Bailey's Blog

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

I would not wish to be a clerk of the course.. It is a thankless task, but there are days when clerks of the courses really do test my patience and yesterday was one of them.

We took both of our intended runners out at Ffos Las and Hereford….same issue, same frustration.. the ground description.

Mat arrived at Ffos Las to find that Ed Hawkings had already walked the course. Verdict? Too quick for his horse Kylenoe Dancer.. Simple.. horse came out.

I arrived at Hereford, only to meet Henry Daly who had just walked the course and taken his horse out… Henry is even more old school than I am, but after talking to a few jockeys after the first race, and then talking to John Perriss the decision was made. Too quick for his horse I Spy Diva.. Like Kylenoe Dancer she came out of an intended for the second time in as many weeks.

That’s not bad luck. That’s avoidable.

It’s costly, it’s frustrating, and it shouldn’t be happening. All we’re asking for is a bit of honesty. If it’s on the quick side, call it “good to firm.” in places..Don’t dress it up as “good.” We all know there’s a difference, especially at this time of year.

At the moment, it feels like we’re being sold one thing and turning up to another. Trust and lack of it.. Owners are the ones paying for that, and it’s just not right..

When in doubt pull horse out!.

The only positive on the day was seeing David Manley looking far better than when I last saw him.. when he was ensconced in Hereford hospital. Now back home and in great form... 

And then a chap rang me (shortly after Mat had rung from Ffos Las) to say that he’d been following our horsebox to Hereford and in his words, it was been driven exactly how he would like his horse to be driven to the races and the owner of said horse should be delighted that it was being driven to the races with all due care and attention. Thank you for that call.. appreciated and well done, Mirella..

Tom Bellamy and Ciaran Gethings were in to ride out.

We jumped Jeudidee, Court In A Storm, Reallynthruthfully, Faerie Cutlass, Law Of Supply and Brendas Asking.

Lucy Jackson from Cheltenham Racecourse was here first lot.

Vince Burmingham and Lindsay Lewis called in to see Vince's horse My Dad Don and of course his KBRS Name Me Nicely who they were hoping to see run this afternoon...

We do not run Name Me Nicely today..

Mat is away for the next 36 hours on a jolly at Chester with Brendas Askings owners..

A man staggered into a hospital with a concussion, multiple bruises, two black eyes, and a five iron wrapped tightly around His throat.

Naturally, the Doctor asked him, "What happened to YOU?"

"Well, I was having a quiet round of golf with my wife, when at a difficult hole, we both sliced our golf balls into a field of cattle. We went to look for them and while I was looking around I noticed one of the cows had something white at its rear end."

"I walked over, lifted its tail, and sure enough, there was a golf ball with my wife's monogram on it - stuck right in the middle of the cow's arse.

Still holding the cow's tail up, I yelled to my wife, "Hey, this looks like yours!'"

"I don't remember much after that!"

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

Great ground at Warwick yesterday.. Credit due..

Wild Goose ran well enough, but I feel the handicapper has probably caught up with him now after his 7lb rise for winning at Hereford, and the of course he has had a long season so whatever it will be holiday times for him now..

We had an enjoyable day at Warwick with Marion Hudson, daughter Ellie and Sophia Dale and children who are Marion's grand children

Mat had a cracking day at Chelsea.. Not sure his jumping up in the air after 2 minutes celebrating NF first goal was what his host and avid Chelsea supporter Keith Ellis had in mind!

Tuesday brings in our usual vet visit.. and there will be no movers or shakers in the BHA handicap chats as we had no runners last week as we were on holday!

But we do have two runners today. Kylenoe Dancer heads to Ffos Las while I Spy A Diva heads to Hereford and for our thoughts please click here..

I am heading to Hereford and hoping to call in to see the recovering David Manley.. Mat heads to Wales..

A small church had an organist named Mary, who happened to be very attractive and well-endowed.

Her ample chest bounced wildly as she played, which made it hard for the congregation to focus on the service.

The prim and proper church ladies were scandalized. They decided something had to be done or they would have to find a new organist.

