31st December 2012

A late post as we have all been to The Cinderella Pantomime in Chipping Norton Theatre, it was very entertaining. The fat woman behind me couldn't control her excitement and entered into the real spirit of things. I always get the screaming child on flights too!!!

All the horses had routine canters, we have backed off them over the last few weeks. They are all  fresh and seem in good health. We will be increasing the tempo mid January, at which point there will be much more to report.

Happy New Year to all.

29th December 2012

Trouble Digger seems fine after yesterdays exertions.

We made an executive decision this morning and didn't stop for a cup of tea, the rain was forecast for mid morning and we had the guts of the horses ridden before yet more horrendous rain arrived. All horses had routine canters, tomorrow Sam is coming in, Billy Biscuit and Full Shift will school over the fences. Billy Biscuit has an entry at Larkhill next Sunday, we won't decide whether to run until later in the week.

I rang Simon Classie this morning as he is in constant contact with John Kettley, apparently, there is no let up with the rain. No cold fronts on the horizon, I am told until cold fronts appear we can expect nothing to change. Simon told me John Kettley  mentioned that we may get a couple of dry days in March!!!  

28th December 2012

Trouble Digger beat 17 rivals in The Restricted and mud at Chaddesley Corbett, Sam gave him a great ride from the front and had a bit in the tank pulling up. He ran up very light last year and I have been very careful to leave a bit to work on this time around, with that in mind he will come on for the run and some serious fun could be had with him now we know he handles the soft. He has matured mentally and physically a year on. We may consider a Hunters Chase at Warwick on 24th January, he's entitled to be and is tired tonight, it will all depend on how he comes out of today, Warwick may come a week too soon. He has a nasty over-reach on his near fore and the farrier was here tonight to put his shoe back on. Any reader of my blog will know all about Trouble Digger, he'd die for you and that counts for a lot in this game and wins races. He's a joy to have in the yard and is in fact is a very good work horse. 

Back In Focus won in Ireland today, a great update for Medieval Gateway, a half brother I have here by Shantou. He will be waiting for some better ground before making his debut in a P2P somewhere. This weather is holding us up and we will be aiming to have a good few ready when it eventually dries up a bit. If we get a some dry days between now and  26th January Larkhill  may be a starting point for Billy Biscuit, the others are more likely to be aimed somewhere in February when there are more races for 4 year olds.

27th December 2012

Christmas is over for another year, FANTASTIC!

Today we were very much back into full routine. Sam was in, Billy Biscuit jumps some poles in the school and Trouble Digger jumped 6 fences. Trouble Digger is heading to Chaddesley Corbett tomorrow. All the other horses had a couple of canters having had a easy 2 days. The babies were ridden in the school, all horses were pleased to be back into their routine. This evening I fogged the barn and stables with the mister and feel better for doing so.

Yesterday, I managed to watch a couple of races by nipping out of lunch. Sam Waley-Cohen shut up his doubters yet again, I for one am delighted for him. He has ridden me a couple of winners and you wouldn't meet a more down to earth guy. I remember one day giving him a few quid and then watched him fly off in a helicopter, I thought perhaps it should have been the other way around having given him a double on the card.  Not only is he a more than capable jockey he is also a very successful business man, juggling the two can't be easy and the shape he keeps himself in is admirable. He shows no signs of tiredness yesterday and to get Long Run going again after the last was a testament to his capabilities.

24th December 2012

A normal day - soaked to the skin by 7.30 a.m! this rain is serious and very boring. It looks like Boxing Day racing will be a wash out which is a huge shame. Boxing Day is one of the best days racing of the year, it is a chance for young lads and lesser horses to get opportunities. There will be many disappointed 7lb claimers.

All our horses had routine canters this morning, Trouble Digger will be the only horse ridden tomorrow and the others will have a leg stretch on the walker.

We had a swap around of horses today from Overbury Stud, 3 babies went back and a 3 year old Grape Tree Road gelding that we let down for a couple of months returned. He may well be aimed at a P2P in the Spring.

