Friday 19 September

Mixed fortunes for our horses on declaration day. Matty misses his run on Sunday as he was ballotted out, but Important Business runs and Sam Jones will take a valuable 3lb off his back, as none of his rides at Plumpton survived the ballot.It is his first run of the season, but he is in grand form, and we are hopeful of a nice run.Ogee is also declared for the Novices Hurdle. and on all known figures he should go well, although this will be the fastest ground he has encountered in his jumping career. I spent last night watching Steve Davis play Jimmy white at The Corn Exchange in Bedford. It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, and really good to see these legends of the game.Jimmy won 5:4 , and also won the challenge frame with a century break, so he seems in fair form.Good to see one of the members of The Tyringham Partnership there limbering up his drinking arm before his horse runs on Sunday.