The Blog

February 28th

On this equivalent Saturday, 12 short months ago, Music Box Express headed off down the drive to etch himself forever into my pysche as our first runner. A gallant head second, a night never to be forgotten, the beginning of what has been an extraordinary year....

When I can find a spare hour or two, I am going to settle down to collect my thoughts and submit them to print. To relive the extraordinary highs and the desperate lows. Some very very good days - some utterly miserable ones. "Living the dream" a recurring cliche - but in my case so apt.....

And our 29th winner of year one yesterday at "leafy" Lingfield. Smokey Rye cajoled home from an unpromising position off the home bend by Tolley Dean. Great for Tolley to ride us a winner - he was very involved with us right at the start, but the luck did not fall his way and we drifted apart. But his great friend James Hamer claimed Smokey Rye and kindly sent her to us - and horse and jockey got the job done extremely well. And James retained her in the subsequent auction - and so we hope for more good days with her ........ 

And a fine run from Sparkling Montjeu up at Doncaster.  She jumped really well in the main - but in Noticeable we bumped into a decent performer. What on earth is Alan King doing popping up in Claimers - that is our domain, Alan !!!!

A quiet weekend in terms of runners - but a combination of visiting Owners, Drinks parties, Point-to-Points, Dinner parties, Jamiroquai (??) etc will keep us on our toes.....

A busy life - and we could all do with that alarm clock giving us some respite. But I for one would not change a thing.......  

February 27th - again

Tallulah has just woken up and demanded that I mention her little finger on the blog....

She shut it in the door recently - and we are now at the "black nail" stage. She is standing on the chair behind me asking to know what I am writing......

I think she will be ok - but she has clearly been remarkably brave...........

February 27th

One of those inexplicable computer meltdown mornings.....

I have already thrown two laptops out of the window - "deep breaths".....

Music Box Express ran his usual sound race last night, but I think he needs a bit of help from that nice handicapper man if he is to get back on the winning trail.

Two today. Sparkling Montjeu back over hurdles at Doncaster, and Smokey Rye at Lingfield.

Beef 4/9........

And a happy end to a long-running saga yesterday afternoon. The Tote Scoop 7 is never going to catch on - but my tiny share in a syndicate that has been trying to crack it for a while finally came off. 3 of the 9 tickets secured - not a life-changing day, but a bit of Cheltenham ammunition secured....

February 26th

La Diosa a creditable 5th yesterday - but never really looking like the winner. A short break - and then back into those Sellers and Claimers for her.....

And back to downtown Dunstall Park tonight with the yard legend, Music Box Express. He has been a constant through our first year, and 1st March will mark the anniversary of his debut for us. He was our first runner and so nearly gave us the fairytale start before being collared and beaten a head. But he has won 3 since then - if every horse in the yard could do what he has done in the past year, we would be very nearly Champion Trainer......!!!???

A possible cunning plan is being hatched for Bugsy's Boy after his Plumpton win. Vicky Haigh, whose Rosabee kept finishing just in front of Excellerator last Summer, is qualified to ride in the Military races at Sandown next week - she finished second in the handicap hurdle last year. She has rung up for the ride on Bugsy's and, with my good mate Jamie Snowden now retired, she would be the most competent rider around for this race.

The merest hint of a plan at this stage. We will have to look at the entries, Vicky will have to come down and sit on him, we will all need to agree that it is the right race to target - but it would be good to have Vicky on our side for once.......

Peter and Annie Scott Dunn on their way up this morning to watch Double Dash work ahead of his Cheltenham Bumper date. Willie Mullins, though, has so many entries that he could probably fill the whole race - a very serious and quite remarkable embarrassment of riches.....    

February 25th

Back to downtown Dunstall this afternoon with the little star that is La Diosa. Not very big, not very good, by no stretch of the imagination a "Saturday horse" - but a gutsy little trier who has already done us proud by winning two this year...

She steps out of selling company today, and this looks a lot harder than the tasks she has been faced with previously, but I am sure she will not be discredited. Not bad for a 3000 Guineas purchase....

An entry made for Double Dash for the Cheltenham Bumper yesterday morning - as first lot trotted past me on the gallops, to a man and girl the team turned towards me and shouted "DO NOT FORGET TO ENTER DOUBLE DASH IN THE BUMPER...!!". I did not....

A lot milder out there, and the merest hint of Spring. The sky larks now appearing above the gallops, the hares back in evidence having gone AWOL for a while, a fox asleep on the allweather most mornings - and first light breaking through as I trundle around on the "medieval" tractor. I think that we have finally broken the back of that long and tough Winter - a foolish prediction, I am sure, and one that is almost certain to presage snow on Cheltenham Gold Cup day......!!!  

February 24th

I would in no way be exaggerating to say that without the extraordinary support of Candida's parents, Richard and Libby Evans, we would not have a business....

At a time when the banks are not exactly falling over themselves to lend to "start-up" businesses, Richard and Libby stepped up to the plate in the most extraordinary manner. They provided us with the means and backing to embark on this crazy venture. Without them we would have had no more than a fleeting dream......

I will not go on too much (Richard will be reading this in a minute or two - Good Morning, Richard !!), but the debt we owe them is utterly beyond compare. And so it was immensely gratifying to see their colours storm past the winning line at Plumpton yesterday afternoon aboard their home-bred, Bugsy's Boy.....

Richard and Libby do have a piece of this Summer's primary dream, Excellerator, but to train a winner in their own colours was a great thrill. Bugsy's given a fantastic ride by Dominic Elsworth who got him up in the shadow of the post when it had looked for much of the straight as if he would end up being no more than a decent second. And much of the credit, again, goes to Andrew Tinkler who has done so much hard work at home and on the track on this horse. Another magical afternoon in my home county, Sussex by the Sea....

