Pep talks. “One last push, come on, we can get this over the line…”
Day Four dawns fresh and a little grey. Rare sighting of high clouds, and it actually rained for about 20 seconds yesterday evening. But nil sign of the biblical storm that swept across high Sussex Downs last year. Ground changing in minutes, and canny plans tossed to several winds…
No runners high on that hill for us yesterday. Gentler. Calmer. An odds on shot who owes us nothing turned over at Epsom. Leading to the inevitable and hysterical and mind boggling barrage of social media abuse. And telephone calls from “No Caller ID”. And text messages with words in the wrong place and loaded with vitriol. Those brave brave keyboard warriors…
Tallulah enjoys answering the “No Caller ID” ones and giving them what for….?!
IMPERIAL CULT has won 3 out of 5 since turning up at Downs House. Owes nobody nothing. We will freshen him up, look after him, and go again when he tells us…
Two runners today at Glorious. Kenergy will wait for easier ground. “This is England, it will rain…”
Will it…??
GOOLOOGONG is a real favourite. Four time winner under both codes. But having arrived with us rather dead in the eye and pretty “puffed out” having chased and been chased by Ballydoyle battalions, it took a while for him to decide that this game might be fun again…
Patience. Patience. And then a little more patience. Thankfully, in Mark and Lavinia Sherwood, he has fabulous owners who know how this game is played. GOOLOOGONG a million to one in the betting, and young Isobelle Chalmers having her first ride for us. He will do his best – and if his best is not good enough to be involved today, there is a cool hurdle race at Cartmel at the end of August….
PERIGORD NOIR in the 6 furlong Nursery. John Egan up after Barney Baker did some excellent jockey agent hustling through yesterday morning. Lightweight jockeys do not grow on trees…
Tough. Hardy. Still learning. Prone to allow the mind to wander. Cheekpieces today. A million to one in betting. The Gooloogong / Perigord Noir double pays seventeen billion to one, and see you for the after party in Mustique if these two land…
Two lovely horses. Who have good days ahead…
Today’s poor house “stabs” – DEFIANTLY (with a just in case £ on Gooloogong), TALK OF NEW YORK, TRIBAL CHIEF and BUNYOLA BAY in the Golden Mile, JM JUNGLE and RUMSTAR, DIVIDEND each way, THE DANCING PIRATE (with a just in case £ on Perigord Noir), WATERFORD CASTLE each way, ROOM FOURTEEN….
That seems like an awful lot of horses. Hey ho….
