Sunday 5 April 2007. Mattaking goes to Southwell today, or at least that was the plan!! But awoke this morning and thought that we may be staying at home, SNOW!! I know it was forecast and as I said yesterday it did feel like it was on it's way but it was still not good to see! The good news is that as I write Southwell seems to have missed the horrible stuff and after a look at 6.45am the Clerk of the course gives the ground as Good, Good to Firm in places with no inspections. It will be cold but hopefully an enjoyable day out!

What a race yesterday!! And what a result!! I have always been a huge fan of Timmy Murphy, and anyone that has read his biography will know what hell he has been through throughout his career, culminating in a brief spell at Her Majestys pleasure!! I know that it was nearly all self induced and for that reason it is hard to be overly sympathetic, but the way he has turned his career around in just a few years is testament to the mans character and immense ability in the saddle. I can really recommend his book as a first class read, and very thought provoking!! Well done to to David Pipe, who after only a couple of years in the job after taking over from the legend that is his father, has saddled his first National winner along with a whole host of other big race victors. It must be a great pressure taking over the reins of an outfit like that and all credit to him as he has done a first class job!! I do not know David personally although he did try to run me over in the horsebox park at Punchestown, but he seems to be a really likeable chap and very easy with the press, which his father was sometimes not too good at, although they couldn't shut him up yesterday!! Congratulations to all involved.

Saturday 5 April. A beautiful morning at Fences Farm, but there was a distinctly chilly feeling and it could be that the forecast snow is on the way, lets hope it does not get to Aintree before 4.15. Todays Grand National looks to be one of the best ever seen, the quality of horses is amazing, and I can see it being a really competitive affair, although I do think that the changes made to the course and the quality of horses running has meant that big priced upsets are going to be a real rarity from now on. It was good to see Pettifour win the Sefton Novices hurdle at Aintree yesterday as this once again boosts the form of our chap Important Business,l as we beat him in a bumper at Uttoxeter in November. IB's form is really rock solid, apart from his last run, and he will be entered at Ascot and Uttoxeter next weekend, but if the conditions are not right he will be put away for his summer holidays, as although he needs quicker ground he has been in for a really long time and we feel he needs a break. He will come back a bigger and stronger horse next autumn.He is in great form after his little break, and worked really well this morning.

Mattaking is in great form as well, in fact when I went in to adjust his rugs mid morning he tried to bite me so he is certainly feeling well!! His race at Southwell tomorrow looks quite hot but we will be sporting visors for the first time to help him concentrate so hopefully we can take another step forward. He certainly breezed well today.

Bobby has a pal in his pen at the moment. Boulevard Bay has been suffering with a bruised heel so he has been brought in from the field for a few days, I'm not sure that Bobby appreciates the company as 'Bully' is living right up to his stable name!! Bobs looks really well though and when the weather warms up he will go out in the field to enjoy the summer. Anyone who has been following Bobby Gees' career since he joined us, and would like to become involved, may like to know that a new Partnership will be formed in the summer to take over ownership of him, spaces are very limited and if you would like to know further details then please get in touch.
Rousing Rob is being a really good patient as he recovers from his set-back, but Stuart tells me he is starting to get a little grumpy being locked in his stable. Not too long now before he can go out in the field and enjoy the summer, in the mean time he can watch his close relative Cape Tribulation who runs in the Champion Bumper at Aintree, this horse looks very exciting and is favourite so lets hope he can keep up the family tradition of gaining some black type.

Mattaking did a really striking piece of work and seems to have improved since his last run. He is entered at Towcester on Easter Sunday, but I would think it would take near Sahara type conditions to dry out the track enough to let us take our chance. We will be patient as he is another who needs a bit of decent ground.

The ground will be drying up at Haydock for Important Business, but it seems as though we are due to get a lot of rain tomorrow, and possibly a few snow flurries by Saturday, so his participation is still very much in the balance.

