Getting wet

Had a good day at Newton Abbot yesterday; if anyone was watching ATR they will have seen how wet it was but that didn't dampen spirits and there was a big crowd for the last meeting of the year (most people taking advantage of NA's two-for-one ticket offer on a Monday...)

One person who wasn't happy was Tony McCoy. He got off In The Zone, trained by Jonjo and owned by JP McManus, to ride the favourite, January, in the penultimate race with Jonjo's decent apprentice Richie McLernon taking over in the green and gold. AP was at the front at the last but the young lad swept past on the run-in to win by just over a length.

I'd backed In the Zone at 4-1 and then again on the Tote, returning at 7.3, so was chuffed to bits but AP's face as he stalked past McLernon and Jonjo celebrating in the winner's enclosure showed what he thought of things. His hatred of losing is what makes him so brilliant and this really was a choker for him - if there's any justice he will win BBC Sports Personality of the Year at last this year but the British public being what it is, there is no guarantee of that.

My pal John the newsagent had backed January and it was not a good day for him - he picked out Chestnut Ben in the paddock but wouldn't back him at 50-1 because he was two stone out of the handicap. The horse was then backed into 20s and romped home in the second race.

We then met up with a lad called Tim who I had met at Ffos Las last year and who has turned his back on gainful employment to become a professional punter and he said he'd backed Chestnut Ben at 33s having seen him steadily get fitter through the year. He then tipped us Cashel Blue EW in the next, which John had again picked out in the paddock but by then we were both very keen on the favourite, Caheerloch, and stuck with him. Needless to say in which order they finished first and second.

Thankfully I came away even thanks to In The Zone and despite getting soaked it was a good day and even John the newsagent enjoyed it despite only getting back a bit of his losses on the odds-on winner of the last.

Today I have a strong fancy for Handsome Jack in the 3.10 at Goodwood. This is a very open looking nursery but he looks a real improver from his two runs on the all weather and at around 5-1 he'll do for me. Off to cook breakfast for our guests now and hopefully the wife will be out this afternoon so I can have a couple of hours in front of ATR and Racing UK!