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.
Wednesday, 29 January 2014
Monday, 27 January 2014
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.
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.
Friday, 24 January 2014
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.
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.
Wednesday, 22 January 2014
22.01.14
It has been a fairly exciting beginning to the New Year, as apart from the fact it hasn't stopped raining there has been quite a lot going on. I had a frozen shoulder at the beginning of the month that until I was diagnosed and treated in hospital it caused me absolute agony for 4 days and 4 sleepless nights. Luckily the shoulder was sorted in time to have two days shooting, one day with Nick Bannister up at Conniston Hall and another with Edwyn Good at Waddesdon Manor. They were great days and I shot very well on Friday but had lost my touch slightly on Saturday!
To finish my January jaunts I had a week in Cuba, I would recommend it to anyone- we even managed to have a winner while I was away. Lord Of House won a Novices H'Cap chase at Ludlow even though he ran a little bit flat. He has run a lot recently so will have a little break and we will have to hope there will still be some soft ground around in a few weeks time for him. Duke Of Monmouth ran at Newbury, he was out paced early on and didn't seem to enjoy the field closing up around him. I will give him a confidence boosting run somewhere next time with a small field and smaller fences with possibly some headgear. He is bouncing at home so I am sure there is another win in him. Sands Cove ran at Taunton on Saturday, the ground was almost un-raceable and with 3 fences bypassed it was almost a flat race. I think he will be a lot better on better ground, Mark was still pleased with him and thinks he is nice horse.
On my return the horses all look very well. Watching them work this morning there were one or two who really fired on the grass. Elmore Back worked very well and reports are he has been in rude health all week. Verano worked very nicely, he has entries but I want to run him first time out on some better ground than it is at the moment. Almost Gemini flew up the grass, he is ready to run and will do so when I have sold the remaining shares which hopefully should be very soon.
We run Latelo tomorrow in the bumper at Warwick , for all sorts of different reasons I hope he runs well, I think he is a very nice horse. The ground is still bottomless everywhere which is frustrating as it is preventing me from running a few horses that need to get out, hopefully some courses will dry out a bit next week.
We still have shares remaining in ALMOST GEMINI
DRAGON CITY for sale
SURENESS for sale
More details on the horses for sale page.
To finish my January jaunts I had a week in Cuba, I would recommend it to anyone- we even managed to have a winner while I was away. Lord Of House won a Novices H'Cap chase at Ludlow even though he ran a little bit flat. He has run a lot recently so will have a little break and we will have to hope there will still be some soft ground around in a few weeks time for him. Duke Of Monmouth ran at Newbury, he was out paced early on and didn't seem to enjoy the field closing up around him. I will give him a confidence boosting run somewhere next time with a small field and smaller fences with possibly some headgear. He is bouncing at home so I am sure there is another win in him. Sands Cove ran at Taunton on Saturday, the ground was almost un-raceable and with 3 fences bypassed it was almost a flat race. I think he will be a lot better on better ground, Mark was still pleased with him and thinks he is nice horse.
On my return the horses all look very well. Watching them work this morning there were one or two who really fired on the grass. Elmore Back worked very well and reports are he has been in rude health all week. Verano worked very nicely, he has entries but I want to run him first time out on some better ground than it is at the moment. Almost Gemini flew up the grass, he is ready to run and will do so when I have sold the remaining shares which hopefully should be very soon.
We run Latelo tomorrow in the bumper at Warwick , for all sorts of different reasons I hope he runs well, I think he is a very nice horse. The ground is still bottomless everywhere which is frustrating as it is preventing me from running a few horses that need to get out, hopefully some courses will dry out a bit next week.
We still have shares remaining in ALMOST GEMINI
DRAGON CITY for sale
SURENESS for sale
More details on the horses for sale page.
Tuesday, 31 December 2013
31.12.13
We had a tree down in he drive way on Christmas Eve, it was a manic morning trying to get the horses out and feed supplies in! I had planned to take Mr Big out with the Old Berks for the jockeys meet so I had a last minute panic to get a lift as I couldn't get the horse box down the drive. After making our way through all the floods I arrived for the meet just in time. The ground was very water logged, which made the hedges very big. With a field of over 100 there were loose horses everywhere but Mr Big was on a going day and jumped very well, he got through the ground like and old pro, I think we were one of the 20% of the hedge jumping field that didn't take a tumble!
