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Champions Day

Good morning all,

With small fields still being the order of the day over the jumps, I’ve decided to put together the guide for Ascot this afternoon instead. Possibly the most interesting race of the day is the closing Balmoral Handicap at 4.25, at least from my punting view, but it’s a card full of quality and one to be enjoyed by all. There’s four of the six races covered below.

Just to say, next week I’m on the road all week, starting at Plumpton on Monday, so will have plenty to report back on as the week progresses. Cheltenham is finally in sight!Read More »Champions Day

Grounded!

Good morning all,

I was hoping to go to Wetherby today but that plan has been rather scuppered as the car started making some pretty horrendous noises last night whenever I put the brakes on, which can only mean they need replacing. So the car is going into the garage first thing and they're hopefully going to turn it around in an afternoon, which will at least mean I'll be able to get to Uttoxeter and possibly Fakenham on Friday.

So I'm grounded as far as today goes but that's no hardship as it means I'll have plenty of time to study up for Uttoxeter and provide you with a preview tomorrow.

For today, there's a review of Huntingdon yesterday, with a few pointers for the near future, and today's selection at the end.

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Hedgehoppers Afternoon

Good morning all,

Yesterday's blog has certainly sparked some lively debate both on here and on the rest of social media, which was the idea behind it, so from that point of view I'm glad it worked. When I have a bit more time tomorrow morning I'll reply to those of you who left comments personally, and I'd like to think one or two people who may well be in a position to do something about our current situation with on-course drinking might have read it and given them food for thought.

This year, as last year, I'll be doing some community radio for Cheltenham (along with my good friend and colleague Cathryn Fry) when the racing is on, and as part of our remit we get to interview the course execs. We will both be pushing them again on this issue and keep pushing until we feel real progress is made. We need to get a real change in the way courses deal with this issue, and I don't intend letting it lie at a blog.

Read More »Hedgehoppers Afternoon

Ayr On A G-String

Good morning all,

Back home after two glorious days in the sunshine at Yarmouth, it's been a really enjoyable experience and there's been a few I like the look of for the future – I'll start putting them together in a couple of Eyecatchers bulletins for early next week when there's not much in the way of racing taking place.

A quiet couple of days at home for me then, before it all begins again, and with the likes of Hexham and Warwick now restarting their seasons, you know the jumps is starting to get into full swing too.

For the next few days though, it's Ayr that takes centre stage. The big handicaps on Saturday is where I'll be focusing most of my attentions once declarations are out later on, but there's usually two or three races each day that's worthy of a second look, so that's where today's selections are coming from.

Read More »Ayr On A G-String