Thursday 12th October - autumn is here, and the winners continue.

I am delighted that the form of our 'summer horses' has continued as the core jumps season kicks off in earnest.  We have had more runners in October than we have had for some time, and another three winners has consolidated our position in the top 20 of the Championship.

Double Treasure followed up his win at Newton Abbot with a lovely round of jumping to win at Worcester despite a 9lb rise under a positive ride from Gavin Sheehan.  Treasure hasn't been the easiest horse to train and I must say that my head girl, Kate Robinson, has done a wonderful job with him.  He looks a really progressive type now and we might look to run in the class 2 novice at Cheltenham later this month. 

Double Treasure wins his 3rd chase in succession

I was thrilled that Lunar Flow won on his seasonal debut at Uttoxeter on Sunday where he was carrying 12lbs more than when winning last season.  Gavin Sheehan gave him a wonderfully bold front running ride, and he jumped from fence to fence and should be able to improve further when encountering softer ground and going over further.

Lunar Flow wins well at Uttoxeter

Presenting Pearl put in a decent performance yesterday to win quite a hot bumper at Ludlow.  Gavin gave her a peach of a ride and in winning yesterday we have booked our place in the Listed Bumper at Cheltenham on 18th November. 

Presenting Pearl wins her bumper 

Over the last season we have been using the best jockey available but we seem to have teamed up successfully with Gavin Sheehan recently and I look forward to using him more frequently throughout the season.

Of our other recent runners, they have pretty much all been placed as well.  Hogan's Height ran a cracking race to be 2^nd at Newton Abbot on heavy ground.  He jumped beautifully and will be a lovely novice chaser this season.  Buche De Noel made a long-awaited comeback to be 4^th over hurdles at Worcester and she'll come on for that run and will improve on some softer ground too.  Meanwhile, Between The Waters improved for having a tongue tie fitted and finished 2^nd at Sedgefield last week. He'll have a winter holiday now and a wind op before running through the spring.  Another horse who is off for a break now is Our Three Sons who was 4^th last week.  He's won three over the summer and will go novice chasing in the spring. 

I was perfectly happy with Dans Le Vent's hurdling debut where he was 3^rd at Huntingdon.  Although always a shame not to win, it was a respectable start to his season.  He didn't really make any mistakes but his jumping wasn't fast and fluent and he'll certainly improve tons in that department.  He did however show he still has an engine as he fairly flew up the straight after the last, and will improve for a step up in trip too. 

Shockingtimes looked incredibly unlucky at Fontwell where he fell with the race seemingly at his mercy.  It was his first run for 21 months and he travelled into the race with a circuit remaining and pinged the 4th last as the rest of the field were left toiling in his wake and took up the running and looked the most likely winner until he came down.  Thankfully he's ok although a bit sore and he should make amends before long.