We’ve had a quiet summer runners-wise after two we’d earmarked for racing through the last few months, Rockonsoph and Rae Des Champs, both suffered legs after winning at Kelso back in May. They’re resting up and on the mend, but it means we’ve not been to the races much.
Things have really cranked up at home in the last six weeks or so, though, with all the horses now back in to work, going through their pre-season routines on the deep sand gallop and up the hill from this morning onwards. Last season we found the deep sand was brilliant for getting the horses really fit and building their stamina, so hopefully we’ll see even more benefit of it this time round now everyone is more familiar with it.
Round and round we go...
Despite the horses being back into work, we won’t have many runners over the next month, maybe a couple at Kelso - Get With It and Hermann Clermont - then possibly a few at Perth come the end of September.
I’m really happy with the way everyone has settled back into the routine and am looking forward to getting them finely tuned for the autumn and winter months ahead.
We also have a new face in the yard, Ciaran O’Shea, who has joined us from Ireland as our conditional. Last season Dylan Johnston was riding for us but he’s moved on to Olly Murphy’s yard and we wish him the best of luck.
Cieran has had a few rides under rules back home but wanted to come to the UK to seek out new opportunities. He is a good rider and a nice lad, so he has settled in well and we’re looking forward to getting going with him.
One of the exciting things about this time of year is working with new recruits to the yard, watching them get used to our routine and learn about the jumping game. This year we will have Matched running for a new syndicate in the yard. A winner on the all-weather for Ralph Beckett, he's a 4yo we're looking forward to getting going with.
Matched after a canter on the sand