Lambourn Open Day and other matters

Huge crowds in Lambourn, and so good to see my old chum PBN fully recovered from the ghastly C and considerably more sprightly than myself. Good to see the huge affection that CONSTITUTION HILL is held in, and Tommo, who helped do the commentary, and Alice Plunket, who fought out a tie in the show-jumping against AP, and the Shetland Grand National team and and and… The day was relentless, the sun almost came out permanently, the rain almost stayed away entirely, Charlie Mann’s birthday in his Chinese Tent disguised as a Newcastle FC changing room was heaving, as was the more expensive Beer Tent. It was a day for running out of superlatives and breath, and the work of the LOD Supremo Mark Smyly cannot be overestimated and under-praised. When I know, I’ll let you know how much the team raised, all to make sure the air ambulance can afford to fly and that the stable lads and staff who keep the whole Lambourn show on the road have an affordable roof over their heads.

Huzzahs all round.