Not many trainers have the nerve to take a holiday abroad in the middle of the season, but Lewes handler, Jamie Poulton is doing just that.

He said: "My horses have been suffering a low grade bug in the last week so I have shut up shop for almost a fortnight. My next runner will be Mint Leaf at Epsom on Wednesday evening."

Glendale Ridge and Magic Babe were the stable's last two runners, at Goodwood a week ago.

But what really riles Jamie is that his Esher Cup winner Pipsallio was too sick to run in the Britannia Stakes at Royal Ascot last week.

"He was well handicapped and had a big chance, but he got the bug really badly and I couldn't possibly run him."

In addition to a stable of below-par horses, Jamie has had to cope with two injured animals as well. At Brighton last week, Viking Prince cracked his pelvis for no apparent reason and is off to Lambourn for a bone scan.

At Ascot on the Wednesday, National Eight was brought down by the melee of horses which resulted in champion jockey Kieren Fallon's injured shoulder.

"National Eight hasn't broken any bones as we thought initially," said Poulton. "But he has wrenched a tendon so badly that he will be off games for the better part of a year."

So Poulton has a few days in which to catch his breath and is going to Mijas in Spain, with his wife Camilla and two children.

"Last Monday I went fishing with a chum and every time I got a bite the phone rang. I suppose I should have switched it off but I didn't have the nerve as it might have been a new owner or some other good news for a change!"

In Spain Jamie hopes to take in some racing on the brand new race track where Anthony Kellaway has set up a yard.

Geoff Lewis, rider of the great Mill Reef and recently retired from training at Epsom, is another resident in Mijas so that the Poultons will feel it is home from home, especially if the phone keeps ringing!