Monday 6 January

It is just a case of beating the weather at the moment. The amount of rainfall we have had to endure has been almost biblical, and you have to wonder how the team would be faring if they still had the old surface still down on the gallop - I am pretty sure it would have been unusable for the last couple of weeks!! The new surface has taken the rain really, really well, and still rides perfectly despite of the recent deluge!! It was worth the hassle at the time!! We did get a bit wet on Saturday - not the nicest of days for Mark and Fiona to pay their first visit to the yard. At least I warned them and they had the sense to go out a buy some new willies!!! Walking to the top of the hill 3 times tested the resolve, but they had a great time in the fresh air and got to see their boy Dawn Commander to 2 nice canters - he is progressing very well, and looks like the class horse that he is!! We beat the weather on Saturday and Leicester has beaten the weather tomorrow and their meeting goes ahead after this mornings inspection. San Telm has been declared in the Novice Handicap Chase (6 run) with man of the moment Josh Moore in the saddle. Josh won the Sussex National yesterday, and is riding at the top of his game - it is rude having him claim 3lbs!! He won on San Telm last time, and hopefully he can get a tune out of him tomorrow. The race, despite only a few runners is very tight, and ST will have to be at the top of his game to feature - his jumping will have to be much sharper than in Fakenham, but he will have a learnt a lot, and gained valuable confidence, which along with a change of bit, could do the trick! Colebrooke misses out tomorrow as planned, but is entered in Ludlow on Wednesday, and will today be entered in a hot chase in Kempton - we will look at both races tonight and make a plan!! Smart Exit (Towcester 19th) worked really well on Saturday, as did Benefit Cut (Ascot 18th) who worked well in behind San Telm and Colebrooke. The Tobougg filly has had a couple of days off games as she was a bit quiet after her flu jab last week - she will resume her efforts this week. Maypole Lass is also having a couple of weeks off, before she is aimed at a spring campaign on a sounder surface. Our thoughts are with Henrietta Knight and the Biddlecombe Family, after the sad passing of Terry yesterday - Racing has lost a real character!!!