SEVENTH SKY OFF ON HIS HOLS … WHAT A STAR!

SEVENTH SKY OFF ON HIS HOLS … WHAT A STAR!

On Tuesday there was a drinks party for Rodney Masters at Oaksey House as he is retiring from being the Lambourn Correspondent for the Racing Post. Rodney has been in Lambourn for 27years and was a great ally for the jockeys and trainers in the area – I think he will be a hard act to follow. There was a very good turnout which is testament to how very popular he is within our community.

We had 6 people for breakfast on Wednesday and as usual Katya cooked a delicious breakfast and they all seemed to have a jolly time. Later on I had a salesman attempt to sell me solar panels but he failed to convince me. Having got rid of him I went outside and took delivery of the most beautiful weather vane which is my birthday present from Katya. It will be less expensive to keep than the birthday present I gave to her!!

Harry Bannister came into school Thursday morning and we then left to go to Cheltenham to watch Sureness run in the Listed Mares Race at Cheltenham. We had a fun lunch with Paul Mott, his girlfriend Jacquie and some really fun friends of theirs. They were really pleased to see Sureness looking a picture in the paddock and were hopeful of a big run. She travelled and jumped really well in the race but unfortunately they had over watered the course for her liking so she got stuck in the gluey ground when she went to quicken. We will take her chasing this summer as she is a big mare who wants fast ground.

On Friday I took Evelyn Faber racing to Fontwell where we Had three runners. Murray Mount ran in his first hurdle race. He was very green and was a little precise with his jumping. He will come on a lot for the run mentally. We also ran Verano who made the running. Unfortunately he looked at everything and although he finished 3^rd he probably should have won. I have ridden him out since the race and judging by how fresh he is I suspect the race didn’t take much out of him!! Always Smiling ran in the last race at Fontwell. Her jumping let her down and is off to the sales as she is owner ridden and Harry is looking for something slightly better. Katya organised a very jolly supper party that evening with Ba Gilmour, Nick Gaselee and Anda and Tim Fitzgerald- O’Connor. We were very impressed with Tim’s stamina as he had only arrived back from Bermuda that morning!

We had another busy morning on Saturday with some very nice Red Letter Days folks. I ran Seventh Sky at Ayr in The Future Champion Novice Chase Group 2 in the afternoon and although he ran a little bit flat he still ran very well in defeat picking up £11000 in prize money for second place. This was his 16^th run of the season and in my 23yrs as a trainer I have never had a horse run as often as that. In 16 runs he has only been out of the prize money twice and has won 5 races. He is a credit to his owner John Heron. We are off to Germany this Sunday to try and find another one like him and he is now going away for a well-deserved break.

Iffy drove us to London that night for Natasha Kempner’s 21^st Birthday party at the Belvadere in Holland Park. The fact that we didn’t get home until 3 in the morning is testimony to what a good party it was.

We had a quiet day on Sunday … Riddles dropped in for a drink with Sean Shelley who was looking really well having had an operation recently. Katya and her daughter Charlotte then cooked a delicious lunch.

I rode out 2 lots on Monday and then went to Ascot Sales where I sold Attimo. He had been breaking blood vessels and I thought it was time to move him on.

I played my first game of tennis this season  and was very pleased with my performance but am open to improvement!!

We ran Bridal Suite in cheek pieces for the first time today at Exeter but unfortunately they worked a bit too well and he had run his race by the second last.

We plan to run 2 tomorrow at Ffos Las if the ground is okay but you have to be terribly careful at this time of the year as the ground is getting quick – there were 3 races at Exeter today with only 2 runners in them because of the ground.

We are going to Cheltenham on Friday to buy horses and will keep you informed.