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0 degrees and dry when driving in.

A cold snap on the way. Who knows as the weather men/women seem to panic, so we must not.

Tom Bellamy, who again showed at Kempton on Saturday what a good young jockey he is becoming, was in to ride out a couple of lots this morning.

Graham Potts our vet was in for his Tuesday visit and we tested a few of this weeks runners.

Although the horses seem fine, although one or two have still slipped through the net, so testing possible runners at the moment is important

This weeks movers and shakers in the weekly BHA handicap charts are.....

Aunty Ann down 1 to 116, Battle Dust down 7 to107, Ben Arthur up 6 to 105, Rockys Teasure up 8 to 125, Knockanrawley up 1 to 134, Milan Express up 1 to 105, Thedrinkymeister up 6 to 120, Alfies Choice enters at 110, Cascaye enters at 111, Champion Chase enters at 102, Glenforde enters at 115 and finally Chateau Robin enters at 105. Yes a busy week for the handicappers..

Health is the most important thing you can have. Without it life sadly is not much fun.

Glen Swire who is currently an owner on the flat with Hughie Morrison, and has been an owner of mine for many years has not been that well; sadly we have not seen Glen on the racecourse when we have runners for him for at least 3 years.

Glen and his wife Caroline currently own half of Gallery Exhibition but sadly neither have ever met one of their partners in GE Gerard Clinton.. disappointing as they would get along so well. Glen and Caroline also have a share in the KBRP Cheltenham bound Un Ace.

A hugely enthusiastic racing supporter, Glen has been a steward at Plumpton and other racecourses and thanks to RUK and ATR he is still able to watch his horses run.

I asked Glen if I could help by putting something on my blog about his rare condition and this is what he said..

'I have received wonderful care from the NHS over the last three years, since being diagnosed with a rare auto- immune deficiency that attacks cartilage, including the trachea, which leads to breathlessness and coughing fits.

I therefore want to put something back into the system, and have  formed a charitable trust (RELACS) as a sub-fund of the Royal Brompton Hospital charity, whose sole purpose is to support the work of the Large Airways Collapse with Symptoms Group - LACS. (Please see the website relacs.co.uk, where you can also view the video I have made of my symptoms). 

They have set up a database centred on four hospitals, to coordinate data on the diseases concerned - asthma, emphysema, COPD, (with up to 8 million sufferers between them in the UK)  and my relapsing polychondritis (100 odd sufferers). This exercise will inevitably lead to speedier diagnosis, and more consistent and therefore, hopefully better treatment. 

There is considerable criticism in medical circles of the diagnosis of asthma, particularly amongst the young, where the NHS is accused of handing out inhalers like lollipops, with all that that implies for the lifestyle of the recipient - to say nothing of the unnecessary cost to the NHS. 

A recent suggestion by a Canadian professor that up to 30% of asthma sufferers have been misdiagnosed is terrifying.  This is where we step in, but it will take time.'

We all take our health for granted when we feel well but even a heavy cold can knock us out so what Glen has is not much fun. I hope what he has written will help somebody.

We have one runner today At Leicester. For my thoughts on their chances please click here.

We have a new horse arriving later this morning by Kayf Tara and a new owner to the yard. We do though lose Aunty Ann who is heading off to Charlie Longsdon later and we wish him and Gillian Morgan ever success. Gillian already has two horses with Charlie.

Directions to Heaven

Your smile for the day..... 

A little boy was waiting for his mother to come out of the grocery store.

As  he waited, he was approached by a man who asked, "good  morning young man, can you tell  me where the Post Office is?"

The little boy replied, "Sure! Just go straight down this street a couple of blocks  and turn to your right."

The man thanked the boy kindly and said, "I'm the new vicar in town.  I'd like for you to come to church on Sunday...I'll show you how to get to Heaven."

 The little boy replied with a chuckle.  "You're bullshitting me, right?.....You don't even know the way to the Post Office!”