Samson ran well again to finish 4th - Lucy reported that he would be much better going on a left handed track. He jumped left at a lot of his fences and bumped in to a horse at the second fence which really knocked the stuffing out of him. He seemed to handle the better ground down the back straight so he looks promising for a late spring/early summer campaign. There are plenty of options coming up for him :

Sedgefield 30th May (WEDNESDAY) - 2m4f novice handicap chase

Cartmel 2nd June (SATURDAY) - 3m2f Intermediate handicap chase & 0-100 2m5f chase

Hexham 9th June (Saturday) 3m Handicap chase

Vuvuzela and Rocky are doing really well in the field, Vuvu can't really make his mind up which paddock he wants to be in and regularily jumps out in to another one over a substantial railed fence! See seems to be having lots of fun anyway. I'm counting down the days until my race, getting a little nervous now and I still need to find a horse!!!

Thanks so much to everyone who has sponsored me so far on the justgiving website. . . My total for last year and this year combined is £2,994 already and there's still nearly three weeks to go!!

I ran up the gallop last night (well got to about half way up in the deep sand!!) and have been working really hard on the weight. . . Its a great cause and all of the support I've already been given has really spurred me along. I can't wait for the day itself and if anyone wants to join me in Kelso please drop me an e-mail and I'll help to organise you some tickets.

www. Justgiving. Com/rebecca-menzies

Samson is number 1 on the ballot for his race on Friday. . . . However they are forcast up to 16ml of rain up until the race and i'm thinking that the few "good ground" horses above him will come out and he'll get a run. Fingers crossed as it would be great to have a winner on my Birthday!!!!

All co-owners of Vuvuzela have the chance to choose a set of racing silks for next year. I think the best way forward is for everyone to choose one set (which are available) and submit them to me - I will then put the selection on the website and everyone can vote on which set they like best.
The website link below takes you to the "allertons" site where you can have a play around with colour combinations. Only certain colours/designs are available to register in England so please check the BHA website or contact me if your unsure. Happy designing!!!

http://www. Allertons. Com/oddington/pages/Colours/design_colours. Html

SOFT (HEAVY in places)
(GoingStick: 5. 6 on Monday at 07:30)
Divided bends. Chasers on innermost rail.
9mm of rain yesterday. Forecast to be dry and cloudy today and
tomorrow with temperatures around 10C

Vuvu has been declared for tomorrow in Sedgefield, the race looks competitive with a really well bred horse of Donald Mccains and a dual point to point winner from the Will Kinsey yard to beat. We think he'll run well again and it would be great to win one before he goes out for his summer's rest. James Reveley rides.

Samson has come out of his run really well and weather permitting he will run on Saturday night in Hexham.

Samson Collonges and Rocky both ran blinders yesterday to finish 4th and 3rd. We were really pleased with them, Samson will come on for the run and was a bit "ring rusty" after a break. Rocking and Reelin ran a blinder and the heavy going really suits him, I'm looking forward to seeing him over fences next year and its great we have earnt some money for Cancer Research this season. He'll now go in the field for his summer holiday and return back in July. Samson will run again in a few weeks and will have a couple more runs in to the summer.

Vuvuzela will run at Towcester in the bumper on Tuesday evening, it looks a competitive enough race but Racing Post rate him as the second highest in the entries and we think the track will really suit him.

Rocking and Reelin will hopefully go to Hexham on Monday for another novice hurdle, this will probably be his last run before a summer break. We've taken things slowly with him as we know his future will lie in chasing next year.

Samson is entered to run in a 0-95 3m chase in Hexham on Monday, he's number 4 in the ballot but hopefully with a bit of rain the good ground horses will come out getting him a run.

We have shares available in exciting up and coming staying chaser Samson Collognes.

£1000 per 1/12th share and £150 per month (inc VAT)

He's a striking white/grey horse with a fantastic attitude and loves a trip on winter ground. Ferdy thinks an awful lot of him and with his handicap mark we are hoping he can run up a sequence. He'll have a couple of runs now before the end of the season, then we'll put him in the paddock until the end of August for him to fill out and mature.

Please call me / e-mail for further details or to arrange a visit to see him on the gallops!
07843169217

We have entered Vuvu in another bumper on Sunday. It looks fairly competitive with a field of 45 horses entered, we'll check the ground on Friday and decide whether or not to run. He's really well and there seem to be plenty of options for him in the near future including Hexham and Perth.

We'll be taking Samson Collognes to Ann Duffields yard on Good Friday to try and get some interest in shares for him (watch this space!!!)

Great for the yard to get a winner on Sunday and two seconds on Saturday. A couple have scoped badly recently so it was promising to get some positive results on the track. We have a lot of entries this week and hopefully we can bank a few more winners!
Vuvuzela and Rocking and Reelin are well in themselves and will both be back out on the track around easter.

