Stable update

I guess, like most folks, it's a bit reassuring to slip back into the normal routine, after the festive period.
We certainly have, and things are a bit on the quiet side, but our horses are in fine health generally.

Our handicap hurdler Bollin Julie is now racing competitively of a mark of OR74, compared to the OR90 that she started off on a couple of months ago. It's just a pity that it's taken 3 handicap runs with little chance of winning, and upwards of £1000 of the owner's money, to get there.
Anyway, she did bring us a bit of a thrill on Friday at Sedgefield, where she finished fourth, not beaten far for second, over 2m 4f in bottomless conditions. We hope to find her a small race before the season's out.

Looking ahead, recent winner Snapping Turtle and the once-raced mare Nearly May will head to Newcastle on Wednesday. We think both should run well, but the testing conditions do present some concerns. Talking of which, it was disappointing that Kelso was called off today (frost), denying Mini the Minx with  opportunity to lose her maiden tag.
Snapping Turtle, when possibly benefitting from running when fresh from a break, got up in the final strides to win at this venue in December over 2m 4f. The gelding is up to 3m this time.

Nearly May is a much stronger horse than the one that made her only appearance last July. Our conditional jockey, Ryan Nichol comes in for the ride, and he'll take off a valuable 10lb.

Our lightly raced gelding Yo La Tengo has been retired from racing. He's a sound, lovely type, but was not showing us enough in the mornings to suggest he had a career in racing ahead of him. However, he now has new life as a riding horse with Cathy up in the Forth Valley region where he'll no doubt be 'spoilt rotten'!! No less than he deserves. 

Sam Patch, Nearly May and Snapping Turtle

Weekend visitors

We may not quite be Lambourn Valley, but Dodlands Steading can be a busy place on weekend mornings with plenty of visitors. Here's a few of this weekend's .......

One of Brother Ali's schools well

Another one of Brother Ali's schooling

A local Equestrian horse begins his training for the season

A couple of Hunter Chasers