A very busy morning here yesterday with visitors on the way to the races and the baltic conditions didn’t put many off although a few had already had to change plans so we weren’t quite as busy as we could have been. Always a buzz around the yard on a Cheltenham morning and yesterday was no different. Matt Capp was in to watch Robsam and the Yeats 3 year old on the gallops and bring his son Robbie up on the gallops for the first time – if yesterday’s conditions didn’t put him off then nothing will! Paul Davis and Jon Hughes were in to watch their horses on the gallops too as were Fi Gamble, Sheila Lindsay and Hilary Long. Buckle Street always gets the biggest fuss when these girls are in as they absolutely adore him.
Since disgracing himself at Cheltenham’s last meeting we are trying lots of experiments with Buckle Street to try and get inside his head and encourage him to start his races as he has so much talent. He isn’t in pain, the vets and physios are convinced of that and he never stops at home on the gallops or when schooling which he loves to do. He’ll never lead the string anywhere but he’s been like that since we got him but, with a horse in front of him, he usually go everywhere at home. Frustrating. We’ve decided to go for the feminine touch and he’s ridden by Alice every day and only girls muck him out and groom him. He’ll probably be ridden by a female jockey too – we can but try as he’s go so much ability and is only 5. Oh, he’s also changed stables too and the girls yesterday were convinced he’s the happiest he’s been – fingers crossed!
Yesterday we just had one runner at Cheltenham – Brillare Momento under Harry Stock in the last. She had a lot of weight and was giving weight all round and also didn’t want any rain – it came! However, I was convinced she was in good form and was keen for her to enjoy herself after almost crashing out and pulling up at the first hurdle at Cheltenham last time.
It was baltic and the rain simply did not stop – the coldest and wettest I’ve known there for some time. However, we were delighted that Belinda’s Godmother Anita joined us with husband Andrew and they were blown away by the hospitality offered by Cheltenham to Owners & Trainers and it was lovely to see them too. They visited us at the yard before racing and I’m always pleased when visitors haven’t been to the yard for a while as we are constantly trying to move forward and improve facilities and Anita & Andrew were suitably impressed.
Brillare Momento thoroughly enjoyed herself under a good ride from our Conditional Harry Stock. She jumped for fun and still looked to be in with a great chance turning for home but weight and the softened ground eventually told and Harry looked after her when she was beaten. She was bright coming back in and is A1 this morning so her owners and the team are rightfully pleased that we seem to have got her back on track. Such a lovely mare.
Do have a read of our Chairman, Jon Hughes’ Owners for Owners Blog HERE – an interesting read as usual – as well as featuring a musical Team Keighley, there are foal details (Christmas presents!) and also a piece about thanking the teams in the yards who work day in, day out in all weathers, at this time of year.
No runners for us today but quite a few entries for the week ahead and next weekend so plenty of planning to be done as usual. Would be great to have a winner or two in the run up to Christmas!