Unstable Life

White out

2012-02-10T03:31:00.001-08:00

We've been under snow since Saturday night and a further sustained snow shower on Thursday refreshed the Heath and provided an absolutely glorious Friday morning in Newmarket. It has to be said that the heath men employed by the Jockey Club Estates do a really excellent job for the trainers in this town all year round but during cold snaps such as this their workload is increased hugely. We are immensely grateful to them for gritting the roads and horsewalks and keeping the canters open with extra harrowing. We're really fortunate not to have missed a day's exercise with the horses, even in the bleak midwinter. Here are a few shots from this morning:

John and Hugh are silhouetted on Long Hill as they take Silken Thoughts and Ruby In The Dust for a spin.

Gina Bryce paid us another visit in her build-up to the St Patrick's Day Derby at the Cheltenham Festival. She's seen here with Alcalde on the Long Hill canter.

Three of James Fanshawe's string in action.

Here's our team trotting home in an orderly fashion after their canter. Hugh is leading on Silken Thoughts, followed by Terri and Karma Chameleon, Martin and Asterisk, Gina and Alcalde, Hannah and Sail Past, with the trainer as outrider with Ruby pretending to be a very good hack.

Now the new year can begin

2012-02-05T07:28:00.000-08:00

January is the most hateful month of the year but this one hasn't been too bad because I was lucky enough to be invited by Chris McGrath to join his ski trip to Champoluc, and then John and I finished the month with two days in Normandy touring stallions studs on 'La route des etalons'.

It has to be said that my skiing gets worse every time I go. I may well have hung up my skis for good after the latest pathetic effort but the 18 people I went with to Italy made it such good fun that I'll no doubt be revising that decision come next January. Racenews did without one of its directors for the week as Ed Prosser (seen here in action) took to the slopes, along with his younger brother Jeremy. Alarmingly Ed and I had matching ski outfits and managed a few runs of synchronised snow-plough just to maximise the effect.

In France we managed to see John's mare Minnie's Mystery and her very strong yearling filly by Gold Away (pictured). They both board at Sylvain and Elisabeth Vidal's Haras de la Cauviniere, which stands Le Havre and Air Chief Marshall. Minnie is due to foal to Le Havre in April.

We also visited Haras d'Etreham to see Saint Des Saints, Poliglote, Wootton Bassett, Falco, Silver Frost and American Post; Haras de Colleville, the home of France's leading first-season sire for 2011, Kendargent; and Haras du Quesnay, where Gold Aways stands alongside Fuisse, Dunkerque, Mister Sidney, Kentucky Dynamite, and Minnie's mate for this year, the lovely Youmzain.

The second day of the tour took us to Haras de la Reboursiere et de Montaigu, home to Martaline, Literato, Archange d'Or, Astronomer Royal and Turtle Bowl, who has to be to the best looking stallion in France. From there we went to the nearby Haras du Pin (one of the French National Studs) to see Croco Rouge, Montmartre and the elderly Sleeping Car. Also on Sunday's list was Haras du Mézéray, which stands Naaqoos, Whipper, Myboycharlie and Muhtathir.

The last week has provided plenty of opportunities for stallion-viewing as the TBA held its annual parade ahead of the Tattersalls February Sale on Thursday. Of most interest to this stable was Lanwades Stud resident Archipenko, who kicked off the parade and looked tremendous.

Desiree, who should produce a Schiaparelli foal mid-March, is booked to Archipenko this year. Her first foal Oscar Bernadotte (Sulamani) is now in serious work and his trainer has promised me he will win this year. Music to my ears, of course, but I'm still bracing myself for disappointment, as it is always wise to do where horses are involved.

Hugh rides Oscar most days but he allowed Gina Bryce to ride him in a gallop on Wednesday and the following day Gina was back with an At The Races film crew, which was recording her training for the St Patrick's Day Derby at the Cheltenham Festival. Hugh was glad to be back on Oscar for a piece of work on Saturday morning, which was cold and frosty but beautiful. Here's Hugh and Oscar leading Hannah on Sail Past and Jamie on Ruby In The Dust past the lonely-looking Rowley Mile grandstand.

We have a new addition to the team following the February Sale: Simayill, a four-year-old filly by Oasis Dream, who was bred by Gina's parents Melba and Colin at their Laundry Cottage Stud. She's a filly with plenty of presence, who has already won for Clive Brittain, so let's hope she can build on the promise she has shown. We also bought Gift Of Silence, who was in training here as a two-year-old but was offered for sale by her breeder. She's a lovely daughter of Cadeaux Genereux who has been encouraging enough in her early work for John to consider taking a chance on keeping her in training.

We have a really nice team of horses for 2012. Karma Chameleon has started the year well for the stable and we hope that plenty of his fellow residents will be adding their names to the score sheet in the months to come. With Newmarket presently covered in snow, it's hard to imagine that the Flat season is not far away but it's only just over two months to the Craven meeting and though there's plenty of fun to be had before then I can't wait until HQ swings back into action.

From Kadouchski to Kauto Star

2012-01-06T23:17:00.000-08:00

I’d been meaning to write an end-of-year review but with quite a few runners and the team on holiday over Christmas I never really got round to it. So belatedly, here are a few thoughts on last year and on the year ahead.

I’m pleased to report that the stable finished 2011 with its best ever tally of winners: 16. Enormous thanks must go to all the owners who have continued to support John throughout some difficult economic times for everybody and to the new owners who have joined us in the last few years. Thanks also to Hugh, Terri and Hannah for their hard work every day and the riders who come in at different times to help us out: Iva, Sara, Gemma, Aisling, Denis, Sarah, Jamie, Will for all his brilliant schooling, and Steve for his sterling efforts on the ground. Most of all though, we have the horses to thank. They are why we all do it and just having them around makes each day worth living.

The highlights of 2011 include Rhythm Stick getting his four-timer at Folkestone. Having looked beaten round the home turn he kept grinding away up the straight and eventually won fairly easily. It was very sad to to lose him at the horses-in-training sale but we wish him the very best of luck at his new stable in Saudi Arabia.

Silken Thoughts becoming a dual winner was also special. She’s a beautiful filly who has always done everything right since she arrived here as a yearling. I hope and expect to see more from her this year as a four-year-old.

Douchkirk (Frankie) winning his bumper first time out at Stratford made for a really exciting evening in May. As dusk fell, funny little Frankie with his big strong blaze and spooky wall eye, stepped out onto the track, none of us really knowing what to expect from him but just hoping he’d show some of the resolution of his big brother Kadouchski, and boy did he ever. Watchers of the race video can see Ken Gibbs and me jumping up and down (and probably even hear us screaming) next to the rail as he came storming in for home, going farther and farther clear of his pursuers. It was so rewarding to see Frankie, who had come here as a very green two-year-old, finally come of age and become a racehorse. Here’s to some hurdling success for him and the Beverley Hillbillies syndicate this year.

In October we took charge of a game Haafhd two-year-old by the name of Karma Chameleon for EERC, a successful racing club in Dubai. His four runs for the stable to date have garnered three wins and a second, with his hat-trick coming in the last two weeks of the year to see the stable finish 2011 with a flourish. He’s barely 15hh and has the nicest manners so he’s very quickly become a favourite with everybody.

I shouldn’t really give my nominal prize for Horse of the Year to one of our own but I’m afraid I have to because for me the horse who gave us the most amount of fun in 2011 was Kadouchski.

But when one considers that he won a nice hurdle race at Sandown in February (with Claude and Anthony in attendance, making it even more special) then won on the flat all-weather with Rab Havlin, then gave Hannah her first ever win on the turf at Folkestone, then gave the trainer his proudest day in the saddle when the pair of them won the 342nd running of the Newmarket Town Plate (by 25 lengths), then ran creditably to be placed three times over fences which really are perhaps just too big for him, I think you’ll agree that it has to be Kadouchski, his 2011 figures standing at 16 runs for 4 wins and 9 places.

Life in a racing stable is mostly about nurturing young talent so there are always horses that we’re getting slowly excited about that the rest of the world hasn't heard about yet. And that doesn’t mean that they are going to come out all guns blazing and win a maiden on their first start but it means that over the months you are seeing something slowly change in the horse, something that tells you they are going to be alright one day.

For that reason I am really looking forward to last season’s two-year-olds starting to make names for themselves this season at three. Zarosa is not yet back from her break but she has really strengthened up while she’s been away and I believe she’s a horse to look forward to. The same can be said for Grand Liaison, Wasabi and Batgirl’s half-sister Sail Past.

From a very personal point of view I hope that this might be the year that my first homebred Oscar Bernadotte might make his bumper debut. Hugh, his daily rider, is starting to make cautiously encouraging noises, so let’s hope he continues to move in the right direction. The same can be said for Ruby In The Dust, a year older, still small but still trying. She really should have been called Lily Berry after a character in one of my favourite novels The Hotel New Hampshire. Lily was always trying to grow.

We’ve broken in three yearlings through the winter: a nice Tiger Hill filly called Purrfect, a very good-looking son of Nayef, whom I believe is to be called Many Levels, and John’s own Lawman gelding Roy Rocket. The only one waiting in the wings is Jack Irish, who will be put through his early paces in the coming months.

Yesterday saw the arrival of another very good-looking horse, a five-year-old mare named Nurai. She has been sent to us by Kenny Snell and we’re very pleased to have her. She has already won a race for Paul d’Arcy and let’s hope there’s more to come.

I can’t close without mentioning two of what will certainly become all-time great horses: Frankel and Kauto Star.

Throughout last spring and summer my return to riding was made even sweeter by the treat of passing Frankel most mornings on the Heath. Always at the front of Sir Henry’s string alongside his brother Bullet Train, Frankel is a pleasure to see at such close quarters and the fact that he remains in training is already one of the best things about 2012. I know that when he is talked about in 20 or 30 years it will be in the same reverential manner that is reserved for such as Mill Reef and Brigadier Gerard.

And as if a superstar on the Flat wasn’t enough, the racing gods have also given us Kauto Star. I was among those who believed his best days were probably over but I couldn’t have been more delighted to have been wrong when I saw him look better than ever on his seasonal return at Haydock.

On Boxing Day, Hugh and I went to Kempton with Alcalde. Arriving early, the first horse we saw as we entered the stable block was Kauto Star, whose picture below is kindly supplied by George Selwyn. What struck me most about him, apart from the fact that he really is a beautiful horse, is how calm he was through all the preliminaries. The Kempton stables are close to the track and the sound of the crowd roaring others home in earlier races may have been enough to unsettle some.

Kauto Star, the consummate professional, stood and waited, his ears flicking back and forth but otherwise hardly moving, as if he was mentally preparing himself for battle and conserving every bit of energy needed to win a fifth King George from a horse who stole his crown last year and wasn’t even born when he won his first race in England.

As history relates, he did just that. As we led Alcalde out to the parade ring for his race, the last on the card, Kauto Star was led back in past us, tired but triumphant.

Later, after darkness had wrapped up the day and cars queued to leave the car parks, the five-time King George winner grazed quietly at the side of the stable block, waiting for his moment to get back on the lorry to Ditcheat, every now and then lifting his head to watch his many fans heading home from the course he has made his own.

I stood for a while, hardly wanting to take my eyes off him. The image of that perfect racehorse so calm and content after giving thousands people their most memorable day at the races is imprinted on my mind forever.

Star in name and deed

2011-11-20T10:07:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty pathetic when it comes to horses, well all animals really. But with racehorses, the fact that when they are at exercise and on the track, they are doing as we have asked them to somehow makes them that extra bit special, and they can reduce me to tears in a heartbeat.

I can't even see Red Rum's sheepskin noseband bobbing round Aintree in re-runs of his Grand National feats without sobbing and there have been plenty of other horses over the years – some obvious such as Dessie and Persian Punch, some less so, like See More Business, Benedict and my own Panto – who will gallop on in my mind forever.

More often than not it's the jumpers that get to me. I came into racing through jump racing and though I would probably say I have a preference for the Flat now, somehow it's the National Hunt horses who live with you the longest. Of course that is helped by the fact that generally they are racing for much longer and we come to know them like old friends. Very occasionally they let you down but the good jumpers can't get to where they are without trying to do their very best, and even if they don't always get it right, they are every bit as admirable in defeat as they are in victory.

Possibly the most exciting place I've ever been in my life is the winner's enclosure at Cheltenham after last year's Gold Cup. It was thrilling to witness the crowning of a new king in the admirable Long Run, but best of all was the reception given to the two former Gold Cup heroes, Denman and Kauto Star, long-term rivals and stable-mates, who chased the young whippersnapper almost half their age all the way up the hill with the gusto that has been the hallmark of each of their superb careers.

In after days, it will be impossible to mention Kauto Star without Denman. So very different in physique and style but both so beloved by the passionate hordes of jumping fans. To choose a favourite would, quite simply, be wrong. I love them both to the point that I'm almost terrified to watch them run now. It's an exquisite fear.

I won't deny that last year part of me thought perhaps it's time for them to bow out, when their old legs aren't quite getting them home, and younger foes are so merciless in attack. How wrong I was.

On Saturday, Kauto Star summoned up the blood to deliver a performance that it was almost impossible to believe he was still capable of. Attacking from the front with all the verve of old, he made Long Run dig deep and found him to be wanting. The cheers from the crowd, more raucous than those that sent him out on his mission, told us all we need to know about the place this horse occupies in the hearts of his many followers.

By the time Long Run was born, in April 2005, Kauto Star has already raced 12 times for five wins and five places. His tally now stands at 39-22-7-4...and counting. The six-year-old may have wrested the 11-year-old's steeplechasing crown from him last season but it would appear that it was only ever on loan.

The picture at the top of this post is reproduced by kind permission of the excellent George Selwyn.

Remembrance day

2011-11-11T09:37:00.000-08:00

November 11 is always a poignant day but this year it had extra resonance for those involved with this stable as today was the inquest into the death of Chris Watson, who tragically suffered a fatal fall when riding out from here last year.

A two-minute silence was observed during the inquest, which returned a verdict of accidental death after several hours of evidence from various parties, including those riding with him that day. It’s not an easy thing for any of the team here to have gone through.

Chris was a really likeable man who so easily slotted into the routine here on his weekly visits. He simply loved riding and loved horses – Kadouchski above all others in the stable. Knowing that he died doing something that he loved doesn’t make it any easier to accept that he is gone and I don’t set foot on the Heath without thinking about what happened to him.

Next Thursday is the first anniversary of his death. I think he would have been proud of the stable’s record in the last year, and of Kadouchski’s four wins more than anything else. He would have been thrilled to see Hannah ride her first winner on him back in July, and as an old Corinthian himself, I’m sure John’s Town Plate win, again on Kadouchski, would have given Chris a huge amount of pleasure. All of us wish he’d been here for those days.

Chris lost his life on Newmarket Heath on the morning of November 17, 2010. He was a racing man, and the memory of him lives on through all of us who enjoyed his company and continue to do what he enjoyed doing most, every day.

Chris Watson, Amateur Jockey, 29.10.1949 – 17.11.2010

Eating history (a tribute to Kadouchski)

2011-09-09T10:14:00.000-07:00

What seems now to have been a very long time ago, John and I drove to Hasse Fen to pick up Kadouchski at the request of his owner/breeders Claude Charlet and Danny Charlesworth.

He was a four-year-old and not much to look at. Being ridiculously sentimental about all horses, he reminded me instantly of Panto (even though I know Panto better than any living creature I still look out of the window at the two of them in the field and take a few seconds to work out which one is which) so of course he got a big thumbs-up from me. He loaded quietly and sensibly into our trailer parked on the edge of the road and, on arrival back at Beverley House Stables he quickly worked his way into all of our hearts. It’s impossible not to love a horse like Kadouchski, even though at the time he was a four-year-old maiden and already on his fourth trainer. His fourth and last, as it turns out.

He ran twice for Claude and Danny from our stable, but they both have interests in a number of horses, most of them with more obvious ability than Kadouchski, so they decided the time was right to move him on. He was offered to us, and with John warming to him every day, we decided we’d take a chance and race him ourselves, even though financially that is just about the worst decision for a trainer to make.

His first run in John’s colours became his first win, at Leicester, in a selling hurdle. John bought him in and he ran next time at Sandown, the trainer having decided that right-handed tracks were a must for him. Despite looking like he had it all to do before the final bend, the little horse gave us the first glimpse of that quality that makes him a racehorse: his ability to keep trying and keep finding something more to give. He outlasted his rivals to score his second win and gave us plenty of reason to hope he’d keep improving. It’s fair to say that he has done so but not without almost the whole of his six-year-old season off the track through minor injury.

In the meantime, his half-sister Douchkette arrived from France, followed by another sister She Is A Cracker and finally by his then two-year-old half-brother Douchkirk, otherwise known as ‘Frankie’. Douchkette won a hurdle race before being retired from racing to a life as a budding eventer. Cracker was also retired and is now a multiple-winning point-to-pointer while Frankie, also given to us by his breeders, won a bumper first time out and (hopefully) has a promising jumps career ahead of him.

In 2010, Kadouchski didn’t race between 20 January and 1 December. While being prepared for his return to the track, he was involved in the most tragic episode this small stable has had to face, when Chris Watson took what would turn out to be a fatal fall from him during a routine exercise. Nearly ten months on, we still await the inquest into Chris’s death.

He was a proper racing man who was never happier than when riding a thoroughbred – especially Kadouchski – and had he been still with us, it’s safe to say that nobody would have enjoyed the season this horse has had more than Chris.

Kadoucshki’s return from injury came on the flat at Kempton where he gave John’s 16-year-old apprentice Hannah Nunn her first ever race ride. Over an unsuitably short mile, Kadou flew home to finish fourth, beaten only a length. Reverting to hurdles, his third NH run of the season was back at Sandown where he defeated the hot favourite Qalinas by three-quarters of a length with another never-say-die charge up that hill for home.

Deep down the trainer always believed he has what it takes to win on the flat and he was finally proved right on 24 March when Kadouchski won a two-mile handicap in the hands of Rab Havlin.

He ran consistently good races after that, building up to a very special day indeed when Hannah, just a few days after her 17th birthday, would ride him for the fourth time to record her first ever win, by three and a half lengths over two miles at Folkestone. Since returning from injury in December last year, Kadouchski has raced 14 times to finish in the first three on nine occasions.

Despite the fact that he’s not a very big horse, he jumps like a cat and our regular jump jockey Will Kennedy has been itching to ride him in a novice chase. He’s schooled him at home over the big fences and the horse is foot-perfect but, with a lengthy dry spring and summer, John’s been holding off running him in steeplechases until he gets his preferred soft ground.

So…what to do in the meantime? Riding back from the heath one day recently I was having my leg pulled about the idea of me riding Panto in the Town Plate when I turned to John on Kadouchski and said, ‘He’s the one that should be running in the Town Plate.'

Seeing as the trainer never listens to a word I say I thought I’d get away with it but as time wore on it transpired that he had indeed given thought to my half-hearted suggestion and, 24 years since his last ride, John was contemplating a return to the saddle. As the big day drew near he became uncharacteristically nervous until, with hours to go before the big comeback he was properly worked up and walking his box.

For the uninitiated, Newmarket’s Town Plate is a race for amateur riders but certainly not for the faint-hearted. The oldest documented race in history, it is a gruelling 3m6f, starting on National Stud land and finishing on the July Course.

He may have had an amateur on his back but Kadouchski was every bit the professional, settling straight away into a nice rhythm halfway down the field and showing none of the keenness he sometimes displays early in his races.

With the Town Plate being such a long race over an unorthodox course, there are a good few minutes when the runners and riders are out of view. By the time they swung round the corner from the National Stud and into view via the big screens on the racecourse, I could see John had the perfect position, vying for the lead on the inside rail but still going at an easy pace. We’d walked the course the night before with the dogs and decided that the best ground was right along the stands’ rail. This was where they came, gradually inching further and further clear of the chasing pack, until they hit the line 25 lengths to the good.

Cheered back into the winner’s enclosure by so many local people who had turned out for this special race, the grin on John’s face told its own story, and dear old Kadou was hardly blowing. The Town Plate was duly collected, along with the extra prizes, including a big box of Powter’s sausages, prompting a celebratory bangers and mash party back at Beverley House Stables later that night.

To me the day summed up everything that is wonderful about our sport: a genuine little battler of a horse, a retired amateur hoop attempting one last hurrah in the saddle before the midlife crisis well and truly sets in, and most of all the genuine warmth of all those people who wished John well and know just what it means to have one’s name etched on the roll of honour for the oldest race in this most special of racing towns. It was also an historic day for baby Beau Waterhouse, the daughter of our great friends Gemma and Simon, who spent her first ever day at the races at only four days old.

As our friend Gail tucked into her sausages later that night she said she felt like she was eating history. I’ll drink to that.

The pictures running through this post were all taken on Town Plate day and show (from the top): Hugh Fraser leading Kadouchski in the parade ring; John arriving in the parade ring wearing his own historic racing colours (not to be confused with Godolphin's); John and Kadouchski cantering to post alongside Judgethemoment and vet Brian Abbott; 25 lengths clear in the final furlong; celebrating with fellow trainer and ex-jockey Rae Guest; walking in with last year's winners Cape Secret and Derek Jackson, who finished third; John, Gemma and little Beau.

Leading by example

2011-07-24T09:40:00.000-07:00

Twice this week I’ve listened to John Gosden speak: each time from the heart but in notably different circumstances.

The second time was after yesterday’s King George, in which Gosden played a much bigger part than just that of winning trainer. Of course being the successful trainer would have been noteworthy enough, for in a glittering career this was the first time he had won the race, 51 years after his father Towser won it with Aggressor, when John was a nine-year-old boy. But in tragic circumstances, Gosden was hailed not just for a superb training performance in preparing the three-year-old Nathaniel for such a prestigious win, but for stepping in to assist the seriously injured Rewilding, staying with the horse and even ensuring he had a last mouthful of grass before the vet performed the sorriest task on the racecourse.

It would have been easy to assume that someone else would catch Rewilding and comfort him in his last moments, and understandable to want to enjoy a sweet victory with a colt supplemented for £75,000 who took the scalps of Workforce and St Nicholas Abbey and can now command pretty much any price as a stallion prospect.

But someone who cares as deeply about the sport that has made him famous as Gosden does understood instinctively the impact a sight as desperate as Frankie Dettori on the turf and a loose horse with a broken leg cantering before the packed stands could have on racing. Our sport, in the headlines again, for all the wrong reasons.

In saying that, his actions, and sensible description of events in post-race interviews, were not just about being seen to do the right thing. He did the right thing simply because nobody who is as successful a trainer as Gosden can have reached that place without an intuitive sympathy and sensitivity for the horses who helped get him there, even – and especially – in the darkest of hours.

For British horseracing, the afternoon of Saturday, 23 July was just about as dark as can be. The exquisite Rewilding, last seen in triumph overturning the hot favourite So You Think in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes at Royal Ascot, laying down his life on the same stretch of turf, just 38 days later. Hard to bear for even the hardest of hearts.

Sad reversal though it was, it is pulled sharply into perspective by the senseless loss of so many lives in Norway 24 hours earlier (and it is certainly not my intention to be disrespectful to any of the families of the Norwegian victims in comparing their loss to something so relatively insignificant as horseracing).

Nathaniel’s jockey William Buick (left), born and raised in Norway, had already paid tribute to those killed in his homeland and, typically, his first thoughts when interviewed after the King George were for Rewilding and Frankie Dettori. His is a cool, wise head on young shoulders. Compare his understated reaction to his first King George victory to the theatrical antics of Mickael Barzalona after winning the Derby on Pour Moi. In the 23-year-old Buick, British racing has a nascent star of whom we can all be proud.

Earlier in the week, I spent an afternoon listening in to the Hatchfield Farm appeal hearing. John Gosden gave up the whole of his day to give evidence on behalf of the Newmarket training fraternity. What he probably hadn’t bargained for was the vitriolic cross-questioning by Lord Derby’s QC and his colleague. Their claims, that the mass opposition from the entire local racing and breeding industry – and from many further afield – to Lord Derby’s plans to undermine the famous and historic training centre with a huge ‘urban extension’, was somehow a personal vendetta by John Gosden and his wife Rachel Hood would have been laughable had they not been so deeply offensive.

Neither John (pictured here on a Save Historic Newmarket protest with fellow trainers Geoff Wragg and Clive Brittain) nor Rachel need anyone to fight their corner for them, least of all me, but during the last three years of involvement with Save Historic Newmarket, they have both shown that this is far from personal. To them both, and to the many people involved in the campaign, this is about the preservation of a special place. We’ve all been accused of 'NIMBYism', and to an extent that’s understandable. If the town and its magnificent heath constitute our ‘back yard’ then yes, none of us want to see them ruined but, in reality, with Gosden being among the more senior members of his profession, it is really the next generation of trainers in Newmarket who will suffer the most by any increased urbanisation of this unique market town.

Throughout this now boringly long battle over Hatchfield Farm, Lord Derby has maintained his line that he would do nothing to harm Newmarket’s status as a training centre without equal. Anyone who believes this disingenuous statement should sit in the inquiry for an hour or so and listen to the way his legal representatives describe the town (“a sustainable settlement for development”) and so readily dismiss the experience and heartfelt concerns of those people who live in Newmarket and deal with its traffic issues on a daily basis.

It remains a source of bitter disappointment to me and to many other people who care about racing and Newmarket, that a man whose family name has been so intrinsically linked with the sport in this town for generations could care so little for its future. Thank goodness there are so many people prepared to stand up in opposition to these plans.

And in other news…
Away from the big stage, but important nevertheless to this small stable, we had a successful schooling session on Saturday morning thanks to William Kennedy. William and his nephew Jamie Insole arrived at 6.30am and, along with Sara, took Kadouchski, Asterisk and Alcalde over to the Links.

William has won several races on Kadouchski (right), and won a bumper recently with his half-brother Douchkirk, so it’s no surprise that he’s fond of the family. ‘Kadou’ is such a bold, willing and accurate jumper that he must be a gift to school and William had a big smile on his face after pulling up, declaring that he’d like to ride him in the Topham after he’s won a few novice chases. Here’s hoping.

Another young jumper in whom we can have plenty of hope after her schooling session is Asterisk (right), a four-year-old filly by Fantastic Light. She’s a very natural, neat hurdler and we look forward to starting her off in some novice hurdles fairly soon. Fans of Alcalde will be pleased to hear that he’s come back from his summer break in good heart and seems very relaxed and happy at present, perhaps because of his new-found devotion to a little dark brown filly by the name of Maroon.

The two-year-olds are also coming along nicely. Zarosa, a lovely daughter of Barathea, is improving all the time, and Wasabi, Grand Liaison and Gift Of Silence (the last two named pictured alongside with Hugh and Hannah) also give much cause for optimism.

This could be a big week for John’s apprentice, Hannah Nunn, who won ATR’s Ride of the Week last week for her first win on Kadouchski. She has an outside ride for Peter Salmon at Redcar on Wednesday, and will then partner Hotfoot on Thursday and Ethics Girl on Saturday. Before that we can look forward to Batgirl’s return to her favourite track Yarmouth on Monday, and Silken Thoughts will round off our racing week at Newbury on Sunday. Fingers crossed for them all.

What a week

2011-07-11T02:42:00.000-07:00

‘July Week’ in Newmarket is always top notch but this year it seemed to be better than ever.

My personal highlight didn’t take place here but it did involve a lovely horse and a great girl from Newmarket. Hannah’s first winner has been an occasion we’ve all been waiting for since she got her apprentice licence in December 2010. She had her first ride on Kadouchski back then (pictured after coming in fourth, beaten just a length) and it was wonderful to see her steer him to victory with such aplomb at Folkestone on Thursday. She’ll be back in action aboard Ethics Girl at Sandown on Wednesday and it’s my opinion that she’ll be well worth following over the coming months and years,

Of course this week was really about another female jockey, Hayley Turner, who has blazed a great trail for the other girls to follow. Seeing her win her first Group 1 on Dream Ahead in the July Cup was special indeed and she’s sure to be a standing dish in the top races from now on.

