Weekend Jottings!

Well, Glorious Goodwood is over for another year and what a fantastic week they have had there.  I must say, you should go along if you ever get the opportunity to attend.  It is without doubt one of the most finely appointed tracks in the country, hosts top class racing and is in a stunning location to boot...what more could you want?  Anyway on to today's action and there are three meetings taking place this afternoon; two on the level at Chester and Newbury and a jumps card from Market Rasen.  It's a funny card at Chester with largely small fields punctuated by a big Listed contest and a competitive handicap.

Talking of Chester, following trials to host jump racing at the track last year the decision was made to postpone any possible National Hunt action for the timebeing, although I was interested to see another track going the opposite way.  Wetherby will be hosting their first flat meeting in the track's 123 year history from next season.  I'm not really sure why they feel the need to change their fixture list after all this time or if there will even be a market for it with top class flat racing just down the road at York - I guess we will find out soon enough.  These are certainly interesting times around the racecourses, not least with Warwick abandoning their flat fixtures to become solely dedicated to racing over the sticks.

The stable has no runners at Market Rasen this afternoon and following this afternoon's fixture the whole jump racing fraternity have to endure an enforced sabbatical of nine days.  I have to agree with David when he quetions the validity of this break - it doesn't really give anyone enough time to fully recharge.  The horses still have to be fed, groomed and exercised and all that happens is that it makes the program disjointed and takes away opportunities from the horses at the lower end of the scale at this time of year.  Back in the old days there was always a month's break at the end of the season and we would come back from that refreshed and looking forward to an ice cream at Newton Abbot!

Anyway, rant over...have a nice weekend!

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