A brilliant morning

" Live as if you were to die tomorrow. Learn as if you were to live forever."

Mahatma Gandhi.

Dazinsky (Steve) with Like Clockwork (Iain)

A cracking morning with plenty of blue sky and sunshine, and it looks set fair for the next few days.  We have been on Bury Side with the horses once again, and have done one canter up the artificials followed by another on the near perfect grass of Long Hill. Plenty of enthusiasm was shown by all concerned.

Rayvin Black and Star Commander & below the heathman knocking in the markers

We have one runner tonight at Beverley where, unbelievably, there is 'firm' in the going description. It is good with good to firm patches. Eanans Bay runs in the 8.30, the two-mile three- year-old handicap. He has got Sir Mark Prescott's Solar View to beat - this one ran well the other day at Wolverhampton when Astroscarlet was third. They both came up against a tartar in Mick Easterby's winner that day. The old adage  "Don't be frightened of one" often works and I am sure Eanans Bay will perform with credit if handling this rather tricky course.

A glorious day at Dullingham

Toptempo, who was bred at Dullingham, ran a sound race at Ripon on Saturday to finish fourth. She hit every undulation in the straight and really got going only in the last furlong where it flattens out. Her mother won four times, all at York, and that type of track would certainly suit this filly.

Nice Time enjoying a cooling drink

I have mentioned before that one or two Newmarket planning matters might be raising their heads and, coming very quickly after the Hatchfield Farm decision, a proposed development on Jockey Club land at Exning has a lot of people up in arms. The Jockey Club says any money made would go back into the racing industry, but after fighting the battle against Hatchfield it seems very hypocritical to me.

Rayvin Black's full sister with Astrodonna's filly foal by Bahamian Bounty