Monday 7 February

The end of a very busy weekend. Grey Bobby is fine after his run at Wetherby. GB was very well behaved, before his run, he travelled up well, and settled in the racecourse stables, which incidently, if anyone from Wetherby is reading this - ARE DISGUSTING! (Hard working lads and lasses should not be required to work in such conditions, with no hard surface, slopping around in mud is just unacceptable in 2011).Back to GB, who took the prelims very well, and did everything right. Sam was instructed to set off just behind the pace and teach him his trade, but GB was all a bit shell shocked by the whole racing thing, and was soon shuffled back into a very rough race in pretty bad kick back! Sam had to get quite tough on him which was not the plan but to GB's credit he responded and stayed on well up the home straight to pass a few beaten horses and finish mid div. He will have learnt a great deal form the run, as we have about him, and we will see how he comes out of the race before making any further plans, it may be that having had his baptism of fire, we may teach him to jump and turn him away for the summer when the weather warms up. Sam did say he will need another bumper run, but that may have to wait until next season, his long term well being is the most important thing.After the last race in Yorkshire on Saturday it was an early start to get to Fontwell on the south coast for their first. Omaruru is just a star, so consistent, with a very big future! He ran a really good race yesterday, unfortunately bumping into a Gary/ Jamie Moore plot job, and in trying to beat that we forfitted second. Despite what the Racing Post say I think he has run right up to his mark. Sam, like Mark Bradburne absolutely loves this horse, as do we all and we are all looking forward to him jumping a fence in the future. His more immediate future involves a spin round Newbury, which is where we plan to round of his season in early March (4th), there are 2 races on their card that day, and we it will be nice for him to sign off for the year with a run on a big galloping track that looks sure to suit. Bobby Gee has entries at Huntingdon and Kempton later this week. Huntingdon is preferred on Thursday, and we will try and get Tom O'Brien back on board.