Grey



Twelve Paces (Lucy), Little Glenshee (Amy) and Almost Blue (Jamie) on Lucinda's woodchip this morning.

It has been a dull grey sort of a morning here but also a very productive one and two five year old unraced grey mares worked particularly well, Little Glenshee and Playing Footsie are both at that exciting stage in their careers when each piece of work becomes a revelation as the penny slowly drops with them that they are racehorses.  Playing Footsie worked nicely on the grass with Four Fiddlers and Forcefield (both of whom have shown ability in bumpers) and then later in the morning Little Glenshee did some excellent work at Lucinda's with Twelve Paces and Almost Blue (both multiple winners). Also working nicely here on the grass were Amulree and Minimo whilst the weekend runners just had a short sharp leg & lung stretch. 

Little Glenshee



Weather permitting we will have a busy weekend starting with two runners at Ayr tomorrow; Native Coll runs in the 2.50, Lucy rides and 10 run and Seeking Power runs in his first time visor in the 3.55, Lucy rides again and 7 run.  The ground is soft and will probably ease further as rain is expected, I would like to think both horses will run well.  Plans for the Lanark point-to-point will remain flexible but it looks likely that Jamie will ride Noir et Vert in the Mens Open, and Kit will ride Skipping Chapel in the Maiden and Commercial Express in the Northern Area race.  Lucy is riding for another stable and is also booked to ride for Wilf Storey at Catterick on Monday.

Mrs A and I will be away with the two younger children which is certainly going to test our powers of delegation and will no doubt provide a bumper few days for Vodafone.  No doubt we will be fretful and distracted but it on't be necessary as I have absolute confidence in the team here....



Playing Footsie



Headgear

I don't use "headgear" as much as many other trainers but on Saturday the plan is to run Seeking Power in a visor for the first time at Ayr, not because I think he doesn't try but more to make sure that he concentrates throughout the race as he does have a tendency to run in snatches being on and off the bridle, to prepare him for htat we schooled him over six fences this morning wearing a visor. I think it sharpened him up a little, who knows whether it will work in a race, hope so.  Also schooling were Native Coll over fences and Isla Patriot over hurdles.  The rest of the horses cantered on the grass, Grania our monthly physio was in and went through most of the horses with Gillian.

Mud

Northern Flame could never really get going in the mud at Carlisle today but he plugged on to finish 7th of 11, Paddy Aspell reported that he couldn't get out of a canter and he was beaten before they reached the first hurdle.  Hmm, I had said I wouldn't run him on heavy and what do I do?  This game can snooker you slightly sometimes, he was balloted out at Newcastle last week, his preferred engagement at Ayr earlier this week was abandoned, we could have waited until Kelso next week but there is a chance of frost returning, he badly needed to run... so, we run on heavy; he appeared fresh and well on his return home - hopefully no harm done and at least we now know for definite that he doesn't handle deep ground.  I will look for a race for him in 3-4 weeks time when things might have started to dry up a bit.
Another good day back here, able to work on the grass and Commercial Express, Isla Patriot, Buffalo Ballet, Seeking Power, Daasij, Skipping Chapel & Noir et Vert all seemed to go well; the rest worked in the school and on the all-weather and should get on to the grass tomorrow.

Noir et Vert

I walked the course at Lanark pre Sunday's point-to-point on my way home from Carlisle and was amazed by how well it had drained considering the rain they have had in the last week, the course is in good condition with well-prepared fences & I suspect they will have plenty of runners.

Much Better

A much better day & whilst the grass remains sodden we were able to use both schools and the all-weather and the horses did plenty of work. We run Northern Flame in the 1.35 at Carlisle tomorrow, 11 run, Paddy Aspell rides and the ground will be very soft.  This horse improved a lot on his second outing over hurdles at Ayr a month ago, he has to step up again & I suspect he will be better over further but it wouldn't surprise me to see him run a big race at long odds if he handles the conditions though ultimately tomorrow is about furthering his education.

I was delighted to be able to collect Isla Pearl Fisher from the Glasgow University veterinary hospital this afternoon, he seemed happy to be home and everyone here was happy to have him back.  It is worth mentioning how impressed I have been with the team at Glasgow in every aspect of the way they have handled this case, it also never ceases to amaze me how much more straightforward it appears to be to receive the right level of medical care and associated communication if you are a horse compared with being a human.

grimmer than grim can be..