This evening, if anything like the last 2 years will be spent wrapping stocking fillers. Sophie has been incredibly generous on the credit card so I can't afford to sit still for more than 1 afternoon! She has also been amazing organising everything with little or no help from me. Mother-in-laws tomorrow, Trouble Digger needs a very long ride in the countryside and evening stables starts very sharply at 4p.m!!!!!!

Have a very Happy Christmas, it will be business as usual this end on Thursday.

22nd December 2012

A few lots out before shooting. What a fab day, considering how wet it was the birds flew amazingly well. I had a good day firing straightish powder, I managed a left and right of partridge and pheasant. I have previously hit a left and right of Canadian geese on Ralph Beckett's father-in-laws farm near Milton Keynes but today was my first on partridge and pheasant. A very special thing for a once or twice a year shooter. Johnny Wills also told me a joke about nuts and chins which I am afraid is not suitable for this blog. I will certainly be passing it on when in suitable company.

Due to the filthy weather we shoot through and had a late lunch, sadly, I had to rush mine and get back for evening stable. All the horses are well and I will be on my knees asking for the rain to stop. It has become ridiculous. They say, be careful what you ask for!!!! Our prayers of last year are now being answered.

Tomorrow after the horses are seen to I am dutifully taking the children to see their Great Grandmother who is nearing the big 100 years of age, about 3 or 4 years to go I think. Up until a few years ago she used to ride her bike to the village shop daily and it is only failing eyesight that stops her now. She would physically still be able for it and continues to be out most days gallivanting about. I'll take them all for lunch before heading back for evening stables. Until this weather calms down the horses will remain on tick over. I am very happy with where they all are fitness wise and will soon be getting very frustrated that we can't get on with some intensive schooling.

21st December 2012

I rode a few out before heading off for a days hunting with the Ledbury. As with most of the country it is sodden and the hedges were even bigger than normal. My first horse has lost his confidence after a bad experience last week when out with someone else. He deposited me on to the top of one hedge, thankfully, I manged to hold on to him as I was able to use him as my tractor. He kindly pulled me out, thorns removed form under finger nails and on we went over it. At the next hedge he ran out into the ditch on take off side with me still on his back, well sort of, he was lying down in it and I was half on and half off. Enough was enough so I went for my second horse who was electric. We jumped plenty of big hedges and few sets of good rails, a fun day was had. The Tweenhills meet is a must for anyone who likes to get their blood up.

Tiqris ran at Ascot today finishing 3rd, obviously, I'm disappointed he didn't win but it looks as if he has been beaten by 2 more than average horses, for them to quicken away as they did in that ground was very impressive. Tiqris will certainly be winning his races.

The Harkaway Club have bought the start time forward to 10.30 on Friday as they foresee a 10 race card, if the rain arrives as forecast the meeting surely has to be in doubt. Billy Biscuit won't run and I need to talk things through with Trouble Diggers owners before any decision is made about whether  or not we run him.

20th December 2012

Thanks to the help of Sam we were able to get routine canters into all the horses before I set of to Olympia with Sophie and the children. The horses are all in good fettle.

Olympia was a lovely afternoon out and I would recommend it to anyone. The showjumping class was won by Ben Maher a British rider. He was the last to go in the jump off, which made for a very exciting finish. A French man was 1st to go and set a huge target for the remaining riders who I felt didn't really have a stab at it and were fighting for the minor places. Ben Maher and a USA rider were the only 2 riders who looked as if they had any intention.  The other shows involving dogs and carriage driving made excellent veiwing and we all throughly enjoyed it.

19th December 2012

An easy day for those that worked away yesterday, all seem to have come out of it well and will have a light canter tomorrow. From noon onwards today it has rained non stop, I had planned to school a few tomorrow morning but a going inspection will be required.

All the other horses had routine canters and the babies went in the school. A horse named Mickey won at Ludlow today, she is a filly by Kayf Tara, owned by Mr Sumner, Marston Stud. I broke, pre- trained and breezed her last December. Mr Sumner was looking for 5,000 at the breeze up sale, she was lead out with no bid at all. He was tentatively offered 3,000 after the auction but I encouraged him to put her into training. She has never run a bad race and now has some breeding prospects, I am delighted for him, a top owner who is a pleasure to deal with.

