8 March 2010

He's only gone and won it!!  Judd Street has struck gold again in Dubai.  Having not been seen at his best twice on the Tapeta, on which he didn't seem to be able to pick up, Judd ran on Friday night in the 1st 6 furlong race at Meydan.  Bouncing right back to his ebullient best, and with great assistance from the saddle in Kieran Fallon, he won by a quite comfortable nose, picking up around £60,000 for his connections (Dad!).  What a fabulous result and I am not only incredibly proud of the horse, but also of Danny Blackett who is only 20 years old, but has been out there looking after him for the last 6 weeks.

Judd was due to come back tomorrow, but due to his exertions on Friday night he has now been invited to run in the Group 3 Al Quoz Sprint on World Cup night.  He may be a bit outclassed, but how often can you run in that sort of a race with a prize money fund of $1 million!!

Meydan is quite amazing and has to be seen to be believed.  Everything is done to make the horse as comfortable as possible and there is nothing that has been left to chance.  Here are some pictures of Judd Street, walking into the holding barn (I wouldn't mind it as my yard!!).

 

 

 

 

 

Having won the first ever 6 furlong race on the turf at Meydan, I am proud to report that he holds the course record!!

 

 

3 February 2010

Beginning of February and we have turned the corner into spring (I hope).    The horses have started back cantering and the snow drops are coming through, so now we are all starting to look forward to teh new season.  I am off to Dubai tonight to watch Judd Street run on Friday night at Meydan.  It will be very interesting to see the new course and by all accounts Judd is in great form.  I feel he may just need the run as we were held up by the weather, however we do have Ryan Moore up so that should help.  Fingers crossed!!

 

14 January 2010

It seems that the thaw really is on the way, despite yesterday having another 4-5 inches of snow, today is much better and I managed to get the horsebox down the hill late morning time so that I could take Judd Street to Kempton for a bit of work.  He went really well, despite my best attempts to muck it up.  I haven't ridden work for so long I got my timing all wrong and hit the front too soon, however although he did idle in front, he did enough to have a good blow.  Although we have not been able to get any fast work into him before this, he has been doing some really good canters in the snow, which has definitely got him fairly straight.  My blacksmith came up with the most amazing "snow pads" which go on the inside of Judd's shoes and stops the snow balling.  Because of these, we have been able to canter every day on the snow, and even with it getting a bit wet today, I am sure it will be ok again tomorrow.

We did have 2 runners on Saturday.  Mr Deal was not helped by the draw, however he did not help himself much and I am starting to lose patience with him.  I have given him another entry next week, but if that doesn't work we may just wait for summer jumping with him.  Support Fund ran a really good race, I thought we were going to have our first winner of the year, but she was just touched off.  I am sure she can win at Kempton, so we will keep going in similar races with her.

We have got all the horses out this week, just trotting round the indoor ride, but it is a great winter exercise for them and they all seem in good form. 

7 January 2010

Happy New Year everyone.  I don't know what has happened to the global warming, but I wish it would come my way!  Seriously cold up here, but the staff have all been amazing, getting up the hill in blizzard like conditions just to make sure that the horses are all ok.

We had about a foot of snow Tuesday night, Wednesday morning and it has been incredibly hard work for all.  Although we have not been getting all the horses ridden we have had them all out on the walker everyday, so they have been pretty much getting a full exercise.  I have had 3 horses up onto the downs for a canter.  Judd Street who is off to Dubai (talk about sublime to the ridiculous, sand or snow where's the difference), Mr Deal and Support Fund who may run on Saturday.

We have been cantering in the snow up the peat moss gallop.  Talk about all-weather this is the most fantastic gallop in the summer, where it never gets too firm, is our "frost free" gallop when it is very icy and now is our snow gallop.  It is good fun cantering in the snow and it is a great work out for the horses.  Althoug we have not been able to get much fast work into them, I can't believe they are going to lack fitness after doing 2 good canters a day up there!

I have a bit of a logistical nightmare getting the horses to Kempton on Saturday, supposing it is on.  I think that LRT (our transport company) will be able to pick them up at the bottom of the hill, but it would appear that we are going to have to ride them down and back.  Normally I would not bother, but they do look 2 good races for them... it remains to be seen if we can get them there or not.  The other nightmare we have is getting the feed in.  We are due a delivery tomorrow, but the feed wagon won't make it up the hill, so it looks like we will have to transfer it to our tractor and take it up in several loads on that.  These things are certainly sent to try us!

 

        

 

 

 

23 December 2009

Much like the rest of England we have been struggling against the weather somewhat this week.  Luckily I am not a national hunt trainer with the biggest week of the year coming up and trying to get the horses out to the gallops and keep them fresh and ready.  We have had a couple of days when we have only been able to clear the snow far enough to get the horses onto the walker, but we have been getting them out down the ride the rest of the time. 

As we live up a very steep hill, we have effectively been snowed in for a couple of days, which is always exciting, luckily the jeep we have seems to be good in the snow and so we have been able to get in and out to a certain extent.

The downs was spectacularly beautiful yesterday with the most amazing light on the snow and it was real privilege to live up here.

