Last Tuesday was a very busy day with a host of photgraphers and models doing a photoshoot for Lavenham Jackets. They were in the yard and office all day and both myself and our lads featured in some of the shots! I am hoping we will have some nice pictures of the string going up the gallops, which you may see in time and even the models Camilla Henderson, Verity Murphy and Drew Holmes rode out with us.
In between shots we ran a nice mare called Native Explorer, she was having her first run over hurdles on very bad ground at Uttoxeter but managed a credible effort to stay on for fourth.
On Wednesday I watched the horses work, Murray Mount, Portmonarch and Superb Story all worked well together on the Back of the Hill gallop. After this I drove to Dorset for my ex-mother-in-laws memorial service. I bumped into a lot of old friends and it was a good turn out for her.
We only schooled a couple on Thursday with Noel Fehily and our conditional Tommy. Superb Story had his second pop over the big hurdles and was given a lead by the improving Portmonarch.
Katya and I went racing to Warwick on Thursday where we had three runners, we also had two runners at Taunton. At Warwick Libeccio was dropped in at the back of the field and was never really put in the race, he jumped well and should be more competitive next time. Attimo was very disappointing, I thought he was our main chance of the day. He didn't jump and never looked happy which I put down to the ground which must have been too soft for him. We ran a lovely horse called Royal Redemption in a competitive novice hurdle, he ran a super race to finish second. He is a horse for the future and will come into his own on better ground and over a fence. On the way he should win a novice hurdle.
At Taunton Nimbus Gale ran a very good race to finish third in a three mile novice hurdle, he needed every inch of the trip and hopefully should be winning fairly soon. he jumps so well we are excited to seem him over a fence in time. Seventh Sky ran a really good race to finish fourth in an extremely competitive novice handicap chase, he was only beaten two lengths by the winner so I was happy with his performance.
On Friday we had a very busy day cleaning up around the new cottages I have built as the tenants will be moving in soon. I will be glad when it is all finished as it hasn't been easy keeping the builders in check! In the evening we had a drink in the old Malt Shovel which is now called the Mill House, it has had face lift and should now be somewhere to take owners who come for lunch.
We had 3 red letter days and Richard and Penny Green in for breakfast and a morning on the gallops on Saturday, it was lovely day and all the horses worked well. Superb Story worked very well and Gowanauthat flew up. The unnamed Brian Boru has grown a lot recently and is definitely going the right way. Katya took Mr Big to Larkhill point-to-point for one of our lads Johnny to have his first spin round. Unfortunately they did not managed to get round after parting company at he fourth last, they would have been placed if they had completed as only four of the thirteen starters finished. Listening to Katya's commentary over the phone it sounded like the Grand National!
We have had a lovely new French horse arrive from the Cheltenham sales, it has been sent to us by David Fox. He looks a nice type so hopefully we can do something with him and it is great to have David on board.
I rode out two nice horses on Monday, Murray Mount and Big Jer and again this morning on Gownaauthat and Superb Story. Yesterday I had lunch in the Outside Chance pub in Manton with some friends and then on to Toby Balding memorial service at Marlborough College Chapel. There was an enormous turn out and I am sure Toby would have been very pleased. He was wonderful man and he will be greatly missed.
We have a fairly quite week just with a Bridal Suite running at Ascot on Friday as his owner is hosting a Christmas works party which I am looking forward to! On Sunday it is likely that both Portmonarch and Murray Mount will run at Lingfield. With the lack of runners I may take the time to go hunting on Katya's horse with Portman on Wednesday so I did a little bit of jumping practice this morning!
Superb Story will hopefully be out shortly and will run in the same colours as Verano pictured below at Cheltenham.
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