JANUARY is always a quiet month in Ditcheat. The horses get their flu jabs and have an easy time, and the boss takes a well-earned holiday in the sun.

The quiet period on the racetrack, is not reflected in life in the yard however. The cold weather that is associated at this time of year gives us a headache and many freezing cold mornings and late evenings are spent in the back of our trusty old “big red” Ford Ranger, gritting the roads to and from the gallops.