Adieu, mon ami...

Timmy at Kinneston, 9th March 2011

A very sad start to the week when I found our stable stalwart Timmy in severe discomfort with colic early on Monday morning, the vet was here quickly but it soon became apparent that the kindest solution was to put him to sleep.  Timmy gave Clare one of the best days of her life hunting here only last week and that was typical of the fun he has given us all over the last 8 or 9 years; hunting, showjumping, x-country, dressage, one day events, pony racing - he did everything and Lucy in particular learnt a huge amount on him.  Latterly Clare hacked him here either on his own or with the string, he also became a regular visitor to all the Northern racecourses as our travelling companion with single runners and would sometimes clock up a huge mileage in a week visiting Carlisle. Newcastle, Hexham, Haydock etc.

It was thus a somewhat subdued party that belatedly headed off to Cheltenham on Monday afternoon, we were soon distracted when Lucy's agent rang with the offer of a ride at Huntingdon for Howard Johnson on Wednesday, this wasn't in the logistics plan for the week but we worked it out & she headed off there instead of having a busman's holiday at the Festival.  It finished down the field but some compensation arrived in the form of a big run from Seeking Power at Hexham on Thursday, backed in from 6-1 to 4-1 favourite he was driven for over over a circuit and only just failed by half a length at the end of 4 miles, so close and the first two were over 40 lengths clear of the field.

Busy day tomorrow with three runners at Newcastle and three at the Buccleuch point-to-point, not sure if we have enough bridles.  At the former we run Twelve Paces in the 4.30, 4 run, Lucy rides and the ground will be drying up and gluey.  Northern Flame runs in the 5.05, Campbell Gillies rides, 10 run and Forcefield runs in the 5.40 with Lucy on, 6 run.  To be honest I'm not keen on the ground for any of these runners but it will be safe just rather tiring and the with the races not looking overly competitive, the horses fit and well, and limited other opportunities in the next week or two I felt it was right to run.  At the p2p we run Almost Blue, Noir et Vert and Commercial Express, BROTHER Jamie (I say BROTHER because again the Scottish Farmer had a generational mixup in its report last week at my expense!)  rides the first two and Kit the other, all 3 were 2nd last time out and will be hoping to go one better.

And today of course, what a race, I don't think I will be betting, no added excitement required but here are Fabby's ratings.......
1.30: Grandouet(83), Zarkandar(80), Sam Winner(79), Unaccompanied(78)
2.05: Alarazi(87), Zanir(82), Cockney Trucker(77), Soldatino(76)
2.40: Bobs Worth(98), Gagewell Flyer(89), Court in Motion(88), Kilcrea Kim(87)
3.20: Denman(98), Long Run(92), Imperial Commander(90), Tidal Bay(81)
4.00: Gone to Lunch(97), Baby Run(93), Templer(75), Herons Well(73)
4.40: Prince Du Seuil(79), Son of Flicka(78), First Point(75), Dantari(68)
5.15: Pigeon Island(81), Oiseau de Nuit(80), Oh Crick(78), Shoreacres(74)

Deja vu ?

and the Wise Man says.... Midnight Chase...