Big Day!

    Jack & Tandy Run in a Pony Race Today
      (Photo Courtesy of Brian Phipps)

There is just one jumps meeting today in Scotland, at Musselburgh and we do not have any runners.  There is one all-weather flat card at Lingfield while in Ireland they race over jumps at Punchestown.  We do however have one point to point and a very special other runner today at Buckfastleigh.

Fighter Allen runs in the Mixed Open race at 1.10pm and Martin McIntyre rides.  He dead heated last weekend in a two-runner race at Chipley Park when he probably just idled throughout, not realising he was in a race!  He has been in good form at home this week so we have decided to let him take his chance again as he will like the track and ground and there is nothing else suitable coming up in the next few weeks.  It looks a competitive entry but if we were to win, this would qualify him for the Foxhunters and Cheltenham and so we may look to go there but we will see how we get on today first! 

Our most important runner of the day is actually in the Pony Race at 11am.  Jack Pipe and his pony Candy Kisses are making their debuts in the 138cm race.  Jack has been very much looking forward to this but we have no real expectations, as his pony is a little 13hh Connemara, not a racing pony but today is all about enjoying the experience and having fun.  He has been exercising the pony every day after school and has been practicing riding her in his racing saddle and clothing.  I think there will be eight runners in the race, some have more experience than others do and it will be interesting to see how he gets on.  He has aspirations of a racing pony but one-step at a time!

There are two Premiership football matches today with Liverpool against Wolvers at 2pm and Spurs are at home to Manchester United at 4.30pm. 

In tennis news, World number 1 Jannik Sinner has been banned for three months after accepting being in breach of the doping rules by failing, two drug tests last year.  The ban starts immediately but means he will be back and eligible to play at the French Open in Paris and at Wimbledon.   

My friend keeps saying, “Cheer up it could be worse, you could be stuck underground in a hole full of water”.

I know he means well.

Have a lovely Sunday!