 

Very festive!  It just remains for me to say I hope you all have a Happy Christmas and I hope that Celestial Halo runs in the Christmas Hurdle and wins, Kauto Star wins the King George and Sizing Europe and Tranquil Sea win in Leopardstown.  They are all im my ten to follow, in which I am currently in 22nd place!!

 

8 December 2009

We had our annual yearling show on Sunday and despite me having a sleepless night listening to a howling gale and pouring rain, it eventually cleared up and yet again we had lovely weather.  The horses looked really well and behaved immaculately and we had a very succesful day.  We sold all the remaining shares in the Eden Racing yearling by Haafhd, we sold a lovely Selkirk colt to a new owner and we have lots of other interest as well.  The drink flowed and we had great little eats and all in all a great day.

I had two runners yesterday, who both ran well without troubling the judge.  I could just do with a winner as I am riding high on the cold trainers list, unfortunately I am not sure if any of the horses that I still have to run on the all-weather can help me with that at all.

The yard 5 to follow has come to a conclusion and I am happy to say that Jimmy Mitchell, one of our owners, is the overall winner and I came a gallant 2nd.  I will post the results out with the Christmas copy of Woodway Ramblings, which I am hoping to get done in the next few days.

Speaking of horses to follow competitions I am amazed to say that we are sitting in 39th place in the overall standings in the Racing Post 10 to follow competition.  A quite amazing feat, and we are now very excitedly thinking that we may even sneak into the top 20!  It has certainly livened up my viewing of the jump racing!

3 November 2009

The season is now nearly over and we are slowly winding down.  We have said goodbye to 6 old favourites at the Horses in Training sales last week.  Hay Fever and Slice have gone to Germany, Deloria to Sweden, Jewelled Reef and David's Matador to Kuwait and Deuce to Ireland.  I hope that they all go on and do well in their new homes.

We have got 11 yearlings in so far and most of them are ridden away.  I am really happy with the bunch we have got and there are several more to come.  I have sold most but still have shares available in the new Eden Racing colt which is by Haafd and also have a cracking Kyllachy colt for sale.  For more information please get in touch.

 

20 October 2009

Sales, sales, sales..... just as you get one lot out the way another comes along.  We seem to have had a busy time and I am pleased with what we bought.  Everyone said it would be a buyers market, but I don't know who the buyers were, and I cannot believe how strong it was, nice horses were difficult to buy, there used to be horses that slipped through the net and you could get at a cheap price, but it seemed to me there were very few of those about this year.

We are filling up well with yearlings and as usual we will be doing an Eden Racing partnership.  I have bought a Haafd colt who moves really well and looks to be a nice 2yo sort.  I will be sorting out the finances and will put the details online as soon as possible.  In the meantime if anyone is interested in joining Eden or would like a leg in a horse, I have a few bits and bobs that would suit all pockets.

 

25 September 2009

I had a lovely day today, bit of a busman's holiday as I went racing to Ascot as a guest of Watership Down Stud.  A really fun occasion and nice just to go to the races and see some friends without the pressure of a runner.  I just got back from the sales in Ireland where the prices were a bit hit and miss.  The nice horses were still making plenty of money and I was underbidder on quite a few.  There were also enough looking for homes, but I have to like them to bring them home, especially as I have to look at them everyday for the next year or so!  We actually only ended up buying one horse, a filly by the 1st season sire Ad Valorem, she was quite cheap and looks a runner.  I don't have an owner for her yet and she is available in shares or as a whole, please get in touch to find out more.

On the runners side HOBSON did well to win at Leicester on Monday, he will be turned out quickly next Monday as he doesn't get a penalty for that win.  YURITUNI and MUJOOD are going to Chester tomorrow and I am hopeful that they both will go close again.  I wish their draws were reversed, but they both have a great chance of continuing our run, as does SUPPORT FUND in the last at Kempton.

18 September 2009

I apologise.  Right got that out the way.  1 month later, and we are having a good time.  YURITUNI ran a blinder at Doncaster in th Carrie Red, a fillies nursery and didn't get home over the 6 1/2 furlongs, she battled on very bravely to hold on for 2nd.  I then turned her out smartly at Bath on Sunday where she won quite well again.  She is having a short rest now and I may drop her back to 5 furlongs for her next outing.  MUJOOD also did sterling work last week, winning twice at Goodwood.  He has won 3 races again this year and really is a pleasure to train. I am waiting to see what the handicapper does to him before deciding where to go next.

FONTLEY kept the 2yo fillies record going when winning at Sandown on Wednesday.  I have always really liked her and was delighted to win a race for the Neales who are great supporters and deserve to have a nice horse.

In the meantime the 2yo colts have been most disappointing.  As a result I have had 3 of them gelded recently and I fully intend to do the rest very swiftly! 

THE CHEKA is out for the rest of the season.  He has not been completely sound since his last run and on on investigation it was decided to stop for the year and get him completely sorted out.  His form is working out well, with Ashram winning a competitive listed race back at Newbury today and Summer Fete winning  Group 3 at Glorious Goodwood, Tropical Paradise who was 4th won a good Handicap at Salisbury.  I still have every faith in the horse and when we have him sorted out next season I am expecting great things!!

