In some ways, warm and very cold weather present very similar problems.

The dogs still go out, because they thrive on routine. But they spend less time outside because they don’t want to be there. They can’t wait to get back into the cool of the kennels.

The standard of track kennels has improved beyond recognition in recent times. I would say there is only really one track, which I won’t name, where the standard of kennels leaves a bit to be desired.

The work on the Towcester kennels has finally been completed, though it has been well worth the wait. They are beautifully cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

But places like Nottingham, Hove and Monmore, to name but three are equally good. I admit I was pleasantly surprised by Shawfield’s when I was there recently. The old kennels were like cupboards, the new ones are excellent.

The biggest downside of the weather remains injuries. A lot has been written about them recently so I won’t go into it again, though we were hit with another career ending injury on Saturday.

Towstar Arry broke a hock in a Towcester open. I really thought a lot of him and although he has been patched up by the vet, it is very disappointing to lose another top quality young dog.

I was delighted to win our third ‘Cat 1’ of the year with Bombers Bullet in the Grand Prix at Sunderland.

Behind the St.Leger it is the second biggest staying event in the calendar. On that subject, I am delighted to hear that the Leger and Oaks will go ahead now this year.

Bombers is one of four runners now headed to Monmore for the Summer Stayers Classic, with Roswell Romanov, Kiltrea Mike and Garryglass Champ.

Although we still have a healthy lead in the trainers championship, I have kept to my word and dramatically reduced our number of open race entries away from Towcester.

Up to last Wednesday we had sent out 376 runners for the year. At a similar stage last year it was 671.

Basically, Towcester get first call on the runners. The grade there is so high that there are plenty of dogs running in graded races, my own and other people’s, who would be winning opens elsewhere.

The strike rate of 25% is ‘okay’. It would be higher if that was a priority. But the racing offices often ask if we can find a couple of additional entries to fill opens and we help out whenever we can.

We will still look to plunder the big competitions though the injuries will affect the number of entries.

Where you might have been looking to enter half a dozen, it might not only be two or three.

As most of my friends know, my passion is punting on golf and I thoroughly enjoyed every minute of the Open from Carnoustie.

Justin Rose would have been my big winner, but a series of each way bets on different players meant I just failed to break even. No complaints though, it was great entertainment.

Like all punters though, I was left with a feeling of what might have been. I had backed Molinari to win four of the last six opens, not for big money, but all prices out to 750-1.

I did consider him again this year but thought 30-1 was a bit too short.

That’s life.