6th November 2011

How unlucky was Miss Milborne at Fontwell on Friday....?  As we had said it looked a highly competitive bumper, but Miss Milborne ran a cracker and went to the front 100yds from the line, and was going away to win comfortably, when all of a sudden she ducked violently to her right, and pulled herself up.  She was then overtaken, but she ran on again only to be beaten on the line.  I was chuffed and gutted in the same sentence.  She had done everything so well, and looked to have won the race easily, but threw it away.  Interestingly she only lost 1 kg in the race, so she had hardly even broken sweat either.  As the Queen Mother said when Devon Loch did the splits when looking likely to win the National - "that's racing!"

American Ladie ran a cracker yesterday at Wincanton as well in the valuable mares only handicap hurdle.  She finished 3rd, and ran her usual game and consistent race.  I was so pleased as we had upped her in class and distance and she still ran well.  I think we'll keep her to handicap hurdles this season, before going novice chasing next term.  We'll head to Ascot in 2 weeks time with her for another mares handicap hurdle.

As you know we featured in BBC South Today news on Thursday evening, and I will post the version on the website within the week, but I have attached a link below which shows some of the unedited bit of the feature.  I hope it is of interest.....

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/horse_racing/15593740.stm