Sunday 19 March

Thursday will be a day to live long in the memory of Stuart and the staff at Fences Farm - the day of his first Festival Winner. Domesday Book responding to a power packed ride from Gina Andrews to lift the Fulke Walwyn Kim Muir Handicap Chase. A terrific performance, from a horse that had only been in the yard a couple of months. The win was very emotional, as DDB had been recommended by the late Nick Sarson, who lost his brave battle with cancer a few weeks ago. When I received his call, I immediately thought of Jim Humberstone, as a runner at the Cheltenham Festival had been high on his list of objectives when I met him in the Autumn. Despite missing out on him the first time round - he was right there when he got a second chance at him. It was clear that the horse had thrived since his run in Leicester, but winning such a competitive handicap seemed beyond dreams! Well they do come true, and you all know how it ended! Congratulations to everyone!! Apasionado went to Kempton yesterday, and ran a cracker to finish second to a former Meydan Group 2 winner on the flat. He was trying to give him 6 lbs as well, so it was a fine run, and for all the world it looks as though he needs a step up in trip on an easy track on good ground. Tomorrow Tricky Silence runs in Southwell. He will appreciate the better ground, and should run a nice race. Grey Warbler stays at home as she wants softer ground.