Catch that pigeon

I always read with interest the 'Catching Pigeons' section of Paul Nicholls' column in Saturday's Racing Post, mostly in the (now seemingly vain) hope of seeing Take Me There's name in it. I've been wondering about him since his last run. He didn't look very comfortable as he finished and I'd love to know how he is but feel it's not really my place to enquire. Let's hope he fulfils his owners' dreams by making it to Cheltenham for the Bumper.

I think the headline is a bit of a misnomer anyway. The Warren Hill pigeons, perhaps bolder than those at Ditcheat, sit on the running rails each side of the canter and have been partaking of daring kamikaze-style low-flying antics straight at the horses as we've passed them most mornings this week. I'd love to think that Panto's exercise routine is of a sufficiently high standard to set the Newmarket work watchers abuzzing but, as he's only steady cantering each day at the moment, I fear it's simply that the pigeons, once hunted by the air gun-toting Squeak, realise they can take it easy now that he's moved to Sweden.

The last few mornings have been much more spring-like and the force nine gales have abated. Panto and I have spent two days alongside Hugh, first on Imperial Decree and today on Anis Etoilé. Both fillies seem to enjoy being back and have adopted a much more mature outlook to their work. Hugh gets them both going along really nicely. He's a sensitive rider, to whom the horses respond really well and carry themselves in a nice outline. You don't see enough of that on the Heath. Of course with young, fresh thoroughbreds, the most important thing for a rider in a big, open space is to stay on board and in touch with the rest of the string. Good riders really stand out from the average, though, when managing to get their horse to relax and bring his head round and down nicely, going forward on the bit. I'd be the last to criticise any other rider as I am not only lacking in style but also in courage (that is not a cry for praise, simply the truth and if it wasn't for Panto, I'd hardly ever be seen riding out) but I really do like to see a horse carrying itself well and this is in most cases aided greatly by a good rider. The above picture of Hugh and Anis was taken last September (I have not yet mastered John's trick of taking pictures while cantering) but you can see from this how well balanced he is and that he doesn't fall into the trap of riding unnecessarily short.

I had a great start to the day by photographing Doyen's half-brother, the last foal of the great mare Moon Cactus, who died when foaling him. Her Oaks-winning daughter Moonshell died shortly after her in similar circumstances which was a real blow for the family. Now two, the colt is by Singspiel and we've been tracking him since he was born for the foal diary on the Darley Kids website (see pics on www.darleystallions.com/darleykids). This has been a real treat for me. I love Singspiel and Doyen and to follow such a lovely horse as he's been growing up has been fantastic.

Not named yet, the colt is currently at Darley's pre-training yard and I imagine he will join Godolphin at some stage. I can't wait to see him on a racecourse. He has a bit of white round his eye on his off-side just like his dad. This eye seems to follow you wherever you go. He's inquisitive and quite cheeky and, probably as a result of being orphaned and handled perhaps slightly more than others at a very young age, he's always been a bold character and was certainly the ring leader when turned out with several other yearlings last year. As you can tell, I'm very keen on this horse and will be tracking his racing career with great interest, hoping he's a pigeon-catcher of the future. 2009 Derby, perhaps? I sincerely hope so.