Southwell yesterday was a delight; you have to admit it is a good little course, even if not many people actually go there.

Mike Cudahy and Alan Halsall, who make up Lima Racing had a most enjoyable day and their mare Golden Button ran well to finish 5th on unsuitable ground; it was an encouraging start for her and she seemed to have enjoyed her first venture over hurdles.

As for the journey there and back.

I grabbed a lift with TFFFN who, as I was going with him, decided to take his Range Rover rather than his sons bread van; young Sam T-D has just passed his driving test and needs more motorway experience, according to his father.

Sam was not allowed to drive to the races just in case he was too tired to do the horses he was to ride justice. A good thing as it saved him a bollocking as TFFFN managed to get lost and we ended up in the middle of Nottingham; TFFFN even admitted that he had made a mistake..a first?.

On the way home Sam drove while I placed myself in the back seat. Our journey back to Naunton was uneventful and smooth which was a huge relief as the last time I was in the back of TFFFN's car I ended up nearly following him through the windscreen when he decided to take on a bridge on a straight piece of road. It was an accident that happened many years ago but we both remember it well.

There is a possibility that Sam might one day become a better driver than his father but there is no doubt that he is already a better rider.

Sam has already nearly overtaken the number of winners that his father rode (TFFFN race rode for at least 10 years and 19 winners) but as his father says 'Sam has had a better start than I did as I rode for Richard Head, Fred Rimell and you; while Sam rides for me!' That says it all?

Cold again in the tractor while harrowing the gallop first thing this morning, but no snow which was a relief; no heating in the cab now that we have had to re circuit the electrics. 

10 people from Thebestofcheltenham were here 3rd lot to have a morning on the gallops.

Lunch at The Greenway with local journalist Eric Barton to talk about The Heroes Partnership

Cold and trying to snow; a good way to start the week. I just hope that the old saying of ''We get the weather that hits the East Coast of the USA 10 days later'' is not true otherwise we could be in trouble again.

This time last year we were under a foot of snow and I really don't want to see any more of that white stuff again; not good for the humour.

Our two runners on Saturday ran well. Islamouth finished 3rd in the bumper at Wetherby; another good run from him on what looked awful ground and at Doncaster Supreme Plan finished 4th. Supreme Plan jumped the 2nd last upsides and just failed to hang on to that place in the last 70 yards of the race, again it was a good run which showed that he has a good future ahead especially over fences.

Yesterday morning, with no runners, I appeared on the tennis court for my first outing of the year; sadly I did not do my partner Dr John Disney any favours as my performance was dismal. Today I feel like a 11 year old chaser who completed a 3 mile chase of bottomless ground!

Not many worked this morning as we have quite a few runners appearing on the racecourse in the next few days.

We worked Eastern Supreme, Buffalo Bob, Sonny Mullen, Sarde, Basoda, Allformary and Regal Approach; all the rest cantered.

Last night Clare and I managed to escape for a quiet night out; finally making it to a local restaurant that opened before Christmas and one that we have been saving up for.

Soushi creation was worth the wait as we both love Japanese food and last night was wonderful (half the restaurant was full of Japanese locals); anybody who enjoys Japanese food must go and try out this new venue; you will not be disappointed.

I was sorry to see that Tony Budge has joined that ever growing list of racing folk who have recently passed away. Tony was a big owner in the 80s and not only did I train a couple of jumpers for him but I also won the A F Budge Gold Cup (now called the Boylesports) with Kings Fountain.

I know I should not really post this little email that has been doing the rounds since the Cadburys take over but it made me laugh; I apologise in advance if it offends.

Mr Cadbury met Miss Rowntree on a Double Decker. It was just After
Eight.
 
They got off at Quality Street, in front of the Fisherman's Friend pub.
 
 He asked her name. "Polo, I'm the one with the hole", she said in a
 Wispa.
 
 "I'm Marathon, the one with the nuts", he replied.
 
He touched her Creme Eggs, then slipped his hand into her Snickers. He fondled her Flap Jacks, while she rubbed his Tic Tacs. It was a Fab
moment, and she screamed in Turkish Delight.
 
But three days later his Sherbert Fountain started to drip.

