30th November 2012

I had a fantastic day yesterday shooting in Yorkshire, the sun shone on a cold and frosty morning and it was glorious. The birds flew straighter than my powder but I did manage to hold my own and shoot reasonable well.

This morning was back to normal, Sam and I schooled the 3 years olds over the baby fences. I will move them hopefully on Sunday afternoon to the schooling ground and we will get them all going over them on Monday. By Thursday many of them will be ready for the regulation fences. All the others had routine canters. Network Rouge has puss in his hind foot which was released by the farrier this afternoon, he missed todays schooling session.

We backed the Medicean and Bertolini fillies in their stable and both seem to be sweet enough. All the other babies were ridden around the lunge pen. Next week they will move on into the school for a few weeks before heading back to the cold and wet paddocks.

I was delighted to see Harry Fry won the bumper at Newbury yesterday with an English p2p winner. Only to be expected, but not one ounce of promotion for our sport in the Racing Post. I suggested success boxes in the results but was told there was no funding. Poor, I feel!

Another boutique sale of proven horses is held at Newbury tomorrow after racing, I am sure trade will be strong as it was at Brightwells a few weeks ago and the demand for proven horses continues.

Tomorrow, we are taking Major Martin, Billy Biscuit and Knockdhu for an away gallop. The cold snap isn't forecast to be too severe so we may get to run a couple next weekend.

27th November 2012

All horses had routine canters on the woodchip, we haven't even attempted to use the grass this week as it takes no imagination to know what it would be like.

We have finally managed to dig our hole big enough to submerge the water pump, which is now pumping away the water from the back of the barn. Hopefully, no more frightening bedding bills next month. 1,125.00 pounds of shaving used in 10 days. Wish I hadn't worked it out!!!! There are many people much worse off, homes up and down the country have been wrecked. If the predicted frosts arrive racing next week much be in doubt too. We have plans for Major Martin next Saturday at Wetherby.

There will be no blogs now until Friday night. I am off to dust my gun off as it is having its annual outing in Yorkshire on Thursday. I will leave tomorrow after lunch retuning after shooting on Thursday. I doubt there will be much straight powder!! The horses are being left in Alice's very capable hands so I can relax and enjoy the day.

26th November 2012

Owners, vets, farriers, a mate on a shovel and Sam were all here this morning making for a frantic time, we got through it all in the end. The rain has caused a few problems for me, we emptied 5 stables 3 times last week at a cost of 60.00 pounds / stable, daily. I thought the drains just couldn't cope and water was coming into the back of the barn. Yesterday I dug a huge ditch along the back of the barn only for it to fill very quickly when I reach the other end. I had unearthed what appeared to be a leaking pipe, however after further digging today we have unearthed a collapsed land drain. As a temporary measure we have now dug a big hole and placed a pump in it. The pump is very temperamental, tomorrow once the horses are finished I will have to make the hole bigger to accommodate the pump properly. It will then require some professional efforts to rectify the land drain.

On a much more positive note, Sam and I jumped all the 3 year olds over my newly acquired baby fences which they all jumped beautifully. I have only just come in the door so am off for a cup of tea and to watch the replay of Chiquilline who ran at Ludlow today finishing 3rd.

24th November 2012

Full Shift, Knockdhu, Robin Des Champs, Trouble Digger all worked on the woodchip. Sadly, Whitfield has been cancelled so Knockdhu and Trouble Digger will have to wait. Knockdhu will be aimed at the 2.5 mile maiden at Barbury Castle, I will have to speak with Trouble Diggers owners and may wait for Chaddesley Corbett for him. I am not to sure about the track at Barbury for a horse that has had previous leg issues. Billy Biscuit will wait for better ground. I only made my entries this afternoon for Whitfield but am pleased to read that they will be refunded.

We loose schooled a few that I felt need their confidence reinforced, the others had routine canters.

Sophie has taken Tilly and a friend to the ballet in Birmingham for Tilly's birthday. All those owners and trainers that moan about a 30 pound entry for a p2p should try and send 2 kids accompanied by an adult to the ballet, you could train a horse for a week for the price of it, and make entries for the year. I get very angry about this complaint in the p2p world and if we want it we have to pay for it. The work that goes into staging a p2p is huge, most of which is done by volunteers. The fact is it costs money and those participating need to be willing to pay for it. So typical of the Great British public to think they are entitled to everything for nothing.

