31st March 2014

Singlefarmpayment kept the ball rolling and won yesterday at Maisemore. 3 winners over the weekend is always very pleasing. A great team effort. He jumped brilliantly, but ran very green around the home turn giving away plenty of ground, as soon as he straightened up he quicken clear like a good horse. I thought he was very impressive. It is very hard to enjoy the weekend as we should due to the injury to Illicit Illusion has sustained. He will certainly miss a year.

Susie Sheep seems to have come out of her very impressive win in good shape. She will have an easy day or 4 now while we decide where to go next.

At Work Bleu and Love Manhattan  are entered in the maiden at Barbury Castle on Sunday, At Work Bleu is the more likely runner. Rebekah Rabbit will run in the fillies maiden.

Simon Squirrel may run at Chepstow on Saturday in the bumper, Liam Treadwel has been booked. Liam is an under rated jockey who doesn't get enough rides.

29th March 2014

I am afraid I ran out of time to write a blog yesterday what with birthday celebrations and work load.

We started with the sparrows this morning to get everything done before heading off to Whitfield, which thankfully is only up the road. All the horses cantered on the wood-chip and the babies were ridden around the school.

Today was a very good day with a bad end. Susie Sheep, in Sholto's words "hammered them" she won by 36 lengths with a motionless jockey on her back. Illicit Illusion also won comfortably but sadly has broken down. He will certainly miss next season but is young enough, aged 6, to deserve another crack of the whip once he's had time to recover. We will not know the severity of the injury until we scan it on Monday. Tom Campbell has been booked and will be here at some stage to do so. It is just a great shame the day had to finish with that as it takes the gloss off what should be a fantastic day. I am very lucky that all my owners understand it happens, although it doesn't make it any easier to deal with. No horse deserves that and it only ever happens to the ones that try. Our dreams of the Intermediate final at Cheltenham are squashed.

Tomorrow we head to Maisemore with Singlefarmpayment who I expect to run a big race.

27th March 2014

Rebekah Rabbit, Kelsey, Singlefarmpayment, Lunette, Illicit Illusion, Mr Dinosaur, Mafate Fortin, and Susie Sheep did varying levels of work on the grass this morning. Cavite Epsilon lead Robbie Rabbit over 12 fences or more. The rest of the horses were either ridden on the wood-chip or in the school. Norma and Geoff Harris were here bright and breezy to see their 2 babies. Both of which have strengthen up since they last saw them.

After we had finished up for lunch I headed down to Ledbury to meet with the contactors who are doing all the work there. We changed a few things around and it is all coming together- a long way to go yet though. 

Geoff Bosley bought a full brother to Macarno over earlier in the week, we sold Macarno to David Pipe last year at Doncaster May sale. I know David is very pleased with Macarno although he hasn't yet won a race. This lad is every bit as nice and I am sure he will be well received at Doncaster in May.

26th March 2014

Sam and I took 2 horses for an away gallop after 1st lot. The others were cantered on the wood-chip and we rode the babies when we got back.

This afternoon apart from harrowing the gallop, checking legs and feeding I have been strapped to my desk doing paper work. I have made a fair dent in it and have had enough for today. I now have 2 screaming children to deal with.

We have yet again run out of oil so I am in for a cold bath just to cap the day off nicely.

25th March 2014

A normal frantic morning, the rain is back and belive it or not we needed it, it is amazing how quickly the ground dries up.

Most of the horses cantered on the wood-chip. Love Manhanttan, Susie Sheep and Robbie Rabbit all schooled. I rode Love Manhattan, below.

There's life in the old man yet, it is my birthday on Friday, Sam's half my age and I'm still having to ride all the dodge ones! I let Sam ride the easy ones - it makes my life a lot quieter.

Above is Sam on Robbie Rabbit, not too bad for the first time over regulation fences! Below is Susie Sheep and Sam who heads to Whitfield on Saturday. Sam does a great job schooling theses horses and deserves much of the credit along wit everyone else who works here.

24th March 2014

After the horses were seen to yesterday the kids and I went to see how things were going at the new farm. We won't need to go to any fairs this year as they can have as many rides as they like in the digger bucket! I'm not too sure who the biggest kid there was yesterday, possibly Ed the digger man who taught them all to jump in puddles a few weeks back.

The gallop has started to go in and it is all taking shape.

This morning all the horses cantered on the wood-chip, we loose schooled Kelsey, Joey Kangaroo and a horse Ben Case bought at the Festival Sale by Shantou. The babies were ridden around the school. This afternoon was spent repairing the schooling ground. The weekend runners will all have a jump tomorrow.

