Friday 29 January

Yesterday went from one extreme to another! Smart Exit, who is in blinding form at home just couldn't handle the turns of Warwick, and in a race that seemed to be run at a million miles an hour he could never get into a rhythm. He was pulled up, but lives to fight another day. track type is very important to him - so he will return to his beloved Chepstows and Towcesters. The trck would be more important than the discipline, so for example, if there were no chases at these types of track, but there were opportunities over hurdles, he could well end up reverting back to the smaller obstacles. Savingforvegas was up next in the Mares Novice Hurdle. Stepping up to 2m 5f, which looked sure to suit, and on soft ground we felt she could run well, despite being pitched into to a race with 2 mares that had each run big races, and been placed in Listed company on their last starts. SFV was ridden by Brendan Powell, who went wider all the way in search of slightly better ground. She wasn't fluent at a few of her hurdles, but still managed to take it up jumping 3 out, and battle on for a hard fought success. A great result for her owner Ben Turner, and as planned she will now be aimed at the final of the Mares Novice Hurdle series run in Newbury in early April. She will run in the meantime - but we will look at the book and see where that will be! Off to Doncaster today - where San Telm gets his ground for the first time in ages! He is also in terrific heart at home, and we are hopeful of a nice run. Stuart is aiming to run Mr Lawrences, Wolf Of Windlesham in Cheltenham on Saturday, and is even booked to do a phone interview with Luke Harvey on the Get In programme tonight after the 8.00 from Dundalk!! That will be fun if he's awake!!