The fire is alight, England are about to play South Africa on sky + and I have a cup of tea. Have a pleasant wet weekend. I for one am pleased this week is over.

23rd November 2012

Kayf Tara filly, Frankenstorm, Virtuoso Rouge, Network Rouge, Robin Des Champs, Max Ward, Full Shift ( Ballingary)  and Knight Of Noir (Winged Love) all loose schooled. It was very interesting to see how they had taken yesterday's schooling over hurdles. Most of them had really taken it on board and others clearly near their confidence reinforced. Last night I went to collect 2 baby fences from Buckingham. We will ride them all over them in the arena before we take them onto the schooling ground. The baby fences will be a huge bonus to us.

All the other horses had routine canters. We sat on 2 year olds, 2 by Kayf Tara, a Beat All, a Black Sam Bellamy and a Compton Place and Nayef yearlings all in their stables. They all accepted everything very well and they will move into the lunge pen as soon as it resembles a lunge pen again rather than a duck pond. The rain has eased for 24 hours but the forecast is horrible again for tomorrow.

Anthony Webber was here to follow up on all those he saw a fortnight ago, the runners will be seen again before next weekend. He doesn't charge for follow up visits, he really offers a fantastic service.

Every time we get a niggling problem I think the world has ended but how must Noel Meade feel after losing such a good horse in Go Native. It just goes to show how fragile racehorses are. The horse was apparently having a routine canter before breaking his hind leg. It doesn't matter whether it is a good horse or bad horse, it is just very sad when these things happen. We are all to good at blaming ourselves for problems, yet some things are way beyond our control. I would be beating myself up believing that he was overloading his hind leg due to another undiagnosed issue. The fact is these things happen.

 

22nd November 2012

The 4 horses that worked yesterday had an easy day today, They have all come out of the gallop well and we will hope for some decent ground next weekend. The wind here today is serious and will certainly help the ground to dry out. I will enter Knockdhu, Trouble Digger and Billy Biscuit for Whitfield. Knockdhu and Trouble Digger will run if the ground is acceptable, Billy Biscuit may wait. All the land below us is under water as the river had burst its banks.

We schooled the 3 year olds over hurdles, not all of them were pretty but we got them over the other side a good few times. They must have jumped well over 250 obstacles each, yet putting a hurdle in front of them causes them all sorts of worries. I am sure they will be more accurate next time once they've had time to digest this mornings efforts. I have ordered 3 baby fences as I think they will be some what more inviting for them than a hurdle. In the meantime my fence builder will lend me some until mind are built. Tomorrow I hope to go and collect them.

21 November 2012

Major Martin, Trouble Digger, Knockdhu and Billy Biscuit all worked on my neighbours all weather. It is a gallop I know well and I am able to get a fair assessment of where I am with them. All grass gallops were closed and I like to get them in the box for an away gallop, even if it means travelling only 3 miles.  I am happy with them all, they will all come on for the gallop.

My rain gauge was overflowing this evening and it was fairly wild today. Local towns are closed due to flooding and hunting was like riding in the Ocavango Delta without the cocern of being jumped on by a lion! It was hugely disappointing as I had been looking forward to the hedges around Little Compton and Kitebrook. We jumped 1 decent hedge and a few nasty hunt jumps. When I got home I had 2 inches of water swilling around in my boots, soaked to the skin and blue with the cold. I cancelled my second horse and headed for the bath at 1.30 p.m. I doubt they carried on much longer anyhow. The badgers homes must be flooded as I have never seen so many in day light.

I see that Black Forest Lodge give their ground as Good to Soft, with some of the worse floods reported in Devon I find that hard to believe. It is so frustrating having the horses ready to rumble and now faced with horrendous ground conditions, unless these biblical weather fronts clear off we'll be struggling to run anything this side of Christmas.

20th November 2012

Ballingary, Knight Of Noir, Frankenstorm, Shantou gelding, Kayf Tara Filly, Robin Des Champs, Virtuoso Rouge all went to the grass, I had planned to back off a few of these but they are so well we thought we'd keep at them and see where we are mid December. If they continue to take the work we may a run a few in January. I have no problems with Milborne St Andrew and have ridden there myself. It is a fine track but often soft ground. Richard Barber tends to farm it, but we may go and try and beat him on his home soil. Thrope Lodge, I am told is also a good track, I haven't been there. Larkhill have failed to frame a single race for 4 year olds, as the premier track in the UK I think it is a great shame.

