Wednesday 5 September

As we know the weather has been extraordinarily dry over the summer, and recent rains have done little to ease the ground both at home and on the courses. As the majority of the work occurs on the all weather gallop at home, schooling is still done on the grass, and it has not been easy to get much practice into the horses that are due to run in about a month. Warwick to the rescue - the racecourse has opened up a schooling area on turf, so trainers can take their charges there to school over both hurdles and fences. Stuart has a few that will be running over fences for the first time within the month, and for that reason a couple will travel there next week. These will be Molly Childers and Maria's Benefit. Maria will have two outings within the next week, as on Saturday she is due to travel to the Edgecote yard of Ben Case, to have an away day and work with his third lot. She will be joined on the day by San Seb, who will have his first trip away from Fences Farm. Stuart likes SS, and the trip away will do him the world of good mentally - it will give him a real buzz, and give him a bit of a rev up before his intended debut in around 4 weeks. As a gentle practice this morning, Maria, Molly, Classic Ben and Theclockisticking all had a gentle pop over the bigger fences at home. Stuart reports that they were all very good, and he is looking forward to their chasing debuts. They will all make their chasing debuts in Novice/Beginners chases, as we feel that this is the right thing to do, despite the strong possibility of them meeting higher rated horses (not Maria), on level terms. The rest of the string are all in fine fettle, with Getaway Mixie the latest to get a very favourable report from the trainer. She will always be special to her owners after nearly losing her life earlier this year, and this ultra tough mare has the ability to match, and she looks to have a bright future.