Also at Uttoxeter, we were interested in the Malcolm Jefferson trained Cape Tribulation in the bumper, as he is a Hernando half brother to the dam of our latest purchase Rousing Rob. We were not disappointed as he fair bolted up under a penalty, to add to his Market Rasen victory earlier in the month, so it looks as though the pedigree of our horse has another significant member, and has taken a real boost. Our chap has already shown us heaps at home, and anyone interested in either of the shares left in him for next season should give me a call, or send an email.

I am really pleased that we did not declare foe Weatherby on Saturday as the ground up there was really quick and a little rough. Sam who had 2 rides and managed a winner for Richard Guest says that we would not have run if we had gone, so the right decision was made. We would not have been alone, as there were 8 and 9 non runners in some races. I do not think there is much firm ground left about now after the deluge on Saturday night, so we will have to see what we do with Important Business for now. He will have an entry for Haydock on Saturday in the hope that the ground dries up, but if it does not we will ease off of him for a couple of weeks and get going again when we get some decent proper spring ground.

I hope that you were on my tips yesterday, a few winners in there including Our Vic who reminded me so much of our Olney Lad, made all in first time blinkers!
Back In Line advised Each Way - 3rd, Albertas Run - 1st, Our Vic - 1st, Inglis Drever 1st.

What a thrilling days racing it was, and we saw 2 great performances in Master Minded who looks like the best horse I have ever seen, and dear old 'Uncle ' Inglis Drever who won his third Stayers Crown. I simply adore this horse as he is so tough and genuine, and a real star to come back from injury the way he has, it nearly brought a tear to my eye.

Tips for today: 12.30 Theatre Girl + Sweet Kiln . 1.05 Aigle D'Or + Group Captain. 1.40 County Zen + Junior ew 2.15 Franchoek + Five Dream ew. 2.50 Lodge Lane + Tother One ew. 3.30 Between the big 2 , but have Knowhere to place at 4/1.4.05 Lou Du Moulin Mas 4.40 Take Nicky Hendersons Mare My Petra to win the race named in honour of his father.5.20 If you have any cash left then there are 3 in the last to have a look at , I'msingingtheblues , Mon Michel and Mountain. Good Luck and enjoy the clash of the titans!!

Unfortunately the ground at Wetherby has gone too quick believe it or not. The Clerk of the course is giving it as Good To Firm with a going stick reading of 9.5 which is getting to be plenty quick enough even for us, so Important Business will just have to wait for a few days. Frustrating, but we do not want to do any damage to him at this stage of his career.

The ground remains Good to Firm, Good in Places at Wetherby, which will suit Important Business, so it looks as though he will be taking his chance at their meeting in Saturday, just as long as his co-owner and assistant trainer have recovered from their antics at the Festival!!

Matty has been ticking over since his last run , and he will do a bit of work on Saturday and all being well be entered up during the next week.
There are developments on going with regards to a replacement for Bobby Gee and I am very hopeful that by the middle of next week Nick Brown Racing will be able to announce the arrival of an exciting mare that will be ready to run in about 3 weeks. I will keep you all posted.

Rousing Rob is recovering well.

Cheltenham this week, and hopefully we get the weeks sport that it promises to be. Everyone keeps asking me Kauto or Denman, and I have to say that I think Kauto will win, always go with proven form, and the form of all his races this year has been superior to that of Denman in any case.Osana is my fancy for the Champion Hurdle, and I think that Pipe Jnr will be very close to winning the Sunderlands bonus again this year as I think that Saturdays winner Askhazar will take a deal of beating in the Fred Winter, they say he has come out of the race well, and should emulate his stable-mate Gaspara, who won the bonus for David Pipe last year. Good luck to all, and have a fantastic festival if you are going. Hope to see you there!!

Important Business has been entered for the EBF Final at Sandown on Saturday, but off his current mark I would doubt if he will get a run. We will continue to look for races for him as he is really well and continues to really impress at home. When we see it on the racecourse he will take some stopping!!

Rousing Rob has had his debut put on hold as he has suffered a bit of a set back, he will now spend the spring and summer in the field and come back into training in July. A bit frustrating , but being in training this winter will have stood him in good stead for next year and he has certainly shown us enough to keep us all on our toes and dreaming of winners over the summer!!

