22nd February Nothing at the sales yesterday.

3 runners on the flat at Kempton tonight. Novabridge runs in the first. He should run well but he has been put up 5lb for his improved form so he is in a higher class of race and he might just find it difficult Beneath and Acapanthos are in the same race and of the 2 I would expect Beneath to finish in front of Agapanthos as Agapanthos is having his first run for me and after this race I will hopefully know a lot more about him.

Carol Skipworth has come this morning to see Mad Max and Carol’s Destrier working. As I always say we do like owners come and see thier horses as having a horse in training is an expensive job and anything we can do to make it fun is a bonus for them.

21st February Very busy morning first Racing Post TV here doing a preview feature for Cheltenham and then racing UK doing the same, then a quick cup of tea and then up to Ascot Sales. Liz is saddling Hobbs Dream at Taunton so if anyone has got any orders please give me a ring!!

20th February Very frustrated, declared Chicharito, Fran’s Folly and Hobbs Dream for Taunton tomorrow. Nice local track so all the owners can go and what happens Chicharito and Fran’s Folly are balloted out. Hobbs Dream does run and Andreas is on her again to get the 10lb off her which will help as the handicapper put her up 11lb after her last win

17th February Lee and Andreas schooled Barton Cliche, I’m a Legend and Meet Me At Dawn over fences. Andreas has improved tremendiously in the last 2 months.

Matrow’s Lady got balloted out of Wincanton so it is just I’m a Legend. It is great that he is back racing as when he struck into himself last autumn I thought that his racing days were over. He is bound to improve for the run. He is in a higher grade of race than he usually runs in but at least that means that he has little weight.

16th February I love doing a deal and today I sold Becky’s pony! A local family have bought her and at least she will be made good use of as she is a lovely quality pony and I am sure that they will do really well showing her.

15th February What a change in the weather, positivly spring like.

Point of Reference runs at Southwell today, not the ideal place for her but the trouble is that I have a lot of horses all needing to run in the same races so it is a case of trying to spread them around.

Midnight Chase has beeen given a fair weight in the National he is “well in” with a lot of the other horses but it is still Cheltenham as his main objective I think that probably next year is more his year to have a go at it but we will have to wait and see.

14th February Day off today. Catching the train up to London first thing today to attend the lunch put on by John Smiths for the unveiling of the National weights. Midnight Chase is entered but he is not likely to run I just put him in to give me the option of running if I wanted to but realistically it is all arrows pointing to Cheltenham.

10th February Off to Wolverhampton again today at least  tomorrow we are going to Kempton which will be a change of scenery when driving. Novabridge runs again today and he must have a good chance of winning again as he is in very good order with himself. Lets hope he does its rather nice being on the” hot trainers” list!! Jimmy The Lollipop runs at Kempton and dropped back in trip I am hoping for a better display than last time

8th February Not a good day yesterday 11 bursts in the pipes leaving the 2 tack rooms, the rug room,  the medicine room and the feed room flooded. At least we have nice clean floors now! Then the electrics kept tripping off where the water got behind the fuse box. Still all mended now ready for the next freeze!

I really am hoping that Taunton survives tomorrow as Hobbs Dream runs without a penalty and after tomorrow she is due to go up 11lb for her win at the last Taunton meeting.

Am taking Carole’s Destrier and Ashcott Boy away to work today and then Ashcott Boy will have a holiday as he is still very immature and John has several older horses to concentrate on at the moment.

4th February Bitterly cold day  but we are keeping all the horses cantering so no fitness lost just more hard work with all the taps freezing.

jimmy The Lollipop is running at Kempton tomorrow. He is working well with the flat horses that are showing form and he will appreciate the drop back in trip so hopefully he will run well.