Friday 14 February

When a very likeable and talented horse does not run up to scratch, one feels like a someone has just pricked your bubble with a needle - you feel slightly deflated!! Yesterday was like that. Benefit Cut did not perform at Leicester and we all felt as if we had met the man with the needle! He never travelled with his usual zest, and did not jump with his usual verve in the latter stage of the race. We feel that the race just came too soon after his impressive Market Rasen win, and he will be better off for a bit of a break. The handicapper forced us to run back quickly as he is due to go up another 7lbs from tomorrow, and to qualify for an entry at The Festival he needed to run one more time before next Sunday, and with Market Rasen going to an all hurdle card on Sunday it had to be Leicester! We know not to go back too quick again - he is a nice horse and needs looking after! In fairness his owners were not the only ones to meet the man with the needle yesterday, as BC suffered a nasty cut to his hind pastern that needed stapling at the racecourse - he had numerous injections!! He seems fine this morning, and will have an entry in Cheltenham - whether he runs or not will be discussed and decided in a week or two. San Telm is declared in Haydock tomorrow, he is well, the track and trip will suit and he has form on their very testing ground, fingers crossed he runs well on Channel 4. Dawn Commander is in the 3.00pm in Kempton on Sunday. He really enjoyed himself in his Jumpers Bumper there a couple of weeks ago, and with a field of 12, and a couple of extra furlongs in front of him he could run a big race! A weekend double?? Here's hoping!!!