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Minus 4 and dry when driving in.

Rumour has it that it has already started snowing in the Midlands.

It must have been cold last night as the taps were frozen in the yard for the first time this winter..

It was certainly cold here yesterday and you would not have raced on our grass, but they did at Fontwell and Southwell were their frost covers saved the day.

David Bass walked Southwell and was impressed with the ground; he thought it was good as it gets at this time of year.

That changed when he rode on it as he said it was like glue and very very holding and you needed a tough horse to cope with it.

All the race results were suggesting that as they were strung out like the proverbial washing when finishing their races. Our runners who were both running with chances never really went. Rocky’s Treasure pulled up after a circuit although I am not sue the ground was the true factor while Thibault did struggle on the ground and finished a distance 4th.

On Saturday at Chepstow Sainte Ladylime ran a blinder to finish second... again. This tough mare has been penalised with a 5lb weight rise for finishing second on her last two starts and on Saturday she went down by 2 lengths.. That’s why I hate being second..

Monday morning and the tractor was hard at work on the gallop early and looks like it will be all week. Our all-weather gallop will take frost but it needs regularly turning to keep it in action.

The Racing Post headlines today on Cheltenham Countdown begins here.. 2 weeks tomorrow.. For Clerk of the course Simon Claisse the next two weeks will be hard and he will probably not have much sleep either.

4 short, very short stories..

1. A Bookseller conducting a market survey asked a woman – “Which book has helped you most in your life?”

The woman replied, “My husband’s cheque book !!”

2. A prospective husband in a book store “Do you have a book called ‘Husband – the Master of the House?’"

Sales girl: “Sir, fiction and comics are on the 1st floor!”

3. Someone asked an old man:  “Even after 70 years, you still call your wife – darling, honey, luv. 

What’s the secret?"

Old man: “I forgot her name and I’m scared to ask her."

4. Pharmacist to customer:  “Sir, please understand, to buy an anti-depression pill you need a proper prescription ...

Simply showing marriage certificate and wife’s picture is not enough."