I HOPE you all enjoyed a Happy New Year and while the majority of the nation returns to normality this week, going back to work and school, I can take a welcome breath as things calm down a little after a hectic festive period.
The weather has been a big talking point in recent days and racing has not done itself any favours with much confusion at several meetings about racing going ahead, abandonments, very late abandonments and then abandonments after a meeting has started!
If racecourses decided to do late calls then I think they should provide compensation to the owners for the horses that have travelled. While frustrating on Saturday that Wincanton and Sandown were called off early doors, everyone understood why and there is a chance of re-scheduling the feature race (s) to another meeting fairly soon which is good as well.
It was just a shame on Saturday, however, that there was not an opportunity to move the all-weather fixtures timing so it could be covered on ITV, something to watch for your Saturday racing viewer.
Anyway, the weather looks set to continue to play its part in the coming days which more rain, snow and cold weather forecast throughout the week.
Our first runner of the week is likely to be at Taunton on Wednesday. Saccary will make his hurdling debut in the maiden hurdle and Gearoid Harney rides. He has been off the course a long time but is a flat winner in France and Germany. It will be a tough ask for him to be competitive after a long absence but it will be good to get him back on the track and see how he gets on.
Things remain quiet on the runners’ front towards the end of the week with First Lord Du Cuet being our only entry at Newbury on Thursday and Toronet having an entry at Huntingdon on Friday.
At the weekend and with the weather set to turn warmer fingers crossed we will have a couple of runners to look forward to. Lady Balko is entered in the Classic chase at Warwick on Saturday. She has now won her last three chases and is a six year old on the upgrade but life will be much tougher off her new handicap rating of 137. She will tackle the 3m4f trip for the first time but she appears to be an out and out galloper and I do not think the extra distance will pose a problem.
Remastered has an entry in the three mile handicap chase on Saturday at Kempton. I believe there are discussions taking place about re-scheduling the Veterans chase final which did not take place with Sandown abandoned and if it is moved to either Warwick or Kempton he may well run, but this race also looks a suitable alternative as he is a previous course and distance winner. Keep checking the Daily News on the website for the latest information on the stable runners.
One person, who is not looking forward to normal routine returning this week, is my son Jack. He has loved being on school holidays, riding out and going racing! His riding has improved a lot in this time and he is very much looking forward to giving pony racing a go this year! I think the girls in the office will be looking forward to him going back to school, however.
We recorded 1319mm of rain at Pond House in 2024, which equates to 4ft 3” with 173 days of rain, which is second wettest since we came to Pond House, after 2012 with 1320.25.