30.04.14

I rode Murray Mount on Monday morning and he was incredibly fresh and nearly bucked me off, but when you have been riding as long as I have you know where to sit when that happens! Later that afternoon Charlie Nugent who was a member of the Icy Fire Syndicate came to look around the horses at evening stables followed by supper at Mike Blanshards.

Noel Fehily came in to ride out on Tuesday morning. He sat on Elmore Back and I rode Portmonarch. Portmonarch will run tomorrow at Ffos Las in his first Hurdle race, as he is a nice horse I hope he runs his race. Almost Gemini also runs at Ffos Las tomorrow in a h'cap for the first time, he seems in good form at home. I plan to run Elmore Back, Airmens Friend and Westbrooke at Fontwell on Friday and we may send Area Access to Bangor. We have Gavin Sheehan riding Portmonarch for us tomorrow and he will be in first thing to school Seventh Sky over fences as well. He had a very good season last year and I thought he did exceptionally well to being champion conditional and losing his claim with 50 winners. I plan to put him on a few more of mine this season.

This morning Duke of Monmouth worked well this morning, he will run if we continue to get some more rain. Airmen's Friend and Elmore Back went very nicely together and Seventh Sky flew up in his usual manner. We took 2nd lot horses up the back of this hill where Victor Leudorum stood out doing a very nice piece of work with Verano. Area Access and Western King also went well, both are picking up the bridle now and staying on till the top of the gallop.

Looking through some old photos yesterday I found a great picture from back in the day! Guess who these two jockeys are???

26.04.14

On Wednesday afternoon I took Jerry my cat to the vets at Faringdon to get his hair cut! Bearing in mind my hair costs me £10 a cut in Lambourn I was a little miffed when it cost me £200 for Jerry's, I think it would have been cheaper going to Toni & Guy! (Although he did try and kill the nurse and had to be sedated!)

On Thursday morning we schooled 8 horses on the summer schooling ground that belongs to Cath Walwyn. They all jumped well with Elmore Back and Portmonarch being very quick over the hurdles and Seventh Sky jumped a fence for the first time, he really did go well so hopefully that is the making of him.

After schooling we had a  routine Jockey Club inspection which is our first since being at Neardown, I think he was impressed by the facilities and everything seemed in order. I then went down for lunch with Sue Welch and had a look at her young stock, she had a lovely foal that I liked.

Yesterday I went to the Brightwells Cheltenham Sale, there were a lot of Irish p2p winners and horses with form. I nearly bought one but quite honestly I thought the prices were crazy. The top lot went for £300,000 and the average was £86,000. I think at this sale the only way to go is to be selling not buying as there is no value there. Hopefully DBS in May will be more fruitful as I do need some new horses. Who Owns Me ran at Chepstow in the evening but I think the races at Wetherby and Newbury had taken a toll on him as he never got into the race.  He is a lovely little horse and deserves a holiday now.

We worked most of the horses this morning and as the season finishes today I am looking forward to running some nice novices next week that we have been waiting with so not to ruin their novice status for the 2014-2015 season. Elmore Back worked very well and Victor Leudorum has improved in fitness two fold. Verano has now done two pieces of work since his wind op so is almost ready and Almost Gemini worked very well up the bank which I think suits him better as its not as quick as back of the hill.

23.04.14

We had a very successful Lambourn Open Day on Friday, it was attended by a record breaking number of people which they say was over 12,000. The weather was very kind to us and plenty came to look round our yard. Lambourn residents and trainers were very happy that the day still attracted plenty of attention and for those of us against racing on Good Friday our attendance was better than that of Lingfield's.


On Saturday we had some horses working up the back of the hill gallop, they all went well and had a good blow. Area Access ran at Newton Abbot, although he finished 3rd the ground was probably quick enough for him and he could do with maybe stepping up to 3m.

I took my daughter Tildie for a ride on her new horse called Sweeney, he is a lovely horse from Ireland. For lunch we had lovely big BBQ which included  8 children enjoying the nice weather. Willy Watson then hosted a very good drinks party in Upper Lambourn to celebrate the completion of their lovely house.

On Sunday we had a few people round for drinks and to see there horses, Paul Mott came to see Sureness who should by back on the track shortly after a wind op and Victor Leudorum who is almost ready for is first run this year. Kodie schooled Mr Big in preparation for the Old Berks Point-to-Point on the Monday.