We are off to the Yearling sales next week and judging by the results so far, I would say that the prices are going to be patchy to say the least.  I don't have any solid orders so far, so we are flying by the seat of our pants..... scary stuff in this day and age.  If anyone wants to put me out of my misery and buy a horse, please get in touch!

19 August 2009

I feel like tigger bouncing around all over the place.  We are very happy here.  Yurituni ran a blinder to win at York off a low weight and then we followed it up with Deuce at Nottingham over 2 miles.  Fantastic!

I think that Yurituni may well go to a good fillies nursery at Doncaster and hopefully the handicapper won't punish her to much for a short head victory.  Deuce is obviously progressing well and I shall look to get her in again quite quickly back over 1m6f or 2m.

Slice is off to Ireland to run in the sales race on Saturday, it is being run at Fairyhouse instead of the Curragh this year and we are very hopeful.  The obvious danger is Dick Turpin of Richard Hannon's, but I am hoping that he may have bigger fish to fry.

Apart from that we are having a quieter time for a while on the racing side, although rather frighteningly the yearling sales kick off next week at Doncaster.  The prices will be quite interesting and I am anticipating quite a few bargains to be had!

 

8th August 2009

So much can happen in a short space of time.  I have been on the hot trainers list and now it would appear that the horses are struggling to beat the ambulance home and quite soon I could be heading for the cold list!  The 2yo colts have been most disapppointing with a lot of them running the same, travelling to half way and then going out like a light to trail in a long way last.  I have them blood tested ad infinitum and nothing has shown up.  I am sure it has quite a lot to do with the very soft ground and also being rather backward in some cases.  So, we are going to just sit on the 2yo cotls for a week or two and hope that if they have some sort of bug on them it goes a way and we can kick on again.  Unfortunately some of the horses that have run recently are just not good enough so we are in the process of finding other jobs for them to do.

THE CHEKA once again found a niggle to keep him on the easy list for a few days and is just about back in full work again now.  This of course means he will not be running for another couple of weeks, however we still have quite a few options including The Park Stakes at Doncaster and The Prix Quincey at Deauville.

21 July 2009

Go on THE CHEKA.  I hate to say I told you so, but..... It is so nice to be proved right.  He will come on enormously for this first run after a long lay off and there is no reason to believe that he is anything but a Group horse.  We had quite a torrid time on Friday.  The torrential rain meant that a lot of box walking went on.  Should I run him or not?  First of all I took Deloria out.  She is a quick actioned little filly who wants top of the ground.  She may go to Salisbury on Saturday if it is not too soft there.  Then I walked the course, watched the torrential rain and talked to jockey after jockey.  Eventually we decided to go for it.  And despite everything he won fairly easily.  He has got several options now and could run back at Newbury in the Hungerford, go to Goodwood for the Celebration Mile or Salisbury for the Sovereign Stakes, there are also some options at Deauville.  The good news is he appears to have come out of his race fairly well and hopefully fingers crossed we can now look forward with him.

ROODLE has had a sneaky entry in the Princess Margaret at Ascot on Saturday.  She has come out of her last race so well and has put on weight and strength so we thought it may be a good opportunity to pick up some black type with her.  John Reid is going to come and have a sit on her tomorrow morning so we should know more afterwards.

Finally I have to have a little mention of Will Reddy. He has worked here at Woodway for 40 years today. He started at age 14 and has never worked anywhere else. He started off as apprentice and worked his way through the ranks via travelling head lad to Head Lad which is what he is doing now. Will has done some of the best horses that have passed through the yard including ROSE BOWL, ILE DE BOUBON and now THE CHEKA. I have nominated him year on year for the Stable Staff of the year award and we have never got anywhere, but I just would like him to know how highly we value him. On Sunday we are having a BBQ and rounders match on the downs to celebrate. Long may he stay here!

15 July 2009

ROODLE duly went and did the busines at Chepstow on Friday night.  We had a drama trying to organise jockeys at the last minute as Eddie Ahern got stuck in traffic and did not make it in time, however, it all worked out fine with Alan Munro acting as an able deputy.  Hopefully she will go on to bigger and better things now, she is entered in the Lowther at York but may well divert to the St Hugh's (~a listed race) at Newbury.

The day has finally arrived.  I have declared The Cheka for a 3yo conditions race at Newbury over 7f.  It has been a long time coming and I am now exceptionally nervous.  He will definitely need the race and is only 80% fit, however, I think it is time to get him back on track and see what we have got.  Deloria is also running at Newbury where we are hopeful that she can follow up on her promising first run.

 

2 July 2009

Hurrah, SLICE won at Chepstow last night and became my first 2yo winner of the year.  He was a real professional and despite the ground being slightly quicker than he would like, ran on really well to win by 1/2 a length.  Let's hope that's the start of things to come with the 2yos.  ROODLE ran a fantastic race to be 2nd at Salisbury last week and should go one better next time and YURITUNI ran a race full of promise at Windsor to be 4th so things are certainly looking up.  DELORIA goes at Newbury this evening and she goes well but may be a bit green first time out.

HOBSON is off to Yarmouth again this afternoon and even though he has got a lot of weight, I am sure he will play a big part again.  BOFFIN and MISS DOODLE are running in the last at Newbury, although there are only 6 runners, it looks to be a one horse race with the Jarvis horse being the stand out.

