I've never been so pleased to hear rain hammering on the windows as I was last night, we had a fair drop and it started the thaw off nicely. By Monday morning I should have a snow free gallop and it should be full steam ahead. The salt, although I am sure it will speed up the degrading of the woodchip it allowed us to keep all the horses on the move, it simply stopped the snow freezing and balling up in their feet. Riding out this morning was like being in the Alps, the next time I see snow and sun like that I hope I am in the Alps - some chance!
Billy Biscuit and Full Shift have entries at Milbourne St Andrew next Sunday and given it is on chalk land I hope we get something close to good ground. I am very keen to send the pair of them. Tim Mitchell a very good friend of mine for years lives next to the course and will keep me informed of the state of the going. Tim rode a mass of winners for Richard Barber and would have held his own against any professional jockey of his time, he won the Foxhunters on Fantus. Tim and I had some wild times together, he struggled with his weight more so than me, it may well have had something to do with the 30 pints of beer we drank most weekends!
Trails day at Cheltenham didn't disappoint, National Hunt Racing really is special. It is full of characters and Malcolm Jefferson is certainly one of them, his post race interview was fantastic -totally unassuming. I have had the pleasure of meeting and talking to him on a few occasions, he is a gentleman and a top class trainer. It is great when a small yard hits success on the big stage. Nick Williams is also a character, he has an amazing ability with horses and can produce them on the day in tip top fettle as well as anyone in the business. Sprinter Sacre is likely to become the Frankel of the NH game and it is a joy to watch him. Network Rouge a 4 year old I bought in Ireland shares his sire, if he's a fraction as good as Sprinter Sacre I'll be delighted.
Tomorrow, I am taking Glens Boy down to Bristol for Geoff Lane to operate on on Monday, he will have a tie-back and some folds lasered off his larynx. Sholto has no rugby due to the going and will no doubt keep me company in the lorry.
Lucy Jones is bringing a filly late afternoon for a couple of weeks schooling. Have a good weekend and dust off your water proofs, they'll be needed next week.
