SEE WHERE YOU FINISHED IN THE SIX TO FOLLOW - FINAL RESULTS ARE ON THE SIX TO FOLLOW PAGE

TUESDAY 18TH NOVEMBER

CHIC RETREAT pulled far to hard in her race at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening. She was always prominent in the race but faded approaching the final furlong. She is now due to have her winter break and hopefully she will come back in a stronger filly for next season. On Monday we had just two runners at Kempton in the shape of PINKALICIOUS and KNOCK THREE TIMES who had been dropped in class into claiming company. They both did not show much to inspire and sadly could now head to one of the horse sales at either Doncaster or Ascot. Today we have faired much better with RED EXPRESSO finishing third at Southwell. He was held up and was ridden along over two furlongs out. He kept on under pressure inside final furlong to grab the third place. RAWDON showed much improvement from his last start and was always fairly handy. The front two came quite along way from the rest of the field in the closing stages of the race and our horse just plugged on to take third. He certainly would not have been in love with the under foot conditions but he is a loveable rogue and it was nice to see him run much better.

We have no runners until the weekend now, when our recent winner MISS BROWN TO YOU could make a reappearance at Lingfield and We also have DIRECT DEBIT and VODKA SHOT both entered in different claimers at Wolverhampton. We have also made an entry for JUST LIKE A WOMAN in Saint -Cloud on Tuesday where she could try her hand in listed company.

The Six to Follow competition has now finished for this year with three members of staff surprisingly taking the prizes. In first place was Rebecca Gray, with Ian Hughes taking second and Mick Andrews coming in third. Thank you so much to everyone for taking part and making it such a success and hopefully we will have even more entries next year!

FRIDAY 14TH NOVEMBER

DRESDEN DOLL ran very disappointingly on Tuesday night only managing to beat one. It was a shame she could not have given a better performance but she will head for the December Sales now at the end of the month. She was settled towards the rear but failed to make any impression. We were delighted with the effort of RED LINNET yesterday having been of the track for such a long time. She has now finished and is being offered in the Goffs November Sales where hopefully she will find a nice home as she is a sweet filly and will give her new connections lots of fun. Today we have seen VODKA SHOT have her racecourse debut. She chased the leaders and was ridden along over two furlongs out. She was soon driven and weakened.

Tomorrow we have CHIC RETREAT running at Wolverhampton. She has been working well after a long lay off and hopefully she will show some improvement from her first run as she is a nicely bred filly who will improve. I am not sure about runners yet for Monday as we have entries at Kempton and Wolverhampton.

TUESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER

We have had a busy weekend with three runners at Doncaster to fill you in on. The first of these was RED HORSE who was never really going in his race and was always towards the rear. he has now been put away for the winter where hopefully he will strengthen and develop over the winter months. Also running on Saturday was SUMMERS LEASE and we had high hopes for this filly. She chased the leaders and was pushed along over four furlongs out and weakened with three furlongs left to run. This filly is certainly much better than this run would suggest and it may be just a case of the cold weather getting to her. She has been finished for this season but a plan about her long term future has not been decided. THE BETCHWORTH KID was our only other runner and he has been a complete star this season. He run a cracking race weaving his way through from the back of the field and he was given every chance and simply met one too good at the weights. He is a serious horse for cp races next year we hope! On Sunday we had PINKALICIOUS and KNOCK THREE TIMES running in the same contest, both failed to shine and they were always towards the rear. They have been entered for a claimer Monday where hopefully they we will be suited to this grade of runners. On Monday our only runner was DIRECT DEBIT and he showed some form that he was back to his best. He had not shown much in two recent runs back from over a year off but showed plenty of promise under a positive ride in this race and was just caught by three finishers. He will hopefully find his way in the winner enclosure shortly.

We have one runner tomorrow when DRESDEN DOLL takes her chance at Wolverhampton. We are hopeful of a big run before she heads for the December Sales. On Thursday we have RED LINNET running and we are hopeful that she can show the form she was in at the beginning of season and score a victory before she heads for the sales at Goffs at the end of this month.

FRIDAY 7TH NOVEMBER

We added another winner to the total last night which now takes us to the 74 winner mark for the year which is fantastic when MISS BROWN TO YOU broke her maiden tag at Great Leighs. Hayley Turner decided to go on and sent MISS BROWN TO YOU to the front. Back down in trip and running in a handicap for the first time, she was allowed to dictate a sedate pace and proceeded to take full advantage, making every yard. She is lightly raced and there is some definite improvement to come from her as she strengthens up over the winter. Earlier on the card we had FAR GONE running in selling company. She started towards the rear and was ridden two furlongs from home. She made some headway when under pressure over one furlong out but never troubled leaders. It is a shame that we cannot get a win from this little filly as she has some decent two-year-old form and is certainly capable of winning in this company. Also at Great Leighs we had SOFONISBA running and we thought she would run well. It looked as though she may want a bit further as the six furlongs may have just been to sharp for her. She is a nice filly and will strengthen and come on over the winter months.

