NRC member Gordon Armistead has kindly agreed to update the club newsletter and web site with his personal racing diary during the year.

Sunday November 22^nd Aintree

Sitting Tennant cost plenty after winning the graded bumper at the National meeting and while he won his novice hurdle here I don't think he is top class. Runner up Benbens looks sure to win his maiden hurdle and looks a horse with scope. Making the Grand Sefton an open handicap has not improved the race. I had thought that Dev was on a winning mark but not that he would get the trip here and he was lucky to be only challenged from the last by a real dodge in Pak Jack. He jumped really well over the big fences but it will be a bigger more competitive race if he returns for the Topham. A poor field for the Becher Chase and Vic Venturi will not be on my short list come April.

Saturday November 28^th Newcastle

Pamak d'Airy looks a horse on the upgrade and the handicapper can hardly be too hard after he beat some out of form rivals in the two four handicap chase. Abbeybraney was forecast as a short priced favourite for the three mile novice chase but looked very much in need of it. His main rival Weapon's Amnesty had jumped poorly in his first two chases and while he won here he will still have to improve to take on the best.

I thought Binocular looked awful before the Fighting Fifth (sweating on a cold day and carrying a bit of condition) and with only him and Solwhit below 20/1 it turned the race into a betting proposition. Solwhit was very lean and fit but paddock pick was easily Go Native. 32/1 on the machine and the manor of his win, all be it in a falsely run race, was most impressive. Sublimity in second will improve for this while Solwhit's best form at two miles is on soft and heavy.

Quantitativeeasing was hardly an eye catcher in the paddock but easily landed the odds on in the maiden hurdle. The next four home look sorts to do well in ordinary northern maidens and handicaps- namely Mr Syntax, Eyre Square, Papa Caruso, and Cocoa Key. A decent field for the Rehearsal Chase with Coe catching the eye staying on and definitely needing a trip- maybe the Welsh National will be a race for him. According to John has been a disappointing horse and he needs some sort of head gear if he is ever going to find another race.

Friday December 11^th Cheltenham

Weird Al confirmed the good impression he had made at the November meeting by winning the two five novice chase. He jumped really well and I was amazed he was sent off only third choice in the betting. He should get three miles and looks a very good prospect. Also good value was Sizzing Australia at 4/1 without the fav in the cross country race. No interference by an outsider this time. Another good day was well topped up by my old friend Time for Rupert in the three mile handicap hurdle at 18/1. He stays all day and this was a good effort under 11.7. Maucaillou was again given plenty to do and surely they should try something else.

The staying handicap chase saw the Badger Bear form to the front with The Package turning the tables with The Tother One. Timmy Murphy seemed to have plenty of confidence in the winner taking it up a fair way out so he may still have improvement in him. Trabolgan looked in super condition after all his troubles and ran a fine race in fourth. There could still be a race in him while According to Pete was disappointing back in fifth. A decent two mile novice hurdle went to General Miller from Ghizao and I would guess both are pretty decent.

Saturday December 12^th Cheltenham

Wide open betting for the Champion Hurdle after Khyber Kim took the Boylesports and Zaynar the Relkeel. Zaynar shortened in to the favourites slot but he now looks plenty short enough for what he has achieved. Khyber Kim in running two good races back to back is a better horse this season and will be suited by how the big race is normally run. Celestial Halo looks like he will always find a horse with pace that will do him from the last. Punjabi looked fairly fit but ran like he needed the run.

In the Boylesports Gold Cup I liked Jayo and he ran a fine race in fifth and he will be placed to find a decent handicap later in the season. Inchidaly Rock took the staying novice chase and looks an out and out stayer while runner up Hey Big Spender failed to get home.

Saturday October 10^th Bangor

A good effort by Seven is my Number giving away a double penalty in the two four novice chase even if runner up Khachaturian may not be the most straight forward sort. This race has gone to some decent sorts but I doubt the winner is top class and his future lies in handicaps. The odds on City Theatre looked in need of the run in the two four novice hurdle and paddock pick was Qianshan Leader who looked worth a go at 14/1. The favourite ran no sort of race but Qianshan Leader was always prominent and ran on nicely to take the race. It was a modest contest but he will improve.

Friday October 16^th Cheltenham

Snap Tie has been beaten as favourite on a good few occasions and made hard work of beating modest stable mate Safari Journey in receipt of five pounds in the two mile novice chase. Plenty to prove. The Pertemps qualifier went to Templer but of more note was ten pound claimer Giles Hawkins who did the job well. Also of note was Elzahann who could still have improvement in him after his sixth here.

