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Plus 11 and dry when driving in, although we had rain most of yesterday morning and a deluge overnight until about 4pm this morning. 14mm in the last 24 hours.

Today’s racing news is all about the forced retirement of Robert Thornton.

Robert or 'Choc' had a bad fall 17 months ago and however much he has tried, he has failed to make it back. Sad as he was one of the finest hurdle jockeys in the county and not bad over fences either.

Robert rode for me for a while and then moved on to better things when hooking up with Alan King.

16 festival winners is something to be proud of. I wish him luck on whatever he decides to do now.

Breaking bones is something jockeys get used to and yesterday Paul Carberry announced he will be out of action for at least 4 months after breaking his leg at Listowel on Saturday and then to cap the news, trainer Charlie Mann broke his shoulder, three ribs and injured his pelvis in a  schooling accident in Lambourn.

Reading all that bad injury news means that it was only appropriate that I had Tracy Grunwell, Jo Ryan, Karen Broadey, Ken Wright here for breakfast and morning on the gallops bought at the Air Ambulance dinner in Cheltenham.. An evening that Jason Maguire was understandably very involved in.

The horsebox left this morning for Perth. We have a couple of runners up there over the next two days.

Mentioning runners we have one this afternoon at Warwick. Magic Money and David Bass meet in the last. For my thoughts on their chances please click here…

Tom Bellamy was in for a couple of lots this morning. Happy Birthday Tom, 21 today..

Graham Potts our vet was in for his weekly visit.

Here are the last of the home truths..

My mother taught me ESP. "Put your sweater on; don't you think I know when you are cold?"

My father taught me HUMOUR. "When that lawn mower cuts off your toes don't come running to me."

My mother taught me HOW TO BECOME AN ADULT. "If you don't eat your vegetables, you'll never grow up."

My mother taught me GENETICS. "You're just like your father."

My mother taught me about my ROOTS. "Shut that door behind you, do you think you were born in a barn?"

My mother taught me WISDOM. "When you get to be my age, you'll understand.