- Wednesday, 07 January 2026 07:43
- Written by G Edwards
Temperatures have increased a little here at Pond House and while there is no frost this morning, after some rain and sleet yesterday afternoon and clear skies early this morning the roads were a little slippery on my travels into work this morning. There is no jumps racing to worry about today with Leicester having been called off on Monday but there are two all-weather fixtures at Lingfield and Kempton. It seems a little strange they are not very far apart from each other these courses but Lingfield is afternoon racing and Kempton is an evening fixture. We did have Bashful Boy declared to run at Kempton this evening but that was purely in case Wolverhampton was abandoned yesterday and therefore no runners for the team today.
- Tuesday, 06 January 2026 07:53
- Written by G Edwards
Bashful Boy runs at Wolverhampton Today
Temperatures at Pond House are similar to yesterday this morning at about -3c first thing but with no extra sprinkle of the white stuff overnight conditions are a little easier to deal with than they were yesterday morning. There was no racing in Britain or Ireland yesterday after Wolverhampton's all-weather fixture was lost to the weather but let's hope it is on today as we are due to have one runner there, Bashful Boy. He is set to line up in the 4.15pm handicap over two miles and I see they have made him favourite and I think he can win! I have a soft spot for this horse as he is stabled near my own and he is quite a character. He is now ten years of age but you wouldn't know it as he is a cheeky chap both in his stable and to ride! He has not won for nearly three years but has picked up some good prize money and ran well in several top flat races in the meantime.
- Monday, 05 January 2026 07:51
- Written by G Edwards
The first big freeze of the winter has taken it's grip and after all jumps meetings on Sunday were lost to the elements, Monday's fixtures have gone the same way with with Lingfield and Ludlow having been called off over the weekend. That leaves just all-weather action at Wolverhampton today but that to must pass a 9.30am inspection with snow in their forecast. There will be some racing today though, in the south of France their is a flat card at Marseille Pont-du- Vivaux which gets underway at 3.32pm.
- Sunday, 04 January 2026 06:43
- Written by G Edwards
American Sniper running at Plumpton Today
At the time of writing I am very doubtful of any jumps racing taking place today but live in hope the meetings may beat the big freeze! Plumpton were inspecting at lunchtime yesterday and Chepstow were also taking a look so things may well have been decided there and then but I imagine the courses will be looking again at the ground this morning at the very least. It is one of Plumpton's biggest racing days of the year with the Sussex National and the big stayers hurdle carrying valuable prize money. We are due to be represented by American Sniper in the latter if racing goes ahead and Rian Corcoran rides. He has returned to form in his last two starts with the handicapper having given him some help. He was third at this track on his penultimate start over a shorter trip on ground softer than ideal and today will be much more to his liking over three miles and better ground. He ran very well at Taunton last time as well to be second and I think he has a cracking chance so I hope racing goes ahead!
- Saturday, 03 January 2026 07:55
- Written by G Edwards
Vision De Maine runs at Wincanton Today
The fate of jumps racing today is currently waiting on morning inspections, with Sandown, Wincanton and Cork all having a look at the ground at 8am although I imagine there could be later morning inspections as well. Temperatures weren't actually too bad for us overnight but there is some white stuff about locally so I am told. There are two all-weather fixtures today at Lingfield and Southwell with the Newcastle jumps fixture having already been called off yesterday.
- Friday, 02 January 2026 07:57
- Written by G Edwards
There were due to be two jumps meetings today but Fakenham has been abandoned this morning due to frozen ground while Ayr must pass a 9.30am inspection to race but remain hopeful with frost covers in place covering the whole course. We did have Phantomofthepoints declared at Ayr but he did not travel and so no runners for the team today. There are two all-weather flat cards at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton and no racing in Ireland.
- Thursday, 01 January 2026 08:01
- Written by G Edwards
Thanksforthehelp runs at Windsor Today
Happy New Year everyone! I hope you had a good evening celebrating the New Year in whatever you may have been up to, I did not last until midnight with an early start again this morning! There are five scheduled jumps fixtures today and news is filtering through as I write about which meetings are going ahead. There were no problems at Catterick, Cheltenham or Musselburgh while Windsor has passed it's 7am check. Exeter are cautiously optimistic of racing and have scheduled a further inspection at 10.15am. There are two all-weather fixtures at Southwell and Newcastle and in Ireland they have two jumps cards at Tramore and Fairyhouse. Plenty of action for all of us to watch this afternoon.