One discreetly approached Mary and suggested she mash some green astringent persimmons and apply them to her breasts, explaining that it should reduce their size.

She cautioned Mary not to taste any of the persimmons—they were so sour that her mouth would pucker and she wouldn’t be able to speak properly for some time.

Mary reluctantly agreed to give it a try.

The following Sunday morning the pastor climbed into the pulpit and said, “Dew to thircumsthanthis bewond my contwol, we will not hab a thermon tewday.”

For information on our latest KBR Syndicate horse please click here.

Plus 12 and dry when driving in.. annoyingly we did not have the amount of rain we had hoped for..8mm only

Record breaking weekend in racing.. George Boughey and Jockey Billy Loughnane won Saturday 2000 Guineas with Bow Echo

Normal service resumed when True Love won the 1000 guineas for Aiden O'Brien.

History was made in America when Cherie DeVaux became the first female trainer to win North America's most prestigious race after Golden Tempo's sensational last-to-first victory.

Kimi Antonelli's impressive victory in the Miami Grand Prix, his third win in a row, was "something special", says 1996 world champion Damon Hill. It was a good race to watch.

Jannik Sinner became the first man to win five consecutive Masters 1,000 titles after beating Alexander Zverev in straight sets to win the Madrid Open.

London calling..Mat is a guest of Keith Ellis to watch Chelsea play Nottingham Forest..

We have our first runner of the 2026/2027 jumps season today at Warwick.. Wild Goose heads there and for our thoughts please click here.

My sister is now back from her trip delivering vehicles to Ukraine..

This is what she said.. ‘’it was simply extraordinary. Five days I’ll never forget.

It began with everyone gathering at the Holt Hotel: vehicles lined up, people ready to go. And what a mix of people..fashion designers, models, tech entrepreneurs, filmmakers… and “little old me.”

Tom, Richard and I drove a black Hilux all the way through France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Germany to Lviv. Long hours and many fuel stops..

There were some surreal moments too — including a Rolls-Royce in the convoy, driven by a YouTuber with a cameraman filming the whole journey. No doubt that’ll be turned into quite a story.

I made new friends, laughed a lot, cried just as much, and came back a better person for it. Humbled by everything I saw.

But two moments really stayed with me.

One was visiting The Field of Mars graveyard and memorial — row upon row of young lives lost. Hard to take in.

The other was handing over our Hilux vehicle to a young soldier from their special forces, no English at all, he simply hugged me in thanks. No words needed.

All the cars were blessed and within minutes of us leaving, the vehicles were gone to be repainted, repurposed, straight to where they’re needed most.

Then on the way home I and along with all the other drivers received this text.

‘So, friends, I finally had a moment to sit down and process everything that’s happened over the past few days.

You can’t imagine how much you’ve impacted the morale of both the soldiers and Ukrainians overall by completing your mission. I’m in constant contact with the guys 24/7, and they’re usually the kind of people you’d never expect to see smiling. But when they saw you, your energy, your kindness, your dedication, and your huge hearts that travelled over 2,000 kilometres just to help, the smiles didn’t leave their faces

From the moment you crossed the border, I started receiving really positive and joyful messages and calls from my friends who simply saw your convoy on the way to the hotel. Your convoy is all over Ukrainian social media, in the media, and even on national television. I’m still getting messages from people who are genuinely shocked by how much support you managed to bring to Ukraine.

Some of those who received your vehicles, as you noticed, didn’t speak English at all. But they still did everything they could to show respect and gratitude. Giving you their unit patches and flags is one of the highest forms of appreciation a soldier can show. They were calling their wives, relatives, friends, guys in their unit, sending photos with you just to share the joy and hope you gave them.

Hope. That’s something we Ukrainians really lack now, in the fifth year of the war. And you brought a lot of it back into our hearts

I just want to say thank you again. Honestly. For your time, your effort, your dedication, and everything you’ve done. I can’t fully explain how much this means to us Ukrainians. There will never be enough words for that.’

Now I am home, I still can’t quite process what I have seen. It all feels a bit surreal. For someone completely new to it, the experience left a huge mark. The camaraderie, the people, the shared purpose — all of it was quite something. Everyone united for one cause: helping the people of Ukraine.

