The first date and target is here, with the plan to be a net loss of 14lbs since Valentine's Day to today - the day of the Cheltenham Gold Cup.
It's 5.30am and before I leave for Cheltenham I have to accept that there is no chance that I will ever get down to the weight of a Ruby Walsh or a Tony McCoy as their horses in today's Cheltenham Gold Cup race will carry a maximum of about 11stone 10lbs, and that includes the saddle!
My own target has, to use a racing term "will take some getting, in terms of the going and the trip". With this jockey traditionally putting up a few more that a couple of pounds overweight, and with the handicapper setting me a stiff task, getting up the Cheltenham Hill, will be no easy task.
Form is always a guide on these occasions, and a winning horse will normally have a few wins behind them when going into a championship race like this. This old cart horse has posted some good results in the last few weeks with an aggregate 19lb loss since mid February.
My challenge was to be 14lbs less today than when I started, and my reward will be an assault, alongside the fanatical Irish punters on the Desert Orchid Bar in the Best Mate Enclosure at Cheltenham. There will be no crowd roar, as I fight my way to the Guinness bar - if, and only if, the 14lb target has been achieved.
The news is that with all bets off the aggregate loss as of today is a sustained loss of 20lbs to date, just short of the stone and a half mark.
That's only a 1lb loss this week, put down to a quieter week at home, less exercise (whilst watching racing on TV) and the CAMRA AGM, where it would be bad manners not to sink a few pints of real ale.
A loss is a loss and target one is complete, with 6lbs to spare. The bets are on - Imperial Commander and My Will each way - if, and only if Kauto Star and Denman are struck by lightening.
I think I'm allowed a few pints of the Irish stuff to celebrate!!
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