3 January 2023
Happy New Year! We are all feeling pretty chuffed with the way 2022 went out and 2023 has come in!
We headed to Doncaster on the 29th with two runners. Ardbraccan PU after a very bad mistake and Stroll on By was unsuited by a slow pace ending up in a sprint down the home straight, we all know he is better than this form.
Harjo ran at Haydock a little dissapointingly, we will run some checks at home and hopefully find a reason. Catuaba and Moon King headed to Taunton, with Catuaba still learning his trade and Moon King getting stuck in the bog!
New Years Eve was upon us and we had runners at Newbury, Warwick and Uttoxeter. Well Dick kicked us off with a fabulous win at Uttoxeter under Brian Hughes for Malcolm Olden. This was only his second start for us, and he looks a really exciting staying chaser for the future. He ground out his success so admirably after 3 miles in very testing conditions, and it was great to watch it with Malcolm and Marilyn from Warwick! Next was Potters Hedger who ran well for a long way before getting tired. Almazhar Garde did not enjoy the rain softened ground in the Mandarin Chase at Newbury and PU. It was then up to Tea For Free who romped home really impressively under Lilly Pinchin for his owner Susan Monkland at Newbury. He is now 4 from 4 over fences and continues to improve, very exciting!
We spent New Years Day at Cheltenham with one runner, Hector Javilex, and what a runner he was! I thought he would run really well as he has been on great form at home and that is exactly what he did. He won the 3m Handicap Hurdle by 7 lovely lengths, scooting up the famous Cheltenham hill under a fantastic ride by Lilly Pinchin. He is owned by David Mason who has had horses with me for a very long time which makes it all the better. The Mason's and Longsdon's were mob handed which made for a great day!
All fingers and toes crossed that 2023 carries on exactly the way it has started!!
