Mixed fortunes for the weekend but all horses and jockeys home safe and sound, which is the main thing. Dancer got El around in her own time, but jumped beautifully and El looked as stylish as ever. Rock was the big disappointment - He missed the start and then simply didn't want to know. His jumping is normally his strong point, but it was dire. We will get him checked out and his bloods taken, as for him to run as badly as that, there has to be (hopefully) something wrong. Both horses won best turned out (BTO) and to lighten the mood we joked that in actual fact they had won four BTO'S as they had also both won Best Tailed Off!!
We were worried about the horses today after yesterday and even more so when the ground was softer than they both would have liked. However, as it was safe ground, and they both needed the run with there not being anything suitable for them the following week, we gave it a go and were very pleased with Popaway who came a very good third in seriously hot company, with the jockey, Immie reporting back that she didn't like the ground and Budge who ran and jumped well before losing touch and pulling up three from home. A massive relief as we were beginning to wonder whether we had got a virus or were doing something wrong. The competition today was absolutely red hot and it was great racing. Holly and Amy won best turned out with Popaway - eleven so far. We had a lovely picnic around the lorry afterwards and all in all it was a great day. Whilst we were standing around the lorry a chap called Nigel Bloom (a top jockey in his day and now a trainer) came up and said how much he loved Popaway, and that he used to ride her grandmother, Spartan Sprite, who won loads of races for him. He said she looked just like Popaway, and that she would win every time on good ground but wouldn't go a yard on soft. He also said that he wanted to buy one of her foals when the time came for her to have babies. That is what is so nice about this sport, generations of people remembering generations of horses, and how it all links in together.
We were worried about the horses today after yesterday and even more so when the ground was softer than they both would have liked. However, as it was safe ground, and they both needed the run with there not being anything suitable for them the following week, we gave it a go and were very pleased with Popaway who came a very good third in seriously hot company, with the jockey, Immie reporting back that she didn't like the ground and Budge who ran and jumped well before losing touch and pulling up three from home. A massive relief as we were beginning to wonder whether we had got a virus or were doing something wrong. The competition today was absolutely red hot and it was great racing. Holly and Amy won best turned out with Popaway - eleven so far. We had a lovely picnic around the lorry afterwards and all in all it was a great day. Whilst we were standing around the lorry a chap called Nigel Bloom (a top jockey in his day and now a trainer) came up and said how much he loved Popaway, and that he used to ride her grandmother, Spartan Sprite, who won loads of races for him. He said she looked just like Popaway, and that she would win every time on good ground but wouldn't go a yard on soft. He also said that he wanted to buy one of her foals when the time came for her to have babies. That is what is so nice about this sport, generations of people remembering generations of horses, and how it all links in together.