I have been asked to ride in the Injured jockeys fund charity race at Kelso on the 27th May 2012, most of you will know I took part in the race last year (had a good practice round!!!) and I am looking forward to winning it this time!!! I have set up my Just Giving account again this year and any donations would be really gratefully received.

www. Justgiving. Com/rebecca-menzies

Sedgefield have updated their official going to GOOD with a fairly dry forecast predicted up until Sunday. There may be a slight concern with Rockin as I think he'd like a bit more cut in the ground. Vuvu should be ok on it (his full sister loves these conditions) but i'll keep monitoring the reports and let everyone know the plans tomorrow!

Both horses are entered at Sedgefield on Sunday.

Rockin and Reelin 2m4f Novice hurdle (2. 20pm)
Vuvuzela in the bumper (5. 20pm)

There are plenty of entries in both races so I will update you with their ballot marks this evening when I return from Catterick.

Taken from Godolphin's website:


Willie Cowe, head lad to James Ewart, Christopher Lynn, stable lad with Ferdy Murphy, Charlotte Cox, stable lass with Henry Candy, and Graham Nicklin, stud groom at Glebe Stud, are the other winners of the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards announced on Monday, February 27.


The Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards, with prize money of £120,000 donated by Godolphin, highlight the dedication, desire, and skill of those who work behind the scenes on stud farms and at trainers’ stables across Britain, recognising their hard work that could otherwise go largely unnoticed.


Cowe gained the Dedication to Racing Award, with the two runners-up being Burney Hutchinson, head lad to David Lanigan, and Lenny Brinkley, feedman with Roger Varian. This award goes to a long-serving member of staff who has been employed for at least 10 years within the industry and is an integral part of the team, offering a wealth of experience, knowledge and dedication to their job.


Lynn took the David Nicholson Newcomer Award from Katy Tyler, a rider and groom with Mark Johnston, and Robyn Gray, head lass to Dianne Sayer. The award is for those who have displayed a desire to improve, have progressed their skills and knowledge and become an integral part of the team while employed in the industry for less than three years.


Cox captured the Rider/Groom Award ahead of Peter Johnson, head lad with Johnson Racing Limited, and Zafar Abbas, a groom with Godolphin trainer Mahmood Al Zarooni. Those qualifying for the award have shown talent for horsemanship, consistency and reliability in and out of the saddle.


Nicklin took the Stud Staff Award from Frances Eilbeck, stud groom at Minster Stud and Gordon Laing, assistant stud groom at Fittocks Stud. This award is open to those who have shown expertise, dedication and reliability, excellent horsemanship, adaptability and teamwork while employed within a stud.


Each winner of an award received £5,000 and the two runners-up gained £2,000, with their colleagues benefiting from the same amounts.


Jerry Walsh, travelling head lad with Paul Webber, took the separate NASS Special Merit Award, judged by the NASS Executive and announced previously, and he received an individual prize of £5,000.


The main awards were judged by a panel comprising author and journalist Brough Scott (chairman); Dinah Nicholson, wife of the late David Nicholson; David Redvers, bloodstock agent; Pat Eddery, three-time Derby winner and 11-time British champion Flat jockey; Ian Balding, former champion trainer; and Judith Allen, executive director of the British Horseracing and Education Standards Trust.


Paul Hanagan, the champion Flat jockey who presented the awards, said: “This is a really special day for everyone involved. Jockeys know more than most the level of dedication and hard work demonstrated every day by stud and stable staff.


“It is a real privilege to spend time with them and to be able to acknowledge everything they do for the sport in front of their family, friends and colleagues. ”


Run by the British Horseracing Authority in conjunction with the Racing Post newspaper, the Godolphin Stud & Stable Staff Awards are the richest of their kind in the world.

We are planning to run Vuvuzela on Sunday 4th March in another bumper around Sedgefield so keep your diaries clear! There are a couple of other options in case of a ballot including Newcastle on the 6th and Carlisle on the 8th but we're aiming for Sedgefield. We worked him yesterday and he excelled, it seems he has really improved for his last run.

Rocking and Reelin has had a steady couple of weeks after his run as he came back from Newcastle a little "wired". He was getting a bit too enthusiastic on the gallop so we have backed off him a bit to level his head! Personally, I quite like the spark he has shown but saying that, i'm not the one who has to ride him!! FM is always very careful with his younger horses and never pushes them too hard, its all part of his education.

Vuvuzela was really impressive on Sunday and Robbie gave him a great ride. The original plan was to go straight over hurdles with him but that run suggests he could probably be placed again (if not win) another bumper. There's a race in Sedgefield towards the end of the month, so we'll see how he's going nearer the time and make a decision.

