This sport of ours has many us and downs which we all accept, but days like yesterday - which thankfully are few and far between - are the toughest to deal with.

Four runners at Warwick, Under THe Phone ran disappointingly, Tara Well came back very sore in her back, and then we lost poor Badgers Cove when he fractured a hind leg in the long distance chase.

Badger - owned by Mr Beech & Brian Wilkinson has been with us since he was five and was a huge talent - with fragile legs. He was the kindest horse, with a huge character and a great love of polos!! He could sniff them out from 100 yards away.

Everyone loved Badger.

Having had a year out and been home to live with Cliff he was delighted to be back in work again (although had had great fun racing Cliffs donkeys around the field) and looked fabulous yesterday - winning the best turned out. 

He was skipping along and jumping fantastiaclly when disaster struck.

A runner in the next race meant the show had to  go on and the team were fantasically professional and Jump and Jump ran a really nice race in a very hot bumper. Blackcountry Boy was also in attendance for an outing after his first run.

I was so proud of our young team - whose hearts were breaking - but who held it all together looking after the other horses and were so professional both at the races and at home.

Our utmost sympathies go out to Cliff & Brian and the rest of the Beech family. The Beech horses are much cherished.

Thank you to everyone who has sent messages etc it means a lot.