Thursday 8 August

Best Of Luck to Harriet and 'Alice' today when they jump in the big Pony Club competition in Hickstead! If form is anything to go by they will have a very good competition as they were both in the Oakley Hunt West team that were successful in Addington earlier in the week. Harriet will be riding Curry Hero - known as 'Gavin' in the yard, and 'Alice' rides Magnifico (Maggers). I seem to have been banging on all week about how important it is to find those horses that are no longer suitable for the racecourse, a good home/job afterwards, and as I type this I realise that Magnifico is another prime example of what can be done with these ex racehorses. Maggers was a very talented youngster - Home bred by Mrs Robeson - he was in training with Sir Michael Stoute. Unraced as a 2 yr old - he fluffed his lines on debut, but made up for it in style winning his second start. He was then a winner next time out before going off at just 10/1 for the Wolferton handicap in Royal Ascot. Unfortunately, like a lot of the family he proved to be quite fragile, and succumbed to injury. He was tried once over hurdles, but again it was a no go - so after a good spell of rest he was re-trained as an eventer and Alice has had the ride. His winning days were not over and the pair had have a great deal of fun both eventing and show jumping over the past few years. Let's hope he has another winning day today - Good Luck Girls!!