On Christmas Day we rode out the horses that were due to run in the coming days, even the secretary came in for first lot. I won a lovely bottle od Vintage Dom Perignon courtesy of my bet with Simon Beccle and Nicky Henderson winning the trainers championship so we opened that.
Boxing Day started fairly badly as our three box wouldn't start at 5am in the morning to go to Market Rasen, then the two box that went in its place also broke down. With a lot of reorganising we managed to get two horses to Market Rasen and one to Wincanton in time.
Airmens Friend ran his race but he hated the ground and finished third. Shockingtimes didn't jump a fence but managed to finish second. He came back very sore in his back the next day. While at Wincanton Lord of House jumped really well and won his first h'cap chase quite nicely.
On Friday we went to Kempton where Seventh Sky ran tamely, we have since done a wind operation on him as he is not getting home.
On Saturday we worked horses on the grass, Verano, Latelo and the Trans Island gelding all worked really well. We had no runners so I lit the fire and watched the racing. On Sunday we ran Elmore Back at Doncaster, he ran a blinder to finish second to Oscar Hoof a good horse of Nicky Hendersons. We should be able to place him to win his next race.
On Monday I rode two lots out and got soaked to the bone, after I had dried off I went racing to Haydock with Tony Stapleton. I stupidly ran Sands Cove over 2m 4f on heavy ground, he did not get home. His poor run was totally down to trainer error.
We run Lord of House today as I rode him out yesterday and he was extremely fresh and he will love the ground. If he gets beaten today then I have run him to soon.
And then tomorrow will be 2014! Happy New Year.
On Christmas Day we rode out the horses that were due to run in the coming days, even the secretary came in for first lot. I won a lovely bottle od Vintage Dom Perignon courtesy of my bet with Simon Beccle and Nicky Henderson winning the trainers championship so we opened that.
Boxing Day started fairly badly as our three box wouldn't start at 5am in the morning to go to Market Rasen, then the two box that went in its place also broke down. With a lot of reorganising we managed to get two horses to Market Rasen and one to Wincanton in time.
Airmens Friend ran his race but he hated the ground and finished third. Shockingtimes didn't jump a fence but managed to finish second. He came back very sore in his back the next day. While at Wincanton Lord of House jumped really well and won his first h'cap chase quite nicely.
On Friday we went to Kempton where Seventh Sky ran tamely, we have since done a wind operation on him as he is not getting home.
On Saturday we worked horses on the grass, Verano, Latelo and the Trans Island gelding all worked really well. We had no runners so I lit the fire and watched the racing. On Sunday we ran Elmore Back at Doncaster, he ran a blinder to finish second to Oscar Hoof a good horse of Nicky Hendersons. We should be able to place him to win his next race.
On Monday I rode two lots out and got soaked to the bone, after I had dried off I went racing to Haydock with Tony Stapleton. I stupidly ran Sands Cove over 2m 4f on heavy ground, he did not get home. His poor run was totally down to trainer error.
We run Lord of House today as I rode him out yesterday and he was extremely fresh and he will love the ground. If he gets beaten today then I have run him to soon.
And then tomorrow will be 2014! Happy New Year.
Monday, 23 December 2013
23.12.13
We schooled 5 horses last Thursday, Verano and Almost Gemini are very quick over their hurdles.
I went to Bill Rees memorial service on Thursday, it was a lovely service and I saw a lot of my old weighing room colleagues. We ran Who Owns Me that day at Towcester. Harry Bannister rode him to take some weight off, unfortunately they fell at the 8th fence which was just one of those things, but they were both none the worse the next day for their fall. We will look for another race fairly shortly.
On Friday 2nd Lot went round the home gallop on the grass, all the horses thoroughly enjoyed this - all though I am not sure my staff enjoyed getting their arms pulled out! I also had a lot of visitors that morning, Tony Holt and Ian McNabb came to see their horse Verano on the gallops, Noel Chance popped round (to use the fax machine!) and Diana Henderson came round to wish me a Merry Christmas.
