4 July 2008

After a quiet week with no runners I am dipping my toe in the water again tomorrow with VALENTO at Leicester ground permitting.  The horses just didn't seem to be firing last week, so I decided to be grown up about it, stop, give them a break and then try again.  They now seem to be in good form again and hopefullyl we can get back to producing some winners.

 

25 June 2008

How close was that?  What a brilliant race Beaver ran in the Wokingham on Saturday.  I did tell you he would run well at a big price.  He won his race and so we told him he had won the whole race.  He has come out of it incredibly well and may run again at Windsor on Saturday.

JEWELLED REEF ran well on Monday night, it was a very rough race on the stands side and she just got stopped several times, she also pulled a shoe off so we can expect a big improvement next time.  DAMASSIN ran at Newbury last night, she was very pleased to be there and from her draw had to run her race a bit upside down, doing too much early on and not quite lasting home.  We will give her a bit of a rest now and probably have her out again in 3-4weeks time.

Unfortunately SUPPORT FUND did not get into the Carlisle Bell today, which I am sure would have suited her down to the ground, but we have got plenty of other options for her over the coming week-end.

21 June 2008

Longest day of the year and its raining!  It's Ascot time, which therefore means it is BEAVER time!  The old boy is running in the Wokingham today, he has a great draw in stall 2 and I can see him running a huge race at a big price.  We also have FLEURET running at Newmarket today who I would think would be our best chance of a winner.

Having had a quiet week over Ascot, we are off again next week with plenty of runners.  Our two year olds have been unlucky not to win so far with HAY FEVER finishing 2nd to the winner of the Queen Mary and the 2nd of the Albany.  Poor old boy, for his troubles he was gelded this week!  We should have 3-4 two old runners in the week ahead and I am certain that at least one of them will win.  JEWELLED REEF runs at Windsor, she is a nice sort who may need the run; DAMASSIN runs on Wednesday and I am looking to her to build on her great first run and GREEN POPPY is also in later in the week.

 

11 June 2008

Seconditus, I fear we are suffering from a severe case of seconditus.  The horses are all running really well, but I would just love a winner.  SPLIT THE WIND ran really well to finish 2nd in a claimer at Brighton today.  She has rather disappointed us all year and it was good to have her in better form, albeit in a much lower class race.  She was claimed and will now be running for Sheena West.  Our first two year old fillly ran yesterday.  DAMASSIN, she ran a blinder finishing 3rd in what looked like a nice Salisbury maiden. 

We unleash another at Bath on Saturday in GREEN POPPY who I am looking to run well.

6th June 2008

Finally the 2 year olds are starting to come to hand.   We did a big stalls day yesterday and I hope to have a few more on the racecourse in the next 10 days or so.

I can't believe its Derby Day tomorrow.  It certainly doesn't seem the weather for it.  I have got two running at Epsom today.  I was fairly stubborn and left Shake on It in praying for drying weather, at the moment it seems to have paid off and we have got good ground.  Now all we need is for the trainer to put the tongue tie on properly!!  Mujood deserves a shot at a race like this and we are hoping for another good run from him.

Nightspot goes to Bath where he has got a great chance.  Steve is back on board and he has got a good draw, he is back on his old winning mark and hopefully should come home a winner.

 

25th May 2008

Well done MUJOOD.  I still can't believe that of all my horses he is the one to get up a hat trick. In just 3 weeks he has won over 6f at Goodwood, 1m at Yarmouth and now 7f at Beverley.  He never wins by very far - a short-head, 3/4 length and 1/2 a length, but he does enough.  I think he has got the measure of the handicapper, although it is possible that the handicapper has the measure of him!  Considering that Steve was given 5 days for over use of the whip on his first win, I don't think you could say he has been scarred by it.

PHLUKE had a tough task.  I was stupid to run over the straight 7f of Newmarket, but he bounced back well to finish 3rd at Catterick.  He was definitely a bit naughty and managed to kid Hayley Turner that he couldn't go the pace early on and finished with a rattle to be beaten under a length.

JUDD STREET ran a blinder in the Temple Stakes.  He himself was under the old course record and still only managed to finish 7th.  He is quite difficult to place being rated 107, but I am sure that there are good races to be won with him, both home and abroad.

I am back off up to Newmarket today.  BEAVER PATROL is running in a 6f handicap.  He is also quite hard to place.  But he seems to be in great form - he dropped someone the other day (mentioning no names Mrs H!) and I hope the weight won't inconvenience him too much.  I am not sure Jimmy Fortune knows how lucky he is to be allowed to ride him, but I have told him!

Not too busy on Monday with just CINNAMON HILL  running at Leicester.  She has a good chance as long as the ground doesn't get too soft. 

12th May 2008

Our last 3 runners have all won ..... let's hope we can keep it going.  PHLUKE started it off at Warwick on Saturday night winning the same race at Warwick that he won last year.  He was the last runner of 6 in what turned out to be a very busy Saturday.  I was at Lingfield with 3 runners, KIHO who ran very well to be 2nd, he is still very backward and will improve with every run, FLEURET who was thrown in the deep end in a very hot Group 3 fillies race, she certainly didn't disgrace herself and will definitely win again when dropped back into handicap company,  and HOBSON who was the only disappointment of the day we thought he didn't face the "net" that we ran him in, but no doubt we will get him sorted in time. 

Today we had a double at Yarmouth.  I am ashamed to say I didn't go all the way up there and I am sensing that there is a common thread amongst these winners ...... I am not there!  Oh well, a winner whoever is there to see it is a great thing.  Both MUJOOD and ROODOLPH run in Eden Racing colours, so it was fantastic them having a double on the day too.

8th May 2008

5 to Follow results update.  As of 8/5/08  in the lead with 27 points ...... CHARLES HUE WILLIAMS!!! In second place is Katie Thorpe, closely followed by Danny Blackett, and Anthony Pye-Jeary.  Obviously it is early days, and all could change over the week-end when we have 6 runners.

 

7th May 2008

MUJOOD won at Goodwood despite his best efforts!  It was a great performance to win the same race two years running and all credit must go to Steve Carson who gave him a brilliant ride to get up in the dying strides and win by a short head.  Unfortunately the stewards didn't share our opinion and gave Steve a 5 day "holiday" for excessive use.  I have to say I think he was very hard done by.  Yes, he hit the horse more than the regulation 6 times, but it was over the course of the race and he kept putting his stick down and riding him hands and heels before picking it up again and hitting him.  It was by no means over the top and Mujood has come out of the race in cracking order.  Hasn't left an oat and looks like going up to Yarmouth on Monday for his next race.  I have decided to run him over a bit further as I really don't think he has the speed for 6 any more and I think he will travel more sweetly and then hopefully, have a turn of foot at the end.  We shall see if I am right.

SUPPORT FUND won really well at Warwick on bank holiday Monday.  She has progressed really well this season and I hope she can follow up again.

Both of our "big guns" ran at Newmarket over the week end-  BEAVER ran a great race but was drawn the wrong side and with no pace his side had to make all his own running which meant he didn't really get home.  JUDD STREET was far too excited to be at the party, flew out of the stalls and blew up over a furlong out.  It was slightly trainer error, as I should not have put the visor back on first time out, it certainly got him fired up!!  However, he had a really good blow and will come on a stone for that.

I promised Charles Hue Williams I would put an update of the "5 to follow" in here as we think he may well be in the lead.  Sadly, I forgot to ask Eithne for the results to date.  I will do so tomorrow and endeavour to put it up then.

1st May 2008

Better week.  SUPPORT FUND ran a good race at Brighton, going clear inside the final furlong only to be grabbed on the line by a fast finisher.  SHAKE ON IT and FLEURET both ran good races at Windsor on Monday.  Luckily we found the only window in the weather and got ground with the description of "good to firm" in the description, although Steve reported that it was "good" ground with not much firm in it.  However, since then it has done nothing but pour with rain and since they both need to hear their feet rattle we were lucky to get a run into them.  Shakey should make up into a lovely horse for this year and what with being gelded and having a "net" applied, he really seemed to settle in the race, which means he could do all his running at the right end of the contest and hopefully we should have a good horse for this year.  Fleuret, ran a good race, probably needs 7f and definitely will come on for the run as she had a good blow afterwards.

HAY FEVER runs at Folkestone today and I am hoping the ground is not too soft.  He has definitely come on for his run and the form is working out pretty solidly if not spectacularly.  He is a horse who is going to improve for racing and will probably come on when he steps up to 6f.

The big guns come out at the week-end. and I am not talking about the guinneas.  BEAVER PATROL is trying to win the big handicap at Newmarket for the second year in a row.  He is in great form, and I think he has improved, but he is 12lbs higher than last year and the ground will probably be easier than he is at his best on.  JUDD STREET is running in the Palace House Stakes on Sunday.  He is taking on Sakhee's Secret, however I would like to think we are better over 5 furlongs and he is better over 6.  We shall see.  He is also in great form, but would prefer better ground.

Let's hope for a great week-end!!

