Happy Christmas!

I normally play golf on Christmas Day, although with my bad shoulder that is out of the question.  Some comedian even suggested that I could help with the Christmas dinner this year!  I eat it...what more do they expect?!  The television schedule looks as though it is filled with repeats, although I haven't yet found out when Mary Poppins is on (afterall, it is on every Christmas!).  It's funny, I never realise how much I miss my racing until we don't have it for a few days - Mrs Barnes says that it takes up my entire life but that just isn't true...I have golf and football as well!  Thinking about it, maybe she does have a point.

I thought the Twitter picture (above) of David with Dynaste and Sarah Buckley in their festive jumpers was a real Christmas cracker!  I'm sorry to say it David, but Dynaste was definitely the best turned out.  If you have not already done it, I know that David and all of the staff would be really grateful if you would go to David's Twitter page (@DavidPipeRacing) and 'retweet' the picture - there is £500 to the winning stable's entry.  The team at Pond House are devoted to their horses and work long hours, including over the Christmas period to bring us entertainment on the track so it would be great if we could help them to victory.

I have managed to have another look at the Boxing Day entries and I see that Broadway Buffalo is turned out again quickly under a penalty at Wetherby.  He was given a great ride by Conor O'Farrell to land the Tommy Whittle aboard our son of Broadway Flyer last time and provided the race doesn't come too soon, he would appear to hold sound claims.

At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old man (which to be honest, I probably am these days!) I am that bored that I am probably going to go out for a walk!  I have my son Lester cooking the turkey and the last thing I would want to do is get in his way(!).  Talking of dinner, you have to feel a little sorry for the jockeys in France - there certainly won't be any Christmas dinner for those riding at Pau today.  I wonder what a traditional French Christmas dinner consists of?  It is probably fair to say that the turkeys in France slept better last night that than their counterparts over here!

Anyway, Merry Christmas to one and all - there is only another 24 hours and we are back racing!  Don't forget, if you have a friend or neighbour who will be on their own over the festive season, to drop in and make sure they are okay.