Minus 9 in the Subaru this morning and the horses due to canter on the snow again, luckily most of them are very sensible as they had plenty of practice last winter on the white stuff . Last night we celebrated our best season since 2003 with a really good evening in a new restaurant, The Bell at West Overton, a fantastic dinner with brilliant food and a rousing speech from yours truly but next year I must remember to book Richard Hannon for the cabaret.

The horses out at exercise on the gallops in the cold, snowy conditions this morning.

''Spare a thought'' for the hard working trainer, as he struggles to get his Subaru warmed up enough at 7am, to go out on the downs to watch his riders through the car window, as they fight with the sub zero conditions. His greatest challenge being, will he be able to re-tune the car radio from the test match back to radio five live, with his new thick thermal gloves on.  

                                     Just had to get out to take this photo before returning to the warmth !          

Winter has definitely arrived early with a strong north wind blasting across the downs together with sub zero temperatures, the horses are still ticking over and doing two steady canters a day on the 7 furlong wood chip gallop.  I am hoping the that dreaded white stuff doesn't arrive  as that can really make life difficult, it tends to drift onto the AW gallops and take longer to melt. 

Our yearlings are now doing two canters a day, either on the AW or grass canters, it's exciting times as at this stage they could still be machines. Although it's very early days, they look a nice bunch with no difficult characters emerging yet, they move well and some of them look quite early, it might surprise a few people if we had a runner in the Brocklesby ! 

 Two well bred yearlings arrived from Watership Down Stud, via Malcolm Bastards breaking yard, during the week which could have an exciting future.  A colt by Dynaformer (USA) out of Molasses who is a half brother to Magadan, who won a Group 3 in France in 2008 and from the family of Light Shift, Shiva and Northern Trick and a filly by Selkirk who's progeny have done well at Beckhampton recently (Cityscape and Border Patrol). She's out of My Branch making her a half sister to Tante Rose.  Bjorn Nielsen bought Tante Rose out of the December Sales as a three year old for 350,000gns in 2003 and she went on to win her only three races in 2004, a listed race , a Group 3 at York and finally the Group 1 Haydock Sprint beating Somnus by a short head ridden by Richard Hughes.  Tragically she died giving birth to a Pivotal filly in 2008.

I thought Corsican Boy ran well in a fairly weak race to finish 3rd, unfortunately he missed the break but finished well and he will be suited by a step up in trip in time. He will probably have another race before Christmas and then wait for the turf season.

Keys continued to make progress towards his owners goal of running in the bumper at Cheltenham in March but he will need to improve again before Willie Mullins loses any sleep.  Due to the Levy Board prize money cuts the programme book for the New Year is still not out but there is I believe a Listed bumper at Cheltenham for 4 year olds at the beginning of January which might be his next target. 

Corsican Boy is our only runner today at Kempton in a 7 furlongs median auction at 5.35.  He is a big and rather backward gelding but who has been showing promise and from a family that definitely improve as they get older (eg) Katchit.  Unfortunately he injured himself in his last race at Newmarket in July, and he has only been back in work since September but tonight's race might not be that strong. 

I spent yesterday searching Tattersalls for more yearlings to buy, and I was extremely lucky  to have been given the go ahead from one of my owners, Barry Hurley to buy a very striking colt by Teofilo/Whirly Bird lot 107, from a family that I know well.  He was a much admired and very athletic looking individual, roll on the Derby in 2012 and look out O'Brien !

Keys is our only runner today at Lingfield 3.50, he took his first race well and I hope that he might be improving, but I am still unsure how to assess the opposition having never had a bumper horse before. Giving 14lb to a filly seems quite a lot to me over 1m5f.

Run For The Hills ran too free yesterday at Lingfield having seen too much daylight from his high draw.  His owner who now lives in Australia for part of the year, is keen to have him transferred to Singapore where, surprise surprise there is better prize money.

Starshine will be retiring to stud after a rather 'lack luster' effort at Wolverhampton last night.

Run For The Hills runs at 3.40pm at Lingfield this afternoon, a 6 furlong listed race. He had an operation on his wind in September which I hope has been successful but the only true test will be when he comes under pressure in a race. On his recent form he needs to show some improvement, he is currently rated 97 BHA and his draw is not the most helpful.