The big thaw! No more snow thankfully but no doubt we’ll soon be sick of the mud – horses haven’t been going out in the fields and so are fresher than ever and just goes to show how important it is that our horses get turned out most days as it keeps them much more chilled and easier to ride too!
I’ve succumbed to one of the horrible colds that the boys have brought home from school and therefore haven’t felt well enough to go with the family to The London International Horse Show this weekend. Freddie was keen to go and support some of his Shetland Pony Grand National team mates from last season and especially Toby Moore, who was third last night and will hopefully go 2 better today and also Claudia Groves who retires from shetland racing today. They’ve had breakfast with Bob Champion this morning so are no doubt not missing me one bit! Tonight is the Jockeys Show Jumping and it’s boys vs girls. Girls won at the last renewal in 2019 and the boys have been apparently practicing so will be trying harder than ever tonight! Read about it HERE.
Although we’ve lost so much racing to the weather recently, we now hope to have a few runners this week and we have declared both Back On The Lash and Kaibrate for Ludlow tomorrow. Unfortunately Cheltenham were unable to re-schedule the Cross Country race we lost at the December meeting for New Year’s Day and he’s fresh and well. If, however, tomorrow’s ground is unsuitable then Lash will wait for the re-scheduled cross country race from November that will take place on Festival Trials Day. Just A Deal has been declared for Lingfield on Wednesday and Enforcement for Taunton, also on Wednesday.
Happy Birthday to Harry Stock today and also to Finn Lambert for yesterday when he was keen enough to be in riding out 2 lots here in the snow and hail! Never a morning off for these jockeys!