Victim of success

I read the piece on Tom Dascombe in the RP today, and the fact that he has closed his stable for a while.  Obviously I’ve known about it for a few days – some of Tom’s horses have been running terribly, and on a number of occasions horses that were expected to go well came stone last. I don’t think Tom …

Feeling sheepish

No good for Pansy, but an fair run and the general view seems to be that she’s still a bit of a baby and will progress as the season goes on.  She didn’t look to get the mile and seven furlongs looks more the ticket.  Next time out we’ll run her up with the pace a little more.  The positives; …

Comeback trail

I’m having a quiet time of it at the moment – the weather’s been horrible and I’ve had a bad cold.  I haven’t had any runners and I haven’t been betting either – I’m still licking my wounds from my big bet on Marine Boy. Marine Boy may come out again at Haydock on Saturday, and we’ll be looking for …

A bad weekend at the office

Ugh.  My hopes and dreams from Friday lie crushed and broken. Marine Boy‘s run was too bad to be true.  He’s a lot better than that – in a sense I’d have been more concerned if he’d been beaten a couple of lengths.  He scoped clean after the race and he trotted up fine – we couldn’t see anything wrong.  …

Bring it on

I travelled up to Newmarket late on Monday night with Mick and we checked into a hotel.  In the morning I went down to watch work with Pete. Winker was out first lot.  He worked extremely well without seeming to extend himself – Pete thought it was there or thereabouts his nicest piece of work this year.  Nicky Nutjob, an …

Tough assignment

A brilliant hatrick for Lilac Moon.  It shows how much pleasure there is to be had in the lower reaches of the racing game – it doesn’t all have to be about shooting for the stars.  Lilac’s hatrick can be put down to a whole host of things;  High on the list is her attitude to racing – puts it all in and finds a little …

I’m going on The Game

Some interesting racing today, including a couple of runners for me.  Lilac Moon goes in the last at Newmarket and Pansy Potter in the 4:25 at Newbury. Tom Dascombe runs a couple of likely types today, and they may both be worth following.  Blakfrankisch runs in the first at Newbury, and is ridden by Michaela Sowerby.  Michaela is a quality pair …

No loss in defeat

The PAs at Betfair had an evening out at Windsor races on Monday night, and they had a £50 kitty for betting on the horses.  Chantelle, my PA, was responsible for investing the kitty, and she decided as follows;  £20 win Hip Hip Hooray, £10 E/W Acclaimed, £10 win Right Stuff.  They won at 14/1, 9/2 and 16/1.  I went …

Horse Pics

Further disappointment with Skid Solo, but some encouragement for Pete as Exceptional Art won at Windsor in fine style.  It was good to see a Chapple-Hyam 2yo winning in the way they were winning last year.  Skid is a really nice horse on the gallops but he won’t do it on the course and it’s pretty frustrating. I’ve recently bought a new …

Skid to make his mark

Skid Solo comes out today trying to break his duck in the first at Wolver.  We thought a lot of him at the start of the season but he’s been disappointing thus far.  To be fair most of Pete’s 2yos that have come out have been disappointing this year, but he had a nice winner yesterday and maybe things are coming right now. …