13.02.14

We had some TV crew come to the yard on Tuesday afternoon to look to see if it was suitable to use as one of the filming locations for a series called Glue. It is about a National Hunt Trainer who when trying to find new owners falls in love with a daughter of a foreign Prime Minister, they have asked me to play the lead part! Later that evening I was picked up by Tim Thompson-Jones to see Taylor Swift at the O2, I think the average age was about 13! But I am now a fan too and thanks to being introduced to iTunes on my new Ipad I can listen to her all day long!

Philippa Holland came in on Wednesday morning to ride work on Mr Big, as usual Mr Big took control in the piece of work . Almost Gemini did a nice piece of work, he goes really well. The other horse who also stood out was Dragon City, he was catching pigeons on the gallops! Airmens Friend and Low Gales are on very good form but as they do want decent ground so they have just been ticking along at home, it is very frustrating as there are a few races around for them right now. Shockingtimes worked well with Seventh Sky.

Mark Grant schooled Sureness this morning, she is complete natural and has bags of scope. She is big and athletic mare who will definitely jump a fence in time.

It is still raining here and the water levels are still rising. Lets hope it doesn't get to the heights of 1947.

11.02.14

We went to Warwick on Saturday to run Lord of House in the Kingmaker Chase, believe it or not the ground was not soft enough for us. He managed to finish 4th but did not run with his usual exuberance due to the ground.

On Sunday morning we schooled Seventh Sky with Mark Grant in preparation to run him on Wednesday at Chepstow which has subsequently be abandoned. I looked in some yards in Upper Lambourn on my way back from the schooling grounds, most of the stables are near under water and the water is still rising. The gallops are holding out for the moment but the rain has been a real problem.

Monday morning I rode out Duke of Monmouth and Verano, they both felt very well and I still can't find anything a miss with Duke a home. We had a busy Monday Club at the Malt Shovel for lunch, it was a big turn out as I think everyone was fed up with the weather. Hot topic of conversation was also about my interview with Rodney Masters in the Racing Post - I was relieved it didn't come out as bad I thought it might! Although any publicity is good publicity!

This morning I rode Sureness who I thought was a lovely filly, she is very tall and moves well. 2nd lot in the pouring rain I rode Area Access who felt very well in himself.

I had a lovely message from Jill Gladders this morning who has Celibate and Masked Man, Celibate has been having a lovely time hacking along the beach and going hunting. He is now 23years old, 12 years ago he came 6th to Bindaree in the Grand National.

08.02.14

We had Noel Fehily, Mark Grant and Robbie Dunne in to school on Thusday, Portmonarch and Dragon City schooled beautifully - it still amazes me a horse as nice as Dragon City is still for sale they pair of them are two of the nicest 4yos I have had for a long time. Noel schooled Lord Of House who jumped very well and is nice and fresh again. Shockingtimes had a pop for the first time since he had a pop since he hurt his back at Market Rasen, he went well so hopefully he is ok again now.

I rode out 2 lots of Friday, I sat on Lord Of House who was very fresh so I declared him for both Warwick and Newbury, as Warwick passed the inspection this morning he will run there in the Kingmaker, I will be going up to watch him run and as he loves heavy ground I am hopeful of a decent run.

Dragon City and Portmonarch worked very well up the back of the hill gallop, as did Area Access who seems to have come back into himself after an easy spell. Mr Big also did a piece of work up the back of the hill in preparation for his Point-to-Point run.

05.02.14

On Friday we took Duke Of Monmouth all the way to Catterick,  he was very disappointing. I cannot for the life of me understand why as he has won a race this season where he battled on gamely and has not run up to his mark since. It is a very frustrating as he loves this ground and all appears normal at home, I don't understand what his problem is.

On Saturday we went backup north to Weatherby with Who Owns Me, I did think Wetherby would be called off but they managed to race, which was lucky for us as he won fairly convincingly with blinkers on for the first time which was a nice surprise. I went to Sandown with Fine Parchment who jumped well as usual, when he was taken on he didn't enjoy it and subsequently a few things have come to light after the race.

I had Nigel and Ros Kempner to stay on Saturday night, then I cooked lunch for 14 of us on Sunday for their benefit! It turned out to be a very late affair!

