My annual Open Day for owners and guests was a great success at the stables yesterday.

Following from a tremendously successful week on the track with a quick-fire double from Cruise Tothelimit and Conry’s success on Saturday night at Wolverhampton, the mood the yard was upbeat.

Blessed by beautiful late summer sunshine, and thanks to wonderful organisation by my office manager Denise and with great support from my family and staff, the day could not have gone any better.

We had a terrific start to the day with the Drumlang and Teak showing off their jumping skills in a morning schooling session under the guidance of Will Kennedy and Robbie McCarth.

The uphill gallop was the next venue, with Zafranagar and Virgil Earp taking two spins in front of a large crowd.

Following on was a trip to the equine pool to see two horses put through their paces in the cold water, whilst Jason Medcroft, our farrier, did a shoeing demonstration in the yard.

Click here to see a short video from the morning activities 

The main event was then staged on the main drive – a parade of forty of my best horses, which fittingly concluded with Cruise Tothelimit taking time from his turnout paddock to take a victory walk up in front of the staff and guests. He looked fresh and well, despite having raced and won at Haydock and Thirsk on the Friday and Saturday – the latter success completing my full set of winners at all UK racecourses.

After that hectic morning, everyone settled down for a relaxed lunch in the new yard, with entertainment from a jazz quartet and a supremely skilled magician. The caterers reported that they served 375 portions of an excellent hog roast, which even allowing for the greediest guests going up for seconds, meant that the final total of owners and guests at the yard was over 300.

The initial feedback has been very positive and I am already planning improvements and new features for the 2015 Open Day!