JUDD STREET is off to Sandown on Saturday.  He ran no sort of race at all on Saturday at Windsor where he was drawn on the outside and kept being pushed wide all the way which didn't suit.  I rode him this morning and he was fresh as paint and moving well so lets hope that Mick Kinane and he can combine well and win again.

 

22 June 2009

Ascot has been and gone and what a fantastic week's racing it was.  I personally kicked it off with a listed winner at Salisbury on the Sunday.  Good old Judd Street just got up on the line to beat the odds on favourite of Hughie Morrisons.  We thought we had been 2nd and were still delighted, but he managed to have his nose (literally) in front at the right time.  The racing at Ascot was unbelievable and a great privilege to see all those amazing horses.  It has just whetted my appetite and I made a promise to myself that I am going to go back next year with some real fire power.  In fact I am fully intending to win the Queen Anne.

My only runner, Beaver Patrol it just didn't happen for.   He had what looked like the plum draw right on the stands side.  Unfortunately, it did not turn out this way.  Because it looked like the stands side was the best ground all week, it had had the most wear.  All the straight races had gone up that way and what with being watered and then rain on top it had got very loose and Beaver found no traction at all.  However, he has come out of the race very well and we will be looking to run him again soon.

My two year olds have not exactly been setting the world alight, but I am hoping that the extrmely naughty Xaara Star can get involved at Brighton today.  She has a bit of ability but would rather use it being naughty on the way to the start than in the race itself.  Consequently, she is now lead most of the way before being let loose.  Acquaviva is having her first run tonight.  Having showed well in her work early doors she has got rather lazy, so I think this may come as a culture shock for her.  However, she needs to learn that this is the reason that she lives in the lap of luxury and it is about time she pulled  her finger out and earned her keep.

 

2nd June 2009

Summer is finally here.  The horses have got their coats and we are all able to ride out in T shirts.  Fantastic, you can't beat it at this time of year.

The horses are finally beginning to hit a bit of form with lots of places going on.  HOBSON and MUJOOD are certainly earning their corn at the moment and both are out again this week.  Hobson runs tonight at Folkestone where he should have a good chance of going in again and Mujood at Sandown on Thursday.  All though they do have a meeting at Goodwood this week unfortunately there is not a race for him there.  He does seem in particularly good heart at the moment and has struck up a good relationship with Kevin Ghunowa who takes a valuable 3lbs off so we are hopefully he can go close again.

The good news is that THE CHEKA is back cantering again and is moving really well.  So it may be back to the day job for Hobson, who's principal role in life is as Chek's lead horse.  We are keeping our fingers crossed that all goes well and hope to get him onto the racecourse sometime in July.

 

13th May 2009

Well HOBSON did himself proud at Yarmouth winning really well.  We then ran him back quick at Chepstow, but he just failed to see out the mile and faded to finish 4th.  He is off to Salisbury tomorrow where Danny is riding him in an apprentice race over 7f.  Hopefully if he manages to keep calm, he should go very well again.

We are having a frustrating time of it at the moment, with the horses running well, but not troubling the judge.  This is a mixture of the older horses possibly being on too high a handicap mark and the younger horses just needing the experience.  Hopefully it will all come out in the wash as they say, and preferably sooner rather than later.  We have had 3 2yo runners and they have all run with promise.  SLICE ran in what has turned out to be a very hot maiden at Bath, with 3 winners coming out of the race already.  He finished 6th running on really promisingly and I would be very hopeful about his chances next time out.  RIFFELALP ran a very progressive race at Goodwood where she was run off her feet down the hill and then was doing her best work at the end and XAARA STAR despite having departed from her jockey on the way to the start, ran well until she got tired.

Nothing today, but if it rains enought SLANT goes to Newmarket tomorrow and as discussed HOBSON goes to Salisbury and on Friday, if it hasn't rained too much DAVID'S MATADOR goes to Newmarket and the very disappointing KIHO goes to Newbury for a boys race, where he will be wearing blinkers.

 

30 April 2009

It is all go at the moment. I feel our season has finally kicked in.  We had our first 2yo runner at Bath on Tuesday.  SLICE who is this years Eden Racing horse.  He ran really well finishing 5th. He was a bit green early on and then finished with real promise so I hope that this bodes well for the rest of the year.  MUJOOD and HOBSON are off to Yarmouth for racing this evening.  It is just Mujood's sort of race.  A big wide open straight with a small field.  By all rights he should not be able to win, but I think he will go very close.  HOBSON is generally Cheka's lead horse, so while Chek is on the sick list, Hobson is allowed a day out.  Needless to say he is a much better horse at home than he has shown on the racecourse, he rather lets his nerves get the better or him when he gets racing, but hopefully he may have got a bit wiser now he is getting older.

We're off to Goodwood with 2 fillies on Saturday.  I am disappointed not to be at Newmarket with The Cheka, but I can report that he is coming on well and fingers crossed he should be ready for Ascot.  Bank Holiday Monday looks like being a busy one as I lost my head and we have 8 horses entered.  No doubt this will drop down a bit due to ground and what the races look like, but I would hope to be running 2 or 3 with good chances, including Spinning Water who won at Pontefract last week.  I was rather proud of that one as we ran him 3 times over 7f as a 2yo and then stepped him up to 1m4f on his first run in handicap company.

