Plus 13 and dry when driving in.. Rain here shortly..I hope, although that could change..
Anybody who says Test Match Cricket is dull clearly wasn't watching Lords over the past five days.
This was, without doubt, one of the finest games you're ever likely to see. The ebb and flow, the twists and turns.. two fantastic sides throwing everything at each other, neither willing to back down.
The rivalry, the passion, the tension… it had everything. And then, just when you thought it couldn’t get any more dramatic, it all came down to a remarkable final afternoon. England win.. but not just any win. The last wicket? The batman Mohammed Siraj plays the ball, it bounces beside him, and then rolls back round his legs, and somehow knocks a stump and the bail fell off!!. You couldn’t make it up. How unlucky is that?
But what a match. Absolutely enthralling from start to finish. A reminder, if ever we needed one, of just how special Test cricket really is… Ben Stokes led his team from the front and was one very knackered 'Man of the match'..
While on the subject of cricket.. Australia bowled out West Indies for just 27
Tuesday morning brings in our vet visit and all the horses who have been summering with John Perriss return from their summer holidays..
This office is warm but understandably it has no air conditioning unit.. Door remains open to help keeping cool although flies can be a bore.. My PA Molly is a fly killer at heart and she has installed an Eazyzap machine in her side of the office.. every now and then we all hear a zap.. one more down..
Nurses spend 20 minutes looking for a blood vein.... something a mosquto finds within seconds in the dark while singing!
On that interesting note.. A very happy birthday to my daughter in law India Bailey.. Harry and India are currently on holiday in Istanbul
Plus 18 and dry when driving in.
Mrs B and I always love an invitation to go fishing with Nicky and Sophie Henderson and their happy gang.
Nicky adores his fishing and has a wonderfully relaxed attitude towards the sport.
We always start early in the morning and fish through until lunch, which is taken in the hut by the stunning river Spey. Then it’s back to the house to catch up on the racing, tennis, cricket, or whatever happens to be on the TV that afternoon.
Having recovered from the morning’s exploits, we return to the river for a casual early barbecue supper, followed by an evening session of fishing, casting expectant lines until around 11.30pm. Then it’s back to the hut, where we’re joined by the two wonderful ghillies, Archie Baillie and his son Mark, for a few well-earned drams. We sit and talk fishing and life until well into the small hours.
Sadly, this time, the weather was so hot we weren’t able to fish as much as we’d have liked. In fact, we didn’t catch a single fish in the three days we were there. It was so warm by Saturday morning that we decided it was only fair on the fish to stop.. they don’t like warm water, and it just didn’t feel right to keep going in those heatwave conditions.
So we left Scotland a day early, and having given up my seats at Lords to Hamish Campbell, I was able to enjoy the cricket and tennis from the cool of my own home. Two brilliant contests — England v India, and another stunning match from Sinner and Alcaraz. Two wonderful sporting occasions to round off what was still, in spite of the lack of fish, a very memorable trip.
Monday morning brings in Alan James to see his KBRS horses and then there is the final day of Lords to watch!
Dusty and a desert here but there is rain forecasted tomorrow..
A Highway Patrol Officer pulled over a little old lady for going 10mph on the highway.
As he walked up to the old lady’s car he noticed there were 3 other elderly folks looking very frightened and rigid.
He leaned down to the old lady’s window and noticed she was as calm as could be.
“Do you know why I pulled you over, Ma’am?”
“No, I do not,” she replied sweetly.
“You were going 10mph on the highway. That’s a serious hazard for other drivers.”
The officer couldn’t help but glance at the three terrified passengers.
The little old lady pointed at the sign nearby. “Isn’t the speed limit 10?”
The officer looked at the sign and laughed. “Ma’am, that’s the sign telling you which highway you’re on. Interstate 10.”
The little old lady burst out in a fit of giggles. “Oh, I’m sorry!”
The officer decided it was an honest mistake and was going to let her go. But curiosity got the better of him. “Can I ask why your passengers are so scared?”
The little old lady laughed again. “Probably because I just got off Interstate 175.
To finish.. Happy Birthday to Keith Ellis..
