Coooeee Tegan!

I think it's just [just?] a stress fracture. Should be ok. Know what you mean about Clare smoking; especially when she's been so ill as well. As an ex smoker it just makes me think of how all those lovely clothes she gets to wear [although not the sort I'd wear] must smell of fags. JP will take care of JT and his family but it's no consolation. Lets hope there is some better news on Tuesday about his condition. I'll not have internet access after tomorrow so won't get to hear much. Wasn't it a shame for that girl who came off at the end of the Foxhunters; just like Willie the other year.

Horrible sense of anti-climax now it's all over Tegan and the terrible fall and injury to JTMcnamara.
It was good meeting up tho! Having told several people about Golden Chieftain, I did not put my money where my mouth was! I think I just about 'broke even' over the 4 days.
Looking forward to your return to the airways/cyberspace/whatever!
Must look to see what's going on at Wincanton.

Have been totally out of touch with everything sans internet for the past week. Need to find out if Silver by Nature is over his bout of colic; how JT is. Worrying about Sprinter Sacre running at Aintree [the National fences have never bothered me too much but the park course puts the fear of God into me as it's very fast and the fences are very stiff]; and, even if it looks as if a horse hasn't had a hard race at Cheltenham you don't find out till they get there; think Dessie when he fell that one time, One Man [sob] and Strong Promise. I had heard that JT's operation had been a success, but it cast a shadow over the last days racing. Listening to it on the radio was awful as I don't think people at the course or those watching it on RUK quite understood the severity of the situation whereas Andrew Thornton sounded shaken to the sore listening to him on R5. And several of my main bets have pulled out of the National. Which only leaves me with about 10 ....

Welcome back Tegan, missed you.
We are saving up to get the steam train next year, it took us an hour and a half to get out of the car park (better than last year's 3 hours, but my record is stuck in the lanes around Glastonbury for 5 hours when I volunteered to meet my God-daughter!)
I'm not thinking about the G.N. as it is a race I do not enjoy watching but , like you, I do hope Sprinter Sacre is NOT entered. I'll look at the runners for some other races at the meeting , I bet the course is covered in snow right now tho'.
I have not heard any news about JT, yours was the first and I do hope he makes a good recovery. Yes, it was noticeable that the winning jockeys didn't 'celebrate' their victories and were rather subdued. Will look out for the 'Injured Jockeys' stall at the next meeting I go to.

Only news I have on JT is that there is no brain damage and that he is recovering well from the surgery to his spine.

I don't think that there's a snowballs chance in hell of Sprinter Sacre being entered for the National, (much too much of a step up in distance) although apparently they are considering trying him over 2.5 miles in one of the races at Aintree.

Oh Sprinter Sacre isn't on the National course phoenix; he's on the fast and furious Mildmay course. That's what scares me [that and the fences at Leopardstown in Ireland]. OGM; we always miss the last race so we can avoid the traffic; we have it down to a fine art now. My ambition is to stay overnight one year just to sample the 'craic' in the local pubs. We did once stay at the the Queens Hotel on Mackeson day and that was fantastic [the hotel we booked had a problem so we were moved to the Queens; they asked 'did we mind?'; did we heck!!]. It was just after Jimmy the Hat used to stay there for free. I asked at reception if, in future I could take his place and they replied 'madam, we are no longer taking non paying guests at this establishment . I've just had a few more bets on the National, to add to my other 25 pence each way bets . I hope the improvements make the race safer; taking the hard core out of the fences should help enormously and making sure the ground is soft will help even more. It's our National meet up next week and the jockey that rode Ayala 50 years ago is flying in from Dubai to be reunited with several of his colleagues, and Mr Hales is going to talk to us about last years race. We've supported the IJF for years; they're opening a new premises up north. So many trainers have had serious back injuries over the years from riding; Venetia Williams and Charlie Mann are just two that spring to mind.

Paul Nicholls had a pretty smashed up leg when riding years ago, or so I believe.

Anyone watching Cheltenham this afternoon ?
I am , as it is pretty rainy here .
So it will while away an hour or two !

You bet [although I've got to do the school run part way through [thank goodness for 4+1]. My 'trainer of the moment' Fergal O'Brien has got a couple running in the big race tomorrow afternoon, and my fave jockey, Liam is riding a couple for Venetia today somewhere else [and usually does quite well]. By the way Nonu; I'm going to America on one of those 'pensioners see everything in two weeks' trips so wanted lots of advice from you!

