I started the week off at Ascot sales where we sold Airpur Debois and our unbeaten hurdler Chief Bottlewasher. We didn't so much as sell them we more or less gave them away but I suppose that was their true value . I am in a very unusual position right now and one I don't think I've ever been in before and that is that I don't owe the sales companies any money as we speak so I must put that to rights.
I went to the dentist on Wednesday for a filling which cost me £240 and left thinking how can you spend so much money to be put through so much pain!
I have ridden two lots out most days last week but rode Apalis on Friday who spends most of the morning bucking.On the way back to the yard I felt my back go and found it difficult to get off the horse.I got straight into my hot tub and in 20 minutes felt like Rudolph Nureyev. Normally I use the hot tub at night and feel great when I get out but never really know whether that is because of the water or the half bottle of Sancerre that I have just got down me!
We had a very good boys dinner at mine on Saturday where we put the world to right and discussed the finer things in life.
It was a quiet week last week runners wise but we will hopefully run a few this week.

I rode out a couple of lots before going racing at Plumpton on Monday to saddle a lovely mare called Bull and Bush. She hadn't run for over a year but ran a really nice race by finishing third and will obviously come on for the race.
We also had a new secretary start called Lois who has taken over from Sam as Sam was finding it difficult to fit all her jobs in.
We sent Cody Wyoming to Lingfield on Tuesday and he absolutely bolted up in a 14k handicap chase. He won by 12 lengths so the handicapper may take a dim view!
There was a lot of frost last week and it made life a bit difficult as it was not easy to school them until late in the morning when it had thawed a bit.
I jumped my new hunter on Friday and I reckon thats the first time I've been off the floor for well over a year.Anyway I haven't lost it and felt pretty good!
Had a very busy day on Saturday with five people for breakfast and then on the gallops to watch second lot.We also had four runners with three going to Sandown and one going up to Aintree .
The day started with American Gigollo making a mistake at the first and unseating Tommy so not a good start.The next runner was Some Kinda Lama who ran a cracking race to finish second on ground he hated and was not beaten far.We then had Seventh Sky running over the National fences up at Aintree and he jumped super to finish fourth with top weight so put in a very gallant effort.In the last race at Sandown we ran Morney Wing who jumped beautifully to finish a very close third and give all his owners a big thrill.
I must say that the racing at Sandown over the two days summed up everything that is good about National Hunt racing with perfect weather and superb races contested by good horses.We just need to find a few more of them!

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 !