Plus 2 and foggy when driving in.

What a fantastic days racing yesterday at Cheltenham.

Our Un Ace ran with great credit to finish 8th beaten a total of 11 lengths in the best novice 2 mile hurdle of the year. UA was outpaced down the hill but ran on up it with great purpose; he really is a horse with a big future.This race was run at some speed; they set a new track record and the race was run at a faster pace than the Champion Hurdle!

Muldoons Picnic struggled to cope with the whole day and could not get his mind around the pressure and you can forget yesterdays performance as he will soon be back on track in smaller fields.

Yes I did feel sorry for my mate TFFFN who should have won the Champion Hurdle with The New One. Sadly badly hampered by the fatal fall of Our Conor. Next Year?

Nick Scholfield was in this morning for a couple of lots including Harry Topper

We worked A Shade Of Bay, Able Deputy, Agent Fedora, Amazing D'Azy. Crazy Jack, Devils Paintbrush, Early Bonnet, Faerie reel, Kings Opus, Knockanrawley, La Belle Savauge, Up For An Oscar, Magic Money, Mrs Peachey, Silver eagle, Patsys Castle, Sunblazer, The Drinkymeister, Trumix, West End, Midnight Oscar, South Stack, The Rainbow Hunter, Bishophill Jack, Max Bygraves, Savant Bleu, Kibo, Grandma Smith and The Scarlett Woman.

This morning we were visited by Keith and Liz Ellis to see their horse Amazing D'Azy, Nicky Van Dijk to see Mrs Peachey, Paul and Helen Nicholson to see Midnight Oscar, Mark and Marion Hudson to see Milord and Un Ace and Paul and Elisabeth Keller to see Handsome Harry.

I have had several emails complaining that I am not running Harry Topper in Fridays Cheltenham Gold Cup; one even said that I was gutless as the conditions were perfect for him.

Sadly we are not running as conditions are certainly not ideal for him.

HT needs soft ground to be able to produce his best and especially around Cheltenham. You have to realise that Cheltenham is not a true galloping course like Newbury or Exeter; Cheltenham rides tight and you are always on the turn, so soft ground makes them slower.

Yesterdays times proved that the ground at Cheltenham is very fast; new track records were set which proves the point.

The Midlands Grand National where the ground is currently soft is a weak handicap chase in comparison to The Hennessey and Welsh Nationals or even Scottish National.

We have one runner at Cheltenham in the first The Neptune. Twelve Roses who has failed to make the cut in any of his handicap entries takes his chance in this race. Sam T-D rides at a 100/1 he has an outside chance of being placed..

Yesterdays tips finished 1st, 5th, 2nd, 3rd, 0, 6th and 3rd.

Today's selections are.. The Faugheen, Smad Place, Bayan, Captain Conan, Balthazar King, Goodwood Mirage and El Namoose.

Happy punting, and to end on a Martin Fetherstone-Godley joke..

The phone rings late at night and is answered by the lady of the house.

Amidst heavy breathing, a voice at the other end of the phone says 'I bet you've got a tight arse with no hair' to which she replies 'Yes I have actually, he's next door watching the football'

To finish the day on a good note. Jason Maguire is sitting up and talking and hopes to be home in 10 days.. Remarkable

Plus 5 and dry when driving in.

Jason Maguire is stable after his operation last night to stem the internal bleeding.

Jason who had a horrible fall when riding at Stratford yesterday and was airlifted to Coventry hospital; to put it frankly he was not in a great way. Jason has a fractured sternum and internal bleeding.

His operation went well and although in an induced coma, he is stable but not in intensive care.

The doctors are happy that he will make a full recovery, although it will be slow.

All our thoughts and wishes go to Jason and Lauren.

It shows again that jockeys are just one ride away from disaster, but they would have it no other way; they are adrenaline junkies and love their job.

Last nights 'Mark Your Card' at The Wheatsheaf went off well, although without my side kick Mat, who understandably went off to support Lauren and see his best mate in hospital.

Oli Bell took Mat's place and it was soon noticeable that we were going to miss all Mat's tips and form lines; we struggled and most went home none the wiser?

We started the evening with a quick heads and tails and raised over £500 for the IJF.

