Zoom, zoom, Makhzoon....

Makhzoon flies the last on the way to a memorable win at Perth

Slightly brighter here this morning after a few cool, dull and occasionally rainy days.  Exciting winner on Sunday at Perth when Makhzoon made all to win in front of a huge crowd at Perth, a big relief that he hadn't regressed since arriving at Kinneston!  Earlier on the card Academy put up an improved display to finish 5th, more to come I hope.  Lucy at the British Racing School in Newmarket on an Advanced Conditionals Course, six young jockeys are there for what looks like an excellent intense schedule over three and a half days, then she heads to Uttoxeter on Thursday evening.

The debrief

New jackets.............. new sponsor!

Academy, hurdles well but unsuited by soft I feel

Pictures courtesy of Frank Cornfield, others in his online gallery......

Stormy Summer

Cool, damp and breezy today so I have succumbed to temptation and lit the log burner, high summer supposedly, at least it's not just Scotland suddering.  Some easy stretches on the all-weather for the weekends runners, a great winner for Lucy late last night on Allanard at Wetherby not home until 2am but easier after a winner.  If they don't get too much rain we will run Northern Flame in the 3pm at Hexham tomorrow, 12 run, Lucy rides and the ground is soft at present, he will stay at home if it goes any softer. Lucy also rides Ounaben in the 1.50, Wave Power in the 2.25 and Red Kingdom in the 4.40.  Then on Sunday, Perth Gold Cup Day, we run Academy in the "Silver Plate" at 3.40, 12 run, Lucy rides, conditions should be fine, trip might be on the sharp side but I am hoping he can be progressive. Makhzoon then makes his stable debut in the 4.40, it looks like he prefers three miles and this is very competitive but we need to start somewhere, Lucy also rides Freddie Brown in the 2.40 and Zitenka in the big race at 4.10 - let's hope the weather cheers up.........  

Back on track

Dull here today and forecast looks pretty grim for the time of year, casts uncertainty over weekend running plans but we are used to that, work today again for Academy and The Paddy Premium, this time in the school and on the all-weather, others having an hour's hack.
A welcome winner for Lucy yesterday, 50-1 shot in the opener at Cartmel, extraordinary but needed and a big relief after drawing a blank in May, a good 2nd in the feature race also and both for trainers who hadn't put her up before, at Wetherby tonight to ride Srimenati in the 8.15 and Allanard in the 8.50.

A weighty problem....

Damp this morning, planning final pieces of work for this weekend's three intended runners - riverbank gallop looks in superb shape if we can nip in there ahead of the rain, a straight mile of deep sand, another four having a decent canter, nearly there with a couple of youngsters, more to grass next week I hope.  Early start for Lucy, off to school first thing in deepest Cumbria prior to heading to Cartmel where she rides Itstooearly in the 2.10 (probably exactly what she was thinking when her alarm went at 4am!), Heezasteel in the 3.50 and Stanley Bridge in the 5.25, on to Yorkshire after that, schooling there in the morning then Wetherby tomorrow night. 
One for the anoraks - turning over the calendar for June I am greeted by picture of The Paddy Premium winning at Perth this time last year, having a slightly frustrating time getting him "sharp" enough this time round, he was 493kg on the morning of his race last year, 10 days ago he was a similar weight, I thought it would be good for him to have a couple of hours in the paddocks each afternoon, he clearly overdid himself a bit, going into last Saturday's race he was 506kg, trainer a bit horrified, 24 hours later he was 494kg, the race and 8 hours on the lorry had done some good but by last night (another 48 hours later) he was 509kg, aaargh! grazing now restricted to 45 mins and lots of work continuing to come his way, but he is 12, perhaps middle age spread is catching up with him..... (like trainer like horse!)
Been quite busy in the office over the long weekend and lots of visitors but did enjoy dipping into the BBC's coverage of the festivities in London from time to time; wonderful stuff, so well organised and creating a fantastic atmosphere of formality combined with genuinely happy celebration, the Royal Family have assumed a new relevance in straightened economic times and they, most particularly the Queen, give so much pleasure to so many, three cheers say I..... somewhat unusually I think I feel proud to be British, I am sure many others feel the same.   

