What a display of jumping from Found On at Market Rasen on Saturday under a superb ride from Sean Bowen. I know it’s easy to say a winning ride is a very good one but Sean is so good on Found On that he makes her look easy – she’s not the easiest and he makes her mind up over her fences and she was awesome on Saturday. That was her 8th win for Ollie & Irene Ryan, her 6th over fences and, despite my fears that she’d need the run, she destroyed a very competitive field to win well and delight us all. Well done also to Harry Atkins who rides her out every day as she’s not the easiest at home either! A lovely mare and an exciting season ahead.
She wasn’t our only runner of the weekend although the only official runner! We headed to Ffos Las and into the rain yesterday with Freddie and Gavin Hughes’ racing pony Miss Millfield. The rain was relentless and we feared it would be off but, jockey coach Rodi Greene advised the kids to look after their ponies and they all rode to orders in the heavy ground. Freddie was determined to switch Miss Millfield off and ride her with as much patience as he could and he did just that, saving her for one final challenge to get up to be 2nd on the line, 5 lengths off the winner who was carrying 11lbs less. Another superb run for her and, despite soaked through and filthy, Freddie was thrilled with her. Thank goodness his mum is in charge of tack & turnout as it was no mean task getting that all clean!
The rain just did not stop and therefore Dai Jones & his team had no alternative than to abandon the rest of the meeting so we were very fortunate to be able to race. Thanks as always to the Pony Racing Authority and especially Wendy Rolleson who was also on duty at Chelmsford the night before! Wendy makes all the kids (and parents!) feel at ease and is a complete star.
A busy morning with Jeremy Swan, our vet, in as well as Hannah Ashton with her fabulous Indiba Machine.