Yesterday at Exeter it simply didn’t stop raining and although Lerichi Belle has gone in soft ground before the ground became really testing and she just ran too keen and gassy first time out for a while to get home in it. The weather was awful down there with thick fog too meaning picking out your horse was very difficult. She’s A1 this morning and with a run under her belt she’ll settle more next time.
25 members of our Martin Keighley Racing Club here this morning watching the horses on the gallops before most of them head to Cheltenham. David & Janne Bishop and Dave & Mary Cull a massive help as usual and delicious cakes from Janne too. A fun morning in glorious sunshine and we all enjoyed Janne’s fabulous home made blueberry muffins and lemon drizzle cake – how lucky are our club members?!
On to Cheltenham where we have two runners today. Ballymountain Boy is our first runner for the very enthusiastic partnership ‘The Chameleons’. He’s not run since Cheltenham’s October meeting but is in great form after his winter break and I’m hopeful he’ll run well under Harry Stock.
Buckle Street is our second runner also under Harry Stock who gets on so well with him. He’s gone up 6lbs for his win at Doncaster in February and has also had a nice break and has been really pleasing me in his work at home. He seems to be suited by Cheltenham and if he’s in with a chance turning for home you will certainly hear The Condicote Clan shout him home!
We had a fabulous supper last night at The Hollow Bottom for all the members of The Condicote Clan as a celebration of a brilliant year for Buckle Street starting soon after the partnership was formed with that wonderful winning day under Belinda at York. He has since ran some great races including a 3rd at Cheltenham on New Years’ Day and either side winning at Catterick and Doncaster so there were trophies to be distributed and colours to be drawn for next season too. Landlord Hugh Kelly was as accommodating as usual and when warned that we may be a little roudy his reply was that we could dance on the tables if we wished – those of you who have seen partnership leader – Paul Davis on social media dancing in the rain during a Keighley Cheltenham Picnic will be as surprised as us that this didn’t happen although we were close! Super food, wonderful company and a brilliant gathering of Buckle Street’s number 1 fans.