Bagpuss

Some serious talent in that list.

Lastest episode of the Pride of the East Podcast including a chat with Cooper Rushen: Apologies for the sound quality my end, was trying out a new headset and suffice to say I'll be going back to the usual one next week!

Clouds of dust and a blue groove just aren't acceptable, any track serving that up (however good the racing) needs to do better I'm afraid.

Oxford that good or Plymouth that bad?

Comfy home win.

Fricke said after the meeting that it's s big change for him and he's getting used to things, I remember him making a slow start at Leicester a couple of years ago so I have no concerns, he'll be fine. Kvech has been excellent at the AFA since his very first meeting but is struggling to find the set up on what is at the moment an unusually slick Lynn track, he'll be fine too. The reserves were much better last night and I expect them to carry on in that vein, they both have so much potential.

Thought Northampton rode well tonight, although with twelve last places they were never realistically in with a shout. The racing was much better than last week although the track is still a bit too slick and dry and the starts need to be grippier as at the moment its too easy for opposing riders to make good starts and clear off, need a little more dirt to give a bit more home advantage. Lynn reserves well worth their combined paid 12 and the middle order were excellent, just need to get Fricke & Kvech going properly now, one win between them way below what they should be and will be producing before long. Both seemed to be chasing the set up tonight. Sheffield next Monday will be a huge test.

They certainly are in kevs although there are several different shades of blue among them!

I was thinking more about the results of their first two home meetings if the group is already decided after their two away matches this week. A cynical view I know but a couple of home wins would do them wonders. Unless of course they can get something at Lynn or Ippo this week.......

Perhaps Lynn & Ipswich will 'help them out' with the two cup meetings at Brafield.

I'm a gardener you lemon 😂 FWIW if there was still grass in the middle at Lynn I don't imagine that would get cut every week either!

It makes you come across as bitter and jealous. No doubt the Monarchs have paid all their top riders over the years with magic beans 😂

Yes sir we've already established that and I've taken back what I said when it was pointed out, do keep up.

I've never known anybody to be as obsessed about other people's money as you.

Reid Battye 👀

Yep if its too wet then absolutely fair enough. Its a general bug bear of mine, especially when Elite League/Premiership meetings were live on national TV and tufts of long grass were poking out all over the bends and near the starting gate! Looks so amateur.

Mine was fine on the telly up until heat 12 when it crashed and I couldn't get the web page to refresh, so watched the last three heats on my phone.

There were some excellent races but also a lot of strung out heats, feel that the venue would benefit massively from floodlights so the track guys aren't battling with the wind AND the sun. The shape is amazing and I don't think the circuit has fulfilled its potential yet.

A minor gripe but yet another track who doesn’t mow their centre green before being live on the TV/stream. Such an easy way to make the place look much neater and tidier.

It's called having an opinion.

I think Leicester and Ipswich have every chance with their solid line ups, however like Lynn last year an injury to a key team member has the potential to hurt them significantly. Looks like an interesting season ahead.

That's one hell of a win for Leicester, fair play. Maybe Sheffield winning the lot at a canter needs a rethink?

Gated twice and didn't gate twice, simple as that.

The Pride of the East podcast post mortem:

Poole fortunate that Riss is unavailable.