This morning started with a text from Ayr stating that racing today had been abandoned due to an unforecast inch of overnight rain, luckily they let us know at about 6.20 so there was time to inform owners planning to attend before they had set off on their journeys, disappointing but conditions would have been a bit extreme and it will be in the better long term interests of both horses that today was called off; I will try to find an alternative engagement soon for our two intended runners, Northern Flame and Daasij as they both seem on particularly good form.  After an apallingly wet and windy end to last week it is unbelievable that today we have such grim conditions, heavy overnight rain turned to snow at dawn and has now turned back to freezing rain driven by a strong northerly wind, all ground surfaces are completely sodden, the horses hate it and the team of staff have to show great resilience to keep going back out into it.  It is tempting of course to say why not give the horses a day off and stick them on the walker but they did that yesterday (Sunday) and by giving them all 45 minutes of walking, trotting and cantering in the school (which is all we can do today), we are keeping them ticking over and will be able to work them properly as soon as the opportunity arises, as soon as you ease back off them you have to give them a little time to build up again or risk complications and I firmly believe that the effort put in on mornings like this will be rewarded with success later - but it really is tough for the troops and it is no coincidence that I have a quote on my desk for a roof for our round school which would give us a covered ride for next winter, it would make life easier on mornings like these and I will try to do it if I can put the funding together...

Northern Flame

Ah, the weather, a never-ending subject here, anyway... this week... if conditions allow we have Northern Flame in at  Carlisle on Wednesday, Seeking Power and Native Coll at Ayr on Saturday and most of the point-to-pointers in at Lanark on Sunday, time will tell what runs where.  I have just spoken to the surgeon that operated on Isla Pearl Fisher; his cast was taken off yesterday and he is very happy with him, he appears comfortable on the leg and can come home in a day or two... one or two minor things to be done to enhance prospects for a full recovery, so far things look pretty good so fingers crossed....  oh, and its now snowing heavily again... think we may have to admit defeat with 3rd lot...

Change

After a remarkably quiet January weather-wise February has come in with a bang and we have strong westerly winds carrying plenty of blustery showers.  The long-term forecast is for much of the same throughout the month, not much fun but better than snow and ice so far as training horses goes. Native Coll put up a solid effort to finish 3rd at Newcastle today, he jumped well but appeared not to stay in a strongly run race with a very strong headwind, we may drop him back to two miles now but I am conscious that he lives next door to Seeking Power who I had to withdraw when he scoped badly yesterday afternoon.  He did beat the horse that won the last time he ran there (when he fell).  No more runners this week, next action will hopefully be at Ayr on Monday where we have Daasij and Northern Flame entered.

Isla Pearl Fisher

We suffered a serious setback on Saturday when Isla Pearl Fisher was found to be lame after returning from exercise.  Xrays diagnosed a hairline fracture to a hind pastern, he was transferrred to Glasgow University's Equine Hospital on Monday and operated on that afternoon.  Surgery appears to have gone well and the plan is that he will recuperate there until returning here early next week, Mrs Gammell went to see him yesterday and reported him to be in good heart.  Whilst this is distressing for everyone involved it is a common injury (and operation) amongst horses in training and, God-willing, there is no reason whatsoever why he won't be able to perform to his best again in the future.  There is a long way to go but I can assure everyone that he will receive the best possible care and attention, I can't wait to have him back here and will update on his progress next week.

Progress

Delighted with yesterday's runners who both put up career best efforts, Forcefield coming 7th of 17 at 100-1 and Four Fiddlers 3rd of 11 at 40-1.  It was a cold day but Ayr look after Owners very well so we were able to keep warm (just!).

This morning the recent runners had an easy day but 9 did fastish work on the grass and Almost Blue, Amulree and Daasij went to Lucinda's where they all worked well.  Tomorrow we run Native Coll in the 1.50 at Newcastle, Peter Buchanan rides and we will be hoping for a clear round now that he has fallen on his two most recent starts, he was always Peter's ride but Lucinda has normally run something against him, I am pleased that he is available tomorrow as he has done a lot of work with the horse here, 11 run and the ground is soft.  I felt he would have won last time, he still seems in good heart so let's hope we find out tomorrow.  Seeking Power is declared for the 3.50, 10 run and Lucy rides, his participation will be subject to a scope this afternoon.  Northern Flame was balloted out and will now head to Ayr on Monday or Carlisle on Wednesday next week.

Native Coll