Well its with a heavy heart and pen (virtual…well you know what I mean), that after two and a half years of doing the Donkey Diary, my time has come to move aside and allow someone else the chance to build that daily rapport with Donkeyites.

I have had a blast writing the Diary, I have enjoyed your feedback, well the positive stuff at least and have developed a close affinity with some readers, with whom I have enjoyed sharing the highs and lows of our laying lives.

There have been some awful moments and I would dread penning a journal when we had put up a 33/1 rag only to see it sluice in. However, there have been some classic moments when we put up some “shorties”, to see them toil later in the day.

I thought we were going to sign off with a perfect day, only for Autumn Blades to return to winning ways, by collecting the last at Lingfield and foil our plans.

I leave the Diary in excellent hands and it will be returning in the New Year with a different body behind the pen as such.

Thanks for the opportunity to communicate my rarely “water weak”, views and much continued success in your laying exploits.

All the best,

Don

Don

Devon Handler, Nick Williams, has had the most remarkable few days,  two Grade 1’s in quick succession, courtesy of Me Voici and Reve de Sivola to break his top-flight duck and then his form continues with the success of Ere Alfie at Taunton, enough to make Donkeyite’s eyes water at 100/30 and bigger on the machine.

A quirky character, one that seems to have heaps of humility, Williams has obvious talent and patience in abundance, two obvious and vital character advantages in a National Hunt trainer. His star will continue in the ascendancy.

Ere Alfie, performing back to back victories was winning off a career high mark, having been upped eleven pounds for winning a very ordinary looking handicap chase last time out. There were those in this novice handicap field that looked to have been leniently treated by the handicapper, while the winner looked to have been dealt the short straw.

Not a bit of it, the Williams juggernaut has continued in a rich vein, with this win and in so doing, condemned Donkeyites to the most ignominous of results over the Festive period.

Tomorrow will be my last Diary entry, I will revert to more pressing tasks on the selection side and trust that matters willl improve there.

Don

Don