A very overcast morning

Cantering up Long Hill grass

''It's a job that's never started that takes the longest to finish.''

- J.R.R. Tolkein

Watch Chain (Steve) and Akula (Butch) 

A very overcast morning and we have had  heavy rainfall overnight. This combined with the bits and bobs we have had all week allowed us, at long last, to get on to the grass on Long Hill. ''Hallelujah!'' I hear everybody cry and they would be right. It is fantastic to get back on the grass and both the horses and lads loved it.

Comrade Bond (Liam) and Piccarello (Nicki)

Both the two year olds ran well last night at Newmarket but were very green in the preliminaries. There was plenty of whinnying and looking around but both were very well behaved going into the stalls and will have learnt a considerable amount from the experience - we will see a vast improvement next time.

Izzet (Wajid) and Cornish Quest (Holly)

We have five runners today, three at Haydock, Smokey Oakey, Marvo and Brushing and at Newmarket, Battery Power makes her debut and Omokoroa runs in the 2 mile handicap. At Haydock, where Iain, my travelling head lad, tells me it is pouring down and the ground after two days of racing is very poached, especially on the inside rail. I run both Marvo and Smokey Oakey in the 2.20 pm race, the mile handicap. Both like it soft, hence I am having to run two in the same race; Ashley takes 5 lbs off Smokey's back and he ran well at Newmarket last time, Marvo loves this type of ground and is in very good form. We run Brushing in the Heritage handicap at 3.25 pm, she has won her last two and is an improving filly, she seems to go on any ground but we will definitely find out one way or the other today. If she goes in it and can get very lucky from a very bad draw - 17, I would hope she would have a bit of a chance. 
At Newmarket, Battery Power runs in the 3.45 pm race, the 7 furlong maiden fillies. This will be just as hot as the colts' one last night but it will do her the power of good to gain the experience. At 4.55 pm we run Omokoroa, who ran well last time at Haydock to be second and takes on the winner of that race again but is 9lbs better off and I can see him being much closer today.
On Sunday, Watch Chain runs in the last at Leicester; he was a bit unlucky at Newmarket last time and if the ground stays on the fast side we would be hoping for a very good run.

Walking home on the sloppy walking grounds

I just thought you would like to see what all Owls fans are going to have to put up with this year  with us descending into the first division. There will be several teams visiting Hillsborough and they will be visiting teams, that they have never encountered for a very long time. You only used to get a picture like this one below when it was a pre-season friendly or they were doing it for a charity. Hopefully, I am going to watch them next week when they are away to Colchester United - I can't wait!