Shantou is a half brother to Back In Focus who won again in Ireland over the weekend - a huge update for him!

Everdon Brook won agian today at Fakenham, he is a horse I had here to help with his jumping, he certainly jumped well today. I struggle with the Yogi Brisener school of thought and what I have seen of his techniques, think that they interfere with the horse too much. In my opinion, teaching a racehorse to jump is very different than teaching an eventer. Captain Radcliffe would have gone ballistic had he seen hands being rasied off their withers, let alone held 6 inches above them going into the wings of a fence. I can vouch first hand that he was a master shot with the long-tom and the jockey would have felt it!

19th November 2012

Routine canters for most. Trouble Digger, Billy Biscuit, Glens Boy and Knockdhu jumped 9 fences. Liz Wills was here to see Trouble Digger school, all jumped well. Some will now be heading for an away gallop on Wednesday. It was busy morning, the farrier was in as was Anthony Tory. Anthony did 8 horses teeth and is supporting Movember, to say it doesn't suit him would be an understatement.

The results from Brightwells sale on Friday night bode well for us, there is no sign of anyone letting up when form horses are offered for sale. Roger Brookhouse spent £750,000 and he is the owner of Tiqris. Lets hope Tiqris delivers and Mr Brookhouse comes back for a few more.

This afternoon I treaded in the schooling ground and at evening stables we misted the barn with disinfectant, as always I feel rather satisfied when this job is completed.

Ralph Beckett and I had planned a days hunting on Wednesday with the Heythrop. Ralph has had to pull out due to work commitments so I may head on as planned. The lure of hedges in the Wednesday country is too great to resist.

17th November 2012

Ballingary, Robin Des Champs, Kinght of Noir (Winged Love), Frankenstrom (Darsi), Shantou and Virtuoso Rouge all went to the grass. We may think about running one or two of them in January so we'll press on with them until Christmas and then see where we are. Trouble Digger has a blow on the woodchip and will be on the box for an away gallop on Tuesday, as will Billy Biscuit, Knockdhu and Major Martin.

My yard man has decided to leave after 5 years as he has been offered a job as a work rider  - think he maybe looking for his job back in a day or 2. Sadly, it has already been filled and a new guy starts on Monday.

It was a good day for us as Donald McCain won the 1st and the last race at Uttoxeter with horses that have been through the yard, Supreme Asset and Up And Go. I broke them both and taught Supreme Asset to jump, we schooled over fences as there was talk possibly of him going pointing, he certainly jumped well today. Up And Go came here to be broken and we messed around with him as a 2 year old.

16th November 2012

Connaught Square is fine after his run, he ate up and was full of himself this morning.

Billy Biscuit, Glens Boy, Major Martin and Knockdhu all went to the grass, I had a sit on Billy Biscuit and am very pleased with him. We will get some in the lorry next week and go for an away gallop, hopefully on Tuesday. All the others had routine canters on the wood-chip. More rain forecast next week - not really required!

This afternoon Patrick Milmo and his wife called in to see their Notnowcato yearling colt. Thankfully, they appear happy with their purchase. Patrick bought him with Ed Dunlops help and he will train him, he'll be here until March/April time.

The 3 year olds are well forward and I'll be backing off them now until after Christmas, we will concentrate mainly on their schooling and give them all a chance to grow again. I don't think young horses can work hard and grow at the same time, I have proven this to myself time after time.

Last night a Bertolini filly arrived to be broken-in before she heads into training with Gary Moore next Spring.

15th November 2012

All the 3 year olds jumped in the school this morning, they all jumped with great enthusiasm and will head out on to the schooling ground next week. The others all had routine canters before we headed off to Ludlow.

Connuaght Sqaure ran really well, given a lovely ride by Sam finishing second. He was beaten by a horse that has been Hunt Balls work companion. Connaught Square has done nothing but improve with each run and I am sure he is still on an upward curve. I will look at the sales dates and the chances are he will head to the next one. Rather satifying, an Irish p2p winner was along way behind him.

It was a good day out and I bumped in to The Blazeys who own Chiquilline, the reports were good and he has settled in with Richard Lee, he could be seen on the racecourse in a couple of weeks. I am sure he'll pay his way and give them all a lot of fun.

