A lovely warm afternoon, what a summer we have had, so many beautiful days up here, wonderful mornings for exercising horses and we’ve escaped the severity of the heat waves.  No runners since the first week end in June, hence no blog, a record three months of silence on this channel – a relief for many I am sure.

The horses did really well this summer, plenty of grass and the sun on their backs

Our first runners should be at Perth on 23rd September but I have resurfaced to highlight a special event this weekend.  In some ways we are veterans of the Great North Run, the world’s largest half marathon that gathers the best part of 60,000 people to Tyneside this weekend every year.  My role of course is restricted to support crew but our sons Johnny and Kit have both run very well on several ocassions over recent years, often raising plenty of money for the Injured Jockeys Fund.  What makes it particularly special this year is that they are going to be joined by their sister Lucy who whilst a jockey was a regular beneficiary of their wonderful assistance.  The IJF then stepped in big time when she suffered her career ending injury at Newcastle in November 2020 and played a massive part in her rehabilitation.  She still regularly goes to Oaksey House in Lambourn and we couldn’t thank them enough for their help.  She is of course fund raising for them along with her brothers and they have set up a page https://ajbellgreatnorthrun2026.enthuse.com/pf/lucy-kit-johnny-ijf – we would be thrilled if you were able to donate something to support such a worthy cause.  Our conditional jockey Dom is also taking part but sadly no Bruce who had been training for it (n/r self cert).

Kit & Johnny at the Great North Run in 2022

We have had a busy old time of it over the last few months, we did a particularly deep clean and repaint of all the barns and have just completed an extension of our main all weather gallop.  Lots of time devoted to finding horses and really pleased with the eight we have managed to buy from a wide variety of sources.  We have refocussed our training methods with an emphasis on more precision re speed and most importantly made some very good haylage.  The horses have been coming on nicely; we have been a little more patient with them and they and are just where I would like them to be – strong, keen and very much in the zone with their work.  They are carrying a bit more condition than they usually would at this time of year thanks to the good summer and our steady approach.  It will be fascinating to see how our early runners perform and that will give us a good benchmark re where we are with the majority of the string.  Bring it on, have a great weekend everyone.

The extension to our main gallop was completed today – two weeks ahead of schedule

Kit & Dom this morning in their IJF tops

Wet and windy down here near Epsom where I am greatly looking forward to going to the Derby for the first time this afternoon.

Back up the road tomorrow morning for Perth’s Gold Cup fixture. The ground looks like being on the soft side of good and we have one runner – Maillot Blanc in the 17.37.

Maillot Blanc

He won this race last year and has been on great form this spring. As a result he has to carry top weight in a fairly competitive 14 runner handicap which will be a tough ask especially with a couple of potential improvers in the field. We will give it our best shot – Bruce rides.

He will most probably have a break after tomorrow and if that is the case we will have no horses in training for the next month. No harm in that as plenty to do and already looking forward to filling the yard up again early next month.

A fine day but still on the cool side, heatwave yet to reach this far North but forecast promising for next week as high pressure extends it’s reach.  Ladies Day at Kelso tomorrow where extensive watering will hopefully have held the ground at good and we have one runner, Gorvennec in the 15.37.  He hasn’t run his race at all on two starts this spring which has been disappointing and puzzling; we have changed a few things at home and are trying a visor on tomorrow, he’s being working well at home so I just hope this translates to the track – Bruce rides and 12 run.

Gorvennec

Sales season is well upon us and we were delighted to buy two lovely horses at Doncaster this week, another one acquired privately in France and a beautiful horse bought at Cheltenham in late April so we are steadily building the equine team for next season.  Really excited to have these promising young horses in the yard and can’t thank our Owners enough for their support.   More business to do and next stop is Tattersalls Sale at Fairyhouse on Thursday.

Lake Nagambie – 4yo filly by Jet Away, winner of her only start in a point to point.

Royal March – 5yo gelding by Dartmouth, 2nd on his only start in a bumper.

Le Coup d’Envoi – 5yo gelding by Bathyron, 3rd over fences at Auteuil earlier this month.

Jackson Court – 5yo gelding by Court Cave, winner of a point to point in March

No winners at Perth’s April meeting but a reasonably productive time with TakeyoutotheIsland improving to be a good 2nd, Ned Tanner and Suspected running nice races to be 3rd and Nae Bother at A’ showing up much better to be 5th.  Oor Wish ran well for a long way but was possibly showing the effects of a long season, Beat the Retreat didn’t really show up at all and L’Appel du Large still has breathing issues.  Jirko took a heavy fall but was fortunately OK.

TakeyoutotheIsalnd with Caitlin & Dom – surprisingly wet at Perth in the end