Haydock have kindly allowed us to bring a group of horses to the track to work tomorrow evening after racing. Its really beneficial for us to do this, it gives the horses a really good 'blow' and a nice change of scenery for the day. It will become a big part of the preparation for our Cheltenham team and also Negus De Beaumont who will run in the Eider Chase on Saturday at Newcastle.

We've had some terrible luck over the last few days, it started badly with Charingworth at Ayr (for those who didn't see - he was infront with plenty left in the tank and unseated Lucy at the last fence). It was a long journey home, but luckily both horse and rider were unharmed.

Southwell saw Graham Lee being unseated from Rich Lord and dislocating his hip. This was a major, major blow as it looks like he will be out of Cheltenham, he's had some surgery and reports suggest he is feeling a lot better than he was. Fingers crossed he won't be away too long.

Keith Mercer got a fall yesterday in Leicester and suffered minor concussion, which has resulted in him being stood down for a short period of time.

On Gossamer wings ran a great race yesterday to finish third to Red Tanber at Musselburgh so I suppose that kind of saved the week a little bit. . . . . . . . . . (!)

I never like saying things couldn't get much worse because they could, but surely this week our luck has got to change. Starting with Pistol Basc and Rich Lord on Sunday!!!

There are still shares left in the horses featured on the website so if anyone is interested please drop my a line.

Vuvuzela was really impressive on Sunday and Robbie gave him a great ride. The original plan was to go straight over hurdles with him but that run suggests he could probably be placed again (if not win) another bumper. There's a race in Sedgefield towards the end of the month, so we'll see how he's going nearer the time and make a decision.

Haydock have kindly allowed us to bring a group of horses to the track to work tomorrow evening after racing. Its really beneficial for us to do this, it gives the horses a really good 'blow' and a nice change of scenery for the day. It will become a big part of the preparation for our Cheltenham team and also Negus De Beaumont who will run in the Eider Chase on Saturday at Newcastle.

We've had some terrible luck over the last few days, it started badly with Charingworth at Ayr (for those who didn't see - he was infront with plenty left in the tank and unseated Lucy at the last fence). It was a long journey home, but luckily both horse and rider were unharmed.

Southwell saw Graham Lee being unseated from Rich Lord and dislocating his hip. This was a major, major blow as it looks like he will be out of Cheltenham, he's had some surgery and reports suggest he is feeling a lot better than he was. Fingers crossed he won't be away too long.

Keith Mercer got a fall yesterday in Leicester and suffered minor concussion, which has resulted in him being stood down for a short period of time.

On Gossamer wings ran a great race yesterday to finish third to Red Tanber at Musselburgh so I suppose that kind of saved the week a little bit. . . . . . . . . . (!)

I never like saying things couldn't get much worse because they could, but surely this week our luck has got to change. Starting with Pistol Basc and Rich Lord on Sunday!!!

There are still shares left in the horses featured on the website so if anyone is interested please drop my a line.

Vuvuzela was really impressive on Sunday and Robbie gave him a great ride. The original plan was to go straight over hurdles with him but that run suggests he could probably be placed again (if not win) another bumper. There's a race in Sedgefield towards the end of the month, so we'll see how he's going nearer the time and make a decision.

Haydock have kindly allowed us to bring a group of horses to the track to work tomorrow evening after racing. Its really beneficial for us to do this, it gives the horses a really good 'blow' and a nice change of scenery for the day. It will become a big part of the preparation for our Cheltenham team and also Negus De Beaumont who will run in the Eider Chase on Saturday at Newcastle.

We've had some terrible luck over the last few days, it started badly with Charingworth at Ayr (for those who didn't see - he was infront with plenty left in the tank and unseated Lucy at the last fence). It was a long journey home, but luckily both horse and rider were unharmed.

Southwell saw Graham Lee being unseated from Rich Lord and dislocating his hip. This was a major, major blow as it looks like he will be out of Cheltenham, he's had some surgery and reports suggest he is feeling a lot better than he was. Fingers crossed he won't be away too long.

Keith Mercer got a fall yesterday in Leicester and suffered minor concussion, which has resulted in him being stood down for a short period of time.

On Gossamer wings ran a great race yesterday to finish third to Red Tanber at Musselburgh so I suppose that kind of saved the week a little bit. . . . . . . . . . (!)

I never like saying things couldn't get much worse because they could, but surely this week our luck has got to change. Starting with Pistol Basc and Rich Lord on Sunday!!!

There are still shares left in the horses featured on the website so if anyone is interested please drop my a line.

Vuvuzela was really impressive on Sunday and Robbie gave him a great ride. The original plan was to go straight over hurdles with him but that run suggests he could probably be placed again (if not win) another bumper. There's a race in Sedgefield towards the end of the month, so we'll see how he's going nearer the time and make a decision.

