Rain glorious rain! We were all delighted to get wet on the gallops this morning and are grateful for the rain which is already making a difference.
Lizzie Kelly and Andrew Tinkler in this morning although just a relatively quiet morning as the horses all did a quiet couple of canters as usual on a Monday morning.
Cup of Ambition hated the quick ground at Ludlow yesterday which was disappointing and he returned not quite a 100% so benefited from Maggie Turner our physio being in this morning and treating him. I therefore decided not to risk Young Phoenix in the bumper with the full support of his team of owners who would rather be safe than sorry.
Although not the best of days therefore at Ludlow, there were a few of my owners that had just gone for the day out so, along with the owners with horses there, we had a fun time in glorious sunshine so not all was lost.
Three runners tonight at Towcester with Jazzy in the first under Andrew Tinkler. Ash Hark, who works hard in the yard, is on board our second runner, The Kvilleken, who now runs in the colours of our Martin Keighley Racing Club. Regular blog readers will know that sadly The Kvilleken’s dear owner Patrick Spittle died recently but had already decided that he wanted to lease him to the club to run this year so it is fitting that we have bought him for the Club and are carrying out Patrick’s wishes. We’ll be raising a glass to him tonight and hope he’s looking down on us all.
Finally Madame Fiona has her second run of her career having surprised us all last time out by looking almost as if she was going to be pulled up to running on to finish a decent 2nd when the penny dropped. She’s since grown up enormously at home and we’d be delighted with another solid run for her supportive owner/breeders.
We welcomed a new addition to the yard this afternoon in Bold Ellie for nonagenarian owner/breeders Mr & Mrs Lee-Warner who live locally and delivered her themselves. They are lovely people and if we are as enthusiastic and agile as they both are when we are in our 90s then I’ll be pretty happy with my lot. She’s a nice size and it is great to be training for them again having trained Bold Tara to win for them a few seasons ago.
Finally it is a week of birthdays for our nearest and dearest kicking off today with friend and owner Zara Phillips so a Happy Birthday to her.