The centrepiece is three great days of racing at HQ, which, by the way, does not really work being run from Thursday to Saturday as so many people in town for the week were leaving to go home on Friday night. Rather a shame for July Cup day to feel so ‘after the show’.

Behind the scenes there’s plenty more going on. The July Sale seemed to be strong enough this year and the Darley stallion parade was as fantastic as ever, with the added bonus being a cameo appearance by Joey from the excellent play War Horse (pictured left).

Of the 13 stallions parading, I most enjoyed seeing the Derby winners Authorized, who looked tremendous with a dappled coat, and New Approach. Both young stallions have let down really well and, like all the others, are extremely well cared for by Ken Crozier and his team.

The gang from Arqana pitched up in Newmarket again – three of them staying here – and launched their August Sale catalogue on Friday at the races with a delicious French lunch to boot. It won’t be long before the European yearling season is underway in Deauville and I always start to panic slightly at the thought of it, as it seems that no sooner has the August Sale begun than December is upon us and we’re back to Tatts in the freezing cold. Awful to be wishing the year away when we’re in the middle of such a lovely summer but the sales season has a habit of hoovering up the second half of the year.

Sunday was the first proper day I’ve had off in more than a month and John and I headed off fairly early to a horse show at the Animal Health Trust, at which John had been invited to judge. The show has taken place in July Week for a few years now and one ring is dedicated to thoroughbreds, most of whom have retired from racing.

A surprise entrant was the 2007 Melbourne Cup runner-up Purple Moon. Now eight, he has been living in retirement at Luca and Sara Cumani’s Fittocks Stud and is about to embark on a secondary career as a competition horse.

As a €550,000 yearling, who later sold for 440,000gns as three-year-old and earned more than £1 million in his racing days, one might think that appearing for a rosette at a local show was a bit beneath the son of Galileo, but he appeared to be loving every minute of it, enjoying all the fuss and attention and rifling through the pockets of his adoring attendants Chantelle and Francesca for polo mints at every opportunity (he is pictured performing his trick of eating a polo from Francesca's mouth). Purple Moon ended up as overall show champion, and rightly so.

Honorary mention must also be given to Strike Force, a regular at the show who is still very much enjoying his racing. The seven-year-old son of Dansili has run 78 times
for nine wins and 23 places and looked a real picture in the ring. Full credit must go to his owner, work rider and occasional race rider Alison Hutchinson, who has the old boy in tip-top order.

Alison’s partner Vinny told me that Strike Force always runs well after the show. Last August, he and Alison won an amateur race at Beverley and he is pencilled in to go back to the Yorkshire track very soon if the ground stays firm. That’s the closest this blog will ever come to being a tipping column: don’t say you weren’t warned!

Happy days at HQ

2011-07-02T06:24:00.000-07:00

I'm writing this with one eye on the TV, waiting for what I believe should be the race of the year: Workforce vs So You Think vs Snow Fairy in the Eclipse.

I don't know when there has been another meeting of the previous year's Derby and Oaks winners in history (though I'm sure it must have happened), and to throw a dual Cox Plate winner into the mix is just too much excitement.

But prior to the main excitement on the major international stage, in our own little corner of Newmarket we've had a very satisfying morning.

The ever excellent Will Kennedy paid us a visit this morning, bringing with him his nephew and budding jump jockey Jamie Insole. It's always great to see both of them and this morning, along with Sara, they helped to give recent bumper winner Douchkirk and fellow four-year-old Asterisk an introduction to hurdles.

The schooling session couldn't have gone more smoothly. Both horses, under Will's confident but sensitive instruction, took to jumping like the proverbial ducks to water. After jumping the tyres and baby hurdle individually they schooled alongside each other with the equine equivalent of big smiles on their faces.

It never ceases to amaze me how quickly thoroughbreds can learn something new and it shouldn't be too long before these two appear in novice hurdles, though I know the trainer will want a bit more cut in the ground before they go jumping.

We're fortunate to have two all-weather strips with schooling fences and hurdles plus a very good loose school here so the horses can always be schooled whatever the weather (jumps owners please note: Newmarket is just as good for National Hunt horses as it is for Flat horses).

The trainer kept a keen eye on proceedings from on board Kadouchski, who is masquerading as a hack in this picture below but was soon put through his paces over fences by Will, as you can see at the bottom of this post.

Kadouchski may only be a moderate horse in the grand scheme of things but he is very much a firm favourite in this yard and with good reason. He's a significantly better hurdler (who has twice given us a great day out at Sandown) but his flat form has been solid, if not spectacular, of late. He won at Kempton, where he has also been placed twice, most recently under a very polished ride from John's apprentice Hannah Nunn, who turns 17 on Monday.

We hope Hannah will be on board again on Thursday at Folkestone, and when the ground softens up a bit, Kadouchski will aim to add a novice chasing victory to his wins on the Flat and over hurdles.

He's a thoroughly likeable individual, who is a saint in his box, a hooligan in the field and an absolute professional when he gets to the races. I wish Timeform gave ratings for heart and attitude. If they did, Kadouchski would be right up there with Sea The Stars.

After we put the jumpers away, two of four two-year-olds we currently have in the yard did their first piece of fast work on Warren Hill. John accompanied them on Hotfoot, and Hannah (riding Grand Liaison, a robust daughter of Sir Percy ) and Terri (riding Wasabi, an extremely attractive filly by Tiger Hill) both declared themselves extremely happy with their respective mounts.

Terri has only recently joined us from Jane Chapple-Hyam's yard, and she's a really friendly and fun person to have around. She's also a very good rider, so we're delighted that she's joined the team.

Among other horses in action this morning, three-year-old Bertolini filly First Pressing (ridden by Hannah) had a spin on the Al Bahathri with the trainer's favourite pet pony Ethics Girl. The latter should resume racing in a week or so, having had a break after running so well through the winter. Despite the fact that she looks like a slightly dumpy broodmare, she shares the honours with Ex Con as the winningmost horse in the yard (currently) and she's so damn tough and enthusiastic that I am sure she will be adding to her five victories later this season.

In case anyone is wondering what has happened to our star summer jumper Ex Con, I'm afraid the news is that he is currently having what is likely to be a year off with a tendon injury. John picked up on it early and our lovely vet, David Dugdale, is cautiously optimistic that he will be able to return to racing next year. I hope so, because we all miss him enormously.

He's recuperating at Colton Farm in Norfolk, where my mare and yearling, Desiree and Jack, live, and where Alcalde has recently been holidaying. Alcalde returned to the yard this week to bolster our burgeoning jumping ranks and it's great to have him back.

HOOFNOTE: I took so long to upload the pics to this blog that the Lancashire Oaks and the Eclipse have both been run. Wonderful to see Gertrude Bell become a Group winner, as she is owned and bred by Rachel Hood, ROA President, Chair of Save Historic Newmarket and an all-round superwoman.

And as for the Eclipse, I feel as many conflicting emotions now as I did before the race. Workforce and So You Think are two of my favourite horses in training and what a performance they gave us. While I'm delighted to see So You Think come back after the 'disappointment' of Ascot, I can't bear to see lovely Workforce beaten. Any owner who makes the right decision to keep a Derby winner in training as a four-year-old should be rewarded for that move, and I'm certain that Prince Khalid Abdullah will be come Arc day.

Douchkirk's bumper win

2011-06-26T11:34:00.001-07:00

Click here to watch Douchkirk win his bumper on debut by five lengths at Stratford on 28 May, 2011. He is entered to run on Tuesday, 28 June, also at Stratford at 9.10pm.

The big ouch

2011-05-08T10:22:00.000-07:00

After 15 months on the sidelines, I was finally able to return to the saddle this week. This has not been without the help of very kind friends and family who helped me through back surgery last year and then encouraged me to get back on my lovely retired racehorse-turned-stable hack, Pantomime Prince.

I must admit to more than a few frayed nerves in the weeks when I started thinking I really must get on with it. On Newmarket Heath there's no room for the faint-hearted, and even if you're only riding a hack you have to make sure you're not getting in anyone else's way or looking a complete idiot (managed the first, haven't quite nailed the second). But this is the best time of the year to be out there and to have missed another spring would have been hard to bear.

John's been great in helping to restore my confidence and I know I must have tried his considerable patience on more than one occasion. Gemma's also done lots of proverbial hand-holding and even offered to walk alongside me on my first foray. This, thankfully, wasn't necessary but it was a typically kind thought from a lovely friend.

Most of all, Hugh, Hannah and Adam have put up with me pretending to chaperone them on the two-year-olds when really we all know they need no such thing. The fillies are pretty relaxed and well-behaved thanks to their patient handling and it's been a joy to accompany them on some lovely mornings this week.

One of the nicest things about riding out is watching the young horses grow in confidence and strength on an almost daily basis. I missed this year's batch of two-year-olds when they were just starting out but now they are cantering daily they are really starting to blossom and it's interesting to note different personalities from where they like to be in the string and how they cope when things get a little hot around them (being sandwiched in between two batches of big Godolphin colts wasn't much fun on Saturday morning but they dealt with it well and kept their heads).

The biggest star of the show, however, has to be Panto himself. Were it not for him I probably wouldn't now be riding at all. But to have a beautiful and sensible eight-year-old thoroughbred at my disposal for morning wanders on the Heath is too good an opportunity to pass up. It's good to be back, even though there were moments when I thought my bottle had gone completely and I'd never sit on a horse again. Now that I am, I've remembered that there's no feeling in the world like it. Panto and I will keep plodding on as long as we can and I just hope that I'll stop aching sometime soon.

A moment in history

2011-05-02T07:50:00.000-07:00

It’s hard to remember a nicer spring and the last few weeks have been particularly special.

Until Saturday, the race that sticks in my mind the most as an ‘I was there’ moment was Dubai Millennium’s romp in the Prince Of Wales’s Stakes, when he was applauded from two furlongs out, such was his dominance.

The memory is somewhat bittersweet now. I watched the race from the top of the old stands at Ascot, reached by the lifts next to the funny old ladies’ loos with the big old-fashioned wooden seats. Those loos were particularly great during the Royal Meeting as there was always a team of lovely elderly ladies armed with hatpins, hairspray, plasters, spare tights, just about anything one might need in a fashion emergency during the glitziest of racing occasions.

Some of those ladies might still be employed at Ascot but I woudn't know where to find them any more. The men in the moss green velvet jackets are there still. They never looked out of place next to the elaborate gates to the old winner’s enclosure but they look a little at sea at the new Ascot. That’s how I feel, too. Having grown up near the course, Ascot and Windsor were the two tracks I attended most in my youth. But the old Ascot only exists now in memory, along with the image of Doyen being saddled before the King George in the old pre-parade ring at the top end of the course, looking the most beautiful of any horse I’d ever seen.

Of course the view from the top of the stands at Ascot hasn’t changed, just the viewing platform. It’s not exaggerating to say that its demolition has left me with a terrible twinge of sadness every time I walk through the gates of the new Ascot. I’ll feel the same way when the autumn comes and there is no Champions’ Day at Newmarket, my adopted home course. All changed, changed utterly.

And so to the brave new world of Flat racing in Britain. As much as I am a doubter when it comes to what can only be described as the desecration of the time-honoured Pattern to facilitate the British Champions’ Series (and why couldn’t anyone involved with this project grasp the need for an apostrophe? Perhaps it's a bit 'last century' to be concerned with punctuation?), it could not have had a better start than the extraordinary tour de force by Frankel (pictured a few weeks ago on Warren Hill) in the 2,000 Guineas on Saturday.

It's great news for the extremely generous sponsor, QIPCO, a Qatari-based group which includes a now significant owner/breeder Sheikh Fahad Al Thani. Let's hope that he, like another major new investor and owner of Guineas runner-up Dubawi Gold, Andrew Tinkler, are rewarded for their enthusiasm and generosity with much success on the racecourse in years to come.

Greg Wood, however, hit the nail on the head in the Guardian on Saturday morning when he said: “Flat racing has spent years agonising over its "narrative" and whether the structure of its season can be understood by the wider sporting public. But if the story is good enough, it tells itself, and Frankel's in particular could be a page-turner.”

Who knows which path he’ll follow through the Champions’ Series, or even, as it once was known, the season, but there is no doubt that Saturday was really only about one horse and one race. It was Frankel, it was the 2,000 Guineas, it was a moment in racing history which will have been wasted on the beer-tent brigade but will be appreciated by racing fans down the ages (though some of those lifelong racing fans will now struggle to recognise the names of the races they have loved over the years, such as the Jockey Club Cup, now lost, sacrificed on the altar of change for change's sake) .

Day-to-day living in a small stable has taught me that it is unwise to plan too far ahead for any horse. God willing, Frankel will blast through to the end of 2011 as the champion none of us could have hoped to see so soon after Sea The Stars, but for now I'll just enjoy replaying in my head the most unbelievable horse race I’ll probably ever witness.

We’ll almost certainly never have a Frankel in this stable but things have been ticking along pretty nicely in a small, quiet way of late. The horses that were on the go through the winter did us proud and most of them are off on a well-deserved break at the moment.

After a scare with Ex Con in early February it’s a huge relief to see him back in good health and looking so fantastic. The two-year-old fillies, soon to be joined by a daughter of Cadeaux Genereux, are a really nice bunch and I can’t wait to see how they get on once their work increases.

Batgirl’s winning resumption was a great pleasure and, as John has said on his blog, having Frankie on board made it that bit extra special. I’m pretty sure that the next flying dismount he performed after the one from Batgirl was made from Blue Bunting following her win in the 1,000 Guineas on Sunday.

A resumption of far less interest has been made by me, albeit very tentatively. I’m now back in the saddle after a 15-month enforced absence and dear old Panto has been very kind in looking after me.

Kadouchski has another flat outing set for Thursday, this time at Goodwood with our stable apprentice Hannah Nunn on board. I’ve never seen Kadou look better than he does right now and he’s been in great form this year so let’s hope he can get a turf win under his belt and break Hannah’s duck.

News has reached us that his two half-sisters, She Is A Cracker and Douchkette, are doing well in ‘retirement’. She Is A Cracker won a point-to-point at Parham on Saturday and Douchkette recently won her first dressage competition. Meanwhile, little brother Douchkirk ('Frankie') edges closer to his bumper debut for this stable and another half-brother, Baby Mix, is apparently looking like a promising young hurdler in France for Guy Cherel.

The enjoyment of stable life has recently been greatly enhanced by the arrival of a Dalmatian puppy called Gus, who is asleep on my feet under my desk as I type.

The greyhounds tolerate him and keep him in line and the cats merely pretend that he doesn’t exist in a typically disdainful feline manner.

He proved very popular with the 14 children who were here for an Easter egg hunt on Good Friday and I think it's safe to say that the trainer is very pleased with his spotty birthday present, even if it came a month or so early.

Spotted wonders

2011-04-01T05:31:00.000-07:00

There's nothing nicer than a litter of puppies and there are surely no nicer puppies than these, bred by Thea Gosden from the lovely Venus, who managed to produce 11 of the wee spotty creatures...

For Sid

2011-03-20T03:02:00.000-07:00

I wanted to write this entry solely about the Cheltenham Festival, and much of it will be about that, but other things have happened, many other things which I’m not really qualified to comment on but feel I have to note anyway.

For most people who love jump racing, time stands still in ‘Cheltenham week' and it feels like the action at Prestbury Park is the only thing in the world that matters. The Festival may be only four days but the build-up is immense and this year in particular it’s hard to pinpoint one favourite moment. The best bits were too many and too varied.

The Festival starts for me each year on the Monday when I drive to the house I rent with friends and colleagues in Evesham. This year my journey had a nice detour via Overbury Stud to photograph the G1-winning hurdler Feathard Lady with her Yeats foal. While there, I had to pay my respects to the great Kayf Tara, of course, and to the new boy who is also becoming a favourite, Schiaparelli.

The traditional Monday night curry with George, Ed, Julian, Martin and Tom (Catherine always joins us late after H&H press day) was peppered, as always, by Champion Hurdle banter. George and I stuck resolutely to Peddlers Cross. We were wrong but he ran a tremendous race and I’m never sorry to see a horse trained by the excellent Willie Mullins win a big one.

Ed always cooks breakfast for us all and he takes this task very seriously. Woe betide anyone who tries to help. Julian does the morning paper run and all I want to read in Cheltenham week is the Racing Post. It was impossible, however, to avert one’s eyes from the front page of the Times when the headlines were screaming of the ongoing misery in Japan.

Sitting in a beautiful house in the Cotswolds, it’s difficult to imagine the utterly devastating losses suffered by those people ‘lucky’ enough to survive the earthquake and tsunami. The same can be said for the fear felt by the people of Libya attempting to stand up to Gaddafi.

It’s so easy to become wrapped up in the racing world, and I am as guilty of that as anyone. The only two non-racing publications I read on a regular basis are Saturday’s Times and The Week, whereas half of each morning is routinely spent on the Post, EBN, TDN, Thoroughbred Times Today and trawling Aussie racing sites for updates.

In Cheltenham week, the absorption is even greater. At the track for 9.30am, slogging away for three days having allowed myself one day there for fun on the Tuesday, then spending every evening analysing that day’s action and guessing at what tomorrow might bring.

The week certainly didn’t let any of us down. To have Hurricane Fly and Peddlers Cross, then Big Buck’s and Grand Crus locked together over the last in each of the championship hurdle races plus the Gold Cup to end all Gold Cups is more than we could have hoped for.

The images first of Imperial Commander, Denman and Kauto Star three abreast and turning down the hill, then of the Commander dropping away to leave the two old warriors and stablemates out in front and turning into the straight together have been deposited in the memory bank forever. I continued to scream for Denman, knowing in my heart that the stalking young buck Long Run, under an extremely cool ride from the amateur who put the professionals in their place, would cut him down in the end. He did, but Denman lost nothing. Cheered back into the winner’s enclosure as if he had won, it was adulation earned year after year by never finishing out of the first two in six visits to the Festival.

The race went round and round in my head through the long drive home and it’s obvious, from speaking to others who watched it, and from reading the reports, that the Gold Cup of 2011 is already one of those ‘I was there’ moments. It’s a race that will be talked about down the ages.

I thought I’d spend Saturday writing about the Gold Cup but other news brought me back into the real world. In the morning I heard of the sudden, unexpected death of 17-year-old John Fernando, the son of fellow racing and bloodstock journalist Sid Fernando.

Sid is as obsessive about the sport as I am, and on a day when he’d otherwise be commenting on the first race meeting in Japan since the disaster, or yet another facile win for the exciting Triple Crown hopeful The Factor, instead he was plunged into unimaginable awfulness.

Sid will eventually return to the great triviality, I’m sure, but in the meantime I hope there’s some comfort in the fact that his friends and colleagues in the world of bloodstock and beyond are taking some time this bright Sunday morning to think of him and his family, and of all those families touched by tragedy and terror in Japan and Libya. May they find some peace eventually.

Highs and lows

2011-03-13T13:22:00.000-07:00

A small amount of time between finishing work, packing for and then setting off for Cheltenham and I'm feeling guilty that I have not updated this blog in ages.

It's probably easiest if I link to two postings on my American colleague Sid Fernando's site, as Sid's excellent blog has had more of a contribution from me than my own has of late. So if you want to see pics of Snow Fairy or Frankel in action on Newmarket Heath in the last week or so, click on their names.

If you've bothered to come back to this site, life here, in a nutshell, has been frantic, fun, sad and stressful (but most of all fun). Basically all of the emotions one would generally find in any racing stable on any given day.

On the negative side, Anis Etoile has been sold, Ben Bhraggie has been retired and Ruby In The Dust is going to have to have a break. Anis has gone to a very nice National Hunt breeder in Waterford called Michael Tobin and we wish him the very best of luck with his lovely new mare. I believe Michael's plan is for her to be covered by Coolmore's new National Hunt sire, Getaway, a very talented son of Monsun. The hunt is on for a home for Ben, who will make a lovely riding horse for the right person. Ruby has been showing signs of wanting a short break, which is what she is now having. This is not such a disappointment as it was half expected but it's a shame as she had seemed to be be coming on. She'll be back.

Positives include the arrival of Batgirl's Beat Hollow half-sister, who does not yet have a name but does possess the most wonderful temperament. If she is as easy to train throughout her career as she has been in her first month here then she will be a delight.

Oscar Bernadotte started cantering and is looking very much the part but could it be that I am wearing the rosiest of rose-tinted spectacles? His yearling half-brother Jack Irish continues to thrive and I've recently had news that their dam, Desiree, has tested in foal to Schiaparelli. In fact, she made headlines by being the first to be covered by then test positive to Overbury Stud's new boy.

Biggest highlight of the month had to be Kadouchski's win at Sandown (pictured walking in after the race) which was just a tremendous fillip for us all from a horse we adore. Alcalde has also put in several very pleasing efforts of late, first when winning at Fakenham which he followed up with a very game second in tougher company at Newbury. He continues to be a horse to get the pulse racing. And talking of racing, this is very much what we hope Kadouchski's brother Douchkirk will be doing very soon. The trainer now has a smile on his face when he comes back from exercise on him. Mind you, John should be smiling because he boasts a 33% wins-to-runs strike rate over jumps and 31% on the Flat. How many others can say the same?

So this is brief and hurried, for which I apologise, but a roast chicken is beckoning tonight, followed by the annual pilgrimage to the Cotswolds tomorrow. My hopes for the week are that Will Kennedy gains his first Festival win aboard Time For Rupert, that the game little mare Sparky May wins the David Nicholson, that Peddlers Cross remains unbeaten when running away with the Champion Hurdle, that Big Buck's can get his hat-trick in the Stayers' Hurdle and that the lovely old war horse Denman can have us all in tears when battling home up that hill for a second Gold Cup. Please God just let them all come home safely. Bring it on, the greatest show on turf.

My family and other dogs

2011-02-20T06:24:00.001-08:00

There was quite a lot of faffing about a certain runner from this stable this week but it wasn't one of our equine friends.

Stan, kennel name Salems Zidane, was entered in the Fakenham Greyhound & Lurcher Stakes before racing at the Norfolk course on Friday. Knowing that Stan had been expelled from racing some six years earlier when it was discovered early in his career that he was a non-chaser, the omens weren't good for his comeback, and his chances of shining decreased even further when I discovered we had drawn Max in the first round.

Now Max, who is owned by Camilla Milbank and Jamie Trotter, may be a year older than Stan and suffer from a slightly dodgy ticker, but his days of racing as The Furries, when he won something like 18 races at Walthamstow, have not been forgotten. He looked every bit the true professional when he locked onto the lure and ran straight and true towards the finish. Stan, on the other hand, not having been blessed with many braincells at birth, thought at first it was quite fun to chase Max but after a while got a little bored and veered off on the wrong course towards the steeplechase course.

Having been beaten by Max we naturally followed him through the remaining rounds to the final, in which he was comprehensively thrashed by the British Racing School ringer, known as Bitzer, who had been kidnapped from Sir Mark Prescott's pupil assistant James and entered in the competition by Gemma Waterhouse. Bitzer looks rather shame-faced in the accompanying photo as she collects her prize from Fakenham's excellent clerk of the course David Hunter, but Gemma doesn't seem to be too embarrassed about the incident, which will no doubt be remembered in the history books as being every bit as controversial as the story of Running Rein in the 1844 Derby.

It was a pretty good show from the Newmarket dogs, which included the winner and the runner-up plus Peaches Fowler, who attracted disparaging remarks from her uncle Mark Bradburne as he was jogging a lap of the track before racing but clearly just needs a staying trip, and Gillie and Ruby Negus from Racing Welfare. All tried their best and enjoyed a jolly good picnic. Next year I'll be entering the secret weapon, Bean Berry.

And so to horses. It was disappointing to see Ethics Girl travel so well on Friday night but end up only third. She does need to be produced quite late and sadly the slightly strange way the race panned out didn't help her. This week we look forward to the hurdlers Kadouchski at Sandown on Friday and Alcalde at Chepstow on Saturday.

I managed two lots in grim weather yesterday morning: the first was to watch Ben Bhraggie loose-schooling at the Links. Needs to try harder but he can jump. Ben is unusual for a thoroughbred in that he is incredibly slow to learn. He gets there in the end though and now that he actually looks like a racehorse, he's starting to show that deep down he does have the ability to be one. The trainer definitely deserves a medal for patience with this horse.

Silken Thoughts, Batgirl, Ruby In The Dust and Kadouchski scooted up Long Hill next lot. It's a pleasure to watch Silky as she does everything so easily and she's the horse I am most excited about in the stable this year. Batgirl's moving well and we're looking forward to the arrival of her two-year-old Beat Hollow half-sister any day now.

Our four-year-old Doyen filly Ruby continues to give us gradual encouragement that she will be competitive in bumpers and hurdles. We already have a few members of a syndicate together to race her but there are places available so do get in touch if you would like to become involved.

One other excitement of the week was Desirée being covered by Schiaparelli on only the second day of the breeding season. With no foal this year I had hoped she would be ready for an early visit but wasn't anticipating it to be quite that soon. As it transpired, she was the first mare officially to be covered by Schiaparelli at his new home, Overbury Stud. Here's hoping she gets in foal at the first attempt and we can look forward to a nice January foal in 2012 if all goes well. The small, muddy, hairy creature featured here is Des's yearling colt by Bertolini, named Jack Irish.

I'm afraid this week is going to be particularly hard as on Tuesday we say goodbye to Anis Etoile when she heads to the Ascot sales. I've tried very hard to sell her privately since her retirement from racing: she has the pedigree to be a promising National Hunt broodmare and the scope and the ability to be a nice eventer. I just hope that someone with one of those aims in mind buys her on Tuesday.

Anis came here as a yearling and eventually raced for the Tri-Nations Partnership. When she won on debut at Uttoxeter in 2009 she provided me with the happiest day of my life. Through my part-ownership of her, I have made new friends in fellow syndicate members and experienced at close hand the wonderful highs and cruel lows of racing. Being involved with horses is a good lesson for life in general on how to deal with hardships when they come. The hardest thing of all for me will be saying goodbye to a beautiful mare who has fulfilled so many dreams and given all of us who have been lucky enough to own her so much fun. Thank you, Anis.

Reasons to be cheerful: 1,2,3

2011-01-23T07:47:00.000-08:00

A handful of good things have happened this week to balance out several bad things. The bad things, caused by bad people, do not warrant a mention here because I don't want thoughts of a negative nature to ruin an otherwise perfectly nice Sunday.

But the good things are worth mentioning, even if they have little relevance (yet) to the wider racing world. I arrived back from London midweek to an upbeat report from the trainer regarding Ruby In The Dust. It wasn't that she'd just performed a sparkling piece of work or any such miracle, rather that the marvellous Carol Whitwood, equine chiropractor extraordinaire, had found that she needed some manipulation in her sacro-iliac joints. It may sound strange to be pleased to find that she had something wrong with her but John's been concerned with the shape of her back and quarters of late and, despite the fact that she's been eating well and moving well (which, generally, horses with SI trouble don't), she has continued to look too light and has had us scratching our heads. After a quiet week – a few days on box rest then a few more turned out in the muddy swamp that was once a paddock – Ruby will come back into slow work and resume her build-up towards a bumper debut.

Also approaching a bumper run (we hope) at the much grander age of seven is Ben Bhraggie, seen in both pictures on this posting, at work and at rest. Every year for the last four we've wondered if this will be the year that Ben will see a racecourse and, keeping absolutely everything we can think of crossed, it's looking like this year just might be the one. Only don't say it too loudly because we don't want him to know about it just yet.

Adam returned from his Thai sojourn and was as shocked as we all were to find Ben a transformed beast, scorching up the Al Bahathri in company with Douchkirk (Frankie). And given that Frankie has been just about keeping up with Ethics Girl and Rhythm Stick in recent work, it's heartening to know that Ben, in turn, can just about keep up with him. Come on Ben Bhraggie, the entire Scottish town of Golspie, if not all Sutherland, is waiting for you to run.

