Our Worcester runners returned in one piece and Debden Bank heads off for a well earned holiday having been on the go for quite some time. Bella Ciao has been fully checked over as she hung right and is better than that run on all her work at home and Big Nasty was run off his feet over hurdles but it blew the cobwebs away.
No runners since then but a busy few days with a much enjoyable Foxtrot Racing Annual Party on Friday night which is always a really fun evening. The food was delicious and the annual quiz stretched our brains as usual – identifying horses was tricky as although we train 3 lovely horses for Foxtrot we don’t know many of the others. We thought we’d do well on identifying the sheet of jockeys … the three main jockeys agents are great friends after all – ex stable jockeys Ian Popham and Alain ‘Squeak’ Cawley and our great friend from the days with The Duke, Gordy Clarkson. However, cheaters don’t prosper and all three were too slow on the uptake to help us out! More homework required next year although the rest of our table were on the ball and we were far from last!
Yesterday we went pony racing at Chepstow which was a fabulous day for the kids to race on a big track. Despite his pony doing some unbelievable leaps and nearly jumping the start, Freddie sat tight and kept the partnership together and they ran a huge race to finish 4th. That assured their qualification for the Final on no other than the Saturday of the Cheltenham October Meeting before the first race. What lucky children to ride on such big stages. We are absolutely thrilled and despite the partnership only getting together half way through the season they have won enough points for Freddie to finish in the 8th in the Country and his pony 9th – some achievement.
A busy weekend of football and a bit of a logistical nightmare yesterday but we managed, with help, to get Harry to his football match and he scored to help his team win 8-3 to keep their spot at the top of the Table. Thanks to the kindness of owner David Parry he could have watched his team, Man City, beat Southampton but with his football commitments and our racing commitments we couldn’t get him there. However today, Nigel McAllen, a Southampton Supporter who travelled to the match, surprised him calling in with a Harland scarf and a match programme – we have the most generous and kind owners.
I took Freddie today to play against a Swindon Team for his Northleach U15s Team and they played well too, Freddie unlucky not to score a couple of times but getting an assist to finish 3-3. A shame as they deserved to win.
Back home to cook a roast. I enjoy cooking and thanks to Lee Moulson who delivered some delicious home reared lamb on Friday, we had the most amazing roast supper – his lamb was to die for! Also thanks to Derek & Honor Newton who greeted me at Worcester in the week with bags of sliced runner beans and home grown potatoes too which were tasty roasties. What a delicious supper.
