Wednesday 10 December

It was always likely to happen - Cloonacool was hit with a 5lb rise in the weights yesterday. This is a direct result of his run before last when he won in Huntingdon, beating subsequent easy winner Make Me A Fortune. As our chaps run last Sunday has not been assessed yet we wait to see what he will do after he finished second - I would hope that the handicapper has had his say! His rise to 125, has meant that we are able to identify a target race for later in the season. He will be aimed at the Grade 3 Imperial Cup in March. A very competitive 2m handicap hurdle run at Sandown in March. He should be getting in the bottom of the weights, and the race and track should suit him well. The plan would be to run over Christmas at either Kempton or Leicester, then he would not be out again to the middle of February, as a short mid season break should work wonders to freshen him up. A run in mid Feb will put him spot on for Sandown, and we will see where we go after that! Exciting times!! Smart Exit has now recovered from the exertions of the Cambridgeshire National, and yesterday, did his first piece of work since that run. He worked very nicely, and earned himself an entry in Plumpton next Monday. The race failed to get the 10 entries yesterday, and was reopened until 11 this morning, but there are still only 9 entered. We will look at the opposition, and weather, and make a decision later this week. He is in good form. Benefit Cut seems to be coming back to form once again. He schooled this morning and was ripping up the chase fences once again. Hopefully we will know where we are with him by this time next week.