Tuesday 11 November 2014

Grass is the name of the game!

I drove up to Doncaster Sales on Tuesday and sold Almost Gemini as he had not progressed how I had hoped. I had a look at the horses offered for sale and thought that there was a lot better value compared to the week before at Tattersalls. I bought a nice horse called Gowanauthat (Ire), he won a point-to-point in Ireland at the beginning of October in the fastest time of the day. He is a good looking type who I hope will have a career under rules.
 
We worked a few horses on Wednesday, Verano and Lord of House went well together as did Portmonarch and Nimbus Gale. I then went racing to Chepstow to watch Bridal Suite. I gave my new conditional Thomas Dowling the ride, they both got on very well and finished 6th.
 
On Thursday we schooled 3 lots with Noel Fehily, Gavin Sheehan and Harry Bannister as well as Tommy and Johnny. Among them we schooled Lord of House, Champagne N Caviar, Attimo and Big Jer over fences. Nimbus Gale and Portmonarch also schooled well over hurdles. 3rd lot we schooled some babies over the barrels for the first time in the arena. As you can see from the videos posted they both jump well.
 
On Thursday night I went to Cath Walwyns 86th birthday party, it was nice to congratulate Austin Powers aka Jamie Osborne on Toast of New York success at the Breeders Cup, it is great for the sport to have such a good English runner and also great promotion for Lambourn's gallops.
 
We went up the grass gallops on Friday morning, the horses thoroughly enjoyed it. On Saturday we also worked the horses on the grass on the back of the hill gallop. Lots of owners came in to watch so it was a rather jolly morning and katya cooked a lovely breakfast for us all. Cedre Bleu worked very well with Attimo. Lambro loved going up the grass and went very well on the bridal all the way to the top. No Bad News impressed with his first bit of work on the grass, he is a lovely young horse with a great attitude. Miller of Glanmire showed a nice turn of foot and looks as though he is now ready to run.
 
We took Murray Mount out of the Wincaton bumper on Saturday. Having driven to the races with his owner we watched a few races and decided the ground looked a little to soft for him and we would wait for another day.
 
On Sunday I drove all the way to Market Rasen with Tony Stapleton, I was hoping we would have at least one winner but it was not to be. We ran Seventh Sky in a novice handicap chase, the ground was very soft and although he jumped very well he just did not get home on that ground. Sands Cove ran in the 2m handicap chase, he never featured and didn't jump very well which is most unlike him. He came back in lame with a suspected pulled muscle. It was a long drive home.  Sands Cove seems none the worst today but he will see the chiropractor at evening stables who should set straight anything that's amiss.
 
We were on the grass again on Monday, all the horses were very fresh, Kryrl on Lord Of House has arms two inches longer now!
 
I have been trying to find horses for sale in various different countries for the passed couple of weeks. Nothing has taken my eye so far as there is no real value or the horses are just not good enough, I will be going to Brightwells on Friday so hopefully my luck will change.
 
I took Lambro to Cheltenham this morning, Mark Grant rode him over parts of the cross country course to give him a look at the fences He jumped beautifully and might well take his chance in the Cross Country race on Friday. He has come out of the Pardubice bouncing and although we didn't have to school him as he was already qualified on the back of his Czech run I thought it would be a nice confidence boost and its is always worth taking a look at the fences.
 
Cody Wyoming should go to Ludlow on Thursday and possibly Murray Mount. Verano and Cedre Bleu have entries at Cheltenham on Saturday and although they have entries else where this is the preferred option at this stage. Lord of House could run in the Salmon Spray on Sunday and  Miller of Glanmire has been entered at Plumpton on Monday. Nimbus Gale, Attimo and Champagne N Caviar all have various entries.

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