Some Reign getting a last-minute pep talk from next door neighbour Espoir Moriviere....
We head to Wetherby today with SOME REIGN (4.33) making his seasonal debut in a race being run in honour of Peter Beaumont. He's been entered a few times already and we withdrew him at Kelso last time when the ground got a bit slippy, so he's been ready to go for a few weeks.
It's a tight race and you could make a case for any of them but we know he likes the track after running well there last season and coming down at the last when in command. We have gone up in the handicap since then so have more to do at the weights than before, but we've earned our mark so it will be interesting to see how he gets on today.
We are up against a few younger horses who are likely to improve so it's going to be tough, but we have been there, done it and he's ran well fresh in the past so fingers crossed we run well.
It would be great to win this race as Peter was a great man who we had a lot of respect for and as the prize today they're using a great old trophy from the point-to-point days. Dad loves a trophy so it's one he'd like to get his hands on!
We were sad to hear about the passing of Trevor Hemmings, who was someone the whole of racing had huge respect for. He had horses with us in the past and dad knew him very well. In fact, you could say my father worshipped him because he saw him as a titan of industry in his business life.
He was a hugely positive person who was always looking well in advance and making plans. A huge supporter of National Hunt racing he deserved all the success he got in those famous colours over the years. Dobbs rode for him in the past, riding the likes of Turpin Green and creating some great memories. He will be sorely missed.