Breeders' Cup dream gives way to bumper reality

When I wrote my first diary in April, I had a realistic chance of watching one of my horses compete in California this weekend but instead I’ve got a bumper at Huntingdon to look forward to on Tuesday.

That sums up the rollercoaster ride of ownership – low expectations can be surpassed against the odds and anticipated targets can change dramatically overnight. It’s one reason why owning horses at all levels is so addictive. Unpredictability is what sport is all about, it’s just that this one has more volatility in its hopes and dreams index than most others.

The Flat season started with high aims – I had shares in nine horses in training – but through slow attrition there are now only four left. Aventinus will continue to run for his syndicate after a decent campaign in his two-year-old season. There are two unraced fillies – Lewinsky and Xylophone, who will hopefully make into good three-year-olds – and then Fabritius, whose long-awaited debut is imminent, albeit under National Hunt rules.