Saturday October 17^th Cheltenham

Starluck was very impressive taking the conditions four year old hurdle without coming off the bridle. His next run should tell us more about his Champion Hurdle prospects. At the end of last season Poquelin turned in two terrible efforts and I couldn't have him as favourite under top weight in the two four handicap chase. It was a much improved run to win but the field was not a good one and a penalty would make him vulnerable if he goes for the Paddy Power. None of those he beat look to be improvers. Just Amazing made all to take the three mile novice chase but the Nicholls' stable will have better than this for the season. The two four novice chase was run at a crawl for over a mile but it did not stop favourite Kangaroo Court winning well enough even if it is hard to say how good he is. The bumper at this meeting is usually pretty decent but this year's was a modest contest.

Saturday October 24^th Aintree

They couldn't find a picture of Giles Hawkins for the race card but having seen him the previous week the ten pounds he claimed off Nampour certainly made the 6/1 a fair price in the two mile handicap hurdle. Another good ride and wins at two big tracks make him a young rider to watch even when he is down to claiming only the seven pounds. He had a ride in the veterans chase but Lacdoudal ran like he needed the run as most of the old timers turned in poor rounds of jumping.

A super effort by Monet's Garden in the Old Roan Chase as he looked like he would come on for the race. Tidal Bay's attitude doesn't please many and it is hard to see where he can be placed to win a race. Knowhere jumped moderately while Tartak jumped very poorly.

Frankie Figg in the two four handicap chase was the nap of the day at 9/1 and he made all without being seriously challenged. He is best fresh so he might not follow up.

A moderate lot in the two mile novice hurdle with Sunarri standing out in paddock. At 20/1 he was worth a small bet which seemed lost early on as he was pushed along in last place. Turning out of the back straight he started to pass horses and two out he appeared going best on the bridle. Four lengths clear at the last he was very green and Mr McCoy mustered up a special finish to get up on the line on favourite Sonowyouno.

Sunday October 25^th Aintree

Odds on Stormy Weather lacked any scope for this game in the three year old hurdle. It was not a surprise to see him turned over even in a modest contest. Cappa Bleu was giving away ten pounds in the two four novice chase and looked in need of the run. He was beaten some way out and it will take massive improvement for him to play any part in the Hennessey. Winner Door Boy disappointed last season after an early win so also has things to prove. The one to take out of the race was Little Josh who will come on for the run and will be well suited by another half mile and soft ground. First time out is the time to catch Tramantano and be picked up the pieces after the leaders went off to fast in the two mile handicap chase. Palomar looked like this would do him good but he was never a factor after clouting the first fence and he hardly looks well handicapped. Cranky Corner was a short price for the two four novice hurdle but looked dreadful in the paddock and ran like he looked. Winner Meridian City is not too big but won nicely while Pure Faith can improve on his fifth place. Midnight Tuesday stood out in the paddock for the bumper and beat all the fancied contenders only to be beaten by 33/1 shot Solway Sam. Paddy Brennan rode an uncharacteristically poor race and I think he should have carried on his run instead of taking a pull when he came up to the leaders.

Saturday October 31^st Wetherby

Santia kept the good run going at 11/1 in the mares graded race. Helped by My Petra taking the wrong course the form is not worth much outside these mares' races. Not the best Charlie Hall by a long way and while the form book will say Deep Purple has won at three miles he was just walking quicker than his rivals from the last. Ollie Magern under pressure a mile out kept trying but just fell in a hole at the last. He has little hope of winning and surely retirement is the right direction for him. Fair Along easily took the West Yorkshire Hurdle with a disappointing effort from Pettifour who jumped modestly.

Thursday November 5^th Haydock

Most of the runners would improve for the outing in the three mile handicap chase. Coe under top weight looked to have filled out since last year and he jumped much better. The trip was his minimum and he can win a decent handicap over an extended distance. His stable mate Gainsay took the two four novice chase but hit a couple of fences very hard.

Saturday November 7^th Wincanton

Only my second trip here and the first was in 1991 when Cool Ground was one of the winners. From our area it is just about the most awkward to get to with Bristol a complete pain to get round. Only £11 to get in with the Racegoers club voucher for their big meeting of the year.

Pepe Simo gave weight to most and took the two mile novice hurdle easily. The opposition was modest and we will know more when he has to step up in class. Celestial Halo jumped really well to give weight away in the Elite Hurdle and was never in much danger. He doesn't need to improve much to take a Champion Hurdle and may well be capable of doing it. Whiteoak was taken off her feet from the start and needs a longer trip.

