Tuesday 12 January

An interesting day yesterday. Invited to the British Racing School and got to have a look around some of the facilities. It is a very impressive place, and I got to see Steve Smith Eccles putting a young jockey through his paces on their main simulator - a fascinating insight into the training on offer, and a realisation that the young man and women entering the racing industry are very lucky to have a facility such as this to start them on their way! This morning the handicapper has published his amendments to ratings derived from races run last week. I logged on with interest to see what he had made of Cloonacool's Ludlow win - and the answer was a tad surprising - he has raised him 4lbs to 139. This is what he had him rated after his first run, as he was seen on the 'Ask The Handicapper' slot on At The Races to say that he had given Regal Encore an unpublished mark of 144, and he beat Cloonacool about 5 lengths. So 139 it is - and now we will have to look at the programme book and see where we can go. There are a number of options - but I would think an entry in the Grand Annual at the Festival is on the cards - although if we decide to run there - how we get him there is going to be a lot of fun in the planning!! Watch this space. With Stuart away, it was down to me to decide of to run San Telm in Fakenham. Josh had said he needed better ground when he pulled up very tired in Uttoxeter, and we had commented when we were there on New Years Day, that it needed to dry for him to run, so when it went heavy I decided not to declare. This was made irrelevant when they abandoned the meeting yesterday afternoon. ST is in sparkling form, and will have three entries in 2 days at the end of the month. Smart Exit will work tomorrow, with Savingforvegas. SE due to go to Chepstows next meeting, and SFV off to Leicester on the 26th.