Wednesday 27 June

Uttoxeter is now Good ground, but I have just had a peek at the forecast, and tomorrow lunchtime looks a bit ominous! Kikos will breeze tomorrow, and be scoped on Friday to make sure that he is 100% fit and well if the ground is suitable! Tara Dancer has gone back to Michael and Fionas, and we all look forward to getting this lovely filly back in next spring when she has grown and strengthened! Tannerman and Smart Exit are booked in to have their breathing problems rectified next week, and they will be back on the walker directly afterwards. I am sure that given the recent weather, all the horses would much rather be back in work! A nice, dry, warm stable would be a luxury compared to freezing your arse off under a hedge in the rain. A break is supposed to do them good - I am not convinced many horses would agree this year!! We are getting together tomorrow evening to discuss possible purchases at the Tattersalls July sale. There are at least 4 that look like they will make very decent hurdlers, so, if you would like a 20-25% share in a horse that we will be targeting at next years Cheltenham Festival then give me a call! In the meantime I spoke to Aiden Murphy earlier this week and he continues to seek out a suitable 'Saturday' horse for two of our existing owners. We were unlucky at the sales in the spring, and now we just have to be patient! If there is one thing that this great sport will teach you - it is patience!! Sorry to end on a sad note, but the racing world was rocked with a plethora of bad news yesterday. Although Racing, both Flat and National Hunt, is a multi billion pound industry and global sport watched by millions, it remains a pretty parochial place - a kind of bubble that we all exist in - so when tragedy strikes it touches all of us. I did not know Campbell Gillies, but was shocked to hear of his death yesterday. He was a very talented jockey with a big future, and, as all his colleagues have been saying a top man as well. He was part of our 'family', and we send our condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at this difficult time. Further bad news involved Channel 4 presenter Derek Thompson, who has been forced into a few weeks off as he undergoes treatment for cancer, and Grand National winning jockey Ben De Haan, who suffered a broken neck when unshipped form a horse when riding out yesterday morning.Ben is conscious, and can move his limbs - he undergoes surgery later today. We wish Ben and Thommo speedy recoveries!