Lingfield Abandoned

We were due to have two runners at Lingfield today, the first jumps meeting to take place for several days but unfortunately it has been abandoned so there is another blank day for jumping again with Musselburgh already called off a few days ago.  Last Quarter was due to run in the 1.00pm handicap hurdle, he was a course and distance winner on his seasonal reappearance at the track last time and hopefully would have gone well again.  Red Lion Lad was our second runner of the day in the 1.30pm handicap chase.  An Irish point to point winner, he is yet to really sparkle under rules but it would have been ideal conditions today and with blinkers being replaced by cheekpieces we were hoping he could show us a bit more.

 At declarations day on Saturday, Lingfield seemed pretty hopeful of racing going ahead today but it seemed their confidence was dwindling by yesterday lunchtime by the information they were sending out and so we were not surprised it was called off this morning and our lorry had not set out on it's journey.  Temperatures here on Saturday evening were still freezing but I woke yesterday morning to rain.  Temperatures did rise throughout the day but driving next to the gallops on the grass, it was slippy and greasy on top with it still frozen underneath, so not the nicest of conditions.   The thaw didn't happen in the East until a bit later on in the day and Lingfield had snow on their course, on top of the covers so it was always going to be an uphill battle to race.  We have actually had 22mm of rain at Pond House in the last 24 hours, some much needed rain but I am not sure I like it that much - bring back the cold!

We do have some racing to watch today with two all-weather cards in this country at Kempton and Chelmsford and in Ireland they have a good, re-arranged card at Punchestown.  Their feature is the John Durkan chase at 2.10pm.. Galopin Des Champs is the short priced favourite for the Willie Mullins team with Paul Townend on board.  The star novice from last season has a rating of 172, with the next best being the Joseph O'Brien trained Fakir D'oudairies at 165.  Willie Mullins has only failed to win this race once in the last seven years and all being well he looks like he will win it again today.

Yesterday came the shock news that Davy Russell has retired from the saddle with immediate effect.  He won on a horse called Liberty Dance for trainer Gordon Elliott at Thurles and announced the news after this.  He told the media that he had told Gordon the next winner would be his last and he was not joking!  He is a brilliant jockey and even better horseman to watch but he has had some bad injuries during his career and he is now 43 and decided the time was right.  He has won two Grand Nationals on Tiger Roll and the Cheltenham Gold Cup on Lord Windermere amongst the host of big races he has won since his first ever winner at Gowran Park in 1999.  He rode 1579 winners in his career making him the ninth most successful jockey of all time and on top of that he seemed a thoroughly nice chap as well .  Happy retirement Davey!

My biggest fear is being trapped in a small room with Santa.  I have Claustrophobia!  Have a nice day.