Over the stable door

The marquee is erected, the pigs are on the spit and the alcoholic refreshments have required an extra tent to accommodate an amount that would put most off licences to shame.

The donkey derby course has been rolled, spiked and aired, so the ground is foot perfect for our four athletes - Carol, Holly, Danna and George, the randy Jack.

The bookmaker has rung me poaching information, aware he may be lining up to get fleeced on the first heat.

I explained the donkeys are all first time out maidens and results are more likely to be determined by the inebriation of our jockeys rather than the speed of their wilful mounts.

All the bookie’s profit will go towards the Isabel Tompsett care fund, which was set up after her horrific fall at Fakenham in May.

Isabel, a former champion rider from Wales, continues to progress slowly. Although still confused she is now able to walk a few strides with guidance.

The Injured Jockeys Fund have purchased a guide dog for her to assist in her stimulation due to limited sight. She has named the golden retriever ‘Primrose Lily’ after her childhood teddy bear.

Since the puppy was introduced to her daily sessions there has been marked improvement in her progress, but there is a long road ahead so any contribution is valuable in helping her recover and regain some part of her former life.

We have been donated some amazing prizes to be auctioned off under the expert gavel of buoyant Otley auctioneer Ian Smith.

Among them - a bottle of House of Commons whisky signed by David Cameron, a Gloucestershire Old Spot gilt pig and a night out at the exclusive club, Annabels, in London which I am seriously tempted by.

I am just praying the weather fairs up or the donkey derby may resemble the Palio around the dance floor.

One of the racehorses has needed a wind operation this week. Winged Farasi pulled up suddenly when going well enough at Sedgefield last week after the jockey heard him start to gurgle and make a choking noise.

He had never done that before and has always been considered ‘clean winded’ - meaning he breathes normally under pressure, a time when some horses start to make a noise if they have poor or weakened wind pipes.

Wind is a weakness in the species, centuries of selective breeding based upon the most successful rather than the healthiest animal.

The vet endoscopes him to see what was amiss and reported he had a soft, floppy palate which was highly likely to be displacing during a time of high exertion.

Race horses’ throat muscles are put under immense strain during their career and eventually even the clearest breathing animals may end up needing help to keep muscles tight.

As WF never fully exerts himself until the last few furlongs of a race, it has maybe taken him a little longer time than normal before requiring help in the breathing department.

The vet performed a soft palate operation which involved a general anaesthetic and burning the end of the palate to prevent it catching.

The recovery time is short and the horse will be back in full work in less than 14 days. I am determined to win a chase with him - I told the owners this year we would and I hate being proved wrong.

Kilnsey show passed marking the end of the summer. Felix followed the hounds parading in the main ring as I breathlessly got dragged along on the end of the lead rope by Pongo, his spotty Shetland.

The pony whickered in excitement as he strode out after the hounds., loving every minute. “I think me ice cream is coming back up Mummy,” declared the jockey, bouncing around in the saddle. I think we’d better master rising trot before heading to the hunting field.