Very pleased with Capricia’s 4th at Stratford yesterday where she ran an honest race and jumped well under Lilly Pinchin, apart from the last which surely cost her 3rd place. She’ll get a mark now from the Handicapper so we can look forward and plan where she goes next. She’s run three solid races over hurdles without winning so I hope he’s sensible but we know we should have some fun with her and she’ll jump a fence in time too. I love her attitude and love training horses that try!
Uttoxeter today with City Never Sleeps for our Racing Club and Mozzaro for a fun partnership run by Owners for Owners. Mozzaro runs at 2.35pm and James Best, who gave him such a lovely, educational ride last time, rides. He’s a horse that has had to be given time but has a likeable attitude and is flourishing from the patience his owners have allowed us to give him. Part owner Deb Butler rides him out most days and in all his work and is driving him there today too. He should love the ground and it will hopefully slow some of the others up a bit too! I’m hopeful of another solid run.
City Never Sleeps should also love the ground and is one of the most genuine horses I’ve trained. Vikki, who has gone with him today, rides him most days and has given James Best his instructions! He’s been knocking at the door so many times and I know Paul Davis, who runs our Racing Club and who has been a part owner in City from the very start, will certainly celebrate hard when everything eventually does fall his way and he gets his head in front. He’s Paul’s favourite and let’s hope he’s celebrating tonight! We are very well represented by owners today and it is great that they feel safe enough to go racing and enjoy what there is to offer. Racecourses are really trying hard too – they know that owners are our life blood.
James Best was in to ride out this morning and we schooled quite a few with the help of young Fern O’Brien who is on half term. Found On schooled up over hurdles after her awful Cheltenham fall and was very good thankfully – she’s one tough cookie! We also schooled Dariya, Debden Bank, Big Nasty, Cul De Poule, Samtara, Cut & Run, Back on the Lash, Witness Protection, Reve and Cotswold Prince. A good schooling morning.