Age

One of the more irritating aspects of having two children and a brother riding in point-to-points is that an increasing number of people seem to think that my 45 year old brother is actually my son; people are frequently saying to him "can you ask your Dad to..." and so on which of course causes him huge delight. Well, I am pleased to report that brother Michael's intelligent and astute au pair was recently asked to estimate which of the four of us was the eldest etc, she decided that brother David, 42 tomorrow, was the eldest and that I, 49 on Monday, was the youngest - tee, hee - so there!

Providing the forecast rain arrives we will run Native Coll (pictured on the riverbank gallop this morning) in the 7pm at Cartmel tomorrow evening, 10 run and Adrian Lane rides. It's a step up in trip but I think it will suit him and he should go well if he handles the track, funfair and estimated 20,000 spectators. It is a little concern that he hasn't run since 3rd April due to the dry weather but he seems fit and well. On Sunday we will be heading to the final point-to-point of the season at Hexham where Commercial Express, Almost Blue and Noir et Vert will hopefully run........ have a good weekend.......

phew...

isn't life tough... well it was when this son of Midnight Legend was born a mere seven weeks ago in the worst April blizzard in living memory, he will be named Easter Tempest. It's hard to believe we are living on the same planet as I sit here in my office gently perspiring and most of the horses laze in the fields.
Almost Blue wasn't competitive at Kelso on Wednesday, he will now have a full MOT before going to grass and hopefully we will be able to pinpoint exactly what has ailed him this season. Our next runners are likely to be at Hexham on Sunday 30th and that will be just about it apart from a possible trip to Cartmel if the weather breaks.
Fortunately Lucy is doing rather better than her Father, finishing a close 3rd on Floreanna at Kelso on Wednesday (at 40-1!) prior to a good 4th at Wetherby yesterday. It's non-stop though and today she has flown to Paris where she will be representing GB in an 18 runner "Nations Cup" 1 mile flat race at Maisons-Laffite tomorrow, it will be her first ride on the flat and promises to be an entertaining experience with jockeys from all over the world taking part. Sadly I wasn't invited as chaperone but will be taking a few days off to face some self-examination on the golf course, initially at Muirfield and thereafter joining Murray Keith's (in)famous Canon tour for more humiliation at Portrush. Need to do my packing - alka seltzer, neurofen, gaviscon, hay fever stuff, blister treatments...etc etc.. a portable chemists shop by the time I've finished, not to forget golf clubs and of course, lots & lots of balls........

Today...

..we run Almost Blue in the 5.05 at Kelso, 13 run, Jamie rides and the ground will be on the quick side. He won this race last year but this looks more competitive and he hasn't yet shown the same form this season; however he ran better than the bare result suggests last time and he was doing his best work at the end, he's proven on the track and the ground so I hope he won't be too far away. This will be the horse's 25th race, he has won 4 times, been second 6 times and third 4 times... let's hope he goes well. Jamie will certainly be trying hard but so will everyone else, particularly his niece Lucy who is riding Floreanna for the Boswells - she won on this game mare earlier in the season but she has looked a little quircky recently, again, let's hope they go well. Lucy then heads to Wetherby tomorrow to ride Fly Tipper for Wilf Storey in the 4.15.

Isla Pearl Fisher

Dennis Penny of www.pennypictures.co.uk sent me these shots of Isla Pearl Fisher at Perth this week, he has come out of his race well and I imagine will now have a shortish break before being prepared for an autumn campaign over fences, he should be a good prospect in 2m4f - 3m handicap chases on decent ground, fingers crossed!