The third nice thing was being able to view a video clip on Facebook of Douchkette successfully jumping a double clear on her first indoor showjumping outing. She's not long left us and Tanya Bridgeman is doing a great job of re-educating her for eventing.

From having had the four siblings Kadouchski, She Is A Cracker, Douchkette and Douchkirk all here at one stage, we only have the two boys left now. Being by four different sires they are all markedly different in looks but what they all share is a very nice nature and willingness to work. Douchkirk, who, it has to be said, is a very strange looking horse, almost non-thoroughbred, completes the trio of our bumper horses waiting in the wings and we're very much hoping he can add to the family's winning tally later this year.

Grumble and crumble

2011-01-20T10:41:00.000-08:00

The February issue of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder magazine has just gone to press so it's time now to turn my attention to the pedigrees of 62 two-year-olds (not, sadly, in this yard). Assessing them and offering my half-baked opinion on precocity/potential race distance/etc is a job I look forward to at this time of year.

I'm also looking forward to going to see Jack Irish, now a yearling, on Monday. I haven't managed to get up to Norfolk to see him for at least two months so I know he will have changed much in that time. Despite the fact that Jack won't be joining this yard until at least November, the smart money's on him making it to the racecourse before big brother Oscar.

Ruby In The Dust (above) is a little filly Stephen McCormick and I have been keeping close tabs on. We're planning to race her together, initially in bumpers, with anyone else who wants to join the syndicate. The trainer has been characteristically pessimistic within my earshot but I like to think he's just doing a good job of expectation management, and nobody needs that more than I do. But from what Steve and I saw last Saturday, which was only a slow canter round the very long Southfields canter on Racecourse Side, Ruby is not a forlorn hope and we're starting to get quietly excited. We both need something to cheer us up after the disappointment of Anis Etoile's retirement.

I have to say that when Ruby is ready to make her bumper debut we'll be avoiding Newbury if they stick to the kind of prize-money levels on offer there yesterday: £1,300 for the winner of the bumper at a Grade 1 track. Shame on them. We've heard from Charlie Mann about boycotting Fontwell for running bumpers for the same level and Newbury has to be next on the list.

Embarrassment has stopped me from revealing the full results to John's pedigree quiz last Friday bar the fact that Juddmonte, like pretty much every horse they ran last year, were the runaway winners. Well done to Camilla Milbank and Kevin Sommerville, aka the Oasis Dream Team - Prince Khalid would have been proud. The rest of us have some homework to do.

Massive well done also to John for managing to get the hat-trick up with lovely Rhythm Stick on Monday, and to team Wadham for their three winners, one a debutante flat filly, this week.

Time to sign off as Bethan and Owen Byrne have promised me shepherd's pie and crumble and that's too good an invitation to turn down.

PS. Keeping everything crossed for Peddlers Cross and Soldatino on Saturday and very much hoping that they do not go for the same race.

The wait is over

2011-01-15T09:46:00.000-08:00

Ever since Boxing Day, fans of jump racing have been itching for today to dawn for the chance to witness history being made with a fifth King George victory for Kauto Star.

It wasn't to be and that much was plain from quite a long way out, but to me that great horse loses absolutely nothing in defeat. He still saw off all but two of a very classy field, most of whom were significantly younger than his 11 years. Okay, so he didn't jump with his usual verve, but for him to have finished once again in the money, for the 31st time in 35 starts, is a record which speaks for itself.

And now we have a really exciting pretender to his throne in Long Run. I'm always happy to see the Waley-Cohen family do well and it must have been satisfying for Sam to silence his critics. It was a cool-headed ride on a wonderfully talented and stunning looking horse, but only when I see Long Run beat Kauto Star in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (sorry George, the Totesport Cheltenham Gold Cup) will I accept the opinion of the race commentator who declared: 'The King is dead, long live the King'. In my book, King Kauto is still alive and kicking and long may he reign.

Saturday also brought vicarious pleasure for this stable via the victory of James de Vassy and Will Kennedy in the Lanzarote Hurdle. Of course we think of Will as 'our jockey' as he is first choice for any of our jumpers and regularly comes up to school for us. But he has commitments to larger trainers, notably Paul Webber, for whom he rides RSA Chase favourite Time For Rupert, and today he struck up a winning partnership with the increasingly successful Nick Williams. Let's hope we see more of Will on Britain's racecourses: as I've said before, he's too good to be travelling to a track merely for one ride, as is so often the case.

One of Will's regular mounts, Kadouchski, will be without his services on Wednesday as he is to have a run on the flat. He's one of four runners for this week between now and then, and he will be ridden, as he was in his last flat outing, by our stable apprentice Hannah Nunn, who is also on Asterisk at Southwell tomorrow. Ethics Girl and Rhythm Stick are both back in action this week after last-start wins so let's hope at least one (or preferably all) of them can trouble the judge.

I don't know if I'm just getting more squeamish but the start of this year seems to have brought with it an increasing number of falls for horses and jockeys and once again today, great Saturday cards from all over the country provided us with some very uncomfortable moments of viewing. I pray that they're all okay.

It's heartening, however, to have read a more positive bulletin today regarding the recovery of Monet's Garden. Perhaps it's too early to call it a recovery but I'm sure every one of his many fans continues to hope that he is able to enjoy his well-earned retirement with Joey, who is seen at the top of this page with the great grey after a schooling session last year at the Links during their imposed exile from snowbound Cumbria. Get well soon, old boy.

Zen and the mystery of relocation

2011-01-03T09:20:00.000-08:00

With so much good jump racing lost to the snow and ice I couldn't wait to watch racing from Cheltenham on new year's day but it was hard to bear the fatal injury to Joe Lively in the feature race. It was also hard to imagine what the Tizzards must have been feeling when Hell's Bay won the Dipper after such a tragedy. Racing takes with one hand and gives back with the other.

My usual feeling of dread when we have jumpers running followed me to Folkestone yesterday. I led up Kadouchski while Hugh was at Plumpton with Alcalde and John and Will Kennedy dashed between the two places to saddle and to ride. Neither horse troubled the respective judges but I am glad to say they are both back safe and sound in their boxes. Kadouchski gave his all, as usual, in the very heavy ground and blew very hard after the race.

His sister, Douchkette (pictured), who won a hurdles race for us last year but suffered an injury which pretty much ruled out the continuation of her racing career, was rehomed last week and we'll look forward to hearing about her progress as an eventer in the coming months. During the course of researching a feature on retrained racehorses for Horse & Hound, I was fortunate to meet Tanya Bridgeman, who has much experience in bringing on ex-racers in the eventing field. Douchkette is now starting her new career with Tanya in Lincolnshire and she's in the perfect hands to fulfil what I believe is her great potential as a sport horse. The next member of the family, Douchkirk, otherwise known as Frankie, should make his debut for this stable in a bumper in the spring.

Returning to yesterday, Alcalde was not quite unscathed after his mistake at the last hurdle on the first circuit at Plumpton and it's safe to say that the Tri-Zone Allsport boots he was wearing saved him from a very serious tendon injury which could have been career-ending, if not life-threatening, had he not been wearing them.

When it comes to boots, the argument of extra weight/over-heating the tendons is vastly out-weighed, in my opinion, by the need to protect horses, particularly jumpers, from striking into themselves, which is exactly what happened when Alcalde landed awkwardly after misjudging the hurdle. That he is just bruised and a little bit sorry for himself today is massively preferable to the unthinkable alternative. For anyone with eventers or National Hunt racehorses, I would strongly recommend the investment in a pair of the above-named boots. They are the lightest and most flexible tendon boots I have ever come across and they have a perforated surface which allows for airflow to the tendon area. Best of all, and what saved Alcalde, is the thin but very tough strip of titanium that runs down the back of the boot protecting the tendon. The force of the impact sliced right through the rubber, as you can see in the picture, but was halted by this strip, thus avoiding catastrophic injury. For more information, click on this link.

We're winding back up now after a mini-break for those horses not in strong work. Ethics Girl gave us a lovely end to the year with her victory at Wolverhampton on 30 December. The new two-year-olds are having a break after learning the ropes and will be back with us in the spring. The three fillies bought at the sales will be joined by Batgirl's Beat Hollow half-sister, who will be another very welcome addition from Pantycoed Stud.

First Pressing is back in work after an enforced absence for the second half of last season, and soon we'll have her partner in crime, Silken Thoughts, back from the farm to get going on their three-year-old campaigns. Silky has wintered well. She's always been a robust filly but she looks stronger than ever and I'm really looking forward to her return.

Away from horses, the highlight of the year so far has been the BBC's new series Zen, which is taken from the Italian-based crime novels of Michael Dibdin. I've only read one Aurelio Zen book, which was set in Venice, so I was surprised to find the TV version set in Rome. Perhaps I need to read the rest of the collection for clarification, but when Rufus Sewell is in the starring role looking like an extra from La Dolce Vita, who cares about attention to detail?

The only thing that could be better would be the lovely Rufus going on to play the lead in a televised version of Peter Temple's award-winning Jack Irish novels, as long as they don't decide to switch Jack to Sydney.

That was (sort of) the year that was

2010-12-23T04:28:00.000-08:00

The geese are getting fat but they'll have a long way to go to catch up with me. The great thing about this extended cold snap is that it's easy to pretend that it's just many layers of clothing but the new year, sadly, will have to herald a proper and rigorous keep fit campaign. Janet Anderson is already trying to persuade me to walk 100km in 30 hours for Oxfam in June, and in the shorter term my aim is to get back in the saddle come spring. Poor Panto won't know what's hit him after a year of almost permanent idleness.

With Christmas looming it's probably time for a bit of a review of the year from the small goldfish bowl that is Beverley House Stables.

The accident that claimed the life of Chris Watson last month has to be utterly the worst thing that could happen in any stable. We've lost a good friend, racing has lost an enthusiastic supporter and in the wider world there is one decent man missing. Chris will not be forgotten by any of us and our thoughts are very much with his family and friends this Christmas.

More positives aspects to 2010 include the addition to this stable of Hannah Nunn (pictured), who turned 16 in July and became a full-time member of staff the very next day. Hannah graduated from the British Racing School with flying colours and became the first girl ever to beat the boys in the fitness test. Her hard work, good manners and determination to succeed set a good example for any budding young jockey. Hannah has had two race-rides to date and has shown a cool head on each occasion. Hers is a name to watch out for and we hope she'll be having plenty more rides for this stable in 2011.

Hannah is of course very fortunate to have two such experienced and decent colleagues as Hugh and Adam. A racing yard can't function without good staff and we're very grateful to have such wonderful and trustworthy people involved here.

My small string is growing, though I can't say with any confidence that we'll see any of them on the racecourse any time soon. Oscar Bernadotte has a darling temperament but the trainer appears to be taking a very softly-softly approach with him. I'm sure he's right to do so. The same can be said for Ruby In The Dust, though John doesn't agree with me about her manners as he has nicknamed her 'The Maggot'.

Desiree's second foal Jack Irish (pictured, left) becomes a yearling on 1 January and may well beat his elder brother to the track. Since the December Sales, we also have a Rainbow Quest filly to race next year, named Maroon. She's having a break at the moment but will go back into training early next year.

Best news of the year for me was that Oscar's sire Sulamani has returned to Britain to stand at Yorton Farm in Shropshire. To truly like a particular stallion I have to have loved him as a racehorse and there's hardly a horse in the last few decades whom I have admired more than Sulamani. I know I can't be a lone voice in liking him as a stallion – his Classic-winning son Mastery has been a wonderful advertisement for him again this year – and I hope a plentiful array of NH breeders will take him to their hearts now that he's back in the UK. If his stock are anywhere near as tough as he was as a racehorse then he has to stand a chance of siring good bumper/hurdles winners in the next few seasons.

And probably equal best news was AP McCoy becoming BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He didn't need the marketing campaign. He is, quite simply, the best, and the best by a distance.

On the track there have been almost too many fantastic results to do justice to them all. I think perhaps their names are enough and these are the horses who have kept me enthralled this year (in no particular order): Goldikova, Workforce (pictured), Harbinger, Zenyatta, Time For Rupert, Kauto Star, Kauto Stone, Mastery, Harris Tweed (GB), Harris Tweed (NZ), So You Think, Americain, Mister McGoldrick, Monet's Garden, Peddlers Cross...I could go on forever and I know I'll have missed many wonderful horses.

Most wonderful of all are those currently very woolly creatures who inhabit this yard. Extreme Conviction has to win BHS Horse of the Year for his four victories but each and every horse here brings joy in different ways and watching the young ones learn to become racehorses is endlessly enjoyable.

I'm not going to spoil Christmas by thinking about the potential carving up of next year's Flat season for no justifiable reason: that subject has already upset and depressed me too much this year. Much better to focus on the positives and all that ever really matters is the horses who make the sport of racing so great. Here's to them and to every one of us who lives in hope that a truly great one will one day touch our lives.

Happy Christmas.

So I think

2010-10-30T08:13:00.000-07:00

In this house we're all gripped by a a bout of First Tuesday fever and the flames were fanned this morning by getting up early to catch some of the action from a rain-soaked Flemington on VRC Derby day.

Lion Tamer was highly impressive in the Derby itself, his sire Storming Home adding to Street Cry's efforts to claim 'sire of sires' honours for the late, lovely Machiavellian. That Lion Tamer is from the same family as one of my Melbourne Cup favourites Harris Tweed (NZ), who is pictured here on last year's Cup eve with his former work rider now Newmarket trainer Toby Coles, makes him even more special. They are both descendants of the Auckland Cup winner and Queen Elizabeth Stakes winner My Blue Denim and race for the their breeder, Phil Bayly.

Even more impressive was the Bart Cummings-trained So You Think, who is now favourite to give the Cups King his 13th victory in the Melbourne Cup. Bart is currently in hospital but no doubt itching to get out in time for Tuesday. He turns 83 very soon, the same age as So You Think's owner, Dato Tan Chin Nam.

So You Think won his second Cox Plate last Saturday before strolling to victory in the Mackinnon Stakes with the testing ground not bothering him at all. A victory for him on Tuesday in the 150th running of the Cup would be fitting indeed, not just for a highly successful owner/trainer combination but because this son of High Chaparral looks like a true champion in the making.

Of course we'll have to barrack for the home team too, so to see Manighar, Illustrious Blue, Campanologist, Holberg or Profound Beauty run well would be fantastic. Can't of course rule out last year's winner, Shocking, who has unfortunately drawn widest of the 24 runners, and I can see Harris Tweed running another big race on ground that he will like much better than last year, when he was a running-on fifth from a bad draw.

On the home front, we've been really pleased with Alcalde ever since he joined us from the July sale and his schooling session this morning under the ever-obliging Will Kennedy has done nothing to change our minds. He's a lovely straightforward horse who seems really to enjoy his jumping and we're very much looking forward to his first run for this stable. Will also schooled Kadouchski, who is very pleased with himself at the moment and raring to get back to the track after a long enough absence. The change in Kadouchski since he came here has been enormous. He's gone from being a rather meek and slightly pathetic-looking creature to one who rules the roost out in the field with his stablemates and wears a permanently cheeky look on his face. He, too, is a delight to have around, but then I say that about each and every horse in the yard, even Ben.

Enduring

2010-10-29T05:45:00.000-07:00

Genuine excuses this time for lack of posting owing to back surgery a little over a month ago but normal service, we hope, will now be resumed.

As always so much has happened in the racing world in that time. Not really sure about the real world. I find it's better not to worry too much about what's going on out there.

We've had three lovely recent additions to this stable from the yearling sales at Tattersalls: a first-crop daughter of the Derby winner Sir Percy, a filly by the under-rated Barathea and another filly by Tiger Hill, all of whom are lovely and at this very early stage of their careers hold great promise.

As I sat at my desk by the window overlooking the yard, I suddenly noticed the Tiger Hill filly being led from her box with Adam on her back for the first time yesterday. I raced down to the yard with my camera and also found the Sir Percy filly being ridden quietly and sensible around the yard by Hannah. That both fillies were very well-behaved came as no surprise because they have been easy to handle since they day they arrived. What was alarming, however, was that the trainer had seen fit to use my unraced two-year-old as a lead horse for the girls. Oscar rose to the occasion like the angelic hack he's no doubt destined to be, possibly without ever making it to the racecourse, though the currently idle Panto, who has had most of this year off with me, looked pretty disgusted as Oscar kept sauntering past his stable doing the job he is usually asked to do. At this stage in his development it's hard to find much in the way of positive comments to make about Oscar but what I can say, without being accused of too much bias, is that he does have a truly wonderful temperament.

I've been thinking a lot about retired racehorses as I've just finished writing a very long piece for Horse & Hound on the retraining of three horses. I won't give away too much but it has been a really interesting piece to research and to write and I only hope it's vaguely interesting for people to read. The work being done by the RoR and other organisations in helping to get the message across that thoroughbreds really are the most versatile creatures is very important and becoming increasingly widely recognised.

One horse who will surely have no shortage of offers of a new home when he finally retires from racing is the gallant Monet's Garden. There have been many wonderful performances recently – Frankel, Twice Over, Workforce, Goldikova, So You Think in Australia – but for me nothing comes close to watching Monet streak around Aintree for yet another victory at the course he loves.

Two of the above-named will have every one of my fingers crossed for them in next weekend's Breeders' Cup, as will America's first lady, Zenyatta. If she, Goldikova and Workforce can each win their respective contests I will be a very happy person indeed.

I'm fairly certain that, barring injury, we'll see Workforce (left, leading his erstwhile stable companion Harbinger on Long Hill) back next year and that's just as it should be. There's been a lot of talk this week about two-year-olds retiring to stud and I add my voice to the throng that says this is a negative step for the breeding industry. In email exchanges with the big group of lovely friends who form the Empire syndicate to which we belong in Australia, one of the team suggested this week that the dual Cox Plate winner So You Think could not be judged a champion until he had been tested at three, four and five. I agree with this sentiment. It's for each breeder to make their own judgement on pedigrees but I would have thought that one of the most important considerations was the durability and soundness of any prospective foal's parents. Only from stock with such qualities can we breed horses who might have the chance to be long-lasting champions.

The sciatica diaries

2010-08-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

Lack of blogging is down to me really having very little to say as I have been keeping as quiet as possible in a bid to rid myself of a dreaded bout of sciatica.

Two wonderful trips would have been more wonderful had I not been in such a sorry state but it was great to be part of the Lorna Bradburne/Harry Fowler wedding on a lovely sunny Scottish Saturday a few weeks ago. Dancing with George Haine circa 3am probably did my back no good at all but it was a superb wedding and I particularly enjoyed the chance to sit opposite one of my secret heroes during dinner, Julian Pritchard.

Julian is well known to many as a former champion point-to-point rider. He was forced to give up several seasons ago after breaking his leg very badly. It's clear from our conversation that he misses every single second of the adrenaline rush that is race riding. While my own pathetic riding skills fall far short of Julian's this year has been marred by not being able to ride Panto at all. Well hardly at all. One short ride three weeks ago when I thought I'd seen the last of my back pain proved to me very quickly that that was far from the case and the sciatica has returned with a vengeance.

So I'm pretty useless just now and miss being more closely involved with the yard and going to the races. Most of all I just miss my horse. The bond with a horse you ride every day is like no other. A special trust. I look at Panto every day, currently looking better than he's ever looked in his life, and feel more and more depressed at the length of time that I know it's going to take me to get back on board. But I'll be back.

The second nice trip was to Deauville to cover the August Sale. Calvados and the kindness of others got me through what was otherwise a pretty painful weekend. It was, however, lovely to see the response from the crowd to the great mare Goldikova and while I was sad to see her beaten, to see the prize go to Mikel and Ann Delzangles via Makfi was decent compensation.

It's nice to see horses follow their sires and Makfi's win in the Prix Jacques le Marois was following the example of his sire Dubawi and grandsire Dubai Millennium. The same has happened today with Sole Power winning the Nunthorpe, a race also won by his sire Kyllachy and grandsire Pivotal.

Sole Power wasn't the only 100/1 winner of the day as 'our' jockey Will Kennedy rode a 100/1 winner at Bangor, which will probably go unnoticed by all but his most ardent fans, which we all are at this yard.

Tomorrow's fish and chip wrappers

2010-07-27T01:06:00.000-07:00

My obsession really started when I joined Pacemaker magazine in 2000. Pacemaker has been through many guises under various ownership over the years and now it is part of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder, by whom I am currently employed.

The three years at Pacemaker in the Haymarket days were the best years of my working life. It was wonderful to be able to concentrate solely on racing at last and I was fortunate to work with three excellent people, all of whom constantly showed me the error of my ways if I dared even to mention jump racing. They set me on the path from which there was to be no return: a love and appreciation of flat racing and breeding (though I secretly still love jumping but my nerve is failing).

I am happy to say that all three remain my friends to this day. Jeremy Early, an extremely talented nature photographer in his other life, is currently writing a fascinating series on the great owner/breeders for TO&B which I have greatly enjoyed reading as, I hope, have many other people who share the obsession. John Boyce is Darley's statistical guru and we worked together there for a number of years after Haymarket sold Pacemaker. In many ways, John is responsible for me being in Newmarket in the first place and I should be eternally grateful to him for that. Julian Muscat was the editor and it pains me greatly to have heard last week that he has lost his contract as a racing correspondent at The Times. Julian will hate me even mentioning this but I'm pretty certain he'll never read this blog so I should get away with it. He was a superb boss and he is, without doubt, one of the most talented writers about racing that this country possesses. It is unfathomable to think that Julian's services are not required by a paper as highly regarded by The Times but it seems that in most walks of life now, one doesn't necessarily need to be good, one just needs to be cheap.

The news of The Times dropping to just one racing correspondent followed on from the same announcement at the PA, where Martin Kelly has lost his job. I suspect we'll be seeing some more of Martin on ATR. He's a hugely enthusiastic and likeable character and I wish him luck in his freelance career. It's not only The Times and PA cutting back but Horse & Hound, my magazine of choice since I first sat on a pony aged four, is also reducing its racing and bloodstock content. Obviously H&H is in the unenviable position of having to try to be all things to all people and covers dressage, showing, polo, show jumping, eventing, driving, endurance and pretty much every other imaginable equestrian discipline. But I have to admit to an awful twinge of sadness when H&H dropped through the letterbox last Thursday and I grabbed it to read while having my muesli, only to find there was no racing report. It just felt wrong.

So what's the message from all this? Is racing really that much of an irrelevance in today's society? Not so if the recent figures from racecourse attendances for the first half of this year are anything to go by. Or are these people just coming along for the extras, such as pop concerts, beauty pageants and bouncy castles, all now given so much prominence that the horses themselves are in danger of becoming a sideshow? Maybe.

It's easy to get bogged down in the constant worries of falling prize-money, potentially reduced opportunities for horses to even race and the trivial manner in which many racecourses now treat their core product but it's also important to keep in mind exactly why we're here doing this in the first place. No amount of gloomy levy forecasts can take away that exquisite unique thrill when a horse you bred or own or love or follow or have backed passes the line in front. Even on a horribly wet Tuesday at Bangor. Thank you, Ex Con, Douchkette, Batgirl, Silken Thoughts and co. for reminding us what it's really all about.

Good week at HQ and elsewhere

2010-07-11T11:50:00.001-07:00

It's been a great week. It's hard to imagine a better place to be than Newmarket in 'July Week'. Great racing, lovely stallion parades and parties and the July sales, where everyone is in a little bit of a holiday mood before the slightly more serious business of the yearling sales begins. Yes, last week was Newmarket en fete.

Adding to the excitement from our own small corner of the world was the victory of Batgirl at Nottingham on Saturday. She's a smashing filly who now really fills the eye but in her time here she has given the trainer the odd moments of concern so it was truly satisfying to get her first win on the board, especially for Tony Fordham who is a relatively new owner but a passionate supporter of racing who really deserves this success.

Another piece of good news was the arrival in the stable of the lovely Alcalde, a Lanwades Stud graduate who won three races for Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed al Maktoum from the Mark Johnston stable. We're very pleased to have him here to race for three members of the Ex Con syndicate plus Sarah Williams, a co-owner of First Pressing. He's a lovely prospect who will be seen next over hurdles, hopefully later this year.

For John, possibly the most exciting aspect of the week was acting as tour guide to top Australian jockey Michael Rodd (seen above) and a group of very friendly Australians on Thursday. Michael was last seen in the UK in action on Gold Trail in the King's Stand Stakes. He's also the regular rider of Melbourne Cup winner Shocking though sadly he did not win the big race on him as he couldn't do the weight. Michael's one of Australia's finest and it was a pleasure to show him and his fellow travellers Barry and Sue Wallace, Clive and Bill around. As always, seeing Newmarket through the eyes of foreign visitors reminded us how really lucky we are to be here in heart of racing and breeding country.

Mad about the Girl

2010-07-03T10:10:00.001-07:00

It's always a pleasure to go to the races with Ethics Girl (pictured) as she is the consummate professional. People may look at her in the parade ring and think she's a small, ordinary-looking filly. She is. But the heart that beats within that frame was obviously one designed for a much bigger horse because she gives her all every time she goes out, as she demonstrated again when a good second at Leicester on Saturday. One has to hope that, barring unforeseen disasters, she'll grab another couple of wins before the season is out.

She came here three years ago, one of three yearling fillies we brought back from the Tattersalls Ireland sale at Fairyhouse. The fortunes of the three have been varied. Ethics was the only one of them to run at two, right near the end of the season. Her colleague, Struck Lucky, was gearing up for her first run as a three-year-old when, heartbreakingly, she fractured her elbow and had to be put down. The third, the one we had gone to see, was Jenny Dawson. Jack's and Jill's sister has been slower to come to hand than other members of her family, though generally it is a late-maturing family. She's had one run and we're very much hoping she can be a nice staying/dual-purpose prospect once she is handicapped.

I can't really think about one of them without thinking of the other two. It was the same with Jill Dawson and her fellow Mull Of Kintyre filly Lady Suffragette, from whom she was inseparable. Both won for the stable and both are now doing well in their second careers, with Lady S about to make her debut in the show ring at the Dublin Show on 7 August ridden by our very own Aisling Appleby.

It's the same now with Silken Thoughts and First Pressing. They came from Tattersalls together, exercised every day together for the first six months of their time here. They're not currently workmates but as soon as they are turned out with the herd, they are most definitely firm paddock mates, as are the two two-year-old geldings Grey Panel and Oscar Bernadotte.

I watch the horses in the field for hours when I should be tapping away at this keyboard and I'm convinced they each have their own best friend. Perhaps I think too much about horses when I should be thinking about important things.

One other thing that should be mentioned before this blog runs out of steam is Iva Milckova (pictured), although to refer to her as a thing is rather rude. Iva is brilliant and has been the partner of most of our flat horses this season. She should be being booked for many more rides than she currently is. Three things count against her:

1.She has no claim as she's ridden more than 100 winners in her native Czech Republic.
2. Nobody knows who she is.
3. She's female, and even with the wonderful success of Hayley Turner, women jockeys still struggle to be taken seriously.

But Iva should be taken seriously. She certainly takes the business of being a jockey very seriously. She's up at an indecent hour every morning to ride one lot for John Ryan, then she goes to her full-time job with Jane Chapple-Hyam and when she's finished at Jane's she comes here to ride one last lot. Then, if she's lucky enough to have been booked for a ride, she's off to the races. She's got a wonderful way with horses, she's a grafter and she rides exactly to orders. Iva deserves a chance. Trainers, please take note.

And one last thing: John has been too coy to name the people who have helped us through the temporary absence of Hugh, who was sending fretful text messages from his hospital bed, so diligent is he in his duty to this stable, and the unannounced departure of Steph, which was unhelpful to say the least. But those who have been immensely helpful and who have proved themselves to be true friends, not that we didn't know it already, are: the wonderful Adam Harris, the brilliant Nigel Walker, the saintly Hannah Nunn (who becomes a full-time employee here on Monday only a day after her 16th birthday), The Angels (Gemma Dawson and Aisling Appleby, as ever) and, of course, the above-named Iva and her friends Amanda and Petra, who helped us out with riding duties last week. Thank you, one and all.