Haydock have kindly allowed us to bring a group of horses to the track to work tomorrow evening after racing. Its really beneficial for us to do this, it gives the horses a really good 'blow' and a nice change of scenery for the day. It will become a big part of the preparation for our Cheltenham team and also Negus De Beaumont who will run in the Eider Chase on Saturday at Newcastle.

We've had some terrible luck over the last few days, it started badly with Charingworth at Ayr (for those who didn't see - he was infront with plenty left in the tank and unseated Lucy at the last fence). It was a long journey home, but luckily both horse and rider were unharmed.

Southwell saw Graham Lee being unseated from Rich Lord and dislocating his hip. This was a major, major blow as it looks like he will be out of Cheltenham, he's had some surgery and reports suggest he is feeling a lot better than he was. Fingers crossed he won't be away too long.

Keith Mercer got a fall yesterday in Leicester and suffered minor concussion, which has resulted in him being stood down for a short period of time.

On Gossamer wings ran a great race yesterday to finish third to Red Tanber at Musselburgh so I suppose that kind of saved the week a little bit. . . . . . . . . . (!)

I never like saying things couldn't get much worse because they could, but surely this week our luck has got to change. Starting with Pistol Basc and Rich Lord on Sunday!!!

There are still shares left in the horses featured on the website so if anyone is interested please drop my a line.

I do not wish to tempt fate but hopefully Vuvuzela willl make his debut this weekend! Although he is declared for an "all weather" bumper, there is still a small chance weather could ruin our plans. I will keep in touch with you all by text until Sunday.

Robbie McCarth rides Vuvuzela every day at home so he is an ideal booking for the job,

We declared Vuvuzela tomorrow at Sedgefield but unfortunately it has been called off already due to snow. There is a bumper in Catterick on Monday so we'll enter him there and surely by then the weather will improve. . . . . .

I nominated Chris Lynn for the stud and stable staff awards in the newcomer category last year and we found out this week that he has been selected for the final three. This means he will receive at least a £2000 prize (and an additional £2000 for the yard) and he will attend the prestigious award ceremony at the Jumeriah Tower Hotel in London at the end of the month.

Chris Lynn has worked for Ferdy for two seasons and has been a brilliant asset to the team while he has been here. At only 18 Chris is remarkable for his age and I can see him going far in the future. I hope that when (if. . . ) I ever go training I can find someone as good as him to look after the yard when I'm racing. He's kindly chosen to take me to London with him, so i'm really looking forward to the ceremony.

Samson Collonges is for sale as a whole or into shares. If you'd like instant results and an absolutely stunning horse he's the one!

Please register any interest in him to me by e-mail! Ferdy would like £16000 for 100% of him.

Rocking and Reelin picked up some prize money on Wednesday and half of this will be donated to a cancer charity at the end of the partnership term.

Unfortunately we have lost Wetherby tomorrow for frost. It was -7 here this morning, so we shooled first lot in the indoor arena then took 7 to the beach.

Were forecast some snow tomorrow, we'll just have to see what happens over the weekend but I really hope to run Vuvu on Tuesday at Sedgefield.

We were really pleased with Rock yesterday, his jumping was exceptional - it really didn't look like his first outing over hurdles. He stayed on really well in the finish, and as we thought he looks like an out and out stayer. Tony gave him a great ride and was thrilled with his perfomance.

We could do with a few more parents for him! If anyone's interested please drop me an e-mail!

Vuvuzela will hopefully run on Saturday in a bumper. He has a ballot mark of 9 so all being well he will get in. We have made an entry for him on Tuesday at Sedgefield in case the frost ruins our plans. . . . . . . .

Its cold here this morning but the gallop is open, Graham Lee and Keith Mercer are in to work horses so looks like we'll have a good mornings graft!

Vuvuzela has been declared on Sunday in what looks a really competitive bumper at Sedgefield. Graham Lee rides and it should provide a really nice introduction for him.

Rockin and Reeling has also been entered next Wednesday in a 2m4f novice hurdle at Newcastle.

We have made entries for Vuvuzela in Sedgefield on Sunday. He has an entry in the bumper and the novice hurdle, with preference to run in the bumper.

The horses are all well and have recovered from the vaccination period. We had a really good winner in Ayr on Tuesday, Ockey De Neulliac won for the third time this season in a really confident manner.

We still plan to run Vuvuzela on the 29th January at Sedgefield, hopefully he will get in to the bumper but we'll enter him in the novice hurdle just in case he gets balloted. He has been doing plenty of work and had progressed a lot over the last couple of weeks. Rockin and Reelin galloped yesterday and he seems to have also improved a lot from his last run, we will probably aim to run him in 2-3 weeks in a 3m novice hurdle.

Graham Lee approaches 1000 winners, he has several booked rides at Catterick on Thursday and Musselburgh on Friday so watch this space!

