Tuesday 6 April

She is very reliable - it was a case of history repeating itself on Friday, as Savingforvegas produced another cracking bay colt foal. 'Barry' is the fourth bay colt she has produced from her four foals - a 100^% record - she is worth her weight in gold. Barry is by Blue Bresil -and is the best yet, he is a big, strong boy - soon up after arriving, and I am pleased to say he is thriving - a great start for our new breeding syndicate, he will be retained to race for them. It has been all go elsewhere too - I was at most of the yards this week, it was good to get into Jason Maguires a couple of times -our new girl from France is now sold to a new syndicate - lots of new faces to racing, and we wish them the very best of luck with her. She has schooled with Jason already and his comment was -'She's Class' - she is an absolute natural and he likes her a lot. She is a 3/4 sister to a Group 1 filly on the flat that was second in Royal Ascot, and although she has been purchased with a hurdling career in mind - she may just get a run or two on the flat first, as we could just have grabbed ourselves a bargain here, and it makes sense to test her in a couple of UK flat races before switching to obstacles. She will go to Fergal O'Brien for her hurdling career. There was a bit of shuffling the pack this week - The 3 yr old Camelot filly returned to The Elms to continue her sales prep there. She heads to the Goffs UK Spring Store sale in Doncaster in May. The lorry that delivered her home returned to Ivy Lodge Farm with another two - our Highland Reel filly and 'Dean' our 2 yr old Doyen gelding out of Savingforvegas. Both have gone to have a basic education - both will be lunged and long reined, Dean will be backed and ridden away as he will be retained and syndicated in the future. Volkovka is having a spell at Ivy Lodge Farm, just while the grass grows a bit and the temperatures rise - when she will head back to The Elms with a few others and have a summer break. I also go into see our Mamool 3 yr old who is having a refresher course with Charlie Poste. I was amazed with how he has developed. He has always been a very nice individual - but to see him now, really excited me for the future. He has done everything asked of him, and looks every inch a racehorse. Charlie and his team are delighted with him - Charlie says he is very athletic, with a good mind, and he finds everything very easy. He looks a bright prospect and shares will be available in him very soon. I will be in touch with all those that have said they would like a share, with pics and videos of his walk, trot, and a piece of work. There has been a superb response to him, and spaces are very limited. He too will head to Fergal O'Brien, who really likes the look of him and can't wait to get cracking with him in the summer! Auditoria had an entry on the flat in Catterick this week, and it had been the intention to run, but the recent dry spell left their ground good to firm, and she was not declared on that. She continues to thrive - and Olly believes that she has improved no end from her hurdles/yard debut in February. She will be better again for a summer break, and we think there is lots of fun to be had with her in the autumn. In at Fergals - Yauthym ran in Market Rasen on Sunday. We had all felt that quicker ground would be a real benefit to her - but sadly on Sunday she found the ground a bit too quick - she really felt it, and was reluctant to jump off of it. Paddy looked after her to finish a close third, and she did pull up a bit sore, but seems ok this morning. She will remain in work for another couple of weeks, when we will have a look at the forecast, and see if there is likely to be any juicy ground about, if not she will have a short summer break, and be back running in late summer/early autumn. It was great to be able to travel again last week, and it meant that plenty of folks could get out to see their horses - some for the first time. At Ravenswell Farm it was good to meet so many of the shareholders in Hidden Beauty. Thankfully those that could make it got in to see this stunning filly before she heads off for a break. She has done nothing but impress, and judging by a piece of work she did last week she has a very bright future. There is a little buzz going around the yard about her, with plenty of the riders and staff commenting on what a nice filly she is, and how much they like her. She will keep all of her shareholders very excited over the summer for sure. At Fences Farm, Go Millie Go continues her prep for Cheltenham next week. Classic Ben is undergoing a new fangled treatment and will be out for the summer next month. A few folks got in to see Blue Bikini have a pop over hurdles before she too heads out for the summer. I have a number of shares in this lovely filly available - so if you would like to be a shareholder in a mare that was placed in three of her 4 bumpers this season, and who has schooled really well over hurdles then please get in touch. Finally, over the years, plenty of you will have met and chatted with 'Alice' when you have visited Fences Farm - Rebecca (her real name) had served over 13 years there until last week, when she left for pastures new. On behalf of everyone associated with NBR and our syndicates over that period, I would like to thank her for all that she did for the horses in her care. They were always turned out immaculately at the races, and she was always very helpful with everyone of us when we asked her about our horses. I am sure she will be missed, and we wish her the very best of luck with both her short term future, and long term plans!