And the winner is...

2010-06-23T10:24:00.000-07:00

...step forward, Peter Temple, winner of Australia's most coveted literary prize, the Miles Franklin Award, for his novel Truth.

Here at Unstable Life we've been raving about this wonderful book since it was first published in the UK in January. I know of one Peter Temple convert, Roger Vicarage, who has already devoured The Broken Shore and will now presumably be rushing out to buy the award-winning follow-up.

Rumour has it that the great writer could even make a guest appearance in Newmarket later this year. We'll be sure to organise a Beverley House book signing if he does.

Ignore the Harbinger at your peril

2010-06-20T06:06:00.000-07:00

I'm a great one for superstitious betting. Passing a horsebox en route to the races, first trainer you see, etc. This probably says much about my pathetic and occasional gambling habit.

Having felt pretty smug on Tuesday for sticking to my rule of backing jumpers in the Ascot Stakes, I subsequently felt pretty stupid that I did not apply this rule to the Gold Cup and Queen Alexandra. I felt even more stupid (but also pleased) to see Harbinger continue his unbeaten run this season.

One Sunday morning last summer, John and I were enjoying a quiet exercise on Panto and Dizzy on the deserted Heath (or so we thought). Having had a gentle hack along the Town Canter we turned off the end and set off along the walking grounds for home when suddenly, from nowhere, appeared this giant, roaring, riderless colt.

Dizzy has grown quite a bit this year but was fairly small by thoroughbred standards as a two-year-old. A sleek, near-black filly, she has, however, always been very eye-catching. The interloper clearly thought she was worth a second look as, having lobbed past, he turned on his heels and came snorting back to us, clearly intent on making Dizzy's acquaintance. Loose horses on the Heath can be pretty alarming anyway but when it's a big colt and you're on a small filly, it's the absolute last thing you need. I tried to block his passage to Dizzy by putting Panto, a boring old gelding, in his path but this was no deterrent for the mystery colt, whose rider was still nowhere to be seen.

John and I dismounted in a flash and he threw Dizzy's reins at me. For at least the hundredth time I thanked God that Panto was such a sensible hack (dotted throughout this entry you will see Panto being ridden by my stepson Anthony, godson Ben and nephew Cameron - he's truly one of the all-time greats) and that sweet little Dizzy was taking this rather intimidating scene in her stride. She's been brought up in the hills of Northumberland and wasn't going to let some great southern softie spoil her morning.

The trainer caught the errant colt and started leading him back up the Heath whence he came. When he was almost at the back gate of Sir Michael Stoute's second yard, Beech Hurst, a rider came running to him, no doubt relieved to see his former mount in one piece. His parting shot to John was: "You should have kept him, he's a good one. He's Harbinger."

Surely this close encounter was enough to spur me into future huge wagers on said beast? Not a bit of it, unfortunately. I won't forget him easily though. He's a truly magnificent horse, but in future I'd rather see him with a paddock rail between us instead of him breathing down the neck of my brave and beloved hack.

STOP PRESS: Great to hear news this morning of the latest addition to the Winter clan. Welcome to the world Willow Orangeblossom Winter and congratulations to Angie and Johnny (who is celebrating a very memorable first father's day).

It's the most wonderful time of the year

2010-06-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

I love the summer in Newmarket. Never was a summer person until I moved here but at the height of the racing season it's impossible to be bored.

It's been a great thrill getting to know the Aussie horses over the last few years and I felt strangely flat when neither Nicconi (pictured) or Gold Trail managed to grab the King's Stand Stakes on Tuesday. Lovely result for the Hills team though and for Newsells Park Stud, the destination for Equiano once he retires at the end of this season. Nice to hear Michael Hills compare him to his grandsire, the great Royal Applause, sire of the even greater and currently very idle Pantomime Prince. Old age and sciatica willing, I'll soon be back aboard my trusty hack, who seems to be rather enjoying his extremely long holiday.

Very happy to see Junior keep up the good record of the jumpers in the Ascot Stakes - I dream about Anis Etoile, or even Oscar Bernadotte, running in that race in the coming years.

John's one big regret in not coming to Ascot yesterday would almost certainly have been missing out on seeing his idol Bear Grylls. And the thought of the Angels (seen here in action) and Bear being all in the same place at one time would have been more than the trainer could stand.

I'm still sulking about the double blow of my car deciding to combust spontaneously en route to Epsom last week and the subsequent theft of my beloved birthday bicycle the following Tuesday from Newmarket station. Although the car is more expensive to replace, the stealing of my bike was much more upsetting as it was such a thoughtful gift from my family and friends. Even more depressing was reading in the NiBs in the following week's Journal about all the other bikes stolen in Newmarket. We seem to be living in the crime capital of East Anglia.

Looking forward to a trio of runners from BHS at Newmarket and Lingfield on Saturday, with the resumption of Ethics Girl, the debut of Hotfoot and the belated first handicap run for Keep Silent. And hold on to your hats if the crazy guitar-playing Carl O'Callaghan wins the Golden Jubilee Stakes with Kinsale King (by far the most striking of the overseas raiders spotted on the Heath this year) on Saturday. Not even the Queen will be safe.

Absolute Perfection

2010-05-31T08:51:00.000-07:00

I was so gushing about Jack in the last posting that I forgot to mention AP McCoy. I think AP stands for Anthony Patrick but anyone who has seen him ride would also settle for Absolute Perfection. And it's not just his skills in the saddle that set him apart, he also seems to be an absolutely first-rate person, not that I know him at all. The last twice I've seen him publicly he has received a standing ovation. On Monday when he received his Jockey of the Year award at the Anglo-Irish Jump Racing Awards, and when he was led through the press room en route to his post-Grand National press conference. It takes a special something to make a roomful - and at Aintree it's a very big room - of hacks get up out of their chairs and he is just that. Very special indeed.

With jump racing thriving here, even in the face of prize-money concerns, it's hard to believe that at the other side of the world, it's almost certain to be banned. I've never been jump racing in Australia but days spent racing at Flemington, Caulfield, Moonee Valley, Ballarat and even Mansfield, leave me in no doubt that it is a country in thrall to racing. But it would seem our Aussie friends just can't stomach the jumping. It's a shame. Fly them in for a day at the Cheltenham Festival, or Aintree, or even dear old Fakenham, and they'd soon change their minds. To catch up on the state of play in Australian racing, or indeed any sports anywhere, I've been shown a really good Victorian-based website called Back Page Lead. This is well worth checking out, particularly the tongue-in-cheek guide to the World Cup (under soccer, rather than football, but they have this strange other type of AFL football there). For each team's profile, the last comment is 'Why boo them'. For England, it reads simply, 'They're Poms'. Enough said.

With Anthony here for half-term I have been trying to pretend that I know all about football and the impending World Cup. If only it was the Rugby World Cup, I'd fare much better. So are we going to win? Seems unlikely. 44 years of hurt...and counting.

Another new site I've found today is Louise Parry's new blog for Pantycoed Stud, the birthplace of Batgirl and Rhythm Stick and, judging by Louise's lovely pics, lots of really cute pony foals this spring.

Must dash. Pre-Derby pedigree discussion group calls. The only research I've done is to drive past the little boy's grave, where, tradition has it, the colours of the Derby winner are displayed in flowers on the morning of the race. The flowers there just now are purple and white - the planter had obviously not heard about St Nicholas Abbey's lacklustre gallop when he/she got to work with his trowel. I hope Newmarket's answer to Percy Thrower is right and the whispers from Ballydoyle are wrong. I'd love to see St Nick become the champion he hinted he could be when winning last year's Racing Post Trophy.

But then there's Ted Spread, trained here, just off Exeter Road (sadly not here in this stable). Will he get his much-needed rain? And then there's Bullet Train (above). Will he make us all cry by giving Henry Cecil another Derby victory, 25 years after he won the race with Slip Anchor (seen here at Plantation Stud at the grand old age of 28)? And, more importantly, who is Problem Walrus's selection for Derby glory?

Anticipation

2010-05-29T10:07:00.000-07:00

Since 4 June 2009, when Desiree was covered by Bertolini, I have wasted many hours worrying, wondering, wishing that her foal would arrive. He finally did, on 3 May, and is an absolute cracker. Well, I would say that, wouldn't I? But if you need proof, there will be pictorial evidence scattered throughout this post of just what a handsome little chap is Jack Irish.

If you're wondering about the name, get to your nearest bookshop and buy Bad Debts, Black Tide, Dead Point and White Dog, all award-winning books by Peter Temple featuring the great character Jack Irish. I'm lucky to have been granted permission to use the name and nearly had a seizure through the winter when I noticed a horse running named Irish Jack. A swift call was made to Weatherbys and Jack Irish (GB) was reserved. Thankfully Des then obliged by foaling a colt and I can breathe easy for a year as she will not be covered this season.

I probably should switch to worrying about the progress of Oscar Bernadotte (below, right), her first foal, now a two-year-old gelding by Sulamani. But so far, and I almost hate to tempt fate by saying this, Oscar has given me no cause for concern in his short life. He arrived in this world exactly on time, was smallish, skinnyish, still is, but has the most charming character and has been an incredibly easy horse to break in.

Bit in my mouth? No problem. Saddle on my back? OK, fine. Lungeing? Seems a bit pointless to me but I'll give it a go as long as I can stop to pick grass halfway through. A rider? Yup, ok, this is actually quite fun. Walking and trotting through the streets of Newmarket past pushchairs, umbrellas, buses, the market square, other bigger strings of horses? Not a bother.

That pretty much sums up Oscar's attitude to life. As kind and as soft as Panto, which is great for me when it comes to messing about in his stable but it does rather leave me with this awful creeping feeling that he's never going to be a racehorse. We'll see. There's plenty of time and if it comes to it, I can always ride Panto as a hack first lot and Oscar second lot. Not sure John's thrilled at the ever increasing number of hacks I have lined up for this stable - particularly as I can't ride at all at the moment owing to back trouble which makes me feel about 107. The most annoying part of it is missing out on going out with Oscar on his first forays from the yard but he comes back with a glowing report from all who ride him and it's probably best that I don't see too much of what he gets up to at school.

I sat in a meeting with my colleagues on the editorial committee of Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder on Friday and felt distinctly left out. Louise Kemble was looking forward to a trip to Auteuil to watch her budding young chaser Kauto Stone, a half-brother to the great Kauto Star. Dena Arstell, who bred Ted Spread (try saying that after a few drams), was looking forward to the Derby, and Edward Rosenthal, Michael Harris and the entire ROA office crew, aka Champagne Friday, were looking forward to watching their filly Champagnelifestyle in the Oaks.

What am I looking forward to? Well, I'm looking forward to all those occasions for all of them because the excitement in the room was palpable and that's, surely, what we get involved in racing for in the first place. And I'm just looking forward. To every horse that heads from our yard to the races, hoping they'll do their best for their owners, for John and our great team here. To Anis, to Ruby, to Oscar, to Jack, to getting back on Panto, one day soon. With horses around, there's always something to look forward to.

Over-eggscited

2010-04-04T04:11:00.000-07:00

The excitement of the Beverley House Stables Easter egg hunt was too much for my two-year-old nephew Rory, who wet two pairs of trousers and had to spend the rest of the afternoon running around bottomless, not that it bothered him at all. We weathered the storm of 11 children between the ages of 22 months and nine years (and their respective parents) here for lunch on Friday which ended up being a really fun afternoon. Perhaps the most excited person of all was the trainer, who, to his obvious delight, found one last chocolate egg when he was doing evening stables long after all the children had departed to be sick in their parents' cars on the way home.

Good Friday evening saw the arrival of my old boss Julian Muscat who was staying with us ahead of an early morning appointment in Newmarket on Saturday. Anthony conned Julian into a few hands of Uno, our new favourite card game, and the six-year-old managed to beat three hapless adults every time.

Saturday, though cold, gave a hint of spring sunshine and Anthony and I spent the morning racing between Railway Land, a grass gallop almost adjacent to the Al Bahathri where six of our horses were galloping, and the Line Gallop on Water Hall to watch and photograph some of Lucy's Wadham's string in action. Sir Michael Stoute and Henry Cecil were both on the Al Bahathri when we were there and Stoute had an enormous entourage of owners in tow. It's hard to put into words the excitement and anticipation that builds in Newmarket as the Craven meeting approaches.

The picture accompanying this shows John on Batgirl, who galloped with First Pressing and Adam (2nd left), Silken Thoughts and Steph (left), Keep Silent and Hugh (grey), and right at the back are Stardust Memories with Hannah (white cap) while the unnamed Desert Sun filly and Rodney are obscured in this shot. We're really looking forward to all of these horses running in the next few months, three of them for the first time in their lives. The long-range forecast for the week says the temperature is set to soar to a balmy 17 degrees. Spring at last and HQ's coming out of hibernation.

The great Fiddle

2010-03-30T12:03:00.000-07:00

One of the worst moments I've experienced on a racecourse (bar losing Benedict in the Lincoln four years ago) was standing at Becher's Brook, acting as second camera in the days when George Selwyn trusted me to take semi-in-focus pics, and seeing Fiddling The Facts and Mick Fitzgerald come down on the second circuit of the 1999 Grand National.

I don't recommend that anyone with a dodgy ticker or a tendency towards hysteria stands at Becher's. The drop on the landing side means that you can't see the runners coming, you can only hear them. 40 sets of hooves thundering towards you. Only the dead would be unmoved. And then to see my favourite horse and favourite jockey crumpled in a heap on the floor. Utter terror but a happy ending, thank God.

I loved Fiddling The Facts and it has given me an immense amount of pleasure to watch her become a broodmare of note too. Her first runner, Classic Fiddle, won seven races and has black type, while Fiddling Again has won two and today's debutant, Master Fiddle, scored with ease at Market Rasen. Hurrah for the old girl, who has given us yet another exciting horse to follow for next jumps season.

Of course this season isn't yet over. We still have Aintree to look forward to and I'll be cheering on Niche Market in the Grand National for reasons you can read about in next week's Horse & Hound. And, of course, the Flat has spluttered into action but here at HQ we're blinkered enough to believe it doesn't really start until the Craven meeting. Quite so. The first day of the Craven sees the third and final year that the fillies' Classic trial will be run in the name of the Leslie Harrison Memorial Nell Gwyn Stakes. It's still too unbearable to think that Leslie's been gone for three years. He remains much missed, his followers still meeting at the pedigree club he set up with Camilla Milbank.

While John made the long trip to Wincanton on Sunday with Ex Con, whose unfortunate error cost him the chance of a place but who once again demonstrated his unshakeable genuineness, I ventured deep into Thetford Forest to watch our old faithful Jack Dawson (left) competing in an endurance race. In his racing days, Jack had many fans and I'm sure they'd be pleased to know that at the age of 13 he still looks every inch the racehorse and is enjoying life immensely. Thanks to Margaret Donnelly, Paul Wright and Lorna Kidson for the great work they are doing with Jack and to my old friend and neighbour Alice, who keeps me regularly updated with his sister Jill Dawson's progress. Jill and Alice are entering their first British Eventing class in April but Jill has already been the subject of rave reviews from no less a judge than the great Lucinda Green, so I'm confident that she too will excel in her new role.

Thanks also for the pictures from Terri Gray, now the proud owner of Brief Goodbye (right), who took part in his first round of cross-country jumping at the weekend and is impressing his new rider.

When the horses are here in training they really are like members of the family so letting them go when they retire is very hard indeed. Success stories like these really do help and John and I are immensely grateful to the people who take on these lovely thoroughbreds and give them a chance to show just how versatile they really are.

Readers of the Sunday Times might have noticed this blog's favourite author, Peter Temple, receiving a highly favourable bulletin for Truth in this week's paper. The reviewer said it 'might be the best thriller of the year'. There's no 'might' about it. It is.

Thoughts on things

2010-03-23T12:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. How many times have I said that on this blog? Let's face it, I'm just a rubbish blogger. My only defence is that as I'm supposed to earn my living from writing (ha!) the very last thing I want to do of an evening is sit down in front of my computer.

Mind you, the view from my desk has improved greatly. I have finally got round to doing what I've been putting off for about 18 months: office tidying. With that came a bit of a restructure and my desk is now at the window looking out over Warren Hill (with Waitrose spoiling the view but let's gloss over that). As my office was once a hayloft I also have the vantage point of looking down over the yard and seeing the very pretty heads of our two-year-old fillies First Pressing and Silken Thoughts and, if I really crane my neck, I can see my boys Oscar and Panto.

Cheltenham has probably been done to death but I can't remember being more rocked by a race than by this year's Gold Cup. I also greatly enjoyed the performances of Soldatino, Peddlers Cross and a back-to-form Quevega.

The yard is overflowing with new faces: Steph, Rodney, Eva, Max, all of whom will become better known on this site in coming weeks. Tomorrow morning we are lucky enough to have Seamus Durack in to school Ex Con and She Is A Cracker and then Micky Fenton (pictured, left, with Steph) to give the two-year-olds a bit of a spin. Then there's the dentist. Every silver lining has a cloud.

One last wish is for anyone who cares about the future of Newmarket and is in the vicinity on Thursday night to come along to the extraordinary planning meeting which will decide whether or not Lord Derby's plans for a major development on Hatchfield Farm gets the go-ahead. Anybody with the interests of Newmarket as a major training centre at heart cannot back this terrible scheme. Let's hope the council sees sense.

What the Mulls did next

2010-02-08T00:37:00.000-08:00

Almost exactly this time last year we took Jill Dawson with us to Chepstow when Ex Con was running. There she was picked up by my old friend Alice Tollworthy (pictured). I haven't seen Jill since but Alice has kept us fully updated on the wonderful progress she's making in her secondary career and within the last few weeks she has made her debut in the hunting field with the South & West Wilts and in the dressage arena on Sunday.

This link to her performance on Youtube will show you Jill in action but the fact that she scored a nine for her paces in her very first test is a remarkable achievement for both Jill and Alice.

I don't think Alice will mind if I post her comments from a recent email after her day's hunting:

"We had such a GREAT time today, she coped with it really really well. It was tricky at the actual meet, where we only had a small space to stand and wait for the crowd to assemble - I ended up walking up and down the drive to get away from everyone else, but she was just gawking at everybody and everything, just trying to take it all in.
So much noise and excitement - she coped so admirably.

"Yesterday I took her to my dressage trainer again (for the third time since she came to me) who was really pleased with our progress and really complimentary. She really concentrated well, avoided distractions and worked really softly and 'through' in the trot. The canter transitions, and the canter are really really coming now, far more balanced and controlled which is deeply satisfying and feels lovely.

"We're off to a dressage competition on Sunday, our first EVER - so this week will be a huge challenge for her all in all. Aiming for our first one day event in April.... that's the goal! Will keep you posted."

Last week, we also received this message and photo from Aisling, who is currently in Dubai but is now the owner of Lady Suffragette, our former winning hurdler, who is lodging with John Halley in Co Limerick:

"I just thought I’d drop you a line to let you know that Lady S has excelled herself on the hunting field yet again. On Thursday while hunting in Ballingarry (ridden by point-to-point Jockey Mr. Barry John Foley) she whipped in for the County Limerick Foxhounds!!

"People were coming up to Halley telling him how well she was going, ‘like a cat’ was the most common phrase as she has taken to jumping banks like a duck to water! Halley has said his never had so much praise about ‘one of his horses’ out hunting before. She is hunting twice a week at the moment – one day with the Scarteens, one day with the Limericks and will be getting a well deserved break the middle of February."

We love to hear news of our former inmates and both these stories demonstrate perfectly just how good ex-racehorses are at adapting to other disciplines. If they are matched with the right rider they can go on to enjoy a wonderful life elsewhere: in my mind, when overproduction of racehorses is still a concern, this is far preferable to putting them in a sales ring and watching them shipped off to who knows where for a few hundred guineas.

What is extra nice about hearing in the same week how well these two mares are doing is that they were inseparable when they were here. They were the same age and both by the stallion Mull Of Kintyre. As they did most of their early work together (and nodding off together) they became known as 'The Mulls'. A big thank you to Alice and Aisling for giving them such good homes and we wish you every continued success with them.

A new old face in town

2010-02-05T10:02:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to catch up with Toby Coles at Tattersalls yesterday and to hear that he is set to become Newmarket's newest trainer. I last saw Toby in Australia in November when he was riding trackwork on the Melbourne Cup fifth place-getter Harris Tweed.

Having bumped into him on VRC Derby Day, Toby kindly invited me 'backstage' to meet Harris Tweed and watch him canter at Flemington on Cup eve, a rare treat and a morning I won't forget in a hurry. It was a typically kind gesture from a man who was well known for his eccentricities during his time spent in Newmarket working for Sir Mark Prescott and Ed Dunlop.

We applaud eccentricity in the house but the important thing is that Toby is also a genuinely nice person and a very good horseman. I would like to be among the first to welcome him back to Newmarket and to wish him well in his new training venture. It's a difficult time to set up as a trainer but he deserves to succeed, so here's to fruitful 2010 and beyond!

The Save Historic Newmarket crew was out in force at Tattersalls yesterday too. We had huge support for the petition against the Hatchfield Farm development with many more signatures collected. Whether justice is done when the decision-making time comes at Forest Heath District Council remains to be seen but one thing is for sure and that is that this battle will be fought all the way. The sense of outrage in the town and beyond at Lord Derby's horrendous project is palpable. It is sincerely hoped that the district councillors and council officials will listen to the people who matter most: the residents and community of Newmarket. I envisage bodies in front of diggers if these ghastly plans are approved.

To add your name to the petition to stop the Hatchfield Farm development, please click here.

Stalking Monet

2010-01-24T08:48:00.000-08:00

If I tried to explain to some of my non-racing friends why I got up before dawn on Saturday, stood on a freezing, damp, foggy heath in the hope of catching a peek, through the all-encompassing gloom, of a horse, I'd no doubt receive some worried looks. But this was no ordinary horse, this was Monet's Garden, and thankfully one friend, Carolynn Anderson, who shares the same troubling obsession, was there with me to testify to the fact that I'm not losing it. Either that or we've both lost it.

Was it worth it? Was it ever. The prolonged cold snap in the north of the country has meant that Nicky Richards had to take decisive action with his top horses, transferring a team of ten from Greystoke, near Penrith, down here to flat racing's HQ in order to be able to get enough work into them for forthcoming major engagements. Now we all know that there are actually plenty of jumpers to be found in Newmarket. James Fanshawe and his former boss, Sir Michael Stoute, have both trained Champion hurdlers. Dear old Tingle Creek's nameplate still hangs with pride in a box now used by one of William Haggas's string and, of course, Lucy Wadham, Neil King, Mick Quinlan, Don Cantillon and even this stable, among others, keep the National Hunt flag flying for the town. But rarely do we see a horse with the enduring appeal and talent of Monet's Garden in our midst.

Being lucky enough to see him stretch out up Warren Hill then Long Hill, it was hard not to be impressed at the superb flowing action, even at a restrained canter, of the lovely grey who has been with his trainer for nine years, since he was just three. What a mover (the attached pic is awful but I'm citing time of day/foulness of weather in my defence). Even among the esteemed company of his stablemates Money Trix, Skippers Brig and According To John, he stood out. But the best was yet to come. We called in on the team after exercise back at Abington Place and had a lovely long chat while the horses were enjoying a quiet pick. MG is in the box occupied for several years in a row by the great Takeover Target. It's hard to imagine two more different horses but it's a privilege to have been able to see both of them at close quarters in their adopted home.

Nicky Richards, his daughter Joey and work riders Stephen Mulqueen and Scott Marshall could not have been more welcoming. A big thank you to them for giving us a morning we'll never forget and congratulations to the exiled team, who had a winner at Market Rasen today with Premier Sagas.

For Carolynn, it would have been hard to see Monet's Garden without thinking of her dad Bill, or Papa B, as we all knew him. Together they watched MG win his first hurdle race at their home track of Kelso and it will be to Scotland's finest course that the great horse returns for his next run. The one sure thing of the day will be that W Anderson will be there in spirit. Bill was a proper racing man who was a keen follower of this stable and it's hard to believe he's been gone more than two years. Much missed by us all.

Anthony, or mini-Napoleon, as he really should be known, has been with us this weekend and has been busy ordering Hugh, Adam, Uri and Hannah about. It's a shame he shows not much inkling for liking horses as, even at the age of six, he already has all the qualities necessary for taking over as trainer when John retires. He did once deign to ride Panto and now refers to him, quite rightly, as the 'best horse in the yard'. Well, he's certainly the best retired horse in the yard and he's been busy teaching young Oscar a thing or two about manners from his adjacent pen.

Sunday morning allowed a rare moment to read non-horsey papers. The last few weeks I've been searching the Sunday Times books' pages to see if Truth, by Peter Temple, has shot straight in at the top of the bestsellers' list since its release in early January. The fact that it hasn't is nothing short of a national disgrace. When will Britain wake up to the extraordinary talents of this great Aussie writer? He's well read in Newmarket at least. My advice to anyone who loves tersely-written, angst-ridden crime fiction is to get out there and buy his books. Start with Bad Debts, read all the Jack Irish series and work your way up to The Broken Shore and Truth, not forgetting An Iron Rose, Shooting Star and In The Evil Day along the way. The only drawback for me is that he can't write books quickly enough. And in case you're worried that he's just some feckless scribe who ponces around Melbourne's answer to the Garrick Club, Temple's more likely to be found at his local racecourse having a punt. Even more reason to love him. Though he may still be feckless, I don't know.

Here endeth the lecture. Time to roast the pheasant that Mick from over the back has kindly donated to the BHS supper table.

Dessie: a one-off

2009-12-30T08:50:00.000-08:00

We've been fortunate that both our trips to the races in Christmas week have been in sunshine to two very nice friendly and relatively local tracks. Kadouchski ran a typically brave race at Huntingdon and should come on for that run, as will Ex Con, whose second appearance over hurdles at Leicester on Monday was encouraging.

Despite an excellent card featuring one of my favourite horses in training, Carruthers, I was very glad not to be at Newbury on Tuesday where the weather looked dire. The same can be said for Newmarket today. The cold rain has hardly stopped. Gemma and Adam worked the half-sisters She Is A Cracker and Douchkette on the Al Bahathri this morning while John, Hannah and I took it easy on the fillies' brother Kadouchski, Ex Con and Panto, all of whom had their 'flu jabs yesterday so were just out for a wee trot today. Being increasingly feeble, I was grateful not to have to go too far or too fast in today's conditions and we're all praying for things to improve, not just from a riding perspective, but also because the French fillies are entered at Wetherby on Monday. With reports stating that the track has been under snow for the last ten days and that the temperatures are unlikely to rise too much, it seems almost certain that racing will not go ahead there though.

Being in an early race at Huntingdon on Boxing Day meant that we could scramble home in time for the King George to watch in awe as Kauto Star recorded his easiest victory in the race to date. His four consecutive wins puts him past Desert Orchid is some minds but not in mine and not, it would seem, in that of Dessie's trainer David Elsworth, who said in the Racing Post: "Winning it four times in a row is quite an achievement - it's almost as good as winning, being beaten the following year and then winning it for the next three years." And then, of course, there were his great handicap victories.

One of the best assignments I've ever had was to photograph Dessie on his 27th birthday, not long after he arrived in Newmarket from Whitsbury. He died just six months later but as the accompanying pictures illustrate, he had star quality and a touch of the show-off about him right up until the end. There'll never be another one like him.

The elusive Kevin

2009-12-18T07:37:00.000-08:00

Those of you with enough time on your hands to read John's blog will know he's been stalking poor Kevin Peckham, former jump jockey now assistant to William Haggas. John's great misery over the past months has been his failure to capture KP on what used to be known as celluloid but is now presumably pixcels or similar.

Little does he know that in the course of a very enjoyable commission for W Haggas this year, which was to produce a book of photographs for the yard's owners, I have had more-or-less free-range access to Kevin and have a number of photographs that have been kept hidden...until now. Here he is, deep in conversation with another former jump jockey, Robert Stephens. Quite what Kevin would make of it all if he ever logs on to BHS.com I don't know but he is certainly gaining a kind of cult status in this house.

