For whom the bells toll

Great news reached us yesterday of the impending marriage of Emma Candy and Rupert Erskine Crum (pictured). Well I considered it to be great news and made sure I was in the front of the queue when the champagne was being dished out in Stanley Road last night but John took it less well. Much less well, in fact, and took to his bed with pretend ‘man 'flu’. You see the thing is that Rupert is his new best friend, sender of smutty emails, fellow watcher of war films and general waffler on all topics of interest only to boys. So John fears that Rupert, once under the Candy kosh, will no longer be allowed out to play. We all know this is rubbish as Emma will doubtless be glad to see the back of him on occasion as I am of John (frequently!). But seriously, this is wonderful news and we’re all very pleased for them.

Other good news, as you might have seen in the news section of the website, is that Hugh has been short-listed for the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, which take place next Tuesday. We’ll let you know with how he gets on and I’m sure the Racing Post will be reporting the outcome.

Another cause for celebration is that the Forest Heath District councillors last night voted with common sense and with the wishes and best interests of the local residents uppermost in their minds when rejecting plans for a four-storey, 75-bed hotel on the island near Waitrose. Anyone who has attempted to get in or out of our road recently when visiting the yard will know that this is already a traffic blackspot and any extra congestion will just add to the frustration felt by motorists at the nearby horse crossings. We simply cannot risk any more traffic congetion and chaos in this town and the council is beginning to listen to this, though extraordinarily, the hotel plans had already been approved by Newmarket Town Council. I’d like to say good onya to the Forest Heath councillors who opposed the application despite desperate urgings to the contrary by the Head of Planning at the council offices at Forest Heath, Richard Watson. Quite what his agenda was for so desperately wanting this project to proceed one can only guess at. One must also assume he does not live in Newmarket otherwise he would know what a complete nightmare it would have been for those of us who do.

The only piece of bad news this week and it’s really, really bad news that you will all have seen, is the terrible and tragic situation across Australia with bushfires raging in several states. Those that have been so devastating in Victoria are not far from where we were only a few weeks ago. Thankfully our friends in the area are safe but the pictures and stories broadcast this week have been heartbreaking to watch. Just remember, every time we moan about the rain, how desperately certain parts of the world need it.

Blowing hot and cold

Terrible absence but so much has been happening. Two weeks ago I was moaning about the heat in the Hunter Valley, now I'm moaning about the cold in Newmarket. If you've read John's blog then you'll know there was really no call for moaning on a superb Australian holiday taken straight after the new year. A better start to 2009 could not be imagined.
British Gas broke our boiler on our return when allegedly servicing it, leaving us with no heating for four days and refusing to do anything about it, even though it was their fault, as it was a weekend. Useless bloody company they are. I am still waiting for a call back from the manager of the so-called customer service centre more than a week later. I'll be changing suppliers and I urge you all to do so as British Gas clearly has no concept of the phrase 'customer service'.

Anyway, enough of boring British Gas and on to the more predictable topic of conversation, in this country anyway, the weather (again). Blimey, it's cold. The snow yesterday made for wonderful scenes on the heath, however. I just hope this has all blown over by the Cheltenham Festival. On the subject of which, I'd like to hear Problem Walrus' tips and any from anyone else. Can't wait to see Denman return this weekend if racing goes ahead.

It's hard to imagine what it must be like in a yard the size of Paul Nicholls' stable. So many superstars and potential stars. From a small stable's perspective, however, it is always nice to see other similarly sized ventures do well and I have particularly enjoyed the successes of horses such as Diamond Harry and Starluck of late. Two really exciting horses for the Festival there. It was also lovely to see (old) Young Mick run so well in Dubai for George and Gaye Margarson. His prize-money for second has already more than justified the trip and let's hope he can add to the coffers with another few good runs at the Carnival, which is providing a weekly highlight, especially with so much racing having been called off.

From our little corner of Newmarket, it has been lovely to welcome two new faces to the yard in Risky Cry and Cape Roberto (pictured here together with Hugh and Martha). Risky, an adorable and huge chestnut steeplechaser from France, owned by Les Trois Amis, should have his first outing for John towards the end of the month (over hurdles) and Cape Roberto will be having a little break before a summer campaign. He's a beautiful horse by the same sire as Take Me There (Cape Cross) so let's hope a spell will freshen him up and that his owner Mike can look forward to some fun later in the year.

On the personal front, I'm really looking forward to the debut of Anis Etoilé, which should be in the spring. My fellow members of the Tri-Nations Partnership have been very patient and hopefully this will be rewarded. Everyone who rides her jumps off and raves about the way she moves. Let's hope their confidence is well-placed.