Looking forward to 2015
20 January 2015
Having had a nice run of form up to the Christmas period we have taken the opportunity to do our six monthly flu and herpes injections. None of the horses reacted to their injections and we are looking forward to runners from next week onwards.
Strollawaynow won nicely at Taunton and the handicapper has been quite kind and only put him up 5lbs, he might go to Ludlow on Monday 26th January. I have put him in The National Hunt Steeple Chase Amateur Riders Novice at Cheltenham on 10th March and that could be his aim as long as he continues to show the improvement I expect.
Topolski has had a few setbacks but now seems in good order, he doesn’t like this very soft ground so we will probably run him on the allweather before resuming hurdling when the ground improves.
Followmybuttons had a very pleasing first run at Lingfield in a bumper and has since had a sinus operation which seems to have been successful. I will keep him to bumpers this year as he likes better ground, I might run him back at Lingfield on 25th February.
Starluck has come out of his racing well and for the first time since I have been training him he has been sound throughout. He is in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on 7th February but we also have the options of trying him further over hurdles or going back to chasing where he is rated 130 and although I know he is a better hurdler than chaser, that mark would certainly be competitive.
Snowball has been very consistent in his races so far, but he does need decent ground so we are giving him a little rest during January and hopefully he will be back for a Spring and Summer campaign.
Tingo in the Tale has been given a mark of 111 over hurdles which I do not feel is over generous, however we have the options of maiden hurdles or trying him in a handicap. It is possible I will move him up to 2 ½ miles and run him in a novice handicap at Sandown.
Danglydontask lost a shoe last time out which would explain the run and we are now giving him a holiday and he will come back for the turf season on the flat.
Westaway ran a very pleasing first time over fences against pretty tough opposition. He is on a mark of 116 so we will be looking at 3 mile novice handicap chases.
Max Milan came back coughing after Ascot, he seems over it now, I will give him maybe a couple more runs over hurdles but he has already schooled well over fences and that will be his direction.
Urcalin having schooled alright then completely flopped his lines at Doncaster and although I want to continue to go forward chasing, I feel we might have to run him back over hurdles or brush fences before his next chase.
Gandalfe has a history of dirty throats during the winter, that is why he has not run since Kempton. I am hoping with this frosty weather that it will create the atmosphere to clear his lungs and he will run when he scopes right.