Bruce ....

..... goes @ Musselburgh New Years Day . We're going to get the new year off to a flyer with a winner ! Well - that's the plan .
It's a shame Cheltenham was abandoned as Geoff was scheduled to run - but he has entries at Wincanton on Saturday - so hoping that is on . CU

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Just a quickie -

- just to say Geoff won't be running at Newbury today . Trainer is running scared of the opposition ! Bruce is now going to ...AYR on Thurs - well - at this moment he is . Let's hope Cheltenham survives all this rain on Tues and that Geoff runs there ! CU
Ps - George has come out of his tough race really well - lets hope he's on the way back .
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That's better

I can't tell you how relieved I was with George's effort in The KG . He 'blew up' in the home straight but had looked the likely winner before that . DP says that he's very well this morning and ate up . It was a courageous effort considering what the horse has gone through and we can now start making plans for the rest of the season . More on George later .

Here we go

Thank you for all the Good Luck Wishes received - much appreciated. Got to say I'm not sure what to expect today - what with the testing ground and his first run back following his soft pallet op - but it's always really good to have a runner in The KG .
Madison came 2nd a couple of years back . He thought he had won - but didn't see Kauto Star 35 lengths and a fence in front !
We have a lunch sponsored by Billy Hills with all the other owners in the KG . We all seem to get on really well and there is always a lot of light hearted banter . Robert Waley - Cohen - owner of Long Run - is a proper gentleman and always wishes us luck . And then there is Jimmy Nesbitt - Riverside Theatre . I once asked him what he did for a living!
I'll report in tonight - whatever . CU
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Happy Xmas ....

.... to my reader . Just to say that I have 2 spare O&T badges available for t'mor if anyone is up for it !
CU
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All systems go

It's been - shall we say - a rather turbulent couple of months! Geoff winning twice - photo finishes - Bruce almost ending up on the deck - then getting us 'out of jail' by his 3rd .
But the big one was actually getting George back from his op to run on Boxing Day . The fact that he does now run is like an early Xmas present for me .
He's schooled and scoped really well - I just hope the 'real' Grands Crus turns up on Wednesday . I'll be keeping 'La Blog' well updated over the next few days so stay in touch . Oh - and HAPPY CHRISTMAS . CU
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Is it George ?

Hard to tell from this photo - he was going just too fast ! Has a routine scope on Saturday and all being well IS going to Kempton on Boxing Day .

Bruce ...

...following Geoff after working this morning and non the worse for his little 'blip' on Sunday . 'Lovely attitude' says trainer . Would've gone to Ascot tomorrow HAD he won !

Geoff ...

.... is looking so much stronger . Has improved for his last last race . Will be heading to either Newbury - Cheltenham or Warwick over the New Year period .

Racing Post: Grands Crus progress pleases Pipe as King George nears

DAVID PIPE on Monday declared himself pleased with the progress Grands Crus is making from his wind operation, with hopes still alive that the seven year old could make the field for the William Hill King George VI at Kempton on December 26.

Read the full story at: http://www.racingpost.com/news/horse-racing/david-pipe-kempton-king-george-grands-crus-progress-pleases-pipe-as-king-george-nears/1171364/

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That's racing

Well done to all those who backed Bruce e/w . He was jumping really well when he just slipped 4 from home . Thought Connor did really well staying on the horse but was never going to win after that . In the end we were delighted with 3rd . Those sort've slips are quite dangerous - often resulting in injuries - so I was delighted that DP rang this morning to say Bruce was back & sound .
A big week coming up . Things are going to plan with George - so fingers crossed . I'm going down to watch him on the gallops on Thursday - with racing at Exeter after - so will have more info then . CU

Master Overseer -

- winner of the feature race at Cheltenham today - with proud owners Garth & Anne - donning their scarves in the same colours .

Catch-up

I've been told off - by one of my two readers - Douglas 'The Anorak' - that 'La Blog' is not up to date ! Slapped wrists and here we go .
There has been umpteen entry's for Bruce and in the end DP has decided to run him at .....bloody Hereford ! Nothing wrong with Hereford mind you - but it's this Sunday and I can't make it . We were looking for a race after the 15th - so the handicapper can't re-assess Bruce till the New Year . Not sure that all makes sense but should he win Sunday - and he should - he only goes up 7lb for his next race - providing he runs again before the 1st Jan . DP had to explain it twice to me - so don't worry if all sounds 'gobbodidigoo'. Apparently that's horse racing - and we've got to 'make hay' - so says DP - while the handicapper is on holiday !
Geoff Lane came down to see George last Tuesday - after his little op - and was delighted with him . He's missed very little work and he's still on course for Boxing Day .... but it's a day by day thing . Fingers crossed .
Geoff has 'come on' for his narrow victory at Haydock and we're looking at The Challow Hurdle at Newbury for him - the Saturday after Xmas - as a possibility . That's a grade 1 - tough but we have to find out . He still thinks life is 'bit of a hoot' - bit like his owner - so not sure about Cheltenham as I think it would all happen a bit too quick for him there .
Only is out till February with his bruised hoof . There are a number of long distant chases towards the end of the season for him - namely the Scottish National at Ayr - but we need to win another race and get him up in the weights .
I was at the King George lunch at The Ivy - name dropping again - on Monday and thought it strange that Paul Nicholls (trainer of Kauto Star) and Clive Smith (owner) were on separate tables and didn't seem to be speaking . It all became apparent the next day as it was revealed that they've had this big almighty fall-out over the horse and where he was to spend his retirement ! Great fun . CU
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Kings Palace -

- with AP McCoy and a rather delighted owner in the winners enclosure at Plumpton after winning the bumper in impressive style .
McCoy got off the horse and told the owner that he was a 'f.....g lucky bastard to own him'!
Not bad for his first horse !

Dynaste -

- with very proud connections - in the winners enclosure at Newbury . I was just hanging around for the champers !

The Newbury Winter Festival

I've been a bit lazy on 'la blog' this week so time for a catch up . It was a three dayer at Newbury with the Hennessy Gold cup the highlight on the Saturday . Obviously I have very fond memories of the race - and of Madison - who still is the last horse to have beaten Big Bucks ! He - by the way - is really enjoying his second career as a show jumper . I just hope the rider is enjoying it as much cos Maddie always had a tendency to 'put down' if he didn't fancy a fence !
We were due a runner on Hennessy day with Only Witness in the amateurs race . Unfortunately he sustained a bruised foot in his last bit of work on the Friday morning so had to be withdrawn . I really felt sorry for the jock - an Irish lad - who flew in from Dublin especially for the ride ! Only has an entree for The Welsh National over Christmas and we really needed to win on Saturday to qualify . That plan is probably now scubberd !
Geoff came out of his race really well - although Tom Scu got a 3 day ban for 'over use of the whip' ! And I think that was right - win or lose - I never like to see my horse - or any horse for that matter - whipped excessively . At least Scu did get up to win .
George starts back cantering this week and we're still hopeful of him getting to the KG on Boxing Day . Before a decision is made on that one I'll go down to the stables and and see how he is .
Our stable Hennessy hope - The Package - came a very respectable 4th in the race - a great relief to all of us who backed him ew ! Another lovely grey - Dynaste - also won a hot novices chase on the Friday - so all in all - it was a pretty good weekend ! CU
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