Christmas Eve

                Christmas Meal

There is no racing in Britain and Ireland today but they do have some jumping actions towards the South of France at Pau.  The card gets underway at 10.52am our time and there are eight races including a claiming hurdle at 1.50pm and top jockey James Revely has rides with chances and he doesn't usually go home from a days racing without a winner!  Yesterday, Boxing day declarations were done and we have two runners on Friday, No Walkover in the bumper at Aintree and Red Wine Supernova in the bumper at Sedgefield, more thoughts in these runners in a couple of days time.  We did not declare Activist to run at Wincanton, he is likely to go to Chepstow on Saturday.

One horse that was declared to run on Boxing Day is the current Supreme novices hurdle favourite Mydaddypaddy.  There were rumours circulating on Monday that the Dan Skelton trained horse had suffered an injury and would be missing the rest of the season but that was fake news and the rumours were put to bed by a frustrated trainer yesterday.  He posted a video of the horse exercising yesterday and he is declared to run in the Formby novices hurdle.  The gelding is currently unbeaten in two starts but those wins were at odds of 1-2 and 1-5.  He faces proper opposition in the Grade 1 event at Aintree on Friday in the form of Diamond Hunter and Idaho Sun who are also two from two over hurdles and impressive Wetherby winner Starmount.  After this race we will definitely know a little more about the Supreme picture.  This race is just one of many super races to look forward to on Boxing Day.

Meanwhile in Ireland, Donnacha O'Brien is set to have his first ever runner over jumps.  Following in the footsteps of father Aidan and brother Joseph who have already sent out big jumps winners to go with their Flat hauls, you imagine Donnacha will be doing the same in his training career.  He is already a multiple Group 1-winning Flat trainer and he runs a horse called Kilmeaden in the three year old maiden hurdle at Limerick at Galway.  You would not bet against that one getting him off to a winning start.

Last night we had our staff Christmas meal at Villa Verde in Wellington.  It was a lovely evening, well attended, the food was great and the drinks were flowing!  There might be a few sore heads in the yard this morning but everyone was in bright and early as we look forward to finishing a bit earlier today to get ready for Christmas!  It is also Gerry Supple's birthday so that usually involves a birthday drink at the Culm Valley at some point in the day!  Carol singers are then visiting Pond House this evening for a little sing along! Busy times.

With it being our Christmas meal, I didn't get to watch the football last night but it sounds like it was a good game.  It finished 1-1 between Arsenal and Crystal Palace but Arsenal are through to the semi-finals of the League Cup after winning 8-7 on penalties.  The African Cup of Nations football tournament is underway in Morocco and that is the only footballing action on today.

What goes “oh, oh, oh”? Santa walking backwards!

Happy Christmas Eve!