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Plus 1 and dry when driving in.

Racing can be a tough business and a sad one at times and we saw the full measure of that at Cheltenham on Saturday when Starchitect was fatally injured with the big race at his mercy.

Racings thoughts went out to his owners Paul and Clare Rooney, trainer David Pipe and all at Pond House stables.. Starchitect’s death put a huge dampener on what was an excellent day racing.

Saturday for us meant only two runners at Hereford as we did not run Paul and Clare Rooney’s Sainte Ladylime at Cheltenham.. Biscuit ran well enough and might now qualify for a handicap mark while Involve finished 6th..

Yesterday at Southwell where the rain had changed the ground to soft Silver Kayf ran well to finish third and qualifies for the EBF final  while Our Belle Amie floundered on the soft ground and finished a poor fourth.. She is far better than that but the ground had gone for her.

The cricket.. well the Australians are playing better than us.. we are still there just?

Talking Aussies I see that Jamie Stier is heading home early next year..The BHA chief regulatory Officer has certainly left his mark.. he along with the ex chief executive Paul Bittar have managed to bring a great deal of Australian thoughts into British racing….Thoughts might now change? I love these headlines...

Paul and Elizabeth Kellar called in third lot to see Elizabeth's Mon Palois

Ffos Las today.. Not a place I visit too often but I will today.. We run two.. Champagne To Go and Cracked Rear View and for my thoughts on their chance please click here.

I have used this before but it always tickles me.

Clare and I were in a busy Christmas shopping in Cheltenham last week

Clare suddenly noticed that I was missing and as we had a lot to do, she called me on her mobile.

Clare said, " Where are you?  you know we have lots to do"

I replied, "You remember Martins the jewellers, we went into about 3 years ago, and you fell in love with that diamond necklace. I could not afford it at the time and I said that one day I would get it for you. "

Little tears started to flow down her cheek and she got all choked up; "yes, I do remember that shop" she replied...

"Well I’m in the pub next to that."