As expected, Annie Mc is showing no ill-effects after her very minor issue last week, and we’ve had her back out cantering as usual, so we’ve not lost any time with her. Weather permitting obviously, we have a few options for her next run. There’s the Doncaster race on December 29th that she’s won before, but we’ll also look at Chepstow on the 27th, and Cheltenham on New Year’s Day as alternatives. We'll make up our mind nearer the time depending on the likely ground and opposition.

Like much of the UK, we’ve had plenty of snow here this week, but like all trainers, the show has to go on, the horses have to stick to their routine, and that means the hardest working member of the staff has been the snow plough driver who has kept the gallops clear! We’re lucky in that we have a big, covered school here as well, so we can do plenty with them. We also have plenty of staff living on site, as there are those who may not be able to get in, depending on where they live, so all in all we can keep going as near to normal as possible, which is important. 

It is frustrating to lose meetings, but it’s no one’s fault, and we’re all in the same boat with so many cancellations. We do have plenty of horses ready to run, so we have to keep them ticking over and hope things improve before too long as we approach a busy time of the season.

Jonjo O'Neill