Schooling morning on our all weather loop and James Best and Patrick Cowley in to assist. We schooled Back On The Lash, Be Thankful, Cut And Run, Dreamsundermyfeet, Pinnacle Peak, Debden Bank, Eclat Des Mottes and Kazontherazz.
The steam cleaning has begun as those horses still in training move down into the lower part of the barn and the top barn is cleared out. Lucjan, our fabulous yardman, is in charge of the steam cleaner however before then the team have cleared out the shavings and taken up mats so that the boxes are ready for him. Throughout the season we have regular ‘bank day’s where all the clean shavings are brought into the middle of the boxes and the outside is disinfected and the whole barn is ‘fogged’ but we steam clean it fully at least once a year too.
One runner tonight at Uttoxeter. HRH The Princess Royal’s Cloud Formation has his second run over hurdles. He was with us for his bumper runs but needed to fill his frame. He has returned to us having made his debut over hurdles for a smaller yard and has been coping really well since his return as he’s been a stressy, worrying type in the past but seems to have really grown up. He’ll struggle to trouble the two short priced horses today but it’s a small field which should suit him and we hope he shows us enough to persuade us to continue with him. Otherwise The Princess is keen to have him back as a hack for herself as she’s really enjoyed getting him fit around her Gatcombe Park Estate.
We had one of those tougher days at Southwell on Tuesday. Sarasota Star was, on the face of it, a little disappointing in finishing well beaten on his chasing debut. However, James Best reported he ran a little flat which we feared may happen after a long season but he absolutely jumped for fun which we were thrilled about so he goes off for his summer holiday with a good experience of jumping fences under his belt. They had done a great job there on the ground however unfortunately Robsam injured a tendon in his race and faces a spell on the sidelines. So frustrating as he was so unlucky not to win the time before. He’s showed us more than enough to keep going with though and we’ll nurse him back and hopefully he’ll then be repaying owner Matt Capp’s patience. So disappointing though.
Today is Head Girl Jasmin’s birthday so Happy Birthday Jasmin!
