I was hopeful we would get off the mark for the year with our runners last week but, as is normally the case, not everything went to plan and we were left wondering what could have been.
That's not to say it was a disappointing week at all. Gas Monkey ran a blinder to finish second at Kempton on Wednesday and he continues to be a fast-improving horse. He had to drop in from his wide draw and didn't get the clearest of runs through in the straight so the half a length he was beaten looked a bit unlucky. He has come out of it well though and should be back for some compensation in a couple of weeks time. I imagine he'll be the star horse for the N.E.T. Racing Club this year and he should give members some great days out. We've had plenty of new members join recently and you can find out more about the Club on our OWNERSHIP page.

Earlier in the week Sea Shack ran his best race yet for us when 4th at Wolverhampton. He did well to get to the front from his wide draw but that probably cost him in the end as he ran out of petrol but I feel we are getting to the bottom of the horse now and hopefully he can continue to improve.

This week will likely see us with a trio of runners but hopefully they all have a chance.
Maazel is entered at Lingfield and Kempton on Wednesday and I'm favouring the former at the moment but I'll watch the declarations and pick whichever race looks the easier opportunity. He has been incredibly unlucky not to win recently but he does need everything to go his way as he is a hold-up horse who needs a strong early pace. He is taking his racing well and ought to be in with a shout.

On Thursday we have two entries at Southwell.
Majestic Moon has been very consistent at this track in recent winters but he didn't look the same horse at Wolverhampton last time. Maybe the deep surface at Southwell is more to his liking and I hope that he can bounce back from that effort as he is very well handicapped nowadays.
Likewise Oceanus is coming down to a rating he should win off and, although he is best on soft turf, he has some OK course form to his name so should be in the thick of things.

After a quiet week without a single runner and not too much going on in the yard either with many of the team just on walking exercise as they come back from their winter holidays, we'll be springing back to life this week with a load of runners.
That's hoping we survive Monday morning first as all the ones who have been walking for the past couple of weeks will be ridden again for the first time to go for a trot and the horses are expected to be a bit fresh! Fingers crossed everyone can stay in the saddle and the relief is that the first day is the worst day - they are far more sensible from Tuesday onwards!

Kicking off the runners will be a pair at Wolverhampton on Monday.
Majestic Moon is a very consistent horse but finds winning quite hard so it may be that he needs a little help from us so he will be running in a claiming handicap this time. In these races, the trainer effectively sets the weight the horse has to carry based on the price they are put in to be bought for and I hope I've set a weight which gives him a chance but is high enough to put people of buying him as I don't want to lose him but that's the risk you face in these races. To help further, promising apprentice Toby Eley will be riding and he takes another 7lbs off the horse's back. He hasn't run at Wolverhampton before but I don't see why he shouldn't like it.
Sea Shack's chance in the last race of the evening looks to have been blown by the wide draw he has been given. He's well handicapped and in good health at home but it'll be tricky to win from stall 13.

On Tuesday we'll be battling the M25 motorway to get to Kempton with Wilson.
He bounced back to form with a cosy win at Lingfield last time and, despite going up 4lbs in the ratings, I think he can still be competitive off his new mark. Seven furlongs seems to be his best trip and he has recovered well from a heel infection which meant he had to miss his last run.

On Wednesday we have three entries and I reckon all of them will take their chance.
It is no secret that Gas Monkey is a bit of a pet to me after he became the first winner I have bred when winning last year. I have been very patient with him and didn't give him too many races last year as he was still developing but he showed very good form on each of his runs. He'll be better this year and goes well fresh so I hope he can be in the prize money once again and give the N.E.T. Racing Club something to shout about.

Also there will be Winter Snowdrop having her first ever run. She came to us in the autumn and has strengthened up a lot in that time but I think she will need the run for experience and will be a better horse when she is fully matured a bit further down the line.
The third runner is Telekinetic. She was very similar to Winter Snowdrop in that she needed time to mature but I think she is getting there now and the handicapper has given her a fair rating after her three runs in novice races. She is working well at home now and I hope she can start to get her career into action now that she is in handicap races.

A blank day on Thursday gives us a chance to get our breaths back before racing again on Friday.
Lulu Star is entered at Kempton but looks unlikely to get a run which is a hame because I thought the conditions of the race suited her very well.
Maazel should definitely get a run at Lingfield the same day and he will once again be coming with a late charge, just hopefully this time the early pace will be fast so he can be seen to best effect. He is a winner waiting to happen, he just needs things to fall right for him.