`MR DANDY` AND THE 3 O`CLOCK AT HEXHAM

MONDAY 8TH MAY, 2006.

Back to the Centurion Inn for an early start, and a distinct change in the weather. Even by 9.00 am the mosquito`s were biting, and the swamp toads mating. Clearly sun cream was to be the order of the day, and of course, a sensible hat for the follically challenged. For Dave and Nick that meant cool `bermuda peaked` caps. For me, a woollen army and navy stores hat would have to do. Eastward and now noticeably upward, we pressed on into the rising sun, admiring the wonderful rolling countryside that fell away below us, and regretting last night`s poetry session in The Howard Arms. At Banks on the side of Hare Hill, we came upon the first significant and restored remains of the original Roman Wall, and searched in vain for the initials left behind by one of the Roman stone masons. I concluded they were probably dislexic. Would they have been given `extra time`, because of their learning difficulty,to complete their stretch of the wall by a liberal minded `gang master`?

With the Vallum,Roman Turf Ditch,Roman Bridges and Roman Wall now increasingly in view, you would expect a full-on Roman discourse between the walkers. But a brief pause for supplies at The Samson in Gilsland put a dramatic stop to all of that; we had stumbled on a rich seam of horseracing bedrock, that would not only pay for our trip, but would triple the charity donation we were hoping to make. What luck ! A casual conversation with what I shall only refer to as `an insider`and now `un bon ami` who`d become overwhelmed by our friendliness (and the drinks we bought him) , gave us clear information on a dead cert winner. That coming Saturday, `Mr Dandy` (I change the name for tax purposes) would run in the 3 o`clock at Hexham, and what`s more it would win. It`s jockey had said as much, just before he `accidentally` fell off twenty lengths in the lead at its last outing. He would `stay on` in more ways than one at Hexham, and at big odds because of its lack of form, there was money to be won. We left the pub determined to keep these diamonds to ourselves. When we eventually dragged into the excellent Grey Bull B and B in Haltwhistle we met up with Mike, who`d boated up from the Derbyshire Wolds to join us. "Hey Mike, have we got news for you !". Several drinks later that night, most of Haltwhistle was threatening to run with our tip. "But remember," said Dave as he addressed the pub, "don`t tell anybody else."

That night as I checked my digital (camera) , I chanced upon this shot of a two-headed sheep, taken on the ridge as we`d climbed away from The Samson, earlier that day. Could this be an omen ? How far was it to Hexham ?