Friday 26th September, 2025

Shibuya Song is entered at Southwell on Thursday in the three mile conditional jockeys handicap hurdle.  We will leave the headgear off this time and on some of her best form she would certainly have a chance in this contest.

We have few runners at the moment but hopefully we will have some flat runners in October before some of the jumpers make their seasonal debuts.  Delighted to be schooling a few this week as we build up to the start of the season with Finn Lambert doing most of the schooling.

My ‘Birthday Golf Classic’ competition on Wednesday was very enjoyable with eight four-balls going out in the beautiful September sunshine at Cotswolds Club, Chipping Norton.  Congratulations to the winning team of Rob Dalziel, Hugh McNeill, Stephen Beach and Finn Lambert who beat last year’s winning team of Gordon Clarkson, Warren Marston, Jay Taylor and Barry Denvir.   Chris Nash, Mark Pougatch, Arty Armytage and myself did not trouble the judge, however we can remember the good shots and a fun day was had by all.

It was wonderful to welcome Antonio (main picture) and his family to the yard this morning.  Antonio met his first ever racehorse at the African Caribbean Centre in Leicester during National Racehorse Week and they took up the invitation to come and visit the horses, especially Fighting Poet who we took to the Centre that week.  There are some wonderful photos of Antonio and others engaging with our Brighton specialist during his visit and Antonio and his family reunited with him today.

It was brilliant to see Fighting Poet with his friends once again and it is a perfect example of how National Racehorse Week can engage with those who have never witnessed a racehorses life in the past.