quiet periods is very difficult and crippling to a business like mine. At least the sun is shining!

22nd May 2012

Sam was in this morning which made our lives very easy. He rode 3 lots which helped immensely. The part owners of the Grape Tree Road gelding came to see him, he went for a couple of canters and then had a few laps of the loose school.

All horses where turned out striped today and summer has arrived, I am sure it will leave as quickly as it arrived so enjoy it while you can.

Sholto and I spent sometime throwing the rugby ball about in the garden after school while Tilly and Panda watched Tom and Jerry.

Proximo and Harris will be heading to Cheltenham for their vettings on Thursday before the sale on Friday.

More steam cleaning is on the horizon!

21st May 2012

I have decided to take Cavite Gamma to Ascot sales next month, he'll only ever cost me money and I am afraid other things like school fees have to come first.

James is on holiday, Sergey and I am now riding 7 lots each morning before long reining a few babies. Robert Robinson's Kings Theatre gelding behaved really well this morning and is settling down. I think it is very important to get all horses off on the right foot but King's Theatre and Flemensfirths even more so. They can get so wound up if rushed. Flemensfirth horses get their quirks from Alleged. I remember The Captain being sent horses by Alleged and dreading backing them all. One morning a colt by Alleged took off across the yard and threw me so hard into a wall I stuck to it like a cartoon character before sliding down it. The Captain never showed much sympathy and was very quick in telling me to vault back on boy! Even so he is one of my favourite sires and a good one to boot.

20th May 2012

Harris was running his race until he pulled a shoe down the back and thereafter he felt the ground and lost his action, Timmy just let him coast home albeit slowly. He'll now head to the sales and we'll see what happens. He's a fast ground horse and will win his races throughout the summer or in p2p's next season.

Cavite Gamma needs to settle before he's any chance of running a decent race and I'll look for a 2 mile novice chase in a fortnights times. He'll head to the sale too at some point soon.

Robert Robinson had a great day at Stratford today, Tartan Tiger won the 3 mile handicap hurdle and he sold the winner of the bumper to Twiston Davis. It was lovely to see Robert and Margaret at the races today and catch up on things.

18th May 2012

Harris is heading to Uttoxeter tomorrow evening 8.30 pm race, let's hope the late drive home is a joyous one.

Any Tory was here and saw to the teeth on 3 babies.

We're making progress with all the painting, creosoting and killing of weeds around the place and getting it all in order.

17th May 2012

Harris had a blow on the all weather and fingers crossed he'll get his ground at Uttoxeter on Saturday night.

The King's Theatre gelding behaved much better this morning. It was a huge relief for me as James is going on holiday and i'll be taking over the riding duties.

Knockdu and Connaught Square came back in today and they will both be campaigned towards autumn bumpers. Connaught Square would race on fast ground but Knockdu will need a bit of juice in it. No one can predict what the ground will be in September, highly likely to be a bog in September and rock hard in February.

Today I completed the paddocks and the walker had its annual steam clean.

16th May 2012

David Allen arranged for his 2 horses to be collected, they have now gone back to the paddock to mature having been broken-in and ridden around for 6 weeks. Both horse benefited hugely from the experience. The breaking-in process stimulates growth. Ben Case is collecting his 2 year old tomorrow, he has gone through the exact process.

The Generous filly and the Grape Tree Road gelding have started to learn to jump and both appear to be naturals. James backed the King's Theatre gelding and he certainly did throw some shapes and James did a great job. The horse has a annoying habit of frightening himself!

I have all but completed the re-arranging of the paddocks and if the weather warms up and stays dry all the horses will start to go out throughout the day once exercised.

A guy I know rang last week to ask me if I'd break-in 2 3 year old colts, he then went on to tell me that they hadn't been handled and he would have to spend a bit of time getting them in the lorry. I asked why they where still colts to be told that he hadn't got round to cutting them. I should think they'll be pretty wild and look forward to the challenge!!! Needless to say I haven't heard from his since, he may well still be trying to catch them!

I spoke to the clerk of the course at Uttoxeter and he says that he may have to put some water on the track, it's been a very drying day there and unless the rain comes I think Harris will be sent there. I expect it to be good to firm. He also has an entry at Worcester next week.

15th May 2012

Sam was in this morning and Cavite Gamma jumped 6 fences. Keith Heart popped in to see the Tefilio filly belonging to Tim Rootes, Keith rents Shutford Stud from Mr Rootes and is one of the most successful breeders and pinhookers in the flat racing world.

We are pretty much going through the motions at this time of year and everything is very relaxed. I have decided not to post and rail my paddocks and spent the afternoon putting all the electric tape back up.

14th May 2012

Trouble Digger ran his heart out yesterday and finished 5th. What racing I saw there yesterday looked competitive. Trouble Digger was flat out turning out of the back and certainly didn't disgrace himself, the ground was plenty fast enough for him too. He's now gone home for a well deserved rest. The Wills' very kindly took Trouble Digger home and bought a 2 year old filly by Fantastic Spain to be broken-in. Ant Tory has been booked and he'll be here at some point before the end of the week to extract her wolf teeth.