On Saturday we had Noel Fehily, Mark Grant and James Davies in to ride work 1st lot. Seventh Sky, Lord of House and Latelo worked extremely well on the grass up back of the hill. When Noel Fehily says that a horse is an aeroplane a trainer sits up and takes note, so I am looking for a nice bumper for Latelo shortly. After the horses worked I went shooting in the woods behind my house, it rained all morning and I got absolutely soaked. After a hot bath I carried on the Christmas festivities by attending two different drinks parties!
I had a lovely evening last night at Olympia in Nigel and Ros Kempners box, it was a very entertaining evening and always one of the highlights of this time of year for me.
This morning we had several owners in and have been hit with nothing short of Hurricane Katrina all day! I declared Airmens Friend and Shockingtimes at Market Rasen on Boxing day, they would not want the ground any softer so I will be keeping an eye on the amount of rain they have over the next couple of days. Lord Of House is declared at Wincanton, he will enjoy the mud so I hope it is on.
Wednesday, 18 December 2013
18.12.13
I managed to run out of oil for the heating in my house and the aga on Friday night so I spent most of the weekend in the hot tub trying to keep warm!
On Saturday morning Shockingtimes and Elmore Back worked very well on the bank, they are exactly where I want them. I will be looking to run them both over the next two weeks. On Saturday night I went to James and Clare Lucks Christmas drinks in the village. It was very busy and great fun, everybody was really getting in to the Christmas spirit!
On Sunday Michael and Judy Maynard came down for lunch at the Plough in Eastbury, it was nice to catch up with them both over some good food. I had sent Airmen's Friends to Southwell only to then take him out as the ground became to soft. It was a shame a it looked a good race for him and he is ready for a run. I will look for something else as soon as possible.
On Monday the oil was delivered with meant normality could resume at Neardown. We have had a lot of rain here now and the ground is quite soft, I will be getting the horses out on the grass as much as I can.
The horses all did one canter up the bank on Monday then did two canters up on Tuesday. Plum Stone is in great form, cantering away nicely. She has been re clipped and has a great shine to her coat. All the horses look really well in their coats and are feeling very well. Area Access now has a h'cap mark so he will be upped in work after an easy week and we will crack on now to try and win a race.
Almost Gemini and Verano worked together this morning up back of the hill gallop, they did a good bit impressing their jockeys. They are two very nice horses. Dragon City is going nicely and looks as though he will be a nice 3yo, he has really filled out since he arrived. Sureness and Portmoarch who are the other two new arrivals have had a quiet time since they have arrived but I am now starting to pick up their work and they are going well. Seventh Sky who worked with Attimo this morning is working exceptionally well and is looking fitter every day. I didn't give Low Gales to much of easy time after his last run as he can be quite a stuffy horse, he worked again today and seems to be tightening up for it.
On Saturday morning Shockingtimes and Elmore Back worked very well on the bank, they are exactly where I want them. I will be looking to run them both over the next two weeks. On Saturday night I went to James and Clare Lucks Christmas drinks in the village. It was very busy and great fun, everybody was really getting in to the Christmas spirit!
On Sunday Michael and Judy Maynard came down for lunch at the Plough in Eastbury, it was nice to catch up with them both over some good food. I had sent Airmen's Friends to Southwell only to then take him out as the ground became to soft. It was a shame a it looked a good race for him and he is ready for a run. I will look for something else as soon as possible.
On Monday the oil was delivered with meant normality could resume at Neardown. We have had a lot of rain here now and the ground is quite soft, I will be getting the horses out on the grass as much as I can.
The horses all did one canter up the bank on Monday then did two canters up on Tuesday. Plum Stone is in great form, cantering away nicely. She has been re clipped and has a great shine to her coat. All the horses look really well in their coats and are feeling very well. Area Access now has a h'cap mark so he will be upped in work after an easy week and we will crack on now to try and win a race.
Almost Gemini and Verano worked together this morning up back of the hill gallop, they did a good bit impressing their jockeys. They are two very nice horses. Dragon City is going nicely and looks as though he will be a nice 3yo, he has really filled out since he arrived. Sureness and Portmoarch who are the other two new arrivals have had a quiet time since they have arrived but I am now starting to pick up their work and they are going well. Seventh Sky who worked with Attimo this morning is working exceptionally well and is looking fitter every day. I didn't give Low Gales to much of easy time after his last run as he can be quite a stuffy horse, he worked again today and seems to be tightening up for it.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)