We have now had our last runners and 2008 and it could not have been a better end to the year with a double last Thursday, taking our total number of winners to fifteen for the year. Axom XIII's Orkney had won at Southwell the previous week and put up another excellent performance to win there again. He is a lovely big horse with lots of scope and ability and his best days look to be ahead of him. He will now have a short break and return for a spring campaign on the turf.

Later on in the day, Axom XVI's King Of Leon ran in his second Bumper at Ludlow. He was most impressive, winning comfortably and beating the Nicky Henderson trained favourite. This was trainer Henrietta Knight's first win for Axom and everyone at Ludlow had a truly memorable day. 2008 has been a vintage year for Axom and we have finished the year with a very healthy strike-rate of 21%. Fingers crossed that 2009 will prove to be just as successful.

The horses have been running well of late and it was great to see Axom XIII's Orkney win at Southwell yesterday. He is a grand horse with lots of scope and talent but has taken a bit of time. He will be even better next year and will probably have one more run on the all-weather before being put away for a turf campaign in 2009. He could also make an exciting jumping prospect in the future.

Axom VI's Karate Queen has been running well of late and was unlucky not to finish better than third at Kempton last week. She has given her owners plenty of fun and heads to the sales later this month. Axom XII's Mooted also finished third last week when lining up at Wolverhampton. He has been a little frustrating but seems to be coming back to his best now.

We enjoyed another winner last week when Axom II's Et Maintenant stormed to victory in a handicap chase at Huntingdon. Given a great ride by Jack Doyle, Et Maintenant travelled very well throughout the race and won by a decisive three lengths. Trainer Emma Lavelle has done a great job with Et Maintenant and has now won two races with him. Axom XII's Mooted ran on the same day at Great Leighs and put up a promising display to finish in mid division. This horse looks to be heading back the right way and should give his owners some enjoyment this winter.

It has been a fantastic week with Axom VII's Ouzbeck winning the Dick Francis 'Silks' Handicap Chase at Cheltenham last Saturday. Given a cool ride by Robert Thornton, Ouzbeck cruised to victory to record one of Axom's finest ever wins. This win brings Axom's total for 2008 to eleven so far and with some exciting prospects due to hit the racecourse soon, there could be more to come.

A couple of days earlier, Axom XVI's King Of Leon made his racecourse debut in a Bumper at Uttoxeter. Travelling supremely well for most of the race, King Of Leon got tired in the last furlong and was eased down by Sam Thomas. He will come on a lot for the run and will have learnt a lot from the experience. Axom VI's Karate Queen ran a great race at Kempton on the same day, leading the field and just getting caught in the shadow of the line to finish fourth and be beaten only half a length by the winner.

Our American yearlings have now arrived and have settled in well. We will be releasing information on these new acquisitions very shortly.

We have had a frustrating time over the last few weeks, with many of the horses running well and just missing out on top honours. On Friday, Axom IX's Title Role ran another fine race in defeat at Wolverhampton but he has been very unlucky not to win again this year. He could not quicken off a slow pace this time but he is game and consistent and will be one to watch next time.

The following day, Axom's exciting young 'chaser, Ouzbeck, was upped in class and sent to Market Rasen for a Grade 2 race. He jumped and travelled with his normal fluency but he over-jumped the sixth fence and stumbled, unseating Choc Thornton. This was most unfortunate but something you come to expect with racing - Ouzbeck was fine after the race and still thinks that he won as he passed the post in front! He now heads to Cheltenham on Friday 17 October.

Shares are selling fast in our lovely yearling filly by Medallist and our two purchases from Keeneland are due to arrive in England in a couple of weeks. We will release details on both yearlings as soon as they arrive.

We enjoyed our tenth winner of the year last week when Axom III's Bouggler scored a decisive victory at Newcastle under an enterprising ride from Royston Ffrench. Bouggler has been one of the most consistent horses in the Axom string and it was a great success for everyone involved, particularly Julie Camacho and her team who have done such a good job with him. He looks to have a bright future and has hurdling stamped all over him.

Axom XI's Gaelic Dancer made his racecourse debut last week at Kempton and put up a great performance to finish fifth of twelve in a very competitive maiden. The owners of Gaelic Dancer have been very patient and it was a great result for them. James Given is likely to keep Gaelic Dancer quite busy over the next couple of months and he should give his owners a lot more fun.

We have enjoyed another very good week with Axom VII's Ouzbeck winning his fourth race on the bounce with an easy victory at Bangor on Tuesday evening. He travelled and jumped very well in the novices' chase to beat Chrysander by thirty-two lengths. He will now have a short break before be aimed at a £20,000 novices' chase at Market Rasen at the end of September.

Axom II's Et Maintenant ran on the same card and ran well for a long way in the feature chase before tiring and eventually finishing sixth. He will probably go back to Bangor on 1 August for a similar race. Axom III's Bouggler has been a model of consistency all season and he put up another very encouraging performance on Monday evening to finish third in a 2 mile handicap at Beverley. He was a little unlucky and it surely won't be long before he is in the Winners' Enclosure.

