Sunday 5 February 2012

Aaaaargh!

Waiting............
Musselburgh abandoned and the worst of all conditions here today, an inch or so of wet snowy slush has frozen solid turning the entire place into a lethal ice rink, dangerous for humans and horses.  Nevertheless an opportunity to put my new Logic salt spreader into action, having been very pleased to look at it gleaming and unused all winter today it swung into action with a vengeance.  I assume whoever designed it has in interest in a salt mine because by 8.30am I appeared to have used about 15 bags and will use the same again later, ouch, however it worked beautifully and combined with a couple of runs up and down the gallop with the rotovator it was all systems go and 20 horses went on the walker whilst tomorrow's intended runners had a stretch on the all-weather.  Some great pictures taken here yesterday by Frank Cornfield as the weather closed in, a small selection on the blog but see them all here.  

Butter wouldn't melt.................

Buffalo Ballet (Gemma) and Tipsy Dara (Lucy H)

Isla Pearl Fisher (Kit) and Forcefield (James)
So, no celebration induced cobwebs needing blown away after Scotland failed to overcome a very defensive and negative England side at Murrayfield, disappointing but fun, good atmosphere helped by substantial quantity of whisky mac, its amazing how the mood at the stadium has improved since they allowed alcohol back in, well, not really amazing at all but it has transformed the place.  Tomorrow at Ayr we have three runners - Four Fiddlers making his long-awaited reappearance in the 2pm, Lucy rides, the ground is soft and seven run.  I am just so pleased to have this horse back on the track after an awful crash in early November, he seems well but its a tight little race, the ground will be a bit soft for him and the main priority will be to continue the restoration of his confidence.  We run two in the 4.15, Sydney Cove ridden by Keith Mercer and Isla Patriot ridden by Peter Buchanan; both are well but I think the latter will be suited by better ground and may need to wait until the spring to show his best, the former is bouncing at home and should have conditions to suit.  Lucy ride Ancient Times in the same race and then Big Water in the closing bumper.
I suppose today will be spent looking at weather forecasts, they are not good and prospects for racing are bleak, Musselburgh are hoping the BHA will allow them to reschedule their fixture for next week, it would be a real boost for racing in the North, if they did, please........
Taking shelter....................

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