Feels more like February today although still mild and hopefully some rain on the way later which would help my newly seeded fields and schooling ground. We’d like to be back on our grass gallop soon too ideally as it’s been too quick this week – crazy!
Conor Shoemark in to ride out this morning and great that he’s back riding out following a nasty injury to his shoulder that kept him out of action for far too long. Looking forward to seeing Conor back on the racecourse soon.
We are off to Ludlow with Raving Bonkers over hurdles under Harry Stock who is having his first ride back since he broke his collarbone at Leicester. It would have been a couple of weeks ago but Equine Flu put paid to that. Never mind, he’s back in action now and we are hopeful that Raving Bonkers forgets his last hurdle fall last time and has a more enjoyable day today. He’s still very much a work in progress and ideally needs another summer to fill his frame more but he’s won a bumper and will certainly find life easier in his own grade when he runs in Handicap company as today’s race looks pretty tough with some nice types.
We have a birthday boy in the house! Well …. almost, as Freddie is a Leap Day Birthday boy and therefore doesn’t have a birthday this year! He’s 11 and chooses to celebrate it on 28th February rather than, as some others do, 1st March. He’s gone to school today laden with cakes for him and the others in his class (plus brother Harry!) and more celebrations planned after school tomorrow night with some friends so he’s making the most of it all! Not quite sure where those 11 years have gone – I know I was at Taunton Racecourse that day leaving Belinda at home alone but she luckily waiting until that evening to go into hospital and was still hoping Freddie would appear before midnight on 28th!
Hannah Ashton, one of our physios, in this morning and farrier Nick Partridge in, as usual on a Thursday, too.