 

25 April 2008

Not a great week.  Whatever could go wrong did go wrong!  Two horses I really fancied on Tuesday.  Bombardier Wells got put over the rails at Kempton TWICE!  Roodolph tried to go out underneath the stalls at Bath.  Luckily we had Gary Witheford there sorting him out, but he still managed to knock himself on the head and get left and not run any kind of a race at all.

PHLUKE ran a good race at Kempton, Danny gave him a good ride, but wasn't really strong enough to get the best out of him.  Unforturnately we went to Great Leighs last night.  The track may be good there but that is all that is.  Suffice to say I won't be returning in a hurry.  To add insult HOBSON got himself so stewed up going into the stalls that he was far too free in the early stages and didn't get home.  HOLY STORM doesn't seem to be too interested in being a racehorse, mores the pity.

Oh well hopefully onwards and upwards.  MUJOOD runs at Leicester tomorrow.   I was hoping to run him over 7f but was unable to find a race for him.  However, I think he will like the track and seems to be in great form.  SUPPPORT FUND is running at Brighton on Sunday where I think she will have a great chance.

18th April 2008

A bit of an up and down of a week.  We had our first 2 year old runners, both of whom ran well without troubling the judge.  I rather wish I had run SHARAV at Bath after all as the ground dried up and it didn't look too bad there.  However, we went to Windsor on Monday where it was rather sticky ground, he ran well looking like he was going to take a hand in proceedings before getting rather tired in the final furlong and getting run out of 4th place in the dying strides.  HAY FEVER ran at Kempton last night.  He was in the stalls rather a long time, and as a consequence broke rather slowly.  He got quite far behind in the first furlong, before running on well and then getting tired in the last furlong.  I knew both woudl need the race but I was a bit disappointed that they both got quite so tired.  I think I must have been easier on them than I thought in these cold and bitter winds.

They will both improve immensely for the run and I would hope that they can win races for us this year.  Annoyingly, having tried very hard not to find too hard a race for either of them, it would appear that they were both rather hot contests!!

KIHO runs in a maiden at Newbury tomorrow which is invariably a hot race.  He is a very nice horse, but is another that will come on for the run.

PLEASE can we have some warmer weather!!

10th April 2008

Well done Cinnamon.  I was so pleased to win with her.  She is the first winner that Joey Hue Williams has bred so it was pretty special.  John Nowell Smith is a new owner so I was delighted to get off the mark for him at the first time of asking. 

I decided not to run SHARAV at Bath because I thought the ground would be too soft.  It turned out to be good ground, so I am slightly regretting that decision.  However, he is in again at Windsor on Monday and as long as the ground is good we will be running there.  I have also entered HAY FEVER at Nottingham on Tuesday.  He is the Eden Racing horses for this year and I am hoping he will give them all a lot of fun.

MUJOOD runs at Folkestone today.  He is in great form and looks a picture.  He really likes Folkestone and the good to soft ground should be OK for him.  However, we all know Mujood and he is not the most reliable of horses.  Fingers crossed that he puts his best foot forward and then I think he should go close.

 

4th April 2008

A great start.  HOBSON ran really well on Monday to finish 2nd by a fast diminishing neck.  I think he will be a better horse on turf and we should have a lot of fun with him this season.  BOMBARDIER WELLS won a maiden at Lingfield on Wednesday.  A great result, delighted that the 3 year olds appear to have trained on.  Especially as Hobson was our only 2yo winner last year.  And it is a great relief to get the first winner under the belt and not have to be hanging around waiting for it to happen.

CINNAMON HILL runs at Lingfield today, and she should go pretty close as long as she is not too free in the early stages.  She has been known to be tricky going into the stalls, but we've had a practice run and Craig Witheford is on hand to get in so fingers crossed all should go fine.

On the back of all this excitement I have even made my first 2yo entry.  SHARAV at Bath.  He seems very well forward and has been working well.  I will give him a bit of work tomorrow and then make up my mind whether he is ready or not.

Just a quick mention for George Baker.  He bought Robustian off me at the end of last year and I assured him that Robbie would win first time out for him and be a great headline horse for him in his first season.  I am delighted to see that I was right, and he won very easily at Southwell earlier in the week.  Well done George, hope he continues to run well for you!

 

27 March 2008

The sun is shining!! Fantastic, the ground is pretty good and the horses are feeling well.  As a result I have had a rush of blood to the head and I have made quite a few entries for next week.  I have a feeling that SUPPORT FUND will probably be my first runner and that is at Folkestone on Tuesday.  She seems to be in good form, does not need too much work and as she loves tricky tracks like Brighton, it should be right up her street.

We had a good work morning yesterday, we were on the jumping field gallop and I worked a good selection of old horses and two year olds.  The old horses are going really well and certainly appreciated the better ground.  The two year olds are starting to slot into place and fingers crossed we should have our first 2yo out mid April.

 

        

 

This morning we had a stalls morning.  All the two year olds and some of the more tricky older horses went through and were shut in.   We had the invaluable help of Gary Witheford and it all seemed to go very well.  Let's hope they continue to go in smoothly on the racecourse.

 

19 March 2008

We had nearly 2 inches of rain over the week-end.  The ground on Saturday for working the horses was decidedly dead and I thought it would be worse today.  Luckily, being on chalk it drains extraordinarily well and after 3 days of brisk winds and no rain it was good to soft ground and rode really well.

We are just starting to crank it up now and the 2 year olds are starting to do a little bit as well.  They have all done bunching up and educational bits and we are now starting to see who can put it together at this stage and which is starting to fall apart due to weakness and we need to back off a bit.  It's fascinating.  Invariably some of the ones you thought were going to be sharp decide to grow at this point and go weak on you and some which you thought would take forever really start to blossom.

The older horses are also doing faster bits of work and they look like they are getting themselves ready.  Like everyone, we are dying for a bit of warmer weather just to help them on their way, but I hope to have the first runners in the next couple of weeks.

 

8 March 2008

Well the Dubai experience is over for the time being.  Beaver ran another great race in 4th and has covered himself in glory.  He is so dependable and you know that whenever you run him he will run his race.  He never lets you down and is just a joy to train and I know that Jan and Gary fully appreciate what a fantastic horse he is to own.  Beaver comes home next Tuesday and will probably go to Cliveden Stud for 10 days to be turned out, weather permitting.

It's March, Cheltenham is next week and the flat season just around the corner.  All my geese are swans and life is starting to get exciting.  I thought we were a bit behind last year but when I looked it up we started working the horses on exactly the same week-end last year, so maybe we are not.

Some of the horses did their first bit of work on the grass, up the Jumping Field this morning.  It was all steady on the bridle stuff but I was very pleased with the way it went.

25 February 2008

How unlucky was Beaver last week?  I was screaming for the gap to come, but in a 6 furlong race, you can't recover when you have been stopped in your run for a furlong.  In the circumstances he ran a blinder to finish 3rd.  Mind you he made his own bad luck, he was so busy looking at the horse in the next door stall he didn't jump out on terms and after that it was always going to be difficult to get out.

We live to fight another day and hopefully he is running again on Thursday in a listed race.

In the meantime, the next generation are coming.  Danny Blackett is having his first ride on Rosie Cross at Wolverhampton on Wednesday.  Danny has worked here full time for 18 months, having come straight from school aged 16.  Before that he used to work in the evenings and week-ends and holidays doing his horse at night and learning to ride by riding one in from the gallops.  He has learnt to ride good work and so we are now letting him loose on the racecourse.  Rosie Cross will travel in the race for him and hopefully they will go well together.  Good Luck Danny!

11 February 2008

PUNCHING ran a good race to be 2nd in the seller today at Wolverhampton.  I am afraid that is probably as good as he is.  He was claimed by Gaie Kelleway so will be racing for another yard in the future.

BEAVER PATROL ran a great race to be 3rd in Dubai on Thursday.  I went over there to watch him run and it was a great experience.  He has settled in really well and is in great form.  Nothing bothers him, he has eaten up every day and is bucking and kicking since the race.  The plan is to run him on the 21st or 22nd February and then in a listed race a week after.  Hopefully he can pick up one before he comes home.

 

               

 

4 February 2008

Another holiday done and dusted!!  I went skiing to Argentieres in France for 5 days last week.  The weather was glorious and the snow fantastic.  The BHA starter Simon McNeil came with us and I have to say if he started races like he skis, life would be much more exciting!  We spent a lot of time off piste going for all day tours, climbing up incredibly steep slopes before finding the most glorious bowls and gullies down the back to ski down.  Having a picnic on the piste and then skiing down to the pub at the bottom through trees and alongside a stream (which we did have to jump at one point!) I am grateful to report that I did come back intact and that no bones were broken this time.

I arrived back on Thursday night, in time to see Beaver do his final bit of work on Friday morning.  I then took Will to the airport on Friday night and saw Beaver off on Saturday.  I am pleased to report that both Will and Beaver have arrived in Dubai safely and both appear to be thriving!

All the horses back here are in good form and have started cantering.  Always an exciting time of year and generally quite a few loose ones, especially on a Monday morning.

