Slightly calmer weather this morning but still bitterly cold. Work morning and Andrew Tinkler, Warren Marston and Mark Caswell all in to ride out. We worked Morning Herald, Pomme De Nuit, Ask Alice – Lady Vitesse, Sporty Yankee, Twentyoneblackjack, Madame Fiona, Spice Girl, Hartshorne Abbie, Cut & Run, Mister Valentine, Fairmount and Lord Condi.
An influx of owners in this morning including Stuart Baikie, John and Claire Abernethy and Peter Boggis who were all here to watch work 2nd lot and have a catch up. Ollie and Irene Ryan called in before 10am to discuss whether we ran Brillare Momento at Sandown Park tomorrow and, if so, which race to run her in – I like to involve owners in decisions if that’s what they like to do. Other owners are happy to leave it all to me which is fine too so I do like to try and find out what makes each of them tick as we are all a team here and all want results.
Rupert Bell arrived during the madness of the end of declarations and whilst everyone was still here – I think I should have planned for him to come a little later but hopefully we didn’t hold him up too much! He was here to interview me for a Love The Races Podcast I believe – I must look them up as they sound very good! My interview is due to go out at the end of the month, possibly around Festival Trials Day at Cheltenham and I hope Rupert can edit it sufficiently to make me sound as interesting as possible!! Belinda, although delighted to see Rupert, was a little disappointed that I’d not got it wrong and that his son Oli didn’t turn up instead!! He’s at Sandown tomorrow apparently but Belinda assures me she was coming to support Brillare Momento anyway!!
A meeting late morning with Chairman Jon Hughes and our Landlord Robert Wharton. Plenty of things to do and plans to be made. Lovely to hear from Rupert Bell that, since his visit about 3 years ago, we have ‘transformed’ the place. We are delighted of the progress we have made, which had to be made, but know there is still ‘lots to do’ which is Jon Hughes’ most used phrase! Jon’s continuing to crack the whip and apply cheekpieces or blinkers to us as and when required – exciting times!