April 6th

Some three days.......

Living out of a suitcase, driving many a mile - exhausting, but I would not change it for the world !!

An important day for us at Bath on Friday, the tough little filly that is Chicita Banana giving us our first winner in the famous Findlay and Bloom colours. A real little professional, she had taken her promising run in the Brocklesby so well and thankfully justified our call to go back to the races quickly. A long way to go - but Royal Ascot dreams lurking on that very distant horizon....

And then a swift dash up the M5 to get North of Birmingham before the Friday night traffic meltdown. Staying with Paul and Rachel Beck, the most generous and friendly of  hosts, and with us, amongst others, Trainers Suzy Smith and Venetia Williams. Tim Vaughan also expected - but a last minute non-runner due to a child's tonsilitis. Damn !! I had been looking forward to picking Tim's brains - we are good mates, and a shame to miss out on the chance to "do beer" away from our usual haunt, The Owners and Trainers Bar.....

Waking on Saturday morning to the most beautiful, cloudless sky. "Venetia, what a glorious day to train the winner of The Grand National !!" She laughed - and I do not think I really meant it anyway.....

After Chicita, great to be able to head up to Harry's box above the winning line with a spring in the step. As ever, an eclectic and entertaining gathering - and what a spot to watch the World's greatest horserace from.

Peter Thomas in yesterdays Racing Post - "In the frenzied aftermath of Mon Mome's victory, Venetia Williams sprints across the tarmac at the rear of the grandstand and hurls herself at a gentleman in a nice overcoat, who lifts her skywards, as if she needed lifting any higher, and conjoins with the Herefordshire handler and a third party in a luscious group hug that wouldn't look out of place in a Premier league football match."

True. And those of you familiar with my sartorial shortcomings will not be surprised to learn that the "nice overcoat" once belonged to David Loder. It may well have been involved in Classic celebrations in the past - but this was almost certainly its first Grand National.....!!

A three line whip from Venetia yesterday morning. Not a difficult call to head into deepest Herefordshire to join in the celebrations. No danger of any of the assorted multitude going thirsty. A happy, happy gathering....

I hope that we will be lucky enough to have her at one of our celebration parties one day....

New website. Still some tweaking to be done, some content added, some videos filmed. But a massive thank you to Neil Clements who has done so much work on the site, and not forgetting David Stewart, a colleague from Sportsman days, who has been a great help. Enjoy - and I hope the site will evolve into being one of the slickest and most entertaining around....    

Comments

[GB Snr]

That's better GB Snr

[James]

Much cleaner site!

I note you don't have a "tip sheet" similar to Gai Waterhouse?

http://www.gaiwaterhouse.com.au/

"Bath for the first today, and hoping that the Brocklesby form continues to stand up"

Reading between the lines is more fun.....