Got soaked riding out two lots on Monday but it was quite a good cure for a hangover from lunch the previous day! As I had quite a bit of stew left over from Sunday lunch I stupidly invited the Monday Club round to finish it off thinking there would only be four of them and ten turned up. It was a very jolly lunch considering I was still feeling a little bit shabby from the day before.
We schooled some young horses and they both jumped really well on Tuesday morning with Gavin on one and Tommy on the other.
There was a NTF meeting at Oaksey House in the afternoon (National Trainers Federation) of which I am on the council so I always try to attend.We had a good turn out for it and an even better turn out in the pub after where we all put the world to rights.
I ran Royals and Rebels at Hereford and he ran a nice race finishing fourth but he will be better over a fence.
We had a big schooling day on Thursday with two owners down and a few jockeys in luckily it all went well.
I rode out two lots on Friday and one pulled a bit hard with me which didn't half do my back in. I had half an hour in my hot tub and felt as good as new, it is the best thing I have ever got and it has done my social life a bit of good as well.
I lit the fire and watched the racing on Saturday which I should enjoy but I do find incredibly frustrating. Only about seven years ago we had the second in the Hennessy with Airforceone and I would much rather be on a racecourse than sitting at home watching it!
We had a big day on Sunday with about fourteen members of the Steeplechasers syndicate coming down to see Fixed Rate and Some Kinda Lama schooling over hurdles.All went well and then we had a very enjoyable lunch down at The Hare afterwards. It has been a very successful syndicate and very well run by both Bill Brindle and Andy Stone who have got things spot on.I am going to launch a club to buy four horses for next season and run it along similar lines to The Steeplechasers so watch this space!
I had a new horse arrive from Ireland on Sunday that my daughter Tildie and I are going to hunt and he looks as if he might do the job.
We have a big weekend coming up with entries at Aintree , Sandown and Kelso so with a bit of luck I won't be sat at home in front of the telly!

The week started well when I had two very nice fellas come down to see American Gigollo and subsequently bought him to stay in the yard . Good start to the week !
We schooled Fixed Rate and Apalis for the first time on Tuesday and they both jumped beautifully so they won't take long until they're going over the big ones .
My aga has been a bit dodgey so I had it serviced on Wednesday and now it is as good as new and the ovens are an awful lot warmer .
I donated a share in Cody Wyoming and a breakfast/ gallops to an auction for Shooting Star Chase which is a childrens hospice and they managed to make a total of £3600 for the pair . I received a very humbling letter from the head of fundraising for this charity and I must say that the next time I moan about a horse getting beat I will think about these poor kids and maybe that will put things into perspective .
We had a power cut on Thursday that affected the houses at the top of my property .I must say that Southern Electric were first class and got the job done by 1.30am but at about 3am we had a break in at the yard which caused a bit of damage as they broke in through three doors . The police were fantastic and said they would come round at 8pm on Monday night only three days after the crime had happened . I told them not to bother!
We had a lot of rain which means we can get on the grass gallops now which the horses love for a change and think its great fun.
We ran a nice horse at Ascot on Friday called Doolin who I thought would run well but he didn't get home as he displaced his palate.He is having a wind op today.
I had a lovely owner who came to see me on Saturday called David Barry and I told him I was looking for a new hunter.In the afternoon he rang me to say he had not only found one but also done the deal on it so he arrives this week.

We have had a fairly busy week that started at Kempton on Monday where we ran Pickamix . I thought he was the biggest certainty that had ever left my yard but unfortunately he didn't get home and it transpired that he needs a wind operation .
We got Fixed Rate in on Tuesday after his appointment with the vet to be gelded and he has got over it well .I'm not sure I would be in as good a spirits as him if I had just lost my tackle but hopefully I won't find out !He has started cantering and looks like a really nice type he will have his first school tomorrow .
We ran Seventh Sky at Bangor on Wednesday and he normally takes about three runs to get himself ready but he ran an absolute blinder to finish second in a very competitive chase . He is in the Hennessy but will probably go for the Becher Chase at Aintree as he was second over those fences last year .I ran a nice horse called Royals and Rebels at Ludlow over an inadequate trip  and on ground that was too quick but considering all that he ran well to finish fifth .
We all had a lovely time at Cheltenham on Friday when Cody Wyoming ran a good race to finish fourth . The next day we were back at Cheltenham with Some Kinda Lama but the heavens opened and I had to take him out .
On Sunday we went to Fontwell where  Morney Wing was a bit unlucky as he got hampered at the start and still managed to finish fourth although he had to come from a long way back . We also ran a nice horse called Like the Sound who got a bit tired but had a good first outing.
Its a pretty quiet week for us this week  as we don't have many horses in.and you can't run the same ones all the time.However its been a good week for selling horses and bringing new owners into the yard so we should survive!

