Fwd: Wow - what a performance ...

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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Roger@farmerschoice.co.uk" <roger@farmerschoice.co.uk>
Date: 30 April 2013 12:37:37 GMT+01:00
To: Rogers World <rogerstanley55.madison@blogger.com>
Subject: Wow - what a performance ...

... by the great entertainer ! Well - a bit o t t perhaps but great fun was had on Friday evening at Plumpty . All I can say is that it was a great way of ending a - shall we say - rather 'turbulent' season .

Brucie looked beaten on the home turn but the jockey -Keirron Edgar - reported that the track was too sharpe for our fella - especially on that bend and he found it hard to stride out . Once in the home straight he lengthened again . It was a fine ride by the young lad - always is when they win - as he took Bruce over to the stands rail and changed his whip hand to keep him straight . 3 miles on a galloping track will suit better . The plan was to go to Exeter today carrying a 7ld penalty but the handicapper is - so he says - only going to put him up 6lb for his win - so no point .
I was tempted to head off today to Yarmouth where my mate  'Ratty'- Ken Rhatigan - is running Dark Emerald in the third race . Ken is desperate to win as it would enable the horse to get in at Royal Ascot . Lets hope he does - then I may get an invitation !
End of the season does not mean the end of 'la blog'. I'm sure Bruce will keep things interesting throughout the summer and there will be regular updates on The Brothers . I don't think we've earnt  enough prize money this last season to go shopping - but that won't stop me from looking . I'm off to spend a few days with the Clayeaux's ( French trainer to The Brothers in their formative years ) and together we'll be doing a few days racing at Vichy . And then there's Flo - who's doing well and now out in the field with mum . Pictures to follow .  
All thats left is to say' THANKS ' to my two readers - and everyone who has shown an interest in what proved to be a very 'interesting'season . I'm determined that next year - Jim - that we WILL have a runner at Punchestown . And a special mention to The Queen(s) . I can't recall Chris and Debbie missing a race last season - though I suspect - on hindsight - they wished they had ! That probably  goes for me as well ! CU
Ps - love u all xxx
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Wow - what a performance ...

... by the great entertainer ! Well - a bit o t t perhaps but great fun was had on Friday evening at Plumpty . All I can say is that it was a great way of ending a - shall we say - rather 'turbulent' season .

Brucie performs ...

... and may now go on tour ! Will have to get my bicycle out . CU

Bruce is performing....

....at Plumpton . Well - lets hope he does ! It's an evening meeting - we're in the 5-45 race - so perfect for a celebrating - or wound healing ( done plenty of them this season ) night out in Brighton .
Plumpton is one of my favourite tracks - has a real country feel to it - sitting in the Southdown's just north of Brighton . And it's been my most successful . Trying to think of them - Mystic Day ( twice ) - Eycure Du Roi ( thanks to typically inspired ride from AP McCoy ) - Ishandraz ( another grey who after his racing days went on to to be a top show jumper) and George - who won his first race there .
We've been patient with Bruce - waiting for the better ground - so lets hope it's all been worth it . He must have a great chance - and that he on 'song'! CU
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Nice day at Windsor

A really enjoyable day was had at Windsor yesterday with my mate Ken having Uncle Dermott running ( not actually his uncle - but a horse - though Ken did once have a Uncle D! ).
I do love it when trainers are spot on with their analysts of the race and to be fair to BP he was. Seb Saunders - champion jock a couple of years back - took the ride - but he put 1lb over weight at 8-3 . Quote from BP when Ken asked would the over weight be a problem - ' na - only in a dead heat'. Uncle D duly dead heated for third ! Still - every one had a 'pick up' and Ken was happy owner .

Doug 'the anorak' was also there - along with his extended family - all of whom seem to be quite normal ! We both had a couple of winners and spirits were good .

Bruce had a couple of entry's this last week but the rain is back and the going at Exeter this afternoon is soft to heavy . We'll be patient with him and wait for drier conditions .

George has a small op today to remove a small growth from the back of his nose . It's nothing really - but was giving him a bit of dis-charge - snotty nose to you and me . Bless him - he's had a right ol' rough season of it . However - we do believe we've got to the bottom of his problems . My only bone of contention is why it's taken so long .

Geoffrey will also have a small wind op . It didn't work out for him at Cheltenham - wrong race on a course he's had no experience of .There was a certain amount of 'handicap protection' with him at Aintree and we have plenty of scope to work with next year - in handicaps and novice chasing . I would love to have a crack at the brush hurdle race at Haydock - which George won a couple years back - but chasing is his future .

