So, why not Fighting Fifth then? We had to make a decision on Friday. Given the distance and early start we needed accommodation the night before so had to make a call. 60 mph winds, rain and snow, the likelihood of a morning inspection and the impossibility of keeping an umbrella up and a ton of expensive electrical gear exposed to the elements meant we were non runners. I doff my virtual hat to my colleagues who did brave the elements and hope they survived intact.
On to Kelso then. Christmas jumpers donned we made the trip to the borders on a decent day weather wise. Business was steady rather than spectacular and winter racing obliged with it's usual array of winners from the top of the market.
We were clearly going to get a result in the first as the bogey, Kavanagh's Cross was under pressure very early and hit a huge price in running. Book scanned to find our best winner as they came to 3 out safe in the knowledge we were off to a great start. Winter jumps being winter jumps of course, the favourite rallied to win from the next county and shoulders sagged across the ring. They never rally from a 50/1 SP do they? Onwards and downwards.
Another favourite in the 2nd. We had laid the original fav (Overcourt) and there was decent money for Gipsy Lee Rose on track so we ended up with a small winner. Losses from first more or less recouped on a result that could've easily have gone the other way. Grateful for small mercies.
Borders National up next and we had a couple of losers; Weststreet the 5/2 favourite and Big River, 15/2 3rd favourite- Lucinda Russell runners always popular of course. Cash to Ash (22/1) was a skinner for us and led going to the last but a blunder let Big River past and that was that. If tears were fivers... back to square one and a bit worse.
A competitive looking 4 runner up next. We had Doyen Breed as the loser, Bushypark a taker and the other 2 decent winners. Torigni fell early and took out Illegal Model so the rest if the race was spent hoping Bushy would oblige for the 0-0 draw. In fairness it looked the winner throughout and won comfortably.
0-0 draw achieved we were looking to get something on away goals and our luck changed in the 5th. Flower of Scotland was surprisingly weak on track despite attracting massive support off track. Motown Magic our biggest loser, Flower our biggest winner. 2 out our goose looked cooked again as Motown hit something 1.2 ish in running but Motown's Magic ebbed away and Flower bloomed to win easily. I'll get me coat...
For the first time in about 12 races at Kelso the p&l was finally in the "P" column. Optimism renewed we entered our final 2 races before Christmas.
The final 2 races can be summed up in two words, "jolly, jolly" which resulted in our "P" was seriously downgraded to a teeny tiny "p" which covered the petrol but nowt else. That's us now until 29th at Kelso. Report possibly coming quicker for that one than for this one. Have a great Christmas and a Profitable New Year!
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