update

well, I don't want this to become another weather moan but the last week has been quite extraordinary - blizzards, gales, sunshine and rain - power cuts and some quite extensive damage, not ideal for training horses, hmm, anyway, it's going to rain again tomorrow and then turn quiet and settled for a while.

Today's Morpeth p2p has become the latest weather casualty but we did manage to take two to Carlisle on Saturday, Native Coll ran his usual game race to finish a close 4th in the 2m handicap chase but Seeking Power ran no race at all off top weight in the 3m novice handicap, his shins were a bit sore last night and I suspect he was feeling them from early on in the race, I think he needs longer between runs - there is a good race for him at Kelso on 4th May so we will keep him ticking over for that and hope conditions suit. He has made good progress this season and should be able to pay his way next winter in staying races in the North.

This week all eyes are on Aintree where we will not be represented with any horses though no doubt our 2nd guest tipster "Trendy-Wendy" will be making her presence felt with her barrage of emails to the BBC team - let's hope she proves more profitable to follow than the not terribly helpful "Fabby Frank". Hopefully we will have a busy day next Sunday when we are intending to be well represented at Kelso and the p2p at Netherby; we have Almost Blue, Noir et Vert, Amulree, Commercial Express (pictured right), Papamoa, Whispering Moor and Noir et Vert entered.

Meanwhile Skipping Chapel (top - at Ayr) is very fresh and well after short course of treatment following his burst blood vessel, we will look for a race for him soon. Four Fiddlers has taken a little time to get over his Ayr race (pictured on the way to the start for his racecourse debut) and may or may not run again this season, either way he is a lovely long term prospect.