Pau update

Oratorio pulled off a very pleasing test yesterday he was very relaxed and focused and I was very pleased with how he went.  After Bicton he needed to be a bit more forwards and yesterday he certainly was, and he was rewarded. Frustratingly he made a silly mistake in one change and his halts weren’t as good as they normally are, which was expensive.  Otherwise no complaints and with 27.4 it had him in overnight lead, and he is now down in 5th.

Little Fire is still very bright eyed and bushy tailed and I am hoping he will knuckle down to some good work at 4.30pm (French time).

There is lots to jump on the cross country course and interestingly the optimum time is 11.50 and that is longer than we have gone for a long time.
The course is quite twisty, with turns and circling, and although it has got some galloping parts I wonder if the time will be very difficult to achieve.
The course is not big and terrifying, it is certainly tricky enough.  With endless questions, jumping big oxers and drops, turning to arrowheads and corners.  This is very Pierre Michelet but does give us plenty of chance for mistakes.

Having had bright sunshine for 3 days it is now pouring with rain in time for poor Little Fire but I can’t complain as the ground could certainly do with some softening.