A great start to 2010 with ‘Nomecheki’ winning the ”attheraces.com with free Timeform  Novices Steeple Chase at Plumpton on Sunday 3rd January for the ‘Stewart’ family.  It was so brilliant that Plumpton could go ahead with racing when so many other tracks had failed to do so. 

Since then the weather went from bad to worse.  National Hunt Racing being brought to a standstill, the Racing Post becoming somewhat lighter and it was proving very difficult to get the horses out for exercise and to keep the team spirit high.  It was a great spectacle to see the horses out on the gallops in the snow, have a peek in the news section www.nickgiffordracing.co.uk.  

When finally we said goodbye to the white stuff some of the horses had lost a bit of fitness and just needed to get on the track.  However they are now all on great form, proven by a fantastic double at Lingfield on the 25th January.   After  the snow holding everything up, it is brilliant for the yard to be fully back on form with One Corneto’ ridden by our stable jockey ‘Liam Treadwell’  romping home ten lengths clear in the  ‘Lingfield Park Sporting Membership Handicap Chase over 2 miles.  Only his second race in over 900 days off the track.   Then in the next race Liam Treadwell did the business again on ‘General Kutozov’ in the Marriot Play & Stay Maiden Hurdle.   Long may it continue, no doubt a few celebrations will be had by the winning owners ‘Mrs Carrie Zetter-Wells and Barkfold Manor Stud as well as the lads of course.  The trainer may have had a little G&T!