Optimaths and old friends

The great news is that Lady Suffragette (pictured) has been back in a bit of light work over in Ireland after nine months off to recover from her tendon injury. Now in the ownership of Aisling, Lady S is boarding with John Halley in Co Limerick and is, by all accounts, being spoilt rotten. After a bit of walking and trotting, she will have another few months off before coming in to get fit for the next hunting season.

I rode out with Aisling this morning and she is enjoying her new association with Ben Bhraggie. Ben is the epitome of a slow learner (and I learnt the word for that this week from Louise Parry: optimath) but he is really starting to get the hang of being a racehorse and did a nice swinging canter up Long Hill this morning with Panto while John and Gemma worked Ethics Girl and Stardust Memories on the Al Bahathri. It was a joy to be out this morning - hazy sun creeping up over Warren Hill and horses silhouetted in the distance with steam rising from them. It's easy to take Newmarket Heath for granted but it really is a privilege to be part of such a picture postcard.

Gail and I have been seeing a lot more of the heath this week as we've embarked on a serious fitness campaign ahead of a, ahem, significant birthday for each of us. The legs are feeling it a bit today and we've a long way to go to catch up with the likes of Dawn and Gemma, who run marathons for fun, but it's a start.

The stable numbers have been boosted by two new faces in the last week: a Fantastic Light filly and a Whipper gelding, both two-year-olds. The filly, Asterisk, has done some pre-training with James Given, but the gelding is completely unbroken. He's an outgoing character though and seems to have settled in very quickly to his new surroundings. And before I sign off, I've also had word recently of another old friend, My Obsession. He is now in retirement from racing but enjoying an active life not far from here with Vikki Shaw. It's been lovely hearing news of his progress from Vikki. 'Mobs' was always a wonderful character and we're so glad he's in good hands. Good luck to them both.