Blimey, I felt rough a few days ago. I was given a flu vaccination but it had an adverse reaction and meant I was laid up for a while.

The whole experience was awful, but I don't know what was worse: feeling so ill or having to sit in front of daytime television - there's only so much Richard and Judy you can take.

Apparently it was an annual jab to prevent me getting flu, but I hope I don't have to go through that every year.

Worst of all, it caused me to miss five days' work and helped put back the estimated date of my first race, which is now more likely to be in early August.

Talking of racing, I had my first go in some starting stalls the other day - and when I thought no-one was watching I began mimicking Richard O'Sullivan and ran through the commentary as I pretended I was lining up in a big race.

"There goes the favourite, Evening Press, ready to burst out the stalls like lightning in this the 2002 Vodafone Derby... and they're off..."

Unfortunately, some of the older horses saw and laughed at me for being so excitable - but don't worry, I got my own back on Wednesday when I made them look like gullible fools.

You see, York City FC launched their new strip, which has my name emblazoned across the front, and I told them all that I had sponsored the club this season - and the idiots believed me.

The problem now is that they were so taken in by the ruse that I haven't had the heart to tell them it's the newspaper, not me, who has sponsored the club.

Anyway, best go. I've got to trot off to the bookies to put a fiver on my half-brother, Kestral, winning at Beverley tonight.

He's also trained by my trainer, Tim Etherington, and has already won three times this season, including the Carlisle Bell at Thirsk last week.

Indeed, he's in such good form that the Evening Press's top tipster, Tom O'Ryan, reckons he could well win this evening in the £10,000 William Jackson's 150th Anniversary Handicap, scheduled for 7.45pm.

Regards,

Evening Press

Updated: 13:09 Friday, July 06, 2001