Dell at Cartmel!

           Dell'arca runs at Haydock

It is a busy summer Saturday on the racing front today with five flat meetings and two over jumps plus jumping in Ireland at Punchestown.  On the flat they race at Beverley, Catterick, Chester, Haydock and Salisbury while over jumps there is racing at Cartmel and Ffos Las.  David has one runner this afternoon, Dell’arca.  He runs in the 3.55pm handicap hurdle over 3m1f at Cartmel with Fergus Gillard in the saddle.  Our forever young 12 year old was a brilliant winner at Haydock last time out, powering up the long run in to get up near the line.  He has been a grand servant for owner Caroline Tisdall and for all of us at Pond House.  He absolutely loves is daily routine at home and he always full of enthusiasm and cheekiness!  I only hope I am the same when I reach his age in human years!

It is a competitive race at Cartmel this afternoon and he faces rivals that were just behind him at Haydock last time – Sirobbie finished third and Ballyellis fourth.  The handicapper only raised Dell’arca two pounds for that win and so with Fergus claiming a very handy five pounds still (he only has one more win before it reduced to three) he should run very well again.

It would be especially nice to get a birthday winner for Mr Pipe today, Martin turns 76 and he loves nothing more than a winner!  A family meal out this evening is how he will be celebrating so I am sure you would like to join me in wishing him a very happy birthday!

Haydock’s flat card is the feature flat meeting of the day and they have two Group 3 races, the Pinnacle stakes over 1m4f at 2.55pm and at 3.30pm there is the John of Gaunt stakes over 7F.  Cabaletta heads the market in the former while Safe Voyage will aim to win the second for the second time in a row for trainer John Quinn having won the race when it was last run in 2019. 

The school swimathon went well yesterday and Jack, Sophie and Martha all enjoyed it and swam like fish!  In 20 minutes, Jack (11) swam 68 lengths, Sophie (9) 28 lengths and Martha (5) … can't remember!!  The most important thing is that they all enjoyed it and raised a nice amount of money for the chosen charities.

A guy was drinking heavily in a bar.  “I think you have had enough” said the bartender.  The drunk was indignant.  “I have just lost my wife”.  The bartender sympathised, “well it must be hard losing a wife”.  “Hard?  It was almost impossible!”  Have a nice day.