22nd March 2014

Apologise for no blog last night but after opening my post I decided to go to bed - just over 4 grand's worth of bills landed on my desk and they nailed the coffin last night!

Simon Squirrel, Robbie Rabbit, Kelsey, Susie Sheep,  Mr Dinosaur, Joey Kangaroo,  Mafate Fortin and Lunette either worked or cantered on the grass. The rest either cantered on the wood-chip or went in the school. A quick sandwich and then I took 2 unnamed horses to school around Siddington. Once they were safely back in their houses I went to collect the children from their grandmother as Sophie is away for the weekend. The chickens had a day of box rest, Tilly hung me on the phone to her mother, so I'm in trouble for that.

Susie Sheep will hopefully run at Whitfield next Saturday in the fillies maiden. The only thing that will stop her is firm ground, so I hope we get a drop of rain at times throughout the week. Illicit Illusion is in the intermediate race there too.

Singlefarmpayment may head to Masiemore on Sunday.

Boiled eggs on menu!

19th March 2014

Max Ward and Hopstrings jumped 9 hurdles this morning, Max Ward has been declared to run at Newbury tomorrow and Hopstrings is aiming for some black type there on Saturday. Both horse schooled beautifully. She is bottom weight and there is a chance she won't get in, although I am assured by the jockeys agent she will. Should she not get in she will go to Market Rasen on Sunday. The others all did a bit more work on the wood-chip. The babies went in the school. Sam has been doing a fantastic job with the troublesome filly and she has come a long way in a relatively short period of time.

Ginger Fizz won at Chepstow today and jumped with accuracy, which is very pleasing for all.

It is Panda's birthday tomorrow so I will have strict instructions from the birthday girl to get back from Newbury for a birthday tea. Panda is 6 tomorrow, the youngest in our family yet she seems to be the boss!

18th March 2014

The horses have been having an easy enough week. They either raced or worked over the weekend, their work load will start to increase again as of tomorrow.

The babies are all behaving well and have progressed to the school, they will be ridden around there for several weeks before either starting to have quiet canters or being sent back to the field.

Planning permission has been granted at the new farm and the digger started on the gallop today. Hallelujah!

17th March 2014

All of the horses had quiet canters after the weekends excertions, their work load will be increased as the week goes on. Freddy Fox has come out of his run in fine spirits, it won't be long before we look for another race for him!

Tom Campbell was in to trach wash Chiquilline and Hopstrings. Dissapointingly Chiquilline's isn't up to scratch and he will miss his engagement at Ludlow on Thursday. Hopstrings on the other hand has an almost perfect wash and will head to Newbury on Saturday. We are punching above our weight but the owners are keen to try and get black type so why shouldn't we give it a shot. Peter Carberry will ride taking 3 lbs off her back.

16th March 2014

A quiet day for many of the horses as we ran 3 on Saturday and worked 5 yesterday. The horses seem to have come out of their races well. They will all need bit of time before we think about options for them. Cavite Epsilon is likely to head for a maiden hunter chase.

Working horses on a Sunday isn't the norm, all the staff came in for which I am very grateful.

It will be a quiet enough week for most. Max Ward and Hopstrings have entries over the weekend, and Chiquilline  is in at Ludlow on Thursday. Tom Campbell will be here tomorrow to trach was Hopstrings and Chiquilline. Hopstrings is in a listed race at Newbury and will need to bring her A game to the table.

15th March 2014

Some very good racing today at Larkhill in the sunshine with great owners. Without doubt it is the best track in England. I would love to see an English vs Ireland competition there. We hit the crossbar twice, Freddy Fox was 2nd, the race was run in an incredibly quick time, 2 seconds faster than the Men's Open and 17 seconds faster than the other division. He was unlucky to run into what could possible be a very good horse trained by Heather Dalton. Heather's horses always deserve respect and she is no ones fool. I am delighted with Freddy Fox, we will see how he is in 5 weeks time and possibly look for another race. Cavite Epsilon showed himself to be the horse we always thought he was a ran a fantastic race behind one of Shelia Crows horses only being beaten a short head. Word on the street has it that Crow's horse is potentially a Fox Hunters horse for next year. Again, the Crow's are serious operators and if they think they have a good one they are probably right. I am delighted for Epsilon and his very patient owner who deserves some fun having waited for 3 years. Illicit Illusion ran very well on ground we knew he wouldn't like finishing 6th. Meetings were lost in June a couple of years ago so his ground may yet return!

It is yet another early start tomorrow as we are taking horses off galloping. I am now a taxi driver by night and off to collect Tilly from her mates house.