Punching will probably be our next runner and that looks like being on Monday Feb 11th.

 

24 January 2008

I had an amazing holiday and would recommend going to Ant's Nest in the Waterberg to anyone.  What absolute luxury and pampering it was. 

 

        

As you can see, I found myself a new hack, and this is the new mare and foal I found.    Luckily the all-weather gallop wasn't too flooded for 1st lot on the right!

Back in the real world, and am I glad I had last week off, when I see what the weather has been like.  All the horses are well and have been going out every day despite the inclemence.  Thank God for the covered ride.  BEAVER PATROL has been stepping up his work and we took him to Kempton today to put the finishing touches before heading off to Dubai.

 

10th January 2008

Yippee, I am off on holiday.  Off on Safari to South Africa and I can't wait!  I am going tonight and will be back on the 21st.  In the meantime the yard is in the very capable hands of William the head lad and Dad is going to oversee and Eithne is in charge of the office.  I will still be available on my mobile for anything urgent.

ROSIE CROSS ran well yesterday without troubling the judge.  She was a little ring rusty and possibly has not got the toe for 5 furlongs against older horses.  She has been entered at Lingfield over 6f on Wednesday.

 

5th January 2008

Happy New Year!!  January already, it will only be a couple of months before we are full steam ahead into the new flat season.  At this point I am starting to worry.  How am I going to keep up with last year - what was I thinking having such a good season, 22 winners how will I top that??  Then I look at the horses we have got and I am confident we should be OK.

BEAVER PATROL is doing his first bit of fast work this morning in preparation for going to Dubai.  He is in great form and I could not be happier with him at this stage.  Rosie Cross is also in great form and although not going to be flying quite so high she is in a race at Kempton on Wednesday which looks a great opportunity for her.

We are starting to get some of the older horses back in now and they are all on doing a lot of strengthening and conditioning work before stepping up a gear at the end of the month. 

If anyone wishes to blow out the cobwebs, come up and see us sometime.  You can always be assured of some brisk weather up here to chase away the festive bloated feeling!

 

20 December 2007

Oh my God it is cold! -5 it said on the thermometer this morning.  I know everyone keeps saying we need some hard frosts to kill off the bugs, but they don't have to go out and work in it.  Bring back global warming I say.  In all fairness, it is the most beautiful time to be on the downs on really cold crisp mornings like this morning.  As long as you are dressed for it. 

Most of our horses are on winter exercise, so they are down the covered ride doing lots of trotting with the music blaring.  We have got a couple of yearlings that came in late we are just trying to get ridden away, which is quite tricky in this weather.  Beaver Patrol is also a bit of a problem,  I keep putting back the time we pull out with him to try and give the frost some time to get out of the ground, but I think this morning we will have to go up the peat moss, which has got such a thick cover it is nearly always immune to the frost.

 

12 December 2007

BEAVER PATROL arrived back in on Monday and has been clipped out, he has started back in full work, doing a lot of trotting and we are gearing up for him to go to Dubai in January.  He doesn't take a lot of getting ready so hopefully should be spot on for his first race out there which I anticipate being the 7th February.

We had our yearling show on Sunday which went really well.  We were extremely lucky with the weather and didn't get wet.  Most of the horses behaved themselves immaculately and showed off very well.  Some of them showed off rather too well, not mentioning any names, Where or When filly!  But it all generally ran smoothly and the horses seemed to be very well received by everyone.  I sold quite a lot of shares in the Eden Racing horse, which is by Namid and also the Fyfield Racing filly by Reset.  However, we do have one or two shares left in each and I would highly recommend getting involved.  They both look to be sharp early types and should give a lot of fun.  Further details can be found on the Horses for Sale section (go back to the homepage and click on the LH bottom corner).

 

30 November 2007

We are well into the winter routine now.  The yearlings are mostly doing 2 canters and the old horses are doing their trotting on the road.  All going swimmingly so far.  We have just got the Horseman's guide to the Dubai Racing Carnival which is most exciting as we are going to send BEAVER PATROL out there to race.  He is still out on his holidays at the moment but will be coming back in next week to get ready to go out there at the end of December.

We are having our annual Yearling Show on Sunday December 9th which is always a bit of fun.  Last year the tent blew over the night before, I wonder what is going to befall us this year?  Hopefully it will be a nice day as I have decided that tents are more trouble than they are worth, so if it rains we will be all squashed into the house.  If anyone would like to come and see the yearlings that day, they are more than welcome, please send me an email, so I have an idea for numbers.

 

26 November 2007

ROSIE ran another cracker at Kempton on Wednesday, having been hampered at the start she flew home to be a fast finishing fifth.  As the handicapper had dropped her, I felt I better run her again quickly before he whipped her back up the handicap, so she's off to Wolverhampton tomorrow.  We've got a change of jockey as Patrick Hills is going to the apprentice jockeys championship in Mauritius (lucky thing).  Hayley Turner is stepping in.  So best of luck to both of them.

Back to the 10 to follow.  Having given everyone a lot of stick for their choices, I have to say that I am the only one of us still pointless!!  It could be a long winter .......

 

19 November 2007

ROSIE CROSS ran her normal game race at Kempton last Wednesday, but just didn't last home.  She is running back there this Wednesday night in a 5 furlong race.  It is not a great race and she should have a little chance in it, however, I feel that she may be a couple of pounds too high in the handicap and needs to come down.  We will see who's right, me or the handicapper. 

The weather has been particularly wet and unpleasant the last couple of days, although luckily mainly in the afternoons so we have managed to keep on with the normal exercise.  The older horses are in their winter routines now.  The colts stay here and do a lot of trotting to build them up and a lot of the fillies go out for a bit of Dr Greengrass for a month or so.  In the meantime, we get all the boxes steam cleaned, to get rid of any bugs and ready to go again early in the new year.

I just have to say what fantastic racing it was at Cheltenham this week-end.  5 of us do the racing post 10 to follow every year.  Clearly we are hopeless and don't get anywhere near the leader board, but it is worth it for the highly competitive banter that goes on between us all! 

On a sadder note, I really felt for Paul Nicholls and all his staff.  We all know that accidents can happen, but to lose 2 horses in an hour is really cruel and the horsebox going back to Ditcheat on Saturday must have felt very empty.

 

13 November 2007

The best laid plans....... PUNCHING ran at Wolverhampton on Friday in an apprentice race, the plan was to win there and then go to Kempton on Sunday without a penalty.  Unfortunately William Buick didn't make it to Wolverhampton in time to ride him and being as it was an apprentice race, there was very little choice of jockey so we put up a young lad called Richard Evans.  While the boy did nothing wrong and indeed I was very impressed with his ability given his lack of experience, it definitely cost us the race.  We then went onto Kempton where unfortunately the Friday exertions took their toll and he ran a bit flat to finish 6th.  Never mind.  It was a good idea even if it didn't come off.

The yearlings are all going well and we have started cantering them away.  Needless to say we have had a few loose ones.  I decided it was time for me to bite the bullet and ride a yearling.  This lasted for precisely 30 seconds, as I was unceremoniously dumped in the yard.  Annoyingly I seem to have sustained an annoying injury, cracking a couple of ribs and damaging some shoulder muscles.  I clearly do not bounce as well as I used to.  Having had numerous bollockings, I am going to refrain from riding any more of the little darlings until they are a bit more biddable!

We are nearly all finished on the runners front and quite a few of our older horses have gone out for a rest.  We still have a couple to run on the all-weather, ROSIE CROSS runs at Kempton tomorrow night and if she gets the 6 furlongs she should go close.  PUNCHING will probably go back to Wolverhampton in a couple of weeks.

 

2nd November 2007

Just a quickie,  another winner yesterday!  PUNCHING won at Wolverhampton last night.  He has been a frustrating horse who I have always known had the ability.  I know it was only a 40-55 but he won it really well and I hope he can go on from this.

Proper update later.

1st November 2007

I am feeling extremely guilty as I have been remiss in updating.  My only plea is that I seem to have been away at the sales, constantly, for the last month.  Hopefully all in a good cause.  We have lost some of the older horses. ABWAAB, EAGER IGOR and ROBUSTIAN were sold this week, and we have got some new yearlings in all very exciting stuff.

At the moment, I have a total of 10 yearlings in of which 5 are now ridden away.  I have got 5 more definitely coming in and hope to pick up a few more on the way.   So with a bit of luck we should start the year with around 18 2 year olds.

Obviously, we still have some for sale and I will also be doing a couple of Eden syndicates.  I will put them on the Horses for Sale section, but if anyone is interested in having a share, or even a whole, horse please DO NOT HESITATE to give me a ring.  In any case, please if anyone is around the area and would like to come and have a look around the yard and the horses, please get in touch.

 

                     

As you can imagine, we are now busy breaking yearlings in.  Always an exciting time and as usual we have had a few loose ones, the good news is, I haven't had to ride one yet!  The bad news is, that time appears to be coming soon.

