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Plus 12 and dry when driving in.

Robert Bellamy was here third lot to watch and assess Lauren Hawkins's riding ability for her point to point license. Robert in his spare time is a jockey coach..

Virginia Johnson has very kindly given Creswell Legend to me to race in point to points.. The original plan for Archie to ride, but his cricketing commitments have rather not helped his cause when it comes to spending enough time to ride. So with Virginia’s agreement I am going to let Lauren start off on him and see how she gets on.. There may well be others who might have the chance as well..

It is so hard to get youngsters going and this is an ideal way for them to learn without the pressure of being on a racecourse proper for all to see.. Life is all about learning and that is something we never stop doing..I can only help and offer, but the rest is up to Lauren..She rides well and deserves the chance

Talking about help..

We are incredibly lucky being based where we are as we have a bevy of brilliant event riders on our door step.

Ginny Thompson is in here at least three afternoons a week riding many of our horses.. It is so good for these horses to have another discipline taught to them, it helps them enormously..

Gold Medal winner Laura Collett is also just up the road..

Laura has been well taught by the famous Yogi Briesner and Yogi is a man who has helped me out in the past with problem horses and jumping.. you surely would have heard of him being mentioned by many trainers in the past..

Anyway Laura loves her racing, and although I am sure she longs to ride in a race, she does enjoy teaching the odd racehorse.. We took Vinndication to visit her and Laura just jumped on him and had him sorted in seconds.. fearless and brilliant..

We have three runners today.. I am heading to Uttoxeter with Samatian and Talk Of the Moon while Mat heads to Fakenham with Rockys Treasure and for my thoughts on all their chances please click here.

Archie home later for half term.. two years ago he and I flew to Sydney to see Harry..

“On teaching:...the job seems to require the sort of skills one would need to pilot a bus full of live chickens backwards, with no brakes, down a rocky road through the Andes while simultaneously providing colorful and informative commentary on the scenery.”