 

13 April 2009

Easter Monday and no runners.  I love and hate this time of the year in equal parts.  All your geese are swans, but you can't find any races to run them in!!  The ones that are ready and raring to go the ground is wrong, or there aren't any suitable races, the ones that are not quite up to speed, there seem to be a dozen races now and none in 3 weeks time!   Most frustrating for all.

As you may have read in Saturday's Racing Post I have very sadly taken The Cheka out of the 2000 Guinneas.  I hated having to do it, but I knew that he would not be ready in time and he is such a good horse, that it is not worth taking the risk with.  He has done some brilliant bits of work, but then has had some minor niggling problems which kept setting him back.  I hope to get him ready in time for the Irish 2000 guinneas but it is possible we may have to wait to Ascot.  It is gutting for everyone in the yard and it has put a real cloud over us, however the good news is we still have a good horse, we just have to be patient.  It is the first and last Ante Post bet I am ever going to have.

 

30 March 2009

The flat is underway.  Well I say underway, when actually I mean Doncaster has been and now we have to wait another couple of weeks before it really kicks off.  HAWAANA won at Kempton last Wednesay, he did it really well and if he can improve again, we should have a good bit of fun through the season with him.  Unfortunately, as it was before the start of the turf it doesn't show up on any statistics.  The trainers have been moaning about this for ages, any winners you have in the "off" season, ie on the all-weather just disappear into the ether and apart from the cold hard cash, which lets face it is not a great amount, there is no acknowledgment of it and it becomes a wasted race to a certain extent.  I understand that the season needs to have boundaries and a story to it, but for those trainers who do so well on the all-weather to have all their winners, to all intents and purposes, wiped off, seems a bit unfair.  Luckily for me it doesn't effect me so much as I hardly have any winners over the winter, but it makes a large difference to some.

BEAVER PATROL ran at Doncaster on Saturday.  I knew as soon as I arrived it was a mistake.  There was a bitter wind up there and Beaver definitely thought that running at Doncaster on a cold blustery day was not for him.  I think we will put him away until the weather warms up a bit.  However, Judd Street ran the week before at Lingfield, where it was a lovely day and he ran a blinder to be 2nd in a listed race over a very sharp 5 furlongs.

Danny Blackett had a ride on KIHO in the last on Saturday.  They both acquitted themselves very well to finish a creditable 6th.  If I could just get the pair of them to have a bit more confidence around a bend then I think they would have been closer.

 

14 March 2009

The boys are back!!  Judd & Beaver got back from Dubai last Tuesday, how fantastic it was to see them both and they were in great form.  Today is the first day that we have had some sunshine since their return and I took the opportunity to get a photograph of them in their amazing winners sheets.

             

 

Now back to reality, what a fantastic Cheltenham that was.  Amazing racing, and what brilliant horses.  Kauto Star was just sublime and a joy to watch, to name but one. 

We had our first work morning this morning and it was a glorious morning to be up on the gallops.  All went well and its very exciting to be looking to the beginning of the flat season and hopefully with some good ammunition.

 

27 February 2009

Go on The Beaver.  I can't believe that we sent 2 horses out to Dubai and both of them have won a race.  The Gods were definitely smiling on Beaver, if the flight hadn't been cancelled last week-end he would not have run, if he hadn't run so badly the week before, they would not have dropped him 2lbs and he would have had to run in the much hotter Group race.  I still can't believe that he won over £40,000 for a conditions race.  Brilliant, and fabulous for his owner Gary Stevens who absolutely adores him and even though we were all a bit down hearted after his run last week kept the faith and let me run him again so quickly.

Judd Street just showed the effects of 3 quick races and the third of which was a particularly hot Group 3.  He certainly did not disgrace himself and earned over £2,000 for finishing 6th. 

Danny has gone out there to look after them until they fly back on 10th March and I am going to pick William up from the airport later today.

Meanwhile, back in old blighty...... the horses are all in great form and all seems to be going well.  Lets hope the weather stays kind and we get a straight run at them.

 

19 February 2009

HAPPY DAYS!!  Good old Judd Street only went and won in Dubai last night.  What a fantastic result, he travelled really well and Mick held off pushing the button until the last minute and then he put his head down and won by a neck.  Now roll on Beaver, he runs today in the first, and also has a good chance, coming from the same draw of 10, not ideal, but as Judd showed you can win from it.

They were meant to be coming back tomorrow morning, but the flight has been cancelled so there is every chance one or both of them will be running next Thursday in a Group 3.

 

16 February 2009

I am now back from hospital.  Pottering around on crutches, and taking so many antibiotics that if I jump up and down I will rattle!!  Anyway the good news is that they were very pleased with the leg and hopefully in a couple of weeks time I will be fine.  Can't wait!

Weather is finally being kind to us and we are able to get a full exercise into the horses.  We are probably about a week behind where I would normally be, but that is not a problem.  We should start cantering tomorrow.

Beaver & Judd are due to run in Dubai again on Thursday and Friday and we have high hopes.  Hopefully Mick Kinane will be able to ride them both this time and we should come back with some prize money.

