What a week we have had - 4 winners from 6 runners.....!!! Ixora bolted up at Huntingdon in her first novice chase - she jumped superbly and won in a hack canter. She was a classy hurdler but I hope she could be even better over fences. We'll try to find another suitable novice chase with a penalty for her, and then step her up in class. Ballyboker Boy also ran at Huntingdon, and he was slightly disappointing, however he clearly wants further than 2 miles as he was just outpaced from the home bend. He'll have a summer holiday now, before we probably tinker with his wind and then he can come back novice chasing in the autumn.

Ixora in full flight in splendid isolation.

We ran Marodima yesterday at Newton Abbot and he romped away with the class 3 handicap chase. Tom gave him a lovely confident ride, and won by 17 lengths - the only person who wouldn't have been impressed is the handicapper....!

Meanwhile I was up at Doncaster sales yesterday and bought 2 very nice mares. Buxom looks an absolute smasher - she is a 5 year old by Milan (just like Ixora) and she has won 2 bumpers. She looks to be a lovely type for the mares novice hurdle series culminating in the final listed handicap at Newbury in March. She is for sale at £27k.

I also bought a 5 year old mare called Queen of the West who won an Irish Point in impressive fashion on her third start last month. Timeform stated "Queen Of The West looked smart when almost winning on her debut at Kirkistown before falling at the last and winning on a stiff test such as this confirms she is a classy type which can fully be expected to make her mark on the track.” There are a couple of shares available for sale. 

Lucy and I have just got back from a lovely holiday in Turkey - although I think the weather here may have been better by all accounts! The horses have been in terrific form with 2 winners and a second from just 4 runners.

Jawhary made a winning debut for us at Towcester on Friday evening, when scoring under a fine ride from young Brendan Powell. I claimed him out of a seller at Newton Abbot in early April as a replacement for El Diego. I am chuffed to bits for the Keightley's, Finch's and Lambert's who now own him - it was the Keightley's first ever winner, and I was delighted for them.

We were going to send Knighton Combe to Wetherby on Thursday, but the novice hurdle at Worcester was cutting up, and so we switched and sent him there, and thankfully he cam home a length and a quarter clear, and amazingly recorded his first win over hurdles as a 12 year old! He has now won 6 races for us, and is a true legend.

Millers Reef finished second at Ludlow the day before we went away on holiday, and ran a cracker. We rode him exactly the same way as we had when he won at Taunton last month, but unfortunately we got caught close home. I think we learnt a lot, and will challenge a bit latter on our next start. I think we'll pop him back over fences and try to take advantage of a lower mark in that discipline.

The only bit of bad news that we suffered this week, was when Mista Rossa unfortunately broke a bone behind his knee. We nursed him back to full fitness having had 600 days off the track, and he ran a nice race at Wetherby on Thursday despite just needing the run. However, he pulled out lame on Friday morning and that'll be the end of his racing career now. I feel devastated for Lucy Horner and Jon and Jackie Hughes who have been so patient with him, and we will all miss him in the yard as he is such a character.  

We had a couple of runners at Worcester yesterday where the ground was absolutely perfect - amazing considering it was waterlogged in mid week!  Ballyboker Boy ran in the 2m4 maiden hurdle and started favorite under AP.  He ran well to finish 3rd, beaten only 5 lengths and missed out on 2nd by a neck.  However, he was over keen once more and just failed to see the race out.  AP questioned his wind, but suggested we drop him back to 2 miles, as that way we can let him bowl along, and hopefully he'll be able to finish the race out.  Undoubtedly he has an engine, and he has now been placed in 3 novice hurdles for us, but has a mark of 120, and he's not won a race yet.  Sutton Who ran well in the 2 mile novice hurdle, and has progressed with each of his 3 starts over hurdles this season, and deserves a summer holiday.  I'd hope he matures and strengthens over the summer, and it'd be nice to think that he'll come into his own when stepped up in trip and sent chasing.

Ballyboker Boy at Worcester yesterday

I have recently learnt how to upload videos onto the website - so I will endeavor to upload a few over the coming weeks and months.  Please do have a look at these 2 videos of Ultra Klass - we are selling 20% shares in him and there are only 4 left, so do let me know if you are keen to join our small partnership.

Ultra Klass cantering

Ultra Klass schooling (he's in second)

We wouldn't be English if we didn't talk about the weather - but I really find it hard to believe it is May, as it feels more like November! We have had such a lot of rain, and race meetings are being called off everyday with tracks being waterlogged. Sutton Who was going to run at Stratford today, but that is off, and Ballyboker Boy was going to run at Newton Abbot tomorrow, but that has been abandoned as well. I hope they might both get a run at Worcester on Sunday.

I watched the Chester Cup this afternoon, and saw Ile De Re putting up a great performance to beat Overturn. Interestingly, it was Ile De Re that beat Caminero into 3rd on our first run over hurdles at Sandown in February. Caminero is out at grass at the moment on his 'summer' holiday, and will come back for a wind op at the end of June, before we send him novice chasing through the autumn. I think he will certainly be one to follow.

We had a busy morning schooling, and Tom O'Brien popped in to have a sit on a few. Ixora schooled over fences, and was electric. She has recovered from her fall at Cheltenham last time out, and will be a lovely novice chaser for the summer - she is quick, bold, and yet can be very clever and dance in front of them, and I cannot wait to have her out, but we'll just bide our time and wait for the sun to shine. Millers Reef schooled over fences with Ixora, and he looks to be well handicapped over fences when the ground quickens up again. Tom also popped Miss Milborne over 12 fences as well, and she will be a smashing chaser for next winter - we'll now begin to rough her off and she can go out in the paddock for the summer. All Nighter and Jawhary flew up the hurdles, and I cannot wait to get them out when the summer finally arrives. All Nighter will be a force to be reckoned with in the early juvenile heats.  Tom schooled Ultra Klass over hurdles, and described him as being very athletic and exciting for next season - we are selling 20% shares in him, and only have a couple left, so do shout if you are keen.