Bits and Pieces

Jumps racing takes place at Newton Abbot this afternoon.  The total winning prize money for the whole card is about £25,000 and it has attracted 76 runners in the 7 races.  The feature race named in memory of former friend and owner Bryan Westcott carries winnings of just under £10,000 but also means the other 6 races have to share £15,000 between them.  I think this is simply not good enough and something has got to be done before we lose all racehorse owners.  David has three runners on the card with Bathwick Quest returning from a little break to run in the above mentioned handicap chase and Surfboard and Tigger run in the 4.45pm race.  Surfboard has been plagued with injuries in recent seasons but ran a good race to finish third at Bangor last time out and Tigger has to improve on recent form to win but should be a good ride for our 10 pound claiming jockey Francis Hayes.

David played in the Jim Old golf day at Malborough yesterday alongside owners John Dale, William Frewen and Robert Gray.  It was a fantastic event organised by Jim Old which he has done for many years.  It takes a lot of organising and raises a tremendous amount of money for several good causes so a big thank you and well done to Jim Old.  It was a very enjoyable day with 61 teams taking part even if David’s golf was not quite as he wished!

I have just come back from on holiday in Cyprus at Coral Bay with my wife and it is somewhere we go every year as it’s such a fantastic place.  This year we had a big surprise and MCP and Carol turned up to join us mid way through!  I was in bed sleeping when there was a big knock at the door and I opened it to find them standing there with a big bottle of champagne in his hand for all of us!  First of all I was not sure if it was a dream or a nightmare that I was having!  While we were there we met up with one of our owners Matt Archer who actually lives over there now.  Matt looked after us very well and knows all the best restaurants.  Next year I am not sure that I will tell MCP when I am going on holiday, only joking!  We had great fun and the good thing about Cyprus is that you can get the English papers at 6am so I could keep an eye on all the racing! I am pictured below with MCP and Matt Archer.

Sorry to keep going on about it but I was watching some yobs trying to break into shops and causing damage during the rioting in Tottenham.  They have them all on camera and they are not protestors they are just thieves out to cause trouble.  I don’t think you need to send them to court, just give them five years in prison, I would be like Judge Jeffries!  It is even worse that the trouble is spreading across the country and I just hope things start to settle down quickly as it is all very frightening and not what we want for our country ahead of the Olympics next year.