14th November 2012

An easy day for those that went to the grass yesterday. Network Rouge and the Shantou 4 year old went to the grass today. Connaught Square had a blow on the all weather and is heading to Ludlow tomorrow.

A Medicean filly arrived from Shutford Stud and seems sweet, I'll get her started tomorrow. Sam is in in the morning, we will get all the 3 year olds jumping in the arena again.

Frankie must feel totally ashamed of himself and what a same for the racing industry. As a role model for so many - not a good example!

13 November 2012

Glens Boy, Major Martin, Trouble Digger, Max Ward (Milan 3 yr old), Billy Biscuit, Winged Love 3 yr old, Kayf Tara Filly, Laveron 3 yr old, Robin Des Champs, Darsi 3 yr old, Knockdhu and Ballingary 3 yr old all went to the grass. Tomorrow Network Rouge and Shantou 3 yr old will go over there. It is a long slog of a day when we take 3 lots to the grass gallops and I was still riding around the school after 1 p.m. After which I had to start on 7 youngsters which are here to break-in. To say it has been a long day would be an understatement. Corners can't be cut in this job and I am a firm believer in the expression "you get out what you put in".

Robin Des Champs foals were in demand in Ireland yesterday and 3 of the top 5 lots were sired by him. Our lad looks very good value and I wouldn't swap him. I rode him on the grass this morning and am very pleased with him - I hadn't sat on him for 4 weeks. I also rode Max Ward the 3 year old by Milan, he has come on a lot too. 2 weeks on Sunday and it all gets under way for us - I can't wait.

Tomorrow, a filly arrives from Shutford Stud to be broken-in, she will stay here for sometime as Tim Rootes the owner is never in a rush and tends to leave his horses here for all the pre-training, we can get them up to race fitness and charge considerably less than most higher profile trainers.

12th November 2012

Routine canters for most. Billy Biscuit and Glens Boy jumped 6 fences. Had I has realised how wet the schooling ground has become I would have waited a  day or 2.

I received a text from Johnson White - assistant trainer to Phillip Hobbs, Tiqris is entered in the bumper at Cheltenham on Sunday, they must think as much of him as we did. I hope he lives up to expectations and delivers. It would be fab to have produced a Cheltenham winner. I may even go and watch him after Sholto has finished his rugby training.

Connaught Square will head to Ludlow on Thursday, he is in good nick, he will be bounced out in the hope that he settles in front.

Ralph Beckett gave us a fantastic lunch yesterday and I hope he has sold all the yearlings he paraded. It was great to see some old mates. Geoffrey Pooley was in attendance, Geoffrey has been a friend for a long time and we have enjoyed some great times together mostly on the ski slopes or in public houses! He is always at the forefront of any trouble and is famous for being arrested for throwing oranges at David Blane when he decided to lock himself in a glass box suspended from a crane in London.

10th November 2012

Connaught Square worked on our grass, he is most likely to go to Ludlow on Thursday. He should get his ground. I would imagine it will be less competitive than the maiden bumper at Taunton where the big boys are sure to run something decent. He is also at Newcastle - we won't be going there but will watch with interest as Charlie sold Up And Go as a store in Doncaster. Apparently, he is a machine and Charlie regrets it on a regular basis.

All the others had routine canters on the woodchip. There is nothing too much for the 3 year olds in January so we are in no major panic to start upping the anti with their work. They are all doing plenty anyhow and we will concentrate on their schooling for a few weeks.

This morning I started the 2 horses that arrived from Whitsbury Stud yesterday, a filly by Nayef and a colt by Compton Place. Both seem fine.

I was pressured into going to Stow last night and was relieved to see that rugby club humour hasn't changed. It was a fun evening and I bailed out at 10.30 p.m.

Sophie blames me when the children swear - guilty! I blame Sophie when Tilly aged 7 constantly asks me for cash! She has certainly learnt something from her mother.

Sholto will miss his rugby training tomorrow as we are all off to Ralph Beckett's for a parade of yearlings followed by lunch.

9th November 2012

Trouble Digger and Knockdhu worked and jumped 8 fences. Both pleased me and we are on target to run them both at Whitfield. Knockdhu will be having no more than an educational run, if he's good enough to win he can do. He will not be knocked about under any circumstances. He still has a lot of maturing to do. Trouble Digger has hopefully a long season in front of him and he won't be fully wound up either.

