20th August 2012

We had a couple of runners at Stratford this afternoon - Queen of the West and Plenty Pocket.  Having fun well to be 3rd on her debut over an inadequate 2 miles, we thought Queen of the West should improve over 2m6 today, but she slightly disappointed by finishing 4th.  Tom thought she may have a 'wind issue' and so we had her scoped afterwards, but the airways looked clear and there was no mucus or blood, which is always positive news.... I think we might try working her in a tongue tie and see how we get on. 

Plenty Pocket made his debut for us in the beginners chase and jumped well.  However, he burst a blood vessel, and so we'll have to go back to the drawing board.  He was a classy horse on the flat in France, and won a decent novice hurdle for Paul Nicholls but he then started bleeding.  We therefore picked him up cheaply, but we always knew it was a risk.  We'll go back to basics and try to freshen him up before he runs again.  He should win, but may need to drop down a class or two.