Finally a huge thank you for all your wonderful sponsorship. You have helped make a difference to the lives of many Ukrainians..

For information on our latest KBR Syndicate horse please click here.

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

The vagaries of the weather apps. We were forecasted up 10mm of rain yesterday afternoon on YR, but it disappeared 2 hours after looking at it at 5.30am!.. We are currently supposed to see 6mm this afternoon ..and a further 12mm tomorrow? Who said a clerk of the course's job was an easy one!! To water or not to water!

The current Champion hurdler Lossiemouth was impressive yesterday at Punchestown..Credit due to Jeremy Scott's mare Golden Ace.. Second to Lossiemouth was a great run...Today is the last day of their big Festival and Willie Mullins has drawn well clear of the Irish trainers table.. again..This is their card for todays racing

The new Jumps season starts today at Uttoxeter..and Hexham.. You have probably missed jump racing in the UK during our summer break? We don't start our season until Monday at Warwick..

Charles Atkinson sent this over..

Dear Kim,

I hope you are enjoying your brief break! Here's an end- of- season meditation.
 
You might argue that the National Hunt world lives its year in reverse; the onset of autumn - with rain, mud, wind, dark evenings, dark mornings, numb fingers scraping frost from the windscreens - fills a lot of people with dread but is eagerly anticipated by the jumping crowd, as it heralds the start of the main season, but when spring comes some months later, instead of boosting the spirits it probably leaves many NH  folk (excuse the pun) feeling rather flat.

So the flat turf season is upon us, and every year I forget just how different it is to the jumping game, until the first five furlong  dash forcibly reminds me, as I gaze at a card where every unraced 2 year old (with every prospect of being useless on the course) seems to have cost 800,000 guineas as a yearling: absurd money that renders the Flat inaccessible to so many potential owners and syndicate members - bad news for those who would like involvement in it, but good news for Peter Kerr, with his expertly managed NH syndicates.

Dash is the right word, as a flat race unfolds very fast - blink and you'll miss it - whilst it is quite possible to eat a light snack during the Scottish Grand National and still have time to relish the closing stages. If you tot up the total time taken by seven flat races compared to seven NH races, it's obvious the latter provides better value for money in viewing terms.

Of course flat racing can be very exciting, and the spring 2 year olds, with their delicate bone china legs, are very beautiful, but to watch a steeplechaser attacking a series of fences with real flair and enthusiasm is, for the winter crowd, an experience of a totally different order.

Happily the social dynamics of the racecourse remain unchanged by the transition from jumps to flat. All the numerous groups of lads and ladettes seem quite capable of combining a great deal of drink and fun with politely opening doors for elderly and vulnerable racegoers like myself. 

A couple of weeks ago a young man came up to me brandishing a five pound note which I'd dropped, and thus saved me from losing money on my only successful bet of the season. (The only change is in dress, not behaviour - the tweed jackets and caps favoured by NH grandees like Kim fade away to be replaced by more summery wear.)

People at the races are almost always very nice; insults and rages seem to be confined largely to the online world, perhaps generated by those punters labouring under the (financially disastrous) misconception that an odds- on favourite is a certainty.

Happy birthday to our ex PA Maya Quist and Michael Dulverton...

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend and see you on Monday..

For information on our latest KBR Syndicate horse please click here.

Plus 9 and dry when driving in.. Rain later?

John Benson called in to see his KBRS horses El Rio, Reallynthruthfully and Matty’s Getaway.

Punchestown ..Jumping is everything and yesterday proved it again. Kopeck des Bordes, the hot favourite for Willie Mullins, came down at the second last in the Grade 1 Barberstown Castle Novice Chase.. the equivalent race at Cheltenham is the Arkle Chase. One mistake, race over.

Biggest grin on the track? Harry Cobden, who picked up the pieces aboard Salvator Mundi.. Thankfully, both horse and jockey were fine.

Bob Olinger left the Punchestown crowd in raptures and reduced his hard-nosed businessman owner Brian Acheson to tears after bringing the curtain down on his rollercoaster of a career with a fairytale success over old foe Teahupoo in a captivating Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle. 

