Wednesday 1st March, 2023

Bluenose Belle runs this evening in the 8pm at Kempton.  She has been in good form on her last few runs and hopefully will put up another pleasing performance although it is a step up in class.

There was not enough rain at Doncaster for Fine Theatre (pictured) to run on Friday and therefore we will look for an alternative race for him.  Everyone has been very patient with him and let us hope we can find some softish ground soon for him as he looks in great form at home.

A Wednesday work morning with all going well and some of our promising youngsters are progressing nicely.  Although it has been an unusual winter, hopefully some decent ground will be available over the next few months in order to give them some racecourse experience.

Sat to hear of the passing of Best Mate’s owner Jim Lewis.  It is twenty years since he and I both had a winner on the same day at the Festival with Best Mate and La Landiere both being winning favourites.

We had some good times together as he supported many charities.  He kindly came and umpired our annual charity cricket match here in Adlestrop before he moved from the area, as it is a pitch he had played on many times in the past.

Co-incidentally he and Mick Barnes played in the same league together and yesterday would have been Barnsy’s eighty-seventh birthday.  We celebrated by having our customary drink and placed flowers on his grave in his racing colours.  Such characters will not be forgotten.