IT WAS a freezing cold dull March morning when I left Hambleton with Kevin Ryan at 6.30am Monday morning along with jockeys Fergal Lynch, Iona Wands and Mark Bird.

The horse box had already left at 5.30am, destination Southwell racecourse with Lincolnshire entries Gralmano and Robzelda, as well as Eastern Purple and Cool Prospect.

Gralmano and Robzelda had a racecourse gallop along with Dandy Nicholls Lincolnshire favourite Tayseer. Franny Norton was jocked up on Tayseer. Franny weighs 7st 10lb and Fergal Lynch was riding Gralmano. Fergal weighs 8st 7lb, a difference of 11lbs for a two lengths beating.

If it had been a handicap like the Lincolnshire, Gralmano would have been receiving 10lbs. Robzelda was only a length away third. Gralmano and Tayseer are both entered for the Wolverhampton Lincoln trial on Saturday, but with all-weather handicaps different from the Turf ratings, Gralmano will have a great chance to win this Scoop Six race on Channel 4. He was only 80 per cent fit when he won at Wolverhampton two weeks ago. Eastern Purple, who won a Group Three race for Kevin Ryan last season, looks better than I have ever seen him and had a tremendous gallop.

He is going to run at Doncaster two weeks on Saturday which is Lincolnshire day in the six furlong listed race.

On that same day, March 25, I'll miss Doncaster and will be at the World Cup in Dubai with one of the highlights to my visit being shown round the Godolphin set-up.

Have a good week.

TIPS FOR THE WEEK

Lingfield (Wednesday): License to Kill (Nap)

Lingfield (Wednesday): Grand View

Carlisle (Thursday): Stash The Cash (Nap)

Carlisle (Thursday): Robbo

Ayr (Friday): The Eens (Nap)

Wolverhampton (Saturday): Gralmano (Nap)

Wolverhamtpon (Saturday): Daawe

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.