As we move into a new month the lockdown continues and the rain still continues to fall. There have been floods everywhere around us and the meadows have been under as much water as I have ever seen. Great credit to the staff who continue to keep the show on the road despite getting soaked to the skin as well as coping with the icy wind.
Our fields up here are just a bog and we are only turning a few out at the moment. As much as the horses love to go out & have a roll, they are not keen on staying out for long at present. It’s a case of a wallow in the wettest muddiest patch, a buck & a kick and then back to the gate after half an hour waiting to be collected! Some are horrific mud lovers and somehow manage to get mud everywhere even under their rugs! Oneida Tribe is the worst & I do feel for poor Frankie when he has been out!
Although racing continues, with the exception of the all-weather, a large number of the meetings are being abandoned and where they do take place the ground is heavy and things do not look like they will be improving over the next week.
As a result we have had very few runners in the last couple of weeks.
The ever consistent Galactic Power ran at Taunton for the Racing Club. He really wants the three miles these days, but finding an opportunity for him has not proven easy after a large number of balloting out situations, so he had to take his chance over a shorter trip than we would have liked. Lorcan in the plate, GP was held up as normal and made steady headway and kept on to finish 4th beaten just over 5 lengths. Everyone just loves GP – he has been such a legend for us, a ‘BOGOF’ horse (was actually buy three, get one free!) he is rarely out of the frame, and hopefully he will get back into the winners enclosure in the very near future.
Scorched Earth ran at Southwell & at Kempton on Wednesday. He has been a massive frustration as he just does not try a yard! He did much better at Kempton but really has fallen out of love with the game and probably it’s time to have a career change.
Speedy Choice ran at Warwick and absolutely hated the very heavy going. She jumped really well though until just getting stuck in the bog down the back straight. She needs to get a handicap mark and I don’t think it will be long before she goes chasing.
No runners this w/e as Sandown has been changed to an all chase card. Should be some good viewing – just hope they don’t get too much more rain to make the slog up the hill too attritional.
A birthday in the yard today – Darren not getting any younger although he will kill me if I put his actual age on here! ‘Happy Birthday Darren’ I’m sure there will some cake appearing through the day!
At least the days are starting to draw out and we are pulling out in the daylight first lot & also finishing in daylight as well! The chickens are starting to lay again as well so Spring can’t be far away.
Stay safe everyone & we very much look forward to welcoming you back to Hill Farm very soon.