Back to a degree of normality. Back to Far Westfields Farm after a few days in Sussex. Back to the horses....
A fantastic Remembrance service for Dad on Thursday. Most of the service being chosen by himself. Standing room only. The right hymns. A brilliant and evocative address by Jimmy Brecknock, whom I have known since I was 8 and whom Dad always described as "his second son". Jimmy's oration all the more remarkable as he had somehow conspired to leave his original speech in London - and so the one he delivered had been put together in the minutes before the service....!!
And Dad would have been hugely pleased that Colonel Guy Norrie was present representing the Queen. A very sad and difficult time - but Dad's passing mercifully swift, and he would, I know, have approved hugely of his send-off. We missed him at the "de-brief" around the kitchen table that evening.....
The horses doing us proud. But a bit too much crossbar rattling. Too many seconds and thirds - but the horses look fantastic, continue to win a huge number of "best turned-out prizes" and are running to the top of their form. Frustrating to be missing out in a few close finishes - but better to be involved in them than not. Via Mia a case in point on Friday, returning from a long absence to finish a very creditable second....
We have crept onto that dreaded cold list. But pretty remarkable that it only took us 10 days to get on it. A factor of the strength of depth we now have on the yard and the number of horses fit and ready to run. And with many of the National Hunt team on the cusp of their seasonal debuts (Friendly King goes today at Kempton), these are exciting times. And the upside to the downside of the cold list is that, according to the Racing Post, 100% of our horses are running to form which, I guess, is a pretty difficult statistic to improve upon....??!!
An interesting tale on Saturday. Somebody walked into a Printers in Warwick and asked for 50 Business Cards in my name. Because his spelling was so poor, the lady running the place called me up (strangely, it was my mobile number he had wanted on the card) to query a word or two. Once she had established that this fellow was not me, the Police were alerted and were on hand to greet him when he returned to pick up the cards. "Taken away for questioning" was the last I have heard so far. What can have been his motivation ?? Why put my number on the card ?? All a little confusing, as I hope that a fake business card would be unlikely to be taken as proof of identity...
If he is another George Baker, I could try and sell him a share in a horse by the same name.....
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