Northern Jumps Day

It is a very chilly start to the day here at Pond House with temperatures at -3c, a bit colder than I think we were forecast but there are no reported problems at either of today's two jumps meetings at Market Rasen and Wetherby.  I do find it a little strange with race planning that both jumps meeting today are in the North, and the tracks cannot be a million miles from each other!  There are three all-weather flat meetings at Southwell, Chelmsford and Newcastle while in Ireland there is an all-weather card at Dundalk.  The stable does not have any runners today.

Yesterday at Hereford, Harley's Pride was disappointing on her hurdling debut as while I was not expecting her to win I thought she might sneak into a place.  She jumped well enough and there should be plenty of improvement to come.  Indulto Rouge ran well enough in the bumper to be third.  He travelled a bit too keenly in second but the pace of the race was not that strong and when they quickened he was just left a little flat footed but galloped all the way to the line.  As I said yesterday, I do think it was a good standard of race for the track and he is one for obstacles in due course.

Having reached Wednesday, the middle of the week the countdown is now on to a busy weekend of racing ahead.  We of course have the December Gold Cup meeting at Newbury plus the Fighting Fifth hurdle up at Newcastle.  There is much talk about the Trainers Championship already, too early for me but they say that Dan Skelton is currently £300,000 in prize money in front of where he was at this time last year.  Willie Mullins is set to join the party this weekend really for the first time with runners at Newbury and Newcastle so it is where the battle will commence but Dan has already built up a sizeable lead.  It will at least provide perhaps a little excitement as the season progresses.

Entries for the King George and Welsh National were made yesterday and while there are no entries for us, there are plenty of high class candidates in both races who are hoping to make the races on the day.  Gaelic Warrior and Fact to File feature among the Kempton entries as does last years winner Banbridge while the second favourite is the Nicky Henderson trained Jango Baie after his impressive win at Ascot the other day.  There are 52 entries in the Coral Welsh National with last year's runner up, Jubilee Express being put in as the early favourite.  The Christmas period is something to look forward to on the racing front!

Last night there was a fantastic win for Chelsea in the Champions League beating Barcelona 3-0 at home.  It was not such a good night for Manchester City or Newcastle who both lost.  Tonight the action continues with Arsenal at home to Bayern Munich which promises to be a tough match.  Liverpool are at home to PSV while Spurs have a tough night away in Paris against PSG.

I was in a shoe shop this morning trying on a shoe, I said to the assistant, "It's too tight".

She said, "Try it with the tongue out".  I said, "It'th nho ghood, it'th thtill thoo thight!"  

Have a good day!