Weekend work

We've got a few horses entered at Hexham on Wednesday, so this weekend we focused on giving the probables their last piece of full work and some schooling. In this category were

• Bollin Fiona (seasonal reappearance)
• Yinfortheroad (looking to make his hurdling debut)
• Sam Patch (seasonal reappearance)
• Mini the Minx 

Also coming along and now in full work (in that they are coming twice 'Up the Middle' each day) are a couple of geldings we bought at Tattersalls in Ireland over a year ago.
An Indian Danehill 4yr old, and a year older Classic Cliche gelding are pictured below and they will be making their debuts in bumpers in about a month or two. Both are pleasing types, and whilst they don't shape up as having the necessary speed to win a bumper, we're looking forward to seeing them begin their racing careers.

Ryan & Ross riding work on a couple of unraced geldings

Urggh, dirty noses!

Every stable gets it.

Almost unavoidable as horses mix so much when at the races, and we've got 2 or 3 of the string with 'dirty noses'. Deriving the name after the 'snottery' appearance of horse's nostrils, it's an unsightly welcome in the morning to stable staff, but at least it shows a reason for a horse being off-colour.
Still, Sarah is swiftly on hand to administer some medicine, and followed by a few quiet days, and it's not so long till we can start cantering the afflicted once more.

We waited 7 years to race Texas Tilly, and she succumbed to 'the cold' 4 days before her intended debut at Newcastle last week. We're patient here at Dodlands though - aye about as patient as a cat on a hot tin roof..... 

Bollin Fiona (Lewis), Texas Tilly (Kyle) and Ellistrin Belle (Ryan)

King Kalium at Newcastle last week

He'd been going so well at home, that it came a bit of a shock when our Kayf Tara gelding King Kalium was pulled up before 3 out at Newcastle last Friday. Not only did this come on the back of satisfying home work, but also followed up a promising seasonal debut at Kelso 3 weeks prior.

He may have had a touch of 'the cold' mentioned above - not all horses will show obvious symptoms - so we'll keep a close eye on his well-being over the next few days.