We then jumped all the 3 year olds over poles in the school, they will all do that a few more times before heading out onto the schooling ground. All jumped well.

Billy Biscuit and Glens Boy jumped 8 hurdles and 9 fences. Glens Boy is a handicapper and Billy Biscuit did it well. He'll get plenty more schooling before he runs.

This evening I disinfected the stables and barn with my mister - always very satisfying.

I am suffering from man flu and feel dreadful so I have bailed out of supper at the rugby club and am off to bed.

8th November 2012

Robin Des Champs, Connaught Square, Shantou, Billy Biscuit, Glens Boy, Laveron, Major Martin, Darsi, Winged Love, Kayf Tara Filly, Ballingary and Milan 3 year old all went to the grass and did varying degrees of work. I am pleased with all. If he keeps eating and taking his work Major Martin may head to Newcastle for a 3 year old bumper just before Christmas. There is also a Maiden Bumper there which Connaught Sqaure will be entered in at the end of next week, he will also have an entry in a maiden bumper at Taunton next week too. If we don't get some dry weather he won't be going anywhere. The forecast looks to be in his favour at the moment.

This afternoon I went to watch Tilly do her first Cross Country running at St Hughes prep school near Faringdon. She laboured a bit mid race but ran her heart out when I went out on to the course to encourage her, she really enjoyed it, as did I. Kitebrook were not the worse.

The Weekender has dropped it's coverage on P2Ps which is of course very sad and hugely disappointing for the sport in general. Before long everything will be digital anyhow.

Sam and I are taking 2 older horses away for a gallop first thing, on our return we will ride the 3 year olds over some poles in the school. 

7th November 2012

A relatively easy day for those that had their backs looked at yesterday and all went for quiet canters. I have a full brother to Megastar in at the moment.  He has come to broken-in and ridden around for 6 weeks prior to going back to the paddocks. He is a giant, I don't think I've seen a 2 year old that is so big. He will hopefully be as good as Megastar. Megastar lost his way a bit after winning the Liverpool bumper but he's still young enough and could easily bag another big prize somewhere.

Tomorrow we will be working horses on our grass, the last 2 days have been great drying days and the ground is perfect.

I've received an email saying my planner has been dispatched and tomorrow evening I shall enjoy seeing what races I shall pencil in my mind for some of the horses.

06 November 2012

Connaught Square, Robin Des Champs, Kayf Tara 3 year old, Darsi 3 year old, Trouble Digger, Knockdhu, Winged Love 3 year old, Major Martin, Glens Boy, Ballingary 3 year old and Billy Biscuit worked on the all weather. I am pleased with them all and we'll just keep bringing them along slowly. The P2P planner should be with me early next week or even the end of this and I will start to pencil in some options for them all. I think the 3 year olds are more forward this year due only to the weather.

Anthony Webber was here to go over all the backs of the horses and he treated 14 of them. Only one of them required no treatment. Anthony is one of the best in the business and I have every faith in his work. Many of them are charlatans. He was taught by the legend Ronnie Longford. It is something I do at regular intervals and I believe that it is money very well spent. If I have any doubt about any he is my first call, sometimes before the vet.

What a great day for Kings Theatre, Cue Card, Theatre Guide and Banjaxed Girl in Ireland. Billy Biscuit's grand dam was a full sister to the grand dam of Theatre Guide - it all helps. Banjaxed Girl is a filly that I broke-in, she was one of the slowest mental developers I have ever known but she is some racehorse. Her form speaks for itself. Cue Card is a great example of a horse that has now learnt to race. I often worry about our horses running too free. I have learnt that the cause of it is more by inexperience rather than bad training. Training on hills doesn't help this either, we are all going too fast too soon to get the work into them. With the weather as it is, this year we should be able to overcome this to some degree, we will be able to do so much more on the longer grass gallop. I wish I had a field full of 2 year olds by Kings Theatre.

5th Novemebr 2012

What a day yesterday, 0.75 of an inch of rain in 24 hours. To say it was wet would be an understatement! Sholto's rugby was cancelled - no wonder the youth of today are so soft! We would have been running around in skins 35 years ago, how teaching has changed, not all for the better.

The planned away gallops have fallen through as the gallops are too wet and the owner obvioulsy doesn't want them destroyed. I may try and arrange something else and have my thinking cap on.

