Inspecting at Plumpton

On writing we are waiting to hear news if Plumpton gets the go ahead for racing to be on today as we have two runners if it is (now a 10am inspection).  Hugo N Taz and Poker Play are actually already on their way to the South coast as we have to prepare like racing will be on.  The only thing I will say is that hopefully they haven't had as low a temperatures as we have had overnight.  -4c was the reading on my car this morning and the windscreen took a bit of de-icing! There was an 8am inspection at Plumpton and temperatures weren't forecast to be quite as low at the course but they are now taking a second look at 10am.  Hugo N Taz runs in the 2.50pm handicap chase with David Noonan on board.  He disappointed on his seasonal reappearance at Wincanton but he has had a little winder operation since then and we are hopeful of a better run this afternoon.  He won the Lincolnshire National last season for us and then the handicapper hiked him up a fair bit for this.  He has dropped a little in the weights and this race represents a drop in class.  It is quite a competitive little race and although the tight track may not play to his strengths he is in good form at home and fingers crossed he can run well.

Poker Play is our second runner on the card and he runs in the 3.20pm conditional jockeys handicap hurdle over three miles with Fergus Gillard in the saddle.  After winning a novice chase last season he was highly tried and unfortunately he seems to have lost his confidence a little.  A return to hurdling has not rekindled his sparkle as yet but he he showing plenty of enthusiasm at home and is coming down the weights a little.  We have left all the headgear off today so fingers crossed Fergus can get a tune out of him and he can show his true colours.

Unfortunately the weather looks to be wreaking havoc with the fixture list at present and it looks set to play its part for the early part of this week as well.  Haydock did an amazing job to get it's fixture on on Saturday and we were treated to some tremendous action, non more special the performance of Royal Pagaille ridden for the first time by Tom Scudamore.  He won very impressively off top weight and is now very short in the betting for a few races at the Cheltenham Festival including the Gold Cup.  Eamon An Cnoic ran better at Taunton but perhaps lacked the tactical speed towards the end of the race having his first start over hurdles in a long time.  He enjoyed his outing and easier opportunities can be found for him.

The weather claimed the meeting at Hereford on Sunday and both jumps meetings in Ireland were lost over the weekend.  Market Rasen has been abandoned today.  Prospects don't looks that good for racing happening at Kelso tomorrow while jumps racing at Leicester due to be tomorrow was already abandoned last week.  Thing's don't look that good for racing at Wincanton on Wednesday either.  They were blanketed with four inches of snow yesterday and with freezing conditions they are in a race against time for the necessary improvement to allow racing to take place.  The temperatures are set to rise over the next few days and we are likely to see the return of the rain - if it is not one thing it as another but we are in January I suppose!

We have a covering of snow at Pond House yesterday morning while just a few miles down the road in Wellington there was nothing.  There was just enough here for David to enjoy some sledging with the children so I am told!  I am not sure who enjoyed it most!  Thanks again to Robyn who provided the photo of the yard covered in a dusting of snow yesterday morning.

Happy Monday everyone.