Plus 13 and dry when driving in.
Not long here this AM as Mrs B and I are heading North to fish with NJH on the Spy at Knockando.. And before you say he won’t catch anything.. you will probably be right as the forecast is for heatwave up there too! 28 degrees expected.. Not something you expect when fishing in Scotland.. rain would have been far more helpful.. Whatever we will have a laugh or two, and something else to help no doubt?
Talking NJH.. He read a reading to the huge gathering at Barry Hills’s Memorial service yesterday.. Excellent eulogy from one of Barry's best mates... Michael Goodbody..
Wimbledon ...
World number one Aryna Sabalenka narrowly avoided a seismic shock as she fought back to beat veteran Laura Siegemund and claw her way into the Wimbledon semi-finals.
Carlos Alcaraz produced a Wimbledon masterclass to end British hope Cameron Norrie's run and move into the semi-finals once again.
Wednesday morning and no jockeys in this morning..
If you are around this area this weekend, then the 2000trees festival starts today.. Not my kind of music and when you see the headline act you probably know why I try and go away!
The crucial 3rd Test starts tomorrow at Lords..Who will be picked as bowlers?
Last year a guy took his Blonde girl friend to the Superbowl
They had great seats right behind their team's bench.
After the game, he asked her how she liked it.
"Oh, I really liked it," she replied, "especially the tight pants and all the big muscles, but I just couldn't understand why they were killing each other over 25 cents."
Dumbfounded, her boyfriend asked, "What do you mean?"
"Well, they flipped a coin, one team got it, then for the rest of the game, all they kept screaming was...'Get the quarterback! Get the quarterback!'
I'm like...Helloooooo? It's only 25 cents!"
On the road all day today..Probably need some Texaco!
Enjoy the heatwave and see you on Monday..
Plus 11 and dry when driving in.
Yesterday’s drizzle amounted to 1mm of water landing here!
Happy horses last night.. They tucked into some welcome hard feed (Dodson and Horrell nuts) with relish.. Making a change for the hay and tufts of grass they have been munching at over the last couple of weeks.
This prolonged dry spell is causing havoc to the all involved in agriculture and poor Adam, who is the Thorndale shepherd, is also suffering…
Adam has been forced to start feeding his lambs as they are pushing down fencing while looking for something juicy to eat.... the grass is always greener the other side of the fence!..
The haylage they have recently made for this winter is now having to be used, which is unheard of for this time of the year.. they would normally cut about 600 bales of haylage to keep the sheep happy over the winter, but because of the lack of grass growth Adam was only been able to take off 250 bales on the same acreage… not good news..
All the horses that came in yesterday were ridden today.. Alex our blacksmith knocking on Gucci or Doc Martin's and the yard regime is now back in full working order..
Drama at Wimbledon last night when a tearful Grigor Dimitrov was forced to retire in an emotional end to their match with Jannik Sinner.
Novak Djokovic battled back to overcome an inspired Alex de Minaur and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
Cameron Norrie plays Carlos Alcaraz today.. Thats a tough one!
This was an extroadinary piece of selflessness from South Africa's Wiaan Mulder who declared on himself, before passing up the opportunity to break Brian Lara's record of 400 for the highest individual score in a Test innings. Wiaan Mulder's thoughts..
Barry Hill's memorial service at St Michael and All Angels Church in Lambourn at 11am
Nathan Andrews is attending a Claiming Jockeys Workshop at Warwick Racecourse.
I know many of you have been held up by the road works at Birdlip but you must admire the sheer brilliance of the engineering.. Watch this short video of what it looks like now..
A construction worker walks into a bar with a slab of asphalt.
The bartender asks: “What can I get you?” The construction worker says “One beer for me, and one for the road.”
Plus 13 and drizzling when driving in.
Rain around the country yesterday, but not any here.. Devastating floods in Texas
That was a spectacular weekend of sport
Ryan Moore.. How did he manage to win the Coral Eclipse.. it was an extraordinary ride..
The British Grand Prix. A British win.Lando Norris... We like that.. Trying conditions!