Bobby is 100% now and enjoying his rest and relaxation. When he is in work he can be a little aloof in his box, and not really want anything to do with anyone, but now that he has adjusted to being off games he really craves a bit of attention. He will soon, sadly be joined in his pen by Rock Wren who has injured a tendon and will be on th easy list for a bit longer than Bobs.

Saturday 1 March 2008 Never a dull moment in a racing yard and today was certainly no exception. First lot saw Matty and Pleasurable have a little refresher in the jumps field and then head off to the gallop to to a nice canter before their intended runs at Huntingdon tomorrow. Both schooled beautifully, and with only 5 runners in Mattys race I really do hope that we think the ground is safe, as it would be a lovely introduction to hurdling for him.Jamie Moore takes the ride, he is a really good strong jockey, and is in the form of his life at the moment so with him in the plate and the better ground sure to suit we think that our Matty should show vastly improved form. I think it will be tough for him to win as Ollie Sherwoods mare looks hard to beat, but anything could happen!! Pleasurable runs in the opener and if we leave the form of her last run behind I think she would have a good each way chance as she is in really good form.

The vote for the name of the Selkirk was held last night, and it was a really close run thing! We originally had a tie with Counting Pennies and Rousing Rob each receiving 2 votes, but the casting vote went the way of Rousing Rob so Mrs Robeson will begin the naming process and The Chicheley Partnership will have their first runner, hopefully at Uttoxeter on March 15, Midlands National Day.

Matty was scoped after work this morning, as he gave a couple of coughs after his Kempton run, and he was clean today, so he will be entered for Huntingdon an March 2.we want quicker ground, but he will not run if the ground is rough which it was when we were there on Thursday.

The Selkirk gelding went really well and will have a run, as soon as he has been named.

Today is the turn of our own fellow Important Business at Sandown today. Good to have Sam back in the plate, not that Jamie did anyhting wrong last time!! It is his handicap debut and I think he will run a nice race. Lets hope both come back safe and sound (and first)!! There will be a full report and photos tomorrow.

On Sunday it was off to Hereford. Pleasurable was upped in trip in the Mares Only Novice Hurdle. A real disappointment, she was really flat and was pulled up when tailed off before the last. She was scoped at the races , but no problems were found so it's back to the drawing board with her. A little break may be the answer as she has been on the go for a long time, and may be feeling it a bit.

Bobby continues to have little niggles, but has cantered away today and all seems to be well again with him,but it is a bit of a day to day thing.

Important Business is in the form of his life and was bucking and kicking on his way back from exercise on Saturday. He has matured and put on a bit of weight, and we are looking forward to his next run!

It was nice to welcome Michael Dunkley over to Fences Farm for second lot. Michael is a new member of The Ravenstone Partnership and he seemed to really enjoy seeing his new horse Mattaking work well, although he did look a little chilly! Mattaking did work well, and a change of tack that Stuart thought may do the trick does seem to have worked, so it is all systems go with him and he was entered for a Kempton bumper on Friday. I think the track and trip will be on the short side for him, but he just needs to go to the races and learn that he is a racehorse.

Also out in the second lot was the Selkirk gelding who showed up really well, and did a particularly eyecatching piece of work. Charlie Brandon who rode him was very impressed and reported that he seems to have plenty of gears. Geoff Bridgford who was in the Sherington Partnership, and had such bad luck with Paix Eternelle was up the hill, and he was suitably impressed to buy a share in him on the spot. There are only 2 shares remaining, and I think they will be snapped up pretty quickly so get in touch if you want to be part of the fun - you will not be waiting long as he will be running in about 3 weeks. He is being vetted on Wednesday to confirm his wellbeing and after that it is all systems go. His pedigree is outstanding, with lots and lots of Black Type, and so many winners that only 2 generations can fit on the page!! (Click here to view Pedigree).