As the main site shows, Christmas came a week early to Newmarket and we woke up to a proper covering of snow this morning. It was lovely to be out and about on such a gloriously fresh morning. Gay Jarvis took her daughter Jackie's 20-year-old eventer out for a spin with their string and it's great to hear from Gay that Michael is coming along well after his operation. He is certainly one of the town's most respected and best liked trainers and we all wish him a full recovery ahead of the 2010 season. Alongside Gay, Michael has a more than able deputy in the form of Roger Varian, who has just announced his engagement to Hanako Sonobe. It was particularly impressive to hear that Roger proposed to Hana in Japanese and in front of her entire family. Good onya Rog, and may you both be very happy together.

Friends, old and new

2009-12-16T04:13:00.000-08:00

Three of our four yearlings are now cantering and coping well. The one lagging behind is my boy, Oscar Bernadotte, but the trainer is under strict instructions not to rush him. He's now being lunged and long-reined and for a horse who has seen nothing but a peaceful Norfolk farm for his entire life, he's handling the excitement of Newmarket Heath pretty well.

We've wound down quite a bit with lots of the flat horses on holiday but the jumpers are keeping us occupied alongside the babies and we're looking forward to running Kadouchski on Boxing Day and Ex Con on 28th December, both over hurdles.

An interesting hurdles prospect to keep an eye on from Exeter Road is the Australian-bred Stawell Gift, a big strong dark brown gelding who has recently joined Willie Musson's stable from Peter Moody at Caulfield in Melbourne. With jumps racing about to be abolished in Victoria, it would be no surprise to see a few more Aussie horses head this way.

Although it's always exciting to have new horses in the yard, we never forget our old friends and it's lovely when their new owners keep in touch to let us know how they are getting on. Of the old guard, it was a particularly tearful moment when Brief Goodbye finally left the yard last month. He's not gone far though and is down the road in Fordham with Terri, who plans to do a bit of showing and hunter trials with him next year. Larry and Iris, who continued to race Brief after Joe died, came to give him a scratch on the nose before he left us and we're delighted that they are continuing the great McCarthy family link with this yard via their ownership of a new yearling, Silken Thoughts, who will carry the navy and yellow silks worn by Brief, Bold Cardowan and Stormy Crest, all of whom raced successfully for Joe.

It's been lovely to hear from Natalie Bainbridge, the new owner of Milton's Keen, who is also now doing well in the showing arena. Milton was extra special to us as he was a son of Largesse and it's great to see that he's clearly in very professional hands. Thanks to Natalie for sending us this lovely picture of the two of them and good luck to you both.

We look forward to welcoming Milton's full-sister Keep Silent here after Christmas. Another new addition to the yard will be a Desert Sun filly out of Henesey's Leg, a lovely filly who won four races for Peter Skinner when trained by John. It's a pleasure for John to be asked to train her daughter. Both she and Keep Silent are already two so will be good company for Ruby In The Dust, who has also had an easy year but will start her professional career in earnest in 2010. She's a dear little filly, who is already digging in and trying hard with the work she's being asked to do.

News also reaches us from the sumptuous yard of Ireland's leading vet/master of foxhounds/point-to-point trainer/show judge/you name it, John Halley, who has been safeguarding Lady Suffragette for Aisling since the filly's retirement. Now fully recovered from her tendon injury, Lady S has been schooling over banks at Enda Bolger's no less. We'll either see her out hunting with Aisling with the Limerick Foxhounds or in next year's Cheltenham Cross-Country Chase in the colours of JP McManus giving Garde Champetre and Heads Ontheground a run for their money.

All hail the Chief

2009-11-16T11:54:00.000-08:00

It's certainly not the most original comment to make but no result has pleased me more in ages than Well Chief beating Master Minded at Cheltenham on Sunday. And Master Minded is in my 12-to-follow. But to see a lovely horse like that great strapping chestnut come back after being plagued by injury was really heartening. Here's hoping he can get through the Tingle Creek and Queen Mother Champion Chase before being given an honourable retirement.

Another pleasing result, which was probably only noticed by me and his owner and trainer (who I think is both one and the same, Dr Richard Newland), was the success of Overstrand at Market Rasen. He's not a superstar but he's a genuine little horse that I would be proud to own and I've followed his career with great interest since he won me quite a bit of money at Sandown as a four-year-old when still trained by Mary Reveley. That day, Tingle Creek Day, he was an up-and-coming handicap hurdler and he beat Our Vic and Monkerhostin by five lengths and four lengths respectively. They've both gone on to greater things but it's wonderful to see Overstrand still winning in the confident manner in which he did on Sunday. It's impossible not to admire a horse who has raced 78 times for 11 wins and 15 places. Long may he run.

Probably can't sign off without saying that the perfect tonic to aid recovery from my Australian jetlag was the arrival here on Tuesday of Oscar Bernadotte, the horse of my dreams. Whether or not he becomes the horse of my nightmares remains to be seen but he's a loveable little chap and he's already made friends with Panto, my other dream boy. What price OB being my next hack?

New faces

2009-10-14T10:34:00.000-07:00

This time of the year is always frantic. Newmarket comes alive for the sales and it’s a great time to catch up with so many friends in town for the two weeks but fitting in exercising our current inmates, spending time assessing potential new recruits at Tattersalls, going racing, writing reports, taking pictures, making beds for house guests and socialising can be exhausting. It’s also a huge amount of fun and we wouldn’t have it any other way.

Last week I was working at the sales for the TDN and Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder but this week I’ve had time to look at horses with John. He was also looking last week but the incredibly strong market prevented us from getting too involved on the buying front. The market seems also to have been strong this week but I would be interested to know how many of the horses have genuinely changed hands. Taking the figures at face value, it’s encouraging for the bloodstock market in the midst of a recession but one has to bear in mind that the yearlings sold in the last fortnight were conceived on 2007 stallion fees which were, on the whole, much higher than they are now. Once you factor in the keep of the mare, her foal and yearling, vet fees, transport, etc., breeders really have to be clearing at least 30,000gns to make a profit on even one of the cheapest nominations. Figures at the top end are high but there will be plenty of breeders feeling the recession’s pinch just now.

John was delighted to be able to buy what we consider to be two really nice fillies (both pictured on this page) on behalf of existing owners in the stable with a few of their friends brought in for two new syndicates. It’s not simply a throwaway line to say that every horse matters in this stable. You really wouldn’t believe how much they matter. Every owner who rings and says ‘please buy me a horse’ or ‘can I send you a horse’ is another vote of confidence for the trainer. The syndicate horses are a lot of fun as the owners in these form their own social clubs. The good times are multiplied by the number of owners in the horse (witness the day when Anis won on her debut at Uttoxeter and the Tri-Nations, of which I am a member, nearly brought the owners’ box to the ground with our screaming). That sense of camaraderie lives long in the memory. Of course, for John, the angst of having to tell a syndicate that there’s been a hold-up or an injury to a horse (witness Anis again) is also multiplied and that’s the hardest and most awful part of a trainer’s job.

The two fillies from Tattersalls are not the only two new arrivals this week as early tomorrow morning, the first of our two homebred yearlings arrives here from France. I say ‘our’ but really this is John’s horse, a gelding by Largesse out of Minnie’s Mystery, who goes by the name of Grey Panel, which will only be meaningful to readers of Thoroughbred Internet. But, yes, you’ve guessed it, he’s grey and he’s likely to be the last Largesse horse to be trained here at this stable. Having trained his sire and his dam, this horse is pretty special to John and I hope he will carry the royal blue and dark blue silks, made famous by J C de Pomeroy Berry then Godolphin and Mrs Susan Magnier, to many memorable victories.

I’ll be waiting a few more weeks to bring my yearling Oscar in from Norfolk. In the meantime, we will also be welcoming Ruby In The Dust back from Ireland. She’s by Doyen, who has had six two-year-old winners from his first crop to date, out of a mare by Halling and she will be racing next year as a three-year-old. The plan is to start a syndicate for her from January. She’ll be divided into eight shares and very reasonable rates apply so do get in touch if you’re interested!

Terrible lows and one incredible high

2009-09-05T08:53:00.000-07:00

All the emotions we can experience in life are encapsulated in the microcosm that is racing and it's extraordinary how they can so often all come at once, especially on a day like today.

The day started as have so many this summer, with glorious sunshine and a peaceful, enjoyable, incident-free morning's exercise for all. An hour or so after riding Panto was spent grooming and cuddling one retiree and one on the injured list: Brief Goodbye and Risky Cry, currently occupying adjacent outdoor pens as they each recuperate from tendon injuries. Though Brief's injury was slightly more severe (affecting both front legs), it is not so sad as Risky's. Brief's had a long, fruitful racing career marked by soundness and genuineness and his seven wins brought joy to many. After six months on the easy list, he's well on the road to becoming an excellent riding horse for someone and the search is on for the perfect 'retirement' home for him.

Risky's injury, though not life-threatening or even career-threatening, is, however, incredibly galling for both his owners and his trainer. Les Trois Amis syndicate bought him in France in December as a three-year-old and he came here just before Christmas. It was my duty to muck him out every day over the Christmas holidays and he melted my heart instantly. A strapping, gorgeous chestnut, he has the loveliest character and I'm not the only one to have fallen for his charms as John had started riding him every day and simply wouldn't let anyone else sit on him, apart from when Will Kennedy came to school him a few weeks ago.

That schooling session had us all looking forward to his hurdling debut, which would have been anytime now, but only a few days later John detected some heat in his near fore and, despite this being only very early signs of slight tendon damage, he still requires at least a year out of training. A frustrating setback, which we hope will be only temporary, but I'm afraid I'm already missing seeing lovely Risky bounce around the heath every day. The picture at the top of the page is typical of him: always smiling, ears pricked, loving his work. God I hope we get him back.

Far, far worse than our woes is the news of a fatal fire that has killed two apprentice jockeys in Malton this morning. They are yet to be officially identified but word is already out and it would seem that racing has lost two highly promising young individuals. It's a shocking waste of life and I know the thoughts and prayers of the racing world will be with the families of the young jockeys. May they rest in peace.

Adding to the sadness was watching what transpired to be a fatal injury to Curtain Call in the September Stakes. He was a horse with a wonderfully quirky nature who I don't believe we had yet seen to his full potential. His loss will be a real blow to the Cumani stable and to his owners Jimmy George, Patrick Cooper and Bill Oppenheim.

It's easy to get very attached to horses in a small stable such as this but if you are in any doubt that they matter as much in big yards, I can say with certainty that they do at Bedford House Stables. One of my more enjoyable commissions this summer has been to photograph the four-legged and two-legged incumbents of Luca Cumani's yard and when I had to snap his assistant Ed Walker, he asked if he could be photographed with his favourite, Curtain Call. It's heartbreaking to think that that was only three days ago. Ed will miss him terribly, as will everyone involved with the lovely little horse.

Life, as always, gives the odd high to balance out the lows, and who could not be moved by the remarkable Sea The Stars winning his fifth Group 1 in a row in the Irish Champion Stakes? It is a privilege to be alive in 2009, the year that will always be remembered in the racing history books as the year of Sea The Stars. Long may he run. And there's still Rachel Alexandra to come tonight...

Silly season

2009-08-31T08:05:00.000-07:00

It was a fun if hectic week last week, which started in Deauville at the Darley Prix Morny. Patrick and Helen Barbe were very kind hosts to Wendy Milbank and to me. I was just really tagging along with Wendy but the Barbes were sweet enough to continually make reference to the day John and Panto helped by being trusty chaperones for Natagora when she came to Newmarket to win the Cheveley Park. Basically, owing to the extremely sweet nature of my horse, I was treated to a really lovely weekend chez Barbe. It’s always a delight to be in Deauville and it was good to catch up with Elizabeth and Sylvain Vidal, custodians of John’s mare Minnie’s Mystery, her Largesse yearling and Gold Away foal. It was slightly disconcerting to hear the yearling, now named Grey Panel (for reasons which might be clear to readers of Thoroughbred Internet), described by Sylvain as ‘ugly’ but yearlings are like teenagers and go through awful gangly stages so it will be interesting to see how he’s looking when he arrives here in a few months. Another treat was being able to see a three-year-old by the name of Mojave Moon (pictured) finish second in the Prix Kergorlay. He was the last foal of Moon Cactus, dam of Moonshell and Doyen, who died shortly after this Singspiel colt was foaled. He was put on a foster mare and I've been photographing him since he was only a few weeks old for the foal diary on the Darley Kids website. He was a cheeky foal and a bold yearling and it's lovely to see him running now in really decent races now.

Helen is agent to jockey Christophe Lemaire so she must have had a fraught week as the Aga Khan and the Niarchos family vied for his services next year. Helen also acted as agent for Dean Gallagher and Yutaka Take (pictured with his wife and Patrick) during their days riding in France and both jockeys were present at different stages over the weekend. Dean is not race riding any more but is about to start a new job with Eddie Harty in Ireland. He looked incredibly fit and well, as does Kieren Fallon, who was the unfortunate victim of a bit of stalking by me last week.

First of all, Marcus Armytage called and asked if I could take some pictures of him playing Kieren at squash for the Sunday Telegraph. It was one of the more bizarre assignments I’ve been offered and how could I refuse the opportunity to see who would fare best: the Grand National-winning jockey or the Derby-winning jockey. Despite Marcus setting a fierce early pace and winning the first game, he was no match for the steely determination of the man about to resume race-riding this Friday. Personally, I’d like to see Kieren take on another of Luca Cumani’s former preferred work riders, Dickie Sims. Then he’d know he’d been in a match. Sadly, Dickie is too busy ruling supreme at the top of the Caulfield squash ladder so it’s unlikely that the meeting of two such fine sportsmen will ever take place.

Later that day, I headed up to the British Racing School with Zoe Vicarage, who was doing some work experience with us last week (and thus probably enduring one of the most boring weeks of her life), to photograph Kieren again, this time as one of the team captains for the evening of mounted games as part of the pony racing camp. The other team captain was this stable’s favourite jockey Will Kennedy, who is always a delight to see and who seemed staggeringly tall next to Mr Fallon.

I’d watched Will and Jamie Moore as team captains at the same event last year so I already knew what a good sport Will would be but what was really heartening was how much Kieren got stuck in after having been called in as a replacement by BRS finance director and BHS work rider Gemma Dawson after Jamie broke his leg.

Gemma had to call a stewards' enquiry after the sack race and, having watched the former champion jockey urge his mount, a kind of shorter, fatter Seta, to the line in the bending race, I’d say he’s lost nothing of his competitive edge. There’s been so much written about Fallon over the years and David Ashforth's piece in today's Racing Post sums up perfectly the highs and lows of his career. We shouldn’t be blasé about racing's image – anyone involved in it should want the sport to be as beyond reproach as it can possibly be – but I can’t wait to see Kieren Fallon back on the racecourse again on Friday. The lure of such an unquestionable talent far outweighs any of the accusations that have been levelled at him over the years.

After Saturday's slightly disappointing trip to Beverley with Ethics Girl,who never really got into the race but, happily, has come home fine, it's been a quiet weekend. I've been out on my new bike, which was a fantastically generous birthday present from my family. Having both hit a significant birthday this year, Gail and I decided it was time to join the gym as neither of us fancied the prospect of running round a cold, dark, windy heath during the fast-approaching winter. The gym gadgetry looks a bit confusing to me but, as Gail is not just my friend but also my physio, at least she'll be on hand to sort me out if I put my back out trying to work out how to use the cross-trainer. Oh the joys of getting old.

Crowning glory

2009-08-20T10:52:00.000-07:00

There’s a question of the month posed by the Thoroughbred Daily News which reads as follows:

‘The connections of Sea the Stars have indicated the Irish Champion S. and the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe would be the next two starts for their colt. When a horse wins the first two legs of the Triple Crown in his or her respective country, is there a moral obligation or an obligation to fans to attempt to win the Triple Crown, or is skipping out due to the distance of the race acceptable?’

This is answerable via Facebook and I’m not a huge fan of that particular site so I’ve decided to give my views here on this still rather public forum, except for the fact that almost nobody reads it. I hope some of you might post your own views, which I am sure will differ from mine, but here’s my response:

Yes and no. There's certainly no moral obligation: an owner pays for a horse to be in training and is perfectly entitled to make whatever decision they see fit for that horse. I don’t know the the Tsui family personally but they seem to me to be very sporting owners who would understand the extraordinary strength of feeling behind this horse, their horse. John Oxx has said since straight after his Derby victory that he felt Sea The Stars wouldn't get the St Leger trip. He also queried his stamina before Epsom but there's no doubting he got every yard of the Derby.

Oxx is a trainer I hold in the very highest regard...(can you feel a but coming?)...BUT from the point of view of Sea The Stars' future career as a stallion I believe the Tsuis are in a no-lose situation. He has already made history by winning the 2000 Guineas, Derby, Eclipse and International Stakes. He's proved beyond doubt that he has speed, stamina and class, never mind the fact that he is an exceptionally good-looking and regally-bred colt.

If he wins the St Leger, it will not detract from his stallion career: he's also a G1-winning Classic miler with an enviable turn of foot. What it will do, however, is give racing fans a much longed-for Triple Crown hero. If he doesn't win the St Leger, then it is only likely to be because he doesn't stay the extra two furlongs and that, too, will not harm his stallion credentials.

Sea The Stars has already captured the public imagination in Europe and is very much the horse of the moment. With his abundant talent, unflappable temperament and Messrs Oxx and Kinane in his corner, how can he go wrong? The buzz surrounding the build-up to the Leger if he was participating would be extraordinary: ‘will he or won't he stay?’ will be the only question on the lips of racing fans and it would provide the marketing men (and women) with more 'narrative' than they know what to do with.

True fans of racing simply want to see him do what he was bred to do: race. His connections have not shunned the challenges of campaigning a top-class colt thus far and, admittedly, it would be wonderful to see him emulate his dam in winning the Arc. But there’s nothing I'd like more than to witness a Triple Crown winner in my lifetime (Nijinsky was in my lifetime but I was only one and not yet addicted) and this colt has a genuine chance of becoming the next one.

Compete him against the best at all reasonable distances and only then can we judge him against the true greats down the ages. It is my firm belief that Sea The Stars will not be found wanting. Winning the Triple Crown is still horseracing’s ultimate accolade.

Very Goodwood

2009-07-31T08:26:00.000-07:00

Goodwood is continuing but not for me as I did the first three days for Racenews but returned home late last night with the aim of going to Bath with John today to watch Ethics Girl. As with so many good intentions, this has gone out of the window as even only three days away somehow leaves me with so much to catch up on. Perhaps I’m just badly organised.

One positive outcome of this is that the last time Ethics Girl ran (and won) was a Friday evening, I couldn’t go so Gail came round to watch the race on TV with me, brought a curry with her and we ate, drank lots of wine and cheered her home raucously. Now I’m marooned in Newmarket, Gail is once again coming round, with curry. All the omens are good except that this time Dawn is coming with her so we’ll blame her if the filly doesn’t win.

John’s a big believer in the 'back the horse of the first trainer you see' rule. The horse we fear most in the race is Point Of Light, who could just be one of the Prescott improvers. Unhappily for John, the first trainer he saw on the heath this morning was Sir Mark, followed swiftly by Point Of Light’s jockey Chris Catlin. Double disaster. But not for me as John was the first trainer I saw this morning so I’m sticking with our tough little girl, who has been bouncing around at home.

Goodwood really does deserve its Glorious tag. It is very hard to imagine a more outstanding setting for a racecourse and, in my opinion, every manager of a major course in this country should be made to spend a few days racing at Goodwood to see how it should be done. It’s smart without being stuffy and classy without being pretentious. Best of all, while there would clearly be many corporate groups being entertained there, it still manages to feel like it’s all about the racing but with a backdrop of lovely bars and food outlets with a great choice with great service that enables you to keep an eye on the racing at all times.

The week’s feelgood factor was aided by staying at Maggie Paterson’s lovely Fitzlea Farmhouse in the middle of nowhere but somehow handily close to the racecourse. Although I’d never met Maggie, her B&B is a regular haunt for Chris McGrath, James Willoughby and Lydia Hislop so Ed Prosser and I booked to stay there too, on Chris’s recommendation, and we were not disappointed. Maggie at once makes everyone feel at home and as if we were part of a big (dysfunctional) family, arguing over what was going to win the Sussex Stakes at breakfast. Being able to watch rabbits and deer playing on the lawn in the morning and then finding a nearby pub that had Neil Young on the jukebox and great local cider made this number one on my list of lovely places to stay in England. Fortunately there was no piano at Maggie's so Chris and Ed were unable to re-enact their duet from our Cheltenham house in March.

As John has mentioned, the last few weeks have been worrying following the accident of our friend Camilla. She has now been transferred to Stoke Mandeville for the next stage of her recovery and rehabilitation and the already admirable JP McNamara shot up even further in my estimation by flying over from Ireland yesterday especially to visit Camilla, offering advice and encouragement in her fight back to fitness. She has so many people on her side, willing her to be better and I know absolutely that her own strong will and amazingly positive outlook will be her best ally.

John's beard is growing back at an alarming rate despite my pleas for him to remain clean-shaven until my birthday and Hugo Morriss's (extraordinary) assertion that I would have to watch my step as John is so good-looking without his beard that he would have all the women of Newmarket and beyond beating a path to his door. Hmmm.

Bad end to good day

2009-07-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

I should have got to bed early after a long week but I decided to catch up on the racing reports online as there has been so much racing today and, to my dismay, I discovered that Takeover Target cracked his near hind cannonbone during the July Cup and is being operated on tonight at the Newmarket Equine Hospital. It's quite a shock as he appeared to be walking sound after the race and did not seem at all distressed as he was cooling down.

We should be celebrating as Ethics Girl won her first race tonight at Chepstow in what was a really pleasing performance but it's hard to feel good about this when a champion's life hangs in the balance. He is at least in a world-renowned hospital. Let's pray they can save him - he's more than earned his place alongside Fields Of Omagh, Better Loosen Up, Might And Power and Silent Witness at the Living Legends farm in Melbourne.

Fast horses, fast boats, fast women

2009-07-02T01:28:00.001-07:00

Bit of a whirlwind this past weekend. Started at 5am on Saturday, shortly after which time Michelle Payne arrived in the yard to give Stardust Memories a gallop up the Al Bahathri alongside John on Douchkette. She’ll gallop her again ahead of her intended debut (for which Ms Payne will be aboard) at Windsor on 5 July and in the meantime Michelle reports the filly is ‘ready to run’.

Quick spin next lot for Panto and me with John and Anis then it was home, with a nod to Micheal Holding out supervising Micheal Stoute’s string in breaks between cricket commentary, to jump in shower then car to pick up Dawn at 8am for our weekend in Norfolk as part of Emma Candy’s hen celebrations.

Dawn, Gail, Emma and I had kindly been lent a lovely cottage in the village of Morston by my old boss Sam Bullard, who came up to take us out on his boat, from which, in company with the dogs Fluke and Whizz, we saw the nature reserve for seals and travelled along the coast to Blakeney.

Blakeney has a special place in my heart – the village and the horse. The equine Blakeney (so named as he was by Hethersett out of Windmill Girl, Hethersett being the name of another Norfolk village, while Blakeney quay affords a lovely view of the windmill at Cley just along the coast) won the Derby in 1969, the year I was born. He was bred, owned and trained by Arthur Budgett, who repeated this remarkable feat four years later when Blakeney’s half-brother Morston won the 1973 Derby. Now 93, Arthur Budgett was guest of honour at this year’s Derby and I was fortunate enough to interview him. A more charming gentleman it would be hard to find.

The neighbouring villages of Morston and Blakeney are still unpsoiled delights on the north Norfolk coast, where the tide goes out for miles to reveal swathes of salt marsh and a haven for wading birds, not to mention the local delicacy, samphire grass, which is a member of the asparagus family.

Emma and Gail joined us at lunchtime as they both work for big trainers in town and couldn’t escape until after morning stables. Tour rules prevent me spilling any more details about the hen weekend but the champagne-swilling was punctuated by a nice call from Gai Waterhouse, Emma’s former boss, who is currently in Sicily and homing in on Newmarket for July Cup week.

Very much looking forward to the week ahead, which will see the debut of the aforementioned Stardust Memories and also the flat debut for a new arrival Douchkette, who is Kadouchski's half-sister. These two fillies are set to go head-to-head at Windsor on Monday. Later in the week Ethics Girl will return to the track and we have the July meeting, Darley stallion parade and countless visitors to look forward to while all that's going on. Let's hope this cracking weather holds.

Fantastic day

2009-05-23T04:39:00.000-07:00

I'm showing my age and my appalling taste in music by naming a blog entry after a Haircut 100 song (I still swoon at the thought of Nick Heyward in a chunky knit Arran sweater even after all these years) but there's really no other way to describe this morning on the heath.

There are dark days in racing - losing Struck Lucky and Desiree's foal have been two of the worst this year - and there are great days when the yard sends out a winner and Anis Etoilé and To Be Or Not To Be have lifted spirits in that department in recent weeks. All the frightful, dark, wet, cold, horrible, windy days that Newmarket's 4,000 acres of open space can throw at you through the winter (and often the summer) are swiftly forgotten on a day like today. For friends far away and for anyone who is simply interested in what goes on in one of the town's smallest stables of a Saturday morning, here's a quick recap of the action so far on this gloriously sunny day:

John and Aisling pulled out at 6.45am on Ethics Girl and Stardust Memories for a piece of work up the Al Bahathri. I tootled up there with the dogs in the car to take some photos. We hit a quiet spot there, which was great until we realised the gallop was being harrowed half an hour earlier than usual as so many horses had been up there since 5.30am - the very firm ground in this area at present means most trainers are reluctant to work their horses on the grass. Luca Cumani's string was heading over to the Limekilns but otherwise, most of the trainers on the Bury side of the heath were using the all-weather Al Bahathri mile.

One very smiley face to greet us at the top as he waited to ride work for Luca was Kieren Fallon, who had a good laugh at John in his shorts (who wouldn't?). As I waited on the viewing platform to take some shots, William Jarvis arrived to watch five of his string gallop just behind John and Aisling, who had circled for ten minutes at the bottom waiting for the tractor to leave the gallop. William commented on how absolutely still it was out there and he was spot on. Apart from us chatting, the only sound was birdsong and there wasn't a breath of wind as we waited to pick up the distant drumming of hooves, growing ever louder as our horses approached. It's a noise that never fails to give me goosebumps of excitement. All went smoothly for our two, with Ais reporting that she felt Stardust had improved significantly from her previous gallop: an encouraging thought as we await her debut in a month or so.

Next lot we were joined by Batgirl's owner Tony Fordham and his father. Batgirl and Anis took to Long Hill for a strong canter under Hugh and Gemma. They may seem a mismatched pair - a four-year-old bumper winner and an unraced two-year-old - but the little chestnut filly is picking up all the time and it's nice to have her out for a routine exercise with a more experienced older horse. As we waited for them to come around the top and back down the side of the Moulton Road we stopped to watch Mark Tompkins' string having a pick of grass and having their photographs taken by Claire Hollest for Mark's excellent website.

Gail Hacking, my great friend (and life-saving physio), who is assistant to William Haggas, sauntered past on the snowy white stable hack Sailor Jim. I have Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on my mind as Hugh and Hayden are off to London tonight to see it on stage and I think the accompanying photograph could easily be captioned: Gail, Queen of the Heath. Another equally white (grey) but tinier mount was that of young Tom Fanshawe (below), son of James and Jacko, who was out supervising his father's string on his slightly fresh but pretty well behaved pony. It looks as if Pegasus Stables will be in safe hands for at least the next generation.

Third lot involved Panto and me lumbering into action with a steady canter up Warren Hill leading two new two-year-olds Asterisk (by Fantastic Light) and a gelding by Whipper, ridden by Hugh and Suze. This is only the first week of cantering on the heath for both of them and they've handled the excitement admirably. We could have done without an unidentified string roaring up behind them on Warren Hill - it wouldn't have taken a huge amount of brain power for those coming on to the canter behind this pair that we jumped off steadily and that both look like very young, inexperienced horses so should be given some time to get away on up the hill. Still, no harm was done but it would be nice if people had better manners.

