EYES FIXED FOR THE LATE SHOW

Robert Cooper focuses on track action with some help from his optician

- By Robert Cooper

One Monday a month I dedicate a fair chunk of the day to composing this column; you will already be aware every full stop and semicolon is meticulously and painstakingly orchestrated - and, yes, I can hear you, 'so it's a shame about the content'.

As the Flat season reaches its conclusion this month is jam-packed with quality races, so I'll make an extra special effort.

However today my plans have come under severe strain. For starters, our local electricity supply has been cut off until dusk in a premeditated attempt to undertake 'essential work' to reduce the amount of power cuts we suffer during the year. If all goes to plan, all well and good, but I have received a supplementary welter burden from life's handicapper. A couple of months ago I experienced (and actually quite enjoyed) a couple of cataract operations - my eyes were dim and I'd lost my eagle-like sharp focus. Just think, back in the day, that would be it -curtains, where's my monocle? I'm glad to report all went swimmingly.

The downside of this procedure is that my existing prescription spectacles are now redundant being far too powerful, so I've been rootling through boxes of long defunct frames and lenses to find a pair to tide me over until my latest prescription is ready. The only pair to do the job are very dark sunglasses; luckily the sun has been blazing so I haven't looked that weird shuffling round Aldi resembling a latter day Roy Orbison. Conversely, today is dull and stormy, as I lean perilously close to my keyboard, heavily shaded in an attempt to fulfil my monthly mission.