The Weatherbys pt-pt site has finally got round to loading all the in running comments and full results on their site, not before time! However the loss of publicity through the Weekender dropping pt-pt coverage is disastrous and I'd be very interested to know who balls it up, I wouldn't want them on my payroll.

18th December 2012

The 3 horses we took for an away gallop pleased me, they worked over a straight mile and 1 furlong. All others either went for routine canters or into the loose school for more jumping practise. It was one of those mornings when I wondered if we would ever get through it all. By the time we did I had to turn around and ride Glens Boy for the second time, he is a huge horse who has just receovered form a soft pallet operation and will take some getting fit. He goes out twice a day and hack canters for miles.

The entries at Chaddesley Corbett are huge and I can see a 10 race card by the time they divide a few. Thankfully, Trouble Digger is in the 2nd race so he will get the best of the ground. I have expressed my concerns previously about maidens racing on the worse ground at the end of the day. Of course I want the best ground for my horses which are predominately maidens, however it makes sense for many reasons. A maiden jumping out of cut up bottomless ground does nothing for their confidence, it is also so much harder for them, resulting in more fallers and the horses in general getting a much harder race than need be. NOT an ideal introduction  to racing. Maidens on the whole, mind and a few others excluded are the future of the sport, in my mind they should get the best of the ground. Billy Biscuit could end up racing on ground that has been galloped over by 150 horses, this alone would stop me running him. Sometimes a little commmom sense would prevail!

Sholto and Panda have gone with their mother to the Heythrop carol service, Tilly has stayed at home with me to help at evening stables. She has been preparing for a Wizard of Oz performance on Friday afternoon and says she has sung enough for one day.

17th December 2012

The Compton Place colt that was here to be broken-in went into training with Ralph Beckett today and he dropped off Lunette, a 2 year old filly that I broke and pre-trained for Tim Rootes before she went to Ralph. She has come back here to be allowed to mature. She is a gorgeous filly and disappointed in her races. We will be using an overground scope on her to see if we can find out any reason for her not finishing her races other than immaturity.

Billy Biscuit, Trouble Digger and Full Shift are all heading off for an away gallop tomorrow so it is an even earlier start than normal.  My alarm will ring at 4.15 a.m - the joys.........! I can't see Billy Biscuit running at Chaddesley as we all think he wants some decent ground, it will be good to soft at best.

I have a rather spoiling week ahead. On Thursday we are going to Olympia horse show, thankfully it doesn't start until 12.30p.m so I'll get plenty done before we leave. Sam will be in and we will school a few before I leave. On Friday I have  very kindly been invited to hunt with the Ledbury by David Redvers and on Saturday John Wills, Trouble Diggers owner has generously asked me to shoot. Invitations appear to be like London buses. I do nothing all year and then it all comes at once, rather good really.

15th December 2012

Sam and I schooled Billy Biscuit, Trouble Digger, Full Shift, Frankenstorm, Knight of Noir and Vazaro Delafayette. I was very pleased with the last 4 as that was their first time over the full size fences, all did it well. The other horses all had routine canters and the babies were all ridden in the school. Sam then very kindly stayed to help me repair the ground on the schooling field. I am sure his dedication will pay off, we have a bunch of young horses that any trainer would love to have in their yard. All being well we will run some of the 3 coming 4 year olds in early February.

14th December 2012

If anyone tries to tell me weather patterns aren't changing.........absolutely drenched this morning! All horses had routine canters and all the babies were ridden in the school, temperatures increased overnight and the school and lunge pen are now back in use. Well, they were this morning, tomorrow the lunge pen will resemble a duck pond. My make shift drainage system seems to have held up and no water has come through the barn.

This evening we did our fortnightly fogging of the stables and barn which always make me feel better. I will be making entries for Trouble Digger and Billy Biscuit at Chaddesley Corbett this evening. They close on Monday at noon, 11 days before the event. Last year I failed to take this on board and missed one, as it happened it didn't matter as I wouldn't have run him anyhow.

