Martin’s Blog 22nd August

I’ve had a lovely few days in Salcombe with the family with the yard left in safe hands with Foxy and the team here and we arrived home yesterday to a happy team of horses and people. Nice to have a few days away but always fantastic to come back home.

Work morning and Warren Marston, Andrew Tinkler and Abi Stock all in to ride out. We worked Twentyoneblackjack, City Never Sleeps, Mr Mafia, Enforcement, Lord Condi, Raving Bonkers, Buckle Street, Oscar World, Brillare Momento, Chequered View, Somewhere To Be, Mister Valentine and Miss Antipova. Matravers, Hartshorne Abbie, Debden Bank, Back on the Lash, Ben Buie all did a swinging canter and the rest cantered. Young Harry Greasby was in this morning to ride out three lots too. Harry’s been busy both pony racing this year and also in Mounted Games and he’s been doing very well in both.

Great to have Young Phoenix back in training after his summer holiday with Matthew and Amanda Mills and they have returned him to us looking superb. They have some of the Statham Family’s retired racehorses and are competing at this weeks Aintree Championships and we wish them well. I believe two horses that we used to train – Annacotty and Brass Monkey are also there and we wish them luck too. So fantastic for these horses to have such a lovely life after racing.

2nd Lot we had Chris and Charlie Dee on the gallops and they brought with them two of our regular blog readers from The Falkland Islands – Tim & Sally Blake. Lovely to see Tim and Sally and they were all pleased to watch Pirate Look on the gallops after his summer holiday with Chris and then a brief spell with Vicky Sadler doing flat work. Tim and Sally were pleased to meet in the flesh lots of the horses we mention on here and it was a fun morning to be on the gallops.

Hannah Ashton was in this morning treating and checking horses ahead of their runs and also those that are stepping up their work or just back in from the field. They are elite athletes and we need to ensure they are using themselves correctly.

One runner tonight – Lady Vitesse for our Martin Keighley Racing Club at Worcester in the last race at 8pm. She’s been a little bit disappointing as shows us so much at home but Richard Johnson isn’t often wrong and he, as I am remains convinced there are races to be won with her. Harry Stock partners her tonight and claims his very useful 5lbs allowance. Let’s hope the penny drops tonight and she gives the Racing Club something to cheer on. Do remember that there are still places in our Club – just £500 for the year or monthly at £42 and so much fun to be had and friendships to be made. At the last Worcester meeting despite our Club runner not winning, those who were still around for the last race – which we won at 40-1 for owner/breeder Roger Allsop – were still lucky enough to be invited into the Winners’ Room for a glass of bubbly. Get in touch if you want to join in the fun they have.

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