Permitting Blast From Past!

I notice that in today's Racing Post The Dikler is talking about a French race called the Prix Weather Permitting.  He then goes on to say that Weather Permitting was a point to pointer in the West Country and on 17th May 1795, sorry I mean 1975 at Bishopsleigh in Devon he won a point to point to give a young (30 year old amateur) his one and only success in the saddle.  It was of course MCP, but what the Dikler doesn't mention is that I don't think the rest of the field could have been trying too hard for Martin to win...or at least that's what I tell anyone who will listen!  At the height of his training career Martin would probably have managed to get Weather Permitting to win a Champion Hurdle!

MCP records his sole success aboard Weather Permitting in 1975

I notice that in today's Racing Post The Dikler is talking about a French race called the Prix Weather Permitting.  He then goes on to say that Weather Permitting was a point to pointer in the West Country and on 17th May 1795, sorry I mean 1975 at Bishopsleigh in Devon he won a point to point to give a young (30 year old amateur) his one and only success in the saddle.  It was of course MCP, but what the Dikler doesn't mention is that I don't think the rest of the field could have been trying too hard for Martin to win...or at least that's what I tell anyone who will listen!  At the height of his training career Martin would probably have managed to get Weather Permitting to win a Champion Hurdle!

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It's just as well he has a well-paid day job!  That's my theory about amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen who so memorably won the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Long Run as well as finishing runner-up in this year's Grand National aboard Oscar Time.  As an amateur Sam was not entitled to the £65,000 that he would have accumulated for those rides had he been a professional jockey - the prestige is wonderful, but you would be gutted if you were hard up for a few quid...it would be a little bit like winning the lottery but losing your ticket!

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I have nothing against travellers, but where I live in South Devon there is a Common and every year travellers park there in their expensive looking cars and caravans against the law.  It takes at least a week to get a court order to move them on and then the local council have to clear up the mess they leave.  They do it every year and it beats me why the police should need to go to court every year to move them - the travellers know that it will take a week so enjoy their little break and then move on.  I bet that if I were to put a caravan on the common the police would move me on within 24 hours!