This is our 14th season at Whitcoombe House and there have certainly been a few changes since last year. The biggest change is that I am now a bachelor again and also Jeremy and Bridget Young have left the yard to pursue a different career. We have had a lot of new staff, David Jeffreys is my new assistant and Olivia McDonald is running the office.

 

I would like to thank Equestrian Surfaces for sponsoring our yard and also for doing a first class job on our gallop. They have resurfaced the gallop and also redone our walkback track and it is now the most popular gallop in Lambourn.

 

Last year was very difficult for my jockeys with Noel getting injured in November and Peter Toole then having a bad fall at Aintree in April. Noel is now back riding and Peter is making a good recovery, so we hope to see him back as well.

 

We have got a nice bunch of young horses this year and quite a few coming back from injury so we are hopeful for a good season.