 

5th October 2007

Wey Hey,  Hurragh, How brilliant was that then?  Good old JUDD STREET, 20 winners for the season and it was brought up by winning a listed race.  As you may be able to tell, I am still on cloud 9.  In my wildest dreams I didn't think I would have 20 winners, a listed winner, over £200,000 in prize money and still be going strong.  I am now getting rather ambitious and hoping for more like 25.

Seriously, it is a fantastic achievement for all the yard and the great thing is they have held their form all through the season.  Most of the horses have stepped up to the mark and joined in the fun.  I hope that we can get more horses through the doors for this and keep on improving year on year.

Saturday is another big day, with BEAVER PATROL running in a £40,000 handicap at Kempton, we've also got HOBSON and PHLUKE running on the same card so it could be a great day, fingers crossed.

 

23 September 2007

Well it was certainly fast and furious.  Beaver ran a fantastic race to finish fourth on ground he didn't particularly like and Judd Street was a highly creditable 3rd in a Group 3!!  All in all a good day at the office.  The only downside was that I managed to lose a diamond ring on the way home.  Don't ask me how, but if anyone finds it (possibly in the fast lane of the M4 westbound round about Junction 5) I would be grateful to have it back!!

On to the week ahead, we have got CORKING having her first outing at Kempton tomorrow.  She is very exciting as she is by Montjeu and a half-sister to Sobriety who Dad trained.  Like all my two year olds I am sure it will come as a cultural shock to her and she will improve hugely for the run, but, I do like her a lot and think she could be very nice.

 

21 September 2007

This time tomorrow and it will either have been a Great day or anything down to a disaster and it all happens within 15 minutes!  I am off up to Ayr where BEAVER PATROL runs in the Ayr Gold Cup.  He is in great form and after today's silver cup, would appear to have a decent draw in 18.  The only downside is that he is better on faster ground although he has won on good to soft.  I really feel he deserves a big race and having ran well all year, winning twice and finishing 5th in the Stewards Cup, tomorrow could be the day. 

15 minutes later and JUDD STREET is my first runner in a Group race.  He runs in the Group 3 Dubai International World Trophy over 5 furlongs.  He is also in great form and with the prevailing fast ground in his favour I am hoping for a big run.

As I said it could be Cheers or tears!  Whatever the outcome I know that I can rely on both horses to run their hearts out.  They are both really consistent and it is just down to whether they are good enough on the day and probably that little bit of luck!

Fingers crossed!!

12 September 2007

18 and counting!  Good old Beaver, he certainly does us proud every time he runs and he had a pillar to post victory at Newbury on Friday.  The idea was to get a penalty to ensure that he got into the Ayr Gold Cup, so job done.  We are off there a week on Saturday. 

This week has started off well.  Although we haven't had any winners everything is still running well, and some of them have run above expectation - NEW LIGHT, ran really well to be 3rd yesterday.  The only runner this week who continues to frustrate me is HOLY STORM who definitely has more ability than he is  letting on and I definitely get the feeling he is laughing at me!!  He has got one more chance to make a name for himself, and if that doesn't work he will be going to the sales, and someone else can have a go with him.

A quiet couple of days now, and then off again at the week-end.  It starts with AVENING at Sandown on Friday, who should have a good each-way chance, then off to Doncaster with JUDD STREET who was just caught on the line on Saturday, and who will enjoy the faster ground at Donny in the Portland.  Also running on Saturday with good chances are ROBUSTIAN at Warwick and ROSIE CROSS at Kempton. 

Sunday is also busy, with SHAKE ON IT running at Bath and NIGHTSPOT and possibly MUJOOD in at Goodwood.  Let's hope we can have one or two winners out of that lot!!

 

Today I went to see our new purchase which I am delighted with, I have taken some photos (I am not that good at it) and if you go to the home page and click on the "New Yearlings in" line at the bottom left hand side of the page you can see them.

 

6 September 2007

We have sailed past the target of 15 winners for the year and now got up to 17!  What a fantastic season to start me off and we're not finished yet.

FLEURET won at Goodwood on Saturday 25 August.  I have always really liked her, although she is not the easiest of fillies to train, always having to have her own way, and she has improved every time she has raced.  She is still very unexposed and is going to improve with every run.  SHAKE ON IT then went and won very impressively at Lingfield,  I have always wanted to run him over 1m2f, but have been worried about him settling.  But, he settled beautifully and was able to use his speed at the business end of the race.  Unfortunately, the handicapper thought it was impressive too and put him up 8lbs!  Rather excessive, I thought.  So we are off to Newbury with him tomorrow, running off a penalty.

ROBUSTIAN won a very exciting race at Sandown on Saturday.  It was a Fegentri race, which is an international amateurs race, for which you get drawn jockeys.  I was rather nervous not knowing anything about Loek Van der Hamm who was our designated rider and I was fancying the horse.  Luckily, he rode exactly to order and then used his head.  Robbie, was very determined to win and they just got up on the line, to a lot of vocal encouragement from the stands.

      

Robustian winning at Sandown                             Fleuret coming in at

                                                                          Goodwood

In between training winners, I have been busy at the yearling sales, that have started all ready.  I bought a filly by the fast Australian sprinter RESET at Doncaster, a SPINNING WORLD filly and a NAMID colt in Ireland.  Having got them home I am delighted with them, they all look racy and I am looking forward to getting on with them.  At the moment they are with Roger Wernham in Lockinge, having a break before they come back here to be broken in.

Upcoming runners include ROSIE CROSS at Wolverhampton tonight.  Then we have got a very busy day at Newbury tomorrow kicking off with HOBSON in a nursery, SHAKE ON IT and EAGER IGOR are taking each other on in the 1m2f handicap and BEAVER PATROL is running in the 6f race.  I am worried, as I think they should all go close, so that could mean we either have a very exciting day or a terribly disappointing one.

Beaver should go well, he really needs a penalty to ensure that he gets into the Ayr Gold Cup.  His main danger would be Genki, who is also looking for a penalty to get in at Ayr.

We have also got SUPPORT FUND running in the last at Chepstow.

On Saturday I am off up to Haydock with JUDD STREET who is going back to the scene of his big victory and I am hoping for a repeat. 

 

24 August 2007

HOBSON is not running at Newmarket today.  The ground is soft and therefore we decided to take him out and he is now headed for Sandown in a week's time.  ROSIE CROSS is off to Bath where the ground is Good to Firm and we hope to have the first winner for ClubROA.

A busy week-end ahead for the bank holiday.  2 runners at Goodwood and 1 at Newmarket tomorrow, all with chances.  No runners on Sunday - woopee and then off to Warwick on Monday.  Next week is Doncaster Yearling sales where we will be trying to unearth the stars for next year.  I can't believe it has come around so quickly!!  Further details of our new purchases will be on the website as soon as possible.

 

20 August 2007

 

         

First 2yo winner!!  About time too...... HOBSON won the first at Bath yesterday.  I had the jitters on the way there, because he really wants top of the ground and it was definitely on the easy side of good.  However, I thought it was a winnable opportunity and he deserved to have a race to win.  Luckily it all came right and he won quite cosily by half a length, never doing more than he needed to.  He is in the Doncaster Sales race at York on Thursday, and he needs 3 to come out to get in, so all things being equal he will go for the dough there.

FLEURET was due to go to Yarmouth, but I had to take her out as the ground had gone soft...... it now looks as though it might be abandoned!  AVENING is off to Windsor tonight, where he is running off a 5lb lower mark.  If the ground is not too soft, he should go really well.  JUDD STREET is looking to follow up at York tomorrow, ground permitting.

 

15 August 2007

A brilliant week-end.  A great win from JUDD STREET up at Haydock, although I had a terrible time finding a jockey.  Luckily Philip Makin did a brilliant job, followed his instructions implicitly and he and Judd won really well.  I followed that up with a party on the downs.  I have always wanted a party up on the downs with the great views and it was all and more that I wanted it to be.  I made everyone come in fancy dress, theme "When I grow up I want to be..." and what an effort everybody made.... a great night was had by all.

On the Sunday we had lunch for owners, past, present and possibly future and a lot of Dad's friends.  It was meant to be a retirement bash for the old boy, but just ended up being a semi free for all.  Great fun, great week-end.

This week is hectic again, depending on the weather.  I am just off to Salisbury, where I hope the ground won't be too soft for Split the Wind, who was a bit disappointing at Folkestone last week, although I am inclined to blame the track, she got very unbalanced coming down the hill and round the bend, so we are hoping for better things today.  EAGER IGOR is off to Sandown tonight, again weather permitting.  Tomorrow NIGHTSPOT and Tom O'Brien are attempting to follow up their Kempton win at Beverley and FLEURET and NEW LIGHT run at Chepstow.

ROSIE CROSS is going to be the first runner for Club ROA.  This is the new club that has been formed to attract younger owners into the sport.  I would highly recommend joining, there are going to be horses with Nicky Vaughan, Alan McCabe, David Pipe and myself.  It's a great opportunity to get involved without spending a fortune.  For further information email clubroa@roa.co.uk.  Please make sure you mention that I put you onto it!!

