Thursday 7 February

Lilly's Arc made the long trip to Ayr for the mares bumper yesterday. She ran well on debut, but came out of that race with very sore shins, so she was always going to make her next start on a soft surface. The very dry winter has meant that she has been ready to run for a bit, but unable to do so because of the ground - so, with the owners being very patient - and having said that she would run wherever there was a soft ground mares bumper - she sort of had to travel! As it was she didn't hit the winners mark, being beaten 20 lengths into 6th. She travelled well, but Ciaran felt she just couldn't quicken with the first 2 decent mares, and faded to finish 6th. She will now head over hurdles, and seems fine this morning. Many will have become aware of the outbreak of Equine Influenza in a racing yard this morning. It has been confirmed as being found in 3 horses from Donald McCains, and as he had runners in Ayr yesterday, LA was placed directly into isolation on her return to Fences Farm, and nasal swabs were taken from her this morning. The BHA have told Stuart that as she was in Ayr, he is suspended from having runners until tests have been carried out on the horses in the yard, and the results of these tests are known. For this reason, Molly Childers will be unable to take up her engagement in Exeter on Sunday, and the yard will have no runners until next week. Stuart is meticulous about the health of the horses, and their vaccinations, and I am sure that this brief episode will pass, but in the meantime it has to be treated with upmost seriousness. The BHA have advised that all trainers should restrict horse and human movements, too and from yards to a minimum, and therefore, visits are currently suspended until future notice as well. Updates to our owners/members as we have them.