A Great week on the whole – especially as winners 11 & 12 came up!
Galactic Power has been a super sub for EPDS Racing and taking over in their Twitterati Partnership this season. A very popular character who rarely runs a bad race – he was a good third at Taunton, before making the long trek up to Catterick last week. His preparation not without hitch – a foot abscess keeping the team busy and testing my farriery skills, along with the more skilled ones of our farrier Charlie Sands.
Many buckets of hot water and patient sitting in the cold by Harriet T, and we made it to the track. Chris Ward up & taking a valuable 5lbs off. Little GP looked beaten all the way until growing a pair of wings after the last and flying up the run in to win by a tidy 3 lengths! Delighted for the EPDS team some of whom were there to cheer him home, and encouraged I am sure, by much encouragement from many others around the country! Including the home team – some of whom were in the lorry on the return trip from Ludlow! Happily no police in sight at the time, or they may well have wondered what on earth was going on in the cab of the big lorry! BTO for Megan.
An less than smooth journey home for GP when the alternator in the little lorry resigned about 5 miles from home, which resulted in a rescue mission from Chris’s better half in Tom Gretton’s lorry (thanks Tom & Badger!) and GP having a short walk down Henley High St! (no better man for that task than GP, who is very unflappable!)
Less polite words can be used about Timons Tara who has her own very strong views on life! Full of ability she is a tricky customer, who Is looked after very ably by Ceris. She certainly had her hands full in the paddock at Uttoxeter on Saturday – BTO for Ceris -but once Jack on board and she was off down the track all was well. Really unlucky not to win the week before when tipping up after a novicey mistake when looking to have the race won, Jack & ‘Billy the Filly’ were not up for any mistakes this time. She jumped straight & true and put all of her rivals to the sword a long way out. Winning in a canter with ears pricked! Great result for Mark James who sadly was not on hand to see the race but was represented by friend John Martin who kept the rest of us entertained after the race!
An easy drive back for Ceris & I and plenty of horn tooting up Park Lane!
Taunton & Doncaster rather less successful missions, Routine Procedure stopping rather tamely but lame the next morning, so something clearly amiss. Kitegen not enjoying Taunton, The Lion Man looking very one paced in the race but running on well at the end.
In many ways glad not to be at Cheltenham, sad of course not to be able to be in two places at once for our runners, who have both come back fine after their races. Thomas Crapper his usual brave self, Get Involved disappointing but confidence having a big wobble at present and a run back over hurdles on the cards for him.
However seeing the screens up after watching Many Clouds beat Thistlecrack gave a sinking feeling of dread. Sadly Harriet rang to tell us the news – everyone as stunned as the crowd at Cheltenham.
A day we all dread with our gallant warriors, and it was easy to see how much Many Clouds has meant to the Sherwood team over the last few seasons. How on earth Oliver did that interview on ITV I will never know – personally in tears just watching it. Brave man who did our sport proud.
Our condolences to Mr Hemmings and all the Sherwood team, but what some memories they have – and no one can take them away.
It just reminds you how important it is to enjoy the moments when horses win, and indeed just run well. The keyboard warriors who have penned some pretty terrible lines over the last few days will never understand the love & care these horses get from those who own and look after them, and also from the NH fans who follow their careers and care for them from afar nearly as much as those closer to them.