Monday 24 December

A very Merry Christmas to all clients and members both past and present, and to those of you that just enjoy following what we do. It has been a difficult autumn for our horses for sure, with just 13 runs from 7 to have run, but at least the pre Christmas period ended on a high note, with the victory of Queenohearts in the Listed Mares Hurdle in Haydock on Saturday. The winner of 2/3 bumpers last season, culminating in victory in the mares Listed Bumper in Sandown, we know that the big ginger mare is good, but it was still a tough enough ask, to take on a Class 1 race, after just one outing over hurdles, where despite running a super race to finish second, her hurdling was far from ideal. On Saturday she was much better, and travelled through the race like the best mare in there - a scare, when Ciaran's saddle slipped on landing after the second last, and he did well to keep the partnership together when she pitched after the last, but they managed to keep their momentum, and under hands and heels, stay on for a well deserved success. Delighted for her owners, who appreciate what hey have, and will, I'm sure be there when she turns out again - possibly in the Grade 2 Jane Seymour in Sandown in February. She will have an entry in the mares novice at the Cheltenham Festival, but would need it to be soft, like last year to run - there are alternatives over in Ireland that will be considered as well. No runners for us on Boxing Day, but Molly Childers will run in Kempton on the 27th. She will revert to hurdles, as this looks a nice race for her, and hopefully she will go well after her recent wind op. Also running that day will be Maria's Benefit in the Grade 2 Wayward Lad novices chase, and San Seb in the Introductory Juvenile Hurdle which opens the card. Hopefully we will have a good day, and the New Year will bring plenty of good fortune and winners for us all.