Leon (me) and Jake (Fran) on the gallops

Leon looking rather handsome

Jake and Lucy (left) Harry and Fran (right)

Its been a really busy week - Andrew and Niki went back to Cornwall on Wednesday. We had a lovely few days with them and Niki took some great photos (above)

We had entered Leon for a handicap hurdle race at Warwick on Sunday but typically he pulled out lame this morning - it doesn't seem to be anything serious, we think it is just a knock as he was schooled over the hurdles yesterday and rapped one rather hard. Its a pity as it looks as though the ground has dried out and would have been perfect for him. It looks as though we are going to have a racing free week-end, which will be rather nice as we can be 'fresh' for Cheltenham, next week.

Doug and Will have been really busy this past week planting 8000 hedge plants - it seemed a nice job to begin with but it is hard repetitive work and has just about driven them mad, to the point where Doug is having nightmares about prickly little hawthorn plants.