I went to Newmarket very early on Tuesday morning for the sales and was pretty fed up by the end of the day as I had been underbidder on two horses and couldn't get close to anything I wanted .
On Wednesday Bill Brindle joined me and we had a similar sort of day . Then at the end of the session a really nice horse came in that was one of the Juddmonte draught which I didn't think we could afford . The bidding started quite quickly but slowed up at 34k so I stuck a couple of bids in and was very surprised when Fixed Rate was knocked down to me at 40k !
He arrived at Colin Tinklers yard on Thursday and had a little operation on Friday to relieve him of a couple of things between his legs ! He has been gelded .
We ran Cody Wyoming on Thursday at Stratford and he ran a nice race to finish 4th over a trip that was too short for him . There is one share left in Cody and at 2k a share it must be cheap as he should be winning soon .
On Saturday I watched 1st lot and didn't see a horse as it was so dark thank God the clocks have gone back ! We ran a really nice horse at Ascot called Doolin who ran a cracking race to finish 3rd in a decent bumper getting beaten only 3 lengths by the winner .He will run over hurdles next and should be winning soon .
Tomorrow we are taking Some Kinda Lama to Hereford and as long as the ground is OK he will run in a five horse race and should have a decent chance .
We need rain badly and we will get busier when and if it comes .

We had a fun drinks party on Monday that was hosted by the BHA and its always nice to have a moan with your fellow trainers .
We had Noel Fehily in to ride a couple of lots on Wednesday which was a great honour as he hasn't been here for a while !
Had a good schooling morning on Thursday with Gavin Sheehan , D Crosse and J Banks in to pop them over both hurdles and fences . We also had a couple of runners that day with Morney Wing going up to Carlisle and Maid ofMilan going to Ludlow . It was very soft ground at Carlisle and he got a bit tired finishing 5th while the mare ran a nice race to finish 3rd over a trip too short for her .
We went to Cheltenham on Friday for their first meeting of the season and it was lovely to be back as they do make a great effort there with both the ground and the facilities for the owners and trainers . I ran a gorgeous horse called Pickamix who was having only his second run over hurdles . He ran a really nice race finishing third and only beaten two lengths by a horse that P Nicholls says may run in the World Hurdle so it will be interesting to see what handicap mark we get on Tuesday .
My kids Tildie and William came to stay on Friday night so we had Smon and Marie round for supper which was a fun evening . My daughter Tildie is off to America on Tuesday to compete in a rowing competition as she is a very competent rower - not sure where she gets it from as the only time I have been on the water is on quite a smart Gin Palace !
Am off to Newmarket on Monday for the October Horses in Training Sale as I am hoping to buy a horse for the Steeplechasers Syndicate so their will be an enormous choice with nearly fifteen hundred to choose from !
A few entries at end of next week and I am going to do fifteen laps of my hot tub tonight accompanied by a large gin and tonic !

We had quite a busy work day on Wednesday and one or two of them were very impressive so we are looking forward to running them
I bought a really nice horse in France last week called Apalis who has won three of her last four starts and she arrived on Friday . She looks a really good sort and should win her mares races .
I went to Charlie Hills' yard on Thursday to look at a couple of horses that are in the Horses in Training Sale at Newmarket next week . They were both nice sorts and we will have to see what they make next week .
We had a good day on Friday with three new horses arriving which boosts our numbers a bit .
We ran Sureness at Stratford on Saturday and she ran a good race over a trip that was too short for her by finishing third . We also sent Morney Wing to Market Rasen but he got half way there and the ground changed so we had to take him out and he will now have to go up to Carlisle on Thursday .
On Saturday night we went to Marlborough fair which was fun until I had to get on one of the rides with my son William . It always amazes me why people pay money to have the life scared out of them and then pretend it was fun as they don't want to lose face in front of their children !
We have some nice horses in at the end of the week and we could do with a bit of rain to make the ground a bit safer .
I once found my ex lying naked on the kitchen floor, covered only in rose petals .'So', she purred,' What do you think ?'I blinked . 'I'm not sure I think it could be greenfly '. I didn't see much of her after that !

We had two runners at Towcester on Wednesday the first one Airpur Desbois did not go on the ground and had to be pulled up .We also ran Sureness and she ran a nice race to finish third .
On Thursday we went to Hereford for their first meeting in four years and it was absolutely packed , it was nice to see so many people supporting the racecourse and it is good to have it back .
We ran a lovely horse called Some Kinda Lama who won very easily and although it wasn't a great race you can only beat whats there . He will make a smashing chaser next season and will hopefully win a few more hurdle races this time .
I have been riding out this week and have really enjoyed getting on some of the new horses . I have just managed to buy a gorgeous 4yo mare from France who passed the vet a couple of days ago . She has won three of her last four starts winning 75,ooo euros in prizemoney and looks an ideal sort for mares races over here I just need to find an owner for her now !
We had a syndicate lunch for Cody Wyoming owners yesterday and it all went well with a good lunch at The Hare and a drink or two here .
This week is fairly quiet with one tomorrow at Huntingdon and a few entries at the weekend . The races are starting to get more competitive and its a good job we've had a good start to the season as it does take a bit of pressure off .

Am off racing today at Towcester with Sureness and Airpur Debois who should both have a chance and will hopefully keep our strike rate up .
We currently have the highest strike rate in the country at 33% and we've had our best start to a season for quite a long time . I do find it very frustrating as I can't give horses away right now yet alone sell them . We have some lovely young horses and one or two of them do need an owner !
I rode out yesterday for the first time since March as the last time I got on one I ended up in an air ambulance with a broken shoulder .I really enjoyed it and felt very good afterwards so I will be on them every day from now .
We have a nice horse running at Hereford tomorrow called Some Kinda Lama and we are hopeful that he should be thereabouts .

Had an up and down time last week .Cooked a nice supper for an old friend on Wednesday and I must say my cooking is improving now I have to do it !

We schooled a lot of horses on Thursday and they all jumped well which is a bonus . We ran Quebec at Warwick and I thought he would nearly win . There was a good turn out of owners to see him but he was very disappointing and I think his next outing will be the sales .

My kids came to stay on Friday and I took them to the Indian in Lambourn for dinner . I had a long chat with Oisin Murphy and was terribly impressed at what a level headed young fella he is as he was in there getting a takeaway .

On Saturday we went to Fontwell where the ground was desperate as they had over an inch of rain fall the night before . I ran poor old Gowanauthat as there were only four runners and he was going OK when he got turned sideways at the second last which cost him any chance he had . He finished third and has earned himself a deserved holiday having won five already this this season . Just to rub salt into it my brand new horsebox got hit in the car park to make it a really good day !

On Sunday we ran a really nice horse at Uttoxeter called Pickamix who I really do think a bit of . The ground was a bit dead and he didn't jump as well as he can but he won pretty well and will surely come on for the experience .

I am trying to buy a nice 4yo mare from France who has won three of her last four runs on the flat and looks ideal to go jumping . Just need to find an owner for her !