February 1 Alan plans to be more positive with stable-star Edwardstone in the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase next week – “we disappointed him when repeatedly taking him back over the two [...]
January 25 Cheltenham with its stiff uphill finish is a stiffer test than Kempton, so Alan is entitled to think that Es Perfecto, who finished third in a strong novice handicap chase on the [...]
January 21 January is always a quiet month for Alan, with the focus being getting all the flu vaccinations done, while precious few of the Barbury team relish the bottomless ground, which we have [...]
January 18 The forecast thaw might come too late to save this week-end’s meetings at Ascot, Market Rasen and Taunton, where we had a fistful of entries, though Lingfield’s all-weather [...]
January 11 It might not be BBQ weather this week-end, but Alan was pleased to see that precious little rain is forecast for Kempton and Warwick at least, having declared three horses for [...]
January 8 The most popular game to play for trainers over the Festive period was ‘Chase the Ground’, but only this week have underfoot conditions begun to improve and Doncaster, where [...]
January 1 Paradias, who ran a smashing race in unsuitable ground at Newbury on Saturday, remains an exciting young prospect, both for hurdling and the Flat, but, while we dream of the future for [...]
December 29 Alan is hoping to end 2023 on a high, and, though his three Newbury runners tomorrow are the high-profile representatives for Barbury, Ezmerelda proved the perfect hors [...]
December 28 Paul Nicholls tries to win the fourth Challow Hurdle in a row at Newbury on Saturday, courtesy of Captain Teague, but Alan hopes to spoil another Ditcheat celebration with Masaccio. [...]
December 26 Only 2mm of rain fell overnight at Kempton, but, while the official going is “good, good to soft in places”, the Sunbury course expects wind and rain on Wednesday morning, [...]