Wednesday 8 March

I'm back - sorry for the lack of updates - been to the 'frozen north' - a couple of lovely days in York! First a catch up - Tricky Silence and Maria's Benefit travelled to Doncaster on Saturday. Tricky ran in the novice hurdle, and finished fourth. We had expected him to get tired on the soft ground, but they usually get through it OK in Doncaster - Saturday that was not the case - it was as testing as I have ever seen it - the young horses in the novice finished tired. Ciaran was really pleased with TS, he jumped really well, and was a very willing horse. He will be much better on a sounder surface - there will be some fun days to be had with him! Having ridden TS Ciaran advised that the ground was so bad - not to run Maria's Benefit. Having worked upsides her at home, he knows what Stuart thinks of her, and he felt that running her on that ground would be detrimental to the rest of her season. Her owner Paul Wells was disappointed, but very understanding, and she will now have entries in Huntingdon on the 15th, and Kempton on the 18th. A quick dash back down the A1, and a top evening of Rugby chat/beer and silliness at Huntingdon Rugby Club, with Matt Griggs (Apasionado, Chandos Belle, Tricky Silence/Sneaking Budge) and Tom Macreadie (Apasionado, Cloonacool). Saturday night resulted in quite a thick head on Sunday, and I have felt a lot better! Land League was up on Sunday - in Huntingdons opener - the Maiden Hurdle. Josh took over from the banned Brendan, and LL ran a super race to be third. Josh was delighted with him. He will be out again in 3-4 weeks. He has now run three very promising races in Novice/Maiden Hurdles, and I can't believe that there are shares available in him. He is a gorgeous, big, scopey horse who jumps for fun, and will be winning very soon. Please have a look at him on the For Sale Page, and get in touch if you would like further information. (nickbrownracing@gmail.com). After his run, we jumped in the car and headed back up the A1 to York for a couple of days - back last night, and today we were due to be off to Fontwell with Chandos Belle, but that has fallen foul of the weather, and is off due to waterlogging. This was a shame as she stood a great chance in the race, but was not the biggest surprise. Because we half expected it, she was entered in a juvenile hurdle in Stratford next Monday - which, although she has an entry in Warwick on Sunday, looks the likely option. The weekend runners seem fine after their runs. Today Apasionado has not been confirmed for The Supreme Novices Hurdle next week. He will be declared for The County Hurdle later in the week, but looks sure to miss the cut. He will have an entry in Kempton on Saturday 18th. On Saturday Molly Childers runs in The Listed Mares Bumper in Sandown. This has been her target all year - and although she blotted her copy book in Fakenham last month - we still have faith in her - she is a very good mare. She will sport headgear, to focus her errant mind in the closing stages. Hopefully she can come home with some valuable black type. An exciting few days ahead!