I popped over to Cheltenham Racecourse yesterday afternoon and the ground was very good. Not ideal for Harry Topper who will now head to Uttoxeter on Saturday for the Midlands Grand National.

Philip Fenton and his Marc Huglin were over with their horse Value At Risk who runs in the champion bumper to use our gallops this morning.

Paul and Helen Nicholson were here 3rd lot to see their horse Midnight Oscar.

Roy Sugarbread also called in with his crew to see the two RFR horses Devils Paintbrush and Sparville that Roy is involved in.

Andy and Sandy Page called in to see The Norse Dancer Filly and then joined our new A&R Racing Club

We have a couple of 'outsiders' running at Cheltenham today.

Un Ace, who was so impressive runs in the first; Un Ace has an outside chance and Aidan Coleman rides.

Un Ace's owners all came off this site as he was posted as 'horse for sale' after Aiden Murphy and I bought him at Doncaster Sales in May.

Muldoons Picnic runs in the Baylis and Harding Chase, which incidentally was the last Cheltenham Festival race winner I had with Betty's Boy some years ago. A repeat performance would be hugely appreciated and MP has an good chance of being placed.

MP has won 3 of his 4 starts over fences this season but has only run in small fields. Nick Scholfield rides; Nick has won on him before.

Here is a selection of Mat and my tips for today.......

Vatour, Valdez, Ma Filleule, The New One, Highland Retreat, Shutthefrontdoor and finally Pendra.

Have a great day everybody and all jockeys and horses come home safe.

The 6th grade science teacher, Mrs. Parks, asked her class, "What human body part increases to ten times its size when stimulated?"

No one answered until little Mary stood up and said, "You should not be asking sixth-graders a question like that! I'm going to tell my parents, and they will go and tell the principal, who will then fire you!"

Mrs. Parks ignored her and asked the question again, "Which body part increases to 10 times its size when stimulated?"

Little Mary's mouth fell open. Then she said to those around her, "Boy, is she going to get in big trouble!"

The teacher continued to ignore her and said to the class, "Anybody?"

Finally, Billy stood up, looked around nervously, and said, "The body part that increases 10 times its size when stimulated is the pupil of the eye."

Mrs. Parks said, "Very good, Billy," then turned to Mary and continued. "As for you, young lady, I have three things to say:

One, you have a dirty mind.

Two, you didn't read your homework.

And three, one day you are going to be very, very disappointed

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

Yesterday was one of those frustrating ones. Firstly it took far too long to get to Market Rasen.

I was pulling the trailer but ending up in Nottingham did not help.

I rang Mat to complain that he had not told me that Notts Forest were playing at home and he said they were not; so I can only assume they get more folk there on a Sunday either to pray or to attend a car boot sale. I missed lunch with the directors.

What I did not miss was a good solid performance from Such A legend; I know he was second but it was a hugely encouraging run; he is going to make some chaser next season.

Jimmy The Jetplane was taken off his feet and wants further; he finish 4th in a very fast time. Ballywatt unseated Dougie Costello when going well.. If only and how many times have we said that with him!.

The ground had dried at Market Rasen and was just about good on the far side of the course and just a bit softer up the straight. MR is a fun racecourse and they look after people which is good news.

At Warwick By The Boardwalk was disappointing; he never settled and jumped to the right. I think we have the wrong tactics and will drop back in trip and be handier next time. Grand March ran OK to finish 3rd and looks very much in the grip of the handicapper.

Mandy and John Battershall were here 2nd lot this morning to see his horse Midnight Oscar who is about to start his spring campaign. Kerry then cooked us all breakfast.. John mentioned something about Vince?

Graham Potts our vet was in a day early for his weekly visit.

Tonight Nick Luck of Channel 4 fame, Jonathan Neesom and Oli Bell of Racing UK fame, Mat Nicholls of KBR fame and me entertain those paying a fortune to eat and have their Cheltenham card marked at The Wheatsheaf in Northleach. It is always a hugely fun night.

Well it all starts tomorrow. Four days of great racing and winners for some.. I am doing one of these as I don't seem to have any help from SC.

