Good morning all,

It's a beautiful day for a trip to Newmarket, which is where I'll be standing for the next couple of days. And thankfully (and for a change) the weather looks set fair for the whole bank holiday weekend. Southwell on Monday is also on the agenda, so there's plenty for me to look forward to.

York's not really happening for me yet, a few places but nothing to write home about so I'm hoping to give it the kickstart it needs today.Read More »Ebor Festival – Day 3

Good morning all,

So much on over the next few days, today looks like a day of writing but then it's Uttoxeter (Ladies Day, fast becoming my Mastermind specialist subject) and then, excitingly, working in the ring at Ascot Saturday. Hopefully a better experience than the last time we went to Ascot when we took 20-odd bets in three races and packed up.

Anyway, I don't think I'll be able to make Worcester today bar a miracle this morning (i.e, there's only about 40 runners at Uttoxeter tomorrow and it takes me just a couple of hours to sort through them at 10) but I have had a look at a card not without some interest. Read More »Worcester Wonders

Good morning all,

Over the weekend I managed to rip a hole in pair of my favourite jeans, and given yesterday's racing didn't make much appeal I decided to have a wander into town to go and buy a new pair.

After finding a pair I liked, I realised it was almost time for my one bet yesterday, Oliver's Gold, to run at Cartmel so I had reason to call into the local bookmakers.

Now, I don't go into bookies offices very much any more, so it came as a bit of a shock to find the place absolutely deserted at 3pm in the afternoon. Where have all the people gone? Those characters of yesteryear that I'm sure we all knew, whether it be on course or at the track? I recall a few that I knew on today's piece, plus today's pick from Nottingham.Read More »Characters