I can't recall a worse night of weather, it really was something else and we, although on Cotswold brash are sodden, the water is lying in fields on hills. We are so wet it washed away part of my wood-chip gallop, which hasn't happened in 9 years. Thankfully, it was only a small area and I was soon able to put it back. If we had that weather on consecutive days and nights my gallop would be at the bottom of the hill. It simply can't take anymore.
A frantic morning getting everything done before setting off to Haydock. I've a great bunch of staff and they all worked their socks off to achieve what had to be done before we set off in appalling driving conditions. Riding out this morning was horrendous, the wind and rain cut us in half but we weren't to be beaten and all the horses cantered on the wood-chip.
Chiquilline ran a blinder over a trip that is too far for him at that level, there has been comments about the ground being his undoing but in my opinion it was the trip and not the ground. He handles soft ground and won his restricted on it. He collected his owner somewhere in the region of 900 pounds and would have struggled to do that winning a mid week Hunter Chase. We will always run into horses Hunter Chasing that deserve respect and may as well compete for decent prize money when its on offer. Sam gave him a lovely ride. No criticism of Sam at all but he just travelled into the race too soon bearing in mind we always had our doubts about the trip. Sam did the right thing and didn't disappoint him.
Freddy Fox has an engagement at Barbury Castle tomorrow and lets hope he can get his head in front to make a great weekend of things.
Knight of Noir won again at Wincanton today, another great advert for UK point to point horses.
