Tuesday 11 March
The deafening roar that rises with the tapes at the start of the Supreme Novices Hurdle this afternoon is something to behold. You have to witness it to believe it! Unfortunately I will not be there this year, but I will be glued to the screen watching the best 4 days sport of the year!! Back at home - San Telm paid a visit to the vets yesterday - Josh felt he was a bit stiff in the back in his run on Friday, so he was booked in yesterday to let the vets take a couple of xrays of his spine and treat accordingly. He was found to be sore in a couple of spots, which were confirmed on x ray and the areas were medicated. He will have a day off today, but resume exercise shortly. He will also have a massage in about 10 days to free his muscles up, and this has been booked for a Saturday so that the day off that he has to have after a massage will fall on a Sunday which is his day off anyway - that way he will not miss any work! He will be aimed at a Conditional Jockeys handicap Hurdle in Ascot on March 30th - the same day that Benefit Cut is due to have his prep run for his trip to Punchestown. Native Princess is over her soft palate proceedure, and is cantering away nicely again. She will be given time, but at the moment it looks like she is on course to have her second run in about a months time. Colebrooke is in great form, and will be aimed at a conditional jockeys race in Newbury next week - we have a number of options regarding jockeys, and we will see who we can get - he is down to a workable mark at last, and will be in the easiest grade he has tackled for some time! Maypole Lass will have options around the 19th and 20th. Smart Exit was not entered for Fontwell on Saturday as the race was a 0-120 and it was felt he needed a bit more time. He will have an entry in a 3m 5f marathon in Warwick on the 19th, and a 3m 2f 0-110 in Fontwell on the 25th. We wish everyone involved in the Festival a safe and trouble free time, with all horses, and jockeys getting a safe trip round and coming home in one piece.