And the Racecourse executive, headed up by chairman Adrian Pratt, magnanimous with their hospitality on a day on which the Racecourse was celebrating it's 125th Anniversary.

Wingull, our other runner, has always been a long-term project. Everybody who has anything to do with this fine, big horse loves him. He is one to wrap up in cotton wool and dream about. Three and a half miles and some proper fences is what his job will be in time. He will not see a saddle for several months now - he needs to grow into his massive frame, and a Summer of grass lies ahead. I am quite jealous - not necessarily of the grass (?!), but of the relaxed time he has to look forward to....!!

Towcester yesterday morning a worthwhile exercise. The ground surprisingly decent after their meeting on Sunday, and great to be able to take the opportunity to work a few on the grass. And thankfully some of those "bubbles" still intact.....

FLASHBACK TO SATURDAY - after La Patrona's "run" in the Kempton bumper, Valerie and I are walking back to the weighing room alongside Andrew Tinkler. Our post-mortem of the race is suddenly interrupted by the shouts of an irate racegoer - "Oi, Magnier - you do not know your left from your right !! You are effing useless" etc etc etc.

A little confusing - until I realise that Andrew's colours are not dissimilar to the famous Magnier dark blue, and Andrew is bearing the brunt of the punter's ire for Magnier Junior's interesting manoevure (or non-manoevure) at the start !! It's tough enough being a jockey without having to be abused for other people's cock-ups....!!??   

      

February 23rd

A great afternoon of action at Kempton Park on Saturday, a decent crowd, some compelling sport, some scintillating performances - but sadly not from La Patrona in the Bumper.......

She is not a racehorse. We have given her every chance - but for whatever reason, as soon as push comes to shove, she downs tools. She has an engine as she has shown us on the gallops - but we will now be looking for a good home for her...

Standing at the second last for the Racing Post Chase was a fine spot to be - an extraordinary performance by Naccarat and AP, and he looks King George material for Boxing Day already. Ridiculous to be thinking that far ahead - but 12/1 each-way sounds pretty alluring...

Plumpton today with Bugsy's Boy and Wingull. Both in good order - and hopeful of sneaking into the places.

And off to Towcester right now to canter a few. After a quiet Sunday, we are already back into "million miles an hour" mode - and it is still only 6.09 a.m........??!!   

February 21st

I have to admit that running La Patrona in the Bumper at Kempton on Racing Post Chase day was not Plan A. David Loder drummed into me from an early stage that if the bookies have you priced as a big double figure shot, 99 times out of 100 they will be right.....

But Kempton today are racing on pretty good ground - something that has been about as rare as the dodo in recent weeks. Although I am sure I spotted one up by the gallops the other day....

The team who own La Patrona have been immensely patient. When we have looked to have half a chance of decent ground, the ballot mark has foiled us. And when we could have got into a race, the ground has turned up bottomless. Folkestone next week was an option - but they are "heavy, soft in places" at present....

And so it is off to Kempton as a Racing Post predicted 50/1 shot. Only eight runners - and to nick a bit of prize money would be fantastic. Remember Foinavon ????!!!

A fantastic afternoon of sport - a great card, peppered with Cheltenham hopefuls. We are looking forward to it...

As soon as the frozen tundra relented, I have contracted my first proper cold of the Winter. At least with the number of pills I am popping, it should be well gone by Cheltenham, which is beginning to loom very large. Andrew Tinkler has booked us a table for lunch at the Plough at Ford on the Sunday before the Festival. The plan is to walk the course that morning, and then settle down to lunch to dream a little..... 

February 20th

Regretting staying up last night to watch England's cricketers fail to take the final West Indian wicket to secure victory in the "3rd" Test match. Questions to answer about Stauss' negative declaration, the late timing of which enabled the Windies to wriggle out of the match with a draw.....

Of course it was a difficult call, especially on a ground where some massive run chases have been achieved, but when you are 1-0 down in a series you need to be ultra-positive - and to take the occasional risk. A tangible rather than unrealistic target might have caused the West Indies to play a few more attacking and, by definition, "risky" shots. Easy to be an armchair observer - but this has to go down as a big opportunity to draw level in the series missed.....

And Flintoff and his body language a big worry for the future. An Ashes Summer without him looking a distinct and unpalatable possibility....

We headed to Wolverhampton yesterday to work a few. Plenty of potential on these mornings for a bubble or two to be burst, but yesterday was one of those where everything went really well. A couple of very exciting pieces of work - and a few bubbles unpricked, and dreams still alive. 

The reality is that we will probably have no runners at the Festival in three weeks time - but hope springs eternal, and as I write we still have three potential runners. To be travelling to the Mecca of jumps racing is always the most exciting of journeys - to be going there with a runner would be something else......

A quiet couple of days on the runner front - and so great to be able to hook up for lunch yesterday with Andy and Merv from our sponsors, BBT Financial Services. It is a huge asset to have a yard sponsor, and Andy and his team have recently signed up for another year which is fantastic news. A very successful team - and if any of you out there are thinking of investing a few quid, I could not recommend BBT more highly. I would say that of course - but in this instance it is very genuinely the case.

Patrick and Valerie with us as well (Patrick's birthday), and the highlight of the afternoon watching Candida and Valerie riding a finish on the restaurant sofa. I think it was a dead heat........  

February 19th

Lingfield yesterday. The beef won. Wickedly Fast did not.....

Off to Wolverhampton to gallop a few, including a couple of Cheltenham dreams, at 8.00 this morning.

See ya !!