Sunshine yesterday and it looks to be a lovely day today and the promise of a fabulous bank holiday weekend – things are so much easier when the sun is out! A visit with a delivery from Kim Smith-Bingham yesterday – the horses definitely benefit from his Immun Ocean Gastro Race supplement. Kim’s visit co-incided with us turning our first four horses out into our new stunning summer turnout paddocks – 27 acres of lush grass and Kim watched with Belinda, myself and Chairman Jon Hughes as they happily galloped off out of sight…and eventually returned briefly! A massive additional benefit to our facilities here. We’ve obviously always had smaller paddocks for daily turnout but for the horses to properly let themselves down they need much, much more space.
A business meeting with Kim and Jon continued at The Plough at Ford over lunch – thanks Kim! Another important cog in the wheel and great to discuss ideas and so satisfying to hear from Kim that of all the yards he visits throughout Britain he says ours is certainly one of the very friendliest with the team always so happy & polite.
Talking of my hard working team, their holidays are starting now too and the jigsaw of ensuring they all get away for their well earned time off and also ensuring there is enough cover here – takes quite some working out!
Ollie & Irene Ryan here yesterday to see Brillare Momento and Reve – their two who are still in training – Buckle Street is on his holidays. John and Claire Abernethy here to delivery Harry some fresh eggs but more importantly (for the rest of us!) to see Hartshorne Abbie and Mr Mafia who will both run soon. Fantastic to see them all.
This morning we schooled Weyburn, Brillare Momento, Ask Alice, Matravers and Lady Vitesse. All jumped well. Fabulous at this time of year to still be able to school on the grass – those long rainy days do have one plus! We’ve recently added to our schooling ground and, for a yard of our size, and even some much bigger, I’m sure you’d be hard pushed to find a better schooling ground.
Cheltenham Hunter Chase evening tonight and good luck to The Dee Family and Claire Hardwick with Creepy. He won a Grade 2 hurdle for us around Cheltenham and has been winning plenty of point to points for his current connections and we look forward to watching him tonight. It’s a busy night even when the weather is bad so I’m sure tonight with be packed to end Cheltenham’s season – we can’t wait to be back there in October and that will fly!