I was chuffed to see Lemons Ground win the bumper on his racecourse debut on Wednesday at Fontwell.  I was especially pleased as he was as green as grass, and there will be so much more to come after a summer at grass.  It was another smashing ride from young Brendan Powell, and very satisfying to beat the ex Guv'nor Nicky Henderson, and Paul Nicholls. 

Lettie watching Lemons Ground win the bumper.

It was lovely to see Lough Derg Way back on the racecourse yesterday having had nearly 600 days off the track, but it was amazing to see him put his head in front.  He jumped really well on his chase debut to win the novice chase at Newton Abbot  - what a legend....!  He won a bumper and a novice hurdle for us in 2011, but he strained a tendon when winning his novice hurdle at Worcester, and had a year on the sidelines.  He then strained his other tendon, and he's had various foot issues since, and its all credit to the team here that he's back on track, and thankfully we have the use of a swimming pool in the village.  I knew he was fit enough to swim to France, I just hoped he was fit enough to gallop 2m5....!  I am chuffed not only for the horse, but for his owners who have shown such patience with him - they deserved that win.

Lough Derg Way in the paddock before wining the novice chase at Newton Abbot following an absence of nearly 600 days.

Niki Royal ran in the same race to be 6th - she just needed softer ground and a drop in trip.  She can have a small break now, and come back in the autumn.  I was pleased with Shinko Moon's run at Wincanton last night, where he finished 4th on his first try up in trip having had a year off - he should improve on that, and should win his fair share of races over the summer.  Dancing Royal made his eagerly awaited racecourse debut last night, where he finished 3rd in the novice hurdle.  He was brave to jump around in his own time when the other two runners dropped out early on, and although he had no chance with the winner, he should come on for the experience. 

Unfortunately Houndscourt just ran a bit flat today at Ffos Las in the maiden hurdle, where he finished 6th of 16 in quite a competitive race.  He's been ultra consistent in three runs for us this year since he arrived from Ireland, but he's been on the go since late August and I think it has finally caught up with him.  He deserves to go on a nice summer holiday now, and then we'll give him a wind op before he goes novice chasing in the autumn.

Our second season at Folly House draws to a close and we have finished 70th in the trainers championship with an 11% strike rate, and 50% of our horses finishing placed. We had 14 winners amassing over £91,000 in prize money, with 11 of our 30 horses winning.  It has been a good season, but we just dipped below last seasons totals, and I must say the weather hasn't helped in that aspect.  However, we have had an awful lot of young horses this season, and we look to have built up a decent squad for next season.  We are now beginning to rough off a lot of our 'winter' horses but will have about 10 or so horses for the summer months.

We have had a busy last couple of weeks, and I was chuffed that Jamesson won last Friday at Plumpton.  He broke his back last March, and it has been a long road back, but Gavin Sheehan gave him a fabulous ride to the letter of our instructions, and I am as pleased for the horse as I am for his owners who have showed an awful lot of faith and patience.

Jamesson flying the last at Plumpton on route to winning.

Of our other runners, it was great to get Tea Caddy back onto the track at Wincanton having had over a year on the sidelines - she ran a lovely race to be third.  Jean Flemming ran her heart out under a penalty to be 2nd at Fontwell under a tough Richard Johnson ride - she will make up into a smashing chaser next season after a summer holiday.  Houndscourt ran another cracker to be 2nd again in a novice hurdle - he's a touch unlucky to have bumped into another decent sort, but his time must surely be just around the corner.  He is another who will make up into a gorgeous chaser..... Ixora ran well on her comeback run to be 4th in the mares final at Cheltenham - it poured with rain for a couple of hours prior to her race, which certainly didn't help her - but I was pleased with her run, and she should be able to pay her way again over the summer months.  Royal Macnab ran well enough in the bumper at Huntingdon yesterday - he's not a bumper type, and we probably made too much use of him early on.  I think he'll turn out to be a very useful prospect when sent jumping.  It was a shame Breaking Bits came to grief at the 4th flight at Ludlow yesterday - I think he would have gone very close, and he too should lose his maiden tag before long.