SNOW is fine on Christmas cards but the softer the ground the better for me this week, so I am hoping for more rain please.

At Lingfield today amateur jockey Carol Williams was scheduled to ride Another Nightmare (12.20pm) and trainer and farmer David Barker tells me Carol rides this horse better than any professional jockey. She gets on so well with her charge and he is going well at home.

Richard Fahey's Big Al should win the 1.30pm at Catterick on Thursday but do take an early price as I hear there will be a stable gamble on him.

My nap of the week goes at Sandown on Saturday in the 3.40pm when Kevin Ryan takes Damien's Choice to be ridden by Derek Byrne. He will be dropped right out the back during the race, but this is a much better horse than his rating and he certainly has a good five gears.

Also on Saturday at Sandown, Jonjo O'Neill has an excellent handler in Clifton Fox who on his flat form should take all the beating. My final selection of the week goes at Haydock, again on Saturday. Jemaro with Gary Lyons on board is a very much improved horse over the larger obstacles and you should get a decent price.

Have a good week.

Today - (Lingfield) Another Nightmare (nap)

Thursday - (Catterick) Big Al (nap)

Thursday - (Catterick) Key Grip (e/w)

Friday - (No selection)

Saturday - (Sandown) Damiens Choice (e/w nap)

Saturday - (Sandown) Clifton Fox

Saturday - (Haydock) Jemaro (e/w)

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