13th Agust

Due to the lovely 'summer' we are all having, Matty will have to wait a while before he has another day out at the races. A great shame as he is in the form of his life!! There are a few more opportunities over the coming weeks and he will be entered up accordingly, lets hope we get some sunshine!! Well done to Tina Cook at the Olympics yesterday! What a performance to come into the team as a late replacement, on a horse with that level of experience and walk away with the bronze!! Amazing!! I am sure that her family are all very proud, and Dad Josh was a very happy man last night!! News this morning of the showjumping team was not quite so good, as Michael Whittaker was forced to withdraw as his horse Poratfino was found to be lame, so super sub Nick Skelton is on his way as replacement, lets hope he has the luck of the other late sub Tina Cook. It was great to hear so many non equestrian sports fans texting Radio 5 Live yesterday after the final showjumping round, to say how much they had enjoyed the excitement of the whole event and the superb commentary, hopefully it will get a few new fans to follow the 'horsey' events. I particularly liked the point when Peter Allen of 5 Live asked Steve Hadley if the Eventing Team would be the types to go and celebrate in a big way, and Hadleys response, uttered through a chuckle was ' no better men or women!!'. A bit like us Racing Folk after a winner!! Good Luck to the Showjumpers when their show starts tomorrow.