Friday 26th January, 2024
A quiet week without runners as we decided not to take Picanha to Sandown today but give him an away day for a piece of work, with the hope of going to Newbury on 10th February over his preferred three miles. He has shown us plenty of ability in the past having won a bumper and two hurdles and we look forward to his come back.
We have Urban Champion entered at Wolverhampton on Monday and hopefully the drop back in trip will help him settle better with Kieran Shoemark set to ride. We also have entries on Tuesday for Totterdown and Lizzie Rey at Chepstow.
Yesterday I attended Sylvia Bosley’s funeral in Uffington near Lambourn. ‘Mrs B’ as she was known to me and many others, was a wonderful person who was loved and admired by many.
I was lucky enough along with others including Michael Caulfield, to have been a lodger at Lower Haddon Farm near Bampton whilst a student at Witney college some four decades ago. At the time Sylvia’s husband John along with the help of their son Martin, trained many a good horse including Corn Street, Pewsey Street and offspring of their fine Grand National mare, Eye Catcher.
To be part of the Bosley family was a special privilege and her exacting standards, work ethic, hospitality and warm heart improved the lives of all that came into her world. I, along with M Caulfield were privileged to be asked by the Bosley family to reminisce about the happy memories we had whilst living with John and Sylvia and the brilliant times since. I wrote a poem for the occasion which hopefully covered the humour and quality of those special times.
The church was packed as her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren paid tribute to a very special lady whose legacy will undoubtedly live on.
