Stable update

Business as usual, with most of the string now into the regular routine of morning work.
But it's not just all hard work and no play as we've got 3 or 4 turn-out paddocks and we rotate the use of these between the horses each afternoon.

Sam Patch and Hawaii Klass were two of the last horses to go out for a summer break, and they returned to Dodlands Steading on Friday evening. The two have completed a pre-training spell at Joanna Imray's Eildon Hill establishment at Bothwells, so they are more forward than most after summer grass.

We're now looking at the Racing Calendar to find suitable races for the more forward of the string. Leith Walk, King Kalium and Yinfortheroad come into this category. Kelso on Saturday? Well, maybe..........

Course changes at Kelso

Speaking of Kelso, I thought the changes in layout to both the hurdle and chase course at our local track were a distinct change for the better.

The uniqueness of each (turf) track in the UK and Ireland is what separates horse racing in these countries from the rest of the world. And none more so than National Hunt courses. But some courses just go a bit too far - step forward the country fair that passes for racing at Cartmel.

Tight courses such as Musselburgh and Perth offer different tests when compared to the more galloping nature of the likes of Ayr and Newcastle. No problem, as a trainer you don't have to be Vincent O'Brien to judge which of your horses would be suited by such course layouts.
Now Kelso is welcomed into the fold!
By simply re-positioning the last hurdle and last fence to be about 1 furlong from the finish rather than over 2 furlongs, the Kelso executive have pulled off a masterstroke. Not only do we now have separate hurdle and chase finishes, but the unnecessarily long run-in, and chase 'elbow' have gone, providing not only an improved spectacle for racegoers, but also a fairer assessment of Kelso form to form students.

Our opinion, of course, is not influenced by our rather uninspiring win record at our local course.
Er...one winner in, well, ever.

A Kelso entrant? King Kalium on the left working with Mini the Minx