Rocking has come out of his race really well and will have a few weeks at home before going over hurdles. Vuvuzela has done another couple of peices of work and now seems ready to run. We vaccinated the majority of the yard on Saturday which means the horses will get a few easy days.

We have looked through the racing calendar and a fixture on the 29th January at Sedgefield seems to suit - there is a 2m1f NH novice hurdle and a bumper so we'll probably enter Vuvu in both, look at the entered runners then decide which way we'll go.

We have declared the Rock tomorrow at Sedgefield to have another educational run in a bumper before he goes over hurdles next time. We have booked Tony Kelly to ride as he got on with him well last time.

We have declared the Rock tomorrow at Sedgefield to have another educational run in a bumper before he goes over hurdles next time. We have booked Tony Kelly to ride as he got on with him well last time.

Blue Shark seems ok after his run, the ground was a little too fast for him but he jumped really well and should go close when next seen in the North. Rocking and Reelin has an entry in the Bumper on Thursday at Sedgefield and all being well he will run with Tony Kelly riding him again. Vuvuzela has done his first serious bit of work up the gallop this week and he did it really well. Robbie McCarth rode him and reported that he hasn't lost too much of his fitness and he won't take much more work before getting to a track. We may take him for a gallop somewhere before he runs which will bring him on leaps and bounds. I'm currently in Ayr with the runners for the next couple of days, the weather is good so fingers crossed we'll be racing both days. . .

Rockin & Reeling came back from his race really well. He was quite green but showed a really good attitude. He will need a trip in time but he suggested we run him in another bumper to get some experience.

He has an entry in Sedgefield on Thursday but that was provisional in case Carlisle was called off yesterday.

Carlisle were 90% raceable at 8. 00 am so they have given it until 10. 00am to improve. .

I clipped Vuvu again on Friday and he looks incredible! He's going really well, i'll post more photos this week!

Following a 2. 00pm inspection today carlisle are currently raceable on the hurdle / bumper track. The going will be heavy and all steeple chases have been abandoned.

Rocking & Reelin will run on Sunday in a bumper, however (!) Carlisle are inspecting the track today at 2. 00pm. . . Fingers crossed for a bit of dry weather!

Blue Shark ran a blinder at Hexham to finish third, he absolutely loved the ground and should go really close next time.

We declared Rocking & Reelin tomorrow at Catterick but unfortunately he has been balloted out. We have re-entered him in Carlisle on Sunday instead.

Hexham inspect at 8. 00am tomorrow!

Rocking & Reelin has been entered in Musselburgh on Monday in a bumper.

Blue Shark has been entered at Hexham in a 2m4f handicap chase. The ground is soft/heavy there at the moment so we could do with it to stay like that!

We have made an entry for Rocking & Reelin in Musselburgh next Monday. Although the initial plan was to go straight over hurdles, Ferdy thinks that its important to give him a run in a bumper to sharpen him up and give him some racecourse experience. Musselburgh probably isn't the ideal track for him, but there seems to be a lack of suitable races nearer home and he's ready to rock and roll. . .

We have three runners in Catterick tomorrow and two at Uttoxeter and a fairly busy weekend ahead with runners in Wetherby, Aintree and Kelso.

Sorry its been so long since I updated this, ive been up and down the country with lots of runners!

Vuvuzela is back cantering up the big gallop now and is showing no signs of discomfort whatsoever. We'll see how he goes and how much fitness he has lost before deciding where to run him.

Ferdy has decided to run Rocking & Reelin in a bumper before he goes over hurdles, he is still very green and he will get a lot of experience from it. We are looking at a race in Catterick on the 13th December for him.

Vuvuzela seems 100% in himself and has started his trotting work today. He was really fresh and bounced around a bit but Tony Kelly managed to hang on and all was well!

He will trot for a few more days then begin cantering work towards the end of the week. I don't think he will have lost too much of his fitness as he was ready to run just before his box rest.

I'll keep you posted as the week goes on, but everything looks positive!

Yesterday was really busy with two runners at Cheltenham, four at Uttoxeter and three at Wetherby. Divers finished a brilliant 3rd in the Paddy Power in Cheltenham earning a handy £16000 for his owners. He always seems to pull it out of the bag when it matters. The horses ran well at Uttoxeter , Desperate Dex and Brandon Thomas both also finished third and Nine De Sivola ran a great race to finish 5th after a lengthy absence. Le Roi Rouge finished a good fourth, Frosty Lad and Ouest Eclair both needed the runs and will come on a lot for the outing.
I really appreciated the "lie in" til 8. 00am this morning and spent until 10am washing colours and preparing equipment for this weeks racing. I went and rode out Master Builder, an X Ferdy Murphy horse who has been re-homed to a friend of mine in Kirkby Lonsdale. Its great to see him so settled in to his new environment and he seems to be taking his new regime really well. Its really important for us to try and find good homes for the horses Ferdy has trained and we take lots of time to find an ideal place for them to go. So after an hour or so of galloping through fields , i'm now back home for the afternoon and currently waiting for my Sunday dinner!

