But a good opportunity for Lucinda Russelll to give some of her yaks a run and, no surprise, all 3 have won,

Would have said #2 Haydock, except the station was further up the course, behind the stands.

Carnage in the Great Yorkshire Chase with 4 horses coming down at the 1st fence in the straight (sadly including a likely fatality). Yesterday all fences in the straight were dolled off, yet the sunlight seems just as strong today. I'm no fan of dolling off, but questions need to be asked here.

I'm normally the 1st to complain when whole lines of fences are dolled off because of low sun. But our quirky horse Harjo just seemed to love it yesterday, jumping off in front and zig-zagging round the obstacles with relish. Paid 31-1 on the Tote, and the longest priced winner I've ever owned!

Back to Windsor as an owner tomorrow after a gap of a mere 28 years! Race viewing will be just as restricted, but expecting this to be mitigated by large outdoor screen(s) and plenty of TVs in O&T.

Good shout, the local bookmaker's adverising board a bit af a giveaway?

I agree, desperately disappointing. Ffos Las were given the opportunity to be showcased as the only Saturday UK jumps meeting, yet what they're offering us is no different to one of their humdrum mid-week meetings, with the Towton added on.

So what's new? A publication which has only taken a few years to descend to the gutter, and today only serves to reinforce the twisted views of the small population of elderly bigots who still read it.

For those who enjoy a bit of schadenfreude, I would urge you to listen to the closing stages of Thommo's commentary on the 3.45 at Ayr. It's quite excruciating.

Just loved his travelogues. A good human being -- I could almost call him saintly -- but he had his demons. A tragic end.

All in the interests of ElfnSafety of course!

We've reached a situation now where jockeys' opinions are dictating the quality of racegoers' experience.

Jockeys: 'Low sun, we can't see'
Racecourse: 'Block off all the fences!'

Jockeys: 'Bit of water on the track'
Racecourse: 'Abandon the meeting!'

Rob, can't say for certain, but I'm guessing around mid-day.

Now that is frozen.

Monumental cock-up by Musselborough. Just seen a video taken by a jockey walking the course earlier and it looks frozen. Temperatures were above freezing since they took the covers off, so they must have laid the covers on top of frozen ground. That is crazy, unforgiveable, and I'm hopping mad!

Fairly confident that Sandown will be on, got hardy Du Seuil going in the last. The more testing the better for him.

On tenterhooks awaiting Musselburgh's inspection, now put back till 12. We've sent Roger Pol up there for the 3m novice chase where he's a warm favourite in the betting (no suitable race in the South). Runners so far this week have finished 4th and 3rd, so c'mon Roger!

A bit unfair as conditions improved slightly after the 1st race.

And, as a goodwill gesture, Chepstow are offering a free ticket to all advanced ticket holders and hospitality bookers for any meeting up to 31st March. Can't say fairer than that.

A 'wow' moment at Ascot. If there's a bumper horse on the other side of the irish Sea who is better than Windbeneathmywings, then that will be a very special horse indeed.

Thanks Rory. Nice to see you keeping in touch with the UK racing scene -- in a not very healthy state I'm afraid.

For a small owner the chance of an across-the-card double doesn't arise too often, but tomorrow is one of those days; Harjo kicking off at Wincanton (2.45) followed by Kosac D'Oudairies at Catterick (3.29). Kosac has an obvious chance but Harjo would need to show that a recent wind op. has worked.

A towering Mahler 6 from Klaus Mäkelä and the Vienna Philharmonic A “baptism by fire”... but not for Klaus Mäkelä, making his debut with the Vienna Philharmonic at the Musikverein in Mahler's Sixth Symphony.

A towering Mahler 6 from Klaus Mäkelä and the Vienna Philharmonic at the Musikverein
✍️ Chanda VanderHart
bachtrack.com/review-makel...

Was just about to suggest the same thing. Think you might be right.

I see the feature race at Newcastle was named in commemoration of the top handicap hurdler Billy Bow. He was owned by my great aunt and she was heartbroken after he collapsed and died after winning the 1968 Ladbroke Hurdle (carrying 12-4). She then sold her other horses and only lived another year 😢

And Wetherby starting at the quite ridiculous time of 10.35. Lucinda Russell's lorry would have to set off in the middle of the night to be there in time.

A real possibility that all 4 UK jumps cards could be abandoned tomorrow!

6 -- Cheltenham, Stratford, Warwick, Worcester, Hereford, Chepstow.

I expect she'll depart with a nice golden handshake despite being nearly invisible and achieving sweet f.a. during her tenure.

Yes but until around 1990, the final fence at Lingfield was a double fence -- an open ditch on the stands side and a plain fence (the final obstacle to be jumped) on the far side. and they were separated by a hedge, if memory serves. There's nothing like that in the photo.

Absolutely delighted with Hardy's run there after all the problems he's had. He got his ground but was disappointed they were running on the easier inside track. That will have put him spot-on for what will hopefully be a big pay-day next time.