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Plus 14, wet and very windy when driving in.

The M6/M5 corridor is now one to miss.. down to one lane in places and will be for the next year while they resurface and re strengthen a bridge on the raised road area.. Horror journeys ahead this winter, especially at peak traffic times.

Bangor is one of those quaint racecourses where you have to follow the M5/M6 path..

Our runners there set a puzzle as Monrocco nose dived after leaping from too high a trajectory at the third, Ben Arthur ran ok while Champion Chase was again disappointing and his future must be in doubt.

Bangor Races have made such an effort with their owner experience.. the food they now give owners will make many a trainer, who joins them, reach for the telephone number of his tailor, if other racecourses follow suit.. It is such good news that racecourses are at last taking on board that owners need looking after. And don't forget that Bangor also give our Stable Staff free food.. It is not all about owners.

Bangor, who are part of Chester, are a go ahead operation and deserve great credit.

Today we head to Warwick where again their younger team of Directors are out to make this racecourse fun and exciting.

Warwick is not the easiest racecourse to improve as its grandstands backs onto a road and therefore space is limited, but Warwick's Chairman Andy Clark leads an enthusiastic team of Directors which includes Aiden Murphy and Cathy Twiston-Davies who understand the need to improve it, and improve they will.. Warwick is now a jumps only racecourse and a good one at that.

Thursday is our easy day although Elizabeth Kellar was over to see her horse Mon Palois work with Cresswell Legend. Johnny Burke was in to ride out for the first time..

Third lot Gary Tardi, who so kindly rescued me in Lambourn last week when I stupidly put petrol on  my diesel 4x4, was over with Steve Taylor to see his two horses Little Chunk and Kilfilum Cross.

The 4.25 race at Warwick this afternoon is the Colliers International Business Rates Services Handicap Chase.. A big day and an annual day out for John Webber and Richard Sheppard, who not only own Robin The Raven, but also sort most racecourse out with their business rates.. saving their clients fortunes.. Anyway Mat and I are lunching with their team and talking through our runners…

We have three runners today and all are at Warwick. Blazon, Silver Kayf and Milord. David Bass rides the first two and Mikey Hamill the last one. For my thoughts on their chances please click here..

A silly one today..

At a Plastic-Surgery-Addicts-Anonymous meeting..

“Ah, I see we have a few new faces here today.”