No Jumping Today!

There is no jump racing in Britain today but there is plenty of action on the flat. They race at Leicester, Brighton, Redcar, Lingfield, and Nottingham. In Ireland, there is jump race action at Ballinrobe, while they race on the flat at Tipperary. The stable has no runners today, but we will be back in action at both Newton Abbot and Warwick tomorrow.

Duc De Beauchene finished fourth at Cartmel yesterday. He never looked to be travelling as well as he did last time at Fakenham, but still held every chance as they jumped the final fence. He continued to battle on really well until tiring from just over two furlongs out. He did lose a plate during the race which would not of helped but in all likelihood this did not affect his finishing position. We gave a lift up to Cartmel to point to point trainer Les Jefford. Their horse, Walkin Out, won the hunter chase very easily ridden by Jake Bament and so it was a very worthwhile trip for them. We stayed at the course overnight and are travelling back today so fingers crossed the traffic will not be too bad.

I was delighted to hear how one of our old Pond House inmates is doing so well at the grand old age of 33! Bamapour was not a ‘top’ horse but he won fifteen races from 70 career starts which is pretty impressive by anyone’s standards. He looks amazing for his age and it is lovely to see him looking so well having retired in 2000!!

Somerset are back in T20cricket action this evening, they travel to play Kent spitfires starting at 6:30pm. They head the southern table at present having won all three of their games so far. Fingers crossed they can keep their unbeaten run going tonight. I am planning to go and watch the next home match on Friday evening where they will face Middlesex at the county ground.

The French open tennis is also underway at Roland Garros in Paris. Novak Djokovic and world number one, Carlos Alcaraz, as well as Brit, Cameron Norrie are all through to the second round of the men’s singles. Defending women’s champion, Iga Swiatek starts her campaign on day three today. The 21-year-old Polish player is chasing her third French Open title in the last four years. While I don’t get the chance to follow tennis as much as I used to, I do enjoy watching the big tournaments. I was lucky enough to go to this venue a few years ago, when travelling over with our horses running at Auteuil. The racecourse is right next door to Roland Garros. I watched the men’s quarter-final matches on centre court which was a great experience and if you like to tennis, I highly recommend a trip to Paris to watch it live if you get the opportunity.

My husband and I share the same sense of humour. We have to…as he doesn’t have one!! Have a great day!