Bouncing back?

We ended yesterday's chapter with an Alan Partridge-esque vow to bounce back, so let's hope that that can start to happen tomorrow, when we head to Bath with Roy.  With Roy you do rather hold your breath for the things which might prove difficult - the journey, the stalls etc. - but basically the fear of disappointment isn't great when he's running.  He's won nine races now; and if he never wins another, that won't be the end of the world.  He's already given more pleasure and more excitement than any horse can be expected to give, so if that's our lot, then I certainly won't feel short-changed.  Furthermore, when he runs anywhere other than Brighton, one is definitely travelling in hope rather than expectation.

But he'll do his best.  And if things fall into place, he'll have a chance.  If the race isn't run to suit him, he won't.  But it should be a pleasant trip (although not as pleasant as usual, because Larry and Iris McCarthy and their friends won't be there - although let's hope that that's rectified before too long as the protocols on owners attending become less restrictive) and, hopefully, one on which we won't get rained.  This hasn't been the wettest July Week in Newmarket (that honour is held, certainly within living memory, by the July Week at the end of which Mayson won the July Cup on heavy going) but it's been wet enough.  I'd say that it has been raining at least 50% of the time during the past 48 hours, but as it's only been light rain and it's been warm, that's been very bearable.

But from tomorrow onwards the weather should be settling down again, and it should be quite nice for our trip to Lingfield on Sunday with Hidden Pearl.  That'll be 10 days between races for her, and she seems in very good heart.  She all but won at Catterick seven days ago, and one would hope that she should have a good chance on Sunday.  But I won't be getting too keyed up about it.  Last week's run was as good a reminder as one could ever get that it's very possible to run very, very well without winning, so I certainly won't be counting any chickens.  Fingers crossed she'll run very, very well again, and that's all one can ask.