A beautiful spring day today - the daffodils and primroses are all coming out and the hedgerows are alive with birds making nests. It really is the most wonderful time of year. Talking of birds - there was great excitement this morning when the eggs that had been kindly donated by Emma and Albert for my broody battery hen, started to hatch out, 5 out of 6 so far. It is unusual for a battery hen to go broody, and I knew that Fred hadn't been able to fulfil his role, so after she had been hopelessly sitting for two weeks, I felt sorry for her and put some fertile one's underneath. She has now been sitting for five weeks and clearly thinks it has been worth every moment as she is every inch the very proud Mum.

Moonie and Leon are really well after their run at the week-end, although Leon pulled a shoe off during the race and was a little sore footed. The rest of the horses did a good piece of gentle work on the grass field - we will build the work up during the week and then drop back for the week-end where we are hoping to run Jake in the members, Jess and Whisper in the mares maiden and Laverty in the restricted. We are off to Cheltenham for the rest of the week, so wil;l be working the horses early before we go - Happy days....