Well, we had a lot of rain last night. And when I watched the Ladies' Derby at Epsom on Racing UK yesterday evening, which was run in a downpour, it was clear that they would be likely to be having at least as much at Sandown, which is only a few miles from Epsom. As it was, it transpires that they had more rain at Sandown than we had here (although less than at Salisbury, who copped an inch and a half last night) so today's ground there is good to soft, soft in places. I'm glad that it's that soft, rather than just on the soft side of good,
because that meant that it was an easy decision for us not to run: something like, say, good to soft, good in places, would have meant a hard decision. As it is, the decision not to run Silken Thoughts, a filly who seems happiest on a sound surface was an easy and obvious one to take. As things stand, therefore, we are one of 14 non-runners at Sandown - and, pleasingly, the only one in our race; it would have been annoying to find a mass of scratchings from our race, meaning that, had we run, we would have been
one of a very depleted field. Now, though, we shouldn't have to wait too long before running her again, possibly at Lingfield next Thursday. And, fingers crossed, conditions should be normal next week, as the band of rain has already moved on: today (as these photographs show, starting with one of Roger Varian's first lot skirting around the puddles en route to the Severals' trotting rings, moving on to the view which greeted Kadouchski and I when we got to Railway Land ten minutes later, and continuing with the sun-bathed high jinks which greeted us one our return to the yard) is a lovely warm and sunny day, with the ground drying out almost before one's eyes.
So that's that. And I'll leave you with a question, plus an image of Rhythm Stick and Hugh cantering around Side Hill AW midmorning, as seen by Alcalde and me: when is a courtesy call not a courtesy call? Well, I'd say that a 'courtesy call' isn't very courteous when it's unsolicited and aimed at disparaging one's pride and joy (in this case, this blog/website)! How about this? I found on the answerphone a day or two ago a cold call from someone from a firm which does "free website design" for trainers. Forestalling the obvious observation that we already have a website, the voice countered such an objection before it could be made by saying that he knows that we have a website, but he's seen it and therefore knows that it is "looking rather dated". "Rather dated"? The cheek of it! You don't get any more 21st century than this, mate! Anyway, you won't be surprised to know that the my decision not to return the call is causing me no crisis of conscience.
Well, we had a lot of rain last night. And when I watched the Ladies' Derby at Epsom on Racing UK yesterday evening, which was run in a downpour, it was clear that they would be likely to be having at least as much at Sandown, which is only a few miles from Epsom. As it was, it transpires that they had more rain at Sandown than we had here (although less than at Salisbury, who copped an inch and a half last night) so today's ground there is good to soft, soft in places. I'm glad that it's that soft, rather than just on the soft side of good, 
because that meant that it was an easy decision for us not to run: something like, say, good to soft, good in places, would have meant a hard decision. As it is, the decision not to run Silken Thoughts, a filly who seems happiest on a sound surface was an easy and obvious one to take. As things stand, therefore, we are one of 14 non-runners at Sandown - and, pleasingly, the only one in our race; it would have been annoying to find a mass of scratchings from our race, meaning that, had we run, we would have been 
one of a very depleted field. Now, though, we shouldn't have to wait too long before running her again, possibly at Lingfield next Thursday. And, fingers crossed, conditions should be normal next week, as the band of rain has already moved on: today (as these photographs show, starting with one of Roger Varian's first lot skirting around the puddles en route to the Severals' trotting rings, moving on to the view which greeted Kadouchski and I when we got to Railway Land ten minutes later, and continuing with the sun-bathed high jinks which greeted us one our return to the yard) is a lovely warm and sunny day, with the ground drying out almost before one's eyes.
So that's that. And I'll leave you with a question, plus an image of Rhythm Stick and Hugh cantering around Side Hill AW midmorning, as seen by Alcalde and me: when is a courtesy call not a courtesy call? Well, I'd say that a 'courtesy call' isn't very courteous when it's unsolicited and aimed at disparaging one's pride and joy (in this case, this blog/website)! How about this? I found on the answerphone a day or two ago a cold call from someone from a firm which does "free website design" for trainers. Forestalling the obvious observation that we already have a website, the voice countered such an objection before it could be made by saying that he knows that we have a website, but he's seen it and therefore knows that it is "looking rather dated". "Rather dated"? The cheek of it! You don't get any more 21st century than this, mate! Anyway, you won't be surprised to know that the my decision not to return the call is causing me no crisis of conscience.
2 comments:
Haha... at least the caller is showing some enterprise John!
Maybe you are not down with the kids any more :-P
Nathan.
I think the website is great as it is, not that I am a website expert!
I look forward to your blog and updates and find it informative, I also like when you mention other stables horses that you like, as it is also nice to keep an eye on them.
Must mention Iain Mongan, he is a jockey I have always rated from claiming with Gary Moore, and another one of these jockeys with the right rides is more than capable, I also like James Doyle and George Baker,
Enjoyed the Pat Eddery legends on ATR and interesting that Pat thinks Frankie is still the best jockey riding by a long way,
I think its a shame that for one season all the top jockeys dont try to be champion as it would be fantastic to see hanagan, dettori, moore, fallon, hughes, de sousa,spencer fight it out, obviously it would be a lot of hard work for the jockeys and the suspension issue prevents this from happening, although if a big sponsor put a big prize up it may be more of an incentive. Whats your view John?
thanks for the brilliant blog as ever John,
Ian
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