IT IS that time of year when you have to decide what is going to the sales to make way for new faces.

Pride of Whalley and Ribble Princess are off to the mares sales at the end of October held at Doncaster.

Pride of Whalley's yearling by Noble Patriarch is off to the yearling sales on October 9, also at Doncaster.

Ribble Assembly, Lady Iona and Saffizz are also entered in the horses in training sales at Doncaster, with Swan at Whalley retired that is a complete clear out, but I have my eye on a couple of yearlings to race next year.

I had a visit last Thursday from my old friend Jack Berry MBE and his wife Jo.

I think we all had too much to drink, but it was a great night. I can see Jack and Jo moving to Yorkshire when he retires at the end of this season, I also think he's a safe bet for his Knighthood in the New Year's Honours or should I say Millennium Honours list.

He is writing a new book called One To Go.

Ribble Assembly runs at Hexham on Friday over the hurdles for the first time, he has schooled as if he is a natural, the going should also be to his liking and I am hoping for a very big run from him. Unfortunately I will not be at Hexham to watch him as I am at Whalley for the weekend but I'll find a betting shop to watch him.

The heavy rain we have had has caused some surprise results, but as my late bookmaker father used to say at the end of September and October he used to make his biggest profits so bet very carefully, and look for the horses who have form on soft ground.

At Newcastle on Wednesday Dandy Nicholls runs Daawe in the sprint, even with seven pounds extra he could pop in again. In the sprint race on Channel 4 at Newmarket on Thursday, Flanders of Tim Easterby's should be there or thereabouts. At Hereford on Thursday I have had a good word for both Honey Mount and Newscaster.

At Newmarket on Friday Khibrah is still improving and Frankie Dettori should win the 2.05 for Godolphin on Sea Wave. Finally at Hexham on Friday Nigel Twiston-Davies should pull a double off with Damp Course and Prancing Blade. He could also take the final race a National Hunt flat race with Big Trouble.

Have a good week.

Wednesday (Newcastle) Daawe (Nap)

Thursday (Newmarket) Flanders (Nap)

Thursday (Hereford) Honey Mount

Friday (Newmarket) Khibrah (Nap)

Friday (Hexham) Damp Course

Friday (Hexham) Prancing Blade

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.