AFTER complaining about the up and down weather and very mild conditions we have finally had a few very hard frosts and the temperature got down to minus 10.5 at Seven Barrows this week which hasn’t been a great help getting to and from the All Weather gallop but it has at least killed all the germs which were lingering about the place. We couldn’t even get out to the gallop this morning and could only hack around our covered ride but at least we can keep the horses on the move as most of them are fully fit so it’s just a case of ticking them over.

Because of the cold conditions there has been no jump racing since Newcastle on Tuesday but we enjoyed an across the card four timer on Monday and I was particularly pleased with On The Blind Side who put his disappointing Cheltenham effort well and truly behind him. He jumped much better and got into a lovely rhythm which will have done his confidence plenty of good and I’d like to try to find a similar race for him again before we even think about stepping him back up in grade.

Pym bumped into a couple of good horses earlier in the season but came back with a decisive win on the same day and beat a really, really good horse called The Cashel Man! I would have thought we’ll probably go down the handicap route with him (Pym) and something like the Martin Pipe could come into the equation but he may run again beforehand as he had a mid season break so is relatively fresh.

Precious Cargo is a big strong horse who has chaser written all over him but this was a good start to life for us and he appears absolutely fine since the race.

I thought Lough Derg Spirit was very good at Ludlow and the cheek pieces seemed to really sharpen him up as he used to be quite laid back about life but we literally put them on the day before the race and it clearly had the desired effect. The Close Brothers would seem the logical target, assuming he gets the correct mark which needs to be between 140-145 but he won off 135 so I’d be pretty hopeful that he’ll fit nicely into that band.

 

I was hoping to run Angels Breath at Musselburgh this weekend but sadly that meeting has fallen foul of the weather. I really do need to get some more experience into him so I’ll take him to Huntington for the Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle on Thursday.

 

SANDOWN

 

12:40 Novices’ Hurdle

El Kaldoun

He won a Bumper at Lingfield and was placed after that but we thought we might as well get on hurdling with him as he’s schooled well and should make into a nice prospect. He’s a lovely big horse who is going to make a chaser, so to coin a very familiar phrase, “whatever he achieves over hurdles will be a bonus.”

Raising The Bar

He’s been off for a very long time but has actually been going along very nicely so I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run a decent race. Ground-wise, I simply don’t know, but it’s the same for them all and I just have to get him started somewhere. He’s had a wind op but it’s his legs which have caused the most trouble so I’ll be happy for a solid run.

 

1:50 Listed Contenders Hurdle

Buveur D’Air (Barry Geraghty)

Hopefully the meeting goes ahead as this has been the plan ever since the Unibet Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and I don’t like the alternative because the timing for this race is perfect. If it is off, I’ll have to take a look at the Morebattle Hurdle at Kelso but that’s in two weeks time which is closer to Cheltenham than I would like. As with Altior two weeks ago, there’s not much more I can add that hasn’t already been said. Things obviously didn’t go to script last time but he made a horrible mistake at the last on the far side where his head almost hit the floor which could have pulled him about all over the place. Verdana Blue is very good on fast ground and while I’m not saying Buveur D’Air doesn’t go on it, he is much more useful on soft ground, which I suspect he’ll get here.

 

3:35 Handicap Chase

Divine Spear (Nico de Boinville)

We all thought it was pretty quick at Ascot so I didn’t dare run him because he didn’t enjoy it at Cheltenham the time before so what’s the point in doing it all over again. It’s a fiercely competitive contest but our horse does at least get his ground but I’d be looking to see him run a decent race and put his run last time out behind him.

Kilcrea Vale (Jerry McGrath)

He wants to go up to three miles nowadays so this will suit him and he’s been in good form at home. He’s very street-wise and will go on the ground.

 

4:10 Novices’ Handciap Hurdle

She Mite Bite (Nico de Boinville)

I think this filly does have a chance and her form is pretty good. I was praying this meeting would go ahead as I thought this race is ideal and she ran well behind a good mare of ours called Yellow Dockets. It’s a Handicap and I think her mark is very workable.

 

QUESTIONS TO @SEVENBARROWS

 

@WJSteer

Which of your horses will run in the Betfair Hurdle and which do you feel the most confident about. Looking forward to seeing Countister again!

Countister is definitely the one. We Have A Dream might go but it all depends on what happens this weekend as he could go to the Kelso for the Morebattle assuming Sandown doesn’t get abandoned. It hasn’t been the plan to go straight to Newbury with Countister, as I’ve been sort of forced to go without a prep for various reasons, but she’s in good form and I’m looking forward to getting her out.

 

@Paulbro29044168

What’s your favourite Cotswold pub?

I’m told The Plough at Ford and the Hollow Bottom in Guiting Power are very good!

 

@marksuddes

What are you aiming at the Imperial Cup?

I have absolutely no idea yet! I’ll have some entries but not a clue who they will be!

 

@RJR0363

Hi Nicky, I know your long term plans for Clarendon Street is to go chasing but because he is a novice will he have another season over hurdles? Thanks John.

I wouldn’t have thought so. The one thing I am trying to do is get him qualified for the EBF Final at Sandown on the Saturday before Cheltenham so he’ll be getting entries in every single EBF Qualifier. I would think he would easily go chasing next year as he’s a lovely big horse.

 

@andrewmcphee1

Is Chantry House at Seven Barrows? Also might we see Diese Des Bieffes soon?

Yes, Chantry House is with us and he’s a lovely horse. Sadly Diese Des Bieffes has suffered a suspensory ligament problem so has to sit out the rest of the season.

 

@louloup157cindy

How is Jenkins? Is he likely to be stepped up in trip?

More than likely, yes. He has just come back from a three week break in Barbados with a lovely tan and I’m starting to build him back up again. He’s not a winter horse so I’m waiting for better ground.

 

@ShaneMoody-Smith

When will we next see Charli Parcs?

Charli had an injury a couple of years ago which meant he needed a screw being put into a hind joint to help it mend but we rather felt the screw was getting in the way so we’ve had it removed. He had a fortnight off because of it but is back in full work now and will be in action around the spring. We might even go over fences with him at some stage.

 

@goddard_luke

How is Lecales Article, Nicky?

He’s a lovely horse who we are waiting for next year with.

 

@CourseSpecial

Nicky, when the weather is bad, can you get as much exercise into the horses and are there changes to the amount of feed?

If you were at our yard this morning you would have been able to see for yourself. We can keep the horses going but are often unable to do what we usually would because of problems getting to the gallops or the gallops simply freezing up. We have to do plenty of improvisation! Feed-wise it’s pretty much the same, as long as they don’t get too fresh in which case we cut down on the oats for a day or two!