Wimbledon. Another British win. Cameron Norrie through although Sonay Kartal was beaten.. no disgrace
Cricket...Not a British Win! England firmly put in their place by India. Their Captain Shubman Gill was magificent..
The series is now level at 1/1..England will need a bit of rebuilding before the next Test starts at Lords on Thursday
Monday morning and at last we have the horses that have been on holiday down in Andoversford returning to the yard. Holidays over and frankly we will, as they will be delighted to be back.
They have been short of grass and the flies have really stepped up their attacks on them..and we have been a bit like running an empty pub with full bar staff and half a dozen customers for the last couple of months!
This is a must read before you go..
An elderly patient gets hearing aids from a doctor. After a short time he visits his doctor again for a check up.
Doctor: "Your hearing is perfect, your family must be very pleased.
Patient: "Oh I'm in a funny situation now. I haven't told them yet. I just sit and listen to their conversations. In a month I've changed my will four times.
To finish.. Happy Birthday to Norman Carter..
Plus 18 and dry when driving in.
My brother in law is on Mull and say he has never seen such awful weather .. heavy rain and winds.. he has been there nearly a week and it has been like that most of the time!
That was some days play at Edgbaston yesterday. Jamie Smith and Harry Brook produced a stunning England fightback with a partnership of 303 but even their hard work still leaves India well in command..Unless…?
England's Womens team held their nerve to keep the T20 series alive with a thrilling last-ball victory by five runs against India at The Oval.
Talking cricket.. this is bonkers!
Over at Wimbledon Cameron Norrie was brilliant to beat Italian Matteo Bellucci.
Sonay Kartal powered her way into the fourth round of Wimbledon for the first time on Friday, winning nine games in a row on her way to a 6-4 6-2 victory over France's Diane Parry.
So, two Brits through to the 4th round.. Emma Raducanu played superb tennis but the world’s number one Aryna Sabalenka, wore her down.. She did well..
Saturday morning and Tom Bellamy and Ciaran Gethings were in to ride out.
One of the best flat races of the year takes place at Sandown the Coral Eclipse.. always a good race and this year is no different.
The British Grand Prix this weekend at Silverstone.. It will be packed and I believe the cheapest ticket is well over £200 which makes complaining about the price of Cheltenham tickets look a bit far fetched.
It was 1988. A couple lived near the ocean and used to walk the beach a lot. One summer, they noticed a girl who was at the beach pretty much every day.
She wasn’t unusual, nor was the travel bag she carried—except for one thing. She would approach people who were sitting on the beach, glance around, then speak to them.
Generally, the people would respond negatively, and she would wander off. But occasionally, someone would nod, and there would be a quick exchange of money for something she carried in her bag. The couple assumed she was selling drugs and debated calling the cops, but since they didn’t know for sure, they just continued to watch her.
After a couple of weeks, the wife asked, “Honey, have you ever noticed that she only goes up to people with boom boxes and other electronic devices?”
He hadn’t, and he said so. Then she said, “Tomorrow I want you to get a towel and our big radio and go lie out on the beach. Then we can find out what she’s really doing.”
Well, the plan went off without a hitch, and the wife was almost hopping up and down with anticipation when she saw the girl talk to her husband and then leave. The man walked up the beach and met his wife at the road.
“Well, is she selling drugs?” she asked excitedly.
“No, she’s not,” he said, enjoying this probably more than he should have.
“Well, what is it, then?” his wife fairly shrieked.
The man grinned and said, “Her name is Sheena, but she prefers to be called ‘Shee,’ and she’s selling batteries.”
“Batteries?” cried the wife.
“Yes,” he replied. “Shee sells C cells by the seashore.”
To finish.. Happy birthday to our conditional jockey, Nathan Andrews
Have a great weekend and see you on Monday..
Plus 13 and dry when driving in.
I promised myself I wouldn’t mark every sad loss here, but this one can’t pass unmentioned. Yesterday Nicola Solomons rang to say her father Tony Solomons (1930-2025) had died.
Tony was my longest-serving owner. In only my second season he sent me a horse called Le Metier—and from that moment until his last flag-bearer First Flow he had at least one jumper with me every single year.
