We had a wonderful week-end. Cheltenham on the Saturday was a really great day particularly as David Allen, the owner of the Edgecote estate, had a winner with his lovely horse Edgebriar. It was particularly exciting because he had Dominic Elsworth riding who had a horrible fall 14 months ago had hadn't ridden since due to serious head injuries. The press made quite a fuss before the race over the fact that he was back in the saddle after such a long time, and also what a battle it had been for both him and his family to get him fit again. No one really thought the horse would win, especially at 14-1, so when he did it was rather a fairy tale ending and very good of the trainer Paul Webber and David Allen to keep faith with Dominic when a lot of trainers had given up on him. When the horse won, David Allen saw us and insisted that we joined him in the winners enclosure and then to share a bottle of champagne in the 'inner sanctum' where only the rich or lucky go. Very nice indeed!
On Sunday we went to a 40th wedding anniversary of George and Merrill, very good friends of ours. Sadly, George has been diagnosed with cancer which has now spread throughout his body, he is being given pretty savage chemotherapy and looked understandably poorly, but he is fighting it and we can only hope and pray for his recovery. Despite this it was a wonderful event and his son, George and daughter, Lucy both gave lovely if somewhat poignant speeches.
This morning Charlie Poste rode three horses around the round gallop - Dove, Harry and Frog. Lesley came for a ride and we rode Skye and Red, and then first thing Leon (Charlotte), Dream (me) and Aitch (Doug). Doris is well on the road to recovery and will be out tomorrow. All horses went really well and we think Frog will be the first on the track the way she is going.
