Day off. Got most generously invited to The Races... in some style. New experience... getting to Jonjo O'Neill's yard at eight to be taken by him to watch the strings of horses doing their gallops. The real A.P. (Tony) McCoy on one of them!
Keeping up is easy... in a car, alongside. The horses cruise up their rubber track but we are touching 30 mph. And it’s up a hill that would make me blow a bit just walking.
Beautiful breakfast - bacon buns for us - oats for them I guess. But those cosseted animals walk on rubber surfaces, take dips in their pool and dry off under sun-lamps. Get massaged, stroked and fussed over all day. "Just do what you can to keep them healthy unhurt and happy. Then maybe, if they feel like it, they might win".
A.P. - who looks so hungry - says he wouldn't mind coming back as a racehorse. Jonjo and Jacqui certainly keep us happy - on good Laithwaites Champagne and more bacon buns. They are excellent customers and lovely people.
Cheltenham looks fabulous from the box of 'JP'; J,P. McManus, no less, but even with all his and Mick Fitzpatrick's unrivalled knowledge to help, my 'picks' fare even worse than usual; not only losing, but falling over - all of them. Laithwaite the Jinx.
But we are at least drinking that Condrieu we raised at Le Chai; a proper thoroughbred of a wine, seemingly enjoyed by all the owners, ex-jockeys, and trainers having lunch today.... but it’s hard to tell.
Wonderful to find there is another world where they are just as crazy and obsessed as in my world. Just don't ask racing folk to pay attention to even the greatest wine when there are horses running.
Leave the jollity to rush to Oxford, to the Cathedral, another kind invitation; to their 'Celebration of Christmas'. With Schola Cantorum of Oxford, trumpeters, harpist, some notable actors and the Bishop.... all in aid of Macmillan Nurses. Fabulous music in a stunning building - even when stuck behind a screen it can't fail to move you.
The Bishop has a handshake that could bend steel; best to donate generously.
Visit laithwaites.co.uk
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