We were without Martha today as it's her birthday and she had an exam to do this morning. Once she has that out of the way, let's hope she enjoys the rest of her birthday as much as I've enjoyed the start of it.

Now it's off to the races to salute Anne 'Scrivy' Scriven, who turns 75 this week and has a race named after her at Newmarket today. Scrivy was racing secretary to Cecil Boyd-Rochfort for 15 years, then to Henry Cecil for 21 and, most recently, Geoff Wragg for a decade. She retired along with Geoff at the end of last season and is an extremely lovely person who deserves to be honoured today on the Rowley Mile. Just think of all the Classic winners she must have made entries for during her time spent working in those yards.

That's it from me. Just time to log onto iTunes and download the Best of Haircut 100 to the pod.

A notable first

2009-05-17T08:52:00.000-07:00

Well, this is a real 'hold the front page' moment. As I was hanging out the washing a few moments ago (oh the glamour of domestic life), word reached me, live from a horsebox somewhere on the M6, of Emma Candy's first winner as a trainer.

She sent out Ahwaak to win the Open Maiden at the Tabley point-to-point for her husband-to-be Rupert Erskine Crum and his co-owner David Redvers. The five-year-old's victory keeps jockey Thomas Greenall in contention in his battle for championship honours with rival David Mansell.

Ahwaak, who resides at James and Tessa Crowhurst's Croxford Stud, is better known to his friends in Newmarket as Arnold and can be seen regularly stretching his legs on the Heath. He's been a bit naughty lately: unconfirmed reports lead us to believe he parted company with the fearless Crum twice in the same morning but, judging from this picture, it's hard to imagine the handsome son of Dynaformer being anything other than angelic. Don't worry Arnold, I'm sure all is forgiven and you'll get extra carrots when you arrive home tonight a winner.

And, even better, when Emma is champion trainer in a few years' time (as I fully expect her to be), I can bore everyone that I was the first person to report on her very first winner, even if it was only this boring old blog that nobody reads.

Many congratulations to the whole team and let's hope it's the first of many!

Anis Etoile to Red Rum

2009-05-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

If racing has taught me anything it is to make the most of the good moments as there will always be plenty of bad ones to bring you back down to earth. But it will be a while before I float down from cloud nine after Anis's debut win (pictured here in the parade ring with Seamus Durack wearing the Tri-Nations Partnership colours for the first time). I don't think it's ever been a secret that John has always thought the world of her but when a horse had had a few minor setbacks, as she has in her two and a half years here, there's always a worry in the back of your mind that she simply cannot stand up to the rigours of training. Naturally, we hope for many more memorable days with her - and she seems to have taken her Uttoxeter outing tremendously well - but whatever happens now she can retire a winner. She gave her many owners an absolutely joyous day out and came home safe and sound - for that we are all very thankful.

With all the talk of the mighty duo of Brian and Ben in the racing press this week, it seems the people who run the sport are in search of the magical ingredient to lure more people to come racing. Perhaps attendances are down, the BHA must have the figures, but in the last week I've been racing at Uttoxeter (packed out on a low-grade Sunday jumps card), Exeter (surprisingly large midweek crowd on a wet and foggy day) and Newmarket twice (great attendance both days for what is one of their more run-of-the-mill meetings). Perhaps I'm missing the point but getting people to the races doesn't seem to be the problem. I think the point that is being missed by all but a few of the decision-makers is that while betting, pop concerts, ladies' days, etc., are all very well and important for making racing appeal on a maximum of levels, really racing's greatest asset is the horses and more must be made of these extraordinary creatures.

Admittedly, they are generally with us for longer in the jumping game but the flat has its fair share of perennial stars: Yeats, Sergeant Cecil, Vinnie Roe, Takeover Target (pictured), Quito, Benbaun, to name but a few trusty old stayers and sprinters. And I simply don't believe we can't better 'market' horses of the calibre of New Approach, Dylan Thomas, Ouija Board and co. The only reason I became involved with racing was my love for Red Rum. He lit up my childhood (which involved ponies but no racing otherwise) and his fairy story still brings tears to my eyes. It's the tales of horses such as this (and Phar Lap, Seabiscuit, Takeover Target, Dessie, Overdose, Makybe Diva) that are able to capture the imagination of not just Brian and Ben but Brenda, Bethan, Billie, Bert, Belinda, Bob, Uncle Tom Cobley and many more beyond racing's fringes.

The flames of my Red Rum obsession were fanned once more on Sunday by chance meetings with several characters intrinsically entwined in his story. First up, Richard Pitman, rider of poor vanquished Crisp, Red Rum's first and most famous Grand National victim. Richard was having lunch with his niece in the stable canteen ahead of their run in the charity race and was as jolly and friendly as ever. After Anis's win, the first people to congratulate us were the connections of the runner-up, Empress Orchid, who is trained by Donald McCain Jr. Ginger McCain was also on hand with a big grin on his face as in his broodmare band resides Anis's half-sister Gentian, so another winner in the family has enhanced her stud prospects. Jo McCain, Ginger's daughter, was another jockey on duty in the charity race which she duly won. When quizzed by John as to why she was not wearing Noel Le Mare's famous claret and yellow colours once sported by Red Rum and now owned by her father, she laughed and said: "I'm not worthy". Who is?

Trying to be brave

2009-05-07T09:37:00.000-07:00

This week started so full of hope and anticipation of the impending birth of Desiree's Kayf Tara foal. He duly arrived on Monday but was delivered dead, three days ahead of his due date and a week before Oscar was born this time last year.

So it's been a week of moping around feeling terribly sad - a weird feeling mourning an animal we've never even got to know but sad nonetheless because the wait for a foal seems endless and this little man got so close to being here. And, from a very selfish viewpoint, the growing excitement I've felt all year at the thought of having a foal by a horse who was a real favourite on the racetrack has now been snatched away. The one consolation is that Desiree was unharmed during the foaling and seems to have taken this tragic turn of events in her stride with the minimum of stress and unhappiness. Of course we never actually know what an animal feels but the tendency is for us to force human emotions on them. She will almost certainly have been perturbed by delivering a dead foal but anyone who saw her out picking grass in her Norfolk paddock yesterday could not have felt for a second that she was an animal in great distress. She's moved on and now so must I. As I type that I have the oft-used words of my great friend Nigel ringing in my ears: 'It's not about you!'.

Seeing Oscar, Desiree's Sulamani yearling, while I was at the farm was a huge tonic. Although he officially turned one in January, his actual birthday is next week and he's still a long way behind the older colts he's turned out with. He bears strong resemblance to his mother despite being Sulamani's light bay colour (and for those of you who remember Sulamani racing, Oscar is likely to be similarly light-framed throughout his career - let's hope he's even half as good).

Some of you may recall a power-packed chestnut Largesse filly who was here for a while by the name of Chilli Cracker. The colt on the left of Oscar is her first foal by Avonbridge - a horse built as solidly as his mother and certainly bred to sprint as Chilli was very fast, as was Avonbridge. He's off to the Doncaster yearling sales in August so Oscar will have to learn to adapt to life without his friend but for now they are inseparable. Nicky Howarth and Chris Murray do an excellent job of looking after the horses in their care. I couldn't be happier with the condition of my two and I'm sure other breeders who have their horses with them will feel similarly pleased with their commitment to the job and to the mares, foals and yearlings. It's not easy having to break bad news to clients - I know because this is something John has to do on occasion - but they handled a distressing situation in admirable fashion.

Don't tell John but I haven't read his blog for a while (never enough hours in the day to get stuck into the training version of War And Peace) but I do know he must have written something, possibly rude, about Jeremy Vine as he emailed him today to say he had taken the comments 'in good heart'. I suppose I'd better find the offending article, possibly exert my editorial powers in hindsight and issue a grovelling apology to Mr Vine. Sorry Jeremy, but good onya (as our Australian friends would say) for being so sporting. Last year John upset John McCririck and another journalist. I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on his blog before the libel lawyers are onto us.

So much has happened in the last ten days that it's been a blur. The Guineas were fantastic, except for the fact that I'd have loved to see Serious Attitude win. She'll be back though and, in the run-up to the big day, Rae Guest and his wife Rachel Flynn set the perfect example of 'how to keep your head when all about you are losing theirs' by appearing to be completely unflappable and dealing with all the interest in the filly with their customary good humour, civility and complete openness. Rae's an excellent trainer and I can't wait to see how The Serious One, as she has been dubbed by Laura Thompson, gets on in the sprinting division this summer. Good luck to all and, in the meantime, good luck to Fantasia (left) and all her team in their quest for the Poule d'Essai des Pouliches on Sunday. I'll never forget her scintillating debut in the middle of an unbelievable storm on July Cup day. Any horse whose first appearance on the racecourse is accompanied by the God of Thunder must be special indeed.

And for a Sunday engagement that won't attract as much attention worldwide but will have the eyes of this stable fixed firmly upon it, look no further than the mares' bumper at Uttoxeter and the long-awaited debut of Anis Etoile. We've had a few false dawns so I possibly won't believe it until I actually see her jump off but here's hopin'. She's a wonderful filly and her many owners, of which I am one, have been very, very excited about this event for a long, long time. She's fit and well and we'll see what Sunday brings.

Optimaths and old friends

2009-04-24T00:05:00.000-07:00

The great news is that Lady Suffragette (pictured) has been back in a bit of light work over in Ireland after nine months off to recover from her tendon injury. Now in the ownership of Aisling, Lady S is boarding with John Halley in Co Limerick and is, by all accounts, being spoilt rotten. After a bit of walking and trotting, she will have another few months off before coming in to get fit for the next hunting season.

I rode out with Aisling this morning and she is enjoying her new association with Ben Bhraggie. Ben is the epitome of a slow learner (and I learnt the word for that this week from Louise Parry: optimath) but he is really starting to get the hang of being a racehorse and did a nice swinging canter up Long Hill this morning with Panto while John and Gemma worked Ethics Girl and Stardust Memories on the Al Bahathri. It was a joy to be out this morning - hazy sun creeping up over Warren Hill and horses silhouetted in the distance with steam rising from them. It's easy to take Newmarket Heath for granted but it really is a privilege to be part of such a picture postcard.

Gail and I have been seeing a lot more of the heath this week as we've embarked on a serious fitness campaign ahead of a, ahem, significant birthday for each of us. The legs are feeling it a bit today and we've a long way to go to catch up with the likes of Dawn and Gemma, who run marathons for fun, but it's a start.

The stable numbers have been boosted by two new faces in the last week: a Fantastic Light filly and a Whipper gelding, both two-year-olds. The filly, Asterisk, has done some pre-training with James Given, but the gelding is completely unbroken. He's an outgoing character though and seems to have settled in very quickly to his new surroundings. And before I sign off, I've also had word recently of another old friend, My Obsession. He is now in retirement from racing but enjoying an active life not far from here with Vikki Shaw. It's been lovely hearing news of his progress from Vikki. 'Mobs' was always a wonderful character and we're so glad he's in good hands. Good luck to them both.

For whom the bells toll

2009-02-12T08:29:00.000-08:00

Great news reached us yesterday of the impending marriage of Emma Candy and Rupert Erskine Crum (pictured). Well I considered it to be great news and made sure I was in the front of the queue when the champagne was being dished out in Stanley Road last night but John took it less well. Much less well, in fact, and took to his bed with pretend ‘man 'flu’. You see the thing is that Rupert is his new best friend, sender of smutty emails, fellow watcher of war films and general waffler on all topics of interest only to boys. So John fears that Rupert, once under the Candy kosh, will no longer be allowed out to play. We all know this is rubbish as Emma will doubtless be glad to see the back of him on occasion as I am of John (frequently!). But seriously, this is wonderful news and we’re all very pleased for them.

Other good news, as you might have seen in the news section of the website, is that Hugh has been short-listed for the Godolphin Stud and Stable Staff Awards, which take place next Tuesday. We’ll let you know with how he gets on and I’m sure the Racing Post will be reporting the outcome.

Another cause for celebration is that the Forest Heath District councillors last night voted with common sense and with the wishes and best interests of the local residents uppermost in their minds when rejecting plans for a four-storey, 75-bed hotel on the island near Waitrose. Anyone who has attempted to get in or out of our road recently when visiting the yard will know that this is already a traffic blackspot and any extra congestion will just add to the frustration felt by motorists at the nearby horse crossings. We simply cannot risk any more traffic congetion and chaos in this town and the council is beginning to listen to this, though extraordinarily, the hotel plans had already been approved by Newmarket Town Council. I’d like to say good onya to the Forest Heath councillors who opposed the application despite desperate urgings to the contrary by the Head of Planning at the council offices at Forest Heath, Richard Watson. Quite what his agenda was for so desperately wanting this project to proceed one can only guess at. One must also assume he does not live in Newmarket otherwise he would know what a complete nightmare it would have been for those of us who do.

The only piece of bad news this week and it’s really, really bad news that you will all have seen, is the terrible and tragic situation across Australia with bushfires raging in several states. Those that have been so devastating in Victoria are not far from where we were only a few weeks ago. Thankfully our friends in the area are safe but the pictures and stories broadcast this week have been heartbreaking to watch. Just remember, every time we moan about the rain, how desperately certain parts of the world need it.

Blowing hot and cold

2009-02-03T04:46:00.000-08:00

Terrible absence but so much has been happening. Two weeks ago I was moaning about the heat in the Hunter Valley, now I'm moaning about the cold in Newmarket. If you've read John's blog then you'll know there was really no call for moaning on a superb Australian holiday taken straight after the new year. A better start to 2009 could not be imagined.
British Gas broke our boiler on our return when allegedly servicing it, leaving us with no heating for four days and refusing to do anything about it, even though it was their fault, as it was a weekend. Useless bloody company they are. I am still waiting for a call back from the manager of the so-called customer service centre more than a week later. I'll be changing suppliers and I urge you all to do so as British Gas clearly has no concept of the phrase 'customer service'.

Anyway, enough of boring British Gas and on to the more predictable topic of conversation, in this country anyway, the weather (again). Blimey, it's cold. The snow yesterday made for wonderful scenes on the heath, however. I just hope this has all blown over by the Cheltenham Festival. On the subject of which, I'd like to hear Problem Walrus' tips and any from anyone else. Can't wait to see Denman return this weekend if racing goes ahead.

It's hard to imagine what it must be like in a yard the size of Paul Nicholls' stable. So many superstars and potential stars. From a small stable's perspective, however, it is always nice to see other similarly sized ventures do well and I have particularly enjoyed the successes of horses such as Diamond Harry and Starluck of late. Two really exciting horses for the Festival there. It was also lovely to see (old) Young Mick run so well in Dubai for George and Gaye Margarson. His prize-money for second has already more than justified the trip and let's hope he can add to the coffers with another few good runs at the Carnival, which is providing a weekly highlight, especially with so much racing having been called off.

From our little corner of Newmarket, it has been lovely to welcome two new faces to the yard in Risky Cry and Cape Roberto (pictured here together with Hugh and Martha). Risky, an adorable and huge chestnut steeplechaser from France, owned by Les Trois Amis, should have his first outing for John towards the end of the month (over hurdles) and Cape Roberto will be having a little break before a summer campaign. He's a beautiful horse by the same sire as Take Me There (Cape Cross) so let's hope a spell will freshen him up and that his owner Mike can look forward to some fun later in the year.

On the personal front, I'm really looking forward to the debut of Anis Etoilé, which should be in the spring. My fellow members of the Tri-Nations Partnership have been very patient and hopefully this will be rewarded. Everyone who rides her jumps off and raves about the way she moves. Let's hope their confidence is well-placed.

The next Katchit?

2008-12-12T09:09:00.000-08:00

Karabak has gone straight into my Festival notebook after that gutsy win at Cheltenham. What price a Festival double for Kahyasi via Karabak and Kasbah Bliss? And on the subject of doubles, onya Rhys Flint - glad we didn't jinx you in H&H. Can't believe I was stupid enough to drop Fair Along from my 12-to-follow this year.

Long, busy, lovely week

2008-11-17T11:08:00.000-08:00

Nice to hear from the old Walrus on this blog again and apologies once more for a lengthy absence.

It's been an enjoyable if tiring week, the highlight undoubtedly being Kadouchski (pictured right with Gemma) winning today. I was watching at home, having only arrived back late last night from three days at Cheltenham for Racenews. John and Hugh set off on their way very early and I was too feeble to tag along, choosing instead to wade through umpteen e-mails and not do a very good job on catching up with work. The smiles on Hugh's and John's faces in the winner's enclosure after the race will have told anyone watching what his win meant to us. He's a wonderful little horse, of only moderate ability, but one with such genuineness that a win was well deserved. Let's hope there'll be more to come from him.

At Cheltenham over the weekend there were too many great moments to go into lengthy detail but in brief I will mention Jason McKeown and his whip-nicking - a breathtakingly cheeky maneouvre but immensely entertaining. Punchestowns goes into the book as the most impressive winner and Fair Along as the most satisfying, certainly for young Rhys Flint who rode him beautifully, but also for me as I've long admired the horse and am kicking myself for ejecting him from my 12-to-follow list this year. Nigel Twiston-Davies has come in for much praise recently and rightly so. While Imperial Commander's victory was another impressive performance, Ballyfitz's win gave me the greatest pleasure. He's not a horse I've followed particularly but I will from now on. His no-nonsense, quite dogged way of running somehow reminded me of my old favourite See More Business. I'd love to see Ballyfitz go on to greater things. Special mention must also go to the very sporting Barry Connell, who took on the professionals and showed them a trick or two when steering his own lovely horse Shinrock Paddy to an all-the-way victory in the bumper. Good onya, Barry.

The Open Meeting was my second visit to the Cotswolds this past week as on Wednesday I was at Overbury Stud to photograph Kayf Tara (left, with Overbury's excellent stallion man Dan Matty) - a labour of love if ever there was one. Anyone who has been bored or stupid enough to read this blog for a while will know that he's one of my all-time favourite horses and that Desirée is currently in foal to him. Well, the old boy looked tremendous in the autumn sunshine that blessed us for the day. I also saw about five of his foals while I was at the stud and now really can't wait to see my own foal next May. On the subject of foals, Oscar has fully recovered from his injury and is back to annoying Chilli Cracker's Avonbridge foal in their paddock at Colton Farm Stud.

One of the results of the very weak back-end yearling sales is that I have inadvertently acquired a nice Doyen filly. She's been named Ruby In The Dust. We're going to give her some time to mature, probably over in Ireland, before bringing her back here next summer to start her training in earnest. As you can tell, she's extremely unlikely to be a two-year-old prospect but I hope we might have some fun with her and I plan to put a syndicate together at some stage to race her, so let me know if you're interested. She's out of a mare by Halling, bred on a very similar cross to Godolphin's G1 winner Folk Opera, and by a stallion who really should make the grade but probably won't be given a chance by commercial breeders (which would be a terrible shame, in my opinion).

Before I sign off, I must mention Natagora, the feline version, rather than the equine one. She has given us real joy in the few months she has been here and has gone such a long way to making up for the heartbreak of losing Sid. She's a true brahma of a cat and now has to share the house with her new best friend Alamshar and the noisy Giant, who has decided she'd like to live indoors now as there seems to be better grub on offer and the dogs aren't really that scary after all. Natagora's less famous namesake makes a final appearance in Newmarket, scene of her greatest triumphs, at the December mares' sale on 3 December. I will be there to pay my respects.

From Big Brown to little Oscar

2008-10-15T11:04:00.000-07:00

My future champ is injured. But at least he's in good company because he seems to have done exactly the same thing as Big Brown, ie tear off the heel of his front foot by over-reaching. Not quite the news I was expecting to hear when I saw Nicky at the sales but I suppose it could be worse and so far it's been plain sailing for Oscar and for Desiree, who has now seen the back of him for a while as he was weaned a couple of weeks ago and is turned out with Chilli Cracker's Avonbridge foal, Pepper.

A dismal blogging absence recently owing to the sales season being upon us. Looking at yearlings with John today made a nice change from reporting on the sale and we saw some potentially nice fillies that we hope to bid on tomorrow. Top of my list to look at tomorrow (selling on Friday) is a Sulamani filly out of Moyesii, a full-sister to last week's good first-time-out winner Mastery.

I think this is about all I can manage for now. Bath, book and bed beckon.

Sunday, muddy Sunday

2008-08-24T05:04:00.000-07:00

A frustrating start to the day as we should be currently on our way to Beverley with Run From Nun. As it is, we turned round and came back after only ten miles on the road owing to Nun getting extremely upset in the lorry. She's a seasoned traveller but was in one of the new style French two-horse boxes in which the horses face backwards. I don't think this was what upset her but the lorry has a strange and slippery floor surface which she wasn't very happy with and the more worked up she got, the more she sweated and the wetter the floor became, just exacerbating matters. The design of the lorry means it is unable to get into the horse compartment while in motion like most of the older boxes which is also a disadvantage. Hopefully we won't have to use this means of transport again as she was fine travelling to Brighton in a bigger box, although she had the company of another horse that day.

Having stopped in Cottenham to pick up Hugh, one look at Nunny told us there was no way we could ask her to stay in the box for another three hours on the journey north. She was awash with sweat and quite agitated. I jumped in the back with her to go home. She was slightly calmer then but still unhappy at not being able to get a purchase on the floor surface. It doesn't help that she's such a small filly that there's more room for her to be rocked around which wouldn't happen if a bigger horse had been in the same compartment. So mission aborted which is very annoying as she's in fine fettle at the moment and both John and I are anxious for her to run asap, perferably over five furlongs. Options for fillies of her grade are few and far between so to miss out on an opportunity with a reasonable draw (which is key at Beverley) with a good jockey rankles somewhat but we have to take it on the chin and thank our lucky stars that she did not become so worked up that she injured herself in transit. The terrifying story of poor old Fruits Of Love (which thankfully had a happy ending) always plays on my mind whenever I hear a horse getting upset on a lorry.

Looking ahead, options for Nunny could be a week tomorrow on the grass at Lingfield (over 6f) and/or the minimum trip at Bath the following Monday. Let's hope she can get to one or both of those without getting upset, being balloted out or any of the other myriad things that can go wrong with horses on a daily basis.

The heavy rain that fell in Newmarket this morning has finally stopped but it means we're back to mud everywhere in the yard. We're used to it through the winter but it's a bit much when we have to put up with it in August, too. Still, at least it wasn't as bad as the weather in York last week. The Yorkshire track's misfortune was very much to Newmarket's advantage as we've had two absolutely sensational days of racing at HQ. What a thrill to be able to wander down the road and see the Derby winner taking on the magnificent Duke Of Marmalade. They were split, of course, by Phoenix Tower, whose season has been as consistently good as it must have been frustrating for his connections with four second places in G1s, with three of those coming behind Aidan O'Brien horses.

Highlights of the week for me have been seeing Borderlescott win the Nunthorpe; Lush Lashes winning the Yorkshire Oaks, mostly because her breeder Ann Jenkins is such an exceptionally nice lady who deserves top-class success; Bob Jones' nine-year-old Unshakable winning in fine style yesterday in Newmarket and then, of course, Gerry Chesnaux posting another fine effort in the best race of all, the Town Plate. Our favourite bookie once again finished 'in the sausages' on the brave Lysander's Quest, the second time the duo has finished runner-up in the three-and-three-quarter-mile marathon.

Now having an unplanned day at home, I'll have time to post a few pics onto John's recent blogs. At the top of this posting, you'll see the feline sisters Alamshar and Giant, who have now moved permanently into the house from the yard and are doing a very good job in helping me not to miss Sid too much. When Sid's brother Harry died 17 years ago, Sid's character changed almost overnight and he adopted so many of Harry's traits. Weirdly, it would seem the same has happened with Alamshar since Sid died as she is now an increasingly bold presence, lying in the same places he did and being almost as demanding. She's not a replacement but she's a very agreeable substitute for whose presence I am extremely grateful, especially as she looks so much like our old family cat, Bagpuss.

Far, far worse than the passing of a much-loved mog has been the awful news this week of the death of Robert Worthy, the husband of my very dear friend Lizzie. My mind keeps returning to Lizzie's birthday party in January when she so happily announced that she and Rob were to marry in May. So they did and, while we all knew Rob had not been well for a long time, I don't think anyone could have imagined he would be taken from Lizzie so soon.

Lizzie is certainly not one of life's run-of-the-mill people. We've been firm friends since the day I succeeded her at H&H. She's such a warm person that to be one of Lizzie's friends is to be effectively a member of her family and indeed fellow H&H exiles Nigel, Kate and I have spent numerous occasions with various Orcutts over the last decade, including a memorable new year at Tremorham in Cornwall. It just doesn't seem right that next Tuesday the most recent addition to this lovely family, a charming, gentle man who loved Lizzie dearly, will be laid to rest.

Missing and hoping

2008-07-31T02:46:00.000-07:00

A whole month has passed since my last update on here. There's been almost too much going on to have time to talk about it, though John's done pretty well with his diary.

Despite seeing friends from Australia and enjoying a trip to the Highlands for my parents' 40th anniversary, the month has been marred by losing Sid. John's given him a lovely tribute and I can't even begin to do him justice with mere words, never mind the fact that some subjects are just too hard to write about. So we'll leave it at that. He's gone and life will be forever poorer for his absence.

The picture alongside this is of the real Ben Bhraggie, which looms above my parents' house and the town of Golspie. The monument on top acts as a beacon when driving home as it can be seen for miles farther down the coast when just past Dornoch. It's a statue of one of the Dukes of Sutherland, whose family seat is at Dunrobin Castle just outside the town.

The equine Ben Bhraggie continues to give me cause for cautious optimism, thriving just that little bit more each day and relishing his attacks on Long Hill. Extreme Conviction, his usual workmate, is possibly slightly ahead of him now but he had more background work last year at Jeremy Noseda's and, while a backward sort, was not as backward as dear old Ben (who has much to live up to now that his two-year-old half-sister Fazbee is a winner).

Looking forward is the only way. If I look back on the last few weeks it's all too much. Lady Suffragette's retirement and the lacklustre efforts of Imperial Decree mean we're about to lose two more of our friends. It's the nature of the business that horses come and go but, try as I might, I cannot get used to it.

On a more positive note, a sweet little French-bred by the name of Kadouchski has just joined the stable. Take Me There is back and we have a new filly for Wayne and Cathy called To Be Or Not To Be, who is by Tobougg and from the illustrious family of Whitewater Affair. So there's plenty to look forward to, not least the debuts of Anis, Ben, Lucky, Ethics Girl, Ex Con and Jenny at varying stages through the year. I just wish there weren't so many of them to miss.

Tunda settles in

2008-07-01T09:28:00.000-07:00

John has talked about about Tunda on his blog but another week has passed and with significant updates. First and foremost, Tunda is not Hungarian but Slovakian (though she goes to racing school in Hungary which accounts for the confusion).

She has not only now learnt a significant amount of English through Hugh and Martha being so kind, patient and welcoming to her, but in a short space of time, her riding has really improved, thanks this time to a patient approach from John.

It's probably fair to say that we have one of the weirdest stables in town (not in the country but by Newmarket's staid standards, the appearance of the string doubtless raises some eyebrows). That said, we have pretty good opposition for this title from our near neighbour Don Cantillon (pictured with the lovely Chip), who conducts the daily comings and goings of his staff in a similarly unorthodox fashion. He gets great results though and I had enormous fun chatting to Don earlier in the week for the H&H column, which was almost as enjoyable to write as a small feature on the new career of the great G1-winning sprinter Cape Of Good Hope, which might appear at some stage in the Post.

