Weekend Jottings!

The geniuses at race planning have done it again!  There are just two race meetings taking place over the sticks this afternoon at Fakenham and Kelso, so if you don't live in those parts of the country, I'm afraid that you are out of luck!  There is good flat action on in Ireland this afternoon from the Curragh with the Irish 1,000 Guineas the highlight - I wonder if Aidan O'Brien's Homecoming Queen will be able to complete a famous Guineas double?

It's good to see some of the old horses still going strong.  Former Pond House inmate Abragante is now plying his trade in hunter chases and is doing so with great success.  The eleven year old has won his last couple of starts and he bids for a hat-trick this afternoon at Kelso under stable amateur Mikey Ennis (who has ridden him to victory before).  These hunter chases give the younger jockeys opportunities to gain some valuable experience - having said that, Abragante could probably still carry me around!

Looking at the Fakenham card, just think how much it must have cost Welsh trainers Evan Williams and Peter Bowen to travel accross to the East Anglian track.  Even Irish trainer Charlie Swann is getting in on the action having travelled his horses across from the Emerald Isle.  It is good for the local racegoers, but not so good if you are the one picking up the tab!

I see that owner Doctor Marwan Koukash had an incredible twenty-five runners across the country yesterday, including at his favourite track Chester.  He also had runners at Goodwood, York and Haydock...I wonder how on earth he keeps track of where they all are?  I bet the telly gets flicked from channel to channel quite reguarly in the Koukash household!  It would drive my missus nuts, although I can do that without any assistance from the remote control!