The horses continue in splendid form and although Bamboleo didn’t reach the winners’ enclosure, we did enjoy a treble on New Year’s Day and owner Malcolm Denmark did taste success on the Exeter card when Buddy Bolero made a winning chase debut.  Although his task was made somewhat easier by the underperforming favourite Ambion Wood, this was nonetheless a very good effort from our charge who was having his first start in over 12 months.  He jumped very well and stayed on resolutely to deny Theatrical Star – we have always thought plenty of him and I am sure that he will improve again when he is stepped up to three miles.

Swing Bowler was very good when extending her unbeaten run to five in a valuable handicap hurdle at Musselburgh and she continues to surprise and impress us in equal measure.  She looked to have a real race on her hands when landing a minor race at Newton Abbot the previous March but this was a real step forward.  Just for a moment she looked to be in trouble turning for home but she picked up in good style under Conor O’Farrell and came away to score nicely in the end.   There aren’t many that are still unbeaten after five runs so let’s hope that we can keep this great run intact for a while longer.

The hat-trick was completed when Home Run (pictured above) recorded his amazing fifth win in period of just 25 days by winning in the hands of Frank Hayes (the fourth claiming jockey from the yard to win upon him) up at Musselburgh.  Home Run has become something of a celebrity since starting his winning spree, even earning an early nomination from David Ashforth for horse of the year!  Whilst that might be a little fanciful you cannot crab any horse that wins five races, nevermind within the space of a month.  He may not be the most talented horse in the yard, but he is tough, presents the lads in the yard excellent opportunities and I would be happy to have plenty more like him.

It was another good day on Saturday when Grands Crus’ full brother Gevrey Chambertin (pictured right) proved an initial handicap rating of 130 to be on the conservative side when winning in good style under Tom Scudamore at Wincanton.  Gevrey Chambertin (and I’m not sure if it is the horse or the wine) is obviously a great tonic for part-owner Roger Stanley.  Roger was struck down with a serious bout of man flu and was unable to attend the races on Saturday, however having spoken to him this morning he is currently away skiing and clearly back in rude health…I would certainly like some of whatever it is that he is having!

Unfortunately Tom Scu’s impression of Anneka Rice, flying between Wincanton and Chepstow (a la Treasure Hunt) did not come to fruition as Master Overseer never really figured in the Welsh National.  This was a disappointing effort, although his big day came last time out when landing a Grade 3 chase at Cheltenham.  He is as tough as old boots and there will be other days for him, a comment that also applies to our other Welsh National runner Sona Sasta who unseated amateur rider Mikey Ennis.

We didn’t leave Chepstow empty handed however as Amigo produced a good effort to land the three mile handicap hurdle under Conor O’Farrell.  A good winner over hurdles and fences in France before joining us, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he wound up being a Welsh National type this time next season.  Until then however, I would imagine that he will remain over timber and could go to the Cheltenham Festival for something like the Pertemps handicap hurdle although his rating will need to rise in the meantime.

Michael Heard, one of the stable’s amateur jockeys enjoyed a good day on Sunday when recording a treble on the point-to-point card at Wadebridge.  Well done to him and to former inmate Faasel upon whom Michael won the Men’s Open.

Looking to the week ahead we will have runners tomorrow at Chepstow and Leicester, while we also have entries at Ludlow, Doncaster, Catterick, Huntingdon, Warwick and Wetherby later in the week.  For all the latest information on the stable runners you can keep up to date by checking Chester’s Daily Chat.