The Brave Man

Cold & windy, snow in the air; some horses hacking today but Seeking Power, Four Fiddlers and Forcefield worked on Lucinda's woodchip, Papamoa & Noir et Vert on our all-weather and Playing Footsie, "Alf" and Minimo on the grass.  Daasij had a pipe-opener ahead of his run in the 3.20 at Catterick tomorrow, ground is good, 15 run, Paul Gallagher rides and he has a decent each way chance.  Buffalo Ballet remains under observation in the Royal Dick.
Well, I am pleased to introduce my next guest blogger who is currently working in Afghanistan, the light-hearted nature of his blog below belies the bravery and commitment required to carry out his job as chief executive of The Halo Trust ( http://www.halotrust.org/) which carries out the unenviable but deeply necessary task of clearing landmines in the most hostile environments in the world.....

Guy takes a breather

"Most perturbed to see you may be reducing your blog thing - can't be true. Here in Afghanistan the internet isn't great, but when it fires up there is little better than reading the Kinneston Blog - your meetings with Triumph and Disaster and treating those two imposters just the same. My tenuous link to your yard..... well am sort of on your website home page every time it opens.... look right side of the screen for the only horse with its ears pricked galloping strongly up the hill at Carlisle, coming in just behind yet another Kinneston winner. Ok, you've spotted it, but no rider! Even if I was in the ambulance at least the horse was very happy - and a happy horse is the key (as Lucinda said afterwards - oh so polite!). Over here it is snowing and foggy, Kabul airport is shut down, and chances of me making it home for Cheltenham look remote, and sadly missed Kelso at the weekend. Déjà vu - seems like only yesterday that I was stuck here just after the Russians left and Dessie went on to win the 89 Gold Cup. Horses in Afghanistan? The main sport is Buzkashi, which is like Polo but instead of stick n ball the riders have to reach down and pick up a dead bullock, tuck one of its legs under a stirrup leather, ride one handed / reins between teeth and gallop in the vague direction of a marked out white chalk circle and then drop the Buz (Buz - rhymes with Cruz) in the circle. Other than that, there are almost no rules. Two teams (each of 20-30 riders), but also individual prizes - so the rider can be going great guns for the circle, protected by his team mates, and then at last minute one of them grabs the Buz off him to try to score himself! Sounds violent, but actually there tend to be only a few real enthusiasts in each team, while the rest of the riders hang around coffee-housing, all rather like cub-hunting in Gloucestershire. Luckily no rules on non-triers, otherwise I would have been in the Stewards' Room after each of my few games. The annual Buzkashi country finals take place later this month (24th) at the Afghan New Year festival. The semi finals were two weeks ago (same day as electrocuting Newbury). One of the lead riders from years before had come out of retirement to play (for those who know Afghanistan he was a relation of the turncoat Commander Rasul Pahlawan), which made the other team very cross. They responded with drawing lots for a suicide attack - that then killed many of the opposing team (if you think I am just telling a tall story then see news link at  http://en.rian.ru/world/20110226/162770954.html ). Hopefully Nichols, Henderson, Twist'n'shout not hatching similar plans (though of course you/we have had bomb scares at key races before), but anyway for a variety of reason I'll settle on Imperial Commander for the Gold Cup. Have a great week, and don't stand too close to men with beards and black hats - you never can tell....Guy. "

Spot the Brit?



Weekend Review

Colder today, busy weekend made busier by late Friday night transfer of Buffalo Ballet from Loch Leven Equine to Royal Dick Veterinary Hospital, luckily he has made good progess there under the excellent care of John Mark O'Leary and should be home tomorrow.  Some of the runners ran above expectations and some below, details on http://www.kinneston.com/Kinneston/news-and-events.aspx (shortly), suffice it to say we came away with two seconds; most pleasing was the return to form of Commercial Express, narrowly defeated by Lucinda's Badger Foot with the pair well clear of a competitive looking field.  Interestingly she had held Buffalo for the vet at Loch Leven whilst he was being examined late on Friday night, although she didn't know it was my horse until I arrived to transfer it; a good example of the cooperative spirit between the local trainers, I was delighted for her when Bold Sir Brian won the big race at Kelso, this was an exceptional performance by such an inexperienced horse and it would be good for the area to have a really top class horse, just reward for Lucinda, Scu and their team who all work so hard.  Great reward also for Peter Buchanan who has now won the big race on three consecutive Saturdays, no rest for him as he was at the P2P on Sunday in trainer role and will be in here this afternoon to school having no doubt ridden 4 lots for his boss in the morning.  The worst thing about the weekend was the injury to Brian Harding at Kelso on Saturday; earlier in the afternoon he was on a high having ridden Skippers Brig to narrowly defeat National fancy Ballabrigs but then in the last he fell and was taken off by ambulance badly concussed and with a nasty break to his arm, he will struggle to be back in time to ride this horse in the National, let's hope he makes a speedy recovery.
Horses worked on the all-weather this morning, Forcefield and Four Fiddlers schooled over hurdles, more schooling this afternoon over fences and some doing flatwork.  We have entries this week at Catterick on Wednesday, Carlisle on Thursday, Ayr on Friday & Saturday & Cumberland P2P on Saturday - will need to sit down and work out what's going where!
Delighted to report that I have two more guest bloggers lined up this week - watch this space...

