Well we have had all types of weather in the last couple of weeks. Torrential rain, cold winds, snow and ice, which has not made things easy for the team but well done to all of them in keeping the horses exercised safely, warm & fed.
Huge relief that we can continue to race during the latest lockdown, which is a testament to all of the hard work put in by the BHA and everyone involved in our sport. It’s very strange racing with no-one there, but everyone that is there is so respectful and careful that, touch wood, you do feel very happy to be there. The closest you get to anyone is in the stable yard, but it is a lot better than going to the garden centre or supermarket, so fingers crossed that we will be able to continue as we head into further weeks of lockdown.
We are also missing seeing everyone at the yard – and I think it fair to say that this lockdown is a lot tougher than the last with the dark evenings, happily the weather is not encouraging people to go out, so a few less walkers and loose dogs on the farm, but still a marked increase on normal times. However hopefully in a couple of months when the vaccine has been rolled out and the weather improves things will start to get back to normal and we will be able to have visitors back at the yard before Terry forgets how to bake a cake!
The following horses have run over the last couple of weeks:
Mr Palmtree ran at Wincanton on Saturday, Given a good ride by Tabitha he made progress from the back and was in with every chance turning into the straight. He started to tire two out but kept on gamely to finish 3rd, only beaten 6 lengths behind a winner that is probably pretty decent. The ground rode much softer than the good to soft going report, and as always post frost, was dead & sticky which would not really be to his liking. Mr P always gives his all and hopefully on better ground he will be moving up the placings in the near future.
Fitz Well did not appreciate two miles at Newbury and now just needs one more run for a handicap mark. He will be much more effective over further, as he showed us at Hereford.
Scorched Earth is coming down in the weights slowly and he ran much better last time, at Wolverhampton, although he still needs kidding into putting his best foot forward!
Wrynner has been for a wind op! Enough said!
The rest of the string are in good heart many waiting for a bit of an ease in the underfoot conditions – looking at the forecast that may not be this week!
Romance in the air over the holidays & Huge Congratulations from all connected with Hill Farm to Jack Quinlan and Molly Mae who got engaged on Christmas Eve.