The flat season doesn't ever really get going until the Craven meeting here in Newmarket and for us it really kicks off with the first Yarmouth meeting which takes place on Tuesday.
It has seemed like a long winter on the all-weather and the recent chilly spell has made it seem a bit longer but it'll be great to be back beside the seaside and thankfully a small number of owners are allowed to attend again.
As ever, we will be out in force at Yarmouth with five runners. The ground is forecast to be fast but they should all handle it fine. Some of the team will be having their first run of the year after a winter holiday so I expect they will all improve for the run but they should be fit enough to do themselves justice.

First up will be Spanish Mane and she is probably the best chance of the day too. She had a great year in 2020 with three wins and her work at home has been better than ever so hopefully there is still more to come. Our apprentice Sam will be having his first professional ride on her but she won all her races last year with inexperienced jockeys so that isn't a problem and she is a very straightforward ride. Hopefully they can put in a good show.

Fields of Berries came to us over the winter and is a big filly who probably needs to strengthen up a bit more. The run will be good experience for her and hopefully she can show some promise.
In the other division of this race we have another two runners - Winter Snowdrop and Valletta Sunset. The latter has been very disappointing since showing promise early in his career and we're just hoping that the return to turf might perk him up.
Snowdrop ended last year in great form and has come out of her winter holiday looking a lot stronger so hopefully she can continue her progress but I think she will need the run as she can be a stuffy horse.

Rounding off the afternoon will be Cabrini making her debut. We bought her from the Crisford yard in the autumn and the plan will be to try and win a race with her this year as she is very well bred. Maiden races might be a bit tough for her so handicaps are the plan later down the line but she is a nice filly who is worth remembering for the future.

We have a blank day on Wednesday to get our breath back before another three horses are entered on Thursday.
Alibaba had a successful 2020 and we've been waiting for some decent ground to make his return this year but it has been a bit firm everywhere. Beverley seemed to have some cut in the ground at their meeting last week so hopefully it'll be ok and the uphill finish makes it a bit less harsh too. He ran a great race at the track as a two-year old and is fit and ready to run well. He might be a bit high in the weights but maybe he will surprise us.
Going up north with him will be Mrs Meader. She has only ran once for us when second at Newmarket before picking up a little injury. She is fully healed now and fit to run so it would be nice if she could run another good race although we are still learning about her.

The third entry on Thursday is Heer's Sadie at Chelmsford. She could go to Doncaster on Saturday as well and wherever she does go, it'll be her third run to qualify for handicaps which is where she will be seen to best effect.

Rounding off a busy week will be some other Saturday entries. Raha and Oud Metha Bridge might have a run at Doncaster but the ground conditions will need to be suitable as neither would appreciate firm ground. If things are ok, I don't see why they shouldn't run well.

The new season couldn't have got off to a better start and it is all down to Engrave. She got a win on the board last week at Chelmsford and just seven days later she did the business again back at the Essex venue. With no forecast front-runner in the field, she had to do her own donkey work in front this time but jockey Dylan Hogan rode a very sensible race and had plenty up his sleeve towards the finish to win by almost two lengths.

Hopefully it can be an exciting year for Engrave's owners the N.E.T. Racing Club with four horses to run for them including new recruit Shifting Gold.

The other runner for the week wasn't disgraced either with Heer's Sadie outrunning her 200/1 odds when not beaten far at Wolverhampton on Saturday evening. She has improved a lot since her debut the time before and should be in for a good year later on in handicap races.

The unseasonably dry weather has been more than welcome to us all working in the yard each morning but it has mucked up our running plans slightly with firm ground being the theme at most tracks across the country. Alibaba had to miss his race at Leicester on Friday due to the ground drying up and he'll need a shower or two to hit Nottingham if he is to run there on Saturday. 

Before then we have a couple of other entries.
Piranhadrama showed plenty of speed last time so the drop back in trip to 5f at Windsor on Monday should be ideal. We're still learning about her but hopefully she can show some promise.
The other entry is on Thursday at Newcastle. Party Planner is another horse who doesn't want firm ground so opportunities are a bit limited for her at the moment. The uphill finish and long straight at the course should suit her so hopefully she can make the trip up north worthwhile.