All-Weather Action

 Vieux Lion Rouge watching on in the Snow!

We are lucky down here in Torbay as most of the snow has now gone and it is 6c temperature wise.  At Pond House the temperatures are not so warm and they still have plenty of snow!  David collected all the staff once again and thankfully the weather is not disrupting the horses daily routine too much thanks to all the teams hard work.  There were inspections at Chelmsford and Lingfield but they have passed and racing goes ahead.  Newcastle are inspecting at 8am.  The staff at Lingfield have been working through the night to get the card on.  Clerk of the Course George Hill said they have got four ITV lorries parked in the car park and it would be the first time they have been on main TV.  The Newcastle track seems a bit more positive and they say they should be okay if the forecast is correct.

I wonder when the next jumps racing will be on?  Lingfield's Monday jumps card looks very doubtful.  Jumps cards are scheduled to be at Exeter and Newcastle on Tuesday but I would think they would have to be in doubt.  My mate got caught on Telegraph Hill (by Exeter Racecourse) and had to spend the night in his car as they closed the road for a while.  

I watched the action from Southwell yesterday, the jumpers bumpers.  Quite a few of the races looked to be run at a slow pace and they just quickened up for the last 3 furlongs.  Some people don't like these races but at least it gives the horses some decent exercise.  Brian Ellison and Donald McCain had five winners between them so they definitely appreciated the extra fixture put on.

There are lots of football matches off today.  I wonder why more clubs don't have the underground heating like all the Premier League teams?  I guess it is too expensive but the Sunderland pitch looked fantastic.  In fact they were even watering it!  My team, West Ham go to Swansea in a real bottom of the table clash.  Swansea are in the bottom three but there are only three points between them.  There could be a roll up - Leicester, Southampton, Spurs, Watford and Liverpool.  The big match in Man City versus Chelsea.  The form City are in it looks to be another home win.

As a kid my ambition was to be a detective...but now I haven't got a clue.