First entry for Cheltenham

It all comes round a bit too quick but first entry is in for The Festival . Madison du Berlais is coming out of retirement and is to be paraded in some sort ' retaining for racehorses ' thing ! Poor bugger - he always hated the place ! If he thinks he's got to go round again I don't think he'll come out his box.
CU

More to come ... continued

On Monday I was invited to play golf at The Berkshire with a stop over and Royal Ascot the next day . I have played it before - years back - and it was superb - great condition . Frankie Dettori hosted the event ( nice to name drop ) - it was a Help Our Heroes thing - good cause and all that . I think I four putted most of the greens but very nice .
Ken played and he had his Uncle Dermott running that evening at Windsor - so all fitted in rather well . Unfortunately - his Uncle was well beaten ( bless him ) so he's off - so says Ken - to have his knackers off . No sentiment there - even when it's family ! I did point out to our Ken that his Uncle had already been gelded . Ken replied that he meant the knackers yard ! Blimey .
After racing at Royal Ascot they always do a patriotic sing song on the band stand lawn - sort've last night at the proms type've thing . Very British . Here's a photo . More to come .

The King is alive ...

... and singing Bruce ! Or is it Bruce in disguise ? Anyway - after a right rollicking concert at Wembley with The Queen(s) Nicola booked us all up for a post show party - 'Elvis sings Bruce' - in some rather dingy social club right by the stadium. I must say that I wasn't that enthusiastic - but it was cheap beer and at a tenner a ticket it was somewhere to hang out. But what a hoot ! As I say - could've been Bruce himself . He came on about midnight and everyone hoofed around till two. Not saying it was better than the real thing but what great fun .Priceless ! More to come ...

Lots to catch ...

... up on ! And where to start ? Well - last Friday night Kens horse - Dark Emerald - was a bit disappointing at Goodwood. Not sure what happened to Kerion Fallon but George Baker took the ride . Came 7th ish and George reported that horse was not putting it all quite in - other things on his mind ! Well - Ken being very disappointed - ( don't mess with Ken when he gets disappointed ) - says he is going to 'have his knackers off'. I can only presume he means the horses ! Might be the trainers ! Will let you know .
Nothing to do with any of that but photo is of Brucie ( yea - the real one ) at Wembley Stadium on Saturday night . Brilliant !
Best - though - yet to come .

Nice 'at ...

... nice 'at !

Happy days ...

... at Royal Ascot . I'm a bit behind on 'la blog' - but just to say what a great day yesterday at Ascot . Ken and Carol-Anne did a wonderful picnic - starting at 10 in the morning and still goin strong 8 in the evening . All that was missing was a winner - so a 'skinner' for me !
Caught up with all the Pipes and already talking about targets this coming season for 'The Bruvs' . More on that later .
Did this little movie - hope it works . More stuff to follow .

Looking forward ...

... to Royal Ascot - but not with Kens Dark Emerald . Instead - he's off to Goodwood Friday evening - which I think will be just as good . Kieron Fallon will get the leg up and trainer and owner ( yea - here we go ...again ) are confident ! Well - lets hope the photos to follow are from the winners enclosure.
And as for Royal Ascot ! Well - I've had an invitation to play golf at The Royal Berkshire on Monday and to a pre R A ball in the evening - which has sent Nicola into a buying frenzy - followed by racing the next day . I'm also hoping to go Thurs and Sat - but that might depend on how the winners go ! CU
Sent from my iPhone

Thank you ..

.. all - for everyone's kind comments . I'm only just recovering. Nicola and me - myself and I - yes just the four of us - are in a very sunny Ceret for a getaway week . And blood hell I need it . I'm never too good when it comes to these traumatic times . I think it's to do with seeing a young well bred horse in the field - buying him - naming him and watching him progress . You do become attached . But this was not the first time .
One of our first horses - Breeze Girl - a small filly with a big heart - who had won four of her first five races - broke a leg at Ascot . Being there in the crowd that day and watching it was terrible . Never want that again but we know it can happen .
As for Bruce - I'm not sure he was a completely robust horse.
Looking at his lineage - KafTara - Saddlers Wells - Northern Dancer - its a very classy but flat orientated line . Not sure if they make up into hardy chasers - like say something like Madison . Two of his close relations - the highly rated Colonel Frank and Sitting Duck - both became croppers at about the same age . I think there is a genetic weakness in the genes of the family . What does 'la Anorack ' think ?
We're now off for a bike ride and a spot of lunch . So CU ...and thanks R X

E Street Boy

Unfortunately E Street Boy - or Brucie to all of us - suffered a fractured hind leg and had to be put down on Friday . Its always devastating when these things happen but it's something owners - trainers - the stable girls - followers have to bear .. Thoughts are with Rosie who looked after him and was cantering on him at the time .
Brucie won 6 races for us and gave us some great times . He was a fine stamp of a horse - a goos looker - and had a lovely attitude We always thought he had terrific potential and would have develops into a really decent chaser . He will be sadly missed . CU