Another day, another jab, so far so good. However, as days go this has so far been relentless. Over an hour to get to the Jab centre, thanks to enormous traffic works that could not have been done when no traffic was on the road. The Jab centre was hugely efficient and a big well done to Lindy and her team at Swindon’s Steam Museum, whose jollity extended to the happy enquiry, “Do you feel free now?”. “I will”, I said, “the moment I can hug you.” I felt obliged to explain that, according to Hancock’s Half Hour yesterday, I was now statistically more likely to die from being hit on the head by an aeroplane falling from the sky, and of being able to name the pilot. But, I pointed out, and despite Jab 2 making me 95% Covid-proof in both transmission and reception terms, I was still banned from hugging anyone until a small monotonal oriental gentleman said OK. I then went to my local seamstress who was in a foul mood, and therefore couldn’t put brace buttons onto two new pairs of trousers, until such time as I had them with me. She does this because she does not approve of brace buttons being mounted on the outside of the trouser band rather than on the inside. I was taught the brace-button trick by Dermot O’Pinstripe whose elegance is legendary, and who pointed out that [a] the buttons didn’t dig in if one had lunched exuberantly and [b] they held the brace better. I then, and in some dudgeon, had to scurry back because the Oven Mending Team had arrived, with a £22 spare part and left 20 minutes later with a Gross of my punting vouchers. Whoever said Exchange is no robbery was a fool.
As the racing starts momentarily and I have a blinding headache, here are this fool’s thoughts…
3:40 Specialist Joinery Group Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 88-123) 2m RTV 22 runners
ENA BAIE Win – KARAWANN e/w – BACK ON THE BRIDLE e/w
4:15 Pigsback.com Handicap Chase (Grade B) (4yo+) 2m RTE2 19 runners
ENTOUCAS – SULLY DOC AA Dutch Win
4:50 Mongey Communications La Touche Cup Cross Country Chase (5yo+) 4m2f RTE2 13 runners
SOME NECK Win
5:25 Ladbrokes Champion Stayers Hurdle (Grade 1) (4yo+) 3m RTE2 14 runners
FLOORING PORTER Win – SOLE PRETENDER e/w
6:00 Conway Piling Handicap Hurdle (Grade B) (4yo+) 3m RTE2 25 runners
CAPODANNO e/w
6:35 Ryanair Novice Chase (Grade 1) (5yo+) 2m RTE2 4 runners
ENERGUMENE Win
7:05 Close Brothers Mares Novice Hurdle (Listed Race) (4yo+) 2m RTV 7 runners
BIGBADANDBEAUTIFUL Win
7:35 Grant Thornton (C & G) INH Flat Race (4-7yo) 2m RTV 11 runners
FORGED IN FIRE e/w