We have three runners on Saturday when we have hopes for THE BETCHWORTH KID in the November Handicap and his chances will be boosted if we get some more rain at Doncaster. He does not seem to be showing any signs of tiredness from a long season and we are hopeful he can show his form in what looks to be a tough race. Also on the card we have SUMMERS LEASE running. She is a very nice lightly raced filly and we are hoping that she will prove herself in listed class. She was third last time but was unlucky in running and so hopefully things will go right for her here. Our last runner on the card is RED HORSE who ran quite green for an inexperienced apprentice last time at Newmarket and hopefully he will show some improvement In his run here.

On Sunday we have PINKALICIOUS and KNOCK THREE TIMES running at Kempton I expect significantly better runs from both these fillies. KNOCK THREE TIMES ran very green on her only start and she has been showing improvement in her homework from her first run. PINKALICIOUS was not a 100% after her run at Yarmouth and so I think she will give a much better effort here. She looks as though next year she will make into a staying type as she develops and matures over the winter.

RED EXPRESSO AND DIRECT DEBIT

On Wednesday we had just two groups of horses working. They worked on the Cambridge Road all weather gallop as most of the grass gallops we use have now been closed. The first group to come up consisted of DIRECT DEBIT and RED EXPRESSO. Both horses seemed at home on the all weather surface and worked well it what turned out to be a thoroughly miserable day. DIRECT DEBIT is due to run on Monday at Wolverhampton and RED EXPRESSO is due to run on Friday at Southwell.

PINKALICIOUS, CHIC RETREAT, KNOCK THREE TIME AND VODKA SHOT

We then had a group of four two-year-old fillies coming up. The one that caught the eye here was VODKA SHOT under Hayley Turner who went nicely with PINKALICIOUS, CHIC RETREAT and KNOCK THREE TIMES. As they came past me VODKA SHOT was settled towards the rear before going to join the others. She could possibly run on Friday at Southwell with PINKALICIOUS and KNOCK THREE TIMES running on Sunday. No plans have been made for CHIC RETREAT as of yet but she is not far off a run.

TUESDAY 4TH NOVEMBER

Things are really starting to slow down and we are getting in yearling mode. We now have seven yearlings ridden and so far we have had no problems to report which is always a plus and they are currently trotting.

 

ART CONNOISSEUR

We are still having the odd runners though. OnThursday we had MOGGY running at Lingfield. She was held up towards the rear and made some modest progress on inner with a furlong left to run, but she made no impression. She had run well on her second start and so this was a bit disappointing. She has been put away for the year now and hopefully she will strengthen and develop over the winter. SEA CHORUS was our only runner on Friday and she showed, I feel the sign of what could have been a long season for her. She chased the leaders and was ridden over three furlongs out. She weakened two furlongs from home and was well beaten. She has returned today to her home at Car Colston Hall Stud and hopefully she will prove to be a successful broodmare.

SELKIRK EX DOOHULA

On Saturday we were given a boost when we had our 73 winner of the year. This was provided by SARISKA who we thought could develop into a very nice two-year-old and she has. SARISKA is a half-sister to our useful stayer GULL WING. She is by Pivotal and she was given a good ride by Jamie Spencer who brought her with a well-timed challenge from off the pace. She looks a very useful prospect and is one to dream about through the winter months. LA ADELITA who finally had ground conditions to suit her gave a sound effort and she will be a different filly next year when she has strengthened and matured over the winter I think. Our last runner on the card was OAT CUISINE who was having her thirteenth run of the season. She ran well enough but she is probably showing the signs of a long year. This was probably her last run,before she heads for a life in the paddocks as a broodmare.

WHIPPER EX TOPIARY

Our only runner yesterday was RAWDON and he was disappointing. It is a shame has he has been such a star and it would have been really nice to see him run well. He is going to have one more run to see if he improves and a decision will be made to his long term future after this.

JOHANNESBURG EX FOOFARAW

We have no runners today but we do have three on Thursday when FAR GONE takes her chance in the selling contest. She still seems to be in good form and hopefully she will be able to finally get the win she so deserves. Later on the card we have SOFONISBA who ran quite keen last time and hopefully if she settles she will run well. Our last runner on the card is MISS BROWN TO YOU who ran encouragingly last time at Bath. Hopefully after her lay off that run will put her spot on here to break her maiden tag here.