PETER THOMAS

Weblog:  Wandering the world wide web

A morning on HQ's new heated all-weather gallop

I WENT to see Rae Guest yesterday, in Newmarket, in January, which was weird, a bit like having brussels sprouts when it's not Christmas, only it doesn't make you feel sick.

It was snowing, which you sort of expect when you go to Hexham, or even Meribel, but when you go to Newmarket you imagine it must be the middle of the Flat season, which admittedly in that part of the world still means it'll probably be -20 degrees with wind chill, but at least it won't be snowing.

Rae (as you can read in Wednesday's Post) was a considerate host. A lot of trainers will insist you join them for first lot, which to therest of the world means about 6.45am, just to make sure you're as miserable as they are when you arrive, but he gave me the option of 9am or 11am instead.

I still opted for first lot, to miss the traffic in the Blackwall tunnel. You'dbe surprised how many people are already on the road by 5.30am. I often wonder what they're doing. Are they high-powered executives on their way to a power breakfast, cleaners off to clean the executives' offices, clubbers driving while addled on Ecstasyand Red Bull, or serial killers on their way home from dumping a dismembered body in the local quarry (sorry, I watched that Lynda La Plante thing on ITV last night)? Surely they can't all be half-awake hacks on their way to Newmarket.

I wondered if Rae had offered me 9am or 11am to give himself a lie-in, and whether he might be a bit grumpy as a result, but he showed there were no hard feelings by allowing us both to watch the gallops while sitting in his Mercedes, rather than traipsing across the heath. I told him I'd forgotten my hat. He said if I lived in Newmarket I'd never forget my hat. He did roll down the car window, which was a bit draughty but a lot better than the alternative.

As you may know, all Newmarket trainers drive Mercedes, which they receive as part of their NTF Trainer's Starter Pack when they get their licence. The sure way to tell which ones are making it pay is not to look at the make or model of the car but the mileage. Rae's has done 157,000 miles, which means he's doing okay but could do with a big winner before his big end goes. I think Sir Michael Stoute gets a new motor every six weeks or when the mileage goes above 300, whichever happens first.

I spoke to Rae again today and he reports that it's not snowing any more but it was -8C this morning. The stewards have apparently called a precautionary inspection for the Craven meeting.