All horses had routine canters on the wood-chip this morning, I put Sam off until Wednesday as the schooling ground would have been sodden. Mondays are always more of a slog than normal as the horses are only skipped out on Sundays, on Monday the beds take some sorting.

Ralph Beckett sent his lorry for 3 more yearlings this morning, it will be back tomorrow for the last 3.

3rd November 2012

All the horses stayed on the wood-chip this morning, I am "filling them up" as next week there will be some away gallops - well, swinging canters. We are keen to capitalise on the current ground conditions and it is all great experience to get the youngsters in the lorry and away for something different. They also have plenty of time to think about it afterwards as the 3 year olds are still some way off racing. Sam will be here at some point on Monday and we will school some of the pre-Christmas runners.

Any doubts I had about Trouble Digger's well being were soon squashed this morning as I watched him tank up the all weather with him in complete control of his jockey. He took the jockey for a ride rather than the jockey taking him. I never worry about older horses doing such a thing and actually think it does them no harm at all, it is important horses are happy in their work and if that means taking the piss out of one or two riders on the odd occasion then so be it. Had it of happened on one of the youngsters the chances are that someone would have been in Heathrow tonight looking for a flight to India or Ukraine.

What an amazing days racing, some real talent coming through the ranks, sadly, they the lions share of it seems to be in Somerset. It gets a bit boring listening to Paul Nicholls by Christmas. As I am now a firm watcher of ATR and RUK their program is so full of races from all meeting I won't have to listen to him quite so much. We all know he is a brilliant trainer and handles the quality horses amazingly. Sam works full time for Hilary Parrot and has played a huge part with Wayward Prince, I was delighted for him that he ran so well in The Charlie Hall, finishing second behind a very good horse indeed. All credit goes to Sam.

The first 3 Hunters Certificates were sent off to the owners this morning for signing - pressure builds by the day. The day I don't get wound up by the anticipation of it all will be the day I quit. Sadly, for my staff I show my fear and worry by roaring at them for any imperfections. All bar Alice have now been here for 3-5 years and know me too well. Dogs and bites come to mind! Alice is a god send, she knows her job and is a huge asset to the team.

2nd November 2012

Routine canters for most on the woodchip. All the horses that have been stepping up on the work front seem to be taking it well. I couldn't be happier with them all.

Ralph Beckett is sending his lorry up for 9 O'clock in the morning to take the first batch of yearlings home. Three horses will arrive from Overbury Stud mid morning, filling the stables that have been vacated. Ralph's Kodiac and Dandy Man were ridden in the school for the first time today and both behaved well.

Next week we will start to ride some of the 3 year olds over some poles in the school before progressing to the schooling ground. I am a big fan of schooling and will school the horses on Mondays and Thursdays most, if not every week.

My bookeeper was here all day yesterday and the end result is rather depressing, the cost of bedding, feed and staff has become crippling. If I went on Dragons Den I would not be holding my breath for investment!

1st Novemeber 2102

Network Rouge, Darsi 3 year old, Shantou 3 year old, Kayf Tara 3 year old filly, Virtuoso Rouge, Robin Des Champs 3 year old all went and cantered quietly through on the grass twice.

Glens Boy and Knockdhu schooled, I rode Glens Boy and Sam Knockdhu. As you may expect I made Sam look very moderate and untidy!

Tim Curtis was here to watch his Presenting gelding, Billy Biscuit canter through on the grass 3 times with Ballingary and Major Martin. We are in agreement that we will start Billy off in a p2p. I have the Barbury Castle and Chaddesley Corbett meetings in December as possible starting places. He won't want soft ground and won't be forced to either race, he will be the judge and if he keeps taking his work as well as he is he could easily be ready in time for Barbury. I'd have loved to have started him at Whitfield but I would have to force him and I don't do that with any of them. Charlie, my assistant and Chis Palmer, Charlie's assistant were also over seeing everything this morning. Major Martin may be aimed at a 3 year old bumper before Christmas if he keeps progressing.

This afternoon was satisfying in the sense that I got silly jobs done, new light bulbs from Chipping Norton, filled the tractor and lorry with diesel and treaded in the schooling fences. Tom Campbell was here to see how Sergeant Thunder's hobday has healed, it has healed and he will start back tomorrow.

Trouble Digger seems fine today, his temperature is now normal and he has eaten up all day, he will have a light canter tomorrow.

Thank goodness Kauto Star has been retired in one piece, nothing worse than seeing greats like him being pulled up.