The change in the climatic conditions are sometimes referred to as 'Global Warming'.  Well it matters not what name is given to it but the change overnight here is somewhat startling.  My first job this morning was to check that there had been no invasion of moles on Potterne cricket pitch and I carried out this very important  task in brilliant weather.  A complete change around from yesterdays mixture. Birds were singing, I was singing, the choirs in the local church were singing and there was a soprano on radio three making a helluva noise but everybody was in high spirits.  After a lovely breakfast we travelled just a little way down the road and arrived at Larkhill and yes! you have guessed it - the larks were singing in beautiful morning sunshine.  To the surprise of a few people, the start was not until 1230 pm so plenty of time to walk the course.  I raised a brace of hares down the far end so duly warned a lurcher owner (no JRs) that a lead might be necessary unless she wished to speed off to Marlborough after the greyhound terrier cross; she thanked me no end as previous trips had in the past been made to recover speedy 'Bruce'.

About six youngsters walked the course at the same time.  From the conversations it was obvious that some with a little knowledge of pointing were trying to advise, impress or fool some who had none.  "Take off from about here", "come from behind when you get here", "time to quicken now", "this is a smaller fence so don't worry too much about it" etc. etc.  All this information was being obligingly accepted by the youngest of the group but the final direction was uttered just as we were about to leave the course having completed a lovely walk. "Oh!" said the man who had conducted the informative tour - "For Christ's sake don't fall off!"  That just about summed it all up.  Great stuff!

As the Staff College did not support classes for Farmers, we had  The Staff College & RMA Sandhurst Draghounds Hunt Members' Race to kick off the afternoon with the going, as always, 'good'.  Five went to post with Miss E Delaney's JACKIE JARVIS (P York) a clear favourite on the boards and finally went off at six to one ON.  A Vadasz's GENTLE BUCK (A Vadasz) was second favourite and Mrs Draycott's QUE BELLO  V on which Mr Draycott was having his first ride was third favourite.  That is exactly as they finished with ten lengths between first and second and a distance back with 16 pounds overweight and to the loudest cheering finished Mr Draycott.  THE JOKERS BOY (N Earnshaw) had pulled up.

I walked around the horse boxes to see if I could get any information which may enable me to top up the tin after paying for dinner, a large Australian Shiraz for Ruth, and the B & B which had depleted it somewhat.  The first family I met were the Fullers who had brought their horse BASINCROFT which would be ridden in the confined race by Mr Fuller.  They were a very happy bunch and had not been in the pointing scene all that long but were enjoying themselves and having fun which we agreed was the purpose of it all.  The second family I met were walking their entry in the confined hunts race and when I made to find out the name of this horse, Caroline (Hobbs) quickly informed me that it was ROOSTER BOOSTER.  The shocked  look on my face obviously told her to correct herself very quickly which she did and it turned out to be SOMOSIERA who would be ridden today by Geoff Barfoot-Saunt. Caroline's racing 'colours' are a little story to themselves.  First registered at the Bombay Racing Club by her grandfather who was a trainer in India, they were transferred to Weatherbys, and after being lapsed she was fortunate enough to be able to redeem them and now I am sure she will never part with them. 

