Two Seconds

        Ben Lilly Second at Trebudannon

It was two seconds from our two runners over the weekend, Saccary at Uttoxeter on Saturday and Ben Lilly at Trebudannon point to point on Sunday.  Dropping back in trip, we were quite positive on Saccary on Saturday and in hindsight making the running was probably not ideal for our seven year old.  He made a couple of quite crucial mistakes I think basically because he was not fully concentrating on the task in hand.  He galloped all the way to the line and I think it was a good performance behind a rival making his handicap debut.  The pair pulled quite well clear of the third and while frustrating not to win I think we may look back on this and it turn out to be okay form.  I think next time we will take a lead over two miles and he will win!

Ben Lilly ran his best race since going point to pointing down in Cornwall on Sunday on ground that was softer than ideal.  Ashley Dascombe gave him a nice ride and he jumped well and pushed the winner all the way to the line.  He has not always been the most resolute in a battle but this was a good effort and I think he really enjoyed his day out in Cornwall near Newquay.  We may have been near the lovely beaches but it was definitely not beach weather yesterday!  We were the outsider of the field but chased home the favourite and when the ground dries more he will be even better and he can win.  He may well return under rules after the point to point season finishes if he continues to show this enthusiasm and zest.  We drove back through tremendous rain on our way home but it got better the closer to home we got.  We could have done with some of this rain at some of these courses with racing coming up but we only had 3.5mm at Pond House and Wincanton on Wednesday did not get much either.

The new week starts with just the one jumps meeting at Ludlow and the stable does not have any runners.  There are two all-weather flat cards at Kempton and Wolverhampton and in Ireland they have a flat fixture at Navan.

I did not get to much watch of the racing action over the weekend but it was a good day for Richard Hannon and Jack Channon at Doncaster.  Richard Hannon won the Brocklesby, part of a double and Jack Channon won the Lincoln, also as part of a double.  Albert Einstein was disappointing at the Curragh on Saturday while Munsif (my pick) was disappointing at Ascot yesterday,

There is not much sports news to report with plenty of International friendlies which I am finding it hard to take and interest in while Aryna Sabalenka and Jannik Sinner were winners of the Miami Open tennis, making it a sunshine double for both players.

My kids put together a PowerPoint presentation explaining why we should go to the water park...

It had several slides.

Have a good Monday!