Monday 16 September

It will soon be time to unleash some of the winter battalions! With the gallop still undergoing a refit, the work on Saturday was done slightly differently. Colebrooke was out with first lot, who all did a couple of sharp pieces of work up the hill, before easing up where the new surface starts, and cantering to the end. They all went very well - especially Colebrooke who is like a different horse this year. He feels very well in himself, as he demonstrated by acting like a complete fool on the walker before he went out. He is also moving a whole lot better than he ever did last year. It would appear that he is very much over the aches and pains that were causing him to run below par last year and could be right back on track. We had been debating whether to go straight over hurdles this winter, and I will discuss things with his owners Ben and Jay, but I think the best thing to do is start over hurdles (over 2m 4f) and see if he is good for his mark over the smaller obsatcles - if not he can jump a fence. After breakfast Andrew and Lisa popped in to see their boy Omaruru, along with Terence and Martin who were in to see Omar along with Terence's three - Benefit Cut, San Telm and Smart Exit. BC was first up and did a very nice piece of work with Reyno. BC is ready to run, and will now tick over until a week on Saturday. San Telm is on fire - and is very keen to engage overdrive! He is still on course for one of his 3 targets in October. Omaruru and Guest Of Honour did one extra canter and are both coming along well. It has to be a patient game with Omar, and he will not be ready to go until at least the middle of October. GOH is going very well, but the bumpers at the start of next month may well come a shade too soon for him - but he continues to please everyone. He has schooled over hurdles now and does that part of the job very well as well! Terence had to shoot off after second lot, but Martin, Andrew and Lisa stayed to see Genny Wren and Smart Exit go to work. They both did 2 quick bits up the hill, with SE giving GW a good 8-10 length start and joining her nicely at the top of the hill. Both are in good form, with SE finally looking more of the finished article. He will hopefully run over fences in October, before having a tilt at the inaugural running of the Cambridgeshire National at Huntingdon in November.