I decided not to invest in the interests of my new found friends but to go in heavily on Mrs Tucker & Mrs Mein's STRONG TEA (Alex Charles-Jones) as he is carrying good form this season, well, one win anyway but he was seldom out of the frame last year.  Ruth invested as well and she badly needed a turn of luck as very little came her way yesterday.  We obtained seven to four against and this was the favourite but the York's RUSTIC REVELRY took considerable money and was available at two to one, Mrs Dening's LYRICAL SEAL (A Goschen) and Mrs Lomax's HOT PLUNGE (G Maundrell) were also fancied a little and the Fuller's BASINCROFT at five to one could be a threat.  On passing the judge with a complete circuit to go it was SOMOSIERRA who led the field by about eight lengths with the remaining group led by STRONG TEA and RUSTIC REVELRY who were not prepared to go at the early fast pace being set.  Going down the hill on the far side saw HOT PLUNGE pick up the running and head the leading group who were now almost upsides the early leader SOMOSIERRA.  HOT PLUNGE continued to increase his lead until tiring slightly uphill when he was joined by RUSTIC REVELRY and STONG TEA and C Green's MERRY SHOT (R Young).  HOT PLUNGE now became one paced and RUSTIC REVELRY took up the running and jumped the third last just to the good of STRONG TEA.  LYRICAL SEAL now began to make good headway but it was, with one more to jump, STRONG TEA by a couple of lengths and so it was to the line, finally four lengths to the good of RUSTIC REVELRY and LYRICAL SEAL got the better of MERRY SHOT to come home a 12 length back, third.  No objections, no mistakes - just queue up and pick up and fill the tin.  Overnight expenses not quite covered yet but everything looking good.  Wonderful, Ruth has also picked.  Quite a change but a very welcome one.  ROOSTER BOOSTER   SOMOSIERRA  did not come into my view again and I think I saw Mr Fuller riding back in a 4 X 4 hopefully not in any pain but definitely not within the rules.  To win it is necessary to be in a saddle at least!

This is it! The Larkhill National Mixed Open Race over four miles.  Seven will run and all are a bit classy or at least have been a bit classy in their day. DARAYDAN (A Farrant) ran yesterday in heavy mud but he won this race before and is a known stayer. Miss Steele will ride her GIGI BEACH who is also one to stay the distance.  The Tizzard's MILLYHENRY could win this on his day and Charlotte has had such fun with him. The Studd's MINERS DANCE is no forlorn hope and Charlie would love to win on him, I know!  Dominic Harvey will be trying very hard on Mrs Ashburner's BELARUS and Tessa would be pleased to see him in the frame.  The King's will scream the housed down if their CHISM can recapture some of his past form and get up to be challenging near the end. Then finally there is the Club Ten's WOODLANDS BEAU in nice blue blinkers, who will ridden by Nick Mitchell to bring home the rewards for the Sally Alner stables.  The boards state that DARAYDAN cannot lose and is available only at odds-on.  MILLYHENRY second favourite with BELARUS third favourite.  No investment on my part but I will sit back and enjoy a good quality turn out for this race. MINERS DANCE started off at a very good pace and brought them to the turn into the home straight for the first time with GIGI BEACH and WOODLANDS BEAU close up second and third.  Out into the country still MINERS DANCE followed by WOODLANDS BEAU  with MILLYHENRY and DARAYADAN,  the latter being ridden along at this point.  At  the downhill open ditch it was WOODLANDS BEAU who took it up from MINERS DANCE with MILLYHENRY back in third, and DARAYDAN was being asked for more to lay up with the leaders but unfortunately it was not forthcoming.  BELARUS had dropped off.  CHISM was taking a breather and had dropped back a little.  DARAYDAN attempted to get back and at one time was challenging for the lead again.  The race was on now and DARAYDAN, WOODLAND BEAU and MINERS DANCE were racing together with BELARUS making a revival back in fourth.  CHISM had taken in enough air by now and was again challenging and got up to fourth place.  Very exciting!  At the second last DARAYDAN led with MINERS DANCE making a very good jump on the inside in second and WOODLAND BEAU in third.  WOODLAND BEAU began to exercise his superiority at the last and went on to win by four lengths  from fast finishing CHISM,  and MINERS DANCE was half a length back in third..  DARAYDAN came home in fourth place.  A very good race and thoroughly enjoyable.

Next came two divisions of open  maidens.  The Williams's shared the winners.  Christian won division one but in the slower time on the Axe Valley Racing Club's DRAGONS DREAM trained by Mr Barber and I met up with a delighted owner afterwards carrying a very nice memento.  Funny! I thought it was "HIS" horse when it fell but now its in the winners enclosure I heard the word "WE" - such is life.  Good luck to both of you.  Neil Harris brought the Roberts's CELEBRATION MARCH home eight lengths back in second and T Atkinson's COLLIER came in third.

