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.
