The Point to Point season drew to a close and one by one, the horses started going out on their holidays. We had a handful of National Hunt summer runners that have stayed in work and 5 Stores that were purchased across the Store Sales that have been broken in and continued their education for a few weeks before enjoying a break.

After the excitement of the National Championship, we still had Holiday Fund to run at Bratton Down the following weekend. He stormed home from the back of the last and galloped on strongly up the long Bratton Down run-in to win by ½ length. It was a shame that the Championship had finished the week before but it was also nice to finish our season with a win for the Blackmore Racing Club, who have had a perfect first season with five winners.

We all as a team headed to Umberleigh to enjoy a rare opportunity to go Pointing with no horses. We all had a lovely picnic and had a lovely afternoon in the sun catching up with friends and plenty of our lovely owners. Everyone headed to Hatherley Manor for the National Point to Point Awards at the end of June which was thoroughly enjoyable.

The National Hunt horses have been running well. Moon Lady ran a fab race at Bangor, just getting touched off by ½ length. Unfortunately she did not enjoy the hustle and bustle in Handicap company on her next run and ran disappointingly. We will look to campaign her back in a Novice or Maiden next time out. Ghost Jury, a new recruit for us, has run well on both her starts for us. Albeit being keen and needing to learn to settle, there is ability there and she has now joined the 4racing Owners Club to run alongside Our Dylan who has enjoyed a small mid summer break before an autumn campaign. 

Kayley and Lauren have been busy with the Sales over the summer. They came home with two Stores from Tattersalls May Store Sale, a gelding by Jet Away and a filly by Dragon Dancer. This sale has been very successful for Blackmore Farm with the likes of Tigga Time, Big Bert and Mount Mason being purchased there. A trip to the Goffs IRE Arkle Sale saw a lovely son of Idaho come home and looks to be a nice forward sort. We purchased two Horses In Training at  Doncaster Goffs UK Summer Sale. Nelson Criq and Lemoine who are both off the National Hunt track having ran some decent races. They both will make the switch to Point to Points and look ideal Maiden prospects. They had a less successful trip back to Tattersalls for their July Sale coming home empty handed. 

Steph and Lalor have been taking the dressage scene by storm. He has taken to it like a duck to water and he is a true credit to Steph. They have won the majority of their outings and nothing seems to phase him. He looks a picture in his tests and they have qualified to go to the ROR National Championships at Aintree on the 22nd August. Lalor will go with ex inmate Enormouse, who has also qualified with Sophie Hawke.

The staff have all been enjoying some time off and the yard has been pressure washed, creosoted and painted ready for the horses to start coming in, which the first bunch have already. The next few months will consist of plenty of road work and getting everything prepared for our Owners Day in September.