We've had a splattering of rain this week and it was enough to settle the dust on the heath but it would have done little to get some juice into the ground for the horses to gallop on so we are keeping them to the all-weather surfaces which are top-class in Newmarket.
Driving down to Kempton on Wednesday we went through plenty of rain on the M25 but it must have been very localised as the surrounding racecourses didn't register much at all.

Last week proved to be fruitless with Amberdaay not showing her true colours at Bath on Monday. She got quite worked up before the race and I don't think the big bank holiday crowd helped much with men on stilts and a lots of people next to the paddock. Her first run was much better than this so hopefully she can get back on track.

Smokey Malone was unlucky at Lingfield on Saturday when sent off favourite. We booked Jamie Spencer for the ride as he is a horse who needs to come with a late run and there's no better jockey for this style. Everything went to plan until the pair were about to make their move two furlongs out when the leader swerved across the track and into their path. Unfortunately he lost a lot of momentum and couldn't regain it so finished third. He needs plenty of luck but Smokey will be winning again soon.

This coming week looks a bit quieter with just one entry at Chelmsford on Saturday.
Fen Tiger will win when he gets some soft ground to run on but it doesn't look like that will be here anytime soon so he's having another run on the all-weather. He has form at the track so he should be in the shake-up again with some luck.

Ross, Alayna and Poppy will be jetting off to Kentucky this week for my nephew Adam Beschizza's wedding to Jorie. Most of you will know Adam from when he was an apprentice at the yard and he has of course gone on to much bigger things since then. His move to America five years ago has been a real success and, as well as riding plenty of winners, he has also found a woman willing to marry him! We wish him all the best on the day and for the future.

Buying new horses has been tricky in recent years as the price of them has been increasing all the time despite the world's financial worries. There's a strong market for older horses with good form to race abroad so we have struggled to buy from that sector meaning our focus has turned to purchasing younger, unraced horses and it looks to be paying off judged by the exciting two-year olds we have in the yard this season.
We added another juvenile to the roster this week after buying a lovely-looking colt from the Tattersalls Breeze-Up sale held in Newmarket on Thursday. As you might know, the breeze-ups are unique in that all the lots gallop in front of the public the day before selling so you get to see their action and attitude before bidding on them. It certainly helps get a bit more value for money as you can weed out the ones who you don't like and you don't have to wait as long for them to run compared to buying a yearling.
We went into the sale day with a shortlist and were delighted to come away with one of them and he comes from a family we know well. The new boy is a colt by the prolific winner producing sire Camacho and is a half-bother to Winter Snowdrop who won twice for us as a three-year old a couple of years ago. She was a really tough filly so it's good to know his attitude should be rock solid and he is a big, imposing horse who has plenty of scope to grow and strengthen up.
He is available for syndication with 10% shares priced at £2000 each plus £200 per month all-inclusive training fees.
For more information, check out his video below and drop me an email via juliafeilden@gmail.com

Last week's runners all did themselves proud with a load of good efforts despite not coming home in front. Mrs Meader finished third at Southwell and then followed three second place finishes from Smokey Malone, Engrave and Oud Metha Bridge. This was meant to be the latter's final run before retirement but he might have earned himself another race to two after this, I'll see what the handicapper does to his rating on Tuesday but it was great to see there's still a bit of spark left in him having looked uncompetitive in recent times.

We're back on the road this week with a couple of entries.
Amberdaay was a big eye-catcher on her debut at Nottingham a couple weeks ago and hopefully she can put that experience to good use at Bath on Monday. The form of that race is already working out well and it would be great to get a two-year old winner on the board this early in the season.

The other entry for the week will be Heer's Sadie at Kempton on Wednesday. She has strengthened up over her winter holiday but is still carrying a bit of condition so I expect her to improve for the run.