We have had a pretty good week with our four runners we have managed to get three winners and have a very nice horse running at Kempton tomorrow in Pickamix .
The week started at Hereford where we ran Some Kinda Lama who absolutely bolted up and looks to be a really nice horse for the future especially when he goes chasing .
We managed to sell three horses at Ascot sales on Thursday and they have all gone off to do different jobs and the new owners all seemed happy . The only thing is it has brought our numbers right down and we have now got less than twenty horses in . However we have always had a policy of getting rid of horses when they show they have little ability and I still maintain it is the right thing to do .
On Friday we ran two horses at Fontwell the first one Airpur Desbois ran a better race by finishing fourth . Then we ran Chief Bottlewasher (named after my ex) in a two horse race where luckily the 1/7 favourite fell at the last giving us all the prizemoney . Of course Tommy said he would have won anyway !
I ran a nice horse in the bumper at Wincanton yesterday called American Gigolo who I am thinking of selling to Donald Trump with that name ! He won really well beating a horse of J P McManus's who they really fancied and looks to be a very nice horse .
Hopefully we will start next week well with Pickamix tomorrow !

I went to Newmarket very early on Tuesday morning for the sales and was pretty fed up by the end of the day as I had been underbidder on two horses and couldn't get close to anything I wanted .
On Wednesday Bill Brindle joined me and we had a similar sort of day . Then at the end of the session a really nice horse came in that was one of the Juddmonte draught which I didn't think we could afford . The bidding started quite quickly but slowed up at 34k so I stuck a couple of bids in and was very surprised when Fixed Rate was knocked down to me at 40k !
He arrived at Colin Tinklers yard on Thursday and had a little operation on Friday to relieve him of a couple of things between his legs ! He has been gelded .
We ran Cody Wyoming on Thursday at Stratford and he ran a nice race to finish 4th over a trip that was too short for him . There is one share left in Cody and at 2k a share it must be cheap as he should be winning soon .
On Saturday I watched 1st lot and didn't see a horse as it was so dark thank God the clocks have gone back ! We ran a really nice horse at Ascot called Doolin who ran a cracking race to finish 3rd in a decent bumper getting beaten only 3 lengths by the winner .He will run over hurdles next and should be winning soon .
Tomorrow we are taking Some Kinda Lama to Hereford and as long as the ground is OK he will run in a five horse race and should have a decent chance .
We need rain badly and we will get busier when and if it comes .

We had a fun drinks party on Monday that was hosted by the BHA and its always nice to have a moan with your fellow trainers .
We had Noel Fehily in to ride a couple of lots on Wednesday which was a great honour as he hasn't been here for a while !
Had a good schooling morning on Thursday with Gavin Sheehan , D Crosse and J Banks in to pop them over both hurdles and fences . We also had a couple of runners that day with Morney Wing going up to Carlisle and Maid ofMilan going to Ludlow . It was very soft ground at Carlisle and he got a bit tired finishing 5th while the mare ran a nice race to finish 3rd over a trip too short for her .
We went to Cheltenham on Friday for their first meeting of the season and it was lovely to be back as they do make a great effort there with both the ground and the facilities for the owners and trainers . I ran a gorgeous horse called Pickamix who was having only his second run over hurdles . He ran a really nice race finishing third and only beaten two lengths by a horse that P Nicholls says may run in the World Hurdle so it will be interesting to see what handicap mark we get on Tuesday .
My kids Tildie and William came to stay on Friday night so we had Smon and Marie round for supper which was a fun evening . My daughter Tildie is off to America on Tuesday to compete in a rowing competition as she is a very competent rower - not sure where she gets it from as the only time I have been on the water is on quite a smart Gin Palace !
Am off to Newmarket on Monday for the October Horses in Training Sale as I am hoping to buy a horse for the Steeplechasers Syndicate so their will be an enormous choice with nearly fifteen hundred to choose from !
A few entries at end of next week and I am going to do fifteen laps of my hot tub tonight accompanied by a large gin and tonic !