Monday 6th October, 2025

Off to Stratford today with Sumatran Tiger who makes her hurdling debut for us at 3.50pm.  Tiggy has won two Jersey Derbys and appears to enjoy her jumping at home.  Although this is a hot contest the experience should do her the world of good and we look forward to her showing some promise.

Tomorrow we are off to Brighton with Mostly Mozart and Fighting Poet.  Mostly Mozart is declared in the 3.45pm – the mile and a half handicap.  He ran well on his last run having stepped up in trip on softer ground and promising apprentice Jack Callan takes the ride.  Whilst Poet runs in the mile and quarter handicap at 4.15pm.  He is a course and distance winner and Sean D Bowen takes the ride.

We have Dora Vita entered at Kempton on Friday in the two-year-old fillies novice.  A daughter of Dream Ahead, she is a half-sister to five winners and has shown ability at home.  It will be good to give her some experience for her enthusiastic syndicate.

Very sad news that Dame Jilly Cooper has died.  Jilly was a great friend and supporter who was full of love for people and animals.  From having shares in syndicates with us, to visiting with her great friend and owner Lizzie Prowting – together we have had so many special times.

I first met her when she wrote ‘Jump’ – a novel about jump racing, when I was privileged to be asked to advise her.  Not only did I get a mention in the credits, along with Jo who proof read the copy but I actually had a mention in the book itself.  Also delighted to have been one of Jilly’s pin ups in an article in ‘Oldie’ magazine and mentioned along with Andrew Parker-Bowles, Paul O’Grady, Sean Connery and Virgil van Dijk.

Jilly will be sadly missed by millions and especially her family and many many friends.  Such love, humour and talent is rare and our thoughts and prayers are with her children Felix and Emily and all her loving family.