 

9 August 2007

Another winner last night..... only 3 runners, I think it was a great training performance to find such a race.  Seriously, I am delighted that we could give Tom a winner, he comes and rides work every week and he is improving all the time.  Nightspot is such a darling horse and he had a lovely time and thinks he just went for a racecourse gallop!  I have got him in again next week and he will probably run again quite quickly.

Eager Igor didn't run too badly at Brighton, but found it tough against the older horses.  SHAKE ON IT runs at Bath tonight, I hope he runs better than last time where he was far too free.  He is going to be held up and come with a late run.  SPLIT THE WIND is off to Folkestone, where she has a great chance.  Over the week-end we've got the old boys JUDD STREET and MUJOOD running at Haydock.  MUJOOD ran a great race at Goodwood last time and his turn for a big win will come.  On that note, BEAVER PATROL ran a blinder in the Stewards Cup.  Finishing 5th beaten less than 2 lengths.  His next target is the Great St Wilfred at Ripon a week on Saturday where he should run another great race.

 

24 July 2007

Sorry to be so long, just been building an ark!!   I have to feel very grateful at this point that we live on top of a hill, but I do feel for all those living in Gloucestershire, and not so far away in Abingdon, Wallingford and all along the Thames.  Unbelievably, after we had had 4 inches of rain in 4 hours we were fine.  No boxes were flooded and the all weather stayed where it was meant to be!!

But really, enough already!!  How bored is everyone with the weather??  We really need some sunshine to make us feel better and the ground to dry up.  I took another horse up to Yarmouth to not run yesterday and that's not a cheap exercise.  However, despite all the drawbacks with the weather, which is the same for everyone, I have been tipping away with the horses.  SUPPORT FUND won a very ordinary memory at Brighton, which she has come out from very well and I would hope that she could improve again from.  SPLIT THE WIND ran really well to finish 2nd at Yarmouth.  Again, she will improve for that and will probably get a furlong further.

MUJOOD and PHLUKE have got a needle match at Ascot on Sunday, both of them running in the Tote International at Ascot.  Next week I have entered HOBSON in the Molecomb.  I was devastated that the Super Sprint was called off, I think he was in tip top form and had come on for his break, I really think at the weights he had a fantastic chance.  Annoyingly, they are not rescheduling and there is a limit to the number of 5 furlong races available, so we are going to have a look at the Molecomb.

Later in the week, BEAVER PATROL is aiming for the Stewards Cup and it looks like MUJOOD will make it into the consolation race, so it promises to be an exciting week, lets hope the ground is OK.

6 July 2007

Go on ROSIE!! Absolutely delighted with the filly.  She is only small but very determined and although it was a very bad race at Wolverhampton, every winner is a bonus.  This was especially sweet for several reasons.  Firstly Mum and I pinhooked her as a foal and then refused to sell her for a loss as a yearling, it has taken time but she has at last won!  Secondly, I was looking like getting on the cold trainers list and that is a place that nobody wants to be!! and lastly I am now in double figures for the season!  Fantastic, a dream start. 

MUJOOD hated the ground at Warwick and ran appalllingly.  I think I will give him a bit of a holiday and go for the consolation race of the Stewards Cup.

I am off to Ireland tomorrow for Anna Moore's wedding.  It promises to be a fantastic week-end and I only hope the weather holds out for her.  Hopefully I will be making a bit of sense on Monday morning, but no promises!!

 

5 July 2007

EAGER IGOR ran really well at Kempton last night which is great as it gives him another string to his bow. He has settled really well into his racing this year and has become Mr Consistent.  Although it would appear that he has become addicted to being 3rd! 

Like the rest of the UK I am really bored of this weather now.  I think I suffer from SAD although Thursdays is definitely mad day in the office and we all get slightly hysterical for some reason; which has definitely made me feel a bit better.

I had a photographer here this morning as the Reading Chronicle are doing an article in their business section!  We had the journalist here yesterday, so I hope I made some sense.

Off to Warwick this evening where good old MUJOOD is taking part in a swimming race.  He is in great form and could run a big one if getting through the ground OK.  I decided to leave off the headgear today as I like to keep him guessing!!

 

27 June 2007

Been a bit quiet lately, no winners for a week or two - not what I am used to!!  Although, we haven't actually had many runners either.  BEAVER PATROL had a terrible draw at Ascot on Saturday, and despite the clerk of the course saying there was no draw bias, blind Freddy could have told you that it was impossible to win up the stands side.  Despite this obvious drawback he ran on well to finish an honourable 11th.  Mick Kinane was very pleased with him and said if he had been drawn better he would have had to have been in the first 4.  As it was he was quite easy on him and he has come out of the race extremely well so we are going to Windsor on Saturday.

HOBSON ran really well at Sandown a couple of weeks ago finishing 2nd.  His form is working out all over the place and I have decided to give him a bit of time off and head to the Super Sprint at Newbury.  He didn't quite get home over the stiff 5 at Sandown so I am hoping for a bit of dry weather, quick ground and a good draw and I think he has got every chance.  He is very quick and once he has strengthened up a bit should be hard to catch over the minimum trip.

I am off to Kempton tonight for MUJOOD who runs off 80 on the all-weather.  Steve is banned at the moment so Seb Sanders is taking the ride.  Seb is in great form and although the horse is obviously not as good on the dirt as on turf, I think he should run a big race.

 

6 June 2007

Sorry to have been off air for so long, but this training thing seems to be full on!  I have to say that I would never have dared hope for such a brilliant start to season that we have had.  8 winners and all of the horses running brilliantly.  Having said that this last week we have had a bit of a slow down.  ROODOLPH ran unaccountably badly at Folkestone, he ran like he had a problem so now it is just a question of finding the problem and sorting it out.  We have had the vets in and they have poked, prodded, drawn blood and stuck a scope down his throat and have found nothing..... so its back to the drawing board, I think I will give him a month off and see if we can try and rekindle his old sparkle.  BEAVER ran well at Epsom, at half way he was so far down the field, I thought he was going to be tailed off, but 2 furlongs out he took off, and if it hadn't been for traffic problems he would definitely been placed as it was he ran on really well to be 6th.  Next stop the Wokingham for him.

On Monday, we had a bit of a disappointing evening.  I fancied both my runners and although I hate to criticise jockeys, I was not overly satisfied with either ride that was given.  Never mind...... only a minor blip I hope.

ROBUSTIAN runs tonight at Ripon, and he has great form over a mile and loves firm ground, so we are very hopeful.  Tomorrow NIGHT SPOT goes to Haydock.  He has run 2 cracking races for us so far and after tomorrow he goes up 5lbs in the weights so he has to run.  He seems to be in fantastic form so fingers crossed.

HOBSON is off to Sandown tomorrow night.  I am still hopeful he is a good horse, his home work certainly points that way, but I was desperately disappointed with his run at Bath, and hope he can put this behind us.

Lets hope that the bandwaggon keeps on rolling and more winners come our way!

 

14 May 2007

Good old PHLUKE, you can always rely on him to win!  Another triumph for the old boy at Warwick, he really is a gem and always comes up trumps, that's his 9th win!  ABWAAB also came good....... finally last Monday. he has been so frustrating, and I am so glad to have found the key to him.  Hopefully he can now go on from this.

The 2 boys, also ran cracking races at Ascot, just the rain arrived too soon or they both would have been placed.  They are going to have a break for a bit and then BEAVER is heading back to Epsom to the race he won last year on Derby day and their is a race for MUJOOD at Goodwood in 3 weeks time.

SUPPORT FUND is running at Wolverhampton this afternoon.  I really fancied her at Leicester last time and she was desparately disappointing.  It's possible she doesn't get the mile, but she was not going at any stage last time, so it was hard to tell.  So fingers crossed she comes back to her old form, and if she does, I think she could run a really big race.

HOBSON is going to run at Bath on Wednesday, weather permitting.  I had to take him out 2 weeks ago because the ground was too firm and now we may not run because its too heavy, mad isn't it!

 

7th May 2007

Unbelievable.  I still feel as if I must be dreaming.  Thank you BEAVER PATROL and MUJOOD for such a fantastic day on Saturday.  to have a double is one thing, but to do it at Goodwood and Newmarket is indescribable.  As I was driving home on Saturday night, I just had to keep pinching myself to make sure I was awake and not dreaming.

Can it get any better?  On to today, ROODOLPH is running at Warwick where he has got a good chance and ROBUSTIAN and ABWAAB are off to Windsor with each-way chances.  Abwaab is particularly frustrating as I know he has got bags of ability and I have just not been able to tap into it.  So I am hoping that a drop in trip and blinkers will do the trick.

 

The two heroes have a well earned pick of grass yesterday morning.

 

2nd May 2007

Work day was a bit of a messy one today.  There were in and out bits of work, and also jockeyship!!  I had Jimmy McCarthy in to ride work for the first time and hopefully this is going to be a regular occurrence as it is useful to get a different view point on some of the horses.

We are running SPLIT THE WIND today in what would appear to be an extremely hot looking maiden at Nottingham.  She was quite hot last year and I hope that she behaves herself well and runs with promise.