I was a bit haphazard with my selection , so will have to wait and see .
Mind you , I feel a glow of self righteousness as we were down at TOYS R US at 9am . Filled up the trolly ---job done . huge sigh of relief !

Any advice I can give you on your forthcoming trip , I will .
Are self drive or going on an organised trip ? if the latter they will whisk you around .
I will compare notes about Cheltenham later .
Byeeee

Why thank you Sunnyhill boy . what a very game horse he really is.
Ten years old, pipped at the post in the National .
THEN placed first over the hurdles in the last race at Cheltenham.
I am quietly pleased as it covered my bets and left a little over for tomorrow .

His injury at Aintree couldn't have been as bad as they first thought. I seem to have been following him forever since seeing him lurking at the bottom of a Festival Handicap a few years ago. He was a very good hurdler on his day. Didn't Tom Scudamores win on his brothers horse bring a tear to the eye. He's certainly jumping better than he was [the horse, not Tom]. It seems to be the year of family connections winning after Jaimie Moore won for his dad last week.I bet Zara's eyeing Monbeg up as an eventer when he retires .

Yes it was a wonderful moment for the Scudamores .
She will have to get the Baby "thingie" out of the way first if she is anything like her dear old Mum.
Are the G/C still with you ?
Enjoy your evening I will be wrapping the "TOYS R US" stuff , so will make brief appearences !
Has to be done , Himself finished once bought .--bless !

Cheltenham , Ruby Walsh will be riding !
I will have a modest wager !
Enjoy this evening !
I am already on the Champers , giggle !

Riding Annie Power I would imagine, to decide which Festival race to go for. Just going to check out the runners now. Got 1st and 2nd in Welsh National [from 4 bets] so well chuffed with that! I'm going to hit the Sainsbury's Mulled Wine in a bit [discovered it at Christmas].

Tegan good luck for thee & me today , oh mustn't forget Mr N as well !

No bets for me today; just hoping that Liam does well at Cheltenham back on his beloved Carrickboy.

Hello to TEGAN & PHO.

2,000 guineas tomorrow , ANY THOUGHTS ?

Mr N had an ante post bet 6 weeks ago on Lucky Kristale for the 1,000 guineas on Sunday. Fingers crossed for the him.

Only just got back [no internet for 12 days, but had a super day at Kelso last week]. I'm doing a rain dance for Night of Thunder; in fact I want a night of thunder, but other than the fact that they're probably going to water the course for Kingman I don't think it will be soft enought for him [being a 'Dubawi']. I've backed the Spanish horse and the Hannon rag, Shifting Power thus far. I don't think many horses in the race are actually bred to be Guineas horses. Haven't looked much at the 1,000 but Rizeena looks good, especially as she was also down to run in the 2,000. Throws up some funy results does the 1,000. Backed Jacqueline Quest a few years ago and she won at 80/1 only to be disqualified [although W Hills paid out as first past the post ]. They need to have a] won their first race b] be an early foal [race is more a case of which horse is mature enough and 2/3 months is a long time in a three year olds life] have the word 'quickened' in their form d]won over 7f e] entered for 8-10f races [not 12] f] have a sire that won/was placed in a guineas. I'd like Lucky Kristale to win for the trainer as it's good to see small stables do well!

Just a quickie, Read that Michael Prosser[clerk of the course ] has no intention of watering after 1.5mm of rain yesterday.

The course remains on the fast side of good !

Gotta go now as he is waiting for me to go to the health club.

"Pawing the ground "!!!! Get it , LOL.

Speak later or in morning.

Night of Thunder 40/1;hurrah!!! I ignored my concerns about the ground and went for it[phew].

Didn"t he do well, thought it a wee bit strange how he veered across.

Still at the end of the day he WON !!!!

<applaud> &

I think he's veered sideways in his races before; maybe it was the ground being on the fast side that did it. A lot of complaints about the race on some of my racing forums but the form was there and no way should he have been 40/1 [not complaining, though]. I think he'll turn out to be a good horse this season. The Hannon horses always come on for a run whereas Kingman was probably fully wound up when he bear NoT last time. Thank goodness I went out to buy some paint today and stopped off at the bookies on my way home . If only I'd put more than 25 pence ew on him .

..no, it didn't say he veered right in an earlier race it said he 'drew right away form the others'....

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