Day four..

If racing ever needed a reminder of where the sales money is going you need to see the difference between a point to point sale in Ireland at Punchestown and a breeze up sale of speedy youngster at Tattersalls in Newmarket.... Punchestown Goffs ...results v Newmarket Tattersalls..

Mat should be happy today? 

Goodbye Ted.. Those who loved Gone Fishing would know Ted.. He handled fame with ease.. Dogs are a mans best frind and when they leave us they leave a hole in our lives...

David Simkins last list of Zen Teachings...

11.    If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember anything.

12.    Some days you are the dog, some days you are the tree.

13.    Don' worry; it only seems kinky the first time.

14.    Good judgement comes from bad experience ,,, and most of that comes from bad judgement.

15.    A closed mouth gathers no foot.

16.    There are two excellent theories for arguing with women. Neither one works.

17.    Generally speaking, you aren't learning much when your lips are moving.

18.    Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it. 

19.    We are born naked, wet and hungry, and get slapped on our ass. Then things just keep getting worse.

20.    NEVER, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, TAKE A SLEEPING PILL AND A LAXATIVE ON THE SAME NIGHT. 

To finish.. Happy birthdays to my cousin Karen Newbury, Ex Conditional jockey Ed Cookson, Belinda Tory and it would have been my Fathers too..

For information on our latest KBR Syndicate horse please click here.

Plus 6 and dry when driving in.

We turned the first bunch of horses out yesterday.. They are the ones that have been roughed off for a while.. By that I mean horses that are used to not having the comfort of a rug on and their coats have become used to cold nighs!

Another cracking days racing at Punchestown.. Yet again a few reputations shattered, but wonderful golden moments..None more so than Gaelic Warrior, this years Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who absoluteoly bolted up in the Punchestown Gold Cup....Day three ..

Should there have been a penalty? Arsenal drew 1-1 against Atletico Madrid

I am meeting up with Norman Carter later.. 

David Simkins sent this list of Zen Teachings over.. another 10 tomorrow!

1.    Do not walk behind me, for I may not lead,
Do not walk ahead of me, for I may not follow, 
Do not walk beside me for the path is narrow,
In fact, just piss off and leave me alone!

2.    Sex is like air. It's not that important unless you aren't getting any.

3.    No one is listening until you break wind

4.    Always remember you are unique. Just like everyone else.

5.    Never test the depth of the water with both feet.

6.    If you think nobody cares whether you are alive or dead, try missing a couple of mortgage payments.

7.    Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them you're a mile away and have their shoes.

8.    If at first you don't succeed , skydiving is not for you.

9.    Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day. Teach him how to fish, and he will sit in a boat and drink beer all day.

10.    If you lend someone £20 and never see that person again, it was probably well worth it.

Plus 6 and dry when driving in.

For information on our latest KBR Syndicate horse please click here.

Tom Bellmay was in to ride out.. Ciaran Gethings is on holiday back in Ireland for the week.

Feel No Fear and Lully Du Houx had an away day..

We jumped Court In A Storm and Washington Parks

Paul and Elizabeth Kellar were here to see Faerie Cutlass and return my well repaired clock.. genius at work is our Paul.

Liz Humphrey was here to see her KBRS horses Name Me Nicely, Marsiac, El Rio and Reallynthruthfully.

There were quiet a few turn ups in form at Punchestown yesterday althought last seasons Champion Chase Champion winner Il Etait Temps  was amazing... watch... it all starts again today.. Don't miss.

We had Paddy Clarkson for supper last night .. Archie at home and his best mate was over for a BBQ and to watch Paris St-Germain's record-breaking 5-4 Champions League semi-final first-leg victory over Bayern Munich. What a game and god how much do 20 year olds eat!

This article in The Telegraph reminded me of the following..

An old couple were in a restaurant and the old man placed order for one hamburger, chips and a drink.

He unwrapped the plain hamburger and carefully cut it in half, placing one half in front of his wife.

He then carefully counted out the chips, dividing them into two piles and neatly placed one pile in front of his wife.

