Among the daffodils

I've got one eye on the US Masters and the heavenly Augusta National golf course and another on Alamshar, who keeps threatening to jump on the keyboard of my laptop.

I don't know if I have the energy to type up all the events of the weekend but here are the good points in a nutshell smaller than the pub in Bury: daffodil weekend in Thriplow, sheepdog trials, morris dancers,the Comberton Hop, vintage tractors, 99s from the ice-cream van, Suze's flapjacks, watching Polychrome and Imperial Decree gallop (pictured), seeing Bilkie happy as larry in his new home, my niece Madness almost saying my name, Anthony staying, lots of features for the Racing Post next week, taking part in the Great Leighs trials, the aforementioned Masters, chocolate biscuits from our new neighbours and, as always, riding Panto.

And the one bit of dreadful news that has spoiled an otherwise lovely weekend is that By Storm was killed in a race. She left here last summer after being sold to Jo Foster at the July Sale. She put in a few reasonable runs over hurdles and was, I gather, travelling well in third place when she fell three from home last Sunday, never to rise again. A sad and horribly untimely end for a sweet little horse that we had the privilege to have here in her first three years in training. May she rest in peace.