Big Freeze

After a racing wipeout on Saturday it fared slightly better yesterday with jumping action taking place at Southwell and in Ireland at Cork. The stable did not have any runners but I see there were some non runners at Southwell due to travel disruption and I am not surprised! We had snow here at Pond House on Saturday but to be honest it was just a covering and enough for Jack, Sophie and Martha to make a good sized snowman!! My parents live not too far away from the yard on Exmoor and they had a lot of snow. Trainer Jeremy Scott would not be too far from them and I noticed both of his intended runners were withdrawn yesterday.

Today, unfortunately is another wipe out on the jump racing front. We had intended runners at both Market Rasen and Plumpton but both meetings failed inspections yesterday. There is due to be an inspection for Wolverhampton's all-weather meeting today (10am) as well so fingers crossed that will go ahead. Prospects are not looking great for racing a later this week also. Wincanton we’re due to race on Tuesday but that has already been called off and Exeter on Thursday has to pass an inspection tomorrow and they are not hopeful. Newbury for Wednesday is holding an inspection today.  Temperatures aren’t really due to rise until Sunday as far as I can see so I would not be surprised if there is no jumping action for a few days. Frost covers do a good job up to certain temperatures but add to that multiple freezing nights in a row and daytime temperatures barely rising above 0c, it is no wonder racecourses are struggling. I think calling meetings off early is a good idea when you know there is no chance. Everyone can plan and knows what they are doing. There is not much we can do about nature!!  With our horse Via Dante we have now declared him to run in three different races and they have all been abandoned. He got all the way to Bangor on Friday before it was called off and then we declared him to run at both Plumpton and Wincanton before they were both off. He is entered at Exeter on Thursday but that is looking unlikely as well so we will just have to keep entering and see where we might get a run, not much else we can do and it is the same for everyone!

Yesterday I headed down to Wadebridge in Cornwall for the point to point which went ahead with a slight delay to the first race. Well done to our amateur Martin ‘Fly’ McIntyre who rode a double on the card. It was his birthday on Saturday so it was a great weeks all round for him!!

Sadly, England exited the World Cup on Saturday evening after losing 2-1 to France. I thought after a tentative start England played pretty well and we’re playing against 12 men with the referee having a shocker. At the end of the day France have a very good team and I think they might go on and win the whole tournment. I think England have some very talented youngsters and the next few years could be quite exciting internationally. France now play Morocco in the semi-final after the African side beat Portugal on Saturday afternoon. They won’t be easy opposition for France as they look full on energy and have a well organised team. I predict a France versus Argentina final at the weekend.

How much does Santa pay for parking?  Nothing. It's on the house!