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Heading for the Swinton
06th May 2008
On Saturday Desert Quest (pictured below) lines up in the Swinton at Haydock to take his chance at the £75,000 prize money on offer. The ground at the course looks like going fast and this couldn't suit our horse more, so fingers crossed. At this stage there look to be some very nice horses in the race, as you would expect from one of its calibre. Border Castle, winner of the Scottish Champion Hurdle will be a formidable opponent if he runs. Group Captain who came 2nd to Pigeon Island at Cheltenham last month, I'm So Lucky, runner up to Auroras Encore in the listed Handicap Hurdle at Aintree a few weeks ago, and La Vecchia Scuola, winner of the Juvenile Novice's Hurdle at Ayr in April, will all be classy opposition if they line up. The race is due off at 2pm and will be broadcast live on the BBC.
It was great to see our Racing Secretary Imogen Bovey come back to work this morning after having a break to have her first baby, daughter Marcia. Imy has been with us more or less since we first moved to The Beeches and used to look after Silent Dream (she is pictured below with him this morning). She is an invaluable addition to the team and everyone is delighted to have her back.
Today Justin Chittendon, Managing Director of Equine Health Centre Walkers, came to the yard to start renovating both the Seawalker and our Softwalker. The Seawalker (pictured in use below) is going to be stripped down and painted blue which should give it a fresher look. Both tracks in the Softwalker are being resurfaced with the thick rubber flooring that we have on our walkways. This provides the horses with a great soft-cushioned surface to walk on which is kind on their joints.
There are plenty of runners representing the yard this week. We are hoping that Northern Endeavour gets a run at either Newton Abbot or Wetherby on Thursday in a handicap hurdle. The horse should have come on from his race at Fontwell (pictured below) last month and we are looking forward to running him again. His half sister, Northern Seren, is aiming for a run at Uttoxeter on Sunday, again in a Handicap Hurdle. Chief Exec may go to Warwick on Saturday for the 6 Furlong Handicap and Seribase could go to Worcester on Sunday in a 2 mile Hurdle. Cheonmado is likely to make the long trip to Yarmouth on Monday to run over 7 furlongs there in the 15.00 Classified Stakes.