Malt Master, a horse I sold for £155,000 finished second in his first novice chase today at Bangor, he has some decent form on soft ground and won his bumper at Doncaster in the soft, however, he has so much speed I can't believe that soft ground is his preferred going. Watch out for him if he gets some decent ground next time. I'd love to know what AP's post race analysis were.

13th December 2012

As long as we've had a few dry days before hand wood-chip is by far the best surface when a freeze arrives, we can belt away. It just doesn't hold the water like synthetic gallops. My school and lunge pen are like blocks of ice. A few years ago I heard the trainers in Newmarket were doing their best to get one reinstated in Newmarket, I read they believed it was the closest all weather surface to grass.

All our horses had routine canters this morning. Sam was here and will be back on Saturday to help us school - weather permitting, the radio tells me that the country is going to be hit by high winds and torrential rain.

A good day for ex English pointers, Marshal Zhukov and Buck's Bond both winning at Taunton. Although Marshal Zhukov failed to win a p2p he still started his trade in p2p's in the UK. He has now won 3 races under rules, perhaps are p2p's are more competitive than some would lead you to believe. What publicity will the UK p2p's get, NONE!!!! I know that there is a least one person trying to help us raise the profile of English p2p participants, sadly, I expect he is pushing water up hill. If we aren't careful p2p's in the UK will become no more than a gymkhana. Losing the publicity in the Weekender is hugely damaging to the sport and someone should be held to account for their appalling negotiating skills.

12th December 2012

A cold day for sure, thankfully no wind. No problem with our all weather gallop and the horses were all worked as normal. I then went to watch Tilly in her school carol service, Tilly was the only one chosen from her class to join a select few of older children to sing a few carols on their own. She did extremely well and I am a very proud father.  Tilly obviously takes after her mother and can hold a tune, something I am not too accomplished at!

I was rather annoyed to read one p2p journalist has decided that Knockdhu won't be racing again, I wrote in my blog that he won't race again for me, not that his racing days were finished. He won't be the first horse to recover form such a injury and go on to race again. He won't race for me as any horse I have a financial interest in is sales bound, trying to sell him with a pre-existing injury would not be easy. For me the risk to reward isn't a viable option. It is a huge sadness and once we have accessed his injury we may then look to re-home him with someone that wants to take him on in the hope that he will race again, that is what he is breed for.

Isn't it sad after so many fantastic days together that Kauto Star leaving Ditcheat has caused bitterness between the owner and trainer. Clearly, from what Paul Nicholls said in the press he was pretty put out. As Paul mentioned, the horse is owned by Clive Smith and he calls the shots, yet he obviously thinks differently! Of course it is sad for them all at Ditcheat, I can empathise with them about much lesser horses than Kauto Star that haven't been with me for anything like the time Kauto has been with them. Surely they should support and help with the owners choice. As for his staff tweeting their opinions I thought that was a step too far. I am sure Laura Collett will look after him and do what is best for the horse, if Paul hasn't burnt his bridges he may find his wish comes true and that the horse ends up back at Ditcheat.

11 December 2012

A busy day with one thing or another. I have just walked in the house at 8.00p.m having left it at 5.30a.m. All horses had routine canters. Schooling was ruined by the frost and it doesn't appear that we will get another chance to school until Saturday.

We have sought many opinions about Knockdhu's injury, it would appear that he has every chance of racing again and the injury should be consider no different than a horse getting a leg. My biggest worry is whether or not he will ever let himself down again after such a bad experience, the pain must have been horrendous. Time is on our side and no decision has to be made today, he will not be racing until next autumn at the earliest and I would say that is very wishful thinking.

