1 November 2022
It seems a while since we have spoken. This time of year is busy. We have various horses and members of staff travelling around the country, while also keeping the show on the road at home. I know the ground is a hot topic at the moment. However, it is extraordinary how we are still seeing Good To Firm dotted around, and courses still having to water as we enter November. The rain has fallen here, and it continues to do so. It is obviously just taking longer to get into the ground due to dry summer we had. After many comments about wanting the rain, it is never nice when you are riding out in it!
Tommy Cullen and Somekindofstar headed to Wetherby over the weekend. Tommy Cullen outran his 66/1 odds. He finished 3rd under Paul O’Brien in a hot Novice Hurdle at Wetherby. We hoped the addition of an obstacle would play to his strengths, and it certainly did. It was a pleasing run, and we look forward to seeing how he progresses. Somekindofstar ran another strong race, despite finish 5th under Lilly Pinchin. He just made a mistake 3 out which knocked the stuffing out of him on the home straight.
Indelible Spin headed to Plumpton yesterday for her hurdling debut with Paul O’Brien steering. It was nice to see her jump as well as she does at home, however she wasn’t travelling as strongly as she sometimes does. She returned with a small nick to her near fore and was dropped off at the vets on the way home. This could have been a reason as to why she did not travel as well in the second half of the race. She will have learnt lots from the experience and should improve for the run.
It was great to see Midnight Jewel put in another super performance this season to finish 2nd at Hereford. It was brilliant to end his season on a good note. He has always been in the top two, bar last time out when falling at the last. It was clear there were no ill effects from his fall. He will now enjoy a nice long winter break.
Stroll On By returned to the track after having a wind op and with the addition of cheek pieces. It was good to see him finish off his race under Johnny Burke. Johnny was very complimentary and said he will be even better next season over a fence. He will now get a handicap mark, and that is the route he will go down.
It was our annual pumpkin carving evening last night at Hull Farm. As always, everyone got very competitive and there were some brilliant outcomes. Please head over to our social media to vote for your favourite design!
Everyonesgame under Brian Hughes and Guetapan Collonges under Jonjo O’Neill run at Warwick this afternoon. It is Malcolm Olden’s birthday, owner of Everyonesgame, so let’s hope we can get a winner for him. No runners on Wednesday. On Thursday Ardbraccan makes her hurdling debut under Paul and What About Time makes his seasonal return. What About Time will be ridden by Cian Chester, who recently arrived over from Ireland and has just got his amateur licence. Byzantium Lad has been declared at Sedgefield under Sean Quinlan. Oscar Montel has an entry in the Tattersalls Ascot Sale and will make someone the perfect school master point to point horse. Western Zephyr has an entry at Sandown on Sunday and Alien Storm is entered at Kempton on Monday.