He took a sip of the drink, his wife took a sip and then set the cup down between them . As he began to eat his few bites of hamburger, the people around them were looking over and whispering.

Obviously they were thinking, 'That poor old couple - all they can afford is one meal for the two of them.'

As the man began to eat his fries a young man came to the table and politely offered to buy another meal for the old couple. The old man said, they were just fine - they were used to sharing everything.

People closer to the table noticed the little old lady hadn't eaten a bite. She sat there watching her husband eat and occasionally taking turns sipping the drink.

Again, the young man came over and begged them to let him buy another meal for them. This time the old woman said 'No, thank you, we are used to sharing everything.'

Finally, as the old man finished and was wiping his face neatly with the napkin, the young man again came over to the little old lady who had yet to eat a single bite of food and asked 'What is it you are waiting for?'

She answered .... (wait for it) .... 'THE TEETH.'

Plus 8 and dry when driving in. Overcast.

After yesterday’s end-of-season review, I forgot to mention what was a cracking evening we had at Dunkertons on Saturday night.

John Perriss very kindly took all the staff out to celebrate White Noise’s win at Cheltenham, and a proper way to mark it. We had a near full turnout (although a couple were already on holiday), and those who were there certainly made the most of it.

We had a private room, a band next door, and the whole place was absolutely heaving. As the evening went on, the older brigade sensibly drifted off..Mr and Mrs Bailey just after 10, Mat Nicholls around 10:30, Molly not long after.

The younger team, however, led by Kai and slightly worryingly my injured son Archie, kept flying the flag into the small hours. Judging by the time Archie came through the front door (3am), it was a proper effort.

To their credit, those on duty on Sunday morning made it in on time, though one or two weren’t exactly full of conversation!

All in all, a fine celebration.Thank you John...and White Noise..

Tuesday morning brings in our usual vet visit and this weeks movers an shakers in the BHA handicap charts were.. Home Made Hero up 1 to 121,  Washinton Parks down 3 to 101 while The Kemble Brewery flies up 9 to 138..

The Punchestown Festival starts today.. Cracking racing all week.. First race at 2.30

Rory Bremner has tremendous sympathy for the royals before their state visit to the US. He knew exactly how the King and Queen must feel about their trip to see the Trumps.

Bremner said: “It’s rather like having to pay a return visit to that awful couple you met on holiday.”

Plus 5 and dry when driving in.

Well that really was a good season, highlighted of course by White Noise winning at the Cheltenham Festival.. How can we forget that wonderful day..

Our 2025/2026 season started with The Hawkings, Hardy and Harris Partnership’s Kylenoe Dancer winning at Fontwell..this was followed by Park View’s Jeudidee winning over fences at Huntingdon.. Those two winners were our only winners during what is called the summer jumps season..

So onto what we call the proper jumps season in October when one of our KBRS horses Reallynthruthfully made a winning start over fences at Fontwell for the aptly named nothingbutthetruth Syndicate. Park Views Court In A Storm was an impressive winner over hurdles at Uttoxeter and after that John Perriss’s White Noise won her first hurdle race at Worcester.. And who would have believed that was where she started her season. Then it was trip up to Aintree where Marsiac gave the Marsians Have Landed Syndicate a day to remember when he showed improved form to win his first hurdle after his 4th at Uttoxeter a few weeks earlier. John Perris’s Home Made Hero ended October by winning at Uttoxeter. This former Irish pointer was impressive winning his first start over hurdles

November started with a slightly surprising win for So You Know..The Here We Go Again Syndicate were thrilled with this lovely half brother to Does He Know.. Although he did not win again, he ran very well when placed in a couple of other hurdle races…White Noise hardly came off the bridle to win her second race over hurdles at Market Rasen.. The celebrations for that win took place at Cheltenham on a very wet day at their Countryside day....One of my favourite horses Gatineau Park won at Lingfield.. Jumping for fun, he toughed it out and just held on to win his first hurdle race..sadly there were no Park Life Syndicate members there to celebrate!! 24 hours later the ex-English point to point winer Sogna In Grande won at Warwick setting up a quick fire double for owners Park View (John and Laura Garrett) when High Tea won at Chepstow the following day. It was then  a trip to cider country to watch Marsiac win at Hereford at very short odds of 2/9! A KBRS double at Doncaster when Matty’s Getaway won for the Getaway Drivers and then Moon Rocket won over fences for the Youneverknow Syndicate.. 

