Monday 11 November
Monday morning - Armistice Day, a day to remember. This week we have plenty of entries - Land League is entered in Huntingdon tomorrow, and will be declared this morning. He is in good form - he steps back to 2m 4f after not seeing out the 3 miles in Kempton last month. He will sport blinkers for the first time, and as it stands at the moment, he will be ridden differently, as long as the run style of his opponents allows. He is in good form. Classic Ben will end up with entries in 3 races this week - Bangor on Wednesday, Cheltenham on Friday, and Fontwell on Sunday. He will run at one of these meetings, as he needs to get a run now, to allow a nice space between this run and his next intended run in Sandown in early December. Once we have seen all of our options this afternoon we will make a decision as to where he heads. Chatting with Ciaran, who schooled him last week, he has been very impressed with him, and says that he feels like a different horse this season. He is only a young horse, and has come a long way in a short time - so he has every right to have matured and strengthened. Hopefully there is another nice staying chase in him this year. Molly Childers also has a target race, and needs to run very soon in order to get there. She missed her last engagement with a minor foot problem, but is 100% again now. She is entered in Cheltenham on Friday, and will have an entry in a chase in Uttoxeter on Saturday. Uttoxeter is the favoured option, but the Cheltenham entry was made just in case the ground in Uttoxeter was very very heavy. Other good news this week - Figarella Borget resumes ridden work today. She has been on the easy list since running in Wincanton - where she tries so so hard that she just pulled herself to bits a bit. We will tread gently with her - baby steps for now - but great to have her back ridden. Our Bubba also resumes ridden work after giving himself a knock last week. The injury has responded to treatment,and doesn't seem to be as bad as it could have been. Stuart has also seen enough of new girl - Blue Bikini to be very impressed. She has now started cantering ,and he is very impressed with what he sees. She is a very athletic filly, with a lovely long stride, and along with Jo, and Alice who have both ridden her - thinks that she is very very nice. The big National Hunt sale of foals and yearlings takes place this week in Tattersalls in Fairyhouse, and we will be adding to the portfolios of our investment syndicates. There are some gorgeous pedigrees on offer, and with luck two or three of them will be coming home with us. It is a busy week, with plenty of entries, but keep dropping by as we will be announcing so very exciting news later this week - a new venture - and an opportunity that can't really be missed!
