MOST readers would no doubt agree that the current heatwave is wonderful, but it is creating challenges for the ground staff at Chepstow and our new sister course at Ffos Las, near Llanelli.

With hardly a drop of rain for weeks, the courses are being heavily watered on a daily basis to maintain safe racing ground. Both tracks have fixtures this Friday.

It is particularly tough at Ffos Las where our hardworking grounds team are watering two courses used for jump racing while also watering the track used for flat racing, which takes place on July 24th.

As much as I love these soaring temperatures, a couple of nights of heavy rain would be perfect.

Sometimes I do think I can’t win. On December 27th last year, the date of the 2017 Coral Welsh Grand National, I was knee deep in flood water after days of torrential downpours.

Managing a racecourse is rewarding the vast majority of the time but on rare occasions it can be frustrating.

The World Cup is understandably dominating the sporting headlines at the moment and, as is always the case, it is having a detrimental impact on attendance at racecourses – and many other entertainment businesses. But as one door closes another one often opens. If England reach the final this Sunday, we’ll have a big screen showing the game at the racecourse.

Details will be posted on our website and social media, if Gareth Southgate’s men overcome Croatia on Wednesday evening.

Last weekend I was fortunate to attend the 2018 South Wales Point to Point Awards Dinner.

The event recognises the horses and riders who have risen to the top of their sport.

Jockey Bradley Gibbs won three awards and up and coming rider Connor Brace picked up two awards.

Connor is the grandson of David Brace, the chairman and founder of the Dunraven Group of companies based at Pyle near Bridgend.

Mr Brace senior, who received an OBE in 2013, collected the John Ayres Special Recognition Award at the weekend’s ceremony for his contribution to point to point racing across South Wales.

He’ll have plenty of enjoyment watching Connor’s career develop because his grandson has just joined the successful jump racing yard of trainer Fergal O’Brien in Gloucestershire.

Chepstow’s race meeting this Friday is Ladies Evening with seven races starting at 5.35pm. Radio One presenter Scott Mills will be playing a DJ set after racing.