Early autumn..

Team Photographer

Rather perversely one of the aspects to training horses I enjoy most is feeding them early in the morning, I find it an invaluable part of the process of coming to know the horses and them coming to know me, I often spot subtle changes in their demeanour.  This morning many of them appeared wild; increased feeding and fitness combined with a crisp air indicating a change in the season had sparked them up and some were bucking in their boxes ready to take a chunk out of trainer if he didn't deliver a bowl of nuts with haste; my pleasure and a good indicator that they are ready to take on more work. 

Lobbing round the stubble

No luck for Lucy at Epsom and sadly she will be absent from Perth tomorrow opting for Market Rasen instead where she rides Pete for Barry Murtagh in the 7.30.  A splendid 8 race card at Perth with the highlight being a highly competitive summer handicap champion hurdle which has attracted an excellent field, much credit must go to Sam Morshead for for producing such a fantastic race for the time of year, I just hope that the weather and racegoers behave for our royal visitors, both have been quite iffy so far this summer!