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  Old Photo - Very Wet Start to the Day Here!

Today National hunt racing draws breath from the busy festive period and there is just the one jumps card at Musselburgh accompanied by two flat all-weather meetings at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton. The stable does not have any runners today. I did have a quick look at the Musselburgh card and trainer Laura Morgan looks to have a few good chances and I wouldn’t be surprised if she were to come away with two or three winners this afternoon.

At Plumpton yesterday Dindin ran well to a point but then paid for setting such a strong gallop from the off. D’jango faired best of our Sussex National quartet and ran a super race to be third under James Best. He has his own unique style of jumping which doesn’t help his chances during a race but he is a thorough stayer and galloped all the way to the line. He would probably appreciate another half a mile or the ground even softer. It was a solid effort and we we look for another suitable stamina test for him in a few weeks time. As the runners rounded the final bend I thought it was Sidi Ismael who was going to fare best of our horses as he moved into third place but he just got a little tired over the last couple of furlongs and weakened to finish fifth. It was still a fine effort off top weight and a rating of 132 and maybe he would appreciate a drop back in trip slightly as he did not quite get home. Abaya Du Mathan led the field a merry dance for a large part of the race before is stamina gave way while Red Happy did not enjoy the soft ground.

Today things return a little more normal to the yard once again. Staff return to normal hours and routine is restored. I like routine and it definitely helps me to remember which day of the week it is!!  The rain has returned however and it is not a very nice start to the morning for those working outside!

I would like to wish Gail Harrison a very happy birthday today! Gail has taught me all I know in the office but has been absent from work for nearly a year now. A fall last January resulted in a an operation and then further complications with more surgery along the way. I am pleased to say she is getting on well now at home and so I hope she has a great day today.

My score prediction was not quite right for the Brentford versus Liverpool game yesterday as Liverpool were beaten 3-1 by Brentford. I did not watch the games but it sounds like Liverpool were pretty poor and Brentford took full advantage of the frailties they have at the moment. The football action continues thick and fast this week with four premiership games this evening. My team, Manchester United are at home to Bournemouth but the pick of the games is Arsenal against Newcastle 7.45pm kick off. Both teams are doing very well this season and it will be interesting to see how they match up.

I was going to quit all my bad habits for the year. But then I remembered no one likes a quitter!! Have a good day.