9 February 2009

A mixed bag in Dubai.  Beaver ran well without collecting a rosette.  We had a bit of trouble sorting out jockeys and ended up with Christophe Lemairre.  Unfortunately having got a great position early doors and travelling really well, he rather let the others get first run on him, and then Beaver hit his famous flat spot, which meant he had no time to sort himself out before the winning post came.  As M Lemaire said, he thinks he should have gone a bit earlier.  The old boy does take a bit of knowing and needs rousting about 100yards before you think you need to.

Judd Street on the other hand ran a stormer.  He was not helped by others antics in the stalls and by the time the gates opened, he shot out and was rather free for the first 2 furlongs, completely scuppering any chances he had of truly getting the 6.  He is normally much more settled on his second run so I am hoping for a great things in a couple of weeks time.

As you can imagine, life has not been easy this last week.  We have been virtually snowed in and half of the staff have been unable to get to work.  For three days the horses were confined to the walker, but this morning we were able to get them down to the covered ride and give them a good exercise.  We could be due for another dump of snow tonight, but it may be just rain, we appear to be right on the border here.

Tomorrow I am going into hospital to have the metal and hopefully the infection taken out of my leg.  I will be in hospital for the best part of a week and then on crutches for a while - very tedious, but the best time of the year to get it done, and hopefully when I am back riding out the weather may have improved!

2 February 2009

I have just returned from the most glorious week's skiing.  Talk about hitting it right, we had fabulous snow and sunny weather, lots of laughs and way way too much food.

Now, I'm off to Dubai for 4 days.  Beaver Patrol runs on Thursday night over 6 1/2 furlongs and Judd Street runs on Friday night over 6f.  Both the boys arrived over there safe and sound and are in great form, so fingers crossed for a successful trip!  Hopefully we have planned it better this year, they went out on Saturday and will run twice and return on the 22nd Feb.   William has gone out with them again and is delighted to be back with his Dubai pals, and is equally delighted that he only has to stay for 3 weeks!

 

13 January 2009

BOFFIN is making his long awaited debut tomorrow at Newbury in the Juvenile Bumper.  He broke his pelvis as a 2yo about this time of year, so 2 years of waiting and finally we have got him to a racecourse.  He has been going pretty well at home, but he is not very big, so I hope he can hold his own against the larger National Hunt horses.

Last week, was made interesting by the extreme cold and I have to say a huge thank you to David Arbuthnot for kindly letting us use his all weather gallop.  We ended up shuttling 4 horses over a day to keep the 2 that are off to Dubai and my 2 jumpers going.  Luckily now our gallops are back in full working order.  We are cantering some of our older horses and the rest are building up that all important muscle and strengthening their bones trotting up the hill.

6 January 2009

First things first.  Happy anniversary to my parents - 45 years!  I think it's pretty amazing, and they are off skiing in Kitzbuhel to celebrate!

OK,  how cold is it?  I am really unamused by the weather, although I have to say that today is quite glorious with bright sunshine and the frosty ground.  However, like everyone in this game this weather does make it really hard work.  The yards need salting, the taps have to be defrosted, water tanks kept useable and we then have to go ride out in the freezing cold.  Actually we are only in the covered ride at the moment, but believe me it is not warm in there.

I was going to take BEAVER PATROL and JUDD STREET off to use David Arbuthnot's all-weather this morning, unfortunately I turned the box over and the clutch cable snapped.   So that put paid to that plan, luckily the very nice man came and fixed it for me and hopefully we can do that tomorrow.  Beaver and Judd are going off to Dubai at the end of the month so I am trying to get them in tip top shape to run at the beginning of February.

The 2yos are all going well and the ones that have been off for a winter break are starting to come back in, so it looks like being full steam ahead.  If only someone would turn the heating back on!

 

4 December 2008

ROODOLPH ran a blinder last week at Taunton, finishing 2nd (where else!) beaten only a couple of lengths by a Paul Nicholls hotpot and they drew 26 lengths of the 3rd.  I was extremely chuffed as I had done all his schooling myself, not a jockey in sight, and he jumped like a bunny rabbit, so I am feeling rather smug and clever!  Well, at least I did a good job and as Jimmy McCarthy (the brave man who rode him for the first time at Taunton) said, I didn't try and kill him.

Onto other news.  Most of the flat horses are packed up.   Hawaana is having a quick break, as there is nothing for him this year at Kempton, so we will aim him for something in the new year.  Bombardier Wells ran well in the Claimer, considering he was running against 90 rated horses.  It is possible he needs a bit further so we have entered him in a 1m2f race on Wednesday, just to see.  Rosie Cross is going to run in a classified race on the same card, which should be right up her street.

The yearlings are all going well, and we are having the annual yearling show on Sunday.  It is an opportunity to show off the new intake and all have a get together and a few drinks,  anyone is interested in coming along is very welcome, please email me at Eve@JohnsonHoughton.com for further information.

Great excitement has ensued in the office as yesterday the printer died and this morning we have got an all new singing and dancing laser printer.  I am sure it will be fantastic once Eithne has worked out how to use it.  All I want to be able to do is press the print key and watch something appear the other end.  Technology is really not my thing.

