It came as no surprise to learn over the weekend that City Of Troy will be aimed at the Coral-Eclipse rather than the Irish Derby. Group 1 form over ten furlongs is always favoured over mile and a half form … Read More »

Hi there! It came as no surprise to learn over the weekend that City Of Troy will be aimed at the Coral-Eclipse rather than the Irish Derby. Group 1 form over ten furlongs is always favoured over mile and a … Read More »

Hi there I sensed a collective sigh of relief from the majority of pundits following the success of City Of Troy in the Derby last weekend. In the old days I would have said this was due to the landing … Read More »

Hi there Last Friday was one of the most absorbing days of racing that I have seen in a long time. Quite why we had an afternoon clash of meetings at three top-tier tracks – Newbury, Newmarket and York – … Read More »

Written on Monday 13th May 2024 Hi there I’m not sure that the Derby picture is any clearer now, following the weekend trials at Lingfield and Leopardstown, than it was a week ago. Those of us of a certain age … Read More »

“Don’t really know whether to congratulate or commiserate. Suppose just bad luck on all concerned to be born same century as L Piggott.” A typically warm response from the late Fred Winter in a sympathetic card to Barry Hills just … Read More »

Hi there, I’m not sure that the Derby picture is any clearer now, following the weekend trials at Lingfield and Leopardstown, than it was a week ago. Those of us of a certain age like to try to find a … Read More »

Hi there! I’m pretty sure that the powers that be will have breathed a collective sigh of relief when 21 of the 32 starters in the Grand National came home, with no fallers and just two horses – Mac Tottie … Read More »

For a while Miss Alligator did her level best to earn a special place in the history books but an honourable sixth in the !949 Musidora Stakes at York was never going to be enough. Three years later she was … Read More »

Hi there! As you are well aware the Grand National meeting at Aintree starts on Thursday 11 April and with rain forecast for the first three days of the week the ground is expected to be soft, if not heavy … Read More »

Hi there! The Irish domination of our showpiece meeting at Cheltenham is likely to become one of the main topics of conversation again as we approach the Grand National a fortnight on Saturday, with just five of the 34 sure … Read More »

Hi there, I have to start this piece on a sad note. As some of you may be aware, I was blessed to count Steve Harley as a friend for over forty years, so news of his illness and then … Read More »