JAKE WON!! Jake ran a brilliant race and won hard on the bridle by 10 lengths. There were twelve horses in the race and he was out the back until four fences from home when he jumped himself into the lead. He went from ninth to first in what seemed a split second leaving Doug and I watching the wrong horse - It was a very pleasant surprise when the field got closer to see that he wasn't the horse at the back in yellow colours but the one in front!
I had decided during the week to run him in ear plugs as last season he got really unruly in the paddock, rearing over backwards and getting in a right state. We had also decided not to run him in blinkers as even though last year when he was owned and ridden by Ben, he ran out at a fence we thought that with his hunting and lots of schooling he was enjoying his jumping so much more and hopefully would have more confidence not to want to run out. The whole idea was to make the racing experience an enjoyable one so while they were waiting to race I was with them in the trailer with apples, carrots and polos - very girlie, but it kept them happy and they didn't sweat up at all. The ear plugs worked amazingly and he was a different horse - really relaxed and happy the entire time.
Dream ran a great race and jumped like a stag, but the conditions were too testing and she made a noise so Will pulled her up three fences from home. It was a bit disappointing that her wind operation doesn't seem to have worked and means that we will probably have to go the second stage with a full blown wind op rather then just the hobday that she had last year. In the meantime we will run her on better ground and see how she goes. She didn't blow at all after the race so we know that it isn't lack of fitness.
It was a great day out and really good racing. Becky came with her niece and it was her very first race meeting - she also put some money on Jake, her first bet ever - What a great start! Hope she doesn't think it is always as easy as that.. She was over the moon with the whole experience. Lucy was there with her broken arm, Fran was also helping and Will's Mum came to watch 'her boy' too. After racing there was a picnic by the trailer where rather a lot of champagne was partaken. Last season there was absolutely no way we could have done that with Jake because he used to go mad in the trailer - he was an absolute pleasure this time.
We got home and was watching the dvd when the Thame family turned up to congratulate us - oh dear, more partaking of alcohol. We then went out for a bar-snack at the local pub and there was a good crowd there all very happy for us (more partaking) - you would think we had won the gold cup, not just a maiden point to point with a nine year old!! Needless to say I deservedly feel somewhat shabby today.
Mum and Dad popped over on Saturday and I was pleasantly surprised how well Mum looked - she has one treatment left today and then hopefully that will be enough for the time being. She is bearing up really well and Dad seems to be coping admirably. They bought Doug's belated Christmas present which was three raspberry bushes which we have just planted. They are already beginning to bud - Spring isn't too far away now - YIPPEE!