Wednesday, 21 April 2021 20:39

April 21st

The everyday worries and challenges of running a yard seem to pale into insignificance this week with the dreadful news filtering through on Monday morning of the death of Lorna Brooke following a horrible fall at Taunton earlier in the month.

Racing is ultimately a very small and tight knit community and a tragedy like this hits everyone. Our thoughts & condolences to Lorna’s family & close friends.  Although we would not claim to know Lorna well, she was always friendly & smiley & clearly loved what she was doing – she will be much missed.

After a winter that would have sent Noah back to his building work, the ground has dried up horribly fast and is now becoming a worry as its becoming too firm! Like farmers, trainers are never happy, and we are once again doing rain dances!

It has been very cold at night with a white frost every morning for the last couple of weeks, so the grass is just not moving at all & we are still feeding the youngsters & oldies that are turned out.

Firstly I must start with the little star, Galactic Power, GP to his friends. GP did everything that was asked of him at Huntingdon only to be beaten by a length after leading jumping the last hurdle. despite a large number of people shouting at their TV screens. He then followed this up with a very good 3rd at Taunton a couple of weeks later beaten just under 3 lengths. Now 11 GP has won 5 times, been 2nd 6 times and 3rd 6 times in his career. Hopefully he will be able to get another 1st place in the not too distant future.

Speedy Choice ran a reasonable race behind two good horses at Warwick. She has run twice since being pulled up both times.

Glen Mooar and Black Kalarosa went to Ludlow. Glen was in the first two in a slowly run race and when they started to sprint coming into the straight he could not go with them. Glen then went to Newbury at the end of March where he travelled well for a long way before not seeing out his race. BK ran a reasonable race but was outpaced over a too short two miles. She then went to Huntingdon where she ran a really gallant race to finish a creditable 5th and went to as heads off to Taunton today where she was upped in trip to three miles. Again she finished a creditable 5th.

San Fermin ran a storming race to finish 2nd in a bumper at Market Rasen and although well held by the winner he finished clear of the rest of the field.

Cheers Delboy ran at Chepstow with blinkers on for the first time. The blinkers had too much effect and he was stupidly keen and did not jump well throughout the race, Jamie called it quits up the straight (can’t say we blamed him!!) and we will go again minus the blinkers and probably with a run back over hurdles to get his confidence back 

It was nice to see Three Bullet Gate (Trigger), back on the racecourse at Southwell. Trigger’s last run was in December 2019 when he picked up an injury. He was never really at the races, and Jack pulled him up – not sure that Southwell is the track for him! He then went to Huntingdon for his first chase, where he jumped like a stag and where he raced prominently, but was always just doing too much and got tired before 2 out after which Jack just nursed him home. A massive step forward from Southwell, & thrilling to see him jump so well.

Fitz Well and Williamdeconqueror went to Hereford on what turned out to be very soft and very holding ground. FW did not like the ground and Jack pulled him up. William ran in the last race of the day when the ground was dreadful. He jumped the 4th   well, went a stride and then went down like a stone, having a horrible fall from which he and Jack were lucky to walk away from. He then went to Chepstow to restore his confidence and finished running on well over a trip too short. Holiday time for him now & fences & three miles next season are something to very much look forward to.

Anti Cool ran well at Market Rasen for a long way, after a 3 month lay-off, before making a mistake and tiring 2 out. Over Thinking had his first run in a bumper at Warwick at the end of March where he ran well for half the race – but ultimately was very disappointing. He has come home with a stress fracture which totally explained the result – just happy to have him for another day. He will be fine after a short period of box rest.

A strange Cheltenham & Aintree with so few people, but at least some owners were at  Aintree to make some noise. Great to see Tabitha have a clear round and finish in the Grand National on Sub Lieutenant and the brilliant Rachael Blackmore is just to be enjoyed!

Last modified on Wednesday, 21 April 2021 20:40
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