Saturday 21 November

After the sad events of Thursday, we were looking to Cloonacool to put a spring back in our step in Ascot yesterday. Unfortunately he hadn't read the script. With what we thought was a race run to suit, he travelled typically well until 3 out when he was asked for an effort and was found wanting. Josh reported that it rode like a very good race, a fact that was confirmed by the time, which was 0.4 seconds outside standard on ground described as soft - a full 11 seconds faster than any other time on the card! Cloonacool has returned fine, and Stuart will get some tests done this week to see if there is anything amiss. His next run will be over fences, and the tests will tell us when this may be. Hopefully he will be out again in mid December. I missed a trip to Fences Farm this morning, instead travelling to Huntingdon to see Bonellis Warbler in the opener.Unfortunately she confirmed what Stuart had felt at home, and that she isn't very quick, and she will be found an alternative career. Stuart did report that both Sneaking Budge and Savingforvegas had both worked really nicely this morning. SB is entered on the flat in Chelmsford on Thursday, and SFV is entered in a mares bumper in Wetherby on Wednesday. Bold Conquest is also in fine form and is entered in a handicap hurdle in Doncaster on Friday. I will be in contact with all owners of the sadly departed Dawn Commander early next week, but just to give the heads up - I will be offering everyone a share in Sneaking Budge, who after his run on the flat on Thursday will go juvenile hurdling - as he has schooled really well and is a natural. The weekly/monthly payments will remain the same, there will just be a cost of the capital share, which I will of course keep to a minimum! San Telm is declared to run in Uttoxeter tomorrow, the ground should be just soft and he appears in good order, we are looking forward to seeing him out again.