News

"The safe way to double your money is to fold it over once and put it in your pocket"

Frank Hubbard.

A snowy view over Warren Hill

There has been plenty of snow over the weekend, starting on Saturday night and really lashing it down with between 6 and 9 inches settling. We were lucky to get our runners home from Lingfield before it started and I think Iain just made it by about half an hour. There has been plenty of shovelling and salt being applied everywhere, both in the yard and the walking grounds, which has made it safe for everybody to go out and canter. It’s a lovely bright morning which makes it great to be out on the Heath and the first two lots have been out and had a good exercise.

Shomberg , Topamichi , Star-of-missouri,  Frederick Alfed

Our runners at the weekend all ran OK.  Marvo didn’t get the best of rides as you cannot come up the inside at Lingfield. The instructions were not to do so at any cost but they obviously went in and out very quickly.  Smokey had a good blow but did see Gatwick at times, and Jennifer J ran very creditably and we will see what handicap mark she gets for her races on the turf.  Today we have one runner, Akula at Wolverhampton in the last at 6pm. He has just left with David and Khalid. This is his first run on the flat for 103 days and it is over two months since he ran over hurdles. He got cast in his box and pulled a few muscles which held him up, but this should put him straight for going back over hurdles shortly.

       Darren clearing the Horse Walker                                 Guv'nor's Snowman

There is a lot of talk about when and how soon clerks of the course should call off those meetings which are in doubt due to the weather. How the clerk of the course at Kempton could state there was no Saturday night snow forecast early in the week, when the fixture was planned, I don’t know anybody living in the real world would have seen that was the day it was going to come down. I have full sympathy with any of the trainers who have had to send runners away overnight because the cost of travelling horses is horrendous, and when the meeting is off there is no compensation and no comeback. I am all for getting racing on but a good clerk of the course should give the call early and not keep having inspections as if this is the case the meeting should never be on in the first place.

Guv'nor with first lot returning

A good weekend for Phil and Ian, with Arsenal managing to score a few goals. The Owls are now in the promotion places after their win against Yeovil. England won the rugger but are struggling in the Test.  Ian had been regaling us with stories about his boys’ weekend away in Edinburgh where he went first class on the train, spent two days in the pub drinking and eating and watching sport. We are all very jealous. He says he won’t be allowed to do it again for at least two more years, though!

Second lot walking back down the Town Canter

"No hour of life is wasted that is spent in the saddle."

Winston Churchill.

Chankillo (Lauren) Zenarinda (Dan)

It was a biting wind that greeted us on the Heath this morning; I think it was -6 or 7. There were plenty of scarves and balaclavas being worn by all the lads riding out. There was also an assortment of headgear on the trainers who were brave enough to come out on to the Heath. The forecast is for it to snow late this afternoon and into the evening but at present it is blue sky and freezing cold. Our horses have all had a good warm up in the indoor school with a trot round followed by one canter up Warren Hill.

Cotton Grass (Rhea) Astroscarlet (Abbi)

We have three runners today at Lingfield which along with Wolverhampton is the only racing today. Ffos Las is already off as it should have been yesterday; it is so far away from anywhere that people would have had to set off so early to get there or even gone overnight which all adds to the expense. 

Our horses and lads left for Lingfield at the crack of dawn; we start with Marvo at 1:25. We all know how consistent he has been this all-weather season and he shouldn’t be far off again today. It would be great if he could put his head in front and it is the first ride that Danny Brock will be having for me. He is an apprentice with Chris Wall and has been riding out for us on a weekly basis. He seems a very polite lad who wants to get on and we will start to see what he can do today.

Smokey Oakey runs in the 3 o’clock. He has not run for nearly 500 days on the flat and it has taken him time to get over a few problems following his excitement after seeing the sights of Newmarket when he was loose a few months ago. All I can expect from him today is a sensible run which will put him straight for another hurdle run or two in the spring.

Our last runner is Jennifer J in the 4:35. She looks like she will be better when we get the turf and a bit of distance but she is mad fresh and another run will give her another good education. Saying that, this looks a moderate race and miracles sometimes happen.

Comrade Bond (Abbi)

I see they are considering taking Black Caviar to Dubai to run in the Golden Shaheen which is worth two million dollars. This would be on her way to a run at Royal Ascot and it will be fantastic to see such a great mare from down-under try to increase her reputation against the northern hemisphere horses. Let’s hope it happens.

Steve with Jenko and Tony Cross - new syndicate member of Comrade Bond

It was interesting to read an article yesterday by a certain Newmarket trainer in the Racing Post that inferred only she and couple of other trainers used the schooling facilities at The Links. This is far from the truth as one trainer has already pointed out in today’s Racing Post chat room. There are plenty of trainers who have jumpers in Newmarket and they all use the brilliant facilities that we have available to us. She may have been trying to say that she can’t understand why there are not more just pure national hunt trainers in Newmarket as we have unbelievable facilities for that sphere. However the economics of training solely jumpers doesn’t really work in a flat orientated town. That is why there are so many trainers with dual purpose strings.

Eanans Bay (Abbi) Marsh Dragon (Liam) Haafd Filly (Lee)

A great sporting weekend with the cricket team still struggling in Dubai, the Six Nations starting and the Owls at home to Yeovil - this of course is the highlight. We are not far off the top and a good win today, which I am expecting, will put us on the right road for promotion. Come on the Owls!

Barwick (Abby) Topamichi (Lauren) Star of Missouri (Rhea) Frederick Alfred (Dan)