Nick won division two on Sir Richard Cooper's CASPERS CASE - yes, trained by Mr Barber but this one was available at the very handsome price of sixteen to one.  Not many Barber horses get away with that price! KJ JIMMY ran a good race and will certainly do better in the future.  Mrs Wilson's SUN LARK came in third, ten lengths back. 

The Countryside Alliance Club Members Race for Military Riders saw Ollie Ellwood go to post on Mr Geddes's EASE THE PRESSURE who has run up some good form this year already so its off to the tin and a good investment is now about to be made.  Its just odds-on but I don't think I'll get a better chance than now to top of the tin for the journey home.  Only one race after this so my mind is made up, on it goes!  Well this was excitement to the last and beyond.  I lost a lot of weight watching this race without even moving very far.  Only four entrants but I foolishly thought it would be easy money - but is it ever?  Jamie Snowden riding his CHASING DAISY set only a moderate pace in front of EASE THE PRESSURE initially but going down to fence twelve the pace increased and the field became a little stretched out  but the positions remained the same.  Perhaps my investment was second by about four lengths when they went out of sight down the far end.   On meeting the rising ground my money carrier was matching strides with CHAISING DAISY and the blinkered CAHORS was travelling quite well in third place.  A little concerned now as my charger lost a bit in the air over his jumps and CAHORS now wanted to challenge for the lead.  I am now back in third place at the fifth from home.  I do wish in circumstances like this that the commentator would refrain from telling me the opposition is 'going very easily on the inside'.  Four from home and I do not want to hear that CHASING DAISY got away from that one better than her two rivals - but I did and she did!  As they raced for the turn for home CHASING DAISY was two and half lengths clear ' so precise ' CAHORS in second and EASE THE PRESSURE in third.  Back in fourth place was D Williams's TOSKANO.  Over the last and CAHORS put in a renewed challenge and got up to CHAISING DAISY but BUT - would you believe it? my horse put in a better challenge.  Now I am mystified as the commentator said CAHORS won but Ruth said EASE THE PRESSURE won, so I am off now with any trace of colour long gone from my cheeks to find the correct winner.  Would you believe it that half the spectators I met and who assured me they were ON THE LINE - of course - said CAHORS won and half said my investment carrier had won.  I just stood there for 24 hours - at least it seemed like that long and can tell you I was a little more than relieved when the official weighed in was announced and my money manager paid me out.  Bless him!  Yes it was a win for EASE THE PRESSURE, second CAHORS and third CHASING DAISY.  Half a length and one length the distances.

One more but I will sit on the grass besides the car for this one.  Not quite out of breath but a rest is necessary after that bit of excitement.  Nine to post for the final restricted race. Christian Williams achieved a double when he won this one but he was lucky because when well in command, eight lengths to the good,  he decided the horse needed a kiss on the nose and in carrying out this evolution he nearly slipped off.  Mr Barber and other owners would not have been very happy about this had it not been executed successful but it was, and STAVORDALE LAD went on to win by three lengths from Richard Woollacott on R Pyman's ROOM TO ROOM, and Polly Gundry on Countess Goess-Saurau's THE KINGS FLING was eight lengths back in third.

What a wonderful days racing but I would say that with the tin full up - wouldn't I? Off to Cornwall now in beautiful weather and we should be home before dark.  Oh! on travelling down the A303 a traffic jam piled up in front of us and we know not why but I must offer apologies to the residents of Fonthill Bishop, Berwick St Leonard,  Hindon and any other normally quiet hamlet that we used to by pass the traffic jam  as we sped through complete with bag and tin en route to Cornwall.  We did get in front of the jam and made good time after all. 

Next week there is a choice - Little Windsor  - near - or The Cumberland Farmers - possibly too far - on Saturday, and Barbury Castle or Black Forest Lodge on Sunday.  I think its Lucy Gardner's turn to help my tin out so we aim to be at Black Forest Lodge.

One little message for  Mrs Rogers -  your emails are coming in fine but my replies are being returned as 'address unknown' so I cannot get in touch with you - pity!

Fred and Ruth