Important Business went out third lot, and Stuart said he felt in really good order - he said he was like trying to ride a slippery eel. It is the intention to run him in the EBF Final but with his current rating he may not get in, so his next race may be at Sandown in a 0-120 handicap, which will be a good trial for the Final a fortnight later.I hope you were all on Fresh Winter on Friday, as I said, on my handicap he was well in, but I did not expect him to bolt up by 17 lengths!!

Bobby Gee was on the walker today as he continues to recover from his little niggle, he should be cantering again next week, and be running mid to late Feb.

On the gallops this morning the Selkirk gelding went really well and gave Stuart good feel so he should be staying in the yard. There are only 2 shares left in him so anyone interested should get in touch quickly.He is only about 3 weeks off a run so you will not have to wait very long to see your horse on the course.

Matty is now officially named Mattaking and was yesterday entered in a Wincanton bumper on Thursday. He has been working really well, but typically today when a few of his owners turned out to see their new boy he decided to behave like a real baby, and worked so green that any plans to run on Thursday had to be scrapped. They race at Towcester on Thursday and if they will let us we may take him for a racecourse gallop either after racing or on Friday morning, he just needs to grow up. Young horses are often this way, he has been going really well and pulling his way up the gallops for the past couple of weeks but just today he took it upon himself to look around, not concentrate and curl up under his rider. He certainly has the ability, he now has to learn how to use it!

Cettis Warbler seems fine after her run yesterday, and Rock Wren is entered for Leicester and Chepstow next week.

The journey was a long one, as due to a lorry fire on the M1 at Northampton, and that roads subsequent closure, we were forced across country to pick up the M40 and make our way to Bangor that way. This added about 40 minutes to the trip but we still managed to get to the course in good time, so that Yorkie could relax.

He came across to the course from the stables 40 minutes before his race time and was led around the pre-parade ring, this was to be the first time that he had been saddled in the pre-parade and not in the stables so it was good to see him take it all so well. Bangor is a lovely track to introduce a novice as all the facilities are first class, a fact that was made all the more clear when you look at the previous winners of this Novices Hurdle, which included My Way De Solzen and Garde Cahmpetre, it is strange how top trainers seem to run their good horses in the same races year after year. Important Business took all the prelims really well, was superbly turned out by his lass Rebecca (Alice to her friends, and anyone that has seen The Vicar Of Dibley will know why). In fact she did such a good job she picked up the best turned out award, and is now level pegging with Rachel with whom she is battling to get the most number of best turned out awards during this season, Important Business really looked a picture.

Race time, and Sam jumped our man off in third place with enough width to get a good sight of his first hurdle, he jumped it well and settled into a good rhythm. In the main he jumped really well, but found himself outpaced along the back, but this tough little chap responded to Sams urgings and stayed on to finish fourth only beaten 8 lengths. This was a really good performance in a very hot little race over a clearly inadequate trip. I was thrilled with the run, and the way he jumped really put down a firm foundation for his future. He had a pretty hard race today, and is still only young at 4 so he will have a decent little break now and come back again in about a month if we can find some decent ground.

Third lot was the turn of the new boys to stretch their legs! Matty and Rob (the Selkirk) both went for a walk and trot around the farm and then did a little canter up the all weather to stretch their legs. Rachel had the pleasure of being the first to sit on Matty, we thought this was only right as her Mum is one of his owners,and so she could report back, judging by the smile on her face when she walked back all went well, so Mum should be pleased. Andrew and Sarah Mathewman who were with us yesterday popped in on their way home to see how their new charge had settled in, and Mr & Mrs Roy Mason were up, they have been interested in joining a syndicate for some time, and a chance conversation in the pub a week ago, and a timely phone call from Roy on Friday meant they could come up and see the new horse and I am pleased to say they quickly snapped up the remaining share. Good Luck to everyone!!

Fortunately racing went ahead at Ludlow and Heebie Jeebie ran really well to finish second in the Mares Handicap. She was beaten by a rapidly improving sort from the David Pipe yard that we thought may have just been got by the handicapper. How wrong can you be!!! Never mind, another second for the Robeson yard, hopefully this will soon change to a few in the number one spot.