I rode out 2 lots on Monday then drove Mr Big, Rose, Kodie, Sylvia and Lillie to Lockinge for the p2p. The ground was quick but had been eased up by all the rain on Sunday I decided that he could run. But whilst in the middle of a very good picnic lunch I heard a lot of banging from inside the box and when I looked inside I found Mr Big had got both his legs over the front partition of the horse box. After a struggle I managed to get him down but unfortunately he had bruised his off fore leg so we couldn't run him. It was very bad luck for Kodie as it was going to be her very first ride.

Seventh Sky ran at Market Rasen on Monday, he came a disappointing 4th. We had put a hood on him for his last 2 runs and while it has had the affect of calming him down it has now sent him to sleep! We may now send him Novice chasing next week.

On Tuesday I rode out 3 lots. Later in the morning I went to see a friend of mine who is hospital in Swindon with a broken ankle. Poor Evelyn had broken his ankle in 2 places, smashing it up when walking passed my yard of Sunday evening walking his dogs. Hopefully he will be allowed out of hospital today.

We had a very good work morning today. Western King worked very well with Elmore Back who was absolutely flying. Victor Leudorum, Portmonarch and Verano worked very well in a 3 together. It was Veranos first bit back after his wind operation which seems to have been a big success from what I have seen so far. Almost Gemini led Westbrooke and they both went nicely. On The Bank Airmens Friend led Duke of Monmouth and Shockingtimes. Shockingtimes flew up the gallop. Who Owns Me led Latelo and although Who Owns Me doesn't quite have the speed of Latelo they both worked well together. Most of these horses will run next week.

 The best thing about this season is that it finishes on Saturday. It has been very frustrating because of the lack of horses and the dreadful weather we had. We are going to put that right and start buying horses at the end of this month to add to those that have won this season. We have got some nice novices to run next week with the likes of Elmore Back, Verano , Almost Gemini and an unraced horse for us called Portmonarch so hopefully they will get the ball rolling for next season. We plan to have a busy May as we need to get some winners on the board.

16.04.14

Area Access, Portmonarch and Seventh Sky all worked very well on Saturday morning, if I can get all three to win over the next 10 days I will be very happy. Victor Leudorum and Western King also showed that they are well on the way to their first run of the season as they worked nicely together on the back of the hill gallop.

We had a very quiet weekend with no runners but the sun came out so I enjoyed some gardening in preparation for the Lambourn Open Day.

On Monday morning I rode Elmore Back who is jumping out of his skin he is so well! Now the horses are all fit and well they only do one canter on a Monday however this does make for some very fresh horses when walking home. Most of the horses will then go twice up my gallop (the Bank) each morning for the rest of the week.

Yesterday Sands Cove ran at Kempton, he ran a very nice race finishing 2nd to a well h'capped horse who had just had a wind operation. He was only beaten by half a length, he really does deserve to win a race as he has been knocking on the door all season. We will hopefully run him again before he has a summer break.

As the good weather has continued we have been able to put the finishing preparations to the yard and with all  the flower tubs pruned and watered and every inch of grass mowed we are right on schedule for the Lambourn Open Day on Good Friday. We hope to see you all there as it is a great day out with plenty to see. I should think Neardown will receive plenty of visitors as we are opposite the main car park! We will have refreshments for sale, bathroom facilities and a warm welcome to those who come and visit us.

11.04.14

On Thursday we schooled four horses up on the Mandown Gallops, the grass is now shut but we used the all weather schooling strip. Western King jumped superbly over fences and Portmonarch and Seventh Sky both jumped well over the hurdles. Kodie schooled Mr Big over fences ahead of their Point-to-Point debut.

Later that day we had Shockingtimes running at Ludlow, he jumped better but I ran him over the wrong trip on the better ground. He needs 3m not 2m 4f on the good ground. Hopefully it was a confidence boosting round and I will find a more suitable race next time.

This morning I rode Western King who absolutely flew up the gallops and I also rode Almost Gemini who feels on tremendous form.

We have no runners this weekend as the races don't really suit but I plan to run a couple on Tuesday, Sands Cove at Kempton and Duke of Monmouth at Exeter however he might not get in but there is a cracking race for him at Newton Abbott on Saturday week so we might wait till then. Area Access will also head to Newton Abbott.

We are busy getting the yard tidied up for the Lambourn Open Day on Good Friday so it is all hands on deck with grass cutting, weed pulling and many other little jobs. The yard will be open from 8.30am till 1pm. More information on the day is available at http://www.lambourn.info/open-day/

09.04.14

I went to Taunton on Thursday where I ran Almost Gemini however it wasn't to be as I managed to run him on the wrong racecourse over the wrong distance which meant he only finished 3rd. He needs a galloping track over at least 2m 6f.