 

17 November 2008

It's meant to be a quiet time of year, but by between breaking all the yearlings, having a few all-weather runners, schooling Roodolph and steam cleaning all the empty boxes, it seems quite busy.  ROODOLPH has been schooling really well over tyres and tomorrow we are off over the baby hurdles, if it all goes well I hope to go over the full sized ones at the end of the week.  If he can take his good flat form over hurdles, we should have a lot of fun. 

The yearlings are all going well and most of them are cantering already.  We still have 3 more to back, so not quite finished yet.  We have nearly finished with the all-weather, Support Fund clearly does not like it and so is going to have a well deserved rest in the field, Bombardier Wells ran really well before getting tired and is now going to be aimed at a claimer next week.  Hawaana is going to run at Kempton in a couple of weeks time after we discovered he clearly does not go left handed.

No sooner have we got a whole load of boxes cleaned and disinfected than we are starting to get the horses back in.  BEAVER PATROL came back in today after 6 weeks r&r, getting fat in a field.  He has come in so early as we are going to get him ready to go back to Dubai in January, where hopefully he is going to be joined by JUDD STREET who will be coming back in to start his exercise in a couple of days.

 

10 November 2008

Lovely weather for ducks!  We managed to get first lot out without getting too wet, with the yearling colts cantering, "led" by me on Boffin. I say led, but really he was so badly behaved that the yearlings were leading me.  Boffin is a 3yo geldingby Kalanisi.  He went really well as a yearling 2 years ago and we thought he would be one of our sharpest 2yo.  Unfortunately he broke his pelvis before we could get him onto the racecouse.  He has since had 18 months off.  6 months in the box, 3 months being ridden and then 6 months in the field.  He has now been ridden for another 3 months and physically looks fantastic, however he is has the mental age of a yearling in a 3yos body - always exciting!  I am going to get him into full work and hopefully run him in a 3yo bumper at the end of December.

The other two lots had to shelter from the torrential rain in the covered ride, so everything got a good exercise.

I have still got some shares for sale in the Eden Racing 2yo colt.  Also for sale, are some bits and bobs in a Dubai Destination colt, Medicean filly and new in a Cadeaux Genereux filly.  Get in touch at Eve@JohnsonHoughton.com to make an appointment to see them in action with a view to buying.

30 October 2008

I had 4 horses go to the Horses in Training Sales at Newmarket this week.  As always, the market was very up and down and we were very pleased to sell 3 horses.  VALENTO has gone to Kim Bailey, SHAKE ON IT has gone to Matt Gingell, both of them will be going over hurdles soon and SHARAV is going to continue his career in Sweden.

ROODOLPH went to Newmarket for the 2nd time in his life only to come home again!  He clearly does not want to be sold and drags himself around the sale ring looking like a camel.  So he is back here and the plan is to school him over hurdles and have a bit of fun with him over the winter.

 

28 October 2008

The Dewhurst has been and gone and The Cheka didn't run.  He had a minor injury and was not going to be ready in time, so we packed him up for the winter.  He will back and raring to go next spring.

The yearling sales were interesting.  Part I was like being in a surreal bubble, horses were being sold for obscene amounts of money and nobody seemed to take any notice of the credit crunch.  Parts II & III were back to reality and now some of the sales are a bloodbath.  We bought what I would like to think are good value for money quality yearlings.  Like most people, buying in spec has become a bit of a lottery, so we only have a couple of horses which are still for sale.

For Eden Racing we have shares available in a smashing Daggers Drawn colt.  There is a well bred Medicean filly and a good moving Dubai Destination colt for sale as well.  We will be having our annual yearling show on the first Sunday in December when they will all be on display.

 

Daggers Drawn - Windomen (Forest Wind)

 

 

04 October 2008

I was devastated to lose Papa Meilland at Yarmouth last month.  It was just one of those awful things that happen racing, he fractured a pastern and had to be put down at the course.  He was a really bonny horse and owned by one of the true owner breeders Renee Robeson.  Awful for all concerned.

We have also had to miss the Tattersalls Million race with THE CHEKA which is being run later today.  I was upset at first as it is not often that you get the opportunity to run in a race worth half a million with a horse, which would have a serious chance of winning it.  However, it was a minor setback he suffered, missing a couple of bits of work and is now fully back on track.  I think the ground is going to be riding very fast and at least we still have a horse for the future.  We are now on course for the Dewhurst in 2 weeks time. 

 

 Cantering on the Peatmoss gallop                               THE CHEKA being led by PHLUKE, 04/10/08

    

 

JUDD STREET finally came back to his old form and won up at Haydock last week.  We backed him up pretty quickly and ran at Newmarket on Thursday, but it came a bit too quick, being his 3rd race in 12 days and he ran just a little bit flat.  He may be joining BEAVER PATROL in Dubai over the winter.  Speaking of Beaver, he has gone off for a 6 week holiday, being turned out and getting very muddy and woolly before coming back in to prepare for his winter in the sun.

Its come to that time of year again, when we are getting the new yearlings in and some of our old friends are off to the sales.  As with everyone the dreaded credit crunch is hitting.  I have only bought 3 cheap yearllings so far, and I think they could be good fun horses, which are well bought.  There are definitely going to be some bargains to be had, as well as horses that can be leased, so watch this space and get in touch if you are in the market.  In the meantime, go to Horses for Sale, to see pictures of the three we bought at Fairyhouse.

