April 2026 blog

The Cotswolds basked in the continuing spring sunshine. Creamy coloured ewes grazed nearby fields, their lambs of brighter white never far away. Luscious greenery was interspersed by the vibrant primary colours of bluebells and dandelions. The yard mowers, be it pushed, sat on or towed behind a tractor, were out regularly, leaving the scent of cut grass a perfume permanently in the air.

Welly

Wellington Arch, known as Welly, did everyone proud when winning the William Hill Handicap Hurdle for the second year in a row at the Aintree Festival. He was very gutsy in running, carrying so much more weight and digging deep. There was a near-image photo of last year but this time with his new groom Chloe Cullen, who took over leading him up when former groom Verity Peers left to go travelling. Chloe deserved to look after a big winner as she has worked here long enough to have been a yardie, rider and a staff member who regularly swims the horses. Leading up Welly was her best day in racing so far and she portrayed such with her huge, ecstatic grin.

Hopefully, Welly will take Chloe to any more wins at big meetings.

The photo of Welly flanked by (left) head of travelling Alex Howitt and (right) groom Chloe Cullen

The End of the Season

The 2025-6 season came to end and, though far from the best numerically, there were many positives. Despite shutting down and not sending out runners through the crucial weeks around November, the Bosses, Jonjo and AJ, dusted themselves off, kept true to their actions and reaped the rewards in December when the winners started again. Behind the hardworking head lads, Alan Berry, Georgia Plumb and Johnny Kavanaugh, is an enthusiastic team. Our jockeys, Jonjo Junior, Richie McLernon, Kevin Brogan and Ben Macey are always there for us, whether it’s working and schooling at home, weighing out early, saddling at the races or riding winners. There are also the farrier, vets and physio, who we couldn’t do without.

Everyone is a metaphorical cog in this machine.

This season in numbers:

49 winners.

  £1.1 million in prize money.

2 Cheltenham Festival winners.

1 Aintree Festival winner.

My season in numbers:

1 Boxing Day winner (and my first at Aintree racecourse since 2011).

4 glorious nights away for Fairyhouse.

2 best-turned-out awards in Grand Nationals, one Welsh and one Irish.

Uncountable miles driven at breakneck, rallying speed to get my horse done, kids to nursery and myself at work for 08:30, dodging potholes, pheasants and cyclists in equal numbers.

A Crazy Life

Caring for kids and racehorses is a funny life, and time passes with both too quickly.

The little ones grow a size bigger, whilst remaining small and seeming impossibly big compared to the pervious six months. Crawling, walking as wobbly as drunks, walking more steadily, running – every millstone comes and goes fast.

Monbeg Genius is aged ten and our years together have also zipped by. Is Richie’s win on him first time out at rainy Ffos Las really five years ago in October? Every day at the races alongside him has been a joy, win or lose, and hopefully there’s a few more days still to come.

It may be a funny life but it’s also a great one, which I feel privileged to live whilst surrounded by two gorgeous kids, wonderful racehorses and a longsuffering husband Joe, who’s more patient than I’ll ever admit.

As I write this, the first horses have arrived in Punchestown, with the second load leaving on Wednesday, so we’re all hoping for a winner there to kick off towards the new season.