Scottish Venture

                      His Excellency

There are just two meetings today at Musselburgh and and all-weather card at Kempton.  David has one runner, His Excellency at the Scottish track in the Scottish Champion chase.  It is a good looking race as you would expect for the prize money on offer.  Our six year old has been running in well some top races but is slowly coming down the handicap.  He carries top weight of 11st 12lb but we expect him to run okay with Tom Scu in the saddle.  Tom's journey up North has been made worhwile as he has picked up rides for Brian Ellison as well.  Nicky Henderson sends plenty of runners up to Scotland and AP and Barry Geraghty are both in action.  The ground is given as good to soft and let's just hope it stays like that.  This must surely be the best ground in the UK at the moment!  The raceourse is right beside the sea which is why it always tends to be better here than most places.

My wife has been telling me that in school they are going to give tests to four year old kids, what is she talking about I thought?  But, it is true!  Whatever will they think of next, I am glad my school days have just finished!

How can Channel 4 racing be pleased with a 20% drop in viewing figures?  If you run a business and it was down 20% would you be happy?!  I think Channel 4 has lost the plot.  You need people to make the programme more interesting, you need people like John Francome and dare I say it John McCrirrick and even Tommo to make racing appeal to the wider audience.  It seems to me to have gone far to technical and boring but what do I know?!

In yesterday's Racing Post they had a photo - recognise me.  It was Irish trainer Gordon Elliott who used to be at Pond House.  I think the weightwatchers diet must have failed - sorry Gordy!  He is a great trainer though.  Have a nice day.