Again lots in the Badger Ales Chase would benefit for the run. The ones that were ready were The Package who looked really up for the day and Ellerslie George with the benefit of a couple of runs. Robert Henderson made fitness tell and went for home early and never looked like being caught. I have seen Ellerslie George run lots of times first with Tom Tate and then for the Wylies and he had looked to have found his level but he has now stepped up on that for new connections. The first to chase him was Ruby Walsh on The Tother One and he ran a decent race on only his third chase start. He hasn't much size about him. As mentioned The Package was revved up for this but is a strange sort and Tom Scudamore left it far too late before chasing the winner.

Sunday November 8^th Ffos Las

I was told a few month before Great Leighs opened to get there early because it wouldn't last but I never managed to make it so it was an early trip to South West Wales just in case. It's a long way and the route given on the Course's web site and the road signage takes you a slow way in. Having left a different way the suggested route in is to the end of the M4 and then the A48 to Cross Hands and then the A476 and B4137.

With plenty of room to work with they have done a good job. A big wide galloping track just over a mile and a half around with the only the height variation being the first furlong of the straight six on the flat course. There shouldn't be any excuses for getting a bad run.

Lots of open space in the enclosures with a big parade ring and while the stand isn't that big it was plenty big enough for today's crowd and the viewing was excellent.

Main race of the day was a two mile handicap chase and I thought after his run at Aintree that Dev had every chance. He settled in front and easily saw off most of the field only for one of Philip Hobbs with no recent form to do him. The one to take from the three mile handicap hurdle was northern challenger Sir Tantallus Hawk who went well for a long way before he seemed not quite to get home. Winner Factotum had looked well suited by this trip after appearing less than straightforward at Cheltenham.

Friday November 13^th Cheltenham

Razor Royale looked promising as a novice hurdler but has been disappointing, never finding much after travelling well, but he looked outstanding in the paddock as he dropped to three mile amateur chase level. With the rapidly improving Sam Twiston- Davis on board he was too big at 16/1 and after travelling well and taking it up at the top of the hill he was left clear three out and never challenged. The handicapper will not be amused. The Sawyer ran well in second as he usually needs runs to get fit.

The two mile novice hurdle was a match between two Irish runners and Loosen My Load was easily the pick on looks and got the better ride in a slowly run race to see off Some Present. The winner has lots of scope and will jump fences but the form should be taken with caution because of how the race was run. His stable mate Sizzing Australia looked good value at 11/2 without Garde Champetre in the cross country race. Watching from the centre of the course he seemed to have things in hand but could just not get passed the Enda Bolger second string. Nap of the day was Lord Ragnar in the million runner c.j's handicap hurdle. Over a year's wait for him to be in the right race was rewarded at 11/1. He is a chaser on looks and could go that way soon. A very good two four novice chase went to Weird Al with an excellent run from Knockara Beau giving eight pounds in second. Ashkazar appeared not to stay while Aigle d'Or ran a poor race and looks to be going backwards.

Saturday November 14^th Cheltenham

A good finish to the staying handicap chase with Gallant Nuit just getting up. The less said about his prep run the better but he is an improver. Don't Push It ran an excellent race under a big weight and evidently has the National as a target. Not for me. Tranquil Sea trotted up in the Paddy Power but it was maybe not the best renewal. Ballyfitz and According to Pete both need a longer trip. Fourth in the staying handicap hurdle Maucaillou's connections seem intent on holding him up far too long every time he runs.

Sunday November 15^th Cheltenham

Tataniano managed to acquire a high hurdle rating for not doing very much. He looks promising over fences and the way he runs two miles will be his trip. His stable mate Master Minded was very backward for his first run and to nobody's surprise who looked at him he was turned over. Winner Well Chief was also below his best form. One of the best rides you will see from Paddy Brennan on Khyber Kim in the Greatwood Hurdle coming with perfect timing on a well known dodge. Medermit and James de Vassy look set for god seasons after finishing third and fourth. From the two five handicap hurdle Sangfroid can find a race when upped in trip. The bumper looked decent and winner Ghizao won in nice style.

Saturday November 21^st Haydock

I am still not sure how Starluck managed to get beaten in the conditions hurdle. He was a huge price at 5/2 and it was all over at the last but his stride soon shortened and Mr Thriller got back up. The going was put up as an excuse but he could just be a bridle horse. Lots to prove. Diamond Harry was most impressive in the Brush Hurdle Handicap but apart from runner up Burton Point they were mostly a fully exposed bunch he beat. He is still an unfurnished sort and another season over hurdle will probably do him good. I thought he could come on for this but he will have too to take on Big Bucks but the staying hurdlers are not great behind that horse.

Brilliant duel for the Betfair Chase and maybe the mistake three out cost Imperial Commander the race. Kauto will probably win at Kempton as it is hard to put up anything to take him on that will be suited by the course. Imperial would be better off going to Ireland but probably won't.