Thursday 16 March

A few days to catch up on - and a whole lot to cram in. The week started poorly - Monday afternoon Chandos Belle went to Stratfords opening race of their season as favourite. On her favoured soft ground she was expected to run well. Unfortunately that was not the case. She was never jumping and finished fifth. Not beaten far, but still beaten. We were puzzled by the run, as she never looked comfortable. Later in the afternoon she was scoped by the racecourse vets and found to have burst a blood vessel, so there was the reason. She will have been on the go for a very long time, and this is a manifestation of her system telling her she has had enough for now. She will head off for a well earned holiday, and be back to Fences Farm in mid summer. On the plus side, she will get a favourable handicap mark when she comes back! We left Stratford in lower than normal spirits, but later that night I was sent a photo that put the spring right back in my step. Louise at The Elms Stud sent me the first photo of Elvis. Elvis is Savingforvegas' first foal, and once again she did her owner Ben Turner proud by giving birth to a bonny bay colt foal with the minimum of fuss. Mother and son are doing well!! Ben is delighted, and Elvis will be the focus of much attention over the coming months I am sure! Tuesday and it was Festival time - a great day at the sports, under unbelievable skies - such gorgeous weather. Yesterday I stayed in Cheltenham as Ben and Jay had Mister Miyagi running in The Coral Cup - a good job I did, as two former top footballers who will remain nameless, really threw a spanner in the works by claiming to be Ben, and taking his and my badges from the O&T Gate. Ben was still in training and I was the one trying to get my badge that they had 'kindly' taken. The girls on the gate were brilliant, and the situation was dealt with - and I am glad to say that the two were later spotted in the O&T Facility and ejected. It has now become apparent that they are serial offenders, but I am sure that has now come to an end!! Mister Miyagi ran well, but could not make the frame in the race, but a great afternoon of fun and laughs was had by all!! We hung around after the last race to watch Maria's Benefit in Huntingdons concluding bumper. She has always been held in the highest of regard, and has the Listed Aintree bumper as her target. To have her at her best for that, Stuart had to run her before the 18th, and with rain forecast on Friday, it meant she had to go yesterday. This unfortunately meant that she had to take on a 190,000E French bumper winner from the Henderson yard, a horse that had won his bumper, and been second in a Cheltenham Listed bumper, another bumper winner, and a well bred one from Skeltons that had placed form to its name - all in all a red hot heat. Maria's Owner Paul Wells was happy to take them on, so she did!! Ciaran Gethings took the ride, and although she travelled far too freely for much of the race, she cruised up on the outside, and won very cosily by just a neck. Ciaran only gave her one slap down the shoulder, and gave her an ice cool ride. He reported that she is the best mare he has ever sat on, and has a great deal of speed. Winning this proves what we see at home, and it is off to Aintree with her! I spoke to Paul Last night, and he was over the moon - the first winner is very special - he will never forget her! He can't believe his luck that he is a winner, after just 10 weeks! I am so glad that I managed to get her from the sales, and even more delighted that Paul believed what we were telling him - that she was very good, and decided to take her on on his own after I had tried, and failed to syndicate her. She seems fine this morning!! Domesday Book in Cheltenham today - we wish Jim Humberstone the best of luck - he wanted a horse to take him to The Festival, and we were thrilled when we secured DDB for him - today that dream comes true, I am sure he will have a great day, win or lose!! Top jockeys agent Dave Roberts has his finger on the pulse and is suggesting that there is a chance that Apasionado could get a run in tomorrows County Hurdle. He is in rude health, and the ground there will be right up his street. A strongly run handicap is what he wants, and I am not saying he will win it for sure, but I am sure he will not disgrace himself off of 134. Any of his owners that have not got back to me about badges please do, as that job will not be easy this morning - should he get in.