After a long drought it was great to get back in the winners enclosure at Ludlow on Wednesday.
The horses have on the whole been running well, with plenty of placed efforts but with the win being very elusive!
Happily Timons Tara, who was third on her previous outing, put in a solid effort to win under Jack Quinlan for owner Mark James in the 2m5f mare’s hurdle. Annoyingly we had a protracted battle against an EPDS horse, and whilst we always want to win it never feels very PC to beat your other owners – even if the horse was trained elsewhere! Sorry John!
TT was game as a pebble and fought hard whilst giving the second horse over a stone in weight – once in command after the last she stayed on really well and a step up to three miles won’t inconvenience her! Ground was terrible – it’s worse now that it’s drying out as its gone sticky rather than sloppy and its very hard work for everyone!
TT came out of the race fine, as did Some Finish last w/e after a much improved performance. Perhaps rather an odd comment after he pulled up but with the ground virtually unraceable SF travelled and jumped really well until just getting tired three out – Charlie had gone a right gallop on him whilst making all and as only one finished which really explains the race/ground! SF had looked very disinterested at Taunton the previous week, and the visor certainly sharpened him up! (Harriet D won the BTO)
Kaddys Dream & Must Meet MrsGrath both ran in the bumper at Doncaster, and whilst the ground there the previous day was OK for Under The Phone who ran his usual solid race to be fifth (needs further now) and mixture of rain & snow meant the ground was pretty atrocious by the end of the day and both fillies struggled to get home in the conditions – both will be better on good ground.
A few changes at Dickin HQ as Kelly has gone off to work in an office! She has been doing an accounts course for a while now and whilst it was not a great time to change direction we wish her well in her new job, and look forward to seeing her dressed up in her smart office gear!
Holly has taken over Kelly’s position at Hill Farm, and Harriet Turner is now in charge of all of the racing tack.
We have a great team here, and they have been brilliant even though the winners have been eluding us, it’s a great testament to them that they are all working away even when the going is tough. So a big thanks to them all.
A blast from the past here last night in the shape of Darren, who is leaving Banbury to head back to London, it was his birthday too so' Happy Birthday Darren - 38??'
A lovely Sunday lunch last w/e with Andrew & Jane Nicholls, a thoroughly enjoyable day and nice to catch up with some old friends and meet some new faces, as well as enjoy a delicious lunch!
Open Morning tomorrow – do come along and meet the team, but bring waterproofs as the forecast does not look very promising!