Anyway, the point of this rambling is that weird we may be but having just had a really pleasant if disjointed chat with Tunda, I believe she's really enjoying working with Hugh and Martha and getting a chance to ride out daily on the heath. She's been so diligent and a pleasure to have around and it's been great to see her go from being almost completely silent last week to making a genuine effort to chat to the team and, most of all, smiling all the time. Not many 17-year-olds would be so gregarious in a country where they barely knew the language. She's only here for another week and a half and I hope she enjoys being here as much as we appreciate having her around.

Yeats, I was wrong

2008-06-29T23:32:00.000-07:00

It will be a while before a race can top this year's Gold Cup. More than a week later and I'm still in complete awe of the great Yeats and beating myself up for doubting that he would be good enough to come back and do it again this year. And to think I put Coastal Path and Mahler in my 12-to-follow and not Yeats. Shame on me.

Although he's won one more Gold Cup and is an absolute stunner of a horse, I'm not sure Yeats can ever quite surpass Kayf Tara in my affections. I saw him recently at Overbury Stud and was impressed by what a fantastic temperament he has, especially in the middle of what has become a very busy covering season for him. I'm self-appointed president of the KT fan club so when Simon Sweeting asked if I could do some work for the Overbury website, promoting his many virtues, it wasn't too hard a decision to make. He doesn't really need promoting. He was a great racehorse and he's looking like he's going to be up there with the best jumps stallions in this country. Nuff said. Oh, except Desiree has just tested in foal to him.

The last time I saw Yeats in person was at the Melbourne Cup in 2006. Our host Joff took us along to watch trackwork each morning in the build-up to the race and it was such a treat to see Yeats take a spin under Kieren Fallon. Joff's arriving in the UK next week to take a couple of weeks out from managing the burgeoning Empire bloodstock and racing agency and to inspect his European interests, aka Jenny Dawson.

Panto's potential return to the racecourse hangs in the balance. He's put in two good gallops recently but then seemed very below par the day after the second one. Perhaps he, like me, has got it into his head that he is the official stable hack. We'll see but I think a life of happy semi-retirement as lead horse probably will be his permanent role. In this capacity, he heads to the Newmarket show, which kicks off July Week, to lay down his challenge in the trainers' hacks' class. Promises to be a mixed day, with Panto's showing debut at 8.45am followed by Neil Young live at the Hop Garden later on. Keep on rocking in the free world.

A bag of chocolate limes

2008-05-20T05:37:00.000-07:00

Cliff called in this morning and gave me a bag of chocolate limes. I'd been eating my way through his Mintoes on the way back from Thirsk in the lorry on Saturday and subtly let slip that chocolate limes were my favourite. Hint well taken. Thanks Cliff, always so kind.

I used to annoy my grandmother by calling her Florence. As the eldest grandchild I had special dispensation to do so even though she hated her name, Florence Annie, and was always known as Nancy. She died a year ago when I was 37 and, even at that age, she always bought me a bag of chocolate limes and gave me pocket money every time I saw her. When I pointed out that I'd been working for about 15 years and didn't really need pocket money any more she reasoned that my younger sisters and cousins all still had pocket money so it was only fair that I did. And she was someone you didn't argue with.

So Cliff's chocolate limes are the first I've received in more than a year now and they made me happy and sad at the same time. Apart from the lack of sweets, another consequence of Florence's departure was that I was able to have Desiree covered by Sulamani with the money she left me. I'm not sure what she would think of me frittering away a portion of her life-savings on horses. Actually, I know exactly what she'd think. She would say that if it was something that I really wanted then I should do it. And I have and Oscar (Bernadotte) is the result (pictured several times here).

Desiree will be covered by Kayf Tara this year but realistically my breeding aspirations will have to stop there as it's a mighty expensive business. But I've achieved something I've always wanted to do and that is to breed a thoroughbred. Whether or not I've bred a racehorse remains to be seen. He has rather high hopes resting on his very slender shoulders at present.

If he can give me anywhere near as much fun as Jack Dawson gave his owners I'll be very lucky indeed. The most recent missive arrived from Margaret Donnelly this morning with a link to Jack's first dressage test. Click on and a have a look. It's great viewing and, while he's taken great steps forward in his new role, good old Jack still puts in the occasional reminder that he was bred to be a racehorse and he remains one at heart. What an absolute little star he is. Let's hope Oscar Bernadotte can be another one.

A star is born

2008-05-12T02:57:00.000-07:00

Sunday started with the great news that Desiree had safely delivered a Sulamani colt at 1.30am. No pics yet but I'm told he's a bay with a white star, just like his dad. Can't wait to see him on Wednesday and I've already reserved his name, Oscar Bernadotte, with Weatherbys.

John gave me the book Désirée by Anne-Marie Selinko, which is the fictitious diary of Désirée Clary, the first fiancée of Naopleon Bonaparte. It's a fascinating read, starting from when Napoleon was a little-known General just after the French Revolution and his subsequent rise to power and megalomania. After losing Napoleon to Josephine, Désirée ends up marrying Jean-Baptiste Bernadotte, who subsequently becomes the King of Sweden, and their first son was called Oscar.

As our yearling intake from the sales in recent years has mostly involved fillies, it will be fun to have Desiree's boy and Minnie's Mystery's Largesse colt arrive here together next year. Stand by for many photos after out trip to Batsford Stud on Wednesday.

On the M25 (with apologies to Jack Kerouac)

2008-05-05T05:10:00.000-07:00

My clever little Vodafone USB stick means I have internet access in the back of the horsebox, where I am now, en route to Windsor with Brief Goodbye, who runs at 5.05pm.

Having ridden down the heath behind Brief and Jill yesterday morning and witnessed Brief bucking every few strides when he was supposed to be trotting, I'm hoping he's feeling as pleased with himself today as he was then and can get back to his winning form. He's saluted twice at Windsor already. I always like racing there as it's the town where I was born and a nice run would make the day extra special.

Every day around horses is special but we've been extra lucky this weekend. On Friday, as John has already reported, we saw Seachange (pictured). I've followed her career in New Zealand for several years now via my work for the Darley website as she's by Cape Cross. Only Ouija Board has been more of a star for him than this mare and I can't wait to see her run at Ascot and, hopefully, at Newmarket in the July Cup.

Her strapper Jane Ivell says she's been very keen on the Heath in the mornings - not surprising considering it's a massively different training environment to the one she's used to. I think she might join in with Geoff Wragg's string but if that doesn't settle her down, then I might offer Panto as a lead horse. He's strictly Group 1 these days following his chaperoning of Natagora last autumn. It was such a thrill to see her win the Guineas. I'm sure Panto would deign to accompany Seachange, after all she is a seven-time G1 winner.

Brief's just kicked the partition wall. He's as eager to get off this lorry as I am but at least the traffic is running smoothly and we've just reached the M4 junction so not far to go.

Emma O'Gorman's Carbonara recipe

2008-04-26T09:09:00.000-07:00

John's regularly complaining that there aren't enough recipes on my blog and Patrick Stock from Australia has recently moaned that the horse biographies were out of date (at least somebody reads them).

Well the bios have now been brought bang up to date and here's a recipe from Emma O'Gorman on how to make Carbonara sauce which I gleaned from her at the breeze-ups after celebrating her good sale of an Invincible Spirit filly, who just happens to be a three-parts sister to my own Desiree. Emma was also kind enough to give me a giant slab of ham from their hospitality box as she was whizzing off to France the next day for the Arqana breeze-up and wouldn't have had time to eat it.

She suggested I chop up bits of this lovely ham, whisk two eggs together with some olive oil, cook up some pasta and when ready, drain and move to a warmed bowl (this is crucial) with all the other ingredients. She doesn't use garlic which John was happy about. I'm a garlic fiend and would probably add it plus lots of black pepper and grated parmesan. We tried it the next day and it was delicious.

Onto more trifling matters such as who will win the Derby? It's run on John's birthday this year and, much as I dislike Epsom, I expect we'll make the trip. It's appalling to admit that I have not been to the Derby since I left London just after Kris Kin's victory.

I'm very happy that Centennial won at Sandown today (and was lucky enough to see him at a press morning at John Gosden's yard) and shall be rooting for him. It seems unlikely that there could be a Gosden double but Dar Re Mi was also hugely impressive at Sandown and it would be lovely to see Singspiel have the Oaks winner.

We've really enjoyed the warm sunny weather today, especially the dogs who spend much more time lounging in the yard now that it's no longer sub-zero temperatures. Had a nice wander over to racecourse side on Panto accompanying Ben Bhraggie who really seems to be enjoying being back in training. He's a different horse this year. Ben still has a lot of growing up to do but hopefully he'll be ready for the Grand National in 2013!

Lots to look forward to this week with three runners at Folkestone on Thursday followed by the Guineas meeting and truckloads of visitors here at BHS. Better start changing the beds.

Among the daffodils

2008-04-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

I've got one eye on the US Masters and the heavenly Augusta National golf course and another on Alamshar, who keeps threatening to jump on the keyboard of my laptop.

I don't know if I have the energy to type up all the events of the weekend but here are the good points in a nutshell smaller than the pub in Bury: daffodil weekend in Thriplow, sheepdog trials, morris dancers,the Comberton Hop, vintage tractors, 99s from the ice-cream van, Suze's flapjacks, watching Polychrome and Imperial Decree gallop (pictured), seeing Bilkie happy as larry in his new home, my niece Madness almost saying my name, Anthony staying, lots of features for the Racing Post next week, taking part in the Great Leighs trials, the aforementioned Masters, chocolate biscuits from our new neighbours and, as always, riding Panto.

And the one bit of dreadful news that has spoiled an otherwise lovely weekend is that By Storm was killed in a race. She left here last summer after being sold to Jo Foster at the July Sale. She put in a few reasonable runs over hurdles and was, I gather, travelling well in third place when she fell three from home last Sunday, never to rise again. A sad and horribly untimely end for a sweet little horse that we had the privilege to have here in her first three years in training. May she rest in peace.

I'm dreaming of a white Easter

2008-03-20T10:16:00.000-07:00

It's hard to believe the Easter weekend is upon us so soon. It feels like we've only just dismantled the Christmas tree. Equally hard to believe is the really grim weather we're having at the moment, which is apparently set to get worse with heavy snow forecast for Saturday.

I hope you like the vaguely religious image of this lovely little foal from the first crop of Librettist, outside the church in Gazeley. It's the best I can come up with for Maundy Thursday.

It's been a nice week getting back into the swing of things after Cheltenham. I've photographed a few foals which is always a delight, not done a very good job of tidying my office and today attended a press morning at James and Jacko Fanshawe's lovely Pegasus Stables.

James and Jacko were very welcoming and laid on a delicious lunch. They proudly showed off a number of the yard's good horses, such as Classic hopefuls Spacious and Sir Gerry, along with jumpers Song Of Songs and Buster Hyvonen and old favourites from the flat Cesare and Zidane. The morning also marked the launch of their new website www.jamesfanshawe.com.

All the horses looked well but the real eye-catcher was Spacious (pictured with James and her jockey Jamie Spencer) who is a really statuesque filly. I'd love to see her sire Nayef have a really top-class horse and hope that she's going to be the one to do it for him. James' previous 1,000 Guineas runner was Soviet Song, who finished fourth but we all remember what a star she went on to be.

John and I were remarking the other day that sometimes the fillies' Classics winners don't stick in your mind as much as the colts do but a look back at the 1,000 Guineas of 2003 tells a different story. It was no disgrace whatsoever for Soviet Song to be fourth that year when you look at the fillies who finished in front of and behind her. Occupying first, second and third were Russian Rhythm, Six Perfections and Intercontinental, who won nine G1s between them. Soviet Song won four herself and then down the field were the Oaks winners and place-getters of that year Casual Look, Yesterday and Summitville. A fine year, and let's hope this one will be the same.

Of course, I'm torn now. Having seen Spacious, I'll have to root for her because she's lovely and I always enjoy following horses from the Fanshawe yard (especially the jumpers with their phenomenal Cheltenham strike-rate). The problem is, we have the prospect of Panto's girlfriend Natagora returning to Newmarket to follow up her Cheveley Park win with Guineas glory.

Even as a two-year-old she was a magnificent strapping filly who dwarfed Panto when he chaperoned her at exercise on the morning of the race. I can't wait to see how she's done over the winter. I suppose stamina will be a slight query for her whereas Spacious should be fine in that department. The prospect of such a race really has got me excited about the start of the flat, even though I'm dreading the Brocklesby.

At the risk of being shunned by Team Fanshawe (right), we'll be volunteering Panto's services when Natagora returns to Newmarket but if his behaviour of the last few days is anything to go by I might have to have a word in his ear before then.

Possibly a bit fresh after having a week off while I was away at Cheltenham, he took a great dislike to the gaggle of journalists and photographers on the heath on Wednesday morning with William Haggas. He started to eye them warily as we got to about the three-furlong pole on Warren Hill then leapt sideways and shot off, covering the final furlong faster than I've ever known him to, apart from when he bolted with me on our wedding morning.

And just now, as I settled down to write, I spotted him rearing up out in the back paddock. Belle Annie was really to blame for winding him up as Hugh was bringing them all in. She never misses an opportunity for silliness but really, this is most un-Panto-like behaviour. He'll have to brush up his act if he is to retain his title of lead horse to the stars.

We have a busy weekend in store with Lucy, my old boss from H&H, coming to stay with her husband and daughter on Friday night. I'm hoping the snow won't prevent Lucy riding out on Newmarket Heath for the first time on Saturday morning. Anthony will be with us all weekend too and an Easter egg hunt round the yard is planned for Saturday afternoon.

Only 357 days to go...

2008-03-17T11:20:00.000-07:00

This time last year I typed the blog headline Katchit, Katchit, Katchit. To avoid repeating myself, I'm choosing Katchit, Denman and Mister McGoldrick as my three Cheltenham highlights but there are many more than three reasons to be cheerful after last week and here they are:

1. Venalmar going so close in a bid to give Kayf Tara his first Festival winner and being beaten by an equally lovely horse in Fiveforthree. Both have chaser stamped all over them and I can't wait to see them back next year in the Royal & SunAlliance.

2. Brave little Fairalong looking like he was going to be completely tailed off in the Queen Mother but battling on to take third.

3. Interviewing Katchit's breeder Dominic Burke on Wind-stopped-play Wednesday and meeting Katchit's dam (both pictured), the snowy white Miracle. Dominic's enthusiasm for racing and breeding is contagious. Here's hoping his three-year-old half-sister to Katchit, called Miracle Seeker and trained by Clive Cox, wins lots of races on the flat this year.

4. Two winners for Willie Mullins, the Bumper king.

5. Two winners for the equally nice David Pipe.

6. Extraordinarily managing to tip three of the four championship race winners on the H&H website (Katchit, Inglis Drever and Denman).

7. Vicarious Jilly Cooper-stalking via Catherine.

8. Two days in the Racenews portacabin with Ed, Mark, Pete, David, Carl and Ben.

9. Binners on Festival radio. Actually this should go straight to the top of the charts.

10. Leprechaun hat egg cups in the ITM press pack. One of the strangest but most practical freebies I've ever been given.

11. I was only going to do ten but how could I go without mentioning the breakfasts cooked by Julian, Ed and George in the Big Brother house? Superb.

12. And how could I forget Master Minded? I've started so I'll finish.

Ou est le Walrus?

2008-03-08T05:19:00.000-08:00

It's Imperial Cup day and I should be getting excited about Cheltenham by now but instead I'm worrying about all the things I have to do before I leave (including reporting on Poplar Park horse trials tomorrow for H&H) and the fact that Panto will have yet another quite week while I'm away. Not that we're lining him up for any early season targets; I still don't know if I'll hold my nerve and even let him run again but we need to get back into our regular routine and France, London and Cheltenham have been getting in the way of that in the last few weeks.

Not that I'm complaining. The long weekend in France was excellent as John has outlined in his blog. We survived another few days of Alix's driving and had a weekend of contrast which included horses (as always), more horses, this time on canvas thanks to Géricault's magnificent paintings in the Louvre and the peacefulness of the D-Day beaches, where it is nigh on impossible to imagine the horror of what happened there 64 years ago.

I'm a little disappointed that Problem Walrus has not yet furnished us with his Cheltenham tips. Let's hope he's a little more forthcoming for Aintree. For what they're worth, my fancied horses are: Carruthers, Katchit, Kruguyrova and Knowhere e/w in the Gold Cup.

I've a feeling I've not put in anywhere near enough training ahead of Cheltenham. Not quite sure I'll get the trip this year but we'll see. On my way down on Monday I'm calling in to see Kayf Tara at Overbury Stud. I sincerely hope I'll be cheering home his first Cheltenham winner next week, especially if it's Carruthers or The Package.

It's a dog's life

2008-02-19T07:27:00.001-08:00

Stan and The Bean are not enjoying the current cold snap. Greyhounds weren't made for arctic conditions and they take every opportunity to stay indoors lying on whichever vacant sofa they can find or, naughtily, our bed until they get turfed off. The only time they show much excitement at the moment is when Anna arrives, usually a few lunchtimes a week, as they know her presence signals a good long walk on the heath. One other piece of fun today was a visit from my niece, Madness, who at 18 months is toddling around and is at the perfect height for the dogs to attempt to lick her face relentlessly, particularly as she often has quite a bit of food plastered around it. My sister Lynn does not find this amusing but Maddy doesn't seem to mind one bit.

The dogs have just about got used to the electric zappers around their necks which prevent them from straying off the property (I'm reliably informed by the company Freedom Fence that it does not hurt them and it certainly has deterred them from wandering towards the gate).

John's son Anthony is staying with us for half-term and is every bit as brahmatic as his father (*"I don't like eggs/chocolate/Cheerios/grapes" - *delete as applicable - before sitting down and devouring the offending foodstuff. Now who does that remind me of?).

Panto's giving me some cause for concern again as he's been listless for a few days and not eating all his food. Mind you, he's as fussy as John and as HOE Feeds decided to deliver regular sugar beet instead of his preferred Alfabeet he seems to have had a strop and has refused the mash in his food. The ever helpful Dengie rep, Claire, is on the case, however, and has promised to get some Alfabeet here by Thursday, after which all will be well. I sincerely hope so anyway as at the back of my mind is always the worry that his gastric ulcers may be returning. He's lost a bit of weight in the last week or so but that might just be because we've stepped up his work lately. He's such a problem child.

As well as Lynn and Madness dropping in, our other sister Jules came up from London to drop off some furniture to be stored in the hayloft. An unexpected bonus to see two of my three sisters in one day. The next time we'll all be together will probably not be until our parents' 40th wedding anniversary in July which means a trip for us all to the Highlands.

Roll on the summer. I've had enough of this freezing fog.

Catch that pigeon

2008-02-06T09:54:00.000-08:00

I always read with interest the 'Catching Pigeons' section of Paul Nicholls' column in Saturday's Racing Post, mostly in the (now seemingly vain) hope of seeing Take Me There's name in it. I've been wondering about him since his last run. He didn't look very comfortable as he finished and I'd love to know how he is but feel it's not really my place to enquire. Let's hope he fulfils his owners' dreams by making it to Cheltenham for the Bumper.

I think the headline is a bit of a misnomer anyway. The Warren Hill pigeons, perhaps bolder than those at Ditcheat, sit on the running rails each side of the canter and have been partaking of daring kamikaze-style low-flying antics straight at the horses as we've passed them most mornings this week. I'd love to think that Panto's exercise routine is of a sufficiently high standard to set the Newmarket work watchers abuzzing but, as he's only steady cantering each day at the moment, I fear it's simply that the pigeons, once hunted by the air gun-toting Squeak, realise they can take it easy now that he's moved to Sweden.

The last few mornings have been much more spring-like and the force nine gales have abated. Panto and I have spent two days alongside Hugh, first on Imperial Decree and today on Anis Etoilé. Both fillies seem to enjoy being back and have adopted a much more mature outlook to their work. Hugh gets them both going along really nicely. He's a sensitive rider, to whom the horses respond really well and carry themselves in a nice outline. You don't see enough of that on the Heath. Of course with young, fresh thoroughbreds, the most important thing for a rider in a big, open space is to stay on board and in touch with the rest of the string. Good riders really stand out from the average, though, when managing to get their horse to relax and bring his head round and down nicely, going forward on the bit. I'd be the last to criticise any other rider as I am not only lacking in style but also in courage (that is not a cry for praise, simply the truth and if it wasn't for Panto, I'd hardly ever be seen riding out) but I really do like to see a horse carrying itself well and this is in most cases aided greatly by a good rider. The above picture of Hugh and Anis was taken last September (I have not yet mastered John's trick of taking pictures while cantering) but you can see from this how well balanced he is and that he doesn't fall into the trap of riding unnecessarily short.

I had a great start to the day by photographing Doyen's half-brother, the last foal of the great mare Moon Cactus, who died when foaling him. Her Oaks-winning daughter Moonshell died shortly after her in similar circumstances which was a real blow for the family. Now two, the colt is by Singspiel and we've been tracking him since he was born for the foal diary on the Darley Kids website (see pics on www.darleystallions.com/darleykids). This has been a real treat for me. I love Singspiel and Doyen and to follow such a lovely horse as he's been growing up has been fantastic.

Not named yet, the colt is currently at Darley's pre-training yard and I imagine he will join Godolphin at some stage. I can't wait to see him on a racecourse. He has a bit of white round his eye on his off-side just like his dad. This eye seems to follow you wherever you go. He's inquisitive and quite cheeky and, probably as a result of being orphaned and handled perhaps slightly more than others at a very young age, he's always been a bold character and was certainly the ring leader when turned out with several other yearlings last year. As you can tell, I'm very keen on this horse and will be tracking his racing career with great interest, hoping he's a pigeon-catcher of the future. 2009 Derby, perhaps? I sincerely hope so.

Come friendly bombs

2008-01-28T07:06:00.000-08:00

I could scarcely believe my eyes when I read in the Post this week that a petition had been started by some Windsor residents, clearly with far too little going on in their lives, to have Windsor's postcode changed from SL4 so they don't have to be associated with Slough. I've got one thing to say to those people: GET OVER YOURSELVES. As a proud former resident of SL4 4BL, this born and bred Windsorian cannot believe that people can be such bloody awful snobs as to waste time in this pettiness. After all, Windsor Castle falls in the SL4 area and I can't see the Queen - who has almost a bird's eye view of Slough's trading estate from the private apartments at the Castle - signing such a petition. If she does, I'll be the first calling for a republic and, as Julian and Nigel know, I LOVE the Royal Family (and organic farming). Hurrah for Windsor Racecourse for not falling for it and I hope the Windsor, Slough and Eton Express, the paper to which I was indentured in about 1743, is suitably up in arms about such idiotic snobbery. If Betjeman's friendly bombs do ever come, let's hope they fall on Windsor instead (safe to say that since my parents have long since departed to the Highlands).

That's the soapbox moment over for another week (don't even get me started on Nic Coward). Now to any other business.

Firstly, apologies to Alan T, possibly the only person who reads this blog, for being absent for so long. I have much catching up to do with my husband, who has been blogging away to his heart's content. I've no real excuses, as this is generally a much quieter time of the year for me, but I've been doing an awful lot of faffing (oh and sort of skiing but only for four days and only in a very half-hearted way).

I've done the odd bit of work in between bouts of faffing. Several days spent at H&H last week were enjoyable, not just from a work perspective but for the opportunity of catching up with lots of old friends in London. Some of them still work at H&H (Catherine, Nicola, Jenny, etc and the huge added bonus of Alex Medhurst also in for a freelance stint) and Kate's next door at Country Life. My old boss Julian put me up yet again at my old flat and H&H exiles Pippa, Kate and Nigel gathered for what we thought was Lizzie's birthday party but also turned into an engagement celebration for Lizzie and Rob, which was excellent news. She and another old H&H friend Paula are both getting married in the next few months (and both, weirdly, at Chelsea Town Hall). It truly is amazing that any of us old H&H bags have ever managed to con poor unsuspecting males into marrying us. There's a sucker born every minute.

Another really nice bit of work was interviewing Lucy Wadham for this week's H&H. She's a very nice lady who had some awful luck at the weekend when one of her horses was badly injured. I felt rather rotten barging into her house on Sunday morning when she was clearly feeling so low but she was very good about it and it was interesting talking to her about some of her nice young horses coming through and, of course, the old favourite The Dark Lord.

William Kennedy was with us on Sunday morning and gave Mobs (My Obsession) a very encouraging schooling session (see picture). I'm going to be horribly nervous when he has his first run over hurdles but watching him in action has made me feel very positive about his prospects as a jumper. The same afternoon, we had a lovely time at the unseasonally warm Higham point-to-point with Gemma and Simon. It was great to see Andrew Barr's smashing horse Mr Tee Pee win his third race in a row. He's clearly such a source of pride and fun for his owners - it's what pointing is all about (and what racing should be about). And no point-to-point would be complete without an appearance from Nick Pearce Jump Jockey. I'm happy to say our hero did not disappoint.

On the subject of jumping, I've been spending so much time telling all and sundry what a truly fabulous jumps sire Kayf Tara is (not that he needs me to do so - his results speak for themselves) that the decision has now been taken to send Desiree to him this year after her Sulamani foal has been born. That's a very exciting prospect for me though I suspect I will end up having to sell the resultant offspring but we'll see.

I've now coached John in using my camera and he took some shots of Panto and me on Warren Hill the other day which I'm very pleased to have. The aforementioned Pippa, who now works at Great Leighs as their communications director, has asked to borrow him (Panto, that is, not John) to have the first canter around the track which is all now in place. Stand by for Pantomime Prince, lead horse to the stars, making history by being the first horse on the first new racecourse in this country for 80 years. Good luck to Great Leighs. Everyone has been queuing up to knock them but the finish post is now firmly in sight and I can't wait for the track to open. It will be a huge asset for Newmarket-trained horses.

John's been complaining that I haven't been putting enough recipes on this blog so here goes:

Aunty Em's Smoked Fish Paté
Take one Arbroath Smokie (available from www.donaldrussell.com), a few slices of smoked salmon, one small tub of creme fraiche (half-fat if you're feeling virtuous) and a small tub of Philadelphia. Whizz 'em up together in a blender with lots of lemon juice and black pepper and, hey presto, a delicious quick and easy starter if I do say so myself.

I still haven't been to the smokery near Bottisham, as recommended by Problem Walrus, but I did find a very nice Irish smoked soft cheese in Waitrose when I was out doing a spot of hunter-gathering the other day. I can't remember what it's called but it's in a sort of hexagonal box. Yum.

It's been a while

2007-12-23T11:55:00.001-08:00

If you've been reading John's blog, you'll know it's been a hectic month. The last week has included a wedding and a funeral. The former, a day some of us, including the mother of the groom, thought we'd never see, was to celebrate the marriage of my old Maidenhead Advertiser friend Sean O'Meara to the lovely Helen Wortley. It's not often groom's speeches open with the line "I told you I wasn't gay" but Sean's had plenty of practice at wedding oratories, having been best man umpteen times, and he wasn't going to miss this opportunity to wheel out a few of his well-worn gags.

He certainly had the last laugh by seating me next to my four-year-old godson Ben at the reception. Ben's sister Lottie, who is Sean's god-daughter (making us god-in-laws?) was on bridesmaid duty and is the absolute epitome of good behaviour (as all girls are). Ben is a little livelier and his antics certainly made for an action-packed evening. He's an absolutely lovely little boy and I was assured by his parents Richard and Paula at the time of agreeing to be his godmother that I would not be expected to act in a responsible manner. That's what his other godparents Cathy and Steve are for - I was merely enrolled to teach him how to drink and to gamble, apparently.

The entire Collings clan is descending for Christmas. It will be standing room only at Beverley House Stables as there are masses of us but at least there'll be a few extra pairs of hands to help with the mucking out. The numbers have been swelled by two feline additions to the household. Alamshar and Giant have decided to move back into the house now it's cold, having evicted themselves when Stan moved in three years ago. Now they've finally realised that he's more scared of them than they are of him, they are permanent fixtures again and The Evil Genius is relishing having a duo of disciples in the dark arts.

An audience with Herself

2007-11-13T09:16:00.000-08:00

Very unlike me to write two blogs in two days so I'll keep this short but I can't resist the equine name-dropping potential of having Ouija Board on the site.