Turns out Miss Rowntree had been with Bertie Bassett, who had Allsorts.

Top jockeys Jason Maguire and Tom Siddall were in for a couple of lots this morning so we made the most of their visit by schooling.

We schooled Real Treasure, Bentota, Paddys Tern, Allformary, Lady Samantha, Supreme Plan, Golden Button, Admiral Dundas, Sonny Mullen, Basoda, Regal Approach,. John Perriss was here to watch his horse Allformary while Michael and Angela Storey were here to watch Basoda.

All the horses went round the farm this morning which made a good change of routine; fresh and happy horses.

My niece Patience Wotton who is currently working in Argentina emailed to say that she enjoyed reading my Attheraces stable tour as featured on their web site. I have to say that I did not know it was on there; thanks Patience.

Happy birthday Jim. Jim Wilson has hit the big 60; it was a while ago that he rode Willie Wumpkins (3 consecutive wins) and Little Owl to great victories at the Cheltenham Festival; Jim doesn't and is very unlikely to forget those wonderful days even though he has slipped off for 4 days in the sun to celebrate (his birthday). Click here to watch Jims' Gold Cup win on Little Owl.

Cotswold Life our local glossy magazine has produced pictures of last years open day. Those were the days when the sun shone and it was warm!

No frost here  last night although -5 at Leicester so after one inspection they are calling for a 2nd look at 10.45am..Most helpful as my horse will just be about there.

Predictably as my horse was just about to arrive they abandoned due to frost. How they thought they had any chance lord only knows..more wasted expense for owners!

Sean Quinlan and Tom Siddall were in for a couple of lots to ride work and school a few.

We worked Sonny Mullen, Islamouth, Smokey George, Cinderella Rose, Even Flo, Oshkosh, Sarde, Regal Approach, Bentota, Admiral Dundas, Eastern Supreme, Golden Button, Basoda and The Kings Theatre gelding

We schooled Real Treasure, Golden Button, Sarde, Bentota, Oshkosh, Regal Approach, Basoda and Lady Samantha.

Richard Chugg called in mid morning to see Malindi Bay; we bought Malindi Bay off Richard on Saturday night at the Cheltenham Brightwelsl sale; Richard called in on his way to Newmarket to see if she had settled in ok.

Keeping it in the family late yesterday I took Blazing Tommy off to Richards father Robert  for a weeks intensive schooling at his well known Stud Farm. Tommy who has had several such session elsewhere really seems to loose his brain when he arrives on a racecourse and manages to forget what to do when faced with a hurdle. Robert is very confident that he will cure the problem

A light covering of snow and frost greeted us this morning when we awoke. Our ground here is frozen but once the tractor had started our gallop was fine after a couple of goes up it. Still no key in the tractor or rather there is but it is still broken off in the ignition, so now there are wires everywhere!

The much anticipated addition of today's Racing Post was a huge let down as usual.

Yesterday the Racing Post was telling us that there is going to be a big revealing article on Jason Maguire, and today on the front page there is a blanked out picture of a person with a question mark in the middle under the heading ''He's riding high in the jockeys table with only McCoy and Johnson above him...But who is he?''

The article does at least tell us that Jason works hard and deserves to be where he is in the jockeys table, and the other thing is that we now know what he looks like; we have been viewing the picture taken of him when he first started with Tom George for too long.

Everybody here knows that I have a very high opinion of Jason as a jockey and how I would love to have him riding for me full time. I never have to worry about giving him instructions (he takes no notice anyway); Jason is fearless, mad and a very good schooling jockey..and can talk! Which is very important after a race.

Having been semi rude about Jason I feel it is only fair that I should show you the dreadful picture of me that appeared in Saturdays Cheltenham race card.

Edward Gillespie is now certainly not in my good books; where did  he find that picture from lord only knows.  I mentioned before it reminds me of David Nicholson who was nicknamed 'The Duke' and after seeing that picture I am not too sure what sort of nickname I could be saddled with.

Further on in today's Racing Post profession punter Dave Nevison is quoted as saying ''Don't back a trainer with grey hair. Training has become a young mans game!''  That as far as I know rules out 98% of the current trainers in the country on the grey hair front and probably most of the professional punters as well.