The last day........

Isla Patriot with Gemma, covered in Perth mud

 ...of winter I hope, 6 degrees, freezing rain, snow in the hills and it's the 18th of May, not much better tomorrow but hope ahead for next week I feel. Routine day either on the all-weather or hacking, time to catch up in the office after a busy Perth. 

A chilly Ladies Day!

 So-so sort of day yesterday with Isla Patriot putting up a career best to come 4th in the 3m novice hurdle, hopefully we can find a little handicap for him somewhere soon, The Paddy Premium ran as expected in the 2 mile handicapchase finishing 5th, he needs some mercy from the handicapper at the age of 12 and Buffalo Ballet got stuck in the mud to finish 5th in the bumper, Lucy was easy on him once his chance had gone and as I said yesterday his preparation had been interrupted. We are deliberating whether or not to go to the p2p at Hexham on Sunday, 4 entered but ground might be a bit extreme and there are other opportunities for these horses most of whom have been busy enough of late. Busy will be Lucy over the weekend, first "double-header" tomorrow when she rides Or D'Oudairies in the 3.45 at Bangor then Almadam in the 5.55 at Uttoxeter (how far is it from Bangor to Uttoxeter?), she also rides Ouest Eclair in the 6.55 and Turbolinas in the 7.30. Then on Sunday she heads to Market Rasen to ride Lap of Honour in the 2.30 and Monsieur Jordain in the 3.30, pictures courtesy of Frank Cornfield

The Buffalo stuck in the mud - frustrating end to his season having waited so long for good ground