Blustery and pretty cold here this morning but always an exciting morning when we have a Cheltenham runner to look forward to. HRH The Princess Royal’s homebred mare Chequered View runs in the 2m 4f Handicap Chase and bids to follow up her impressive win last time out. Admittedly that was at Fakenham but was a massive run and she has the Champion Jockey, Richard Johnson, back on board today who knows Cheltenham so well. If she handles the track she should run well so I’m looking forward to her running.
Chris Dee was in first lot to watch Eclat Des Mottes on the gallops and brought Sammy Gilder too. Paul Davis and Pip Frankish also braved the cold – it must be one of the coldest places in The Cotswolds at the top of our gallops so it’s a good job it’s so stunning! Paul and Pip then took another visitor, Vasil Stanev, to Batsford Stud to see our youngsters there. Chequered View’s sire Passing Glance is at Batsford too. It’s just 5 minutes from us and you are always guaranteed a very warm welcome from Alan, Anna, Tim and Lindsey.
Sophie Gloag and her Armstrong Richardson Team called in too to thank us for our custom this year and for a general catch up – they’d not watched the horses on the gallops here before and I always love how positive people are about our facilities.
Off to Cheltenham now…..!