I suppose you can always tell what sort of mood I am in by my jokes.... As sent over by Andrew Bengough and as usual this one of his is a bit risqué

Professor Higgins at the University of Sydney was giving a lecture on "Involuntary Muscle Contraction" to the first year medical students.

This was not an exciting subject and the professor decided to lighten up the mood.

He pointed to a young woman in the front row and asked, "Do you know what your asshole is doing while you're having an orgasm?"

She replied, "Probably golfing with his buddies".

Remember when you have the money down things can so easily go wrong .. Click here for some interesting examples.

To finish. What a great game of Rugby. I like David Johnson missed it; but we hammered the Welsh!!

Plus 5 and drizzling when driving in. A Scottish mist morning?

Jason Maguire was in for a couple of lots this morning.

We worked A Shade Of Bay, Able Deputy, Almadan, Bishophill Jack, Charingworth, Harry Topper, Kings Opus, Knockanrawley, La Belle Savauge, Silver Eagle, Patsy's Castle, Sunblazer, West End, Trumix, Savant Bleu, Gaelic Myth, Kibo, The Scarlett Woman, Tara's Rainbow, Grandma Smith, Amazing D'Azy, Midnight Oscar, South Stack and Max Bygraves. All the rest cantered.

We also jumped Harry Topper, Muldoons Picnic, A Shade of Bay, Bishophill Jack, Able Deputy and Such A Legend over hurdles or fences.

Saturday being Saturday and a Saturday before the big festival week we had a few people calling in this morning.

Malcolm and Maribeth Keeling and Alan and Philippa Brierley were here for a morning on the gallops followed by breakfast, as booked through CD Tours.

Mel Pyman and Sue Tagg called in 3rd lot to see their two horses Savant Bleu and Trumix and Iain and Angela Bell called in to see Silver Eagle and Knockanrawley.

We have no runners today but we do have 5 tomorrow.

I am going to Market Rasen where we run Such A Legend, Jimmy The Jetplane and Ballywatt. and Mat is going to Warwick were we run Grand March and By The Boardwalk.

At Market Rasen Such A Legend drops back to 2 miles over hurdles; a suggestion of Nick Scholfield's although as it has turned out Jason Maguire now rides. SAL has plenty of ability so should go well.

Jason also rides Jimmy The Jetplane who again will run well; he showed ability on his first run at Doncaster and we will ride him differently. Jimmy's owners Peter and Karin Swann have horses with James Given so they are used to being in the area.

Both the above horses run in competitive looking novice hurdles.

Ballywatt is frustrating and with a new jockey in Dougie Costello who knows. I believe it is his owners birthday today so come on Ballywatt do your bit please.

At Warwick By The Boadwalk who will be ridden by Nick Scholfield has a squeak and his recent wind operation just could make a difference and Grand March runs in his first handicap and has been waiting for better ground. It would be no surprise to see him go close; Ed Cookson rides.

Yesterdays Cheltenham preview lunch talk at The Bell at Langford went well and if you pass the village I would highly recommend a visit as their food was pretty special as was their Spanish wine..!

A lady walking down the street saw a dogtrotting along "What is your name" she asked, the dog replied "My name is Louie, I have been in and out of puddles all day, and I am having a wonderful time"

The lady went further down the street when she saw another dog and asked it's name "My name is Huey I have been in and out of puddles all day, I am having a tremendous time"

Round the corner she saw another dog, a similar story was told " Hello I am Dewey, I have been in and out of puddles all day and I am having a great day"

Further down the road she saw a dejected, tired dog "What is your name" she asked, the dog replied "My name is Puddles and I am having a bloody awful day!''

Plus 8, damp and windy when driving in.

An early start to Lambourn with The Drinkymeister, Mrs Peachey, Crazy Jack and Devils Paintbrush.

We then jumped Crazy Jack and Devils Paintbrush over hurdles

All 4 are due to run in the next couple of weeks so an away day in the horse box will have done them good.

John Perriss came to watch his horse The Drinkymeister and Henry Kimbell, who runs our Racing For Research Partnership, made it down to Lambourn to watch his horse Devils Paintbrush work; it was an unusually early start for him as he came from London.

