Just when you thought things were going well it was back to worrying again last night as Real Treasure was under a general anaesthetic to flush out her two front joints.

Exeter was good ground and after walking the course I was delighted with what I saw; they do a good job down there. Real Treasure was a heavy market drifter, which I found strange as she looked a picture in the paddock and the extra trip was going to suit.

Real Treasure travelled well during the race and jumped to the front 4 from home and was still 3 lengths in front at the last so it was annoying that she was caught close home and passed by two on the line to finish 3rd, beaten a length.

The Real Partnership were very happy owners and great fun to be with, but our overall excitement was tarnished when RT returned to the unsaddling enclosure with a cut on both front joints; she had hit a hurdle bar. After vets had seen here and bandaged Real Treasure it was a case of driving her straight to our vets near Tewkesbury for their opinion.

The good news is that Real Treasure is fine after her operation this morning; sadly she faces 3 months box rest and misses the rest of the season but she will be absolutely fine for next season. The highs and lows of training /owning?

Sean Quinlan and Tom Siddall were in for a couple of lots this morning and my god it was cold this morning!

We worked Basoda, Bentota, Regal Approach, Sarde, Double Mead, Ruby Crown, Admiral Dundas, Allformary, Ballyoliver, Blazing Sun (owner Lizzie Wills here to watch) Mallusk, Malindi Bay, Oshkosh, Behindcloseddors, Points Of View, Sonny Mullen, Cinderella Rose, Islamouth, The Kings Theatre Gelding and Smokey George.

We then schooled Blazing Sun, Double Mead and Basoda.

Tomorrow night (Thursday) I am hosting a 'Meet the trainer' evening at The Greenway Hotel in Cheltenham. Firstly the evening is about my racing experiences and then next weeks Cheltenham; but it is also an evening to raise money for Help For Heroes and for the first time in my life I look like being asked to perform an auction. Below are some of the auction lots on offer.

If you would like to bid for one of the following interesting lots please email your bid and when I am doing the auction I will take you bid into account; for example you bid £200 for a day at the spa and the highest bid on the evening is say £90 I will knock down the lot for £100 to you.. So bid away and don't be frightened that your high bid will be what you are paying.

It should be a fun evening and there are still 6 places left so if you are free and want to give me a hard time while having some very good food then email Michael or ring him on 01242862352.

These are the auction lots and please email your bids where I ask you to and don't forget all these lots are raising money for Help For Heroes. Be generous and have fun. THE EMAIL BID ADDRESS'S DO NOW WORK. My fault before..sorry!

One night stay with Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at Cliveden House Hotel. To place a bid please email here

A Half Day Retreat. A Spar Treatment, Lunch, and use of the Spar for half a day at the Royal Crescent Hotel in Bath. To place a bid please email here

Lunch for 4 including a bottle of Champagne at Lower Slaughter Manor. To place a bid please email here

One night Bed and Breakfast in a Junior Suit at Homewood Park near Bath. To place a bid please email here

One night, Bed and Breakfast in a Four Poster Room with a Bottle Of Champagne on arrival at the Greenway Hotel Cheltenham. To place a bid please email here

Exclusive Mystery Item TBC  with Mercedes Benz of Gloucester. To place a bid please email here

One night night stay, midweek, with Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at Washbourne Court Hotel. To place bid please email here.

ALL BIDS FOR ABOVE LOTS CLOSE AT 7.0PM THURSDAY MARCH 11

The ground yesterday was very fast at Stratford; proper summer ground! Unbelievable how it has dried up as it was soft with heavy patches only 5 days ago, and even though they had several inspections yesterday to see if racing could go ahead after -8 on Sunday night there was not much difference from the normal ground to the frozen parts. Apparently FFos Las was the same, if not faster, and they had no frost, which does not boded well for their summer racing season.

Spare a thought for Simon Claisse, the soon be highly stressed clerk of the course at Cheltenham. The ground there is drying fast and he is watering to keep it on the soft side of good. You cannot water on frozen ground so his hours of watering are very limited and to make his life worse not everybody is happy about it!

Golden Button showed marked improved form on her 2nd outing over hurdles yesterday at Stratford; yes she is an typical top of the ground mare but the ground made her think she was flat racing again and she took far too keen a hold and ended up in front almost straight away.

No harm done as she looked like winning two from home but then the tank emptied and she was passed by the last to finish and most encouraging 2nd. She will improve. Good to see her owners Alan Halsall and Michael Cudahy (Lima Racing) in such good form and happy with their horse.

After racing (Mat who was allowed a day off) and I went over to Robert Chugg's to watch Lion On The Prowl school before he came home. The demonstration schooling went more or less as planned although the evening sun was difficult for LOTP at some fences. The end product was that he is jumping well and enjoying himself; a job well done.

Jason Maguire's twin brother (Gobbie)was in for a couple of lots this morning (Jason is apparently snowboarding down the Matterhorn getting his kicks out of frightening himself). We schooled Basoda, Sarde, Points Of View, Valento, Ruby Crown, Admiral Dundas, Allformary, Smokey George, Blazing Tommy, Blazing Sun, Lion On The Prowl, Doctor Disny, Malindi Bay and Tribunel

David Hibbert has asked me to remind you to set you timers on Sky plus for Thursday March 11 at 9.0pm to watch a program on BBC 4; it is a not to be missed insight to an Irish racing yard and a year with Paul Nolan. The program is called  Race Horses and you should keep and keen eye out for two of my owners John and Penny Perriss who play their part in the Cheltenham scene.