We now move into December and Marion Hudson’s Wild Goose simply bolted up over hurdles at Ludlow.. This horse might not be the biggest, but he can gallop.. The same day Does He Know won the Veterans Chase at Haydock.. There were plenty of tears after his win.. a hugely popular horse but sadly this was to be his last win for The Yes He Does Syndicate as he is now retired after falling at Cheltenham later in the season.

Francis Brooke was at Huntingdon to watch his horse Draco Malfoy win over hurdles.. he just jumped the opposition into the ground!. Amazing Cleni won his only race for the May We Never Be Found Out Syndicate headed by Kevin Clancy. Amazing Cleni showed that the big fences at Leicester were easy to jump..It was certainly muddy at Uttoxeter when Penny Perriss’s mare Coolanna won her first hurdle start after being placed in Irish point to points.. This mare is all about fences next season..10 days later John Perriss had his first ever winner at Newbury racecourse with White Noise. John was born close to the racecourse, so he was very happy to have broken that duck..

2026 arrived and I watched Step Ahead win at Cheltenham from 34000 feet!. Phil Andrews was not there to celebrate although Mrs B and I did from where we were as did many of Phil’s representatives at Cheltenham..John Dewen celebrated his first winner as an owner when his That’ll Be Oxo won the bumper at Hereford.. I think it took John two days to get home as a result!. John Perriss and buses.. His Top Target won at Newbury with a fine front running ride from Tom Bellamy and then a few days later Draco Malfoy won at Hereford at very short odds of 2/11.. John and Penny Perriss had a good day at Wincanton when Penny’s Coolanna won there.. Lunch in the director’s room to celebrate.. Why is Wincanton always so cold?

February brought the story of the season when Guchen gave Aamilah Aswat her very first winner for the Friends Of Ebony Horse Club. The media went mad, but what a great story, and of course that raised the profile of the wonderful Ebony Horse Club..Guchen and Aamilah went on to win again At Newbury 3 weeks later.

March started with a hugely impressive bumper winner.. Hidden Mountain who I had bought at The Cheltenham Tattersalls sales before Christmas gave The Social Climbers something to dream about when he goes over hurdles next season. Gatineau Park went up to Ayr to win hard held.. Yes, this horse is some jumper and so exciting to think what he will be like over the bigger obstacles. Then came White Noise at Cheltenham. John Perriss’s great moment after 34 years of having horses with us.. Just rewards for all the ups and downs of racehorse ownership. A day none of us will forget including his jockey, Tom Bellamy ..a race that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons.. a Matt Chapman interview with Tom’s mother!.

12 days later and still suffering? John Perriss’s new horse Hillberry Hill won at Southwell.. Bought off the ThoroughBid line by Ed Bailey who again showed what a good and thorough bloodstock agent he is becoming..

April fools’ day. Surely not when Sogna In Grande won his second race on his second start over hurdles at Wincanton..Wild Goose gave Aamilah Aswat her third win of the season at Hereford and then we ended the season on a winning note at Chepstow when The Kemble Brewery won impressively. Hugely deserved and for all their patience after a season for them which went wrong when he fell at Chepstow when chasing last November.. Yes the season finished with owners who would have done some serious damage to the cellars of the pub in Cheltenham which their horse is named after..

Our season ended with 35 winners, 18 seconds, 36 thirds from 194 runners. We ran a total of 56 individual horses and won just under £400,000 in prize money.

A great season to look back on and quite a telling one.

We only had six winners over fences, a couple in bumpers with the rest over hurdles, which says plenty. This has very much been a transitional year. Lots of young horses, plenty straight out of the point-to-point field or just starting out, all being educated with chasing firmly in mind.

The exciting bit? This coming season should produce a very smart team of novice chasers for next winter.

