Possible Hurdle runner...

Everybody is back from their holidays and the horses have gone back into full work. They have generally put on the required amount of weight and they are all doing steady canters. It appears more than ever that racing doesn't kick into gear until mid April but the weather has been good this year for trainers to make an early start. We are taking our time and will probably have no serious runners until April. We have bought more precocious individuals this year and they are shaping up well. There are a few shares left (see horses for sale).

Gifted Girl and Swingland are two fillies knocking on the door to be Listed class, they are both looking and going well.

Strategic Mount is schooling over hurdles at Nicky Hendersons and could run at Huntington over the Cheltenham period subject to working well. He seems to have taken to jumping.

We have three Strategic Prince two year olds this year, the first ones we have trained. He has had a recent Stakes winner in the US, Tones, who was trained by Richard Hannon as a two year old, won a $81,000 stakes race at Santa Anita on Sunday 26th of February.

Chilly start to February

As per usual, the horses started cantering on February the 1st. The two year olds have done particularly well during the winter. We have bought a more precocious bunch this year with more two year old types. Our only All Weather runner at present is Circumvent, whose target is the Winter Derby. Although he won last year, he was permanently badly drawn, including last time at Lingfield. We are slightly down on numbers this year, we will have 40-50 in training.

Swingland & Gifted Girl have done well during the winter. Both are knocking on the door to be good fillies this year. One of our nicest three year olds, Stormbound, who did not run last year for various reasons is in great form and one to keep an eye on, he may run in the Wood Ditton.

Sovereign Power is shaping up well, he is half brother to Overpowered (one of our nicest two year olds last year) there is a 50% share remaining in him.

It has been as low as -15 degrees here, I was riding out the other day after my holiday and it was -13 degrees, big drop from 34 degrees! But there is nothing better in life than riding out on a sunny, crisp morning and looking forward to the season ahead.