Finally the rain came and we are in the starting blocks.  Saying that it was typical yesterday when we went up to Catterick with Satin Princess.  We declared her on good to firm ground, on the day the heavens opened and it turned out to be good to soft.  She is not the biggest filly in the world but very gutsy and she did very well to finish 4th but would have been closer on the right ground.  The jockey came in as if he had been around Chepstow in the middle of December and you could hardly what colours he was wearing for the mud.

It's off to Wincanton tomorrow with Desert Lover and Kings Majesty.  Kings Majesty has had a good break which we are hoping will have freshened him up, if so he should be in the first three.  Desert Lover is stepping up in trip and it will be interesting to see if the two Williams were right. Having just spoken to one of our Owners in Exeter it is very wet down there so I should imagine the ground will change down there as well.

Its the first meeting of the season at Towcester today and though we had entries again the ground was still to firm.  Being so close to Towcester it would be great to get a course specialist there but it is not easy to find a horse that the course suits but hopefully this season we will.

The house is slowly taking shape and the new extention is looking really good.  The builders are still promising all will be done by Christmas so we are watching their progress with interest.  Lets hope rain does not stop play in that direction.

We have finally got Luthien into a race.  She runs in the 6.20pm at Kempton tomorrow evening.  Her first run for us so it will be very interesting to so how she goes, she has got the assistance of a good jockey though in Richard Hughes so fingers crossed for her.

The amazing weather goes on.  We have entries at the weekend at Fontwell, Huntingdon and Uttoxeter but everywhere is good to firm and with no rain forecast possibly until next week it looks like it will be a quiet weekend on the National Hunt front again.

Cheshire Rose has an entry at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening and all being well will run, she came out of her Goodwood race very well so she should run a nice race.

The article in the Banbury Guardian was published last week and there was a bit of posing going on which some people enjoyed more than others.  It was a really good piece and the reporter from the Guardian was a really nice guy and has followed the yard when previous Trainers have been here.  He said he will keep all of the readers updated on the runners throughout the season so we will have to give him some good results to write about!

American Cricket came back from his Owner Andrew Cohen last week.  He has had just over a year off with a leg problem but hopefully that is behind him now.  He looks fantastic, Andrew does the roadwork and starts them cantering at his place and so they are ready to step up a gear when they arrive back.  He was always a good looking horse, though can get on his toes a bit but if we can keep him in one piece we should have a excellent season with him.

The new local syndicate members came up to see the horses on the gallops on Saturday.  All going smoothly until the 10 yr old Saintsaire decided the two horses working in front of them were going a little to slow for his liking (they were 5f horses!).  He overtook them on the outside and him and his lass finished 10l in front of anything else.  Three of his owners were there to see his antics and they were very pleased that he was in good form, only slightly worrying from our point of view a 2 mile chaser overtaking 5f flat horses!!

The new syndicate, The Old Relics Partnership, their choice of name not ours, all had many stories to tell about Trafford Bridge Stables.  Many of them had either been up with Point to Pointers or had horses with Trainers hear previously.  I think the Old Relics are a really good fun bunch of people and I can see win or not they are are going to have an good time.

We ran Desert Lover at Plumpton yesterday and though he did not run into a place we again learnt a lot.  The last time he ran at Huntingdon over 2 miles 1 furlong William Kennedy got off him and thought he needed further, which for a horse who has won over 7 furlongs we thought was bizarre.  Yesterday he was in a 2 mile handicap hurdle, as he did not really take to the chase fences last time, and the first thing that William Biddick said was he thinks he needs further.  With both jockeys saying the same next time we might just try a step up in trip!!

As for the rest of the week, Cheshire Rose will run at Goodwood on Wednesday.  She has had a bit of a break and usually runs best fresh so hopeful of a big run there.

Poor Luthien again missed the cut for her Kempton run on Wednesday.  It is very frustrating but we just have to keep entering up and we will eventually get in somewhere.

We are desperate to run Lemon Silk and Dinarius but just can't without the rain.  The forecast says we are due rain but nothing ever seems to materialise which again is very frustrating as they are raring to go.

We have the members of the Sandofthecolosseum syndicate coming up to see him on the gallops on Wedneday.  Nearly all of the shares have been reserved now and a few of them have been taken by local farmers which we are really pleased about.  It is always good to have local people involved in the yard.

The yard is starting to buzz now as we are getting closer to running the main bunch of the National Hunt horses.  It is that time of year when all dreams for the season are still in tact and the anticipation for a good year is there.

