What No Jumps?!

With a week of no jump racing it is down to the boys on the flat to keep us entertained.  There are five meetings scheduled for this afternoon at Bath, Catterick, Wolverhampton, Ripon and Kempton.  Talk about race planning - I guess the fellow that looks after the jumps cards is on holiday this week!  Anyway I tend to agree with David's sentiments in his column - a return to the old schedule where everyone has a month off before the new season would be far preferable to the odd week off here or there.

With a week of no jump racing it is down to the boys on the flat to keep us entertained.  There are five meetings scheduled for this afternoon at Bath, Catterick, Wolverhampton, Ripon and Kempton.  Talk about race planning - I guess the fellow that looks after the jumps cards is on holiday this week!  Anyway I tend to agree with David's sentiments in his column - a return to the old schedule where everyone has a month off before the new season would be far preferable to the odd week off here or there.

I am not sure that I agree with trainer Peter Charalambous for publicly criticising jockey Nicky Mackay over his ride on Ela Gonda Mout at Newmarket.  I always thought that if you had a grievance with your jockey, that you sort it out in private.  Believe it or not, I once had a go at eight-times champion Peter Scudamore for his ride aboard High Knowl at Kempton.  Anyway, Scu said to me "lets go behind the stables and sort it out!"...he soon put me in my place!

I was saddened to see that former owner George Bisgrove has passed away at the age of 84.  He had some good horses with Martin including Welsh National winner Riverside Boy and Skipping Tim.  Skipping Tim was a real character who won 27 times, 15 with Scu on board!  Whenever George gave you a pat on the back, you knew you had been patted!

This morning I have another photograph from the gallops to share with you, this time of last time out Worcester winner Decoy who was working in company with recent recruit Vieux Lion.

Above: (l-r) Decoy and Vieux Lion work on the Pond House gallops

*****

Over at the Olympic rowing I was delighted to see Great Britain nick the gold, Denmark the silver and the Samoans, well they nicked the boat!  Keep smiling...