14th March 2014

The sale at Brightwells was a huge success and Brightwells should be congratulated for taking the risk in staging it at such a time. Many trainers and agents were very anti it and I think their reasons were very justifiable. However, a sale can only be judged on its results and yesterday's were incredible. I can only imagine the sale is here to stay, it wasn't so long ago that everyone was up in arms about a 4 day festival. If it were to revert back to 3 I am sure there would many grumbling. People, in general, don't like change as it induces fear of the unknown. Brightwells look after everyone so well they deserve support, the lunch they put on for all involved in the sale yesterday was second to none, all of their staff will do anything to help in anyway they can and they deserve the success they are getting.

Saint Charles made what he deserved to make £140,000, he is a smashing individual and won his race in very good style. Richard Rabbit sold very well for £55,000, I think he is heading to the field for a break which he will benefit hugely from. He still needs time to fill out his frame, grow and strengthen up. He did well to achieve what he has given his immaturity.

Freddy Fox, Cavite Epsilon and Illicit Illusion will go to Larkhill tomorrow.

Panda has just telephoned to say she doesn't want to stay at her mates as previously agreed so I have to run off and collect her. Have a good weekend and enjoy the sunshine, its been a  long time coming!

12th March 2014

It was an early start 4.30 to be precise, I was at the sales in Cheltenham just before 7 and the horses flew through their vettings. Both horses seem to have been well received by those who have already seen them, tomorrow will be the busy day.

I walked up to watch the racing but the crowds got to me so I went back to the sales complex and watched a couple more on a TV the size of a match box, better than nothing. A cheese burger and chips cost me 10.60 pence!

A few folk came to see the horses after racing and I have just returned home, done the gallop, fetched hay round and am soon off to bed.

11th March 2014

Tom Campbell our vet was here first thing to trach wash the weekend runners and Chiquilline. Chiquilline had an almost perfect wash and I can only but his poor performance down to the fence he took from the boards, it must have knocked the wind out of his sails as he blew hard and we are unable to find anything else to explain it. Cavite Epsilon and Freddy Fox are intended runners at Larkhill on Saturday. Illicit Illusion may also join them, I am yet to speak with his owners and way up options.

Cavite Epsilon, Freddy Fox, Singlefarmpayment and Bandeirantes jumped 9 fences and had a blow on the grass. All the other horses cantered on the wood-chip and the babies were ridden around the school.

I felt for Sam Twiston Davis, I think he was a very unlucky looser, had he had a clear run I think the result would have been different.

10th March 2014

Chiquilline ran too bad for it to be true, on Friday I couldn't hold one side of him on the wood-chip. We will be carrying out some tests tomorrow in the hope of finding something a miss. There were obviously no outward signs prior to the race of any sickness but it won't be the first time that a horse has gone into a race in what was perceived to be in fine form only for it to trach wash filthy the following day. I read our champion trainer experiencing a similar thing with one of his grade 1 horses a couple of months ago. The last horse I sent racing that didn't travel a yard was Proximo at Exeter 3 seasons ago. The following day his trach wash was filthy having been perfect 3 days prior to the run. To say I was disappointed yesterday would be an understatement. We will re-group and hope for happier times ahead with him.

Sam and I were up before the sparrows this morning as we took 2 horses for an away gallop. We will be starting early all week in the hope of enjoying Cheltenham as much as possible, the horses have to come first and the work still has to be done. Many races look even more competitive than usual, I think we are in for a real treat this week. Enjoy!

8th March 2014

If the senior squad can hammer the Welsh as did our under 20's last night it will be cause for celebration. 67 -7 was the result! I hope the Welsh enjoy Kingston Blount more than that!

This morning we were riding out under the stars as Sam had a ride in the 1st at Kingston Blount and Alice was riding her horse later in the day. I spent most of the morning telling Alice to slip her reins over the ditch. I am sure she left here feeling much more confident than when she arrived!

All the horses cantered on the wood-chip and the babies were ridden around the pen or school. I will be riding out 2 lots in the morning as I plan to work them on Monday and enjoy Cheltenham as much as possible from the comfort of my sofa. We will take stock and decide whether or not to start early each day of the festival. I will be with the sales horses on Wednesday and Thursday and no doubt spend most of the evening sat in traffic trying to get home.

Chiquilline had a small blow this morning and will head to Warwick tomorrow. How unfortunate that Warwick is clashing with the rugby match of the tournament. I don't expect a big crowd at the races.

7th March 2014

I can't believe I am now worrying about fast ground at Larkhill next weekend. Having made 5 entries and the weather forecast ahead it has to be a concern. This season seems to have been very difficult to plan, cancelled meeting, postponed meeting, bottomless ground and now the prospect of fast ground. It is not easy when things are going for you but even more difficult when faced with the aforementioned challenges.

