Thursday January 1

A new year - and a change of luck! Mattaking today was a winner at Fakenham. We had him in an Amateur Riders Chase, which we thought may cut up a bit, and it did, but he could do no more than beat the horses that are against him and he did it in some style, winning by 13 lengths very easily, despite nearly taking the wrong course after the last. Apart from this minor hiccup - which gave us all a heart attack, our jockey, Brian Toomey rode him very well, and both he and especially Matty deserved their five minutes of fame. Congratulations to all of the members of The Ravenstone Partnership (many of whom made it to the cold Norfolk track),and despite calling Matty some very uncomplimentary names in the past we have long felt that he would win a race, and it was nice to get his first one on the board! The nice thing is that he did it so easily that he hardly knows he has had a race, and as he is entered at Leicester on Tuesday,so he may go there, as he will only be burdened with a 7lb penaly whereas if we wait, he will be put up a lot more than that in the handicap. Having had a look at the program book I see there is also a race at Huntingdon on Friday that he will also only have to carry a penalty in, so he will be entered for that as well. Thanks and well done to all the team at Fences Farm - You Did It!!!