Friday 20 December

Smart Exit so nearly made it 2 wins from 2 runners this week, but just found a well handicapped course specialist too good in Towcester yesterday. SE was far better suited to the stiff Towcester track than the flat galloping track of Huntingdon where he was beaten last month. He jumped and travelled well and was running on at the death. if the handicapper doesn't spoil things his next win will be round the corner! SE seems fine this morning. The team at Fences Farm seem to have the horses in great form and with a host of nice ones to run over the Christmas period - there should be some fun times ahead!! Lucy McGarrity will be in today to give San Telm a prod and a poke. He is fine after his run, but Lucy saw him after his chasing debut last month, and it seemed to work, so why not let him have another massage - he's earned it!! If Lucy is happy with him today, and Stuart is happy with him tomorrow he may get an entry in a Novice Chase in Leicester a week today (Friday 27th December). There are more and more novice handicaps now and fewer level weights novice races. San Telm will be raised anything form 7-12lbs, and will therefore be running in the better Novice Handicaps at the bigger tracks, where the speed of the races will not help him to hone his jumping technique and learn his trade. The pace of a level weights Novice race will be a gear slower and will let him get into a decent rhythm so despite us not often running them back quickly, the entry at Leicester may well be made if everyone is happy with the horse. Benefit Cut will have his first entry since his short break on Sunday 29th December in Doncaster, he will work tomorrow morning. Maypole Lass will join him in Doncaster and run in the Juvenile fillies maiden hurdle on the same card. New boy Dawn Commander is in rude health, he is putting on weight in the right places, and will soon start to do a bit more exercise.