Monday 14 March

A topsy turvy weekend. Saturday we set off to Chepstow full of hope that Smart Exit would run really well. Back at a track that we know suits him, and with conditions to suit we were hopeful of a big run. SE had other ideas. Lizzie Kelly, who had appeared in that mornings Times newspaper, with slightly less clothes on than you would have imagined, took the ride in the Conditional Jockeys heat. She got SE settled into a lovely rhythm and all seemed to be going well until they set out on the second circuit, when the partnership started to slip off of the back of the field. Lizzie kept him going until he made a bad mistake in the home straight, when tailed off, and she rightly pulled him up. Disappointing to say the least! SE seems fine, and we will have a think what to do over the course of the next couple of weeks. Stuart will change a few things at home, including reintroducing some headgear, and we will get the vet to check him over. Off to the excellent Market Rasen yesterday. We have not been back since Cloonacool won the Prelude - and it was good to make the trip again! San Telm took his chance in the staying hurdle. We had ruled out running him after last Wednesdays rain as the ground had gone heavy, but a drying forecast, and the probability of a small field led us to rethink that on Friday morning, and we popped him in. Josh, who gets on so well with him travelled a very long way for just the one ride, and he was well rewarded! ST led all the way, and stayed on really well after the last for a 2 length win! It was great to see the little horse get his head back in front, and Josh said he got as big a buzz out of yesterdays win as any winner he has ridden all season! ST seems fine this morning, just a little stiff, and if the handicapper is kind, and he is OK, he could go back to Market Rasen in a couple of weeks. Please don't forget there is a quarter share available in ST - just give me a call for further details - I promise you, you will be very surprised at the cost!! 07909 518902. Reyno ran in the last, and broke his run of seconds with a fourth, but he ran well. Visible Light pleased Megan in a piece of work on Saturday, and has an entry in Towcester on Thursday. He will also have an entry in Southwell next Monday, just in case that is a much easier heat. It was good to see Fort Carson win yesterday for the Neil King team. Fort Carson had been 30 lengths behind VL when they last met in Clonmel in VL's last run. This backs the form up - so hopefully its all systems go this week! With the weather man saying it is going to be a fine dry week, Bold Conquest will have an entry in a staying chase in Fontwell on Saturday. He is in fine fettle, and they do a great job with their ground down there!