It has been nearly three weeks since the last column when I felt I might be tempting fate when I said we’d had no injuries in trials or races since switching to Henlow. Believe it or not, we are still in that position.

Sure there have been a couple of scrapes and bruises, but nothing so serious that it needed veterinary attention.

Since the last column, we have also started on the 8am meetings at Henlow. It has taken a change of routine, we a 5am start and the dogs on their way by 5.30am.

It hasn’t really affected the dogs in any way. We feed them around 10% more in their previous afternoon meal because they won’t be getting breakfast. As far as the staff are concerned, sure it is an early start, but it means they get the nights off.

I realise that we are still only in October, we are expecting it to get tougher in December and January.

There will also be the issue of potentially frozen tracks, but that is down to Henlow to manage it. As the editor pointed out, tracks like Colorado in the USA raced for many years in tougher winter conditions than we would ever face. When it comes to injuries though, let’s not forget that most of our problems this year have been caused by the longest summer in years.

An additional bonus of being at Henlow has been the performances of some of the older dogs. We have twelve runners over four years of age, and virtually every one seems to be thriving at Henlow.

I don’t know whether it is the easier distance, combined with the shorter run to the drop, but the racing seems to be taking less out of them.

It is been particularly pleasing that the Towstar Synidcate, which was set up, as the name implies, to race at Towcester, have bought some more dogs, specifically for Henlow.

 

I expect to take a team of four to Shelbourne for the Night of Stars.

The connections of Brigadier Bullet and Baroness Bullet were keen to go. I also hope to take Aayamza Breeze and Bombers Bullet and make a real social weekend of it.

At this stage, I am not sure whether or not we will have runners in the St. Leger at Perry Barr. Final night coincides with the Night Of Star (November 17). That will be determined by whether we have anything suitable and the decision will be determined by the owners.

I will say that I am still quite upset about the decline in the prize money. It is a hugely prestigious and historic event, and one that we have won more times than anyone else; something that gives me huge pride.

But I do find myself wondering how hard the track tried to find a sponsor. They have known for a long time that they needed one. It isn’t even going to be broadcast on RPGTV. Whose decision that was, I don’t know.

But if it had been down to me, I would have been hammering down the doors of RPGTV until they agreed to broadcast it, and at that point, we might even have come up with a sponsor.

Very poor.

 

I am looking forward to our first formal meeting the GBGB Ambassadors on Tuesday.

I think it is a great initiative and shows GBGB trying to do something positive and they have put together an excellent group with wide ranging interests and expertise. I have a number of ideas, including one that owner Billy Boyle and I both feel quite strongly about, though I don’t think it would be appropriate to air them on-line before we have had a chance to discuss them as a group.

I know several Ambassadors have had all kinds of stick on the forums for being seen to work with GBGB. But they’ve relinquished their membership of those forums and aren’t regretting it.