Commercial Express

Weekend

We have three runners at Kelso tomorrow and another three at the point-to-point at Alnwick on Sunday, the ground looks like being good to soft at both. Tomorrow Isla Patriot makes his hurdling debut in the 3.05, Peter Buchanan rides, 15 run, he jumps well at home but tomorrow will be all about gaining experience, Twelve Paces makes his stable debut in the 4.50, 14 run, this is a competitive Hunter Chase but this horse is in good form is ready to run and should go well, Northern Flame makes his handicap debut in the 5.25, 14 run and Peter Buchanan rides. Its a step up in trip and I would expect him to improve for that, he should like the ground if it keeps drying up, I just wonder if he has enough experience for this type of race so early in his career, if he copes he should run well.  On Sunday Kit rides Commercial Express and Skipping Chapel, Jamie rides Almost Blue, exact targets still to be determined.  We sponsor at Kelso tomorrow and it looks like an excellent day's racing - let's hope all goes smoothly.

Buffalo Ballet

Back here today things have been busy again with all the horses working on the grass and the all-weather, Minimo, Playing Footsie and Native Coll are scheduled to go to Lucinda's woodchip third lot and we have made four entires for Carlisle next Thursday.  We have had a setback with Buffalo Ballet who has an impacted colon and has been transferred to Loch Leven Equine practice so that they can give him copious quantities of intravenous fluids, worrying times but with a fair wind he should be OK in a day or so and he is in the best of hands. 

Harold's Blog

Hello, I'm Harry, not sure why I have been chosen but "Trainer" was in today and was moaning that he had no volunteers as guest bloggers on his website...well, where do I start?  I have had the dubious privilege/unpleasant task of cutting his hair for the last 20 years, I didn't know anything about racing back then but have gradually become quite taken by the sport.  I suppose it's his endless optimism that fascinates me and it's also quite infectious.  However awful the weather, however many setbacks he has, he always seems to believe that the next winner is round the corner and that he has a future champion growing up in the yard; one day I am sure one will emerge.
As a customer, not quite perfect, always wants an appointment at short notice, always turns up late, never more than five minutes but late nevertheless.  Most amazingly though he only seems to have his hair cut twice a year, March Cheltenham & September Perth, walks in with a crow's nest stuck on his head, says "a number 4 please," smiles at the end and says that should last six months; I'm sure it's all about value for money, poor value for me though, takes ages!  Never mind, he's a good tipper so long as I get a  pretty girl to wash his hair, leaves nothing if I end up doing it; mind you he's no good at tipping horses and another annoying habit is that he always calls me Harold for some reaon known only to himself.

Harold smartening "Trainer" up for Cheltenham

He's good for business though, always sending his mates round.  Now he says he can't understand why they don't have hairdressers at airports, all those otherwise busy people with time on their hands, says he can introduce me to those Spanish people that own Edinburgh airport & sort me out some space, sounds good; and he says it's the same at the races, claims to know that dodgy chap that runs Perth, says he can sort me out a space there too, and he can put me in touch with the people that sell the Pimms, a glass of Pimms while you have your hair cut between races - how perfect is that - see you there! Oh, one other thing, he says I've got to give a tip for Cheltenham - how about Barber's Shop (ha ha, got quite a lot in common with the owner though..), the man with pink socks can't work out what trip it wants, I think I'll go for Diamond Harry instead...  

Schooling

Busy day on the schooling grounds today; first lot Isla Patriot, Northern Flame, Forcefield & Daasij were over teh hurdles, Minimo & Playing Footsie jumped coloured poles, 2nd lot Native Coll and Almost Blue jumped the chase fences, this afternoon Peter was in and schooled Four Fiddlers and Little Glenshee over hurdles and then Minimo over the fences, they were all led by Amulree.  Louisa was in at the same time doing flatwork with Forcefield, Daasij and "Alf."  All the horses exercised this afternoon were also given their routine catering etc this morning so all in all it feels like its been rather a busy day.

Amulree

Plans for the weekend are firming up and we look like having five runners, have made some entries for Catterick next Wednesday - am chasing up the guest blogger!

Spring

 Another splendid & productive morning; Papamoa, Amulree & Skipping Chapel worked on the grass, 2nd lot did steady cantering on the "BGF," those that worked yesterday went for a long hack & Buffalo Ballet, Commercial Express and "Alf" worked on Lucinda's woodchip.  Not only that I have identified the first guest blogger, connection with racing a little tenuous, I hope he's not too rude!
It was particularly pleasing to see Papamoa back in action after a short lay-off, he has been back cantering for a month but we are stepping things up now and he seems in excellent form.
Bit of a fuss in the paper about me wanting to continue with the NW styling rather than being known as Nick or Nicholas, as I can't decide between the latter two I thought it was easier to stick with the status quo particulalrly as all our branding etc features "NW Alexander," appears there are only 5 out of about 800 who want to stay this way so it sticks out a bit which wasn't the intention..

Papamoa (James)



Perth

Another fine day, worked 7 on the grass (Saturday's potential runners and those planned to go away to work on Friday), all went nicely but Northern Flame particularly caught the eye, he is a horse I have always thought the world of and he is scheduled to make his handicap debut on Saturday, I am nervous that he lacks the experience to run in an open handicap already but other conditions should suit and he is ready to run again, will assess the opposition. 

Northern Flame

Tynedale point-to-point has been rescheduled to Saturday, clashes with the Hunter Chase at Kelso and will take away runners from what already look like being thin fields at the Alnwick fixture on Sunday, they are also now allowed to keep all the entry fees.............grrr.

Mrs A's big day looms so a quick trip to Perth required, struck by the recessionary feel, far too much vacant property on the High St, not many people about and those that are look like they haven't got much to do, they either look miserable or a bit drunk, few people seem to have much purpose - a bit grim really.  Back for evening feeds when called out to tackle some poachers with lurchers chasing my much loved brown hares, usual excuses, they look a bit like they could have been in Perth earlier in the afternoon - much more animated though...