Paul Webber Racing

In this business it is very important to appreciate the good parts of the day, such as the horses looking healthy, being healthy, working like the wind(!) and schooling well. These two pictures represent the best part of this trainer's day.....Today.
You saw the first picture of our newest purchase, GTAAB on the web-site yesterday; now on his sixth day at Cropredy Lawn, you can see his first experience of jumping!
Talk about 'a natural jumper', this is
as good a pupil as we've had here.
What is also so impressive is his
temprament, as he is still a colt He is
just so cool. I really do not think this
horse should remain unsold for very
long, so if you feel the faintest
temptation, please give me a call
a.s.a.p.

Plenty of horses 'schooled' well this morning with AUSTRALIA DAY showing 'no worries, mate' from his unfortunate fall at Kempton. He will probably swerve Wincanton this weekend in favour of Taunton or Cheltenham next week. ASHES SUMMER continues to thrive and jumped well with TIME FOR RUPERT, LLAMA FARMER and HERE'S THE KEY. Three fillies worked well together, with OSMOSIA, BLACK ANNIE and an un-named Overbury all showing promise.
Sadly all the pleasure of these performances was wiped away by Andrew Thornton disappearing through the wing on a hitherto completely reliable jumper. This horse's name has been with-held to prevent ambulance-chasing, so-called 'lawyers' from contacting me or the horse's owner. Andrew's almost legendary experience of injury told him instantly that he'd damaged his left shoulder. He was quickly, but legally, driven to see his surgeon at the Ridgeway Hospital near Swindon and sure enough his own diagnosis was proven too accurate. He has sustained a fracture to his left scapula which will mean 4-5 weeks on the sidelines.
The ability of National Hunt jockeys to find a chink of light in a dark, gloomy tunnel is well-documented and it is that very spirit that can inspire recovery from injury and frustration that would reduce normal humans to gibbering basket-cases. Andrew's reaction to this frightful injury was to ring his pal Dominic Elsworth, who is also on the injured list. Poor Dominic had a horrible fall at Ffos Las two months ago and is still feeling the effects of his concussion. As their favourite pastime golf (?) is off the agenda right now, they plan an unusual treat for National Hunt jockeys...... Lunch!
The only honourable thing for a trainer to do was to offer to sponsor their 'theraputic troughing'! Just wish i'd qualified to join them, but currently neither wearing a sling or having a headache, I did not deserve an invite! A few moments later I receive a picture text of Marco Pierre White's pub, The Yew Tree near Newbury and then one merely saying, "Dom Perignon or Cristal?"
More proof, though none is ever needed, of just what special people, "The Knights of the Pigskin" really are. Let's hope the day has ended a tiny bit better than it looked like doing earlier.