Just a quick one! We had two winners on Tuesday (Gavroche Gaugain - Tony Kelly & Going Wrong - Graham Lee). We also had 3 seconds and a third. The horses are coming into serious form now and those having their second runs are really finishing close.

We have two runners tomorrow in Newcastle including a personal favorite of mine, Formulation. Our horses for Cheltenham will leave tomorrow and we have runners at three meetings on Saturday. We're crazily busy, but I wouldn't swap this for anything!!!

It feels brilliant to just sit down for a few moments to write this!

It was great to have two winners on Friday at Hexham, the horses really do look in amazing nick and finally it seems we are getting the results that we've been so patiently waiting for. Saturday (yesterday) had a few disappointing moments but we were thrilled with Kalahari King's run and he will come on a ton for the race. Abby & PJ got married yesterday and all went well, I did make the "night do" after Kelso (very very late) and Abby looked amazing. After a very long day- feeding at 4. 30am that morning, accidentally "blue-spraying" (an antibacterial spray used at the races) my manicured nails and half of my arm - I looked quite the opposite. . . But still, a great time was had by all!

I set off back this morning at 5. 30am so I could head to Market Rasen (on my day off!) as Tony had a ride down there for Malcolm Jefferson and required a chauffeur. The horse ran a blinder to finish 3rd, so all in all a good day.

Blue Shark runs tomorrow, there are 8 horses declared and the going is described as good to soft with no more rain forcast. This will be a little better than he wants it but he should handle it ok. We're hoping for a nice clear round and we've the top man on board as pilot.

We've another very busy week with runners nearly every day and i'm Cheltenham bound at the weekend.

Rocking and Reelin was very pleasing this morning during a work session with an older horse. Reports from the jockey were really promising and it seems he has matured a lot and improved no end since the beginning of the season. Ferdy wants to run him straight over hurdles and he'll be on the track within 4 weeks!

Keep your fingers crossed for a bit of rain for Blue Shark on Monday! The race can be viewed here :

http://www. Racingpost. Com/horses2/cards/card. Sd?race_id=541325&r_date=2011-11-07#raceTabs=sc_

We have made an entry for Blue Shark at Carlisle on Monday in the 2m4f handicap chase. I will be in touch with further plans!

Plenty of pleasing results over the weekend, Charingworth (3rd) Seigneur Des Bois finished 2nd (both at Wetherby). At Carlisle, Lord Villez (4th), Kellystown Lad (3rd) and at Huntingdon, Pillar of Hercules and Brandon Thomas finished 2nd.

We are happy with how the horses are progressing and they all seem really healthy and happy. Vuvuzela is getting a little agitated in his stable from the boredom, he could do with a few more visitors please! Blue Shark is doing great, we hope to have him back out next week at some point and Rocking and Reelin is shaping up in to a nice horse. We are schooling in the yard tomorrow then working them on Wednesday so if anyone would like to see Rockin' doing a bit of fast work then Wednesday would be a good opportunity.

October is a strange month for the yard every year, we seem to spend it looking forward to November and wishing that it would just pass that little bit quicker. The month is spent learning, finding everything out about our new horses and how the older ones have progressed since last year. The horses are 'stepped up' in their work, which also uncovers a range of minor problems that may have been niggling for some time. Many get their "MOT" tests conducted by vets, physio's and dentists to resolve anything before the season gets into full swing.

The horses are appearing on the track for the first time and like always the majority of them need the run, results in October always seem 'dissapointing' to the untrained eye, but i'm sure you'll understand the reasons for the number of unplaced horses.

Had a great morning today, plenty of horses galloped. Graham Lee & Keith Mercer joined us for three lots. Graham rode Blue Shark and he's really pleased with how he has come on for the run at Kelso. Its highly unlikely he will run on Friday due to the ground but we'll try and find somewhere suitable for him next week.

Amanda Wade & Anne Barker visited Wynbury this morning to give Vuvuzela some TLC (carrots/ various other treats) and managed to watch Blue Shark on the gallop.

Just checked the BHA racing admin website for any updates from Uttoxeter for Friday. This is one of the really helpful features of the site - from the 5day entry stage you can check the going daily from all the tracks.

