Regional Counsel went one better at Wincanton last Monday to get his nose past the post 1st.  Really, really pleased with him and chuffed for his Owners who are in Saudi and hardly ever get to actually go and watch but are really supportive.

Newton Tonic made a good start to his racing career up at Southwell in a bumper.  He was very grown up and from his efforts he will give us a lot of fun next season.  He is going home now for a summer break and will be back with us next season to go hurdling.  He is a lovely looking horse and will be even better when he strengthens up a bit more.

American Cricket who started off at odds on, led all of the way until the last at Huntingdon when he got headed.  He did try and get back up but couldn't quite make it so we had to settle for 2nd place.

Luckily we had a good amount of rain on Saturday which means we are now able to run Roseneath at Huntingdon tomorrow.  The ground is good to soft amazingly and it should stay that way as temperatures are not to warm today.  As long as he is on a going day he should put up a good performance.

The rest of the week is quiet until Saturday when we run Superior Wisdom at Haydock and possibly Lemon Silk and Midnight Trix at Uttoxeter on Sunday. 

Just when we thought it was safe to go out the builders return.  They had a little bit of work to finish off on the brick work and also re-paint the windows.  Shouldn't be here to long this time but you just have to be careful when you go to the loo incase there is a painter looking in through the window!

Regional runs again today at Wincanton.  He ran a super race on Friday to finish 2nd and as he seems in good form we decided to run again today before he goes up in the handicap. 

Nautical finished 5th on Friday which was a little disappointing as it was not a really hot a race and we thought he could easily get placed but they went off like scolded cats and he just could not keep with them. 

We were really pleased with Salute Honore on Saturday.  He finished mid division but ran very green and will definitely come on with experience.  Sam Jones who rode him said he is a lovely horse and will definitely win races which is very nice to hear.

Tomorrow we are off to Southwell with Newton Tonic who was bred by his owners John and Nina Foxon.  He is a lovely horse by Sir Harry Lewis and is another horse that will be stronger again next year.  We have done plenty of work with him and he has been for a racecourse gallop for experience so hopefully he will run a nice race.

American Cricket has got entries later on in the week and everything else we want to run is very much determined by what the weather does.  Tomorrow is supposed to be the hottest day of the year so far which is lovely but it is hindering us with those last few horses we want to run.

Machin and Filip are putting up temporary paddocks left right and centre at the moment just so we can get as many horses out through the day time as possible.  We have the main paddocks to use but we want to keep them for as long as possible so we can get as much grass on those as possible for when all of the horses are out in the summer.

A rare night out last night when we had supper with David and Jane Stoddart who own a lovely bumper horse called Colonel Alf who we hope to run by the end of the season weather permitting.  Hugo Bevan was also there who does stirling work for the Injured Jockeys Fund and was telling us he had been down to Oaksey House that day where they had seen some of the currently injured jockeys having physio etc.  It is an amazing job they do down there not just for the injured jockeys but also retired members of the racing industry.  A really good fun evening but you can tell the next morning that we went way past our 9.30pm bedtime, we must be getting old.   

Today we run Nautical Approach at Chepstow and Regional Counsel goes to Bangor for the 8.15pm (lorry should be back about 12.30am, love evening racing!).  Nautical is back over hurdles today and he has got his ideal ground again so hopefully he should run a nice race.  Regional's race is very winnable if he is in a going mood something we will not know until 8.20pm.

Tomorrow we are off to Market Rasen with a bumper horse, which we think quite a lot of.  He is related to Tataniano of Paul Nicholls so if he is half as good as that we won't be complaining.

Cavita Beta who The Patient Man was 2nd to in his first bumper run at Towcester a couple of weeks ago was 7th in the Champion Bumper at Punchestown yesterday and that was after Katie Walsh lost her irons after 6 furlongs so had to ride the rest of the race without any.  If that incident hadn't happened she would have definitely be in the first three which stacks up as very good form for The Patient Man.

It is starting to get quieter now as we head towards the end of the season with so many of the horses losing there ground and no real rain forecast.  Another few weeks and the majority of the horses will be out in the field with just the flat horses and summer jumpers left in.  Then the painting starts, the staff love it! 

We made it safely up to Ayr on Friday in preparation for our big run on Saturday.  We did it in just over 5 hours which included a Philippa lunch stop.  Quite interesting balancing baby food, milk and nappies in the back of the car on a service station on the M6 but passed the test with flying colours.

