The horses continue to run well and it was yet more placings last week from our handful of runners. Gemma, Leanne and Jack took three-year-old Affection to Salisbury to make her stable debut in the 1m2f race for fillies.

Off a mark of 82 she ran very well to be third on ground that was softer than ideal. She also missed the start slightly which did not help her cause but she galloped all the way to the line and it was a pleasing effort.

Grand Clermont followed up his win at Uttoxeter with a good second at Worcester in a higher grade of race off a ten-pound higher mark.

Purple Owl returned to form in the maiden hurdle at Worcester the same evening and it was great to see him bounce back. The drop back in trip and return to better ground helped and his winning turn is surely not too far away.

The evening ended on a slightly lesser note with October Hill being brought down in her race. She held every chance at the third last hurdle when she was left with nowhere to go but thankfully she has returned home safely and is none the worse for the experience.

On Friday, I thought we had found Final Entry a good winning opportunity but he is a character and I am not sure he tried his hardest during the race. He did stay on well from two out to be nearest at the finish and be third but he does have the ability to win a race like that.

We sadly lost Order of the Dance at Uttoxeter on Saturday evening. Making his chasing debut, he jumped a big at the ditch and unfortunately he cut through his tendon sheath. Jack Tudor pulled him up quickly but with this injury there is nothing that can be done and he was put to sleep by the racecourse vet. My thoughts and sympathies are with his owner Aidan and Eileen who looked after him in the yard.

Our first runner this week will be at Stratford on Tuesday when Ocean Heights runs in the conditional jockey handicap hurdle over 2m2f and Paddy Hanlon rides.

On Wednesday, we have Cinammon Coco running at Worcester with Jack Tudor riding. He has just had the three starts for us and needs to show a lot more than he has on the racecourse so far. Later in the week, we have Mancero entered at Market Rasen on Friday in two races and Masterius entered in the bumper.

There is just one jumps meeting at the weekend up at Hexham on Sunday. We don’t have any entries but keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest stable news.

I am donning my top hat and tails for Royal Ascot on Tuesday and looking forward to my day out. While unfortunately we have no runners this year it will be nice to catch up with many people we see year in year out and enjoy a glass of champagne or two!

There is a high-class week of racing to look forward to and the Ascot Stakes is a race I look forward to on the first day. Willie Mullins trains the favourite again this year, Reaching High for the King and Ryan Moore rides.

Dave Pipe was speaking to Richard Walsh.