Grey clouds scudding across a colourless sky above the Grandstand as I headed over the Downs just now. Blustery. Damp. Bleak…
November bleak. Which is no surprise given the time of year…
The last throes of the flat turf season. Attritional ground. Plenty on holiday in muddy paddocks. Recharge. Reset. Reboot. Most will be ridden again through the early weeks of January. Which will be with us before we can blink…
Another Melbourne Cup done and dusted. Worth me going and watching it live simply to avoid the silly early alarm call. Although I guess that’s quite an expensive way of avoiding the early wake up…?!
Watching the race replay last night, I was drawn once again to the prize money on offer…
Unless I have got the wrong end of several sticks, which is entirely possible, the horses that finish 14th to last (24th) all pick up nearly £50,000 in prize money. Not bad money for, “jumped slowly from the gates, always towards the rear, effort 3 furlongs out, no impression, eased final furlong…”
On a different continent and at an entirely different level (on several levels), three runners for us today…
The mercurial but loveable MARSH BENHAM off to Nottingham to squelch through the Midlands mud. Which he won’t mind. Determining which Marsh will turn up at the races is a complete waste of time – if he is on a going day, all well and good. If not….
Darragh Keenan a new partner for Marsh…
LONGLAI and CALAFRIO (Neil Callan up on both) to Kempton. The former was beaten just over 2 lengths last time and unlucky in running. The latter having her first race for us. Learning curve….
