I'm dreaming of a white Easter

It's hard to believe the Easter weekend is upon us so soon. It feels like we've only just dismantled the Christmas tree. Equally hard to believe is the really grim weather we're having at the moment, which is apparently set to get worse with heavy snow forecast for Saturday.

I hope you like the vaguely religious image of this lovely little foal from the first crop of Librettist, outside the church in Gazeley. It's the best I can come up with for Maundy Thursday.

It's been a nice week getting back into the swing of things after Cheltenham. I've photographed a few foals which is always a delight, not done a very good job of tidying my office and today attended a press morning at James and Jacko Fanshawe's lovely Pegasus Stables.

James and Jacko were very welcoming and laid on a delicious lunch. They proudly showed off a number of the yard's good horses, such as Classic hopefuls Spacious and Sir Gerry, along with jumpers Song Of Songs and Buster Hyvonen and old favourites from the flat Cesare and Zidane. The morning also marked the launch of their new website www.jamesfanshawe.com.

All the horses looked well but the real eye-catcher was Spacious (pictured with James and her jockey Jamie Spencer) who is a really statuesque filly. I'd love to see her sire Nayef have a really top-class horse and hope that she's going to be the one to do it for him. James' previous 1,000 Guineas runner was Soviet Song, who finished fourth but we all remember what a star she went on to be.

John and I were remarking the other day that sometimes the fillies' Classics winners don't stick in your mind as much as the colts do but a look back at the 1,000 Guineas of 2003 tells a different story. It was no disgrace whatsoever for Soviet Song to be fourth that year when you look at the fillies who finished in front of and behind her. Occupying first, second and third were Russian Rhythm, Six Perfections and Intercontinental, who won nine G1s between them. Soviet Song won four herself and then down the field were the Oaks winners and place-getters of that year Casual Look, Yesterday and Summitville. A fine year, and let's hope this one will be the same.

Of course, I'm torn now. Having seen Spacious, I'll have to root for her because she's lovely and I always enjoy following horses from the Fanshawe yard (especially the jumpers with their phenomenal Cheltenham strike-rate). The problem is, we have the prospect of Panto's girlfriend Natagora returning to Newmarket to follow up her Cheveley Park win with Guineas glory.

Even as a two-year-old she was a magnificent strapping filly who dwarfed Panto when he chaperoned her at exercise on the morning of the race. I can't wait to see how she's done over the winter. I suppose stamina will be a slight query for her whereas Spacious should be fine in that department. The prospect of such a race really has got me excited about the start of the flat, even though I'm dreading the Brocklesby.

At the risk of being shunned by Team Fanshawe (right), we'll be volunteering Panto's services when Natagora returns to Newmarket but if his behaviour of the last few days is anything to go by I might have to have a word in his ear before then.

Possibly a bit fresh after having a week off while I was away at Cheltenham, he took a great dislike to the gaggle of journalists and photographers on the heath on Wednesday morning with William Haggas. He started to eye them warily as we got to about the three-furlong pole on Warren Hill then leapt sideways and shot off, covering the final furlong faster than I've ever known him to, apart from when he bolted with me on our wedding morning.

And just now, as I settled down to write, I spotted him rearing up out in the back paddock. Belle Annie was really to blame for winding him up as Hugh was bringing them all in. She never misses an opportunity for silliness but really, this is most un-Panto-like behaviour. He'll have to brush up his act if he is to retain his title of lead horse to the stars.

We have a busy weekend in store with Lucy, my old boss from H&H, coming to stay with her husband and daughter on Friday night. I'm hoping the snow won't prevent Lucy riding out on Newmarket Heath for the first time on Saturday morning. Anthony will be with us all weekend too and an Easter egg hunt round the yard is planned for Saturday afternoon.