10th December 2012

The p2p season got off to what  appeared to be a great start yesterday until I saw Sam dismount after pulling up. Knockdhu won a very competitive 2.5 mile maiden at Barbury Castle. He slipped the tendon off his hock pulling up and won't race again for me. He will have 3 months box rest here before heading up to Distillery Stud to spend at least  9 months either in a barn or field. I own in him partnership with Robert Robinson and this is of course devastating. I have had him for well over 2 years. I broke him in and then did a deal with Robert when he was led out of Doncaster May sales unsold. Forget the fact that we have lost a sales horse and potential income for our respective businesses, we have lost a horse and that hurts more than anything. Injuries to any horse are particularly hard to deal with. I live and breath these horses every day of the year and feel very sad for those involved and especially sad for the horse. He had bags of potential and on the back of what we saw yesterday could very easily have competed at an above average level. Sam gave him a smashing ride and deserves as much credit as anyone for yesterdays performance. He was seriously hampered after the 6th fence which cost him a lot of ground, Sam didn't panic, eased back into the race and rode him brilliantly. Naturally, everyone in the yard is very down today.

The horses remain on tick over until Christmas is over, so until that point there will be little to report. Tomorrow Sam will be in at lunch time, Billy Biscuit and Trouble Digger will school.

8th December 2012

The horses are taking it easy apart for a few, Billy Biscuit and Trouble Digger will remain in full work with a view to going to Chaddesley Corbett over Christmas. Neither will go if the ground is soft. Having watched the bumper from Wetherby I am delighted Major Martin stayed in his box, it was certainly the right decision. One horse took a false step and un-shipped his rider and another nearly did the same. 3 year olds that are genuine National Hunt horses raced on ground like that need a year to recover in my mind. 

The exhaust fell off my ageing car this morning so I was unable to get to Barbury to walk the course, I made a few phone calls and am told that the ground is good to soft and they've had a beautiful day today. Cloud cover must be due as the temperature is forecast no lower than 3 degrees tonight. Knockdhu will run. My car will be in dock this week for a new clutch and exhaust. I am rather fond of it and can't bring myself to go into further debt by getting a new one. It has 164,000 miles on the clock and needs to make 200,000 at least!

It was lovely to see Sam TD making such a fuss of Hello Bud, all to often I see horses winning top flight races and the jockeys don't even bother to give them a pat. It was heart warming stuff. Tonight we have a house full of friends coming pointing tomorrow and I am cook! Steak baked potatoes and salad.

7th December 2012

All horses had routine canters except Knockdhu who jumped 9 fences in preparation for Sunday. It was a serious North wind and I am a great believer in avoiding galloping horses into a cold wind.

This afternoon we went to watch Sholto in a carol service, his future would not appear to be in a choir, he looked most unamused, thankfully, much to my relief he's much more at home with a rugby ball in his hand.

There is little to report on the horse front and all seem well, they will tick over now until after Xmas when we will start them all back in full work and look for some races for them.

6th December 2012

Knockdhu had a blow on the all weather accompanied by Trouble Digger, he will school tomorrow as the ground over at the fences was frozen this morning. If the weather forecast is correct we will have no problem by late morning tomorrow. The ground where I have the baby fences was fresh and the frost had not got into it at all. Therefore, Sam and I schooled Ballingary, Robin Des Champs, Frankenstorm, Network Rouge, Knight of Noir and Kayf Tara filly. All the babies were ridden in the school and others had routine canters.

If the weather forecast doesn't change between now and the weekend I would hold every hope that Barbury Castle will be on. I will walk the course on Saturday afternoon.

Darrel Jacob must be really disappointed after mistaking the winning line at Wincanton today and I feel he has been punished too severely. It was a genuine mistake and a couple of days off would have been sufficient. It appears that the punishment doesn't fit the crime and the enforced holiday is only to appease the punters. I know how he must feel, I went the wrong side of a marker one day and still won only to be disqualified, I could have fitted into a match box that day.

Anthony Webber was here this evening to follow up those he wasn't entirely happy with last time and he sorted a few others too.

I went to Panda's Christmas play this afternoon which was very good, I even had a tear in my eye at one stage, she looked so sweet and did really well. I remember Tilly's first play and that too was a tear jerking moment. Tomorrow Sholto is singing so I'll be there to listen to that too.

5th December 2012

Major Martin won't be going to Wetherby, I have friends who live next to the course and I'm not pulling the guts out of him by running on bottomless ground. They'll be other days, he's only 3 years old and we will wait.