I jumped out of bed at 4.30am on Monday and drove to Birmingham airport where I flew to Dublin, I was picked up by James Toole and went back to his house for a superb breakfast cooked by Fidelma Toole. I then got dressed into my hunting kit and taken to Fairyhouse racecourse for the Ward Union Hunt meet. I was leant a lovely horse called Henry who is owned by Kathleen Byrne, he was an absolute saint. We jumped drains and ditches that did not look passable, I have come back looking as if I have done three rounds with Frank Bruno! We then had a very good night out in a pub nearby, Pete was on excellent form.

On Tuesday James, Fidelma and Myself drove to Dublin where we had a very amusing lunch with John Heron at the Four Seasons Hotel, John Heron is Pete Tooles uncle and owns Seventh Sky (pictured below this morning)

I flew back to Birmingham later that day and drove home to Lambourn only to discover I had no heating oil - AGAIN!

This morning we had Harry Bannister, Mark Grant and Tom Garner in to ride work. Lord Of House worked really well and is in on Saturday in both the Game Spirit at Newbury and the Kingmaker at Warwick. On his work this morning he may well run in one. Verano went really well with him, he is just waiting for some better ground.

Dragon City, Portmonarch and Almost Gemini went nicely together, they are all again looking for a bit of better ground. Sureness impressed me with her gallop round back of the hill, she is a big strong filly and coped with is very well. I also worked Seventh Sky who flew up the gallop, he will either run next week at Cheptsow or Musselburgh.

1st lot on way back from the gallops.

 

 

29.01.14

I rode two lots on Tuesday on two very nice horses. I took Seventh Sky up my gallop three times, I don't think I have ever sat on anything quite like him before, I hope I can get him on the racecourse fairly soon. I then rode Portmonarch on the grass, he went very well as did Dragon City. They are two lovely four year olds, the only thing I cant work out I why I still have Dragon City for sale!

Kodie and Rose took Who Owns Me and Duke of Monmouth for a canter round the bowl then up the home grass gallops, they thoroughly enjoyed the change which should freshen the boys up a bit.

We had three jockeys in today, Mark Grant, Dom Elsworth and Peterjon Carberry. The later two schooled Duke of Monmouth and Who Owns Me, they both jumped with blinkers on for the first time to sharpen them both up. Almost Gemini worked well with the two four year olds and held his own even though they would quicker types which impressed me a lot. Low Gales worked well up the bank giving Seventh Sky a strong lead.

Rodney Masters came over this morning to interview me and discuss the new yard for the Mondays Racing Post.

27.01.14

I watched first lot on Saturday doing a piece of work up the grass, I was happy enough with them all. Duke of Monmouth and Who Owns Me worked well together.

I then got straight into my car and headed to Doncaster, we ran Elmore Back who I thought had a great chance off the back of his last 2 runs. Unfortunately he didn't even feature in the race and came back quite lame. I think he pulled himself around in the ground. It was along drive home but luckily there seems some improvement in him today.

I took my children Go-Carting on Sunday which is always good fun, we then went out for lunch.

This morning I rode 2 of the 4year olds, Portmonarch moved absolutely beautifully and Dragon City who has come on a ton and feels a completely different horse. They are both very nice horses with a good prospects.

It is very frustrating right now not to be able to run much. It is tough for trainers and racecourses alike with heavy almost un-raceable water logged ground and abandoned meetings. Looking at the weather forecast it doesn't look like things will improve for a while yet.

24.01.14

We schooled 6 horses on Thursday morning. The two juveniles Dragon City and Portmonarch jumped very well. Elmore Back was very quick and just had a little sharpen up. Almost Gemini and Verano are showed they are now very polished and professional .

I rode out for the first time in quite awhile this morning, it was nice to be back on a horse. I rode Elmore Back who felt great and Attimo who felt very fresh. The horses on the whole look well and I am happy with them. It is frustrating for the good ground horses that it is so wet but at least it is the same for everyone.

Almost Gemini is entered on Wednesday, if I can sell one more share in him he will run.

Matilda's pony Toby has also come to stay now she is at boarding school, Rose has found him a useful way to walk the dogs at lunch time!

Elmore Back will run at Doncaster tomorrow in  the 2m 4f h'cap hurdle. it is step up in class for him but I think he is well h'capped so he might as well have his chance.