STABLE Talk with Gloucestershire trainer Martin Keighley

LUCKY COOKIE TAKES THE BISCUIT FOR A DEBUT WIN

ONE More Cookie had Lady Luck shining down on her at Plumpton when she made her debut over hurdles under Alain Cawley.

She didn’t give Alain the easiest of rides and was nearly last with under a circuit to go.

However, she suddenly sprouted wings and came with a late burst to look booked for second at best approaching the last.

The leader jumped the flight of hurdles and then knuckled on landing and Cookie took full advantage, staying on strongly past two others to win by four lengths going away.

She will improve again when stepped up to three miles and should turn out to be a really nice mare.

It was our first winner for Welsh owner Rowland Crellin, for whom we also have a lovely four-year-old mare called The Wicked Kipper who is a full sister to Cheltenham Festival bumper winner Cue Card, who Rowland also bred.

Kipper should be making her debut on the racecourse next month and is doing everything nicely at home.

Cookie’s win took us on to our 29th winner of the season.

It also took us over the £200,000 mark of prizemoney earned by our owners for the first time, which is a huge achievement.

Champion Court and Havingotascoobydo came back in from their short breaks a few days earlier than planned as the weather turned so cold they wouldn’t have enjoyed being outside overnight.

They both had about ten days out, though, and we can now crack on with their individual build-ups to the Festival and look for a ‘prep’ race for both of them sometime in February.

Just one runner tomorrow, All For Free, who has a couple of options at Ascot.

I am favouring running him in the novices’ handicap chase over two miles and three furlongs where he should have a cracking chance.

He’s a progressive horse who then deserves a crack at a race at the Festival.

On Sunday I plan to run Ukrainian Star and Bold Tara at Towcester.

Ukrainian Star returns to the scene of his Boxing Day win over fences there and I am hopeful of another good showing.

He’s won over both hurdles and fences this season and is a real favourite in the yard.

Bold Tara makes her debut over hurdles. She has jumped well at home, so I’m hoping won’t be fazed by them.

The track should suit her and she should be thereabouts too. Alain Cawley rides both.

For more information about Martin’s stable, visit Martinkeighleyracing.com

POPHAM RARING TO GET BACK IN SADDLE AFTER OP

I AM delighted to report that Ian Popham’s operation to remove the metalwork in his pelvis on Wednesday went well and he was home the same afternoon, albeit a little sore.

He has to go back for another X-ray in a couple of weeks just to ensure everything is okay, but it all sounds positive and he’ll visit us as soon as he can.

He cannot wait to get into Oaksey House in Lambourn, a residential rehabilitation home for jockeys funded by the Injured Jockeys Fund.

He has had hospital physiotherapy recently and has been frustrated by them not pushing him as hard as they might.

Jockeys are not like normal people. They are desperate to get back to what they love doing, riding racehorses, and their drive and determination usually gets them back to full fitness months earlier than doctors originally advise.

Oaksey House is a fantastic facility and has a dedicated team who are used to jockeys.

They have already helped a huge amount of jockeys return to race-riding fully fit and undoubtedly earlier than before it existed.