Michael Wilkes was here third lot to see the horses he is involved in; Milord, Un Ace, Sparville and Devils Paintbrush.

Great to have Mrs B home and after a bit of bribery she only has a cast on her arm from her elbow to wrist which will make life easier for her...and me!

Undressing is one thing but dressing is not so easy as I found out all too soon.....Carers must be saints.

The Bell Inn at Langford was where I lunched today.

A new pub whose owners asked me to do a Cheltenham Preview; interesting?

Makes a change from an evening one.

Good old Smiley, not George, but Nick.

Nick Scholfield jumped out at me on page 7 of today's Racing Post.

Some say that he smiles even when he falls!!

Nick was rushing to Cheltenham and needed help...

His request approved, Nick Scholfield quickly used a mobile phone to call the local airport to charter a flight.

He was told a twin-engine plane would be waiting for him at the airport.

Arriving at the airfield, he spotted a plane warming up outside a hanger.

He jumped in with his bag, slammed the door shut, and shouted, 'Let's go'.

The pilot taxied out, swung the plane into the wind and took off.

Once in the air, Nick instructed the pilot, 'Fly over the racecourse and make low passes so I can take pictures of the lay out of the cross country course.'

'Why?' asked the pilot.

'Because I'm a jockey and I wont have time to walk the course', he responded, 'and I need to see where I am going.'

The pilot was strangely silent for a moment, finally he stammered, 'So, what you're telling me, is . . . You're NOT my flight instructor?'

Now the question is.. did Nick Scholfield smile?

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

Firstly many thanks from Clare for all the messages and phone calls; hugely appreciated

Poor girl had her operation yesterday afternoon and thankfully that all went well.

Not only has she broken her arm, but she needed her wrist wired in places. 

Clare was still in hospital last night and is due to be plastered from her shoulder down to her wrist this morning; hopefully she will be home this afternoon. Not ideal timing.. says I selfishly.. and yes it could have been worse as we all know.

I fear I shall get to know the cooker well, and perhaps Waitrose!

Cheltenham General's nurses, doctors and surgeons have all been brilliant.

Cheltenham races indirectly played a big part as Jon Mutimer performed the operation and local Doctor Guy Rooker called in to see Clare. Both Jon and Guy work at Cheltenham next week. Guy kindly sent me an email having seen Clare.

Guy let it slip, when seeing Clare, that she was in the best room in the hospital and it was the same room that Prince Charles stayed in.. Sadly being her right arm that is plastered, and being right handed, she will not be able to add her signature to the wall?

David Keyte was here 2nd lot to see his horse Harry Topper canter. It was David's first visit to the yard outside an open day. David was also here to meet up with Daniel Pallett of BBC Midlands television and he and I did a short interview about Harry's chances.

Harry Topper undoubtedly did his best ever piece of work for us yesterday; Shane Collins, who looks after and rides HT everyday was thrilled with him.

Sadly HT's participation in this years Cheltenham Gold Cup is so ground related, and the weather forecast is not looking too helpful.

We jumped Grand March this morning over hurdles as for some stupid reason we missed him yesterday. GM jumped with West End.

Moving on. 

Our two first day Cheltenham entries Un Ace and Muldoons Picnic both strutted their stuff well yesterday and are on course to run.

Today we declared Twelve Roses for every race he is in, ever hopeful that he will get in one of the handicaps rather than run in the Neptune.

I am pleased that the Philip Fenton case is sorted and now any stigma of being beaten by one of his horses will not cause problems. A relief to many in racing, although the court case will make interesting reading as to how the supposed drugs arrived there.

We had some new hurdles arrive this week so today we played around with the 'schooling field' and put new the hurdles up and ready to be used.

This made me laugh...

EMAIL MESSAGES EXCHANGED BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE!

Message sent by the husband:

I was run over by a car when I left my office.

Paula took me to the Hospital.

I was under examinations until now.

The bang on the head doesn't seem to have caused any important damage.

I had a bad hit on my right leg, and maybe they will have to amputate the foot.

Reply by the wife:

Who is Paula!

Minus 1 and dry when driving in.

Yesterday it started to go wrong!!

