News

We had three runners last week at Plumpton and they all acquitted themselves well, without delivering the rewards hoped for. CLONDAW ROBIN had ground a bit on the quick side, but he needed a run and is not an enthusiastic horsebox passenger, so Plumpton it had to be. He managed to stay to the fore…
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Referring to my previous blog on malingering, I had an experiment with the idea last month and managed to get out of running at Plumpton, which was nice. As it turned out to be a damp and dreary day, I was even more pleased that my plan worked. Obviously being back in the hurdling game…
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He would have been 392 years old today, had he concentrated less on immortality via the medium of rebuilding London’s ecclesiastical structures and more on the staying alive for ever kind of immortality. The last update as prophetic about things never going to plan. GODOT was not our first runner of autumn as he was…
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I was supposed to be going to Windsor today, but those very kind humans all around me decided that lugging through the mud is not really necessary for me. I will remember their kindness, but probably only until something else exciting or mad occurs. Horses do not put aside much room in their brain for…
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Just a quick update. If things go to plan (as if they ever do!) the first jumper out of hibernation will be GODOT at Kempton’s Sunday meeting, with a couple pencilled in for Plumpton the following day. CLONDAW ROBIN is very probable for that as he is not a good traveller, so what suits him…
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The bad news since the last blog is that Hesbehindyou, my loyal sidekick who came with exemplary references from Monty’s Award, has retired and departed Shovelstrode. This is a problem, as I am not sure any one of the other horses can live up to his efforts in sidekickery. When you ask specifically what he…
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Firstly, it is not too late to sign up for our National Racehorse Week open day, on Saturday 14th September. There will be all sorts of horse activities going on during the morning, plus a charity raffle in aid of MIND and ROR. Refreshments in the form of hot food and hot or cold drinks…
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Hello all. I slightly delayed my work on the August blog, because I was tipped off that there was some big news to come in the horse world. Nothing Olympic (side thought – why do the riders and not the horses get gold medals?). Nor was it that Ripon was living up to a Yorkshire…
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Yes, indeed. Sir Frank Worrell was born on 1st August 1924. This is topical, at a stretch, because there is no record of him ever having trouble with his shoes, but our notable runner of the last couple of weeks, VILLEURBANNE, most definitely has done so. His comeback was after a year off, and he…
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We expected to be busier than normal on the flat at this time of year, but a couple of runners have been working off minor niggles and a couple went over to Ben Brain’s for wind treatment, and it has not been the peak as expected. Special mention goes to Villeurbanne, who was three days…
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