Bit of a bonus (or curse) blog here as we did not expect to be working at this meeting. In fact the last blog still reports our next meeting as Newcastle next Saturday, but come Sunday I saw that the reserved picnic benches were sold out, the card was ok and the forecast was set fair. Steve was doing his day job (see notes re not intending to do this meeting) so Bryson stepped into the breach once more.
I quite like Shiny Happy People. The song (controversial for REM hardcore pre 1990 fans, of which I am one) and also people in real life who are shiny and happy. Pitched up next to the free ice cream van with it's ubiquitous queues stretching back as far as the eye can see- or possibly even longer for instance the payout queue for Jordan Electrics at Hamilton- any night you like- the lawns of Musselburgh were filled with the shiniest and happiest of people- mostly under 10 it must be said.
So a quick dance through the books of what is always a peculiar day (average bet £4) as I'm up early for golf tomorrow. Though I've been meaning, and forgetting, to report for some time that I had a small Twitter golf chat with one of my 1980s idols, Lloyd Cole, a few months back. He was looking for a game of golf on his off day when touring in, if I remember correctly, Dorset. I couldn't help there but I offered him Rosemount next time he was in Scotland, and, nice bloke that he is, he duly replied that it was a wonderful course and he'd get back to me next time he was up. I think he was just being nice and I don't think any more will come of it. I'm ready to be heartbroken. Ta da! Yep, a long and tortured paragraph to slip in a gag that, no matter how good it is, will probably only be got by 1% of anyone who reads this. Assuming the aforementioned Lloyd doesn't subscribe.
So plenty of small bets, small take overall, most of the field bet so our books were generally filled with small liabilities and small winners. You have been warned.
1 ) We took coppers and we won coppers though a small surprise to win at all on Family Day on a horse called Little Ted. We wanted the 2nd, Fanzone, and our dose of seconditis was becoming chronic.
2) Untouched book. Nothing of significance to report as Music History gave us a modest win beating Go On Rosie which was our worst result. Like a fruit machine addict we were on our second nudge (forward) of the day.
3) As the top 2 in the market went to the line it was hellishly close. Bryson told me the far side got up. I told him you always favour the near side in the photo at Musselburgh. The in running martket was touch and go. Me and next door opined that it was a dead heat. Bryson told me it was never a dead heat. I might as well have printed the result then given Bryson's current form. Dead heat it was - a payout slip doubled in length but halved in amount. Both were decent winners and the 3rd, Laudable, rounded out a lovely place result for us too. Solid.
4) 2nd best result in the book time as Profitable Edge gave us a... (insert gag here) and we were nicely ahead (remembering through the prism of 80 bets a race at 4 quid a chuck)
5) Didn't want this one though. Expected the odds on Union Island to be our best result but it was our worst as we laid a decent bet on the off that you need a lot of £2 each ways to counteract. Places kind so no damage done but it looked well and truly beaten a furlong out. Teeth gnashed.
6) Laid Trojan Horse which meant joint favourite Achnamara was a small winner for us rather than the loser that looked likely after an early flurry. Bullet dodged.
7) Wanted Judgment Call, which hit 10s on in running, for a great end to the day but got Rory instead which was more in the category of "quite nice" though we steered the paces to supplement.
All in all a relatively solid wages type day on a Tuesday when the ice cream and the funfair were the main attractions. Happy we went but will still be a marginal call again next year.
And finally, apologies to our lovely chap who will be expecting the headline to be "Steal My Sunshine" - a gem of a one hit wonder if ever there is one. I'll keep that in reserve for when we lose in 90 degree heat.
It really is Newcastle up next for us- until then...
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