We mowed the drying lawn, but far worse was the foolish horse that kicked Mrs B while she was turning it out to enjoy some welcome grass. Clare was kicked on the right arm between her elbow and wrist and instantly knew that it was broken.

Cheltenham A&E were very quick in diagnosing, x raying and sorting the fracture. The down side is that Clare is still in there waiting on an operation to have it plated; hopefully that should take place this afternoon.

This all happened very late yesterday morning.

I was down on the point to point course with the fence builders when Kerry called.

Sadly it meant that I had to let John Sweeney down with his charity Cheltenham Preview. I am sure they survived without me although they also lost one of their other panelists in Nick Scholfield; Nick found it impossible to get to London from riding work after the last at Exeter.

I hate letting people down and these Cheltenham Preview evenings are good for racing and we should support when we can. Nicky Henderson does one every night for the 9 nights before the Festival starts. Lord, he must have some energy and I don't know how he handles the lack of sleep.

Nick Scholfield and Laura Scott was in for a couple of lots this morning.

We worked the following horses...Ballywatt, Able Deputy, A Shade Of Bay, Almadan, By The Boardwalk, Midnight Oscar, Mrs Peachey, Muldoons Picnic, South Stack, West End, Crazy Jack, Devils Paintbrush, Grand March, Jimmy The Jetplane, Kings Opus, La Belle Savauge, Magic Money, Patsy's Castle, Silver Eagle, Trumix, Such A Legend, Sunblazer, Un Ace, Charingworth, Harry Topper, Savant Bleu, The Drinkymeister and Max Bygraves. What was left cantered!

We also jumped the following over hurdles, tyres or fences. Ballywatt, Able Deputy, By The Boardwalk, Such A Legend, Midnight Oscar, Crazy Jack, Devils Paintbrush, Jimmy The Jetplane, Mrs Peachey, Sunblazer, Un Ace, Patsy's Castle, Trumix, Sparville, Savant Bleu, Max Bygraves, Charingworth, Muldoons Picnic and Grand March.

After a day and part of the night in hospital where I must say the staff were brilliant, it made me laugh when reading through some the following  genuine complaints from Thomas Cook Holidays UK clientèle.

1. "I think it should be explained in the brochure that the local store does not sell proper biscuits like custard creams or ginger nuts."

2. "It's lazy of the local shopkeepers to close in the afternoons.

3. "On my holiday to Goa in India, I was disgusted to find that almost every restaurant served curry.I don't like spicy food at all..

4. "We booked an excursion to a water park but no-one told us we had to bring our swimming costumes and towels."

5. "The beach was too sandy." And another was ''the Sea was too salty''

6. "We found the sand was not like the sand in the brochure. Your brochure shows the sand as yellow but it was white."

7. "Topless sunbathing on the beach should be banned. The holiday was ruined as my husband spent all day looking at other women."

8. "No-one told us there would be fish in the sea. The children were startled."

9. "We went on holiday to Spain and had a problem with the taxi drivers as they were all Spanish."

10. "There are too many Spanish people. The receptionist speaks Spanish. The food is Spanish. Too many foreigners now live abroad."

11. "We had to queue outside with no air-conditioning."

12. "I was bitten by a mosquito. No-one said they could bite."

13. "My fiancé and I booked a twin-bedded room but we were placed in a double-bedded room. We now hold you responsible for the fact that I find myself pregnant. This would not have happened if you had put us in the room that we booked."

To end. John Perriss won the raffle at Richard Phillips’s Cheltenham preview at Adlestrop a couple of nights ago and Richard's almost predictable comment was "nice to see Kim Bailey’s owners win something !"

Minus 1 and dry when driving in. We had rain yesterday but not much more forecasted!

Dermot Clancy and Michael Wills... you are both in my bad books!

Dermot, who is one of the 4 partners in The Rainbow Hunter offered Clare a day out with the Pytchley yesterday, a lovely gesture and one Mrs B was certainly looking forward to. The down side; it was also a day when her lunatic brother Michael was also going to be out too.

Fun arranged and fun had, but the time Mrs B arrived home last night our romantic night out, to celebrate 13 years of married bliss was never going to happen.

