Senior moment

I used to be quite keen on jogging, working on the theory that you add a minute to your life for every mile run. My enthusiasm weakened after a TV colleague pointed out that the net result of my endeavours would be an extra six months in the nursing home in my eighties at £4,000 a month. But the benefits of continued exercise, at least for those with four legs, were evident soon after 2.45 p.m. last Saturday when six game old boys came to the second last at Newbury virtually in a line, all bursting with vim and vigour and in with a chance of the prize.

Putting together a racecard to attract the punters so close to the Cheltenham Festival isn’t easy with most of the best horses kept at home, wrapped in cotton wool and their trainers’ prayers, and the punters themselves anxious to save up a few bob for their biggest punting week of the year.