It is a while since I contributed to this page - apologies.

Having got to the 'halfway' stage of the season - in the old days Glorious Goodwood was always when retainers/change of jobs were announced for the following year.

It has been a full on first half of the season, Westover's performances in the Sheema Classic (2nd), Coronation Cup (2nd) and Grand Prix Saint Cloud (1st) were terrific. But his effort in the King George VI and QEII Diamond Stakes (2nd) was undoubtably his best, and perhaps the highlight of the flat season so far.

Remarquee's efforts on the back of her Fred Darling win, in the Coronation Stakes and Falmouth (both 2nd) were laudable, as was Bluestocking's effort (2nd!) in the Irish Oaks.

Jimi Hendrix and Sonny Liston came home 1st and 2nd in the ultra competitive Royal Hunt Cup at Royal Ascot.

Kinross snaffled the Group 2 Lennox at Glorious Goodwood, and in the process helped make us the leading trainer at the meeting, for the first time.

Journalist Chris Cook rang up yesterday to tell me that July was our best month ever (22 wins), and we have started August well too; 71 winners for 2023 so far.

York is imminent; as are the yearling sales (Deauville starts on the 18th August), the year has gone quickly.