And foggy. When driving across those Downs just now. Shadows in the mist as early workers head to the gallops – if they can find them…
The giant Cruise Ship of a Grandstand barely visible. Cloaked in a heavy white veil. Not even her mother would pretend that she is in any way pretty, so “thick” and “foggy” and “veil’ are no bad thing…
Those clocks jigging around is always a little depressing as for a few days we are plunged back into dark dawn drives. Not for much longer – thankfully…
The floodgates about to open on the runners front. From about a fortnight’s time, the wheels on those wagons will be clocking up the motorway miles as we head hither and thither. By design, fewer runners on the all weather through the dreak and drab and dog days of winter…
Last year, our first at Downs House, we had to have a few lined up for the AW. To ensure that we hit the Epsom ground running. But no surprise that our owners prefer Spring and High Summer to “dreak” and “drab” and “dog”…
A runner today. FIZZY BEAR (Jack Mitchell) to Kempton on debut. First day at school, he will learn plenty, we will learn plenty, he is bound to come on for the run, just looking for a good debut experience – is that enough cliches…..??
And then overnight to Saudi Arabia. And onwards, hopefully, to Bahrain. All visas secured – eventually. Now to find the tin hat…
DESERT COP (Franky up – no point trying to spell his surname…) and NESTHORN (Benoit de la Sayette – not much easier) tomorrow evening. In the rescheduled Turf Series races….
DC has thrived in the past on backing up the next day – and so, if all is well, he will go again in then Local Grade 1 Chairman’s Cup on Friday (Lee Newman up). And GORDON GREY will run in the mile and a quarter 0-90 Handicap (Lee up). GG will run over further when back here, but no harm in dusting off a few more cobwebs ahead of a domestic (hopefully !!!!) campaign…
Training these horses “remotely” has presented a challenge or three – and so all will run on the “nothing ventured” basis. Their runs will in no way define their year, and we look forward very much to a hands-on approach once they are home next week…