We have got a lot of entries for the week-end, and I haven't had a chance to really go through them yet, but I would imagine we would have a few runners up and down the country.

 

19 April 2007

That was one that got away!  EAGER IGOR ran another great race at Beverley and was very unlucky.  He got boxed in and had nowhere to go with a furlong to run.  He eventually got out and after taking a few strides to pick up was flying at the death.  He is definitely going to win a race and just needs the luck to turn his way.  The trouble is he is a horse that needs covering up and those sorts are quite often going to find themselves in a bit of trouble.

 

12 April 2007

 

SHAKEY did manage to run a big race!  Another winner, I am having to pinch myself, its a dream start to the season and my career.  Shake on It is a lovely horse and he got to the other horses in front really easily, however when he gets there he thinks he has done enough, so Steve rode a great race to get him to the winning post at the right time.  I think that the horse should go on from this and hopefully mature into a nice sort of a horse.

PHLUKE ran at Leicester today and was 3rd.  He ran a blinder and considering he was giving the winner 15 pounds it was a great race.  As you can see the horses are in great form and long may it last!!

 

11 April 2007

FIRST WINNER!!! How exciting was yesterday.  Robustian got up to win by a head at Pontefract to give me my first winner as a trainer.  I can't describe the feelings of both relief and excitement and I have to admit to even feeling a tiny bit smug.  This is only because I was on the stands watching him go down and I saw what he was paying on the tote.  I was so incensed and thought that the price was an insult, that I went and had a whole £2 each way.  I came home £60 richer - last of the big gamblers!!

Seriously, I was extremely chuffed and grateful to all the help I have had along the way, from Granny, Mum & Dad, the owners and of course all the lads.  Lets hope it can continue.  All of the horses have been running extremely well, from 7 runners we have had 5 placed.  And it was close to being a double yesterday with SUPPORT FUND running a good race to finish 2nd.  I knew that the trip would be on the short side and she will definitely improve once upped in trip.

SHAKE ON IT runs at Bath today.  I think that Barry Hills horse is the danger but am hopeful Shakey can run a big race.

 

31 March 2007

We are well and truly off and running now.  MUJOOD ran yesterday at Lingfield, whilst trying his hardest and not running a bad race, he is as I expected, too high in the handicap.  However they don't get dropped by staying in their boxes, so we will just have to hope that the handicapper sees fit to drop him a pound or too.

ROODOLPH is off to Kempton today and the biggest worry with him is the stalls.  First time out last year at Folkestone, he walked straight in on his own and was good as gold.  Then we took him to Newmarket where he managed to duck out underneath.  Whilst he has passed a stalls test since, it is still a bit of a worry.  We have had Gary Witherford over to school him for us and he is confident that it will not be a problem, so fingers crossed. 

After that, I hope he runs a good race, but I fear that he too may be too high in the handicap.  Whilst I am very lucky to be training some lovely older horses, a lot of them are very high in the weights and may struggle to win before coming down. 

 

27 March 2007

Having stepped back in time into winter last week, with snow on the ground again, we are now back into spring like weather.  The poor horses have been a bit confused, and were hanging on firmly to their winter woollies, but they are now starting to lose them and get a bit of summer shine.  The fillies especially are appreciating a bit of sun on their backs, although this morning it was very foggy, and you were hard pushed to see the gallop.

MUJOOD is entered to run at Lingfield on Friday.  He is in great form and I am hoping for good things from him this year.  However, I do think he may possibly be a bit high in the handicap.  Time will tell. 

Things really start to kick off after that, with ROODOLPH hopefully running on Saturday and a few more the following week.  I think they are all relatively forward, and at the moment all our geese are swans.  Hold onto your hats, here we go!!

Just one more quick reminder there is only 1 week to go to the start of the 5 to follow, so get your entries in quick!!

 

12 March 2007

At last it has stopped raining!!  It was a beautiful morning today and a pleasure to be up on the gallops.  The horses coats are coming and spring is on its way.  The first runner was not a roaring success.  Poor Vive la Chasse had a real culture shock and found the whole thing rather surprising.  Having jumped out and not got into her stride, she was just starting to get into the race when the corner came up!!  The good news, is that she came back relatively sound and should be OK to fight another day.

 

23 February 2007

The first runner is looming large.  VIVE LA CHASSE has been declared to run at Kempton on Sunday.  She is in a Median Auction Maiden over 1 mile for 4-6 year olds.  As you can imagine, not the classiest race, although there are a couple of horses in it with a bit of form.  Vive la Chasse has not run yet, even though she is 4, she has had more injuries than you can possibly imagine so it is a miracle that she has made it to the racecourse at all.  I hope that she gives a good account of herself, as she has shown us a bit at home.

 

8th February 2007

Like most of the country we woke up to a snowy landscape this morning.  All very beautiful and picturesque but not very practical for working in.  The staff that live out, had a fair walk up the hill as no cars were making it up first thing.  Meanwhile, William, the Head Lad was lying in bed having a good laugh - he has definitely picked the right week to go on holiday!

However, although somewhat later than normal we did manage to get all three lots out.  We took them down to the covered ride where they did a full exercise.  The cold weather does hold us up a bit, in that we don't get up to canter as much as we would like, however, they all get a good trot every day and this keeps them ticking over.

 

                            

  Yours truly on Abwaab coming in from Exercise                          Nicky leading the string in the covered ride on Tango Jack

 

 

30 January 2007

I seem to have taken rather a long Christmas break from updating this slot!!  As you can imagine I have been rather busy.  2 weeks ago I went up to Shaftesbury Avenue and the kind people from the licencing committee gave me a licence to train!!  So as from Thursday 1st February I will be the official trainer at Woodway!  All very exciting, and also rather nerve wracking.

Most of the horses are back in and we are starting to canter.  It has been great this week, getting out of the covered ride and up onto the grass gallops and we have been cantering on The Jumping Field and The Blacksheds gallops.  The ground was beautiful and the horses really appreciated being up there as well.

We have got some new members of staff.  I have got a secretary called Eithne, who hopefully is going to whip the office into shape and make it a more efficient sort of a place.  We also have a lad called Asif who has joined us.  He is from Pakistan and seems to be a great addition to the yard.  He rides very well and is good with his horses.

 

14 December 2006

The 2 roofs we have had done up in the yard are nearly finished and we are just about to get rid of the builders.  Fantastic, we can have our yard back! 

The yearlings are coming on really well and we are just starting to get the older horses back in, soon it will be all go again.. It's the staff Christmas Party at the Kingswell tonight, so hopefully we won't all be too worse for wear tomorrow morning!

6 December 2006

How it has got mid-December without me noticing I really don't know!  On Sunday we had the annual yearling show,which seemed to go off without hitch, although this was looking very unlikley at 10 O'Clock in the morning.  I had decided to "go posh" and get a marquee.  All very well apart from the fact that Saturday night was a force 10 gale (maybe slight exagerration) and we awoke to find the tent on its back with its legs in the air, with some of them rather broken. 

Luckily, the weather was very kind to us and we could all stand out in the garden for "winter Pimms" and nibbles.  We showed the yearlings up by the barn.  They all showed themselves off very well and I was proud of them.  On the back of this, I have sold some shares in Eden Racing and hopefully part of the Mujahid colt.  I've got someone interested in the Kalanisi colt, but nothing confirmed as yet. 

31 October 2006

Poor old JUDD STREET just can't seem to get it right, but in those sprint races, it is very in and out, one's turn one race and another the next.  It must be his turn next!

We've now got nearly all the yearlings ridden away and it's all fun and games as usual.  I haven't been riding them this year, due to rather a lot of metal in my leg, and am stuck on the lead horse.  Not as much fun, but still get to see how they are going.  I am delighted with all of them at the moment and my favourite varies day to day.  This week I am wavering between a Kalanisi colt and an Efisio filly.  Both of which still have to find owners, so if anyone is interested in having a share I can highly recommend them.

20 October 2006

Happy Days!! MUJOOD did us proud again at Brighton yesterday.  Winning the sprint by 4 lengths! He is a real trooper.  He has run 15 times this year, winning 2, 2nd twice and 3rd twice.  He has only 3 times gone out and not returned with any prize money and one of those was a Sunday so he at least got appearance money.  And he is not finished yet!!  He is going to give us a bit more fun and will no doubt tell us when he has had enough for the year!!   He is the perfect syndicate horse and has given all his partners a fantastic season.

If anyone wants to join in the fun I will be doing another Eden Racing partnership this year.  We have found another horse who hopefully will do the same sort of thing.  Get in touch! 

 

17 October 2006

        

The yearlings are starting to come in and as  you can see we are well on the way to getting them broken in.  The first lot will be ridden away at the end of the week and then it's real fun and games with the "woolly backs" flying everywhere!!

Having got them bought - I now have the difficult task of getting them sold!  So, anyone wanting a piece of the action for next year don't hesitate to get in touch!  Eve@JohnsonHoughton.com!

