We didn't have a very good day at Doncaster on Friday with Dukes Den and Tango Unchained. Dukes Den found everything a bit quick for him, but he is in again this Saturday at Ffos Las. Tango Unchained the first too well, jumped into the back of another horse and got rid of Harry Bannister, so they were both unlucky.
I went up to Doncaster on Saturday, where Le Legro ran a nice race. He enjoyed the ground and should be thereabouts next time. Gowanauthat ran in atrocious ground at Uttoxeter; only one horse actually finished the race - it was a mistake to run him on that ground. We ran Ephraim in a Cheltenham trial against some very good horse. I was hoping that he would run well, but tragically he struck through his tendon and we won't know for certain whether he will ever run again because of the injury, for about two months. It is a major blow for us and David Fox as I thought he was out of the top drawer, having won a Group race on the flat. We will keep our fingers crossed and hope that with time, he might be OK.
Tim Thomson Jones and I went to the funeral of a dear old owner of mine called Gilbert Turner, who was a sub-mariner. His wife, Bea and he got a lot of pleasure out of their horses and Gilbert died aged 95, and apparently he was getting the Racing Post up until his last day.
Seventh Sky worked on Wednesday and he seems in great form. He will probably run at Sandown on Saturday, where he will probably have top weight. Denis O'Regan came in to ride Morney Wing who went very nicely. Elmore Back did his first bit of work and we were happy with him.
We had a very jolly afternoon on Wednesday when Michael and Judy Maynard and Phil and Mary Docherty came to see the horses. We then had lunch in The Malt Shovel, where Tim Thomson Jones, Jenny Cassan, Evelyn Faber, Barney Windsor Clive and Mark Usher joined us. It was all very good fun.
I had my son William to stay on Wednesday night - we had a pizza and watched the film about AP McCoy, which I thought was terrific.
This morning we schooled a few horses. James Davies and Mark Grant came in. Morney Wing and Elmore Back jumped well. Expedite, Tango Unchained, Dukes Den, Libeccio and Bridal Suite all jumped nicely.
We have a few entries at the weekend, at Ffos Las and Sandown, and we are still hoping that the ground will dry up a little bit.
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