Friday 30 December

Chandos Belle made a hugely satisfactory hurdling debut yesterday in Doncaster. She was purchased as a hurdler, and her first steps along that path went exactly as planned. She has disappointing when she ran on the all weather in Wolverhampton, after her initial target race, a hurdle in Leicester was abandonded, but she hated the surface that day, and was also found to be seriously under the weather afterwards. So yesterday was a fresh start. Brendan Powell took the ride, with Josh Moore out with a dislocated shoulder. It looked like a race with 4 decent fillies in the line up, and where there was likely to be no pace, so Brendan was told to get a lead over the first couple and then ride his race as they went away from the stands. CB was a bit sketchy at the first, but warmed to her task, and jumped well along the side of the track. Taking up the running wasn't ideal, but Work, who had cut out the early pace was not jumping with any fluency and Brendan found himself in the lead courtesy of CB's slicker hurdling. They came off Rose Hill, and she got in tight at the next and stumbled, but still led them into the straight. Hurdling the first in the straight well, she still led, but a mistake 2 out made life tough, and she was soon back to third. She then fiddled the last, but responded really well to moderate pressure and held on for third at the line, having looked likely to get swallowed up after mistakes at the final 2. Brendan was pleased with her, said she would learn plenty from the experience, and is sure to win races! Yesterdays ground was the subject of fierce debate all day, with some reporting it still to be frozen in places, leading to a raft of non runners. Stuart and I walked the parts of the track that they were saying were frozen, and could not find a problem. We felt that the ground was not as soft as the original description of Good To Soft, and that was officially changed to Good all round after the second, but apart from a slight crust on some of the infill, we didn't see there being a problem. In fairness the Good ground was not ideal for CB, but with no danger in it we decided to run - something Brendan mentioned in his debrief - that Good To Soft would have suited her better. All in all a very good debut, and one that she will build upon. Chandos Belle seems fine this morning, suffering just a small self inflicted cut on a back joint. She will be out again in 3-4 weeks. Yesterday was a day to remember for Rachel Tagg, who's husband Chris had purchased a share in CB for Rachels Birthday on Boxing Day. With Chris at work it was left to their children to get her to Doncaster, and into the racecourse without her knowing that she was now a racehorse owner!! They did a great job, and the surprise worked really well. They had a super day! There are just a couple of shares left in Chandos Belle, so be quick if you would like to join her owners The Chicheley Partnership - after yesterday, I don't think the shares will be around for long - especially as tomorrow is the last day that they will be available at Decembers prices!! 07909 518902 or nickbrownracing@gmail.com