Monday 7 December

Christmas Twenty lined up in an ultra competitive novices hurdle in Huntingdon yesterday. CT was purchased from the Irish Point to Point field, and is an out and out stayer, yet he does possess some speed, but not quite the kind of boot needed to live with 100 rated flat horses! We knew this before we went, but CT has not travelled well to the races in the past, so he had to go to an easily accessible course, with a shortish trip - for this reason Huntingdon fitted the bill. All of his owners were there to see him finish a very creditable 6th under Paddy Brennan. CT has come out of the race fine, and is maturing all the time. He was impeccably behaved, and will have the next round of his 'coursework' between Christmas and the New Year. Saturday was another tough day for Stuart and his team, with the sad loss of Benefit Cut in Aintree, our thoughts are with his owners, and Alice, who looked after him. The loss of two high profile horses to the yard in the last 2 weeks is a blow to everyone there, but they will bounce back, and continue to bang in the winners. Cloonacool will work tomorrow, and all being well he will have an entry in Plumpton next Monday. He has swerved Doncaster, as they felt that he wasn't quite ready after his work on Saturday. Josh has reported the ground on the chase course in Plumpton to be riding very well, so he will be entered there if his work tomorrow is OK. Pine Warbler and Paddy Thedeejay will hopefully head to Leicester on Wednesday, and Sneaking Budge will make his hurdling debut in Warwick on Thursday. After that we will be at the sales and racing in Cheltenham on Friday, I will be staying down there for more racing on Saturday - a busy week!!