"GOOD to FIRM - GOOD in places
(GoingStick: 6. 8 on Friday at 16:00)
Hurdles moved out 4 metres to fresh ground.
Chase Course - All fences fully open on inside so course at its shortest. Divided bends.
5mm of rain last week. A dry and breezy weekend but rain (2-5mm) forecast this evening; thereafter mainly dry with the odd shower possible. The worst of the weather/rain staying west of the Welsh Mountains. "

We had owners of Rocking & Reelin in yesterday to see him work up the gallops under Robbie Mccarth. Unfortunately I was already on the road to Aintree so couldn't meet with them but i'm sure Ferdy did a good job at making coffees in my absence! I would urge anyone who hasn't yet visited the yard to try and come up at some point, although Vuvuzela is rested up there is still plenty to see and Blue Shark normally puts on a good show for spectators. . .

Fairly busy week again for me, Haydock on Wednesday, then I'm down to Newmarket Thursday and then back up the road to head to Uttoxeter Friday. The weekend follows suit with runners at Wetherby and Huntingdon on Saturday and Carlisle Sunday. Our Cheltenham festival winner "Divers" will return to action at Carlisle on Sunday in preparation for The Paddy Power at Cheltenham in November.

Blue Shark has been entered for Uttoxeter on Friday in the 2m4f 0-120 handicap chase. I will update everyone tomorrow with further plans to run him.

The horses worked well this morning, Rocking & Reelin went up the gallop twice and the reports have been good. He is still quite green and although we'd like to run him asap Ferdy wants to give him as much experience as we can at home first, before he makes his debut on the track.

Blue Shark has come out of the race safe and sound and resumed full cantering work today, he will have come on a lot from the run and he has been fairly treated by the handicapper (being dropped 8lb in todays ratings. )

The rain continues to pour at Wynbury today and it looks as though the ground will get fairly soft at Carlisle for Thursday. This will really suit "Going Wrong" who is entered in the novice chase.

Ferdy's new horsebox is arriving today ( I will post pictures when it arrives later!) and after passing my HGV test last month, i'm really looking forward to driving it! People tell me its the worst thing that I could have done, apparantly i've had it "easy" the last couple of years going everywhere on transport wagons!? I think it will be of huge benefit to the yard, its going to make it so easy to box up 6 horses and take them for racecourse gallops when it suits Ferdy, When (and if) (and hopefully it wont!!) the weather sets in, we'll also be able to take more horses to the beach as a group, we have found this a brilliant training aid in the past and it seems to really improve the horses in terms of fitness and attitude.

Busy enough week with several runners Thursday, then I'm off to Aintree Saturday and Sunday (hopefully in the big horsebox, providing we get the VOSA required documents in time!).

The early part of the season seems to have really kicked in to gear, we had 5 runners at Kelso on Saturday and it looks like we'll have nearly that number at Carlisle on Thursday!
We had a great team out on Saturday, including BET365 Gold Cup winner "Hennessy" and grade 1 winner "Blue Shark". Blue Shark has had two years off the track and its going to take him a run or two to get back to form. "Jaws" finished a very pleasing 4th and Royal Mile seemed to take to the fences like a duck to water.

I have contacted all sharers in Vuvuzela regarding a slight injury he picked up schooling last week, the vet saw him again this morning and has suggested he has some time in his stable to mend. Although its only minor and he's nearly sound now Ferdy doesn't want to risk him damaging himself by over compensating using his other legs. The vet has put it down to pulled hamstrings and hes sore through his rump muscles, hes OK in himself though and is as cheeky as ever. . .

To get some days out Ferdy has given us Blue Shark on a free lease, he will run in the partnership name and colours for the next month or so untill Vuvuzela is back on track. He won a grade one hurdle as a young horse and is an exciting prospect to go over fences, he had a run in Kelso on Saturday and its likely he will got to Carlisle on the 30th in another novice chase.

Keith Mercer and Graham Lee are in tomorrow to work the horses again, its likely that one of them will ride Rocking & Reelin so I will let you know how he gets on.

Sorry for the delay in updating, seem to have been flat out for the last couple of days. This weeks racing has been successful with Glasson Lad finishing second in Huntingdon on Tuesday and Le Roi Rouge finishing 3rd in Wetherby yesterday in fairly testing conditions.

Lap of Honour also ran yesterday and finished a respectable 7th on ground which really doesn't suit him. Shortly after the race there was a stewards enquiry and the race was made VOID, due to the jockeys failing to pull up after the waving of a yellow flag. More can be read about this on the Racing Post website - A P McCoy, Brian Hughes, Denis O'Regan, Brian Toomey, Jonathon Bewley, Alexander Voy, Graham Lee, Paddy Brennan and Danny Cook will be out of action from October 26 to November 4 unless they can get the ban overturned.

Vuvuzela seems slightly better today and has been for a lead out in to the indoor school, we are having him checked over by the vet tomorrow morning during a routine visit to make sure he's ok. Rocking & Reelin' schooled over poles again yesterday and is taking everything in his stride, he has lost all his "baby" weight now and is shaping up into quite an athlete.