Away from the racecourse Tony was chairman of Singer & Friedlander and the very model of integrity. In racing he showed the same loyalty. I was the only trainer he trusted with his jumpers (though he kept a few on the Flat elsewhere), and training for him was a privilege.
One story sums him up. Years ago I bought a horse for Tony in France; before he’d even seen or paid for it, the poor creature was killed in a thunderstorm. Tony’s reaction? “Oh how awful Kim.. but you must replace him.” The “replacement” turned out to be Harry Topper, and many of you will remember the days he gave us including the Denman Chase at Newbury
Our biggest shared high came when First Flow took the Grade 1 Clarence House at Ascot..but, cruelly, it was during COVID. We celebrated as best we could later, but I wish he’d been in the winner’s enclosure that day.
There are few like Tony Solomons: loyal, straight-dealing, unfailingly good company, and a genuine lover of National Hunt racing. On behalf of everyone at Thorndale, I send our deepest sympathies to his daughter Nicola... We will all miss Tony hugely
Yesterday wasn’t one to remember for English sports fans.
At Edgbaston, the cricket made for harrowing viewing..India piled on the runs, and England, in reply, lost three quick wickets before close. A long road back from here.
Over at Wimbledon, things weren’t much brighter. Jack Draper, our number one, went out, and several other Brits followed suit. Not much to cheer about on the lawns either.
So now all eyes turn to Emma Raducanu, who takes on one of the very best in the world today...she faces Aryna Sabalenka the world number one and favourite to win Wimbledon A huge task ahead of her, but fingers firmly crossed.
Our in-house 5 to follow competition finished at the end of June and I am pleased to announce that the winner is 1st Garry Betley... 2nd was Nick Cook..3rd was Rosemary Ellis. Garry will be receiving a vouchure for his prize.. A three-course meal for 2 and bottle of wine at The Frogmill.. This years competition will start in October.
Andrews Bowens diggers left last night.. gallop and track to the gallop all replaced and new..AB do a great job..
Plus 10 and dry when driving in.
I saw my first combine harvester on the move yesterday, in a country that resembles the Australian outback it is so bare and dry!
It was a slow but steady day at Edgbaston yesterday. India batted well, England bowled well, but there was no movement and not much hope for the bowlers on a very flat pitch. Big crowd, great atmosphere. We were in the stand next to all the Hollies, so we certainly weren’t short of noise. Edgbaston’s always a fun day out..whatever the cricket’s doing. A fun day catching up with an old mate.. MF-G..
Big prices came thick and fast during the evening stanza of the Arqana Summer Sale in Deauville last night… This two day sale is always featured big prices.. mostly heading to the UK or Ireland..
Wimbledon.... Emma Raducanu was at her best...Sonay Kartal stormed into round three but Katie Boulter was beaten in the second round. A gutsy Cameron Norrie produced one of the best performances of his career as he fought back to beat Frances Tiafore
The Golfer and the Leprechaun:
A man had just finished a putt and reached in the hole to get his ball, but pulled out a leprechaun
"Sure, and ye have me." Cried the leprechaun. "And if ye let me go, for yer tribble, I'll give ye three wishes!"
"Thank you." Said the man. "I don't really need anything, so I'll pass on the wishes."
He let the leprechaun go, and went off to finish his game.
The leprechaun was dumbfounded. Who had ever heard of such a thing?
He sat on a pebble and thought to himself. "Such a man as that deserves three wishes! I'll give 'em to 'im in spite of 'imself! Now what!!! Why money,of course! Everyone wants money. So, for his first wish he wants to be a Millionaire! And second-let's make him a great golfer! And last-ah! Let him have a wonderful sex life."
A month went by and the leprechaun spotted the man playing on the course again. He jumped out of a hole and yelled up to the man: "How ye be doing?"
The man smiled and said. "Hello, little friend. I be doing just fine."
The leprechaun smiled back and said. "And how's yer money situation, if ye don't mind my asking?"
"It's funny you should ask." Replied the man.
"An uncle of mine passed away and left me a fortune!"
"Hah! Is that so? And how's ya golf game now?"
