Monday 8 March

It was a real rollercoaster ride yesterday - firstly the agony of watching Jay Tabb and Reading getting beaten in the quarter final of the FA Cup. 2-0 up at half time and having played their high flying visitors Aston Villa off the park, it looked as though we were all off to Wembley for the semis - but 3 goals in the opening 11 minutes of the second half from Villa was a real kick in the nuts, and the dream was over for Jay and his team mates. A quick switch to see the racing from Huntingdon, and good to see Sam ride out his claim on Milgen Bay in the concluding bumper - the front two came well clear, and he looks a horse to follow. A good morning on the gallops on Saturday - Jardin De Vienne working well with Ogee, he is entered to run at Leicester on Friday, but will only go if the ground is at least good, as we need to see if the better ground will help him, and to run him on anything softer will just be wasting time and money. He is in great form, and should go well in this novices handicap chase if the ground comes right for him. Bobby is still on tick over, as he has just had a cough or two since his last run, and Kikos is doing 2 canters now and is looking in great order. Good to see Mattaking and Important Business back at Fences Farm, and they both seem to be relishing being back in, as they are both as fresh as paint, and the girls are really having to sit tight. These two will be walking and trotting for a couple of weeks to harden up their girths, and will then begin cantering, and will be back on the course in 2-3 months.