Important Business will not go to Doncaster this weekend, but will instead be aimed at a National Hunt Novice at Bangor or Newbury in the middle of next week.

On Friday we go to the Breeze Up Sales at Cheltenham. This is a fantastic day out , and I am pleased to say that a couple of the new members are taking a moment out their hectic London lives and coming down to Celtenham early to enjoy the breezes and get involved in the selection of their new horse, this should be great fun and we look forward to having them on board. There is still one place left in this Partnership if anyone is interested, if you are then please give me a call.I will take the camera with me on Friday and put up a blog about the whole day sometime over the weekend.

Important Business is entered to run at Doncaster on Saturday. The race looks quite a hot affair with a Johnson/Wylie horse entered called Scriptwriter that was third in the Ebor at York, so you could say that it has a bit of ability!! We will monitor the situation and probably give or horse entries at Newbury and Bangor in the middle of next week.

Heebie Jeebie is in grand form and is entered to run at Ludlow tomorrow, she could run very well, if declared.

After second lot it was off to Towcester, where Rocky was running in the Novices Hurdle. Rodi Greene was in the plate as Sam was to ride one for Brendan Powell (his boss) in the race, and Jimmy was at Newbury. To deal with Rocky first, he travelled OK to the bottom of the hill, but just got tired in the very testing conditions and was pulled up. He is a tough little chap, but these conditions were just too much for him.

As things transpired it was a really bad day all round, as Trish had to take Sam to Milton keynes General Hospital after he suffered a horrific fall in a really dramatic first race. It all started badly at the first fence, which over 3 miles at Towcester is downhill off of a short run and can often catch a few out.On this occasion it didn't just catch out one, but an incredible 4 went. All horses and Jocks were up OK by the time the remaining runners reached the second where Romney Marsh who had been badly hampered in the first fence melee was very slow and pulled up straight after jumping it. This left six in the race with two loose horses preceeding them up the home straight for the first time. The field managed to negotiate the first two in the straight but there was more drama to come at the one at the top of the hill. The loose horses ran along the rail and when they got to the fence there was nowhere to go and they turned right across the front of the field. there was chaos! The leader managed to jump the fence, but four of the five behind were brought down, fell or refused. Unfortunately Sam was on a faller, his horse tried valiantly to jump one of the loose horses in front of the fence and the fence as well, but it all went wrong, and the horse ended up vertical and firing the unfortunate SP straight into the dirt. He knew immediately that he had broken his collar bone, although it could have been a lot worse if the horse had not knuckled over to its right, if it had gone straight over, or to its left it would have landed straight on Sam. Sam walked to the medical room where he was checked over, and then it was off for Xrays. These proved inconclusive, but SP was sure it was broken, so he called 'The Galloping Doctor', Dr Phillip Pritchard who manages to cram being a Trainer and Jockey into his busy life as a GP, and Dr Pritchard agreed to see him that evening at his surgery near Bristol. So after another long treck it was confirmed that Sam had broken his collar bone, but it had not displaced and he should be fit to ride out again in about ten days.We all wish him a speedy recovery. To add insult to the injury, his other ride for Sue Nock went and won so he missed a winner as well, nothing a young jockey hates more!!

Important Business continues his preparaions for his hudling debut,and despite a slight hiccup earlier in the week, he continues to do it well, He even loose schoolsm himself!!! He is very careful and clever at his obstacles and if he continues to learn his trade at this rate, he should be out in a Novices Hurdle in a couple of weeks, at one of the better tracks. Looking back on his last run at Uttoxeter, I think it was a really good performance and we may have just run into another really good horse, who incidentally is another graduate from a breeze up sale.

Possible entries this weekend are; Rock Wren at Towcester on Saturday, and if the rain arrives, Cettis Warbler may go to Leicester on Sunday.

Having had a couple hit the cross bar in the past few days it got me thinking about how many horses that have run in the 'red,black and white' have finished out of the first five, and the results are astounding. From 32 runners only 9 times have they finshed out of the first 5, and if you take Outplacement out of the equation who did win, but was out the back in his other runs, the figures read 27 runners wi