Quiet Sunday ??

Camelot

The long journey to Cartmel passed quickly thanks to Fivelive's excellent coverage of the racing at Epsom and a stunning Group 1 double for team Ballydoyle, our own evening slightly less productive with The Paddy Premium finishing 7th and Flaming Thistle 6th, the former was the victim of (another) bedraggled start whilst the latter struggled to go the pace on ground that was quicker than ideal for him, I always seem to come away from Cartmel smiling though despite a late evening and a long drive home, it's just that sort of place. Weary today but horses seem fine and "Blue" about to hit the road for Hexham..... not me I am sorry to say, a lot to catch up with here, meeting with builder this morning re a few new boxes and plans for the summer to be made.  Lucy back down the road to Cartmel tomorrow where she rides Srimenati in the 2.10, Lutin du Moulin in the 3.10 and Shooting Times in the 5.30 - she could do with a winner, creeping up the "cold" list, keeps hitting the cross bar but riding well so sit tight and they will come....... a few pics from yesterday thanks to my new camera (thank you Mrs A!)

Kit dodges the autograph hunters after his first ride against the "pro's"

Sister and brother head back to the Weighing Room, unplaced but unscathed!

Flaming Thistle cools off..............

Topsy Turvy again!

Freezing two weeks ago, roasting last week and today I find myself looking longingly at my log burner - a sharp air when feeding the outside horses this morning and ground frost mentioned in forecast again, all very puzzling but I have seldom seen such a strong flush of spring grass and the 18 horses out 24-7 seem to be thriving despite the topsy turvy weather.  Just a couple of lots this morning and the only two doing serious work were Academy and Makhzoon, a good pairing and both worked well, disasters permitting they will line up next week at Perth. 

Wheels will roll shortly for the long road to Cartmel, lorry leaving at 12 noon, I will be bringing the two jockeys down at 2pm, big excitement will be listening to the Derby on Five Live, can the Ballydoyle bandwagon keep rolling, I'm not sure they really get enough credit for their extraordinary achievements, whilst they have exceptional resources there are others with a lot more horses and a lot more money that can't quite compete, having been lucky enough to spend a few mornings there with the quiet genius I'm not really surprised, genuinely inspirational both in terms of the approach to training and the modest reaction to their success, go Camelot! 

Academy, like Camelot, a son of Montjeu

Hopefully home shortly after midnight, long day for Amy who is going with the horses and she will be in again early tomorrow as she is kindly taking Almost Blue down for his last run of the season at Hexham under Jamie, reminds me that after another late night home on Tuesday I failed to report on our three Hexham runners, pleased with them all; Balwyllo put up a much improved effort to finish 4th, Northern Flame built on his recent point-to-point success to also finish 4th, his best run over hurdles and he will now go chasing and Isla Patriot came 6th having been badly bumped and nearly brought down in the middle of the race.  After tomorrow our next runners should be at Hexham and Perth next weekend, Lucy will most probably be at Cartmel on Monday and Wednesday but after doing three return trips in five days this time last year I'm not particularly disappointed to be staying at home to catch up for a few days and enjoy the Diamond Jubilee, let's hope it kicks off in fine style at Epsom this afternoon........ happy holidays!

and now Cartmel....

Kit on Flaming Thistle

So, it comes round again, racing at the country's most idiosynctratic course, Cartmel, a long drive but usually worthwhile and a big day for Kit tomorrow when he has his first ride against the professionals in the 7.45 on Flaming Thistle, the ground should be good, 13 run and it's bound to be fast and furious, the horse ran well in the race last year for his previous trainer but if I'm being honest he's not an obvious Cartmel type (being rather big and a bit slow), Lucy rides Sam D'Oc in the same race.  Earlier we run The Paddy Premium in the 7.15 with Lucy on board, again 13 run, I think the track might suit him well, Lucy also rides Adios Saffron in the 8.50 having been at Pontefract tonight where she rides Shadowtime in the 6.30