We got to the course about 12pm and they had done a wonderful job with the ground.  It was amazing how warm it was up there but it was definitely good ground which had been a worry if it had got any faster.  Wizz looked fabulous in the paddock and we were hopeful of a good run as he was well capable of putting up a good show.  Unfortunately all of our hopes had gone by the 3rd fence where he met it on the way up and parted company with Paul Maloney.  Both were fine and Wizz did a couple of circuits of the track before deciding that was quite enough exercise for the day.  A really disappointing day and we were pleased that we were staying up for another night as we would not have fancied the drive home after that disappointment. 

Philippa enjoyed herself anyway and it was a good experience taking her away for the first time.  Not sure how relaxing it was but she was very well behaved anyway, though flying toast at the breakfast table in the hotel did raise a few Scottish eyebrows.

Mallorey runs at Kempton tonight but apart from that it could be quite a quiet week.  Regional Counsel and Nautical Approach will probably be our only other runs this week for the same reason as last week, lack of rain!

Antonius Caesar ran very disappointingly at Cheltenham yesterday.  We hoped on better ground he would run really well and it was not to hot a race.  It seemed that they went a gear to high for him and after a circuit he decided he was not really enjoying it and Paul Maloney decided to pull him up.  It may be worthwhile in the future using some headgear of some sorts just to get him to run on the bridle more but that will probably have to wait until next season now I think unless he is absolutely bouncing over the next couple of weeks.

The lorry set off at 9am this morning to Ayr with Helen (driver), Ellie (lass) and Superior Wisdom (our great Scottish National hope!).  It is about a 6 1/2 hour trip so they should be not far away now.  We have taken him up a couple of days before just so he can get over the journey and be fresh.  Our only worry is that the ground remains good, if it goes any faster than that then he may be a non runner, so fingers crossed.  

Tomorrow the family Hales set off for Ayr including baby Philippa, we are introducing her to Scotland!  We will not make the whole journey and are planning to stay an hour away from the course.  It will be the first time Philippa has stayed away from home so it could be interesting.  Any excuse for a few days away.

Hopefully next time this is updated it will be with successful news.

Hello You went one better than his last visit to Chepstow and got his nose past the winning post first on Saturday.  William rode a super race on him and took it up just after the last and galloped onto the post.  The majority of his loyal band of owners were all there to support him and a wonderful day was had by all.  He is such a tough horse and always gives his all, if they were all like that life would be a lot easier!  There are still a couple of shares left in him if anybody is interested in joining The Yea or Neigh Racing Syndicate.

Yesterday we took American Cricket up to Market Rasen and Royaume Bleu and Rif to Southwell.  Cricket ran really well to finish 3rd, he jumped brilliantly and we might take him over fences next time.

The ground at Southwell had changed since declarations from good, good to soft in places to good, good to firm in places.  Amazing what a few days of sunshine do.  That being the case we had to pull Rif out, he has got a really round action and that ground would just not suit.  He did have a couple of spins around the paddock, just for practice really as he does get himself into a bit of a state.  He was very well behaved so the trip to Southwell was very worth while, even though he did not race.

Royaume Bleu ran well but would have probably appreciated a bit more cut in the ground.  He finished 5th and we were pleased enough with him and will hope it rains before he runs again.

This week is not to busy, mainly due to the ground drying so quickly.  Antonius Casear and possibly Superior Wisdom (Wizz)go to Cheltenham on Wednesday.  If Wizz does not go to Cheltenham he may possibly go to Ayr on Saturday.  We also have entries at Ascot and Stratford at the weekend ground dependent.

On a final note what a fantastic result for AP in the National.  You never usually see him show that sort of emotion and it just shows what a feeling it must be.  It was the only race he has not won and now he has the complete collection.  I think everybody was really pleased was chuffed for him even if they did not hold their winning bet!

 

We have finally got some warm sunshine and it definitely makes everybody feel better.  On the down side the ground drys up amazingly quickly.

Tomorrow we run Hello You at Chepstow, that is as long as the ground does not get any quicker.  At the moment it is good which considering it was waterlogged on Monday it just shows how quickly it drys.  Hughie would not want it any fast than good ground so we will have to see what the morning brings.

Royaume Bleu and Rif go to Southwell on Sunday while American Cricket goes to Market Rasen.  We are hoping Rifs behaviour has improved since his last run, he is being fitted with a hood this time and this will hopefully help.  All three should run nice races so we hope for a good weekend.

 

What a very hectic few days we have had with unfortunately not a winner but some very good places.

Alex went up to Carlisle on Saturday where we had Antonius Caesar and Roseneath.  The weather was awful and the ground very hard going but both horses have proven form.  We were very disappointed with Caesar, not so much him but just the way the race panned out.  He has to be kept handy but unfortunately missed the start and was always at the back.  On that ground you cannot make up lengths and consequently he finished way down the field.

