Thursday 11th July, 2024

Finn Lambert reported that Mattie Ross was never travelling at Worcester on Monday and quite rightly pulled her up going down the back straight for the last time. There is no obvious reason other than she might have come into season and is probably due a break having been on the go since last summer.

She will now have a well deserved holiday before bringing her back for the autumn when we have the option of going over fences with her. She has provided a lot of fun for her syndicate and I am sure will continue to do so following her vacation.

With many of our horses out on holiday, the yard is at present being cleaned and painted ready for the string to come back into training in the next few weeks. However we do have a few still to run and have entered Ned Cash in the two mile novices handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter next week.

Well done to England for reaching the final of the Euros on Sunday. Although Gareth Southgate has come in for a lot of criticism it is one of the hardest jobs in Britain. He comes across as being very reasonable, focussed and disciplined but I am sure underneath those qualities, like many successful managers he is prepared to make the hard decisions. Perhaps politics awaits him once his football days are over.

The news of the tragedy to John Hunt’s family has shocked the nation. The situation is inconceivably sad and his many friends, colleagues, lovers of sport and indeed all throughout Britain will have him in their thoughts and prayers. No words are good enough however as someone who has known John for decades, there is no finer man and all who know this popular broadcaster will support him in any way they can.