Scotland, Sun, Sea and ..........

We had a very good week in Scotland with the kids and eventually made it home on Wednesday with not to many arguments in the car! Everything has ticked over nicely at the yard in my absence testament to the great team behind me.

 

The horses are now all doing an hours trotting around the lanes. Looking at them this morning I have really noticed how much they have tightened up and have really come in their coats. I have to say that the scruffy bunch we got in from the field 4 weeks ago really have blossomed and look superb!

 

This week we are jockey-less with most of them having flown off to sunnier lands to get a holiday. Noel Fehily is currently sat on a sun longer in Portugal, I hope he is going easy on the ice cream!Those less fortunate took part in the jockey show jumping at the Bicester Hunt show on Sunday, I have to say I was a little disappointed in our conditional jockey Ben French Davis not getting through the first round-I will get him jumping the children's coloured ponies in the school here in his lunch break if he's not careful! 

 

I have heard a rumour that there may be another positive result in Lambourn for Morphine, I am pretty thankful that I do not feed D&H right now! However I personally think the rule is wrong in that if it is not administered intentionally but through a outside sources negligence it has no benefit to anyone involved, so why should the owner and trainer have to lose a race and their prize money when they haven't done anything wrong. In my eyes the BHA should look into cases like this individually and rule accordingly as the current disqualification seems unreasonable.

 

Western King was put up 6lb by the handicapper which may stunt his chances next time out but he seems on great form at home so I have entered him up for the weekend in a 0-140 3m chase at Market Rasen. I also hope to get Victor Leudorum out in the next week if it doesn't rain to much, he has had a wind operation and is on great form at home. There is a mares novice hurdle for Sureness at Southwell on Sunday which would be perfect for her if the ground is quick enough. We are still to get Ussee out again when I find a suitable race. Almost Gemini has been a bit off peak recently but after having his teeth doing and some physio I hope to get him back tot he track shortly, I might try him over fences as he is such a lovely big horse he might relish the new challenge.

Other big news is that we are having a PUBLIC OPEN DAY on SATURDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER.

Gates open 11am - 4pm

Everyone is welcome and it is Free Entry.

We will have food and trade stands.

A parade of horses at 12 noon.

A schooling demo at 1.30pm.

I will be on hand during the day to show you around and answer questions.

It will be a great day out and a bit of fun too, if the secretary allows I may even get a local band and the Morris Dancers in too!