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