Bliss



A little more daylight is always welcome..



is..... the clocks going back, once a year, an extra hour, badly needed after 3 trips to Edinburgh in the previous 24 hours aside from everything else that is going on, impatient though - are those "average speed" cameras that are to plague us for 5 miles on the M90 actually live, can anyone report "being done"? - I hope not because if so I am in trouble, I just can't help myself and to compound it all I was nabbed by a plain clothes car just South of the roadworks on Saturday afternoon, infuriating but if those cameras are working I suspect I will be requiring a driver - FINGERS CROSSED - and self-control the new mantra.  Anyway, a quiet Sunday and time to reflect and plan, horses seem in good order and am very keen for more runners, plenty of entries at Musselburgh, Hexham, Kelso and Carlisle over the next week.  Rode the three horses from the sales this morning;  Academy who was then gelded, Goldtrek and Issabella Gem - they all appear to have settled in nicely, we will teach them to jump and then make plans......

What on earth is he about to say?

Soggy

Who is this taking her first steps onto Kinneston?

Half an inch of rain overnight and its back to sodden conditions, only light showers this morning and the horses all worked on the all-weather, new arrivals introduced to horsewalker, Northern Flame and the pointers jumped coloured poles in the school then NF went for a four mile scamper round the flat ground, not even puffing at the end, schools rugby beckons this afternoon then theatre tonight to see James Corden in One Man, two Guvnors; absolutely no idea what it will be like!

Well..

The excessive demand for racing opportunities in the North at present meant that our two intended runners on Sunday were both ballotted out, not a disaster but frustrating for connections, particularly for those involved with Northern Flame who was due to have one more run to help us evaluate whether to continue to run him under rules or try a point-point.  We will now have to take that decision before Monday without the help of another run, he missed the "cut" by one and I am confident there will be non-runners by the time Sunday comes round, I fail to understand why the BHA can't run a reserve system like they do in Ireland as it doesn't help trainers to sell the sport when horses are ballotted out of races that end up undersubscribed...Lucy rides Phoenix Returns in the 4.20 at Carlisle on Sunday for Alan Swinbank, the entire field are making their racecourse debut, Alan always has his horses well prepared.. 

So, that minor grumble is off my chest,  a fine morning here; Isla Pearl Fisher, Amulree and Buffalo Ballet went to work on Lucinda's woodchip, the others did steady canters for a couple of miles on the stubble.  Frank Cornfield was in to take some photographs and put the finishing touches to two new ownership opportunities that we are putting together, both intended to enable people to become involved with the excitement of racehorse ownership here at a very affordable level - watch this space!

Big excitement though was the arrival at lunchtime of three horses from Newmarket Sales, I have hardly been able to sleep all week in anticipation of their arrival and I wasn't disappointed when they came off the lorry, over the moon! 

Someone wondered why nobody leaves comments on this blog, probably because they've fallen asleep reading it, do comment if you feel like it, at least then I know somebody's read it........ should have some runners next week - Musselburgh Thursday, Hexham Friday and Kelso Saturday are all on the radar screen

Quiet Thursday

Four Fiddlers

Dry today, a bit cool, a quieter day on the yard with Four Fiddlers and Northern Flame jumping 8 hurdles each ahead of their potential engagements this weekend, most of the rest had a long hack apart from the point-to-pointers who all had their first canter - Massini Man, Commercial Express and Flaming Thistle - all very fresh and enthusiastic.  Working on transport arrangements and stabling for 3 new arrivals due here tomorrow....... 

Exciting times..

It feels like the week has just begun but Wednesday evening already, oh dear, showery afternoon after a lovely morning but the ground remains sodden after yet more rain yesterday.  Monday was fair and we had a fox control visit from the Fife Foxhounds, luckily my furry friends escaped but good to see the hounds out and in particular to see ex promising young jockey Ryan Mania clearly enjoying his new job as whipper-in, there was also a good representation from Lucinda's expanding band of point-to-pointers including Peter Buchanan, remarkably fresh at 8am on Monday after a productive weekend riding in the States where he won a race and was 3rd in their Grand National.



Northern Flame



A 4.15am alarm yesterday for a long day at Newmarket's Horses in Training Sale, 1400 flat horses selling this week and an eclectic range of buyers from around the globe, some wonderful horses and having struggled to hit the mark in the morning I was exceptionally pleased with the two horses I ended up buying later in the day, sometimes one can feel a little flat (and tired) on the way back from the sales but  I was over the moon this time and smiled the whole way home, arriving at about 10.30pm.  Sharp start again this morning and 3 horses over to Lucinda's woodchip; The Paddy Premium, Capital Venture and Papamoa all worked nicely and I am looking forward to them running again soon though given the weather here I am a little perplexed to hear they are planning to water at Musselburgh, must be on a different planet!  Back here we worked Isla Pearl Fisher, Isla Patriot, Amulree, Four Fiddlers, Buffalo Ballet and Here's to Harry on the grass with the rest working on our cushiontrack.  Entries this weekend at Carlisle where we will be hoping Northern Flame pulls as hard as he did following the hounds....

Just another Saturday morning..

Some pictures from first lot today..

You might call this a water trough, I would call it a bidet...

Heading up....

and away..

Back down...

Something's funny..

Ah, the sheep...

Seeking Power (Jen)

Four Fiddlers

Papamoa

Ocarina

Forcefield

Grimmus Maximus

Describes the weather earlier this morning, low cloud, howling gale and soft but persistent rain, 10 degrees warmer than yesterday but brighter now (well, less dull) and a good morning's work with Isla Pearl Fisher, Sydney Cove and Here's to Harry going over to Lucinda's woodchip (the latter's first time ever off the farm aged four and a bit - how about that, there's a big world out there.....).  Back here Ocarina and The Paddy Premium worked on the grass and the rest (due to work tomorrow) either lobbed round on the grass for 3 miles or popped up and down the all weather a few times (depending on their propensity for pulling arms out of sockets on the grass.) No runners from here this weekend but she who is now beginning to clock up rather a serious mileage is riding at Stratford tomorrow; Fool's Wildcat for Gordon Elliot in the 2.20 and Nevsky Bridge for Bruce Hellier in the 5.00pm.  I think she needs to find a sponsor - any ideas?

Here's to Harry (Gemma)

Oh and by the way, the BHA appear to have acceeded to nearly all the PJA demands on alterations to the whip rules, they've rescinded the bans imposed so far which means Soumillon will rightly collect his £55k and Hughes will be back riding at Newbury this afternoon........ and they all lived happily ever after.. maybe... perhaps there is no such thing as bad publicity (2nd item only to Gadaffi on Radio 4 10.00am news bulletin today - move over Sarkozy & Merkel) but all so unnecessary and badly handled by the BHA, the Chairman took full responsibility... is his position really tenable now.........