Sadly best laid plans were not to be and the sumptuous delights of Cheltenham's newest and smartest Hotel No 131 fell off the radar..

Another night hopefully; but if you have not booked a room for next weeks Cheltenham Festival I believe they have at the odd room available.. It is well worth the experience as I will find out one day!.

John and Liz Wills called in late yesterday morning to see Sunblazer and were suitably impressed to buy a share. Two shares left now.

Graham Potts our vet was in for his weekly visit. Graham was in to B&T test all our potential Cheltenham runners. Nervous times.. One week today it all starts.

John Sweeney, who has the promising bumper horse Kibo here has asked me, along with his other trainer Alan King, who trains his Manyriverstocross, to help out and share a panel at a Cheltenham Preview evening for charity. The venue for tonights Cheltenham Preview is Hendon, North London and the event is organised by The Claddagh Ring

Before you go give this a read. It was the address written and read by Dan and Bobby Richmond-Watson at their grandmother Jean's memorial service last week.

'Granny you were a survivor, you were born before television, before penicillin, polio vaccine, frozen foods, emails, contact lenses and the internet. You were before radar, credit cards, split atoms, laser beams and ballpoint pens, before dishwashers, tumble driers, electric blankets, air conditioners, drip-dry clothes.... and before man walked on the moon.

You got married first and then lived together (how quaint is that?) You thought "fast food" was what you ate in Lent, a "Big Mac" was an oversized raincoat and "crumpet" was what you had for tea. You lived before househusbands, computer dating and "sheltered accommodation" was where you waited for a bus.

You were before daycare centers, care homes and disposable nappies. You had never heard of FM radio, CD's, artificial hearts and word processors, or young men wearing earrings. For you "time sharing" meant togetherness, a "chip" was a piece of wood or fried potato, "hardware" meant nuts and bolts and "software" wasn't a word.

Before 1940 "Made in Japan" meant junk, the term "making out", referred to how you did in your exams, "stud" was something that fastened a collar to a shirt and "going all the way" meant staying on a double decker bus to the terminal. In your day, cigarette smoking was "fashionable", "grass" was mown, "coke" was kept in the coalhouse, a "joint" was a piece of meat you ate on Sundays and "pot" was something you cooked in. And "Rock Music" was a fond mother's lullaby.

You and grandpa must have been a hardy bunch when we think of the way in which the world has changed and the adjustments you have had to make. But by the grace of God..... you did survive to 95!'

To end. This weeks movers and shakers in the handicap charts are.. Flemensmix down 3 to 110 and Premier Portrait down 2 to 111.

Plus 1 and dry when driving in; a good bit of rain again yesterday.

Twelve Roses and Sunblazer popped over to Lambourn for a piece of work and a school yesterday morning; we had hoped to go for a gallop around Newbury but the ground was so bad there on Saturday that we decided to give it a miss.

Nick Scholfield called in on his way to Huntingdon (he rode a winner) and rode Sunblazer while Ed Cookson rode Twelve Roses.

Saturdays Newbury runner Premier Portrait struggled in the glue like ground.

PP finished 5th and on the face of it he did not run too badly; this chap will be a far better chaser.

The Greatwood Charity lunch was as usual a huge success and a great deal on money was raised. So well done to all who supported and a big thanks.

No thanks to the caterers whose beef was something different  and disappointingly did not stay in the system for long!

Will McNeile called in to interview me at 6.30 this morning; Will is doing a dissertation for his college on owners and how trainers find them... The interview did not take long.

Geoff Ellis called in to see Tara's Rainbow late morning. Geoff is a share holder in the KBRP who own this stunning lady.

Sue Stanley, who was at Newbury on Saturday and whose husband John has had shares in horses with me for ages, sent this one over.. ..

Ducks in Heaven!

Three women die together in an accident and go to heaven.

When they get there, St. Peter says, 'We only have one rule here in heaven: Don't step on the ducks!'　　

So they enter heaven, and sure enough, there are ducks all over the place.

It is almost impossible not to step on a duck, and although they try their best to avoid them, the first woman accidentally steps on one.

Along comes St. Peter with the ugliest man she ever saw.

St. Peter chains them together and says, 'Your punishment for stepping on a duck is to spend eternity chained to this ugly man!'

