After another couple of midweek abandonments, we faced yet more inspections as we entered the weekend but Uttoxeter passed a second one at 7am on Saturday morning so off we went with Looby on the team.
With Stratford, Kelso and various point to points not being so lucky, there were plenty of our on-course colleagues also in attendance but the crowd was decent and the business was workable.
It was mild and not quite as windy as had been forecast and it was a pleasant afternoon in the office. It was lovely to see Andy the Lodge and he had his photo taken with Louise prior to racing.
The results on the day were mixed with two favourites, three second favourites and two very good results. Carbon King was the outsider of the field at 16/1 and Realco who won the bumper at 10/1. This enabled us a nice winning day and we were returned north a happy team.
We had planned to go out for a few when we got home but it was absolutely pouring down (surprise) and none of us could face getting ready to get soaked so we had a couple of glasses of vino in the house instead.
We didn’t hold out much hope of Carlisle being on the next day but amazingly even though it is only 15 miles away. they had very little overnight rain and it passed the early morning inspection.
The next cause for concern was the wind. Storm Kathleen was very angry it seemed and she was blowing a hooligan. Working conditions were testing to say the least and there was no pleasure in it whatsoever.
Go North finals day is usually very competitive but this years six race card was a bit disappointing. We had a long odds on shot in the maiden hurdle and a four runner bumper topping and tailing the card.
The results were rubbish and with only one decent winning race we managed to give back what we had won the previous day and it was another week of no wages. A lot of effort for no reward.
It was a gloomy but mercifully short ride home. We have another abandonment tomorrow – Hexham is the latest casualty of the incessant rain.
It’s Aintree next. Blog to follow. Watch this space.
Paul Garritty Bookmakers 