On the children front, Philippa is being very well behaved and is slowly getting into a routine.  As for the puppies they seemed to have mastered the art of escaping.  They have the run of the garden to the front of the house, however that is not enough for Gin.  She now jumps from the ground onto the garden bench and over the wall.  Tonic is not nearly as brave and just watches as Sis makes her break for freedom.  All good fun!!

After not having the best summer weather wise, we could really do with some rain now.  We have entries at Newbury on Friday, Plumpton and Uttoxeter at the weekend but it is good to firm everywhere and we dare not risk them.  The south of the Country has had downpours but it does not seem to be coming in this direction. 

Luthien has entries on the all weather where the lack of rain is not a problem but there are so many entries in her races we are struggling to get her a run anywhere.  All very frustrating when she is ready to run and is in really good form.

Following on from the Open Day we have decided to syndicate Sandsofthecolosseum out into 1/10th shares.  This was not the original plan but we have had a lot of interest in him and this seemed to be the ideal solution.  He will be £2000 per share so if anybody is interested give us a shout.

It seems to be a week of registrations in the Hales household this week.  Gin and Tonic (the Whippet puppies) are off to the Vets today to have their first injections and get themselves registered.  The car will more than likely be trashed by the time we get to Towcester and back with those two, I think we must get an estate car or four wheel drive!

Tomorrow we are taking Philippa to get her birth certificate at Banbury, so she will officially beome Miss Philippa May Hales.  Trying to arrange an appointment so it does not clash with feed times etc is not easy but we are off just after lunch so it should fit in nicely.  As usual we are cutting it quite fine as you only have 6 weeks to register newborns which is a week on Saturday so we thought we had better get ourselves into action.

Just to add to the mix the builders are in for the next three months doing some work on the house.  Judging by the noise they have been making already I think Philippa will sleep through anything by the time they are finished!

Satin Princess made her trip down to Sandown Park yesterday and though she did not get placed we were not to disappointed as it was quite a hot little contest and as it is her third run she will now get a handicap mark.  John and Nina came down with their son and it was a very enjoyable afternoon.

Saturday mornings tends to be when Owners come up to the yard to see their horses.  This morning Debbie and Tony Lancaster, who have shares in Jago, came up and we were pleased to welcome two new Partners in the Friends Of Tina syndicate.  Lyn and Rachel Griffiths and Andrew and Andrea Jones who although have had interests in syndicates previously have been horseless for a while but decided to take the plunge back in at the Open Day. It is always great having new Owners involved in the yard and I'm sure with Friends of Tina they are going to have a huge amount of fun.

A quiet weekend ahead, well depending on how you describe quiet with a new baby and two 9 week old Whippet puppies.  We only started out with one puppy but thought that if we had brother and sister they would keep each other company, the theory does work but also means double trouble!  Philippa May, who has somehow got the nickname Bunny, is a complete angel compared to the puppies.  Everybody thinks we have gone completely mad but in for a penny in for a pound.

This week Luthien has entries at Kempton on Wednesday and Wolverhampton on Friday and will be a case of which race she gets into but will keep you posted.

What a super day the Open Day turned out to be.  With initial worries about the weather the day before with strong winds, the marquee people were struggling at one point, Sunday was a lot calmer and the sun even made an appearance.

We had a very good turn out with at least 200 people and it was really good to see so many owners and friends again.  The parade of horses started at 11.30am, with all of them behaving really well and we were really pleased with how many positive comments we received about how well they looked.  Though the horses looked amazing Philippa May Hales seemed to be getting more attention and we must thank everybody for their cards and presents, you are all really kind.

Our caterers did us proud again this year and wonderful lunch was enjoyed by all accompanied by the odd drink or two!  A couple of the horses for sale found new owners and im sure their new purchases will do them proud.

After the big tidy up normal service resumed yesterday with two runners at Kempton.  Regional Counsel had his first run back after being gelded and he definitely seemed to be concentrating more and ran into 5th place which was very pleasing.  Not quite so pleasing was Mallorey who was having his first run for us and after starting off well finished near the back of the field which was very disappointing.

Tomorrow sees Satin Princess make her debut for the yard at Sandown.  She is a lovely filly and I really hope she runs well for John and Nina Foxon who are new Owners to us and await their first winner on the track.

It's been a busy week here at Trafford Bridge.  We have had five new arrivals in the last week.  A couple of horse have come over from Ireland, Mallorey who has been running on the flat and will now go hurdling.  Sandofthecolesseum who is a lovely looking typical old fashioned chaser.  He currently has not got an owner but I'm sure it won't be long.

We have also had a couple of horses come in from local owners, which will run on the flat.  The support of the local community is alway appreciated and it is great to meet more people in the vicinity.

Preparations for the Open Day seem to be under control, I think!  The next week will be a case of making sure everything is smart and tidy which includes staff, horses and the yard. 