On the whole - and with so many expectations - its been a frustrating season . George's 3rd in the King George was the highlight - a very brave performance from a horse who must've been hurting . Geoffrey is only five and was progressive until a poor end to the season - but is way ahead of his brother at the same stage of their careers . He was taking on older horses at Cheltenham and Aintree and summer at Dr Grass is will bring him on tons . All 5yr olds improve physically at this time of their careers .

And then we have Bruce to look forward to during the summer . We've protected his novice chasing status so we've got plenty of summer options for him . He should really put up a sequence over hurdles before reverting to chasing .
And as for me ? I need a holiday ! CU
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Day 3 - Reasons to believe

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Begin forwarded message:

From: "Roger@farmerschoice.co.uk" <roger@farmerschoice.co.uk>
Date: 7 April 2013 13:39:28 GMT+01:00
To: Rogers World <rogerstanley55.madison@blogger.com>
Subject: Reasons to believe

Unfortunately George suffered a broken blood vessel yesterday . Jumping and 'crusing' all the way he fell into a hole after two out . Poor bugger - he's really been in the wars  this last year but yesterday looked - for most've of the way - like the 'old' George . Apart from the end result we were delighted .
He'll have the summer off now and will be trained differently next season . Lots of horses do bleed - even Gold Cup winners - Master Oats comes to mind - so all is not lost . It's been a frustrating season with him but that's what horse racing can be like ....and we've still got him !

There's always a fantastic atmosphere on Grand National day and yesterday was no exemption . DP actually won the first race - albeit a charity race - with War Singer at a very nifty 5-1 for Terry Neill . We're up for celebrating any win and duly did . Might not be The GN but what hell - if the champagne is free we'll be there !
Had a good chat with Andy Stuart . He asked about George and I asked him about Big Bucks - and we bored the pants off each other over a glass . We had a side bet on who would beat who in Georges race - he had Celestial Halo . Looks like I owe him a bottle've Don Perignan (?) ! CU

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Reasons to believe

Unfortunately George suffered a broken blood vessel yesterday . Jumping and 'crusing' the way he fell into a hole after two out . Poor bugger - he's really been in the wars this last year but yesterday looked - for most've of the way - like the 'old' George . Apart from the end result we were delighted .
He'll have the summer off now and will be trained differently next season . Lots of horses do bleed - even Gold Cup winners - Master Oats comes to mind - so all is not lost . It's been a frustrating season with him but that's what horse racing can be like ....and we've still got him !

Day 2 & Geoff ...

... disappoints - well slightly . We'd thought he would find more turning in - actually looked to be going better than many but folded rather tamely . Scu reported that he travelled and jumped well but made a noise when asked to quicken . Sounds like another bill to me ! On the plus side at least he's put the Cheltenham experience behind him . He's only five and has a bright future .
And now for his lunatic brother . Not sure what to expect . I suppose our season really hinges on what happens this afternoon . We are certainly running out of excuses ! Came 2nd in this race two years ago to a great champion and if returning to his former self would take all the beating - but one just would not know .
At least the stable got off the mark yesterday with Dynaste - which cheered us all up . How nice it would be to double up with another grey today . CU
Ps - Nick - great racing mate of mine and best mate of 'The Anorak' - and now resides across the pond in the USA . Nick has been fighting the good fight against the dreaded big C but is now out of hospital - back home and doing well . Best result of the season !
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Day 1

It's worth the experience of Aintree for the girls alone . They all get off the bus from Liverpool carrying their Tesco carrier bags - get to the track and change in the loos ! Yesterday was the coldest I've known it but that doesn't stop them from barring all . They're a hardy lot ....and great fun !

O ... and the racing . Well - that was pretty good as well . I had the first three winners - I say smugly . DP had a winner at Taunton for Wayne 'The Bathwick Man' Clifford which was 'healthily' backed and then some racing mates of mine won the last with Battle Group .This horse use to be trained by DP - but was a bit quirky so they put him with a smaller trainer - Kevin Bishop - for a more 'one on one' training schedule . Good on them . Battle Group sauntered in at 8-1 after being backed all day . I told DP that 'The Brothers' had better run well - or else .

The best story - though - I've saved to last . This mad Irish guy - well they all are aren't they ? - was celebrating his 50th birthday at Aintree with all his mates . So he chose the 50th runner of the day - a thing called Tartan Snow - which duly obliged ....at 100-1 ! He picked up 5 grand . I know this cos I was bloody standing behind him at the tote kiosk when he was picking up ! Took forever ! CU

PS - almost forgot Geoffrey . Well - the prize money goes down to 6th place and if we can get some that would be great . He goes chasing next season so we'll hopefully find out more about him this afternoon .
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Mum & baby ...

... doing well . They should be out enjoying the spring grass but until the weather warms up they're better of tucked up in their stable .