09.12.13

On Thursday we schooled 8 horses and they all jumped well. We also loose schooled 2 of the 3yos Dragon City and Portmonarch, even in the wind they were super. Dragon City has a very natural jump and has filled out and grown since we have had him, I like him a lot. He is still for sale and now he has been clipped and come into himself I will get a picture up on the website shortly.

Later on Thursday we ran two horses at Market Rasen, Duke of Monmouth and Stoney Silence and Shockingtimes at Wincanton. Duke of Monmouth ran for 3 fences and pulled himself up, I have no idea why as I thought he might win. He has come out of the race well with no obvious signs pointing towards his poor performance. Stoney Silence had the benefit of the doubt on his first run but not on his second, he will be going down the road now as he doesn't seem to be suited to the racing game.

I went to Wincanton to watch shockingtimes, he would have won by half a minute but for falling at the fourth last. It was very frustrating as he should have won his last two. But he is unscathed so I will find another race for him shortly.

On Friday we went to Sandown with Fine Parchment. Harry bannister rode him, as usual he jumped superbly. Harry gave him a very good ride and he won sticking his head out. There is a nice race for him back at Sandown on January 4th, as he has won his last two their it is probably the right place to go!

We went to Sandown on Saturday for two runners, Area Access had a run round to get a h'cap mark and Seventh Sky ran well up until the 2nd last where he blew up, we knew he would need it and he will come on for the run.

Airmens Friend and Low Gales did a nice piece of work up the bank on Saturday, they we followed by Verano who is a lovely young horse from Germany, now under new ownership of the Hennessy Five Syndicate. I have stepped up his work and he will do his first proper bits this coming week.

 

 



Elmore Back has come out of his race well, enjoying his work at home.

The store horses both unnamed have also been doing some canters upsides over the last few mornings, I have been getting them used to being next to other horses and they are both learning quickly.

I had a good dinner party on Saturday night and cooked a very good game and Guinness pie, which went down very well. I then loose schooled Mr Big on Sunday morning before driving to Highworth with him for a meet with the Berks and Bucks drag hounds. Rodney Powell was the field master and Mark Todd, Lucinda Green  and I then made up the leading trio. Mr big  jumped beautifully, he has restored my confidence in him and my bottle is intact this time!