Cheshire Rose runs today at Southwell.  The track should suit her and she is in very good form so we are hopeful of a big run.

Philippa May has settled into her life as a Trainers daughter very well.  We have received an amazing amount of cards, presents and good wishes, so thankyou to everybody.  She does seem to have got into quite a good routine already and is only waking up once a night which is great although I do tend to sleep even through that.   She is getting primed for the the Open Day and can't wait to meet you all.

Introducing Philippa May Hales

Apologies for a lack of update over the past week, however we have not been sat idle.  We have a new member to the team, Philippa May Hales, she was born on Saturday at 1.26pm and Sally and I are very proud parents.  She weighed in at 8lb 2oz and appears to have her fathers height and mother hair!

For those of you we have not seen for a while it may come as a bit of a shock as you may not even have known Sally was pregnant but Philippa is a very valuable new member to the string and hopefully those of you who come to the Open Day will meet her. She met her first Owners this morning and proved to be a very good host!

As for the rest of the string, all of the horses that have come in from the summer break are cantering away.  Their tummies are slowly going and they are being transformed back into racehorses.  All still being very well behaved, a couple of the youngsters managed to dislodges their jockeys with their acrobatics but only high jinks.

We have got a few entries over the weekend but it will be a weather and race watch to see if we run any but I should know more tomorrow.

My retail therapy at Doncaster did not quite go according to plan.  There were three or four horses that I really liked but when you go to the sales you have to have a limit in your mind of what you are prepared to pay and I unfortunately ended up as the underbidder. 

No joy at Donny and no joy at Brighton with Desert Lover.  This was the first run for us and it was going to be interesting to see how he settled in his race, which he didn't!  He pulled very hard from the start and basically by the time he had got to the end of the race he had nothing left, although the jockey still couldn't pull him up after the line!

Friday was Worcester where we ran Dinarius.  As ever the major problem with him is getting him to the start which all went according to plan and he was very well behaved.  He did pull quite hard but William managed to get cover and settle him.  Coming off of the last bend we felt we were in with a good chance until he took a pearler at the last.  Both horse and jockey got up fine which was a huge relief as it was quite a nasty looking fall.  Dinarius was quite sore afterwards and has some physio treatment but he lives to fight another day.

After a quiet weekend Cheshire Rose ran at Nottingham yesterday.  We weren't expecting to much as she had the worse draw possible, 18 being the best and she was drawn 1.  William Buick rode her and managed to jump out really well and got to the front.  She led and was just pipped at the post and ended up in 3rd place.  If she had not had to make up all of that ground coming across to the stands side she could definitely have won.

Tomorrow sees Desert Lover out again but this time over hurdles at Stratford.  William was in on Monday morning schooling and he jumped very well so we are hopeful of a nice run.  It will be a case of getting him settled again but he should put up a nice performance.

It's raining again to day, so the marvellous British Summer goes on but it should hopefully not have any effect on the going for tomorrow.

There was a nice write up in the Racing Post today regarding our move to Trafford Bridge and just reading the article detailing the history that comes with the stables sends a tingle of excitment and anticipation for the coming season through you!  If we can live up to some of the past winners that have come out of the yard then I don't think we will have very much to complain about.  Just one thing that worried me slightly about the piece was that I seemed to have aged 4 years over night, putting me at 39, although some days it does feel that way I'm sure I am still 35!

Cheshire Rose kicked her odds into touch at Lingfield on Saturday evening.  As I said we were not quite sure what to expect, especially with all of the rain we had that day but she flew through the wet conditions and was 3rd at 20-1.  It was a very encouraging run and the Owner was really pleased as he had only recently purchased her.

Today it is off to Doncaster Sales and it's still raining! Not quite sure what has happened to that hot summer we were predicted.  Dennis Grattan, out Head Lad, has driven the box up with Santera and Abu Dubai, quite an early 6am start for him.  It will be very interesting to see what the market is like today, the last couple of DBS sales have been quite unpredictable. As I said we have got a couple of orders to try and fill so I'm hoping the rain will keep a lot of potential purchasers away and we may come away with a bargain.

We have a runner at Brighton tomorrow, Desert Lover, who will be having his first run for us.  He is a dual purposes horse but the first suitable race for him was on the flat so we will see how he goes and hope the rain does not get into the ground to much.

On the home front, 6 new internal stables have arrived from Claydons, which will need assembling, which sounds like a job for the Polish lads again!  Though they will not be filled staight away, we have 3 or 4 horses still to come back from their summer holidays and it is always handy to have spare stables for isolation purposes etc.

Hopefully will have an update by the end of the day to let you know how my shopping spree went.