IT’S almost that time of year again where the foolish amongst us look to make resolutions for the year ahead.

As we all know, such optimistic goal-setting is doomed to failure precisely one week into the new year, or when the chastening effects of over-consumption have worn off. I’m more of a wish-list sort of fella, as that requires no great effort on my part, and a bit of wishing every day never hurts, or at least a lot less than a visit to the gym.

I realised as I started to prepare my latest list that the process seemed oddly familiar, and it transpires that I did much the same at this time 12 months ago, with the added bonus of committing it to print in this august journal.

How did things pan out last time, I wonder…

Not well is the unfortunate answer, but in an attempt to purge myself from the unfortunate memories, I’ll detail the catalogue of misfortune here:

1. No more steroids – Fail

A very personal one, this, as my son Felix has been heavily reliant on steroids to combat nephrotic syndrome. I hoped that he might stay in remission in 2018, but it appears that he’s always destined to relapse when the drugs are withdrawn, and that means finally saying goodbye to the steroids, but only to try a new medication, which is better known for its use in cattle wormers, or for cutting cocaine. Gulp.

On the bright side, and I think it’s important to look on the bright side when all you’ve wished for has turned to crud, Felix is a beautiful, happy, healthy boy who loves life, and aside from the fact that his pee could be marketed as a chemical weapon, he’s none the worse for his condition, and long may that be the case.

2. Watch racing more

efficiently – Fail

In fairness, a brand new telly and a brand new RacingUK subscription promised much for my prospects of spending my afternoons watching racing and making copious notes, but it didn’t really happen, and having two small children around the house means that racing tends to take a back seat to Netflix or YouTube.

I’m not entirely sure what the appeal is in watching other children play with toys rather than doing the playing yourself, but it’s definitely a thing, and I wish I’d worked it out a couple of years ago, so I could be making those videos and raking in millions rather than being forced to watch them.

I used to have almost instant recall of every big-race winner, but now I need to type “Derby wiki” into my taskbar to find out who won at Epsom in June (it says Masar, but that’s not ringing any bells).

On the plus side, I feel I could go on Mastermind next week with ‘Transformers - Rescue Bots’ as my specialist subject and do pretty well.

3. Convince Colin Tizzard to run

Fox Norton in the Champion

Chase – Fail

A spectacular fail here, with poor old Fox Norton so terrified about the idea of facing Altior again that he’s gone into hiding, and hasn’t been seen near a racecourse since his unfortunate attempt to prove himself a three-miler in the King George a year ago.

Looking on the bright side, I didn’t say which Champion Chase, so 2019 will do just as well, I suppose.

4. Stop Apple’s Jade wasting her

talent in the Mares’ Hurdle –

Fail.

Hope springs eternal, and while Apple’s Jade was sent down the unwanted path a year ago, she is a different proposition this time round, and I have backed my belief in her as a potential champion hurdler with hard cash this time.

It’s ironic that she should perform so far below her best at Cheltenham last March, but training difficulties have stopped her showing how awesome she can be. That wasn’t the case in the Hatton’s Grace Hurdle recently, and hopefully she will be given the chance to tackle two miles in the Irish Champion by means of a warm-up for the Festival.

If she does there what I think she can, then there will be pressure to be bolder than last year.

Last year was an anti-climax, but on the bright side, this wonderful mare is a better hurdler than Samcro, and connections have plenty of time to realise it.