Friday at Southwell

We are hoping Hail the Brave gets back on track today at Southwell in the 7.25, he ran a mystifying race last time, but so did Courtown Oscar and then he won impressively at Carlisle, so we are confident he could bounce back today providing they have watered it to genuinely good ground, he wouldn’t want good to firm. Good luck to all his connections and Adam Nicol that rides him.

Royalty has had a strong bay colt with 4 white socks, unfortunately he has a problem with his back joints and we are all praying the vets manage to sort this out, he is otherwise very healthy and a real character. Foals can often be born like this and with the right management can be corrected with no further ill effects. Still to foal, Epicurean and Pickworth.

The Castleton Bloodstock two year olds had their last piece of work before the Breeze Up Sales  yesterday and they both really pleased Phil and Gary Whillans who rode them. I will be posting a video later but here are their photos. If anyone is looking for a sound, straight and genuine 2 year old with a good page, these two are really worth a look. They know they’re job and are ready to run, we couldn’t be happier with them.

James Reveley came in yesterday and schooling well over fences yesterday were O’scar O’scar who now heads to a summer break before novice chasing next winter, and Factor Fifty who jumped super, and after another hurdle run or two will be going novice chasing this summer. The horse who beat him at Market Rasen won impressively at Cheltenham on Wednesday, hopefully the handicapper will leave our handicap mark alone. Another horse who jumped really well yesterday was Soeur de Rois who was an absolute natural first time over hurdles.

Courtown Oscar looked well in the sunshine yesterday, he is pictured here in front of Soeur de Rois.

I took this photo of Dibble Bridge in the afternoon sunshine yesterday, it is all greening up nicely.