Today we travel to Doncaster with Oakwell and Crop Walker. Oakwell is a fairly new addition to the team who was previously in training with my cousin Sally Hall.

Oakwell due to make his debut for the yard at Doncaster

He is a good looking individual who although has only limited form on the flat seems to have enjoyed learning to jump. This looks a fairly warm Juvenile Hurdle but hopefully he should run well and we can learn alot.

As mentioned on a number of occassions Crop Walker’s medical book is impressive and his owner Irvine Lynch has been very patient and loyal. He is due to contest the 3 Mile 1 Furlongs Handicap Hurdle this afternoon aslong as Richie thinks the ground is safe for him. Although he has had a number of small problems he still retains his enthusiasm for the game.

Niall Hannity has been back riding out the last couple of days and his fitness and weight loss for Cheltenham looks to be going well to support the race and Niall you can visit his just giving page http://www.justgiving.com/NiallHannity

Turbolinas who runs at Wetherby this afternoon

A large competitive field go to post but this is a track which Turbo has won around  and he goes there in good heart. He did not enjoy the track at Catterick last time and should hopefully be suited more to the conditions today.

I am delighted to welcome Lauren Wilkinson to the yard originally from the North she has been working at Harry Dunlop for the past couple of seasons. She seems to be a great addition to the yard and has lots of enthusiasm.

I am currently engaging in a rain dance to hit Doncaster for Crop Walker tomorrow and Newcastle for Morgan Be at the weekend. Morgan is been aimed at the Eider Chase on Saturday and any rain would be in his favor.

Darnborough traveled to Ayr today and contested the 2 Mile Novice Hurdle this was his first run over hurdles. He jumped well and will come on for the run.

Lucy helping at Evening Stables with Tayto the dog.

Today I was assisted in evening stables by my grand daughter Lucy, she was keeping us all right and enjoyed feeding them with extra strong mints.

Tomorrow my trainer profile will be aired on RUK at 12 noon fingers crossed it comes across well. Niall did a great job but Im not sure about myself I love my time with the horses but Im still not great with the camera.

Everaard in green battling his way to victory

He once again showed true battling qualities and fought out the finish to win by a neck. He was named by David Elsworth and is one of the best named horses in racing. He has proved a real star and aslong as the frost gives way will enjoy a few days in the field.

Stopped Out also ran a solid race jumping well to finish 2nd behind a very useful looking sort in Bold Sir Brian who is trained by Lucinda Russell. We were happy with his performance and he can continue to progress.

Rumble of Thunder did not run his normal race and we will investigate and check him out over the next couple of days.

The cold weather is still with us in Middleham with temperatures struggling to get above freezing.

Everaard (Eddie) is our first runner in the Scottish Stayers Hurdle this is a step up in grade again but he seems to keep his best for Musselburgh and loves it around there winning his last 2 runs at the track.

Everaard winning at Musselburgh

He is on a feather weight and although he needs to steep up again I am hopeful he should run well.

Rumble of Thunder contests the Scottish County Hurdle over 2 Miles. He has been a great horse over the past year and owes us nothing. He ran a solid race last time out in another valuable handicap at Musselburgh only to make a mistake at the last flight. He does enjoy getting turned out most days though and with the current weather we have struggled to get him in the field.

Our final runner of the day is Stopped Out in the 2 Mile 4 Furlongs Novice Chase apart from a slight hiccup at Hexham earlier in the season he has done nothing wrong he seems well at home and I think he should run well although this looks a competitive race with the highly talented Bold Sir Brian in the race.

The cold weather from last season luckily we are not this bad!!

The card at Musselburgh in particular was very good with excellent money on offer with no racing in the North next weekend I am hoping that they will re-schedule the fixture. As soon as I have finished this udpate I will be e-mailing the BHA to ask if this is at all possible.

Niall Hannity has completed a trainer file on the yard for RUK where a clip of it was aired over the weekend. It will be shown in full during the month once I know exact dates I will post this information. It was a good experience and hopefully raises the profile of the yard further. Niall is in full swing and doing really well at getting fit and losing weight to ride in the charity race at Cheltenham in aid of Cancer Research. In order to support this great charity and Niall please visit his link - http://www.justgiving.com/NiallHannity

Morgan Be Far Side Winning at Newcastle

Following the win of Morgan Be at Newcastle the handicapper raised him 4 pounds he seems well at home and the Eider remains the plan. The horses still seem in great heart and I am hoping that this cold weather will give way soon.

Morgan Be Closest to us

He has been a great servant over the years winning 6 races and been placed in some good races including twice in the Eider Chase at Newcastle. Today he does not tackle the 4 miles required in the Eider but the reduced distance of 3 miles. He seems really well at home and hopefully the ground should suit although he does like the ground on the sloppy side. We hope he will run well in what looks to be a competitive race.

Today we travel to Musselburgh with Embsay Crag who makes his handicap debut in the 2 Mile Handicap Hurdle woth £10,000.

Embsay due to run at Musselburgh today

He was successful at Wetherby on his last start and was awarded a rating of 119. I am undecided if I think this was a fair rating or not. But he seems to have taken to hurdling well, enjoys his racing and is well at home so we are heopful that he should run well.

Pen Gwen ran a good race at Wetherby to finish 4th he is a great horse for James and Scott to ride. James gave him a good ride and he will continue to run in similar races.

Pen Gwen travels to Wetherby today and contests the 2 Mile 4 Furlongs Conditional Jockeys Handicap Hurdle and will be ridden by James.

Scott (left) and James (right) riding out in the summer

I have kept him for Scott and James to ride as both of them work really hard in the yard, ride well and are keen to get going. Pen Gwen is a good schoolmaster for them who jumps well (touch wood) can run over a range of distances and grounds. The step back up to 2 Mile 4 Furlongs should suit and he seems well.

We were sad to loose Gemma Tutty on Saturday. Gemma has been a great asset to the yard who was a great worker and team player. She has left as the opportunity has arisen to become an apprentice jockey at Noel Wilson’s. We wish her all the best in her new role.