Axom IV's Sea Admiral returned to Brighton  last  week and landed the second win of his career when taking the 1m3f handicap under Ryan Moore. Once again, he really showed his ability to stay and is likely to be stepped up further in trip next time. Roger Charlton has done a great job with this son of Sinndar and Sea Admiral is clearly in excellent heart at present. This win was Axom's eighth of the year - a fantastic 2008 so far.

Axom VI's Karate Queen ran at Salisbury last Sunday and she looked as though she might get placed two furlongs out, but she seemed to tire in the closing stages and finished midfield. She will hopefully put her best foot forward soon as she is a horse that Andrew Balding has always liked. Axom V's Lady In Chief never got competitive at Hamilton on  last  Tuesday and she will be stepped up in trip again next time. 

We have had a good week with two winners and the total for the year now stands at seven. Axom VII's Ouzbeck is proving a real star and he put up another great performance at Hexham on Saturday to win the novice chase by a comfortable six lengths. Once again, he jumped very well and he never looked in any danger. He may now have one more race before a well deserved break.

Axom IV's Sea Admiral is a really nice stamp and it was good to see him get his head in front at Brighton on Wednesday. He was sent off the 11/4 second favourite and he was given an inspired ride by Chris Catlin to make the running. He travelled very well and did really well to come back after getting headed a furlong from home. He should give his owners plenty of fun this summer.

Axom V's Lady In Chief ran at Beverley on Wednesday and it was pleasing to see her run a much better race than at Southwell last time. She was plugging on at the end and will undoubtedly improve when sent over further. Axom III's Bouggler ran well without ever really getting into contention at Yarmouth on Thursday and I'm sure it won't be long before he will be in the Winners' Enclosure.

Axom VII's Ouzbeck made a spectacular start to the new National Hunt season with an emphatic success at Bangor on Saturday. This was Ouzbeck's first run over fences and he couldn't have been more impressive as he came home seventeen lengths clear of the second horse. He will probably have another run before enjoying a summer break. This win gave Axom its fifth of the year.

Last week was certainly one to remember with two winners in two days. On Monday 5 May, Axom XII's Mooted lined up at Windsor for a mile maiden and overcame traffic problems to win in good style. Trainer Roger Charlton was delighted with him and it was even more impressive considering he got loose before the race on his way down to the start. This was only his second race and he will certainly be one to watch this summer.

A day later, Axom II's Et Maintenant showed everyone what he has promised for so long by winning a decent handicap chase at Exeter. Tom Siddall gave this French-bred gelding a lovely ride and it didn't really look in any doubt up the straight. His owners have been very patient and it was great to see them enjoy their moment of glory. He is likely to continue on through the summer and he should continue to give his owners a bit more fun.

Axom IV's Sea Admiral had his second run of the season at Nottingham on Friday and could not really get into the race from a wide draw. He ran on well up the home straight and picked off a majority of the runners to finish sixth and he will be an interesting one to note next time as he is in good heart at present.

Congratulations to Axom VII, who enjoyed their second win of the last National Hunt season following Ouzbeck's tenacious display at Market Rasen on Saturday 26 April. Given a lovely ride by Barbury Castle Conditional jockey, Gerard Tumelty, Ouzbeck wore down the David Pipe trained Qulinton to get home by a head. As ever, Ouzbeck jumped really well and he is now likely to novice chasing in the autumn.

It has been a particularly busy week with a number of runners up and down the country. On Wednesday 16 April, Axom III's Bouggler made his seasonal reappearance and ran a great race to finish second at Beverley over a mile and a half. He clearly appreciated this step up in trip and is sure to give his owners plenty of enjoyment this summer. Axom II's Et Maintenant ran on a cold and blustery night at Taunton last Friday and despite being flat to the boards from the start, he stayed on really well to finish third in the Novices' Handicap Chase. He has now not been out of the first three at this course on three appearances to date.

Mooted, owned by Axom XII, had his first trip to the races on Saturday when he lined up for a very competitive looking maiden over a mile. The soft ground would not have suited him but he ran a very good race to finish sixth of twenty. Trainer Roger Charlton was delighted with him and he too looks one to follow this summer. Axom IX's Title Role, fresh from his Kempton victory two weeks previously, ran at Windsor on Monday night in a mile and three furlongs handicap. He ran very well and looked the likeliest winner a furlong out but just flattened out to finish a close fourth, beaten just two lengths by the useful winner, Cape Colony.

Axom XIII's Orkney enjoyed a very satisfactory start to his season by finishing third in the one and a half miles maiden at Southwell on Tuesday. He is a lovely big horse and will only improve with time. Axom V's Lady In Chief also ran at Southwell and didn't fare so well. She showed real promise at Newcastle on her first run of the year and I'm sure will be back on track next time. The Beechdown Braves' Farefield Lodge is a game type and he finished fifth on his first run on the all-weather at Kempton on Tuesday. He will probably be stepped up in trip next time and could be interesting over seven furlongs.