A new week and great to have another member of staff back off Furlough. Anna McDonagh was back in this morning and was greeted with a rainy morning so all the team soaked to the skin but in great form none the less.
No runners over the weekend after our busy Friday evening at Newton Abbot. Would have obviously been lovely to have had a winner but all returned safe and sound. Raving Bonkers was a little disappointing and maybe we ran him back a little too soon after his Southwell race where he was all but knocked over. We’ll freshen him up with a few quiet days and look where to go next with him.
Mr Mafia gave his all once again, jumping for fun but again his hard race at Southwell probably took more out of him than he was showing us in the week so he too will have a few quiet days. Gold Mountain really does deserve to win one soon – he gets on so well with James Best and absolutely jumped for fun. He didn’t get the soft lead he could have done with and with a bit of carnage late on we thought for one moment he was going to be a lucky but deserved winner but he was no match for a couple and finished 3rd. Thankful to be taking him home though as the favourite sadly suffered a fatal fall and thoughts with those connections.
Capital Force was quickly pulled up by James after he felt he was wrong after the 2nd last. Thankfully it is ‘just’ pulled muscles in his back so he’ll have plenty of TLC and we’ll get him right before he runs again.
Toby Elford and his father were in on Saturday to watch the horses on the gallops and it was great to see them. Toby is our website guru and is a huge part of compiling the newsletters. He is our go to man for anything technical and a big part of the team.
Physio Maggie Turner and Farrier Nick Partridge in this morning so a busy day in the yard. Chris Dee and son Charlie also in to ride out although they wisely missed 1st lot which was the wettest lot of them all! Chris is thoroughly enjoying riding out especially as she has now started riding Eclat Des Mottes regularly who she has a share in – she was buzzing after riding him on Saturday.