We have just driven back through the most beautiful sunset from Barbury Castle. Good racing but not overly competitive as the best horses stayed at home due to the firm ground. To be fair there was a good covering of grass but I expect most trainers would not want to risk their horses at the beginning of the season when there is so many more months of racing to come. The two most impressive horses of the day was Hall Kelly who won the Intermediate (who Jess was a good second to at Cottenham last year) and the Tom Lacy trained maiden, Illicit Illusion who also won easily.
The novice riders race was complete carnage with a false start to begin with and two horses set off and couldn't be pulled up until after the second fence and then three jockeys all falling off independently after the last fence, having lost a few on the way. Luckily no one was badly hurt and it is all about learning the trade.....
We have a new horse in the yard. It is a horse called Val D'Auberge. A lovely big 17.1 hands gelding we found for Peter Bennett in Ireland. Peter has been doing the pre-training work and has now reluctantly relinquished control as he is ready to do some fast work- I can see why he was sad to see him go as he is a lovely athletic type and so easy to do.He should give Peter a lot of fun this season.