We face mud-baths everywhere but at least we are racing

January 30

Last Saturday was frustrating with Grandeur d’Ame beaten a whisker in the £100,000 chase at Cheltenham, but he produced a career-best performance which has earned him a return to the home of the steeplechasing in March for one of the big handicaps, which one will be determine by the ground.

However, we look to have solid prospects of finishing January on a high, with Don’t Mind If I Do being odds-on favourite for the novice hurdle at Wincanton today.

Alan has been hoping all week that the weather would improve sufficiently for Don’t Mind if I Do to run, though, while Wincanton, who also passed an inspection this morning, have had no more rain since 6pm on Tuesday, the ground will still be heavy, which is not what we wanted for one of our nicest young prospects.

Don’t Mind If I Do was also entered at Sandown on Saturday, but conditions will probably be even more testing there, and Alan is keen to get him going again.

He added:”He is a big, tall individual and he can only get better as he strengthens up. He was a comfortable winner over the course last month and will have come on for that.”

We are also looking forward to launching a couple of newcomers, Baby Thyme, who runs in the mares bumper at Wincanton, having been balloted out at Huntingdon last week, and Elforleather, who kick-starts for us in the maiden hurdle at Lingfield tomorrow.

Elforleather won twice on the Flat for Jack Channon in August and he schooled well on Monday. Remember, it was from the Channon yard where Alan got Katchit, who gave us such a marvellous day at Cheltenham 17 years ago when winning the Champion Hurdle. Elforleather was ready to make his debut for Barbury in early December, but he then got cast in his box and broke a rib, so Dame Fortune might owe him a favour or two.

While on the subject of ‘Luck’, Major Dundee has been missing out here, having missed both the Becher Chase at Aintree and Classic Chase at Warwick because of the weather. Alan is hoping it might be third time lucky tomorrow in Lingfield’s Surrey National.

It’s amazing that is coming up for three years since Major Dundee ran such a fabulous race when still a novice he was able to finish third in the Scottish Grand National at Ayr. He was off the same handicap mark when he made his seasonal debut at Bangor in November, finishing a respectable sixth. This stamina test will be more his cup of tea, and a drop of 3lb in the weights is also a plus.

I’m A Lumberjack, who was entered for the novice handicap hurdle at Sandown on Saturday, has opted out because of the testing ground on the hurdles course at Sandown, but this highly-regarded youngster is engaged at Market Rasen on Tuesday, so watch this space.