Getting right into the zone now

I’m not in the mood, Blog.  Leave it, alright.  Let me get on with it.  I’m doing my thing today and I’m doing just fine.

I’m sitting at my desk, on my own, ‘White Noise’ by Disclosure, blaring around the room.  I’m acutely aware and in touch with how I feel in this moment.  Head down.  Charge.  Don’t stand in my way.  Just desperately trying to channel all of this energy pouring, in and out of me, into the right direction.

The nerves don’t go.  Each year I think it will be easier, but the pain is here again, and it’s as strong as ever.  I will be unbearable until I’m on the pitch and we’re cracking away on the first.  As the tapes go up for the Supreme Novices all the nervous energy drains away.  It’s happening then and nothing can stop it.

March, and it’s really the culmination of the year.  This is our show and it matters so much.  19 preview evenings, for Christ’s sake.  We perform now.  Everything’s flashing through my mind;  Calling Mick as they go off, for each race, to see what we’ve laid in the office.  The ‘Dark Knight’ in action, absolutely hammering into me, for four days in a row.  The Ladbrokes rep firing.  New faces coming towards me.  Horses we will overlay and have to stand for fortunes.  Ignoring fear.  Favourites we won’t quite get our ‘whack’ out of, getting beat.  Looking at Gary and knowing that we have come so far, and that it’s too late to turn back, not just at Cheltenham, but in so many other ways now.  Cross words around the pitch when the computer starts to play up.  Shouting the prices out, with Lofty in my ear, pushing me on.  The Irish books betting to bad figures all around me.  Pushing Luke to his absolute limit.  ‘More punters, Lukey.  There are more punters here for you to pull.  Feed me, Lukey.  I need more’.  It’s all to come…

Good luck to one and all.  If you’re a bookie; attack the punters like never before.  Get the bit between your teeth, march on, and get stuck into those favourites.  It’s all about the first two days – you know that.  And if you’re a punter, a little rascal grafting in the betting shops; make those silly corporates pay for all of these idiotic concessions.  Hammer your edge right the way home.

This is the big one, guys.  We’re all ready and there won’t be any excuses will there, now?  Let’s make it count.

B x