All the horses cantered on the wood-chip this morning, some of the more backward ones jumped in the school with Sam and the 5 babies were ridden around the pen or school.

On paper, Chiquilline must have a right chance at Warwick on Sunday and for him the drying conditions will suit.

6th March 2014

Chiquilline and Bandeirantes jumped 9 fences, Chiquilline has to be the biggest clown when schooling at home, he's the oldest horse we have and behaved like an idiot. Thankfully, on the track he's mustard!

The workers from yesterday had an easy day, as did last weekends runners who are in fact having an easy week. Joey Kangaroo and Mr Dinosaur worked through on the grass. The babies were ridden around the lunge pen. We then set about raking in the sides of the gallop.

The rain returned at evening stables, I hope a few drops hit Larkhill and not Whitfield.

5th March 2014

A late finish for lunch as we took Simon Squirrel, Singlefarmpayment, Susie Sheep and Freddy Fox for an away gallop. The 4 horses worked well, it was the first away gallop for Singlefarmpayment and he just lacked the experience that the others have. Susie Sheep, Freddy Fox, Cavite Epsilon, Illicit Illusion and Bandeirantes all have entries at Larkhill on the 15th March. Cavite Epsilon will be fitted with some kind of head gear possibly check pieces or blinkers.

The other horses had quiet canters on the wood-chip and the babies were all ridden around the lunge pen. Our filly is coming round and if only she would allow herself the privilege, she's almost actually enjoying it.

Sam left Page 3 of The Sun strategically placed in the rear pocket of my passengers seat. Sholto had some entertaining reading on the way home form school and enquired why I had a picture of a naked woman in my car!

We are moving to the most stunning part of the country. Tilly out for a walk with her mother before parents evening.

4th March 2014

Max Ward seems to have come out of his race in fine shape as have the weekend runners. I note that Upton is now abandoned, it is very frustrating for us as we are having to race at tracks that I wouldn't normally consider for babies.  Lets hope Maisemore and a few other good tracks aren't lost to the weather. I believe, only when I see it, that the weather is set to improve. The first meeting at Maisemore last year was as bad as ground as I've seen for a long time, the horses were going in 8 inches or more in places and weren't getting through it, it was certainly tough going.

Trea Newell popped over this afternoon to see Hopstrings who was pencilled in for Huntingdon next Wednesday, we will now side step that and wait for some better ground. Chiquilline is in at Warwick and Leicester at the weekend and I am favouring Warwick at this stage. Both races are competitive and it will all depend on what turns up on the day. He's in good order and I'd be expecting a big run.

Whilst trying to be in 3 places at once this afternoon, I watched Sholto play rugby for his school, he scored 4 tries and is a very good runner with the ball in hand. He has County Cup games this weekend down in Bristol.

3rd March 2014

A mixed bag of results this weekend, Cavite Epsilon disappointed us as he just didn't turn up, whether or not it is a lack of match practice only time will tell. Rebekah Rabbit, by the jockey's own admission didn't get the best of rides finishing 2nd, in my opinion he just took it up too soon and it wasn't a case of him getting there to soon. Finally, Richard Rabbit won in impressive style with his ears pricked and Sam motionless on his back. He will now join Saint Charles at The Cheltenham Festival Sale next week.

Max Ward ran very well today, the main priority today with him was to get him to settle and learn to race. He pleased us and put up a very decent performance. If he can take his homework to the track he will give his owners some fun.

Alice went with Max this morning and Sam and I followed in the car.We still had all the babies to do when he lorry had to leave. How I'd ever manage without Alice doesn't bare thinking about. We have made real good progress with the troublesome filly and she is really starting to behave in a sensible fashion. She is in fact a very good looking individual and a very active type, patience will be the key to her.

1st March 2014

Rebekah Rabbit, Richard Rabbit and Cavite Epsilon had a small blow on the grass in preparation of tomorrows sport. I am feeling pressure and am sure to wake up every hour if I manage to sleep at all. I guess the day I don't feel like this is the day to pack the job up. It was an early start as Sam had a ride at The Beaufort and Alice went there too.

Once the horses were done and dusted for the morning I headed off to collect a new car, my beloved Subaru has now gone into semi retirement and will be used as a dog and shooting car. Although I am delighted to be travelling around in comfort saying goodbye to my Subaru was a bit sad. As much as it rattled and shock I loved it. It is not up to commuting from Ledbury everyday and we as a family will soon be moving that way. The horses will be moving sometime in the summer and I will make the daily commute back to the horses  until such time. I visited the new farm today and the buildings are starting to take shape but a digger hasn't started yet!