Fortunately I have never had illusions about being a tipster – how could any semi-sane person believe they can accurately predict the outcome of a race? Sometimes one might strike it lucky – more by luck than good judgement – and this makes life interesting.

Unfortunately I have spent more time than usual studying Sunday’s Borrowdale Park card, so am now totally confused but continue to live in hopes of winning a decent Quartet.

The main race on Sunday is the 2000m Breeders Champion Cup (L) which has attracted a smallish but star-studded field. It includes a Castle Tankard winner, the winner of the 2018 Zimbabwe 2000 and the Zimbabwe Derby, as well as the Republic Cup winner, the recent Ipi Tombe Stakes winner, and Simona, who won the OK Grand Challenge and who keeps on winning most of the time.

I didn’t expect Simona to triumph in the recent Ipi Tombe Stakes but wouldn’t be surprised to see her back in the Number One box here. All of Knuckleball, Heir Line, Peggson and Amsterdam could upset this applecart – and give some thought to Pampas who has won four on the trot since moving to Harare.

This six-year-old Silvano (GER) gelding should be distance suited on Sunday and although stepping up in class might give some cheek.

Once one starts delving into weights, distances and previous form (we do have some in and out runners) most of Sunday’s racing appears tricky.

Perhaps the most difficult race on the card is the fifth – a 1600m MR 50 Handicap – where I am thinking about Wee Doch ‘n Dorris, Rebellious Queen, Crown Brewed and Supa Memories for a Quartet. But how can one leave out Baumgartner, and so on and so forth. Am I completely mad? There are 9 runners in this race.

It is a fairly late start for Borrowdale on Sunday with the first race due off at 12 45 pm. The Breeders Champion Cup takes place at 15 40.

Photograph by Andrew Philip