Supreme Present a horse I mentioned on here a few days ago won well yesterday and I'd expect her to get "plenty"of black type before heading back to the paddocks in a few years time. No pressure on her trainer!

Harris will not head to Perth as the ground is currently good, good to soft in places. They are forecast plenty of rain on Thursday, it is just too far to go to find only good ground. Harris needs it fast and is entered everywhere at the weekend. Uttoxeter is currently good so I guess that is his likely target. Cavite Gamma has been entered in a novice chase at Stratford on Sunday, depending on where we go with Harris will depend whether or not he runs. Sam Waley Cohen will hopefully ride him.

Tilly and Sholto both got full marks in their spelling test at school and will soon be able to proof read this for me, if you hadn't noticed my spelling is terrible. Sholto is frightening as many of his teachers think he has a photographic memory. He certainly gets his brains from his mother but thankfully his good looks from me!

12th May 2012

David Allen and Ben Case where here to see their 3 horses, all of which are going well. They will head back to the fields at some point next week. I have also suggested to Tim Rootes that he has his Tefilio filly home for a month or so, she isn't up to it and just needs a month or 6 weeks to grow, 6 weeks in a horses maturity is a long time. It would be nice to keep her here as we are quite quiet at the moment, it isn't the right thing for the horse and I always try and work on the basis that the horses must come first over everything else including fees!

Juliet White was here with her husband and some other members of their syndicate to see their Generous filly. She is going nicely but again is slightly more backward than I had originally thought she'd be at this stage. She is now 4 and will have to keep at it, there is nothing to be gained from turfing her back out into a field. She'll spend the next 10 days learning to jump.

Trouble Digger had a little blow on our woodchip and feels great. I am sure he'll run well tomorrow.

Our kids have their twin cousins staying tonight, any noise and I'm off to sleep at my mother-in -laws. 5 kids under the age of 7 is a test for anyone. Luckily, I am a very tolerant man.

11th May 2012

A great day to get the grass mowed, the first dry one for sometime!

Harris and Cavite Gamma worked on Rimell's gallop this morning. Our grass is too soft for both of them and they just don't handle it soft.

Tomorrow is going to be busy with owners, David Allen and Ben Case are coming to see their 3 horses and Juliet White and her husband are coming to see their Generous filly.

Robert Chugg dropped in this morning and he is always great value. Supreme Present a horse I broke in for him and Lucky Bin Racing is due to run tomorrow. She is trained by Kim Bailey and if anyone wants to see a perfect racehorse she is it, she is the real article. Whether or not she can gallop fast I do not know. If looks are anything to go by she will top class.

10th May 2012

Jonjo won the bumper at Ffos Las last night with a horse called Look Out Mountain, he's a horse by Flemensfirth that Charlie and I liked at the Derby sale last June. Jonjo bought him and asked me to break him in. He's a horse to follow next year.

Sam was here this morning and Trouble Digger jumped 6 fences in good style. I am sure his race will split on Sunday as there are 40 odd entries.

This afternoon Tilly went to ballet, Sholto and Panda assisted me at evening stables. It's been another unbeleiveable wet day. I've entered Harris at Perth next Thursday where the ground is currently good. Fingers crossed it won't get any more rain and will be fast ground. If the ground was fast I'd have to send him. I'll need my passport to go that far away from home!

9th May 2012

Our trip to Ireland was educational but not fruitful. Barry Murphy showed us round his farm and some young horses, non of which set us alight. We were then taken to his uncle's farm; we saw a few more horses before being given a fantastic lunch. The Irish really know how to look after visitors and are great company. Barry told us he was an hour from Dublin airport, after 2 hours into the journey I guessed it was an Irish hour! Lunch was eaten at great speed before we headed back to the airport. The flight was closing at 2.30 p.m. At 2.35 pm we were still in the car. I don't think I've seen Charlie looking so concerned. Typically getting through security was a painful experience, an old age pensioner and a family with everything bar their kitchen sink were ahead of us. Had Charlie not been hemmed in by barriers he would certainly have started walking the box! Anyhow once through security we had to run for the boarding gate about 1/2 a mile away. Charlie blew up twice. Thankfully we made the flight and returned home safely.

This rain is beginning to be a right pain as I desperately want to run Harris again before the sale.

8th May 2012

"Fat Sam" was in this morning and we worked Trouble Digger, Harris and Cavite Gamma on the grass. Gamma and Harris are top of the ground horses and Trouble Digger eyeballed Harris out of it, I've never known a horse to try so hard in his work and think he's a real improver. Fat Sam and I are really looking forward to Chaddesley Corbett on Sunday.

Stratford is water logged so tomorrows racing there is cancelled. Gamma will be ticked over until we get a decent period of drier weather.

This afternoon was a real opportunity to get the spraying done, I feel very satisfied with myself as the weeds have been really annoying me.

Tomorrow Charlie and I are off to Ireland to look at some young horses, a day away from the yard is a rarity and I am quite looking forward to it. All the horses that worked this morning will be on the easy list so I will feed earlier than normal and go away not worrying about a thing - a joy!

