Sneaky feeling

Jane and I went to Ascot yesterday as guests of Watership Down Stud.  I have yearling filly with them that I really like – Sadlers Wells out of Race the Wild Wind and a half sister to King Charlemagne and Meshaheer.  The room was full of all types of racing people with a few theatre people thrown in (the stud is …

The Ballydoyle Three

So the Ballydoyle three finally paid the price for their crimes and that should be the end of the matter, for now at least.  The reality though is that this was a total open and shut case – the rules are worded clearly and Johnny Murtagh had admitted the breach in the papers.  The BHA had no choice but to bring …

Free to a good home

A good day on Sunday with King’s Head doing it nicely.  He needs it G/F or firm and given that he has invariably delivered when he has had his ground I probably should have given him a stronger write up.  He may come out again on the weekend – he has entries on Saturday at Market Rasen and Sunday at Ascot.  Market …

The Prince and the King

A disappointing day yesterday on the track and an expensive one for my account but by no means a disaster. Nicky Nutjob was disappointing, but it’s probably not the end of the world.  He’ll improve plenty for the experience, but he’s not looking like a sharp or early type – he’ll probably be more effective over longer distances when he’s older. …

Go on the boy

Three runners today in the first three races at Newbury.  In brief;  Nicky Nutjob is a decent prospect but probably no more than that.  I doubt he’ll win – a place is a possibility.  Skid Solo is a star on the home gallops but has been very disappointing on the track.  He could surprise us and win today but I …

Bloodletting

I spoke to a friend in the financial markets this morning – he said “these are the days when you keep the papers for posterity”.  We’ve had plenty of supposed crashes in the twenty five years he’d been in the city for, but nothing to match the events of recent days.  Lehmans gone, Merrill Lynch and Halifax swallowed up, AIG bailed out …

Early retirement

Bad news on Lilac Moon.  She has a small hole in a suspensory ligament – we’re waiting for the vet’s verdict but she’s unlikely to run again this year, which may mean an early retirement to stud.  If that is the case it’s a terrible shame, as she was better than ever on the gallops. I get the sense Nicky’s …

Mixed news

I’ve been ringing around today and the news is mixed. Lilac Moon has jarred one of her feet and it’s badly swollen.  It’s probably nothing major but we’re having a scan to be sure – she was down to run at Lingfield on Tuesday, but has obviously been left out.  It’s annoying as she’s been in great form at home …

Big business

Just a quick note today as I have to go out and man my stand at the village fair.  My girls have been making jam during the week from blackberries and apples picked on the farm – we’ve got sixty jars to sell, all neatly packaged with our own brand labels on. It’s yet another business venture to cap off …

Victim of success

I read the piece on Tom Dascombe in the RP today, and the fact that he has closed his stable for a while.  Obviously I’ve known about it for a few days – some of Tom’s horses have been running terribly, and on a number of occasions horses that were expected to go well came stone last. I don’t think Tom …