Monday 9 September

Quite autumnal this morning - darker starts, and tipping with rain - at least it means that the winter season is nearly upon us!! It was slightly different on Saturday, when John Bird and Bob Graham popped in to see their horses. I am not the only one who can't wait for the season proper to start - both Bob and John have never looked forward to a season so much! Both have a share in Guest Of Honour, and got to see him do 3 canters with Omaruru. Guest Of Honour is near side - with Omaruru on the far side. Also out second lot were San Telm and Colebrooke who are both in fantastic form. To be fair - this season all the horses seem to be in rude health - with more than one giving the riders the feeling that they are in much better form then they were last season - so fingers crossed they will all be up to finding the winners circle this season! Benefit Cut was out first lot - and went very nicely. He is bang on target for his seasonal debut on 28th. Unfortunately Brendan Powell, although now riding out, will not be back and fit to ride him, after his broken arm, so Howard and Terence have decided to reunite Tom O'Brien with Benny. A good plan, but Tom nearly put the mockers on that plan yesterday - when he received a 4 day ban for careless riding in Fontwell. He did nearly put Sam Twiston Davies through the rail on the run in so it was a fair punishment. Like all bans - his will start 14 days after the offence, and only applies to days when jump racing takes place - BC's race is 20 days away - so with a 4 day ban it only left 2 days - and there is no jump racing on one of those - so luckily it seems as though he will be able to take the ride if available. The work on the gallop continues with fresh base stone going in. They have started to lay the new surface on the top of the gallop, and it looks very good. Like all new surfaces it will need to bed in, but when it does it looks like it will ride very well.