We are into October now, it definitely feels like autumn has arrived and with it we have some busy times ahead. We're off to Hexham tomorrow for the first time in ages. An experiment for the quirky Some Reign who has never ran there before. A stiff 2 miles should suit him very well, but we’ll have to wait and see if he behaves on the way to post. It's always rather stressful with him, but he’s looking really well and I’m hoping for a big run.
We also run Permission Granted, he’s lowly rated but seems in great order at home and I do hope his day will come! If he takes to the track, who knows, it just could be tomorrow. Lucy Alexander gets on well with him and she takes the ride. Conor rides Some Reign.
We have five entries at Kelso, but none of them will run unless they get significant rain. The ground is on the quick side at present but they’re due rain on Saturday and also Sunday morning, so I imagine it will go to the wire whether we run them or not. I couldn’t be happier with Bako de la Saulaie, he’s absolutely tanking up the gallop and we’d really love to run him. The same goes for Wild Polly, although she also holds an entry in a mares’ race at Sedgefield, so could go there.
I’d hope the two (Hitman Fred & Vintage Glen) in the boys' race will run well, they’re both working great. It would be just great to see the old Fred bounce back. Vintage will want a bit further in time, but I still hope he’d run into a place off a competitive mark.
We had a good week last week with Jack Devine running a blinder at Perth, finishing 2nd in a competitive hurdle race there. I was delighted, as the market had him at a very big price. I was a tiny bit put out and was very tempted to have a rare bet but didn't - although I wish I had now!
We were also really pleased with Slanelough’s first outing of the season in another very hot race at Market Rasen. He jumped to the front and really enjoyed himself out there, absolutely pinging from fence to fence. He got slightly swallowed up up the straight, but was still only beaten 7 lengths, which was a great effort. If he’s Ok I’m going to turn him out pretty quick in a 2 mile chase at Carlisle. If he gets his way in front there, they might not be able to peg him back. It was really good to see these two run so well. I hope it augurs well for the form of the rest of the string and that we can get a few winners on the board before long.
Above we have one of our horses for sale Last One To Show, who is flying up the gallops - literally!