There is frustration for Findon's rookie trainer Nick Gifford as he anxiously waits for the heavens to open.

"I have 35 horses with half a dozen more to come in," said Gifford, who took over the reins at Downs Stables from his father earlier in the summer.

"It just so happens that I don't have a firm ground horse and I just have to be patient."

Nick's only runner since June was the chaser Joly Bey who finished a pleasing fifth of 18 in a valuable race in France 16 days ago.

Joly Bey is owned and was ridden by Nick's cousin, David Dunsdon, who was given the horse for his 21st birthday recently.

"At first I was disappointed with the run," said Nick.

"He may not have been quite as fit as I thought judging by his work, but having said that the winner is a very good horse indeed and we were beaten by only 15 lengths in a slow run race which turned into a sprint."

Dunsdon, however, was delighted because Joly Bey jumped impeccably and dropped out of contention only in the home straight.

The fences at Enghien are glorified hurdles which hardly exploited Joly Bey's jumping ability and the plan now is to go back to France on November 2 to the premier jumping track at Auteuil where the fences are very substantial indeed.

Joly Bey is French bred and raced there before joining trainer Paul Nichols in Somerset last year. He is already a winner at Auteuil and if all goes well he could be a serious Aintree Grand National contender next April.

Because the grass gallops at Findon are so firm, Nick will take Joly Bey and a workmate, Wise Reflections, to gallop on the polytrack at Lingfield today.

"Wise Reflections is in a Novice Chase at Cheltenham next Wednesday," Nick added.

"And he is the first entry I have made, apart from Joly Bey, for a long time.

"Cheltenham are putting on five million gallons of water and there seems to be some rain about at last, so there must be a chance of raceable ground next week."

Although Nick lost several horses during the summer months, he has also welcomed back an owner who used to train with Gifford senior some years ago.

"It is always disappointing to lose an owner, but that happens from time to time and provided you don't fall out there's always the chance they will come back one day," he added.

In the meantime jockeys Philip Hide, Leighton Aspell and Derek Laverty are in attendance most mornings and they are as keen as the boss for the weather to break.

With the eventing season finished until the spring, Nick's sister Tina has some time to spare for the racehorses and has been helping out in the yard.

"With her experience Tina is able to bring a different and refreshing approach to horses which I find very useful," said Nick.

Dad is always in the background as well so that the trainer is not short of experience and advice on which to call if the need arises.