Monday 8 December

Cloonacool ran a blinder yesterday to be second in Huntingdon. The race wasn't run to suit - a slow pace was always going to make it tricky on a hold up horse, but he ran really well - proving that he is up to winning off of his current mark for sure. Josh was a little hard on himself after the race, saying he should have probably gone for home slightly earlier - but we are not so sure it would have made too much difference - the winner had some very good form in the book. Cloonacool seems fine this morning - you would hardly know he has had a race, and he has enjoyed a fresh morning in the field, and will have entries in Kempton (27th) and Leicester(28th). I know it was fresh at Fences Farm this morning as I was over there to watch a couple get scoped and a couple get trotted up for the vet. Smart Exit scoped 100% and seems in good terms with himself - we will look for races for him now. Benefit Cut also seems to be coming back to himself, and scoped clean this morning as well - so he is going the right way. San Telm was trotted up for the vet, and is a lot better than he was a couple of weeks ago, but unfortunately still needs a bit of time, he will now just be restricted to going on the walker for a couple of weeks and be reassessed after that, with the probability that he will need a further 2 weeks of just walker to make it 4 weeks in total. It is hard to pinpoint what he has done, but he needs the time to let it heal. He is fine on most ground, so we will not miss out on too much sport - as he can run well into the spring/early summer. Dawn Commander was trotted up as well - and he is looking great, no sign of lameness - and he too will start off gently with a couple of weeks on the walker before resuming work - great news, and he looks fabulous!