The horses that galloped on the grass yesterday either loose schooled or had a light canter, Network Rouge, Frankenstorm, Kayf Tara Filly, Medieval Gateway, Robin Des Champs, Max Ward and Virtuoso Rouge loose schooled.

The baby fences are now on the grass, I put the wings up this afternoon in the hope that we can jump them tomorrow, I think the frost may kill that idea.

When you consider an athlete would get an automatic 2 year ban Frankie Dettori in my mind has got off lightly.  He is the spearhead of flat racing and his behaviour is damaging to the sport especially as so many idolise him. In my wildest dreams I can't imagine AP behaving in such a manner.

4th December 2012

Full Shift, Knight of Noir, Trouble Digger, Robin Des Champs, Sargent Thunder and Frankenstorm all worked on the grass. I was pleased with them all. Major Martin, Billy Biscuit and Knockdhu all started to have a light canter again after Saturday. The others had routine canters apart from Max Ward who is still loose schooling when the frost allows.

Glens Boy has returned from having his soft palate done, he went in yesterday. He has previously been hobdayed and under goes a soft palate operation each year. He'll be on the walker for a week, light canters for 2 weeks after and then back into full work.

Tim Easterby is apparently running his horse at Wetherby, I watched him win at Haydock last time and he was impressive. The ground is still soft with heavy patches. I am undecided as whether or not we will travel.

3rd December 2012

Luke Morgan came in to ride a few out, Luke is an old mate who was a very good p2p rider, he rode over 100 winners. He has been living locally for years and we have spoken about him riding out for 3 years now, this morning was the first time we actually got round to organising it. He will be a huge help to us schooling the babies and will ride out when he can. He has just landed a job heading the Strutt and Parker Country team.

All horses had routine canters, those that galloped away on Saturday just went for a quiet hack about the place. Billy Biscuit has come out of it well and I am keen to take him to Chaddesley if the ground is decent. Major Martin and Kncokdhu seem fine too. Major Martin's race looks hot on papers with many entries from trainers that need huge respect. John Ferguson has an entry, the likelihood is it will be a very well bred flat horse. The vet will be here on Wednesday to trach wash Knockdhu and Major Martin, it is a routine procedure we carry out before any horse runs. Last year we took a horse to Exeter, he had shown no signs of illness, he looked great, was working well and licking his feed bowl clean every night. He ran a stinker, we trach washed him the day after and it was filthy, hence the precautionary trach wash of runners now. It is another cost but a lot cheaper than transporting horses to the races to disappoint.

I have named my Shantou gelding Medieval Gateway.

Sholto won the sand crab again at rugby yesterday, he is a good little player and like many fathers I have huge expectations of him. England vs The All Blacks game was outstanding, what a stepping stone into the 6 Nations. We beat them everywhere, especially up front, a great game to watch, lets hope they take it forward and win the Grand Slam.

1st December 2012

Happy Birthday Tilly who is 8 today.We are shortly going to be having a birthday cake, Tilly has had some mates here this afternoon. Thankfully, I have escaped this unbearable noise by being at work all day.

Knight of Noir, Full Shift, Trouble Digger, Kayf Tara Filly, Frankestorm, Glens Boy, Robin Des Champs and Virtuoso Rouge all worked on the woodchip. Knockdhu, Billy Biscuit and Major Martin all went for an away gallop. I am pleased with all the horses, they all were I want them for the time of year. Knockdhu will have an entry for the 2.5 mile maiden at Barbury and Major Martin will be entered for the junior bumper at Wetherby today week. Nothing will be set in stone until we see how they come out of today. Billy Biscuit will be ticked over with a very close eye on the weather, he may go to Chaddesley Corbett with Trouble Digger, ground depending.

Network Rouge will have his shoe back on on Monday as he is now fine having had the puss released form his hind foot.

I have the joy of sky + and the rugby to watch. The sooner all these kids bugger off the sooner I get to watch it. Sholto has a rugby match tomorrow so I'll be up nice and early to get the work done before taking him.