Still a few more days of racing left and I am sure we will also have a couple on the all-weather in the coming weeks. 

The cabaret for the day at Newmarket last Friday was ROODOLPH diving out under the stalls and galloping loose down the track.  David, Danny, Mum & I tried valiantly to catch him but to no avail as he merrily cantered past us.  Mum hot-footed it to her car, (a very small red car that looks like a bumper car!) I flagged down a poor unsuspecting person in the car park just trying to come in for a nice days racing and David & Danny hopped in the one vehicle that the racecourse provided.  What ensued was like a scene out of wacky races - "Catch the Pigeon!" 3 cars flying along literally when we hit the speed bumps, after one very unconcerned horse!!  Luckily it all ended happily with him being caught in a corner by the Cambridge road!  The really annoying thing is he now has to have a stalls test!

We've got 2 runners at Brighton on Thursday.  Poor old MUJOOD might have a bit of a shock over 6 going downhill, but we have given him blinkers to help him on his way and EAGER IGOR should run well in the nursery.

 

 

20 September 2006

We seem to have gone from the cold trainers list to almost the top of the hot trainers list in 3 days!!  At last we seem to have hit a bit of form with ROODOLPH winning at the first time of asking at Folkestone on Monday, INDIAN SONG finishing 2nd at Brighton on Tuesday and ROBUSTIAN winning at Goodwood today.  A great week and finally we have had our first 2yo winner and got into double figures for the year.  Taken us a while, but we got there in the end and winners at the end of the season are just as valid as at the start.

We don't have any runners till Saturday when we take SHAKE ON IT (recovered from his bruised foot) and PHLUKE to Chester (hurricane Gordon permitting).  We are hoping for good things from both of those, so fingers crossed.

 

14 September 2006

The action moves to Scotland today, where we have 2 runners for Gary Stevens.  EAGER IGOR has a great chance in the first as long as he jumps off on terms.  He has been working really well and has come on in leaps and bounds.  It is definitely time for him to put his head in front.  BELLANORA is a naughty little minx.  She has plenty of ability and after running well in her first run both seasons then refuses to consent to try.  Very dull.  She has been equipped with a visor today and dropped back to the minimum trip.  If she actually puts her mind to it, she could run very well, but I would not trust her.

BEAVER PATROL is also up in Scotland, ready to run in the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday.  Unfortunately he missed the cut by one so will be taking part in the Silver Cup tomorrow instead.  Michael Fenton is taking the ride and he is drawn 5.  I think he has a good chance and I have a theory that he runs his best races when jockeys ride him for the first time.  Have a look at his form!

As you have no doubt read in the papers, I am going to take over from Dad at the end of the season.  It will be a big change for the boss, having trained for over 40 years, but if he thinks that he is going to be allowed to build a shed in the bottom of the garden and "retire" to it, he has got another think coming!

As you can imagine, life has been pretty full on since we made the decision and we have been to Doncaster Sales where I bought 2 horses and Fairyhouse where we bought a Montjeu filly half-sister to Sobriety.  Please click on the link on the home page for further details.

 

28 August 2006

Big news - Fulke is going to retire at the end of the season and Eve is going to take over the licence.  I will write more about this later, but just got to go to Warwick for Shake on It to run in the 3.10pm where I think he has a solid each-way chance.

 

14 August 2006

Not having a very good trot of it lately.  Definitely need a winner to turn it around.  MUJOOD has been trying his best, and I have finally given him a week off.  He has been so consistent and is given no quarter by the handicapper, I would just like to find a race he could win, with that in mind he could be off to Folkestone on Friday.

Tonight we have got ROSIE CROSS in a rather hot looking nursery and ABWAAB in a more suitable looking handicap.  Now we have had him in the yard for a few more weeks, I think that he has settled in and we have got used to each other.  We are trying him without the tongue tie tonight and we have got Frankie on board so we are looking forward to a good run.

 

21 July 2006

Oh Dear, oh dear, just as it looked like I was getting into the swing of things and updating at least once a week, I go and leave it for a month - sorry!

We seem to have got a bit of seconditus again - very dull.  But not as dull as being last!  Poor old ROBUSTIAN, can't get hisi head in front for love nor money, and keeps going up in the handicap regardless, I am sure there is a big race in him, we just have to place him better!  We have had a bit of a lull with runners recently, what with the ground being so firm  and actually just running out of horses to run.  However, INDIAN SONG runs in the Weatherbys Super Sprint tomorrow.  She has shown a good turn of foot at home, and the ground was just too loose for her at Bath last time.  Hopefully with the ground riding on the fast side and plenty of pace in the race she could pick up some place money.  It is very hard to see her beating Gilded, but she will have a crack anyway, and we will all be keeping our fingers crossed.

We had the annual lad's rounders match on the downs last night.  What a beautiful night it was too.  After an awful lot of cheating on both sides, bad light stopped play at about 10pm and the draw was inevitable!  However, man of the match was a very hard fought prize and we think that Danny Blackett just sneaked it, especially as he had to do twice the running as I was unable to run.  Surprise package of the night was Lisa Kim, who not only batted well but took a really good catch early in the first innnings! A good night was had by all finished off with a BBQ beautifully cooked by the boss.

Last week, we said goodbye to two old friends INTOXICATING who has been sold to Ireland and REBELLING who has not gone far down the road to near Banbury to be trained by Milton Harris, presumably to run over hurdles.  We wish them both the best of luck, although no more points and hard luck if you had them in the 5 to follow!!.  However, whilst there we bought a new horse, ABWAAB, who is a 3yo gelding by Agnes World.  He came out of William Haggas' yard and could be anything having only run twice finishing 3rd and winning.  He is rated 84 and we are all very excited about him.

 

26 June 2006

What a fantastic week's racing that was - amazing!  Say what you like about the stand, and many people have, the racing was just out of this world at Ascot last week.  I went 4 days out of the 5, which means I am now suffering from Post Ascot Leg Syndrome!  But, definitely worth it.  Just a brief word on the new course.  Fantastic facilities, and I have to say I thought the loos were great.  A bit of a pain that you can't actually see the course from the stands, not helped by the fact that the main screen only showed the horses as they jumped out of the stalls.  We could have done with seeing them going down and at the start, but I am sure that this can be rectified.  On the whole I think if it were a school report you would give it a B+ with the comment, "some lovely work went on this time, but could do better, with a bit more thought and application!"

Finally, PEACE LILY won last Sunday and Steve rode her - hurrah!  It makes a huge difference as Mum bred her and has the family in the field.  It wasn't a particularly great contest, but lets hope that now she has got her act together she can go and run up a sequence.

We just had the two runners at Ascot JUDD STREET and BEAVER PATROL.  Both of which acquitted themselves admirably.  Judd showed a huge amount of speed to lead the field for the first 4 1/2 furlongs and then he had had to use up too much petrol getting over from a wide draw and slightly ran out of steam.  Beaver was running on stoutly at the end.  They have both got a lot more races in them and lets hope there's a big handicap there as well.

This week we are off to Brighton tomorrow, PHLUKE is running a 6 runner handicap in which he looks to have a great chance.  REVIVING who is incredibly frustrating goes over 5 furlongs.  Then we have INDIAN SONG at Salisbury on Wednesday and more runners at the end of the week.

 

16th June 2006

What do we have to do to get a winner!!!  How many seconds has poor Stephen ridden, and only beaten a head or short head every time!  The tide must turn soon.  Could it be MUJOOD today?  The horses are in great form just not getting their heads in front, surely this must change.

The two year olds are coming on well and I think we might have a gem up our sleeves.  Watch this space, but suffice to say that he has impressed everyone that has ridden him including John Reid!!

9th Jume 2006

What a beautiful couple of days we are having.  Being up on the downs in the mornings is just a pleasure, sadly I am not yet riding, but I still manage to go up and watch the horses most mornings.  On that note, let me tell you office work and I do NOT get on!!

We have 4 runners tomorrow.  JUDD STREET in the big sprint up at Musselburgh.  He is the most consistent horse in training, never runs a bad race and has a good draw, so fingers crossed for another big run for him.  He left at 6.30 this morning along with one of Dennis Coakley's which is running in a later race, so I hope they have got there by now.

At Newbury we have 3 runners in the evening.  THORNY MANDATE  is running in the Ladies race, and I have to admit that I am very jealous not to be riding him, the race should be run to suit and he has one of the best lady jockeys around in Sarah Bosley to steer him.  ROSIE  CROSS runs in the 2yo filies race, she ran a good race first time out and her form is stacking up really well, no doubt we will be beaten by one of Richard Hannon's as invariably happens in 2yo races.  PEACE LILY goes in the 7 furlong race, she is so promising at home, if she would just put her head in front, I think Mum might have a coronary she would be so excited!

 

6th June 2006

Well done BEAVER!! Didn't he win well at Epsom on Saturday and congratulations to Gary Stevens who had a double at Epsom winning with Alfie Noakes (from Amanda Perrett's yard) and Beaver in the last two races - some achievement.  The horses are definitely starting to hit a bit of form now. Girandola ran a promising race at Folkestone and Velvet Waters was 3rd at Windsor last night, she is so game, but often finds one with a turn of foot to just come and pip her to the post. 

