First of all a belated Happy New Year to you all. As many of you know the year end, and start to 2011 was a particularly difficult period for myself. It was also a quiet time for us after Johnny was claimed therefore the horses were temporarily put on the back burner so to speak but normal service has now resumed.
Better weather in recent weeks has meant our trainers have been able to get to work with the horses in a more consistent pattern and reports have been encouraging all round. William Haigh has grown and is looking in great shape, PJ Mcdonald was very sweet on him when I managed to catch up with him for a few minutes at Wolverhampton on Friday evening.
The son of Haafhd was gelded a few weeks ago after PJ just felt he was mucking about a bit and becoming coltish. He is back cantering now and everything went sweet as a nut, oh dear, pardon the pun.
Our grey son of Act One has now been named Fatty Foulke. Fatty was a late starter as he was left to develop physically in 2010, the penny has started to drop with him in recent weeks and is begiining to please Alan and the team. Fatty Foulke was born in Dawley, Shropshire and was a professional footballer in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was famous for his size, 6ft 4" and 24st, he played for Derbyshire at cricket and primarily Sheffield United and Chelsea as goalkeeper. He is also a member of the England " one cap wonder " club at football. William " Fatty " Foulke is a late relative of one of our members Ross Brierley for whom we help to honour the memory.
The son of Lawman has settled well in to the Abergavenny string of David Evans, Dave reports the juveniles has not so forward as in previous years but that is partly by design and part due to disruptive weather.
A few small shares are available in all bar William , so anyone who wants an interest for the 2011 flat season we are only an email or phone call away, or even a tweet at #Baronbabb, a name thrust upon me at William Hill radio before anyone asks.
We have long been looking at a stable visit to the yard of Alan Swinbank, weekends do look a little difficult, but the morning of April 5th, with an afternoon at Pontefract races is looking favourite at the moment. I hope to confirm in the next couple of weeks.