The next day, the second woman steps accidentally on a duck and along comes St. Peter, who doesn't miss a thing.

With him is another extremely ugly man.

He chains them together with the same admonishment as for the first woman.　

The third woman has observed all this and, not wanting to be chained for all eternity to an ugly man, is very, very careful where she steps.

She manages to go months without stepping on any ducks, then one day St.Peter comes up to her with the most handsome man she has ever laid eyes on.... Very tall, long eyelashes, muscular.

St. Peter chains them together without saying a word.

The happy woman says,'I wonder what I did to deserve being chained to you for all of eternity?'

The guy says 'I don't know about you, But I stepped on a Duck.........　　

Minus 3 and dry when driving in.

Minus 3 was the coldest start of the winter so far.

A late night last night at a dinner/dance at The Daffodil in Cheltenham raising money for The Sambhali Trust.

Firstly today it is Harry Bailey's 25th Birthday. Happy Birthday Harry.

Most Saturday mornings we have the odd person here for a 'morning on the gallops followed by breakfast' and today we had Graham and Gillian Bate (no show from them!!), Angela Rowles, David Gadd, Kelly Gutteridge and Graham Thomas; all booked through CD Tours.

Vince Burmingham was here 4th lot to see his horses. Vince is involved in several KBRP horses including Silver Eagle, Savant Bleu, Milord, Knockanrawley and Wrestow Lady. 

Lizzie Wills called in to see the two horses she has shares in..Un Ace and Sunblazer (3 shares left)

We worked  a few this morning and they were...Crazy Jack, Un Ace, Harry Topper, Mrs Peachey, West End, The Drinkymeister, Silver Eagle, Patsy's Castle, Such A Legend, Knockanrawley, Grand March, Kings Opus, Gallery Exhibition, South Stack, Sparville, Devils Paintbrush, Gaelic Myth, The Scarlett Woman, Magic Money, Max Bygraves, Midnight Oscar, Muldoons Picnic and Ballywatt. All the rest cantered.

Newbury today for two reasons.

Firstly we have a runner in the shape of Premier Portrait.

PP ran well enough last time out when 4th at Warwick and the drop back in trip should suit..PP will run well and could well be placed again; Ed Cookson rides..

We are also at Newbury because we are all supporters of todays main sponsor Greatwood. 

I host a table at lunch and start proceedings with Henry Hannon by doing the heads and tails. It is our 10th year together!. It is always a quick, fun and easy way to raise money at £10 a head and 300 people.

Hopefully by the time we finish this evening we will have raised well over £50,000.00 for the Charity though auctions and silent auctions.. You know the form?

'Big Mike' sent this one over for your amusement..

53,000 Scousers meet in Anfield for a 'Scousers Are Not Stupid' convention.

Steven Gerrard addresses the crowd.. 'We are all here today to prove to the world that Scousers are not stupid. Can I have a volunteer please?'

Wayne Rooney gingerly works his way through the crowd and steps up to the stage.

Gerrard asks him 'What is 15 plus 15?'

After 15 or 20 seconds Rooney says, ' Forty!'

Obviously everyone is a little disappointed.

Then the Scousers start chanting 'Give him another chance! Give him another chance!'

Gerrard says, 'Well since we have a capacity crowd, world-wide press and global broadcast media here, I think we can give him another chance.'

So he asks, 'What is 5 plus 5?'

After nearly 30 seconds he eventually says, ' Twelve?'

Gerrard looks down and just lets out a dejected sigh.

Everyone is disheartened and Rooney starts crying.

But then the 53,000 Scousers begin to yell and wave their hands shouting, 'Give him another chance! Give him another chance!'

Gerrard, unsure whether he is now doing more harm than good eventually says, 'OK then, what is 2 plus 2?'

Silence hangs over the stadium.

Rooney closes his eyes, and after a whole minute eventually says, 'Four?'

Pandemonium breaks out throughout the stadium as the Scouse crowd stand to a man, wave their arms, stomp their feet and scream,

'Give him another chance! Give him another chance!'　

To end.. TNDGB suggest slippers for old men like me..  His time will come as they say?

Have a great weekend.