Hi All,

The events took the usual pattern ie - that all the Guilders met up in the bar -albeit some of us later than others - curse the M25 !!! Pre - race witterings focused on the recent thread re current situation. DW and yours truly then decided that it was time to get our priorities right and we decided to do forecasts - of which we managed to get 2 correct.

So, by the time Muffins race came round, there had already been quite a few surprising results. Like for instance, old Banjo Bay popping up at 15/2, followed home by a 66/1 and a 33/1 shot paying a forecast of £455.00 and the tri-cast 15K (this was not one of the forecast that DW and i got right) Who would have thought that No. 7 Pactolos Way and No 8. Pothos Way, both trained by the same trainer, both of the same owner, would have come 1st and 2nd in the race prior to Muffins. DW and i didnt get this one either !!

So, to the 7.55, Muffins first race over 7 furlongs - in with the older horses. We met up in the parade ring with Judy and Neil and all the Guilders. The instructions were basically left to Fergus.(the first priority was to keep the parnership together) Our boy looked very well, but unfortunatley there was no prize for "Best Turned Out" - cos he would have won it.

He was perhaps a little calmer than he has been. Went down to post quite well and did not seem too fazed by the horse drawn in stall 13 who reared in the stalls, had to be removed and subsequently withdrawn. He then wasnt particularly keen to go in - Fergus told us after - he gave him a couple of risky taps and he went in ok!!!

The race itself - Although he was badly drawn, Fergus managed to work his way up to about 7th and got stuck in a pocket. He then had to come wide off the final bend, and was definately running on to eventually finish 4th - an extremely good run we all felt with £210 prize money for his efforts.

After the race Neil was very quick to ask Fergus if he thought Muffin would stay further - Fergus's opinion is that this is his trip and we were beaten by the high draw. He said he rode the race trying to get Muffin on to the inside but was still having to come wide. Using several expletives he cursed the Lingfield draw and assured us that we will get a good draw one day.

We all thanked Fergus and told Muffin how well he had done. We look forward to hearing how he was after he got home.

Regards Uncle Fester.

P.S. The forecasts that DW and i did get right, in case anybody is interested, were,

a) we would have had too much to drink by the time Muffins race came round. and

b) er , that it would rain