Red's run didn't quite go as hoped - She got left behind at the start because she was having a little bronc, in her impatience to get going and the first fence came while she still had her head between her front legs - poor Johnny very nearly had a crashing fall as she looked up at the last second to see the fence and somehow got over, but thereby giving 20 lengths lead to the rest of the field. Johnny did really well and didn't panic and just let her bowl along - she jumped so well that after a circuit she had caught the rest up and was with the lead horses - The horse that Peter was riding then slipped and fell on the bend, very nearly bringing her down, and allowing the front horses to get ahead, by this time she had used a lot of energy to get to the field and started to tire. She would have been third, but to our surprise and dismay she refused the last fence. Doug went running to her to see what the problem was and was horrified to see that her tongue strap had come off - the tongue strap is used to stop the soft palate from displacing as she suffers from DDSP (Dorsal displacement of the soft palate) - this tends to happen towards the end of the race when under pressure and the tongue tie is absolutely imperative for Red to stop this happening - Johnny said that he heard her making a noise (which is when it displaces, therefore cutting off the oxygen supply) just before the last fence. Doug thought that she had swallowed it but was then told by Johnny that the starter had taken it off as he didn't think that we had declared it - which of course we had and he only needed to radio up to the stewards tent to confirm this. Needless to say we weren't very happy bunnies as she could have killed herself and Johnny by continuing and we would never run her without one for this very reason. Everyone was very apologetic but that doesn't help the horse, who was just getting her confidence up and learning to breath again after her wind operation..Still, most importantly, she is home safely and ready to fight another day. She ran a cracking race considering, and providing it hasn't knocked her confidence too much she should do really well next time.
Today I took Jay to Oxford to catch the train to Canterbury back to university. It's been good having her around and we're pleased it's not such a long term this time as she is breaking up in the middle of June.
Before going to Oxford we took Dream and Harry up the gallops with Jenny Pidgeons good horse Orient Legend. Harry went really well but Dreams recovery rate (with the heart monitor) wasn't as good as it should be and then some time after we got back there was a little bit of blood coming from her nostril. She may have a virus coming on, so we will probably get her blood tested before we run her on Sunday. She must have known that I had entered her as she always gets something wrong with her as soon as the entries are in!!