Sunday 30 October

At Fences Farm to see first lot yesterday. Apasionado worked really nicely with Sneaking Budge. AP will start to have entries from the 8th of November, Sneaking Budge worked really nicely and will have an entry in Sandown next Sunday, but will need rain. Also out in that group was Molly Childers. Molly too worked really nicely, and has an entry in Warwick on Friday, and will also be entered in Lingfield on the 8th. We will look at both races and decide a path to take on Wednesday afternoon, when we have seen the entries for both heats. Second lot it was good to see Olly and Vic - it was Vics first visit to Fences Farm, and we hope to see him back as an owner very soon! Second lot, the Flemensfirth Filly went out, and is pleasing everyone, and Pull Together went out with her - he will start cantering again next week, as his growing pains have subsided, and he is getting a bit fresh! On the gallops we saw the two 2 yr olds go well, with a new arrival in behind. Third Lot the two 3 yr olds - Paul Wells' Kalanisi, and Ben Turners Top Garry went out to exercise, but by this time we were in the lorry and heading to Ascot with Cloonacool. C has been in fine form and we were hopeful of a good run. He looked great pre race, but after an awkward leap at the second and then running a bit free in a start - stop - start gallop he didn't pick up, and Josh eased him home. There is no doubt that at the second flight, as a horse upsides flattened the hurdle he scared himself slightly, but we seem to feel that the way he ran can be explained more byt the way the race was run than anything else. Cloonacool needs a good fast end to end gallop, and Tom O'Brien on Sternrubin went off very fast before slowing it right down and then sprinting, which is what they had done in The Ladbroke last year. This did not suit Cloonacool, and although ridden closer to the pace to counteract any sprint finish, he seemed just unable to cope with the injection of speed. Despite the crawl mid race, the time was fast, which shows what a sprint it was. Cloonacool still retains all of his ability, and given a more even gallop, will be back winning again soon. He did not have a hard race yesterday, and was full of himself on his return, and may be out again quite quickly, either over hurdles or fences. The main thing is that he is back safe and sound!!