OK here goes on my debut as a reporter.

It was good to see some old faces last night and some new ones. Names to faces etc etc. Uncle Festa- ah I get it.

As the last race of the night approached it was a formality that Muffin was going to win. Wolverhampton mafia- 4 out of 5 winners.

Everybody felt that the 10-1 going round was good value but when reality checked in I think we all knew that it was going to be tough with the draw of 9. In the first 5 races the winners had come from draw 1, 1, 4, 4, 5 - I think you get the picture.

Anyway we made our way down to the parade ring where Muffin, as always, looked in superb nick. Easily the best looking horse, and didn't he know it. Fergus remarked that he hoped he remebered was he was from last time, and someone unnamed mentioned something about performing under lights, but we weren't sure if she was talking about Muffin or not.

Stuart gave his usual prep talk to Fergus that best case scenario was to jump out quick try to get as near to the rail as possible and hopefully find cover. Easy!

Anyway Muffin came out of the stalls well but couldn't get over to the all important inside and settled in around third but without cover. As he turned in to the final bend Fergus was already at work on him just to keep his position from the challenges on the inside. Due to the lack of cover he seemed to be running too freely and entering the straight he had already ran further than the rest of the pack. Muffin gamely hung on in until the final furlong where he gradually faded into sixth place.

The winner to his credit had run a cracker to win from stall 8.

As we trudged off to the unsaddling enclosure Fergus dismounted already cursing the luck of the draw. "Banging his head against the wall" to be exact. He mentioned that he was racing from the start and Muffin ran too freely and didn't get home.

Stuart felt that we must perservere with seven furlongs and hope for a better draw.

Before I close the report I must mention that Messrs. Griffiths and Vincent were £100 up on the night and said that they would buy everybody drinks next time we all meet up.

Cheers, Andy