26th September 2014

We've not had any runners since earlier in the month when Zephyr was just touched off at Fontwell – he stepped up on his first two runs over hurdles and was beaten just over a length in total. He came back with a nasty bang on his shin, and looking back he hung badly left handed up the straight, and perhaps he was unlucky. He’s improving quickly, and will certainly improve further over a longer trip and on a softer surface…..we might switch him into handicap company, but I’d have thought he could win a novice first.

There hasn’t been a lot of jump racing this month, but we might head to Sedgefield next week with Ley Lady Grey and Camachoice. Ley Lady Grey has been working nicely and I hope this is a good opportunity for her. Camachoice ran a cracker on his debut over hurdles, and would certainly have a chance too.

We should begin to have a few runners at the start of October, and I am pleased to say the horses appear to be in top form. They look great in their skin, and they have been doing plenty of work. We’ve had some good schooling sessions both on the schooling grounds, and in the outdoor school with Yogi Breisner over show jumps. Our star, Present View is in top order – he’s on target to run in a novice hurdle in mid October at either Huntingdon or Kempton, and then he’ll head to Cheltenham for the Paddy Power Gold Cup.

I’ve been impressed with the schooling of Rhythm Star, who will be out later on in October. Major Milborne looks to have improved from last season, and should be able to win a novice hurdle before he goes chasing this season. Alanjou has been schooling well over fences, and I hope we can put his 4 year old allowance to good use at Worcester in early October. Tea Caddy is all set for Newton Abbot on 10^th October where she should be spot on for a 3m2 chase. Monbeg Theatre has just had a minor wind op and will reappear over hurdles at the end of October, and he should be one to follow for the season ahead. I have been pleased with some of the bumper horses, and Blackdown Hills and Stage Twenty have both been pleasing me in their work.

Two new recruits arrived in the yard yesterday – The Rebel Panther and What A Lark. The Rebel Panther won an Irish Point before finishing 2^nd in a useful novice hurdle at Worcester in the summer. He was beaten just over 2 lengths by a horse who is now rated 132, and The Rebel Panther has slipped down to a mark of 97….and so I hope we can have some fun with him off that mark! What A Lark is a lovely 3 year old filly, who is by Kalanisi out of the black type winning mare, Grangeclare Lark. She has a fantastic pedigree, and she should be another smart youngster to add to the string.