We've lots of entries for Kelso on Saturday, I'm gutted that we won't be taking Vuvuzela up this weekend as I was excited to see him run. However, we've a good team up there so there's plenty of action to look forward to. I'll keep updating when I can. . . . .

We ran two horses at Hexham on Saturday, Emperor Charlie made his debut over fences and seemed to get the hang of things in the later stages of the race. Badgers Retreat (the Badger) ran first time out in the bumper and finished 5th under Robbie McCarth which was also very pleasing (to be honest the fog was that thick it was impossible to see anything but I'm told he was 5th!)

Today we have entered Vuvuzela to run at Kelso in the 2m6f novice hurdle, we will have a look through the entries when they are published later - its highly likely he will run. . .

Very busy and exceptionally windy/wet day at the yard today, we have the Racing Post in this morning to do the annual stable tour, John Grossick is in taking photos for the calendar and the representative from GAIN Feeds is visiting the yard. Luckily I only rode out 1st lot, the weather is horrendous so i'm watching the next lots go out on the CCTV!

Off to Huntingdon tomorrow with Capricornus and Glasson Lad (both hurdles) it will be interesting to see how they have matured and developed over the summer.

The cold snap has hit North Yorkshire! This morning we schooled 50 horses over hurdles and fences, for the first time this year there was a real "bite" in the air. The horses seemed to have noticed this too, with the majority of them growing thick wooly coats overnight!!! A huge amount of clipping to be done this week - i've done 2/85 this evening (long way to go yet!)

In the main, schooling went well but it was obvious that a couple of the horses were upset by the weather which resulted in two of our jockeys hitting the deck, luckily both the horses and jockeys were unharmed. The events did however provide excellent opportunities for photos, but unfortunately the lads won't let me post them on here! Keith Mercer rode Vuvuzela over the hurdles and once again he was brilliant, he is more advanced than we thought and its likely he will go to Kelso for his 1st run on the 15th October (although this is subject to change).

Fairly quiet this week in terms of runners, but its likely we'll be at Carlisle Friday and Hexham on Saturday. Until then I will be continuing to hold tight while riding out, clipping horses and preparing for our Racing Post stable tour on Monday.

Yesterday was a busy day for the yard with approx 50 guests from DPRP/Lets live racing visiting the yard. Graham Lee was in to ride work and the eight horses (now belonging to "Lets Live Racing") were put through their paces by the jockeys. They all went really well and everyone is really looking forward to seeing them run in the near future. My highlight of the day had to be having my photo taken with Only The Best, my favorite Let's Live Horse - don't tell the others!

Vuvuzela and Rocking & Reelin were both schooled over hurdles again and are really pleasing Ferdy with their progress. Its likely Vuvuzela will run fairly soon (2-3 weeks) with Rocking & Reelin taking a little longer.

I'm just ready to set off to Kelso races with our two runners, Erin Dancer & Pillar of Hercules. They are both ridden by two of our conditionals, Robbie Mccarth & John Winston and will both compete against each other in the 1st race.

We have entries in Carlisle on Friday, so keep checking back for declarations.

The horses are really stepping up now in their work now and it won't be long before they all appear on the track. We have our first few runners entered up this week, but these are the horses that have been in training for some of the summer so are much more forward.
Entries for the week :

Hexham (Friday)- Le Vert Gallant
Kelso (Sunday )- Erin Dancer & Pillar of Hercules

The website is up and running! Although its very much a working progress at the moment, huge thanks to Stuart Forrest and his team at Contentys for all their creativity in producing this site. Today turned out to be very mixed, this morning was fantastic. We managed to school in the region of 60 horses in Wynbury over fences, French hurdles and tyres. Mr & Mrs Weight visited the yard and watched Vuvuzela school over the French hurdles for the first time this season, his jumping was excellent (photos to follow tomorrow) and Ferdy was really pleased with his performance. Its likely we will work him on Friday up the all weather gallop, it will be interesting to see how much he has come on since his last session and it will give us some indication on when and where we plan to run him first. We then set off to Sedgefield at 11. 30 with our two runners, Stand Clear & Big Burrows. Stand Clear ran an absolute blinder to finish 2nd (beaten only 2 1/2 lengths) ridden by Graham Lee. Big Burrows was the pick of the paddock, it really seemed that he had his spark back today. It certainly looked that way as he was picking up so well turning for home. He made a bad mistake two out and fell, the vets tried everything they could but they were unable to save him. It was a very sad end to what could have potentially been a really successful day for the yard, although its a rare occurance it never gets any easier to deal with. My thoughts are tonight with the Morgan's. I have a day in the yard tomorrow, so hope to get on a selection of the photos from today. I am still learning the ropes though so you'll have to bear with me for a couple of weeks!

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