Huge thanks to Tom Bellamy and Ciaran Gethings (who both had record seasons) for all their hard work and winners, and to Aamilah Aswat who has shown plenty with her three winners as stable conditional jockey.. To Charly Bond, our excellent head girl who now has even more exciting things on the way. To Leigh and Mirella for keeping everything moving on the road driving and looking after our runners. Between them they won 49 best turned out prizes...Sogna In Grande won best turned on all of his three runs..

A huge thank you to Peter Kerr for all his patience and hard work with our KBRS .. Kim Bailey Racing Syndicates. Molly and Sandie for keeping the office side working so well and Mrs B for all her hard work when it comes to rehoming our old warriors.. Also Alex our excellent farrier who seems to be a jack of all trades and finally Mark our regular vet.. one day we might scope him too! 

And, as ever, a massive thank you to all our wonderful owners and staff. Quite simply, we wouldn’t be here without you.

Mat and I have thoroughly enjoyed our first full season as joint license holders, and we hope you have enjoyed your involvement too.

Now we give the horses a summer to grow up… and then the real fun starts all over again.. next week!

Minus 1 and dry when driving in.

What a great way to end our jump season, with a winner. 

I was so pleased for all the connections of The Kemble Brewery. They started the season with such high hopes that he would make into a really smart novice chaser, but it all went horribly wrong when he failed to take to fences and fell at the last. He was very sore afterwards and it has taken most of the season to get him back.

David Bass rode him at Chepstow the other day when they finished second, and after he suggested cheekpieces might make a big difference. How right he was. Last night, fitted with them for the first time, The Kemble Brewery absolutely bolted up.

There were huge celebrations afterwards, and after a drink at the races it did not take long for the TKB team to reappear outside The Kemble Brewery pub in Cheltenham for the obligatory photograph. Hugely deserved and great fun night I am sure was had by all.

Mat walked the course earlier in the evening..he has done plenty of course walking this week, and felt the ground was too quick for I Spy A Diva, so she was a non-runner. That meant The Kemble Brewery was our final runner of the season, and what a way to finish. Our 35^th of the season.

We will look back properly on the season on Monday, but it has been a really good one.

Tonight we celebrate our Cheltenham Festival White Noise, as John Perriss has very kindly put some of his well-deserved Cheltenham winnings behind the bar at Dunkertons, where we have a private room. We are all heading down there to celebrate her great win.. thank you, John, very much indeed.

Tom Bellamy and Ciaran Gethings to ride out.

We jumped Court In A Storm, Brendas Asking and Washington Parks over fences.

Alison Mixture, Heather Brown, Jacque Dent, Fruzsina Henvest were all here for a moprning on the gallops.

Jonathan Herbert was here to see his KBRS horse Pethers Angel

Phil and Fiona Lawro and Andy and Carol up from Epsom were here to see Fiona's KBRS horse Name Me Nicely..

My sister is off on her travels. Heading to Ukraine..

This message was sent to them before they left..

'Before you hit the road to Ukraine, I wanted to say a few things.

Watching your fundraising efforts, the dedication and commitment you’ve shown in doing everything possible to help Ukraine, and the incredible results you’ve achieved — I have to say, as a Ukrainian who has been living through the war here the entire time, I’m deeply impressed and genuinely moved.

We’re into the fifth year of the full-scale invasion now. Ukraine has lost focus in media. The fact that you have all decided to join our community and participate in the largest convoy in the history of our organisation is such a powerful thing for us, we hope it is for you too.

You are living proof that Ukrainians are not left alone to face the hardship of war.

You are living proof that people in the West clearly understand the true face of Russia and recognize that history demands this war be stopped here, before it spreads to the rest of Europe.

You are people with big hearts, who have proven your kindness not with words, but with real actions — actions that will help save more than one life.

I (And not just me! First and foremost, the end recipients of your vehicles) am truly looking forward to your arrival. I’m looking forward to the chance to shake each of your hands and thank you personally.

Wishing you a smooth journey and an incredible experience along the way. As Angus says: drive fast, take chances.

Have a great weekend and we will see you on Monday.. 

Good luck to all those running in tomorrows London Marathan