For the time of year…
Certainly in these parts. Some rain in the forecast. But a lot more than “some” is needed by several Racecourses if the core National Hunt season is not to be impacted…
Juggling of fixtures already under way. Chepstow’s fixture this week that heralds the “proper” start of Jumps racing is now an all hurdles card. With the Steeplechase races sent deeper into Wales to Ffos (effeing far over the Severn) Las…
This is England, it will rain…
Which is what I said to many owners of horses who prefer a little cut in the ground back in March. Which was fine in March – but had begun to look very silly by July. Those Weather Gods playing silly buggers, and deciding that the only appreciable rain should be a biblical deluge on Derby day…..
Two runners for us over the weekend. PERIGORD NOIR (Benoit) running another creditable race at “effing far” to finish 3rd. Consistent. He so deserves a win as a 2-year-old and, as he takes his races so well, I suspect we will go again before too long. The Programme Book is not kind to horses rated up to 75 in 2-yr-old nurseries. These races are few and far between – too few and far between. Those wise folk charged with putting together a fair and competitive race programme for young horses need to sort this one out….
The gorgeous GORDON GREY to Epsom for the Jump Jockeys Derby under Tom Cannon. Position A off Tattenham Corner, and all looked set for a bold showing. Until it did not. That well used drawing board is out again…
Two runners today…
ELSA TAN (Benoit) to Wolverhampton for a bonkers competitive heat. The regally bred descending on downtown Dunstall Park. Elsa will get a handicap mark after this, and she can then head into calmer and more realistic waters. Most of her opponents this afternoon are owned by various Royal Families. They will almost certainly be sharing a table in the Panoramic Restaurant…..??!!
MARSH BENHAM. To Brighton, Pat C up. What will the old boy decide to do today…..??
“Marsh is Marsh” – and just gets on with doing Marsh things….
The first weekend of the dread “International Break” in football is over. The World Cup less than 3 months ago, and this all seems hopelessly irrelevant. But turnstiles have to click and revenue banked…
The English cricket summer is over. Village greens will be quieter. Groundsmen putting their pitches to Winter bed. And then we will rage away next year into an Ashes Summer….
