Lossiemouth put up a sterling performance to win the Unibet Hurdle at Cheltenham last weekend. In fact, to be precise, it was a 71,187 Pounds Sterling performance – or a 83,289 Euro performance, depending on which side of the Irish sea you’re standing…

There is a saying in racing that “weight stops trains”, which probably used to be the case – although recent experience suggests that nowadays the cause is more likely to be industrial action or high winds…

Finally, this week, the answer to a question that I’m sure has been on your mind for ages: why is that there aren’t any famous Bulgarian jockeys?

While last week’s blog, about a potential new Starbucks in Kelso, hit the mark with some readers, perhaps it’s not surprising that others were less impressed. Among them was Jan Scott who left a message to huff, “What a load of rubbish! Nothing about racing at Kelso.”

In the time of King Charles, a few days after Christmas in Kelso, wise men came from the East, asking, “Where is the coffee shop? For we have observed that Starbucks has submitted a planning application and we have come to pay for one Flat White, a Mocca and a Latte – plus two toasties and one of those nice chocolate brownies please.”

There was a sense of déjà vu as Rath An Luir passed the post to win the final race at Kelso of 2023 – because he also won the final race in 2022.

Like all Thoroughbred horses, Rath An Luir will be celebrating his birthday on 1st January and, seeing as he’ll only be eleven years old, it may just be the start of a new tradition: Jools Holland at Hogmanay, New Year resolutions, and celebrations in the Kelso Winners Enclosure around Rath An Luir…

Imagine if there were no horseracing at Christmas, and no Christmas movies… how dull life would be.

Sometimes we all need a little help to get into the Christmas spirit. With ten days to go, I’ve yet to post a card, wrap a present or switch on a sparkly chain of lights.

Lucky, then, that last night I stopped at Asda, in Berwick-upon-Tweed, for a Festive Pot Noodle: just add boiling water for an instant Christmas…

It’s customary at this time of year to sing, dance, feast and make offerings to the gods. Just another day then, in the office at Kelso Racecourse…

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve told people to stop being so nesh about cold weather on racedays… “Sometimes they even race in the snow you know!”