I’M pleased to report that the weather is improving, and so has my luck.
Rides have been fairly limited but I had a cracker on Tuesday, Lord Landen for my boss Fergal in a handicap chase at Leicester – and it won by 12 lengths. It was an easy victory and I'd like to think it can win again.
I’ve managed a few other rides over recent weeks for various trainers, which as I explained in my last column, is key to broadening my contacts and picking up extra rides when possible.
I finished third in a handicap hurdle for trainer Conor Dore on a horse called Belle De Fontenay and travelled to Taunton two days later to finish second on Polly Gundry’s Young Cheddar in a mares’ novices’ hurdle.
Fergal also put me up on nice horse, Jenny’s Surprise, in a NH Flat race at Warwick last Friday. She finished a pleasing second and will be a great jumper for the future.
I’ve really enjoyed watching some of the Winter Olympics action on television. I absolutely love skiing and have been lots of times while I was growing up, but my favourite sport by far in Sochi has been the curling. I have to admit my new found love of the sport may be something to do with the Team GB ladies!
My brother Kieran has had a good week. He rides on the Flat for Andrew Balding and came very close to his first winner last week at Lingfield Park where he was beaten a head.
Fingers crossed he gets that winner soon.
The People’s Horse, Gud Day, had a run on the polytrack at Kempton a couple of weeks ago.
The BHA kindly put on a jumpers’ bumper card so that some of the jumping horses who have been denied runs by abandonments could get a run. ‘Skippy’ wasn’t keen and much prefers jumping, so Fergal will wait for some better ground before entering him again.
Despite this, his followers for the day had a great time, some of them experiencing ownership for the very first time. If you would like to get involved you just need to follow
@peopleshorse on Twitter.
Entries were released for Cheltenham last week. Fergal has a handful to play with, including Down Ace, Alvarado, Silver Roque, and Chase The Spud. I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a ride or two!
q Conor Shoemark is sponsored by Agetur UK.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here