Paul Webber Racing

Generally, we don't like finishing second.
From our last twelve runners, two have won, SIX finish 2ND and two third. Circumstances demanded that both Henry Daly and I each had to have a runner owned by Alex Timpson in the same race at Huntingdon last week and what happened... Our horse KEY CUTTER, finishes second to his! Now that was mildly irritating. This could have been a winner for us and another for Alex, so quickly after her LLAMA FARMER revealed himself as a future star at Haydock last saturday.
However this weekend at Cheltenham, we were delighted with the seconds acheived by both EDGBRIAR and TIME FOR RUPERT. Both these horses were taking big steps up in class and acquitted themselves with great credit. EDGBRIAR was foot-perfect with Sam Jones on his first tour of the Cheltenham fences and completed a useful reconnaisance for his Festival target, The Jewson Novice Handicap Chase. 'Dreamy TOBY' is really getting is act together, but still went around Cheltenham with his ears pricked and admiring the view; there is plenty more improvement to come from him we feel.
'RUPERT' ran a faultless race to split an Arkle winner and a Champion Hurdle winner in his trial for the World Hurdle at the Festival. He travelled the best he has ever done through this race, a sure sign that he is developing and improving still. He gave four pounds to the winner and third, which in that sticky ground was quite a task. His owner, Toby Drysdale and I have kept telling eachother that as Rupert is a chaser in the making, this would be a quiet, tricky season for him. We are enjoying it more than expected! I feel that given a trouble-free preparation (most unlikely!) this horse will improve further in the next six weeks to give him a very good each-way chance, however I have no illusions of being able to trouble an in-form Big Bucks; that might be dreaming a little too much!
Kempton under flood-lights provided a different scene and setting on wednesday night where KRISTALLO won and KENTMERE only lost second place on the line in a 2m handicap on the all-weather. Iain and Linda Watters were on hand to cheer on and greet their winner and it was a good thing they were, as there was a paying crowd of about three to witness the great event! Both these horse dislike the heavy ground, so it has been helpful and worthwhile to run them on the A.W. and we'll look for further opportunities shortly.
We hope to run a lovely horse, SCAMPI BOY at Taunton tomorrow, but will have to see if Jack Frost will release his grip temporarily to let racing go ahead. This horse has developed so well since his debut at Ascot, in exactly the same fashion as 'LLAMA FARMER' has done.
There is a feeling around here that the horses are feeling really well and despite the Arctic mornings they do look fantasticaly well, so we must run what we can, when we can. I fear that the winter has not finished with us yet and that we face many more inconveniences and cancellations, but it is so pleasing that the team's sterling efforts through this weather are being rewarded with a good spell of form. Long may it last!