We don't have much more in this week, just Mujood at Kempton tomorrow and then nothing till Saturday, where we might be all over the place with Judd Street in at Musselburgh, Beaver and Intoxicating entered at Goodwood and 3 in at Newbury.  When will I have time to watch the football???

 

2 June 2006

Things have not gone according to plan recently with many of our runners disappointing.  We have had blood tests and scopes and so far nothing has come to light.  However, the bright spot on the horizon is that the two year olds that we have run have all acquited themselves well and ROBUSTIAN ran a cracking race last night, so hopefully we may be about to turn the corner.

With the warmer weather, hopefully the ground will dry up a bit (in a couple of weeks I will be moaning about the firm ground!!) and we can start to have some more runners.  VELVET WATERS, a lady with a baby, is running at Bath tonight, the ground should be perfect for her and she seems in great form, the only problem may be the trip, but we shall see.  Tomorrow we have BEAVER PATROL back at Epsom and GIRANDOLA (who actually wants cut in the ground) at Folkestone, sadly I have drawn the short straw and am off to Folkestone!!

22 May 2006

Despite dire predictions of droughts and having to use stand pipes, just because our water companies are so inefficient they cannot transport water from one place to another without losing 80% of it.  It must be a very difficult thing to accomplish that, after all the romans managed it, what oh just a couple of centuries ago.........  sorry, I digress, onto my favourite rant of the moment, where was I , oh yes droughts.......... we like the rest of the country seem to be rather wet at the moment.  We don't appear to have many horses that are going to relish the ground (perhaps REBELLING being the exception) so runners may be few and far between in the next few days.

However, THORNY MANDATE  is running on the all-weather tomorrow at Lingfield, where he looks to have a good each-way chance.

 

19th May 2006

PAS DE TROIS became our first two year old runner yesterday, and although he ran promisingly in the early part of the race he got very tired in the soft ground.  He is, however, a May foal and probably a bit weaker than we thought, and was found out by the ground.  The winner looks to be a very nice horse, and we could have picked a very hot contest first time out!  I think he will probably have a bit of time off to get over it and when we run him again we will see a huge improvement.

BEAVER PATROL and REBELLING run at York today.  BP is in great form and I hope that the ground is not too sticky for him.  He has run well on soft ground and I think he has got a fantastic chance.  Rebelling could be a bit of a dark horse, he has been crying out for a step up in trip and being by Peintre Celebre, will love the ground.  The handicapper hasn't been overly kind to him, but we are looking for a good run.

 

15th May 2006

First of all, many apologies for not updating for a couple of weeks, not entirely down to me, we have had broadband problems on and off for the last year or so, last week, we had no broadband at all.  Hopefully it is due to be fixed for good this week, I hope so, for the sake of our sanity!

Well, the horses are still running really well.  Thorny Mandate did really well to win at Pontefract and we so nearly had a double with Tous Les Deux finishing second at Lingfield.  We have not had a winner since then, but plenty of placed horses.  Judd Street ran a blinder in a hot race at Chester finishing 2nd and could well go to York at the end of the week, ground permitting, so that he can run off his present mark.  PEACE LILY is finally starting to show what sort of filly we think she is beaten a very short head at Warwick and following up with a sterling performance to finish 2nd on ground she didn't like at Thirsk on Saturday night.  So I think we are heading for Pontefract on the 26th May for a mile race.  MUJOOD has run two solid races although he is really paying the price for running consistently as a two year old, it is time for the handicapper to give him a break. 

No runners tomorrow, but maybe BELLANORA at Bath on Wednesday.  Stay tuned.

 

2nd May 2006

Luckily since I last wrote the yard has turned itself inside out and the horses are now in great form.  From our last 6 runners (on the flat) we have had 2 winners and 4 placed horses.  Pretty good form!  PHLUKE started the ball rolling at Southwell last week.  He had a great draw and Jamie McKay gave him a lovely ride.  He is tough and consistent and will win again in his turn.  The saying in the yard is "when the going gets tough call for Phluke".  Whenever we really need a winner he seems to put his head in front, in fact in a team sport he would be your "go to" man!   Hopefully, the handicapper won't put him up too much and he is in again at Thirsk on Saturday.  JUDD STREET confirmed our opinion of him by winning at Windsor yesterday, so all in all things are going well.

 

19th April 2006

To say we have had a slow start to the season would be an understatement!  Tempers are starting to get frayed here and faces rather long.  There doesn't seem to be much wrong with the horses, but they are just not firing.  Plus the luck has not been with us, Thorny went for faster ground and it rained, Rebelling went for slower ground and the sun shone, the wind blew and it ended up fast; not to mention the draws!!  We rather hoped that Judd Street was going to buck the trend at Beverley today, but he definitely read the papers and got cast, giving himself a nick which blew up on his hind leg.

So, we are going to get back into bed and bury ourselves under the covers for a few more days.  We probably won't have another runner until Monday at Windsor.  I am looking forward to our horses having their second run, one can only hope that that is when things really start to kick off!!  Let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

LAST CHANCE FOR THE 5 TO FOLLOW!!  GET THEM IN TODAY.

12th April 2006

Yesterday was a bit of an in and out day.  LOOKING GREAT ran a blinder to finish 5th in a Maiden at Fontwell.  The winner had only just been beaten by Wellbeing last timeout so the form looks pretty solid.  He will be a much better horse on faster ground and possibly further, so summer jumping here we come.

THORNY MANDATE is another who needs better ground, unfortunately by the 4.10 race at Bath yesterday it certainly wasn't that.  In fact it was very soft and he didn't like it. 

 

10th April 2006

Well, we kick off the season proper tomorrow.  THORNY MANDATE runs at Bath in the 4.10pm race and LOOKING GREAT runs at Fontwell in the first.  I think they will both run well, but as we have only had one runner in the last couple of months it is hard to know if they will need it or not.  Watch this space............

The work mornings have got more exciting as well, with most of the older horses starting to do a bit more and getting geared up for their seasonal debuts.  MUJOOD is off to Kempton on Saturday, it is his first try on the all-weather, but I see no reason why he shouldn't take to it well.  Next week, hopefully we should get a few more back on the track.

3 April 2006

Finally it has come to pass..............  It has come to my attention that whilst I have been merrily updating the website (as you can see from the dates below).  Nothing has been getting through to the main site - something technical to do with links - so no wonder people keep telling me to update more regularly!! Hopefully it has all been sorted now and you all can read this ...... if not I am just writing to someone in cyberspace - typical.  Lots to say and no-one to listen, story of my life.

JUDD STREET was meant to run at Lingfield on Saturday, but he knocked himself the day before and although it wasn't serious, it was enough to stop us running him.  Hopefully there is another race for him in the next week.  In the meantime the two year olds are coming on well and the fillies did another little bit on Saturday morning.  They all went very well and all the work jockeys thought they were going the best.  A sure sign that the horses were all enjoyning themselves and going well within themselves.

DON'T FORGET THE FIVE TO FOLLOW!!  You must have your entries in by Wednesday April 12th at the latest.  If anyone needs a copy of the rules etc and an entry form email me on Eve@JohnsonHoughton.com.

So glad we are finally back on air again!!  Your comments on how I can improve the site would be much appreciated (remembering that I am a techno-phobe and it should all be very simple!!)  Again, email me at the address above.

 

29 March 2006

It finally has rained and we have been able to get on the grass!!  Big work day today and all went well.  The two year olds are starting to come to hand and the Eden Racing owned PAS DE TROIS went particularly well.  He should be one of our first two year olds.  There are still shares available - contact Eve NOW for more information!!

PHLUKE ran well at Kempton on Saturday.  The surface was a little bit dead for him and he also got a bit leg weary.  JUDD STREET runs at Lingfield on Saturday and we are hoping that his return to the fray will be a successful one.  He has done really well over the winter and built up into a powerful horse now.

 

13 March 2006

OK, so I don't quite have the hang of this technology yet!!  I would love to be able to put some more recent photo's up, but don't seem to have got it sussed yet.  No doubt it will hapen at some point.

Cheltenham is here, spring is in the air (well the snowdrops are out) and the flat season is fast approaching.  The horses are all in good form and although the freeze up last week slightly put us on the back foot.  It shouldn't be too long before the first runners.

16 February 2006

Finally, I am able to get into my own website and edit it as I please!!  What a technological breakthrough for someone like me - It could yet end in disaster!

As some of you may know I am off games at the moment, due to the fact that I managed to smash my leg while skiing.  So no riding out until July at the earliest, and I am working in the office at the moment, although only part-time as it is incredibly tiring hopping about on crutches.  However, it would appear that all the horses are in better nick than me.  We have started cantering them again and all is going well so far.

We still have shares available in Eden Racing.  I really would urge you to get involved, they are 2 crackers!  Don't say I didn't tell you when one of them turns out to be good....

Just click on the link on the home page for further details.