Saturday 25 October

This is not a slight on the lovely people of the Principality, but more of a description of what happened to Important Business at Chepstow! The morning started well, it was bright and a bit chilly, and Ginge O'Reilley, Alan Garratt and Paul Litchfield all got the 'hardy soul' prize for getting to the top of the hill to see first lot, and watch their horse Kikos do a really good piece of work with Ogee.He was entered this morning for Uttoxeter on Friday, and all being well that is where he will go.Then the phone went with the first bit of good news - Sams intended ride at Aintree had been withdrawn, and he was free to ride ours, a handy 3lb pull, putting us only 1lb wrong, and as Sam knows him so well it was really good news to know that we had him back on board, although I am sure Tom Siddall would have been a more than adequate replacement. Then straight after breakfast it was off to Chepstow with IB. We had a good run down, and he travelled down well. The course was probably just on the soft side of good, and although IB is better on quicker ground he would handle it well enough.Again he was very well behaved in the prelims and took the whole thing well. Sam jumped him off where he wanted 4th or 5th and travelled and jumped superbly. Turning in Sam had a look between his legs and we all started to get excited at the prospect of winning a very hot race, IB and Forest Pennant went clear approaching 3 out and the race was on, but unfortunately our little chap hit 'the wall' 2 furlongs out and did not see out the full 3 miles, When Sam knew he was not in the running for a place he eased up. It was a really good run and I am thrilled to bits with him. We will drop him in both trip and grade and he should be winning in the near future.