Later that evening I had a dinner party for 12 people to celebrate my birthday, it is hard getting older but luckily I am still in great shape! Avery Ffrench Davis cooked some fabulous curries which went down very well and helped soak up some of the alcohol consumed!

On Friday morning Richard Curry came in to watch his horse Victor Leudorum on the gallops, Victor is looking great now we have had him in as he does worry out in the field. He has a full summer coat and is still bucking like mad. It was then a bit of a mad rush to get in the car and leave for Liverpool where I had Plum Stone running in the mares bumper. Unfortunately it was not to be as she did not run half as well as we had all hoped, she travelled very well but for some reason turning in for home she stopped very quickly. We are investigating into the reason for her poor performance and hopefully something will come to light.

I stayed up in Liverpool to watch the Grand National on Saturday and as usual it was a very exciting race. For the past couple of years I have sat in on meetings with the Aintree hierarchy for discussions on improving the race, from this developed a panel that looked into horses recent performances with a view to make a decision on whether they should be allowed to take part. I don't understand for the life of me why they let Battle Group line up as he has refused to jump off before and as we know the start is a very important part of the race and apart from that he is keeping one more horse out of the race that could have actually taken part. I think this problem could have been avoided. As for the winner he was a shrewd purchase by Dr Richard Newland from Barry Connell for only £6,000, he had won the Ulster National and was thought to high in the h'cap in Ireland to be placed over there.

On Monday morning all the horses were very fresh which seemed to carry on through to Tuesday as Elmore Back almost bucked me off on Monday and Shockingtimes ran away with me on Tuesday! Shockingtimes  breezed well this morning so I have declared him to run at Ludlow tomorrow. I have dropped him back in trip so that there might be a bit more pace in the race which should suit him.

Victor Leudorum and Western King did there first bit of work this morning  and I am very impressed with Western King who went like a bull and seems much improved. Area Access flew up the gallops in his bit of work, I hope he still has more improvement in him. Elmore Back did a faster piece of work very easily  and seems to be taking his work well. This week we have also started turning some of the horses out in the small paddocks around the house, it is great watching them get down and have a good roll and a taster of the spring grass.

03.04.14

On Wednesday we gave Plum Stone her last bit of work before she goes to Aintree on Friday for the Mares Bumper, she seems in very good form and we have Barry Geragthy jocked up. Portmonarch and Who Owns Me worked well up the bank. The horses all looked well and are going well but I am having to wait with few of them to run them at the end of April as we don't want to lose their novice tags for next year.

We have a nice horse running today at Taunton called Almost Gemini, he has an odds on shot of Philip Hobbs to beat so if he finishes in front of him he should win it! I schooled Who Owns Me and Shockingtimes this morning. They both jumped very well and Shockingtimes jumped the best he has all year, he has made a remarkable improvement in his going and looks better than ever since he has been on some medication for ulcers. I am looking forward to running him next week.

01.04.14

I went racing to Stratford with Tony Stapleton on Saturday I had three runners there and one at Uttoexeter. Duke Of Monmouth ran at the latter, he probably needed the race as he blew for a while after. Seventh Sky ran at Stratford where I thought he would nearly win but he ran a very lacklustre race which is very disappointing when  he is the best work horse in the yard. Area Access got a nice ride from the young Harry Bannister and won by a length and a half, he is going the right way and might win another couple of races before we put him away. Westbrooke ran in the bumper where he was probably only half fit even though he has lost 80 kilos since we got him. He will only improve.

I took my son William to Ascot on Sunday where we ran Fine Parchment in a very hot veterans chase. They went very quickly on the rapidly drying ground which meant he pulled himself up and we will keep him for another day.

I rode out two lots on Monday. Elmore Back felt superb and Almost Gemini who also felt very well. After riding out I went with Noel Fehily to Plumpton where we had two runners. Unfortunately Airmen's Friend hated the ground and did not let himself down as it was to quick. Always Smiling also ran very badly but having since had her down at the vets this morning we have found that she has a trapped epiglottis which also has an ulcer on it. I have booked her in to have a wind operation done on Friday.

I rode Western King this morning who felt like bull! He is on tremendous form and we can now start to step up his work. Victor Leudorum is also progressing well, both horses will be ready to run in about 6 weeks time.