THIS week has seen very few runners on the track but there is plenty of work going on behind the scenes. Lots of the horses have run well recently but a winner has just evaded us.

From our ten runners in the last week we have managed a second, five third placings and a fourth, so the horses have been running well but just hitting the cross bar!

It was a personal best from Givehimthehonour to be third at Southwell last week, his best run since joining us from Ireland. Follow the Plan, River Run Free and Eton Mes all filled the same positions on Friday.

On Saturday, Jaipaletemps ran a career best to finish second at Chepstow in a valuable contest. From a career high mark of 118 and not having Rian Corcoran’s claim this time it was a good effort as he served it up to the eventual winner all the way along the home straight and only just lost out in the battle on the run in.

Green Sky made a very pleasing flat and all-weather debut for us at Lingfield on Saturday to be a close fourth. Gina Mangan gave her a nice ride from the front and they were only just collared close home and only beaten 1.5 lengths at 100/1. The jockey thought Wolverhampton may suit our mare better and she is likely to have another spin on the flat while the ground remains so testing over jumps.

On Sunday, Penn Avenue ran another solid race to be third at Hereford, staying on strongly at the finish to close on those just in front of her. She doesn’t seem to mind what the ground is and this race qualifies her for a valuable mares handicap hurdle up at Kelso next month.

Phantomofthepoints was a little disappointing in the National Spirit hurdle at Fontwell on Sunday. He has returned home safe and sound and we will freshen him up before we go again.

It is a quiet start on the runners front this week but we have a runner on the all-weather at Southwell on Tuesday. Final Entry runs in the 8pm handicap over two miles and Jack Dace rides, and whatever happens, it will be nice to get him back jumping in the near future.

Our first jumping runners of the week are likely to be at Taunton on Thursday. Saccary and Pachacuti are our two entries and we will decide if they run or not on Tuesday morning.

Ocean Heights has an entry on the flat at Chelmsford on Thursday and also at Southwell on Saturday and is likey to take up one of those engagements. Way of Stars and Activist have entries at Newbury on Friday. so keep checking the Daily News on the website for all the latest news on the stable runners and what might be running over the weekend.

I am taking part in a couple of Cheltenham Festival Preview evenings ahead of racing’s big week. I wil be at Tiverton Gold Club on Thursday evening this week for my first appearance and then will be at Bridgwater Rugby Club on Friday 6th March alongside Johnson White and our host Tom Malone among others. Tickets are still available for this evening and can be bought via: www.buytickets.at/marketeerscc/2035498.