Ah

Ah, human again today, yesterday I felt as though I had spent the weekend being run over by a very slow moving steam roller.  "Dreich" weather, whole country apparently, at least it will prevent the ground drying up at Newcastle before Friday.  Important final piece of work on the grass for the potential runners this morning and very pleased with Capital Venture, Isla Pearl Fisher, Forcefield and Isla Patriot. Lucy good 2nd in the last at Sedgie, remains in England riding out for another day or two. Interesting trend developing in people ringing me up and congratulating me on Lucy's success but completely failing to mention my runners, even when they win and that includes my own Mother who I had to politely ask if she had managed to watch the 2.10 at Hexham, "oh no" she siad, "did you have a runner?" - think I better get used to it........

Humdrum Monday

Cold and foggy today, horses mostly exercised in the school and on the all-weather, no joy for Lucy at Carlisle, tomorrow she rides at Sedgefield, Bunacurry in the 3.30 and Stanley Bridge in the 4.00, both for Barry Murtagh.  No runners from here until Newcastle on Friday, Four Fiddlers continues to improve rapidly which is excellent news.

Taming Lions

Four Fiddlers runs into the back of Dark Glacier when he slammed the brakes on going into the first at Kelso

Lucy is subsequently ejected from the saddle

Another favourite expression, Ferdy Murphy's saying that "this game tames lions" sprang to mind after a roller coaster day at Kelso yesterday; at the first hurdle in the first race a horse I adore Four Fiddlers had a nasty collision with the well-backed favourite leaving Lucy on the ground, he galloped loose for two circuits then pulled up lame, he had a painful swelling on his side and after another 30 minutes could barely move at all, he was transferred to the RDVS Equine Hospital for further examination and kept in overnight; I was hugely relieved to be advised that there is no internal damage just bad bruising leading to a large haemotoma, I collected him this morning and he is already on the road to recovery - phew!

Happier times, Lucy drives Storm Surge clear

Later in the afternoon Lucy had her third winner in three days when Storm Surge romped home in the 2 mile handicap chase, on the ground one minute, cloud nine the next!  Tomorrow at Carlisle she rides Battle Honour for Susan Bradburne in the 1.20 and Ballycarberry in the 4.05 for Lucy Normile, we have Sydney Cove in at Sedgefield on Tuesday and will see how he is tomorrow before deciding on a quick reappearance, otherwise next runners likely to be at Newcastle on Friday.

All smiles now!

It had been quite a day, celebrations on Friday evening after a long day had left me feeling slightly bleary first thing and this wasn't helped by the lights fusing as I was feeding the horses at 6.15am, I then managed to bog my car when out trying to follow first lot and had to abandon it and borrow Mrs A's to rush to Kelso and then all of the above happened, it was wonderful after all of that to be able to head off to a local party with a blond bird in the evening....

The Alexander house party for Mr David Stanistreet's 50th Birthday Party assemble before departure



Boom boom

Sydney Cove

The little fish are sweet, as the great WA Stephenson said as he watched The Thinker win the Cheltenham Gold Cup from his beloved Hexham, and right now for me there is no little fish sweeter than Sydney Cove who battled bravely to win his first race today under Keith Mercer.  Sheikh Mohammed bred "Sydney" and until today he has lived very much in the shadow of his Group winning siblings but, whilst it was a lowly race, I can assure you the pleasure he gave his connections today will have matched anything his illustrious brothers have achieved.  It is deeply rewarding to win a race with a horse other trainers have given up on and Lisa Ogilvie deserves credit for giving this horse another chance to shine and taking time to work him out; another colourful chapter in the book could be written, it was a team effort and particular credit should go to our physios Grania and Gillian as well as Gemma and Lucy who have done most of the work with him at home, he is not straightforward! It was of course a shame that Lucy was not on board and therefore all the more pleasing that she had a good winner later in the afternoon on Danny John Boy,  I was on my way home by then but am hoarse from shouting at my hands free as "Tommo" called her home, haven't seen it yet but it sounded like a tremendous ride, something to enjoy this evening when the "man from Beijing" arrives.  It is also worth pointing out (and I hope the owners won't mind) that the last three horses to win for this stable have cost an average of just under £2500......   

Four Fiddlers

Tomorrow we run Four Fiddlers for Dan and Michelle Macdonald in the 12.25 at Kelso, Lucy rides, 14 run, ground easy side of good, this is a decent horse but this looks competitive and I am uncertain whether the extended trip will be a help or hindrance........ will know tomorrow!

So

Bizarrely mild this evening and I am informed that children were bathing in the sea at my golf club's beach this afternoon. I've certainly never been as warm jump racing at Musselburgh, only 2 nights ago it was cold enough for us to be doubling up the horses' rugs - what is going on? Rather wish I had stuck with my original decision re running today, neither horse was suited by the race, too sharp for Ocarina and The Paddy Premium was right up there turning for home before appearing not to stay, back to 2 miles for him. Nevertheless at least my indecision produced a handy dividend in the form of an excellent winner for Lucy on Fred Bojangles, delighted, but all too much going on for me! Early starts all round tomorrow, 4.45 am for Lucy as she heads to ride out for Rose Dobbin on her way to Hexham where she has no less than 5 rides and 5.30 for me as Sydney Cove will need an early brekkie prior to his journey to Hexham, he runs in the 2.10, 12 run I think, good to soft ground, Keith Mercer rides, Lucy otherwise engaged....

Volte-face

The Paddy Premium enjoys his pre-race bath this morning

Hmm, after deciding not run at Musselburgh tomorrow further consideration of the likely ground and a bit of rain in the forecast forced an about-turn and we run two in the 3.30, a 2m 4f Handicap Chase. Ocarina with Harry Haynes on board and The Paddy Premium with Wilson Renwick, ground should be good - I will walk it on arrival - 10 run including Fred Bojangles ridden by Lucy who I had unfortunately released imagining we weren't participating.  Lucy also rides All American in the 4.00 for Alan Swinbank; Alan is widely regarded as one of the best bumper trainers in the country and I am delighted that he has the confidence in Lucy to put her up on these decent un-raced horses.

Buffalo Ballet (Lucy) with Isla Pearl Fisher (Amy) on Lucinda's woodchip last week

Another fine morning back here and a really useful one with plenty of them working on the grass, catching the eye was Buffalo Ballet........ he's going to start keeping me awake at night!

Whip again!

Decent sort of weather today and a busy one, this morning some of them did quicker stuff on the all-weather, Here's to Harry, Seeking Power and Forcefield worked on Lucinda's woodchip (here's to Harry particularly impressive) and Peter Buchanan was in this afternoon to teach some of the youngsters to jump including one of last week's recruits, Goldtrek who was a natural. Peter reported that he picked up the first whip ban of his 7 year career last week at Uttoxeter, not for excessive use but for a technicality that had changed (unbeknown to him) regarding the time a horse should be given to respond to the whip. Peter is a superb horseman and for him to be banned for what is effectively a welfare issue indicates to me that the new rules are profoundly flawed, lots of us, including many jockeys have failed to pick up on the minutiae of the changes and clearly my initial welcoming of the changes was misplaced, though I was always disappointed by the manner of their introduction.



Here's to Harry (Gemma)



Anyway, enough of that, not sure I will be declaring anything for Musselburgh; good, good to firm in places is probably a bit quick for me so it looks like Hexham Friday and Kelso Saturday, excellent card at the latter which I expect will draw another huge crowd - where does all the money go?