Over the stable door: Poorer results might make my horse a winner

She has carefully picked her races throughout the season and finished with a personal best of 13 winners, leaving her second in the National Ladies title at present.

Keeverfield, Sam’s open horse, claimed his fourth scalp of the season in Cheshire on Sunday, gaining her the North West Ladies title ahead of me (ladies must be in short supply as neither Sam nor I have attended more than three meetings in that area this season). And 18 hours after the race Sam was boarding a plane to New Zealand where she will be based for the next five months. She is returning to work for Pam Gerard who trains 30 racehorses near Ashburton on South Island. Winged Farasi keeps knocking on the door having been placed in his last two outings, including third at Towcester on Tuesday. The handicapper seems to have him in his grasp at present which is frustrating for the owners and myself. We are unlikely to get dropped enough to win unless he runs well down the field a few times.

I will head to Cartmel in a few weeks with him next and try him over three miles for the first time. It should suit so keep an eye out for decent each way odds if available and get on early before Dad’s £2.50 bet shortens his price drastically.

The worry when entering horses there is the lack of racecourse stabling. With all horses needing to be within the secure stable block, it limits the runners in each race – as few as nine in some cases. With large entries a high percentage get balloted out, so a back-up plan is usually necessary.

A popular point to point couple had two reasons to celebrate at Wetherby races. Liz and Nigel Jones with family and friends especially enjoyed the 18th birthday party of their niece, Holly Walmsley, when their horse Lutin D’Moulin won the Yorkshire Area Hunter Chase. It was the Stokesley couple’s first winner.

Today we head to Otley Show. Dad has a stand for the Wharfedale Farmers Auction Market of which he is chairman. It is many people’s first port of call. Office manager Ruth Priestley will be hard at work with the farmers’ wives dishing out hot cups of tea, beef sandwiches and delicious sponge cakes to all passing visitors throughout the day. Felix is evaluating the competition in the poultry classes as he wants to show his new Black Wyandotte hens soon. He also has grand ideas of entering his “special” chocolate cake, eagerly made ahead of any family birthday and so called as it is decorated with the entire contents of the newsagent’s sweet counter. Last year was the first time in 12 years I had chance to attend. The local produce and gift stalls were a refreshing change to the cheap tat that once threatened to take over our local country shows.