 

 

 

15 September 2008

The Cheka ran a great race to finish 2nd in The Solario at Sandown a couple of weeks ago.  Circumstances conspired against him slightly and although I am most definitely biased, to me he was the best horse in the race.  He is still very green and will carry on improving, so its all very exciting.  Plan A is to go to the Tatteralls Sales Race at Newmarket on October 4th, which is over a straight 7f that will play to his strengths.  All being well after this we may well go back there 2 weeks later for the Dewhurst.

Things have been somewhat quiet in the yard of late, and I would kill for a winner.  The horses look great, the bloods are fine and they are working well but they just don't seem to be firing on the racecourse.  Having said that, we couldn't have had 2 worse draws than we did at Great Leighs on Saturday.  I can see why those drawn high in sprints there have been taking their horses out.  It is the death draw.

Tomorrow I am off to sunny Yarmouth.  We had a double there earlier this year and I am hoping that we can repeat the feat.  VALENTO kicks us off in the first, a "premier" claiming stakes.  I have been itching to run him for a couple of weeks now, but been unable to find a suitable race, this looks a good one for him, though typically that man Richard Hannon looks the one to beat.   PAPA MEILLAND is running in the 2.40, he is in good form and I think he should go well then MUJOOD runs in the 4pm.  He has been a star this season and has won over 6,7 and a mile, and also at Yarmouth, so although this is a hot event, he will run well.  Fingers crosse4d for a winner!

 

28 August 2008

I can't believe how long it has been since my last transmission.  Just reading through the last bulletin and since then Beaver has run a stormer in a Group 2 at Newbury, Papa Meilland has won, York has been abandoned and The Cheka has been declared to run at Sandown on Saturday.

Firstly I would like to pay my condolences to Tim Corby's family.  He was a lovely man and always had a smile and a quip every time you met him.  It was a terrible shock to hear of his death.

I have been up at Doncaster sales this week.  What a mixed bag it was, some very nice horses, but the nice ones stood out and made plenty of money.  I came back empty handed, but there are another 3 months of yearling sales to go, so no hurry.  I would be delighted to buy a yearling for you if you are interested, please do not hesitate to contact me.  As usual, I will also be putting together some syndicates, so anyone thinking of having a share keep in touch.

As mentioned above, The Cheka is off to Sandown after the mission to run was aborted at York.  It looks to be a very hot race, but I think he is up to the challenge and lets hope we don't have our bubble burst.

 

3 August 2008

What a frustrating day!  BEAVER PATROL was ready to run the race of his life and things just did not work out for him.  It is desparately disappointing for all the connections, but I feel most let down for BEAVER himself, as he doesn't deserve to finish that low down the field.  The only consolation is that the handicapper may take pity on him and drop him a few pounds as he is clearly going to find it hard to win off his current high of 104.

VALENTO ran a really good race at Lingfield in the evening just going down a short head to a horse of Ralph Beckett's.  When your hot, your hot.  Ralph can't stop having winners, and I can't stop finding horses to beat mine.  I have now had 18 seconds and 15 thirds, the horses are running well and knocking at the door, but it is definitely about time for them to start winning!

 

 

22 July 2008

        

 

As you can see summer has finally arrived on the Downs.  We have started to get serious with our two year olds and have quite a few running in the next few days.

PAPA MEILLAND ran really well at Salisbury today, finishing a running on 5th which is the perfect introduction to racing.  GREEN POPPY ran another good race at Yarmouth finishing 2nd to an odds on favourite of Godolphin.  She is a winner waiting to happen, I just need to be patient and find a fillies only race for her.  JEWELLED REEF ran another good race at Windsor last night.  She just needs to be stepped up in trip and possibly have a bit more cut in the ground and she can do good things.  SLANT ran a great race to be 3rd at Newbury on Friday.  I was delighted with her and am expecting good things to come.

Tomorrow BAD BARON makes his first appearance on a racecourse at Leicester.  As you can see from the above photo, he is not the quickest out of the stalls, but I am hoping that over 7f, he will be able to get tucked in and then finish strongly.  He will definitely improve for the run.

 

15 July 2008

WOW!!  How impressive was that??  I knew that THE CHEKA was a good horse, I didn't know how good.  To win a novice at Ascot by 10 lengths  is pretty amazing.  Even if the rest of the field weren't of the highest quality (although the 4th had finished 3rd in the Chesham) he could not have done it more easily.  I keep pinching myself as I keep thinking I must have dreamt it. 

I have to tell you that leading up the race I was more than ever a bag of nerves.  I loved the horse, the most supportive and loyal of my owners owned him and were there, and I hadn't had a winner for 7 weeks and 53 runners.    Dad & I bought him at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sales, he has always looked quality and everything he has done at home has impressed us, not least his calm disposition.  Even after the race, he was incredibly relaxed, in fact it looked as though he had just gone out for a stroll around a park.

Fingers crossed that he is as good as he looks.  I now have the fun job of planning his campaign!!

 

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 maiden 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.