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Minus 5 and dry when driving in.

Racing Uk were here early yesterday afternoon to film and discuss some of our Cheltenham runners Charbel, Darna, Red Spinner and Un Ace. Tom Stanley did the interviewing (he is very good and makes you feel relaxed), Anthony Dunkley oversaw while Phil Clark did the filming..

David Bass was in for a couple of lots this morning. A video of some of the horses working can be seen here.

Graham Potts our vet was here for his weekly visit..

Len and Ann Harvey called in to see their KBRP horse Boolavard King 4^th lot.. They brought along some mates from America, Mike and Wendy Fitzpatrick and their UK relatives Ken and Sue Naish.

My best man (twice) wishes to take 5 friends/family to this years Crabbies Grand National (to support The Last Samuri); something they are very excited about as it will be a first ever visit to the great racecourse. ..

Anyway not pulling in any freebees I suggested that he looked to Aintree’s web site to book some tickets..

Little did I realise how impossible and confusing the Aintree web site is when it comes to sorting and booking tickets..

Do they have a Club Enclosure like Cheltenham or just stands? 

I could not find the equivalent of Cheltenham’s Club Enclosure; so which stand? I am not sure as I am always in the O/T’s area so I suggested the Daresbury Stand as at least I have heard of him..

Anyway booking ONE ticket was actually quite a shock as the price ( £225) to sit on the Daresbury head/roof was expensive enough but then you have to book through Viagogo who make full use of your details and charge a whopping handling for every ticket sold..

The price for a £225 seat on Daresbury’s head/roof is actually £275.45 by the time Viagogo have had their wack.. Blood cheek I say.. Very disappointing that Aintree cannot sort their own ticketing. As a matter of interest do Aintree sell tickets like they do at Cheltenham Festival..ie.. Club Enclosure at £95 on Gold Cup day?

We have two runners today. Faerie Reel and David Bass head to Ludlow while Sonneofpresenting and Henry Brooke (first ride for me) heads to Doncaster.. For my thoughts on their chances please click here.

Both of todays meetings held 8 am inspections due to frost. Doncaster goes ahead while Ludlow inspect again at 10 and is now OFF.

As only the Irish can tell a story! Sent over by John Turner..

Paddy had long heard the stories of an amazing family tradition.

It seems that his father, grandfather and great-grandfather had all been able to walk on water on their 18th birthday.

On that special day, they'd each walked across the lake to the pub on the far side for their first legal drink.

So when Paddy's 18th birthday came around, he and his pal Mick, took a boat out to the middle of the lake, Paddy, stepped out of the boat ....and nearly drowned!

Mick just barely managed to pull him to safety. Furious and confused, Paddy went to see his grandmother .

"Grandma," he asked, "Tis me 18th birthday, so why can't I walk across the lake like me father, his father and his father before him?"

Granny looked deeply into Paddy's, troubled blue eyes and said, "Because ye father, ye grandfather and ye great-grandfather were all born in December, when the lake is frozen, and ye were born in August, ya idiot!"