"It's an amazing thing." Said the man. "For the past few weeks I can't do worse than two under par!"
"Sure and that's wonderful!" With a sly look, the leprechaun asked. "And how's yer sex life?"
The man, obviously embarrassed, looked away and coughed. "Well, it's fine. Two or three times a month."
The leprechaun was aghast. "Two or three times a month? That's horrible!"
The man looked up and said. "Actually, it's not bad for a priest in a small parish."
Plus 15 and chilly when driving in.!
Change in the weather.. jerseys back out!
We had a good turnout from the KBRS.. Second Chancers syndicate last night at Stratford to see Shantou Express in action, and he didn’t let them down. He ran an absolute blinder, finishing a close third in a competitive race.
He jumped beautifully, travelled strongly, and did everything right, just beaten by two younger rivals on the night. A really honest and likeable performance from a horse who continues to give his all.
Wimbledon and day of shocks but another good day for the Brits and an even bigger one today for Ollie Tarvet who takes on Carlos Alcaraz..
Poor England womens performance sees India take 2-0 lead
Martin F-G and I headed to Edgbaston early this morning for the first day of the second Test against India..
More cricket. I thought I would draw you attention to the upcoming Cheltenham Cricket Festival.. always a cracking event and one of the most popular cricketing festivals in the country.
Anyway Mark Blackford who runs Venatour sporting Tours has set one day aside, Tuesday 5th Aug, to use a marquee as a base for horse racing connections and watch Gloucestershire v Derbyshire Falcons Metro Bank One Day Cup.
Marc has asked to put it out to racing fans, trainers, owners etc... Book away..£30.00 per person.. Mat will be there if that is any help!!
Tom Bellamy was in this morning to ride out..
An attractive young lady was on a plane arriving from Ireland. She found herself seated next to an elderly priest whom she asked: "Excuse me Father, could I ask a favor?"
"Of course my child, What can I do for you?"
"Here is the problem.I bought myself a new sophisticated vibrating hair remover for which I paid an enormous sum of money. I have really gone over the declaration limits and I am worried that they will confiscate it at customs. Do you think you could hide it under your cassock?"
"Of course I could, my child, but you must realize that I cannot lie."
"You have such an honest face Father, I am sure they will not ask you any questions", and she gave him the worrisome personal gadget.
The aircraft arrived at its destination.
When the priest presented himself to customs he was asked, "Father, do you have anything to declare?"
"From the top of my head to my sash, I have nothing to declare, my son", he replied.
Finding his reply strange, the customs officer asked, "And from the sash down, what do you have?"
The priest replied, "I have there a marvelous little instrument destined for use by women, but which has never been used."
Breaking out in laughter, the customs officer said, "Go ahead Father. Next!"
Plus 19 and dry when driving in.
A new month.. Pleased to say that nobody has died.. so no more obituaries!
Our vet Tuesday vet visit was an early one to avoid the heat
I spent yesterday afternoon at Sophia Gardens watching Archie play cricket..my first time at the ground, and what a fantastic spot it is. Tucked away beside the river, it looked especially good in the sunshine!
Rather expectedly, I bumped into Chris Coley, who, as many will know, is a devoted Gloucestershire supporter, so there was plenty of good-natured chat on the boundary.
Archie had a day to remember. Batting at number 11, he helped steady things with a record last-wicket partnership, finishing not out on 19. Then, just for good measure, he came on to take a couple of wickets too. All in all, a fun and memorable afternoon in the heat.
More records tumbled yesterday..Surrey scored 820 against Durham.. imagine being a bowler or fielder in that heat!
Wimbledon..Great day for English players
Paul and Eileen Martin was here mid morning to see his KBRS horses Percy Veering, Moon Rocket and Phantom Getaway.
Norman Carter called in late morning.. He and I are having lunch..
We have a runner tonight at Stratford. Shantou Express heads there and for our thoughts please click here.
A woman was in a jewellers admiring a big diamond ring.
As she leans down for a closer look a little farts slips out. Hoping nobody noticed she asks, "How much is that one?"
The jeweller says, "Madam, if you farted looking at it, you'll shit yourself when I tell you the price!"