Friday 25 March

A good day in Ludlow yesterday, where Cloonacool once again ran a cracking race to be beaten just a length into third in the £20,000 feature race of the day. Travelling and jumping superbly under Josh Moore, he challenged between the final 2 obstacles, and in the end had to give best to 2 horses carrying over 20lbs less than him. He ran really well, and once again proved what a dependable character he is. He has earned himself a well earned break and will now have a holiday. He will be ridden around the farm for a few weeks until there is some warmer weather and some grass growth, and then he will have a couple of months off. He will be back later in the year, and could well start off his season over hurdles again - but that is all for the future. He has done us proud this winter, and has only once not finished in the money - horses like him are hard to find!! We are lucky to have him! Visible Light is well, he schooled over fences yesterday, and was very good. A change of plan means he will not be running next week, but will instead be out again in 3 weeks. Bold Conquest is fine, and there are a number of options for him both over hurdles and fences. San Telm is bucking and kicking again and could well go to Cheltenham in mid April. Christmas Twenty will have entries next Friday and Saturday. We got the vet to look at Sneaking Budge again yesterday, to try and affirm his suspicions - and after scanning his hock he confirmed what he first thought, and has said that he will inject the hock in 3 weeks time. He is happy with him, and is very confident there will be no long term ills!