MORE PHOTOS FROM ARCTIC.

We freely admit that we have so far got off so lightly compared to other parts of the country. Life is cold and inconvenient in Oxfordshire, but nothing like as dreadful as in Yorkshire and Scotland. Our horses trotted indoors on tuesday but were back to normal cantering exercise yesterday as we have missed out on the snow to very large extent. Martin Archer spends hours on the tractor to keep the gallop in good order, while John and Daniel, a new member of our ground team are salting the yards to avoid accidents.

COIS FARRAIG's win at Newbury last week, fantastic that it was, seems an aweful long time ago already! It will be a quiet weekend and we hope for resumption of N.H. racing next week, but in the meantime it's the usual winter routine.

BRRRRRRRR..........

BLUE WITH COLD AT CROPREDY LAWN !!!

Not a good day. Two runners left yesterday for Kelso, because the races looked just right for both of them. Ku and I got home an hour ago and the horsebox has finally completed the 320 miles home after the A1 was closed. We jog the horses up the yard when they get home, to check how they are, but tonight there is only one to trot up.
MRS. TRELLIS jumped the hurdle fine, but two strides later she went 'wrong behind'. Dominic Elsworth hopped off her straight away and held her tight. We got to her as soon as we could and the tremendous Kelso veterinary team had the situation in complete control. 'MRS. T.' has a very serious pelvic fracture and the only and kindest thing to do, was to set her on the quickest and least stressful path to horse heaven. Jeremy Dougall, Liz Clark, Willie Watt and I bred and owned this mare together and have all been so damn patient to give her every chance and then this lightening bolt from the sky takes her out.
There is nothing worse for a yard than when a horsebox comes home a little bit 'empty'. Poor Amy, who has always 'done' this filly, is going to miss her badly and it's a long, sad day for even wonderfully experienced and grown-up men like Jerry Walsh and Alistair Stewart. But we all have three runners tomorrow to hope for and look forward too. Maybe these will help banish the thoughts that will spring to mind for quite a little while, as everybody walks past 'MRS. T.'s' old stable. It is for Jem, Liz and Willie that we feel most sorry and upset for, as more patient and understanding owners and 'partners', you could not find.

STILL FOR SALE.... STILL FOR SALE.... STILL FOR SALE.... STILL FOR SALE.... STILL FOR SALE........

No apologies for putting up another picture of TINDARO. He's settled in very well and has the most perfect temperament. He's a very good mover and each moment resembles AUSTRALIA DAY more and more. Unless somebody snaps him up in the next few days, we intend to syndicate him in 10 shares. The price of a 1/10th share will probably be £7,000 + v.a.t. and this will include his purchase, shipping from France and insurance. Come on, "ROLL UP" and give me a call.

FOR SALE......FOR SALE......FOR SALE.......FOR SALE.......FOR SALE..

Just arrived this afternoon from yesterday's Arqana sale at Saint Cloud is Lot 13, TINDARO (FR).

He is a 3.y.o. grey gelding by Kingsalsa - Star's Mixa (Linamix). He has run eleven times, winning twice and being placed a further six times. His last win, two starts ago, was in a highly competitive Tierce Handicap over 1m. 2+f. at Saint Cloud, where he came from last to first. He looks an absolute star 'dual-purpose' horse and does he not have the look of a certain Australia Day ? I paid 65,000 Euro for him 'on spec', so you can tell how much we loved him when Ku and I saw him in Chantilly, a week before the sale. He stands a fraction under 16.1 hands but has the scope to grow another inch in time. He is a lovely well-balanced mover with great limbs and a lovely temprament.
HE has it all.......in order for YOU to have HIM all......Just call ME, (A.S.A.P.!).

Well, TIME FOR RUPERT came through Cheltenham yesterday with flying colours. When you watch the replay, you really wonder at why we got so nervous and worried, as 'RUPERT' and Will Kennedy put in a faultless round together. They know each other so well and look to have great faith in their partnership. What i admire is 'RUPERT's' determination and willingness to eye up and then attack that Cheltenham hill.
SCAMPI BOY's run was disappointing and puzzling, i have no answers yet but have a sneaking feeling that he is not suited by the track and should run next on a flat track. DANVILLA was unlucky as her effort was left a bit late, but she did also hang right a little and may be better suited by a return to Kempton.
EDGBRIAR has a mountain to climb this afternoon in The Paddy Power Chase. He has improved from his winning start at Cheltenham last month and with a 8lbs rise in the weights, he have to have done and more. I hope the ground has not softened too much, but feel that he'll run a big race, but he could do that and still finish fifth today!

When I buy a young unraced horse, a question i always ask myself is, 'Could you see this horse galloping up the hill a Cheltenham?' When we bought TIME FOR RUPERT in December 2007, it was not difficult to envisage him galloping up the hill as he's already 'breezed-up' it that morning before the sale! This is the day that God made RUPERT for, his first run over steeplechase fences. Although he has already proved himself to be a bit of a star, today is the day that will prove whether he can continue improving and become the top-class chaser we hope. This is the day we are ment to savour, but as the moment gets closer our nerves will struggle to hold and the binoculars are sure to be rather wobbly! As 'RUPERT' circles at the start, i will say to myself, 'why on earth to we do this?'
His preparation has gone very smoothly; a lesson with Yogi Breisner, two excellent schooling session by kind permission of Towcester Racecourse and a good piece of work on the Edgcote grass gallop last week. Having said all of that, 'RUPERT' will benefit from this race, as we are building him up towards the big targets of the season. I think he is fit enough to win if he is superior enough, but this could be in doubt as today's race is billed in the Racing Post as the best novice chase of the season!
Before 'RUPERT', we have another future star in his own right, SCAMPI BOY running in the handicap hurdle. He is also by Flemensfirth and is another chaser in the making. He ran really well when needing his first run of the season a month ago at Cheltenham and has come on plenty since then. It looks very competitive but we expect him to go very close. Don't let Cheltenham overshadow the All-Weather at Lingfield, where DANVILLA looks to follow up last week's win at Kempton. We think she's an improving filly who stays well and has a big chance today.
By 4.15pm this afternoon our finger nails will be well-chewed and nerves frayed to shreads, but I keep reminding myself that....It is for days like these that we all battle with this job !