Roseneath ran a really superb race to finish 3rd.  It was a shame that there were not more horses left in the race at the end as he loves to get stuck between horses but as there were only two left and they were not that close together so he could not get into a battle.  He has had a very consistent season and hopefully we can get another run into him before the end of the season.

I went up to Haydock where we had two thirds at Haydock to make it a treble of thirds.  Iconoclast ran a really good race to finish 3rd and will now be put away for the season. 

Dinarius ran a blinder the finish 3rd.  It was a really hot race and after some very iffy moments at the start he made his way through the field and finished right up behind the front pair.  He is a little bit of a monkey but you could not knock his performance.  Philippa came up with me and was very well behaved.  Lorraine, Iconoclast's owner had part of the task of pushchair pushing while I was saddling up along with our friends Richard and Jack who I went up to Haydock with.  Thankyou guys.

On Sunday we went to Towcester with Sandofthecolosseum, Royaume Bleu and The Patient Man.  Sands and Royaume were in the same race and I think their Owners took up most of the paddock as both are quite big syndicates.  We were slightly disappointed with Sands, he finished 4th but I think in hindsight it may have been one race to many so he is also going on his summer holidays.  He has had a cracking season and everybody is chuffed to bits with him.

Royaume Bleu ran an improved race on last time and did settle a lot better than his last run.  He finished 5th just behind Sands so at least we are improving with each race.  He came out of the race really well and will probably go again quite quickly.

We ran The Patient Man in the bumper and were thrilled with his performance.  He had done a lot of work but still ran a little green.  Just our luck that their happened to be a Nicky Henderson hotpot in the race with Cavita Beta.  From the top bend ours and Cavita pulled clear from the rest but Cavita was cantering and looks a machine.  He beat us by 4 lengths in the end but to be 2nd to a horse of obvious high quality is very exciting.  We are hopeful we can sell him into the yard as we really think he has star potential and from his first start you could be argue with that.

Philippa also came to Towcester and we thought she may go up and collect her first prize but it was not to be, she will just have to be 'patient'.

No rest on a Bank Holiday Monday morning and we could not stay away from Towcester and took Rif and Mallorey there for a racecourse gallop.  We are trying different tactics with Rif to try and get him settled at the start which did seem to work yesterday morning.  It was a bit worrying for a moment when a herd of cattle stampeded over to where the two horses were to see if they can add a little spice but all remained calm, thank goodness.

Quite a quiet week this week and then we should be busy at the weekend. 

We took Superior Wisdom to Fontwell on Tuesday.  The weather was awful and what started out as a 5 runner race turned into a match.  Unfortunately the three horses that dropped out were not the favourite and when the favourite is one of Paul Nicholls you know it is never going to be easy.  Tom O'Brien jumped off in front on Wizz who jumped from fence to fence in terrible ground.  All was going according to plan until Tom and Wizz nearly parted company three out.  He did really well to keep the partnership together but any chances of winning were out of the window.  His jumping was definitely more fleunt up until that point and we will try and find a nice race for him somewhere.

All quiet up until this bank holiday weekend when we have eight runners out.  Roseneath and Antonius Caesar go up to Carlisle tomorrow.  Caesars race is the one he won last year although it was good to firm then and it is now good to soft but both are in really good form and should put up a good performance.

Iconoclast and Dinarius go to Haydock.  The ground is heavy there but again both should love it and Sunday we run Sandofthecolosseum, Royaume Bleu and the The Patient Man at Towcester.  A weekend that promises a lot and we just hope it turns out that way! 

Away from the horses we had just got George back from his broken foot when Shane took a terrible fall Point to Pointing on Sunday and broke his jaw.  He is very lucky as it could have been a lot worse.  He dropped in to see us after his operation and said 'I will be back to work on Monday' but I think it will be more like six week, I think putting a riding hat on before that would be a little painful!

 

Yesterday we saw Royaume Bleu and Lemon Silk run at Warwick.  Royaume having his first run for us pulled very hard and finished down the field.  He would have been better suited by a faster run race but it was just the way the race panned out.  He holds his head quite high but once he learns to settle I think we will see a completely different horse. 

We were really pleased with Lemon Silk who finished 2nd.  It was his first run back after his wind operation and he definitely travelled a lot better.  The winner of the race looks like a very nice horse and won hard held so there was no disgrace in being 2nd.

Tomorrow we run Outlaw Tom at Newbury.  He has not run for a while as he has had a few pelvis problems but he is a lovely horse and hopefully they are all behind him now.  It looks quite a hot race but if we get the rain forecast that will all be in his favour.