Brief Easter observations

Thank you, Neil. I'd agree with all your observations after the last chapter.  Mick Appleby's achievement in being champion trainer over the winter AW season was indeed a pleasure to see, as has been the great run of success being enjoyed by Antony Brittain (in tandem with his jockey Cam Hardie, who fully deserves the renaissance which his career has been enjoying).  I've really enjoyed following the racing over the winter, and Good Friday AW Finals Day at Lingfield was an afternoon of great entertainment on Racing UK.

I enjoyed our trip to Brighton yesterday.  Roy 'only' finished fifth of seven, but it was a good fifth.  He's probably better over a mile and a half than a mile and a quarter nowadays; and, more pertinently, the (predictable - but it suits him to come from behind, so we don't alter the tactics on any assessment of how quickly or slowly the race is likely to be run) slow tempo of the race didn't bring out the best of him.  And 0-75 company is tough for him at the best of time, but his current high rating forced our hand in that respect.  Overall, it was easy to come home looking forward to the rest of the season.  And, as always, it was lovely to be with him at Brighton, where he always receives a great reception.

Otherwise, the triple highlights of the night were the success enjoyed by the McEntee family with Contingency Fee (pictured) and the double (the second leg of which came in our race with The Jean Genie, after Diamond Lady had won the first race, setting a new course record for the six furlongs of 1:07.12) for Balsham-based trainer (ie he isn't Newmarket-based but he is local, and he brings horses in to work on the Heath) Will Stone and Caroline Scott.  In both cases, this was success for very good people; and it was very good to be there to see it.  And the third highlight was the lovely weather, which has continued today but is likely to change midweek.

Before then we should have one runner: Sussex Girl (the chestnut seen in the middle in this herd-group photograph in the field today) at Yarmouth on Tuesday.  There are only eight runners (the small field seemingly being the result of the warm, dry weather, which makes no sense as the ground is 'good to firm, good in places' rather than 'hard' - and it will be as described because Richard Aldous, a very sound clerk of the course, can always be relied on both to look after the track very well and to 'tell it as it is') and I hope that she will have a decent chance.  Sacred Sprite was entered the same day at Wolverhampton, but I'll leave it another couple of weeks until her next race as I wasn't 100% happy with her over the past couple of days.