I truly can't think of a horse I've enjoyed seeing race more than this great mare so it was an enormous privilege to meet her on Friday morning, a little stockier than in her racing days (but aren't we all?) and slightly woolly (ditto) but still with an unmistakeably regal air about her and rightly so. Her first foal, by Kingmambo, is due in January.

The occasion was an assignment for Thoroughbred Owner & Breeder magazine. Sadly I was a few days early for Notnowcato's arrival at Stanley House Stud but I hope to return to photograph him when he's happily ensconced in Hyperion's old box (and indeed that of his own sire Inchinor).

Peter Stanley and stud groom Pat Cronin were extremely hospitable, with Peter grabbing my camera to record the moment of my little chat with the equine superstar. A memory I will cherish.

Wellies and woolly mammoths

2007-11-12T11:47:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty pleased with the new pic on the homepage and very proud of my two lovely boys. Yes, of course, the equine in question is Pantomime Prince and, in my biased view, I think he's looking very well indeed. John's not bad either.

For those of you on Welly Watch, the trainer has gone decidedly upmarket and is now sporting a pair of brand new Ariat boots, which are a kind of cross between a welly and a riding boot. And they're blue, not green. It's a start.

Panto needs a clip as he's turned into a woolly mammoth in the last few weeks. Ex Con has just had one and is being road-tested in a new bitless bridle, which John has been asked to try out. I'm not sure how much of a test Ex Con really is as one could ride him bareback in a headcollar and he'd just wander along in his own "am I bovvered?" way. I would not, however, fancy trying any of the Dawson family in one.

Yearling number three, the Key Of Luck filly, has now been ridden away and despite regularly trying to kick Panto she's doing very nicely. The newly-acquired Halling filly is currently being long-reined and may well head to Ireland for a lengthy growing-up period later this year.

We're currently keeping fingers crossed that Lady Suffragette doesn't get ballotted out of her intended race at Bangor on Wednesday. She's been very unlucky this year, regularly falling foul of the ridiculous 'not enough stables' rule. Come on BHA, stop inventing new names for yourself and pull your finger out to sort out this idiotic and frustrating situation.

The above pic of Lady S is really just an excuse to use a photo of Desiree, her dark brown workmate in this shot taken back in the spring. Des is my second most treasured horse after Panto and is now looking much fatter than this as she's in foal to Sulamani. It will be a late foal, not due til May, but before that we have the more imminent arrival of Minnie's Mystery's Largesse foal in January to enjoy.

Speaking of foals, Darley's latest broodmare is none other than their website manager Anna Ridges, proud part-owner (with her husband Tim) of Anis Etoilé. Anna and Tim are expecting their first baby next May and we're all looking forward to welcoming little Emma Singspiel Cupcake Ridges to the world. Many congratulations to you both.

A day for goodbyes and one hello

2007-11-03T06:38:00.000-07:00

It's been a sad morning. Aisling left us for her six-month stint in Dubai. We'll all miss her terribly - she's a huge asset to the place and is the regular rider of Lady Suffragette and Imperial Decree. We're already counting down the days until her return after the Dubai World Cup.

A week and a day after his thrilling Bumper win, Take Me There also left the stable today and is now en route to Paul Nicholls in Somerset. We wish him and his owners well - he's a smashing horse who should record plenty more wins for his new stable. It's always awful to watch horses leave the yard for the last time and it was particularly hard for Jackie, who has put such a huge amount of time and effort into this horse. He's a credit to her and I hope whoever ends up looking after him in Ditcheat lavishes as much attention on him as she did.

Allouette also left us earlier this week and a new life as a riding horse beckons for her. Having come here as a nervous wreck with sore feet and clear signs of having tied up that had been completely overlooked, some tender care, time and patience had worked well and her homework alongside Take Me There (they are pictured above together on Warren Hill) was good. However, her fear of being at the racecourse is not something she will leave behind so readily. Her one run for John was disappointing to us all. What hurts me most is that nobody sees the sensitive handling that went into even getting her back into shape to be ready to race. She'll make a wonderful ladies' hunter and I hope she gets the good home she deserves. I'm sure Greg and Henry will see to it that she does.

There's a new little face peeking over one of the boxes this afternoon as we've just brought home a lovely Halling yearling filly, bought last night as Tattersalls. Halling's a very good stallion who gets a lot of good racehorses so let's hope she's one of them.

We were pipped at the post by Tony Hide's team in the Newmarket Horseracing Museum quiz last night. After dead-heating with them, we lost out on a tiebreaker over the number of perfomances of Miss Saigon. Some very confusing arithmetic ensued and bloodstock agent Larry Stratton confidently predicted there had been 6428 shows of Miss Saigon in the West End. It was actually 4000 and something and Tony's team was closer. We tried to lodge an objection with quizmaster Mike Cattermole as it was Tony's wife Sue who had set the questions for the excellent quiz, but he was too busy flirting with various female members of Camilla Milbank's team (who came last and won all the raffle prizes) to listen to our cries.

John blames me for our loss over a cock-up between One Man and The Fellow but luckily for me he's lost his voice so I don't have to listen to his whingeing, particularly as I keep reminding him that he needs to recover in time for his Melbourne Cup stint on At The Races on Monday night. A mute commentator is not much use, although it would be quite a bonus if it was Matt Chapman.

Fakenham, probably the best racecourse in the world

2007-10-31T12:30:00.001-07:00

It would have definitely been the best racecourse in the world if not for the lack of sausage rolls on offer when we finally arrived. But, in fairness, that's not Fakenham's fault, it's Brandon's. Brandon is undoubtedly the most ghastly town in all East Anglia, even worse if you're stuck in an interminable traffic jam outside the bingo hall when all you want to do is get to Fakenham to watch That Look and the debut of Take Me There and, more importantly, scoff a load of what my husband insists are 'the best sausage rolls you'll find anywhere'.

Fakenham's chief sausage roll orderer perhaps didn't take into account the massive half-term crowd and That Look, a member of my jumps 12-to-follow did his best to further spoil my enjoyment by finishing last of four after posting two wins before the competition started. His trainer and our neighbour Don Cantillon assured me he was 'a darling of a horse'. I'm not so sure.

But not even lack of pastry and 12-to-follow winners could blunt Fakenham's unique and homely charm. If only some of the big faceless racecourse groups would take a leaf out of its book. Long live the country tracks, especially Norfolk's finest, which now rivals Kelso as my favourite racecourse in Britain (just don't tell Carolynn).

The lovely Take Me There, aka Tacky The Tractor, was, of course, responsible for providing much of the fun with a rousing Bumper win under AP McCoy. You've read all about him on John's blog but he really did give us all a memorable day, even though we could barely remember it the following day after popping into the Yard to watch Discreet Cat's Breeders' Cup run after a slap-up meal at the Fountain (still no sausgae rolls, had to settle for spring rolls) and (ha!) rolling out several hours and many more bottles later.

Having sulked for quite a while about not going to the Breeders' Cup this year, I was relieved not to be there when I saw the hideous conditions at Monmouth and, of course, the saddest finale with the loss of George Washington. Too awful for words. Who needs the Breeders' Cup when you have a track as friendly as Fakenham? They even let dogs in - now what could be better?

The Brocklesby winner?

2007-10-25T05:17:00.001-07:00

For those of you with an eye on next year's flat ten-to-follow competition, look no further than this yard for some early points. I feel certain we have the Brocklesby winner under our roof at the moment - none other than Jack and Jill Dawson's little sister, JD, by Catcher In The Rye (pictured here meeting big sister Jill for the first time).

We've possibly broken a record in having two yearlings ridden away already - James Eustace was certainly surprised as we passed him on The Severals yesterday. The 1997 Partnership's Hernando filly was the first and was incredibly straightforward, wandering around the horsewalks through town in a very bold manner. JD has been more of a suprise package. The Hernando already looks really quite grown up and is nearly as big as Polly (who has just been officially named Polychrome). There's no doubting that JD is a yearling - she's the tubbiest little horse on the heath, barring Rosie Margarson's pony Saucy Simon who has been on half-term patrol this week. But what she lacks in stature she makes up for by having the most relaxed and professional attitude I've ever seen in such a young horse.

Martha's been riding her and she and I have had some lovely rides over through the woods on racecourse side with Southfields all covered in frost. Yesterday she ventured onto the heath for the first time, walking alongside the Town Canter with not a flinch as other strings passed us. Not even Neckstrap Corner holds any fear for her - though our current lodger Olly may be avoiding it having fallen off there on his first morning working for Neil King on Monday (sorry Olly, couldn't resist and there's a reason my nickname at Darley was Gobby).

If she does go on to become a winner, it will be thanks in equal maeasures to Martha's calm riding and Panto's even calmer chaperoning. Biggest praise of all, of course, will go to the wonderful mare Dream Of Jenny, now 20 (and in foal to Antonius Pius), and still happily munching away at John and Catherine Burke's farm in Baltinglass. She's now the dam of seven winners, a great record for any broodmare. Let's hope JD becomes her eighth (and shares are still available!)...

Mr and Mrs Golden Delicious

2007-10-16T01:04:00.000-07:00

John's already filled you in on the events of the last few weeks. The wedding of Aisling and Charlie has to be the highlight, especially as we can now officially call Aisling by Sue Durcan's favourite nickname of Golden Delicious. The happy couple weren't the only delicious offering at Glin Castle, as the accompanying picture of the reservoir pups (Simon, Olly, Thomas, Carl and John) shows. What a handsome bunch.

The girls didn't scrub up badly either though Gemma and I rather let the side down after a little bit too much liquid refreshment. Even though Aisling and Charlie are not likely to have seen their wedding video yet I might as well start apologising now.

Egged on by Gemma I made a right fool of myself with the most idiotic message imaginable but I still haven't got over being denied the opportunity to sing in church. I always do my best and loudest ex-choir girl effort to drown out John's dreadful droning. It's even worse at the carol concert with Dawn and Carolynn in attendance, too. Three more awful singers it would be hard to imagine.

However much apologising I do though is unlikely to match the amount Gemma had to do on Saturday night as glass after glass of red wine was tipped over whichever poor unsuspecting individual happened to be trying to hold a conversation with her. Val was first, I know Sharon, Aisling's sister, had her orange dress turned red in patches, and my cream shoes took a bit of bashing (not to mention Gemma's own white skirt). Sexy Simon The Vet got off lightly but he was too busy auditioning to be the next Bond (mover over Daniel Craig, you're so last year) to be worried by such trivialities.

It was a lovely few days away after a fairly stressful week at Tattersalls and it's not over yet as part two of the October sale is due to start any minute now. To be honest, the weeks since Alice died have been a right old drag. Despite the fact that this place is stuffed full of lovely animals it just feels so hideously lonely without her. Every corner of the house and yard prompts a memory of her. Stan has at last got some canine company in the form of fellow greyhound Sarah, who returned here yesterday for a second chance. It's lovely to have her back. She has bags of personality and is easy to spot on the heath with her uneven gait following a broken hip as a puppy.

Our new stable jockey

2007-09-17T08:15:00.000-07:00

We like to be the first to recognise fresh young talent at Beverley House Stables so when my two-year-old nephew visited on Saturday we couldn't resist sticking him up on a horse (dear old Panto, of course) to see if he'll be vying for champion apprentice honours in 2022.

As you can see, Cameron did look rather fetching in his riding hat (last worn by yours truly circa 1974) but as he's already the size of most normal five-year-olds, it seems more likely that he'll end up playing in England's second row. At least that's what his dad's hoping.

The three yearlings are settling in well and have formed an unholy trinity in the paddock next to the grown-ups. The Hernando filly has been dubbed 'Princess Pushy' and would give even Jill Dawson a run for her money in the bossy stakes. JD just loves to eat and the Key Of Luck filly is a sweetheart. It's quite strange to think that Imperial Decree, Filemot, Anis Etoilé, Racie Gracie and Polly are no longer the babies of the yard. Imperial Decree has already proved herself with a win at Yarmouth and we return there full of hope on Thursday. Having been at extremely close quarters to see her dig in and challenge Panto up Warren Hill on Sunday morning, there's no doubting the fact that she has grown into a proper little racehorse. Let's hope we can say that about the new arrivals this time next year.

Word has reached Unstable Life that the Welsh Wonder aka Bethan Mercer has accepted the marriage proposal of the BHA's Minister for Silly Names and Propaganda, Owen Byrne. I've found that the key to success for any marriage is for the wife to be significantly better at golf than the husband. Bethan and Owen should be fine - many congratulations to you both!

Not single spies

2007-09-09T00:28:00.000-07:00

Our beloved Alice died yesterday.

We thought the day would be tinged with sadness as we were pretty sure it was to be Jack Dawson's last race. As Jack cantered to post at Stratford, John received a phone call giving him the most terrible news, that Alice had been hit by a car on the Exning Road and killed.

I blame myself completely for her death. I've been looking at ways to contain her within the yard and recently thought about buying the invisible fencing with shock collars to keep her in. But thinking is not enough and she's gone. She loved to escape and wander around town and was known by just about everyone but I always feared this would happen. I can't tell you how much I wish I'd acted sooner.

Jack has been retired after his creditable run which neither John or I were able to watch. He will go to live with Paul and Margaret and they plan to do a bit of cross-country with him. He'll love it but we'll miss him terribly, just as we do Alice. If there's one consolation, it is that we bought yet another of Jack's half-sisters, by Catcher In The Rye, at Fairyhouse this week and she is now grazing happily out the back.

I've had some really lovely evenings out walking this summer with Alice, around Moulton Paddocks with Aisling and her dogs, and this week on the heath with Dawn, Stan and Panto. She's looked so well this year, even though she was nearly 11. Needless to say, John is absolutely distraught and it will take some time to patch up the gaping hole she leaves in the yard. We've buried her here at home, just by the paddocks, so she will always be a part of the place.

Doors to manual

2007-09-04T05:41:00.000-07:00

I've been spending so much time on Ryanair lately that I really ought to buy shares. Aisling told me a rather scary story about her former days as an Aer Lingus stewardess (sorry, member of the cabin crew) when she forgot to close the cabin door properly while engaged in eating a muffin and didn't realise until the Captain rang through to her as they were already taxiing towards the runway. I've never much enjoyed Ryanair, especially the terrifying landings, but I shall certainly not be booking any flights on Aer Lingus in future.

This conversation with Ais (pictured here being annoyed by Jim at Huntingdon) came about as we departed for her native country for the second time in less than a week. For the first trip, she had accompanied us to the Curragh to watch Imperial Decree run and, last Friday, we found ourselves in at the champagne bar in the departure lounge with Gemma Dawson and Dizzy, Aisling's soon-to-be sister-in-law and former apprentice to the Piggotts, when she rode under her real name of Victoria Appleby.

The reason for our return to the Emerald Isle was for Aisling's non-hen do but her best friends Orlaith McMahon and Aisling Connolly made sure there was plenty of hen paraphernalia when we arrived in Killarney, with the house decked out in L-plates, ballooons, "Don't do it" banners (sorry, Charlie) and all sorts of other unmentionables.

I'm pleased to report that the Beverley House Stables team of Ais, Gemma and myself beat the others in a head-to-head on Singstar (think Karaoke meets Pop Idol - the computer actually judges your singing. Just don't say the words '22 seconds' anywhere near Gemma). Tour rules prevent me from mentioning any other behaviour/activities from the weekend but I'm hoping Charlie might download some pictures from Aisling's camera and send them on to me. I'm sure Jim and Gerry will be dying to take a peek.

Having spent the weekend as room-mate to one Dawson, we're heading back to Ireland for the sale at Fairyhouse to look at another potential Dawson. So, it's back on Ryanair at some ungodly hour tomorrow morning. We're making a detour past Marco Botti's stable at 4.15am to pick up Lucie, his partner and assistant trainer, who will hopefully prevent John and I squabbling all the way to Dublin. We'll be staying with John Burke, breeder of Jill Dawson (and thus owner of her and Jack's mum Dream Of Jenny). John has a Catcher In The Rye half-sister to them in the sale, whom we are eager to have a look at. We did actually see her last year - a cracking foal (pictured) and it will be great to see how she's grown. This filly goes through the ring at around the same time as a member of Desiree's family by Generous. I'll have to make sure I'm sitting on both of my hands to stop myself bidding on that colt.

After that, we'll not be back in Ireland until the middle of October for Aisling and Charlie's big day - a wedding we are hugely looking forward to. It will also be nice to be reunited with all the wonderful hens from this weekend in Killarney.

In other news, Panto's back in gentle action after two weeks' lameness with a foot abscess. He's finally putting on some weight and is looking as well as I've ever seen him. I think Equine Gold and Gastro Gold, two completely natural supplements I've had him on, have played a part but I also hope he's just generally feeling much better having had some time off. He is adorable and I really hope we can see him racing next year.

Stan's hedgehog

2007-08-02T01:45:00.000-07:00

It's been a while. With the summer party, trips to Yorkshire, workmen cutting through our phone cables etc., blogging has been the last thing on my mind.

It's lovely now it feels like summer is truly here and along with sunshine we have the added benefit of Robbie Hooper having returned to the yard. Robbie's been coming here on and off since he was nine. He's now 13, seems to have grown about three feet and has come back to help though the summer holidays, which is great. He'a always been a fearless and natural rider as this picture of him cantering Pantomime Prince on Long Hill yesterday morning will show.

John's been keeping you abreast of other news and I have finally got around to updating pics on is blog and in the photo gallery so there are a few to have a look at when you have a mo.

Stan's developed a worrying fascination for hedgehogs. One seems to have taken up residence here and only comes out after dark. When the dogs and I have our evening stroll in the yard, Stan unfailingly finds the poor little creature and picks it up in his mouth (ouch), running around with the hedgehog cowering in his jaws and looking very pleased with himself. He drops it instantly if bellowed at and the hedgehog scuttles off looking somewhat traumatised but otherwise unscathed. Stan's never been blessed with a huge array of brain cells and on our weekly walk with Aisling and her pack of hounds at Moulton Paddocks, he's surrounded by rabbits, hares and other small fluffy creatures on Timmy's killing fields but shows not the remotest interest in chasing what would be surely less prickly prey.

We're off to Sandown later this aftewrnoon and hopefully we won't have to suffer the ridiculous M25 delays we had last Thursday when heading down there with Brief. Kirsty (pictured with Hugh just before the pair of them had to carry Martha home from our party) is riding Jill again and we're hoping for a really big run from the pair of them. Kirsty's also just been booked to ride Brief Goodbye at Windsor on Saturday. She's been very lucky for this stable and very kindly comes in regularly to ride work for John. Today, we've the pleasure of being accompanied by Carolynn and her dad Bill, aka Papa B, who is a huge racing fan from Kelso.

The last time Bill went to the races with John it was to watch Bilkie and when they got there, the ground was so heavy (Towcester, I think) they withdrew the horse. Hopefully Papa B will have a more fruitful journey this evening.

Talking of Bilkie, I had a really enjoyable couple of hours yesterday evening visiting him in his new home and watching his owner Amanda Pickard have a lesson on him. She's a lovely rider and has brought him on really well in the short time he has been with her. Bilkie was always a smashing horse. He went to his first show jumping class last Sunday and jumped a clear round and it was wonderful to watch him in his lesson, taking it all in his stride and clearly happy and eager to learn.

We were really pleased when Suze, who has ridden out here for a few years, introduced us to Amanda. We knew that if he was going to a new home in her yard, he would be well looked after and it's great that he is now a regular hacking companion for Suze's mare Tolly.

Scooby Doo, Superwoman and the schoolboy

2007-07-15T10:43:00.000-07:00

As John has outlined in his diary, we've had a hectic week at the sales, races and Darley stallion parade. The Darley do is always a superb day but party of the week must go to Susan Renouf's summer soirée last night. It was like walking onto a film set such was the attention to detail and setting. Pink everywhere, including the champagne.

John and I were pretty pathetic on the fancy dress front. The theme was 'Dress S' so he wore shorts (go figure) and I settled for a summer dress and sparkly shoes. A poor effort when up against Scooby Doo, Abi Harrison as Superwoman, Hugo Morriss as a sheikh and Susan's daughter Jane Chapple-Hyam as the ghoul from Scream. Pictures and gossip from the night shall be forthcoming at some stage but I'm keeping the best bits for my H&H column. Let's just say it involved Jimmy Quinn (dressed as a schoolboy), Maya Morriss (dressed as a slut) and Riverdance.

Away from all the partying, drinking and partying, it was a great week at the yard, too. Annie Mann joined us on work experience and was a huge asset. If the racing industry can attract staff of the quality of Annie, then it will be in great shape indeed. She particularly helped me out in a busy week by riding and looking after Panto. She's a good, confident rider who had spent the previous week at Mark Johnston's stable in Middleham. The difference between our yard and his must have been rather strange for Annie but she got on brilliantly with everyone and hopefully she enjoyed sampling life in all stables great and small and has not been put off a career in the industry when she leaves school.

It was sad to say goodbye to By Storm. We've waved farewell to too many of our equine friends in recent weeks, with Bilkie and La Gessa retiring and Milton being claimed. I never find it easy, even though I always try to tell myself it's part of the job. Pretty hard to see Milton's Keen entered up this week for another stable. He ran a good race in second, improving just as we knew he would. I just wish he was still running for this stable.

Ex-Con should be a nice addition to the yard though. He's a big, strong colt (but not for long as Mr Dugdale and his gelding equipment will be paying a visit in the next few days) and it will be fun finding out what he can do.

And now, apart from Jack's run on Wednesday, we have the debut of Imperial Decree to look forward to on Saturday. Having watched Aisling gallop her yesterday morning, it's hard not to feel excited about her first run, even though the 2yo races at Newmarket can be pretty competitive. Diktat had a good juvenile winner yesterday in Dark Tara, so let's hope our little filly can add her name to his list of winners at some stage.

You don't have to be MAD to work here but it helps

2007-07-08T11:17:00.000-07:00

Martha's going through a pink and blue phase. She has blue breeches, all manner of pink and blue t-shirts, a pink and blue air-cushioned whip and she's just bought herself a new hat silk to replace her old pink one and, yes, you've guessed it, it's pink and blue.

It's a very snazzy silk with her initials sewn on the back. As her middle name is Amelia, we've had no end of amusement at the fact that her monogram is MAD. Appropriate up to a point and she fits right in with the rest of us down on the funny farm. This morning I even caught her riding out in shorts. Fortunately she has not followed John's example completely and worn wellies, but if she did, they'd almost certainly be pink and blue. As it was Sunday and none of the team are expected to ride out on Sunday, it's typical of Martha's commitment and determination to be a jockey that she took By Storm, who runs on Wednesday and has a date at Tattersalls on Thursday, out for a little spin to stretch her legs.

John and I almost always go out for a ride on a Sunday morning and it's bliss as hardly anyone else is out. This morning we returned to the scene of our victory at last night's pétanque tournament as we crossed the Severals. In a marvellous evening of Anglo-French relations organised by Camilla (sporting fetching green beret), les grenouilles outnumbered les rosbifs 6 1/2 to 4 1/2 (as our hostess was born in France to British parents) and we somehow worked it out so that each team managed to win a round despite some lively arguing between the ultra-serious Francis and Julien, both self-proclaimed experts in the sport.

Emma Candy (right) gets my vote for sneakiest player of the evening, pretending never to have picked up a boule in her life but then adopting the 'Candy Crouch' to lob one in right next to the cochonet. Francis's sister Christine was pretty handy and, rather surprisingly, so was my husband. Jamie definitely wins the prize for tallest and most stylish beret wearer.

The combination of Pimms and Pastis left a slightly woolly head this morning but I will certainly be engaging in some furious practising before I take on my namesake again. The only thing missing was Andrej the noisy Ukrainian, but I fear he would definitely fall into the bouligan category, so he's best left in Fethard organising Coolmore's ad camapign.

Foals and Facebook

2007-07-05T04:16:00.000-07:00

Enforced blogging absence due to trip to Scotland to see my folks and then far too much work, which really is quite unacceptable. Mind you, I moan about having too much work but I'd moan more if the phone never rang and at least I love what I do.

Monday was spent in the offices of Horse & Hound assisting with their press day. Really enjoying the odd sortie back there to see some old friends in their swanky new offices just behind the Tate Modern, even if it does mean a rudely early train from Ely.

Highlight of the week so far was photographing foals for Darley which included the offspring of two lovely racemares, Kazzia and Petrushka. As their foals are not yet weaned, I got to see the old girls too, which was a huge treat. Kazzia, especially, is just the loveliest mare.

Actually, I should amend that as it was only the second best moment of the week. The best was hearing the news that Desiree (pictured here licking lovely Panto) is now in foal to Sulamani. If all goes well, her first baby should be with us next May, a late foal but no worries as he/she won't be going anywhere but eventually to the Beverley House training academy and can take as much time as needed to get there. I'm just thrilled that Desiree is still part of our family and will hopefully be adding to it.

Looking forward to interviewing Bill O'Gorman for H&H later. There should be brahmas aplenty as Bill's one of Newmarket's truly great characters and frighteningly intelligent.

Anna's got me onto Facebook and it is wasting too much of my precious little spare time at the moment. Do not, whatever you do, log on. Life's too short.

Gotta go and hose down Stan who has rolled in something really offensive and is lying in my office looking really pleased with himself. Yuk.

A ghost galloping by

2007-06-13T01:41:00.000-07:00

It's been a week or so of comings and goings. La Gessa's left us, to be covered by Avonbridge at Whitsbury. She'll be hugely missed, especially by Aisling.

Bilkie has gone too and has a lovely new home only a few miles away with Amanda Pickard, with Suze's horse Tolly as a stable companion. If this picture is anything to go by, he seems to be thriving in his new environment and will hopefully make a competitive little eventer for Amanda in time to come.

Allouette and My Obsession have returned and are both looking well. Desiree is still here but has embarked on her secondary career - as a broodmare. She went to Sulamani on Monday night and we now have an anxious few weeks waiting to find out if she's in foal. The decision-making over all this has been keeping me awake at nights and I know I will spend the next three years worrying about any resultant offspring.

No week is complete without a good book and a good film and I can heartily recommend one of each. I laughed until I had cramp in my cheeks when watching Little Miss Sunshine at Claire's last night. The wildly inappropriate dénouement is one of the most hilarious pieces of cinema I've seen in ages.

I've read lots of books about horses over the years but never one as brilliantly written and deeply moving as John Oaksey's book about Mill Reef, which I found on one of John's bookshelves recently. Written in 1974 in Mill Reef's early days at stud, it captures his story with the minimum of hype but the writer's admiration is so apparent and had me sorely wishing I'd been born a few decades earlier in order to have been able to appreciate the horse's spectacular racing career. So lovely to have been able to read Paul Mellon's eloquent Gimcrack speech in full, too. This book is a must for any racing fan.

Lord Oaksey's account of one of Mill Reef's gallops, where he seemd to float over the ground and hardly left a hoofprint in very soft going, was particularly enchanting. It's easy to get carried away with such mystical tales but being a slightly fanciful sort, I quite often wonder about the great horses who must have stretched their limbs over Newmarket's historic turf while I'm walking the dogs on quiet afternoons.
If you're there when the train rumbles through the tunnel under the heath then it can be particularly spooky as the ground vibrates as if they are galloping there still. It's somehow fitting that patches of forget-me-nots grow over the grass gallops on Long Hill and Warren Hill.

And just to keep all you Lemons happy, here's a pic of John riding out on Monday. The shorts have been somewhat shy in making their seasonal reappearance but they're out in force now, complete with obilgatory wellies, of course. In an intriguing mix of conformity and non-conformity, John is at least sporting a body protector, unlike many on the heath who are still not abiding by the new rule. I don't blame them, as they are hot and uncomfortable to wear and each rider should be able to make up his or her own mind if they wish to use one or not, particularly as they offer very little protection for the types of falls most commonly seen at exercise. In keeping with the nanny state rules that have been set down, we are, however, insisting everyone who rides out from here wears one even though it's a complete load of nonsense.