Tuesday 21 April

Quite a few visitors to the yard in recent years will remember the big grey girl in the corner - Cettis Warbler. Cettis was a wonderful girl - not blessed with a great turn of foot or untold ability, she was game and consisitent and the most wonderful jumper. She jumped her rivals into the ground when winning the Mares Only Chase Final at Uttoxeter - a vital piece of winning black type for the family. When it became obvious that Cettis was no longer entirely in love with racing, she was retired and began her new life as a broodmare. She had to travel to Ireland to be covered, and after a lot of near misses and hanging about, she was finally scanned in foal to Pilsudski, and I am pleased to report that she had a colt foal last week. The birth was not without difficulty, but mother and son are now well, and the old girl has taken to her new career really well.An exciting new addition to a wonderful family.