That's it! I schooled three 4 year olds around a circuit and a half of Cocklebarrow this morning and am dusting off my boots and applying for my riders licence. Robert Alner was champion P2P jockey well into his forties!
On to more serious matters - Chiquilline won easily yesterday and was just too classy for the competition, he won't get away with jumping fences as he did the last when sent Hunter Chasing, all said and done he jumped very well. Sam gave him a smashing ride and let him stride along after a circuit as he wasn't settling in behind. Sam will need more porridge and less ice cream. Chiquilline may head to Bangor for a 2.5 mile Hunter Chase on 7th February.
Saint Charles was bought to a stand still at the 3rd fence and given hindsight Tom would have pulled up immediately, there is always another day. Instead he carried on and the horse has had a very hard race and will need 6 weeks before we even consider running him again. He must have some engine to get to where he got to before unseating at the last just behind the leaders. I have nothing against Tom Weston, he did what he thought best at the time and that is that. Both horses seem to have come out of the races in one piece, their legs handle great. Those involved at Cocklebarrow did a fantastic job and should be applauded for their efforts regarding the course and the set-up. The declarations was a total shambles and that needs to be resolved before next year. Some didn't pay their £10.00, no one checked weights, colours, headgear or anything else that is normal in the course of declaring a horse. It was in fact shocking and a total mess.
This morning at Cocklebarrow we schooled Rebekah Rabbit, Susie Sheep, Richard Rabbit, The Drinkymeister, Freddy Fox and a 4 year old by Fruits of Love. All went well and they will have learnt from the experience.
