Great Yarmouth may have been a touch cold, and heavy underfoot but it didn't spoil a lovely day's racing at the Norfolk course. It was the racecourse's final meeting of the 2019 Turf season and it was a sad goodbye to the side-side track until next season.
Myself, cousin, Danny, and brothers Tony and Gareth traveled by train from March to Great Yarmouth deciding to have a night at Grosvenor Casino, which is always a great spot for a cheap meal in a beautiful setting of the listed building Shadingfield Lodge. It was a good evening. Danny won £100, while I had a small win. My brothers, after winning a decent amount, broke even.
We had a slight scare on the way back to the Nelson Hotel, no more than a hundred metres from the casino, arriving back about 1 am, to find the front door locked. After 10-minutes of ringing the doorbell, someone let us in. The hotel is great value and I do like the place, breakfast was decent and we departed about 11 am, walked along the front to the Pub On The Prom, where Danny met us about 10-minutes later.
After a quick pint (I had a larger shandy), we got one of Albie's Taxi cabs, which, thankfully sat outside.
We got dropped off at the Avenue Public House, which is about half a mile from the racecourse. That is a popular pitstop for racegoers before heading to the course.
As it happened, we had a cheap day at the races. Funnily, Tony and Gareth got VIP tickets because my beautiful Marlene, who is back in America, won two tickets for finishing in the Top 10 Best Dressed Ladies Competition. I had my annual membership, while Danny, who is a member of Huntingdon, got a free race day at the Norfolk venue. I had one complimentary ticket left so rather than let that go to waste, I accosted the first single man walking down Jellieco Road, to ask if he wanted to get into the course for free. The man in his 60s seemed a touch surprised if not edging on the side of caution. I think he imagined I was trying to sell him something or part of an elaborate scam. I said: ''Follow me, and we will get in for free!''.
He did, and we got in the course. The gentleman was thankful. I was just pleased to not let a ticket go to waste and to show that something good can happen on any given day. As the classic quote in the wonderful children's book penned by Roald Dahl goes: ''So shines a good deed in a weary world.'' (I wouldn't have parted with an ever-lasting gobstopper).
Anyway, let's get back to the Frankel filly trained by John Gosden.
The third race on the card: 2:50 Great Yarmouth. The British Stallions Studs EBF Fillies' Novice Stakes (Plus 10 Race).
Frankly Darling is a daughter of Frankel out of the mare Hidden Hope who won a Listed race at Chester. She was a very capable filly when trained by Geoff Wragg in a 9-race career. Her last five races all at Group 2/3, with a final trio of starts, saw placed efforts and concluding contest a head loss at Haydock. An official rating of 109 and total prize earnings of £80,138.
Frankly Darling looked well in her coast and walked around the paddock in a professional manner. Watching her gallop to the start, in the familiar silks of A E Oppenheimer, she looked a picture and a good-looking filly.
The 7/2 shot ran a sterling race on debut. She traveled well, touching odds-on in running, before being beaten by another debutant, Caballeta, in the ownership of Cheveley Park Stud Ltd.
Frankly Darling was beaten by one length, with Hugo Palmer's Combine in third.
Gosden's charge is a sure-fire winner and potentially smart horse.
Good luck to connections.
