There is a God

Having always suffered from vertigo (including feeling funny when standing on a chair to change a light bulb)I became hugely nervous as Friday afternoon approached. As I said to Rodney Masters on Good Friday afternoon, I was overwhelmed by relief when the organiser apologised to me that (bungee) jumping was cancelled due to high winds. I am sure nobody will ask for their sponsorship monies to be returned, will they?

Thank you to everyone who pledged their support.

The Lambourn Open Day was very successful for us, despite the weather, and we had a steady stream of visitors all morning. It was amazing how relaxed the horses were despite the attention they were receiving.

In the All-Weather Trainers Championship which ran from the end of the turf season in November 2007 to 20 March 2008 I had 10 winners from 34 runners a strike rate of 29%. This strike rate was bettered by only one other trainer, in the top 50, E.J O'Neill whose rate was 31%, with 11 winners out of 35 runners.

With the Open Day out of the way it is now down to the serious business of tackling my third turf season. It was disappointing that Old Father Zieten didn't make the Brocklesby at Doncaster today but there will be other races for him. I have my first turf runner on Monday at Yarmouth, Rowan River.

On Wednesday Savile's Delight is entered yet again at Southwell in a 5 furlong claimer having just failed to prevail on Thursday. On Friday Desert Dreamer is entered in a 7 furlong claimer at Lingfield.