Robert Robinson's King's Theatre horse is smashing and i am looking forward to sitting on his back, he's not very big but makes up for that in strength. I guess Robert will aim to run him in a 3 year old bumper before Christmas.

7th May 2012

The high winds knocked my rain gauge over last week so an accurate measurement of rainfall in Pudlicote isn't possible. I think we had well in excess of 12mm. The rain is currently hammering down!

I am waiting for a 3 year old by King's Theatre to arrive from Robert Robinson, Robert has been kind enough to send me some lovely young horses to break-in over the years. Malt Master and Master Malt being 2 of them. Robert owns Distillery Stud in Annan a long way from the Cotswolds!

Cavite Gamma will go to Stratford on Wednesday if he gets a run, Sam says he can't do 10st 5lbs, which is hugely disappointing as I gave him a weeks notice. He does 10st 7lbs with ease pointing and has ridden at lower weights this year.

5th May 2012

Proximo has come out of his race in good shape. Harris has an entry at Market Rasen on Friday, I am just trying to find some fast ground for him, currently they give the ground as good with good to soft patches. If the weather forecast is kind to us we'll probably wait for Towcester on Tuesday week.

Serena Brotherton, Tilly's godmother is riding at Sailsbury tomorrow and is staying the night en-route. Hopefully she'll be in here in time to read Tilly her story, otherwise it will be up to me. The Gaint Peach is nearly finished.

Tomorrow I've promised to spend sometime with the kids, we'll go for a ride in the morning and then I've been told I'm taking them out for lunch.

Maisemore is off, so Trouble Digger will go back to Chaddesley Corbett next Sunday.

4th May 2012

Proximo ran a great race, he looked like the winner jumping the 2nd last and didn't quite finish his race. I think it is just an immaturity thing as there are no signs of any obvious problems with him and he has always appeared to try. For the first time post race he was in fact tired. At this moment in time he will go straight to the Brightwells May sale without another run. He'd be a super horse for someone to have plenty of fun with next year. He'd also go on to jump femces. He really settled today and has now learnt what racing is about. I remember reading that Paul Nicholls reckons it takes horses 4 or 5 runs to learn to race.

This bloody rain, I shall be really disappointed if we don't get another chance to run Harris on the top of the ground before the sale in May. He is in good shape and I desperately want the rain to clear off. I must look to see when the new moon is as I am firm believer in that weather changes with the moon.

I think I'll put off my course walk at Maisemore until Sunday and the likelyhood is it will be off before then. I have entered Trouble Digger for Cahddesley Corbett the following weekend.

Off to bed now, a working day of 16 hours is quite enough.

3rd May 2012

Trouble Digger jumped 6 fences and Proximo and Gamma jumped 6 hurdles. All jumped well. I will walk Maisemore on Staurday afternoon before deciding where to send Trouble Digger. He can return to Chaddesley Corbett the following week where he's a course and distance winner! Gamma may go to Stratford on Wednesday, James will be in charge there as I'm looking at horses in Ireland.

Charlie and I had a meeting about a altitude stable, it is something that has been trialed and there is some evidence to show that it has benefits for horses in training. It is something I will continue to write about in my blogs as and when we take it further.

Once the horses where exercised I got stuck into steam cleaning, one side of the barn is now pristine, the wood has been varnished and we are now painting the back walls.

Proximo heads to Fontwell tomorrow and I'd expect him to run a respectable race, he is stepped up in trip and tomorrows race is 2.5 miles. I am still not convinced what ground he wants. Timmy Murphy thinks he wants top of the ground, I have always thought the same but now I am inclined to think he may want is soft. Soft ground will slow the others down and impinge any turn of foot others may have. Proximo lacks a turn of foot and a slog may play to his strengths.

2nd May 2012

Bertie Woodcock QC dropped in for a cup of tea this morning, he was in the area to see the Heythrop's outgoing huntsman Julian Barnfield. Bertie is a mate of mine and is defending Julian against the RSPCA who are accusing him of hunting with hounds!

The horses that worked yesterday just walked and trotted this morning and the others had routine canters. I made further progress with the steam cleaner and spent the afternoon mowing before tomorrows rain arrives. My ride on mower is in dock so it was a bit laborious pushing a very old broken self propelled mower.

The yard is tired after a very busy year and I dislike it immensely. Weeds are taking over on all the paths and surrounding areas, there simply isn't enough time in the day to get it all done in a flash and it will take a week or two to get it all looking smart again. Sadly, I can't justify the expense of a maintenance man but I would love to have one as I feel so much happier when the place is looking spotless.

1st May 2012

Can't believe it is May already. Trouble Digger, Proximo and Harris all worked well on the grass this morning, I couldn't be happier with any of them.

The steam cleaner arrived and failed to work, after numerous phone calls and unkept promises of someone being sent out to fix it, by 1pm i'd had enough and told them to come and pick it up. Toys and prams come to mind! I then managed to borrow one from a neighbour and eventually got started around 4.30pm.

Cavite Epsilon is back, he'll have some shoes on tomorrow and will start that long road back to full fitness. We are going to take the old school route with him and he'll have a month or so of road work.

Supreme Asset runs at Sedgfield this evening, we had him here for a long time and I think he'll win, he always impressed us.