A DOUBLE!  And most importantly all horses back in the lorry safe and sound. Velvet Cloud with our novice rider, Will Bishop, on board came a very commendable fourth out of ten. She looked like a little grey rabbit in the paddock being only fifteen hands, but she jumped like a stag, except the first fence where Will lost one iron and went to the rear of the field whilst trying to get it back, and then she ran on strongly three fences from home. Will was grinning from ear to ear but was furious with himself for losing an iron. He is fiercely competitive and I don't think it will be long before the combination win a race.
Well - that brings me onto Murphy ( Glory Hunter) who, even though we knew he felt like a very good horse at home, still exceeded all expectations by winning easily in a field of twelve by eleven lengths. Peter gave him a peach of a ride and was full of praise for the horse when he pulled up. Absolutely fantastic for the other owners, Tissie Reason who owns a quarter and Irena and Graham Watson and Alun Lloyd who share a quarter between them, all relatively new to the sport, and now complete enthusiasts. We had a feeling the horse might be a bit good when he easily kept up with Popaway at Lambourn, and then I started to worry that Popaway wasn't one hundred percent, but I shouldn't have worried as she won her mares race with ease.
It is nine o clock now and we are just approaching home. It has been a very long day and an absolutely wonderful one.