Like everyone else, I found Saturday’s King George at Ascot a riveting spectacle, and the fact that the first two left the others for dead suggests the form is out of the very highest bracket. Just one point in passing: … Read More »

Brighton on Monday was just about perfect – warm sunshine, a light sea breeze, and enough winning favourites to keep hardened punters happy. The days when 300 special trains and buses guaranteed that the old course would be packed to … Read More »

There are times when one needs to take a break and approach the form-book from a fresh perspective. When Lone Piper won at Doncaster last Wednesday, quickly followed by Kilmeena Lad at Kempton, I was mining a fairly profitable seam. … Read More »

And so the Baths and Brightons are back with us again. Only Punchestown left (together with the fervent hope that a miracle Placepot pays for everything, as it did in ‘volcanic ash’ year, 2010) before the familiar round of tricky … Read More »

I have seen the sun come up over Sutton Scotney services. It was a long time ago and I don’t remember the exact circumstances but it was a beautiful morning and I remember shaving in the car. I dare say … Read More »

I approach the Randox Health Grand National meeting in good heart and good form. Southampton’s victory at Brighton probably means the continuation of Premier League football at St Mary’s, while Right Action’s victory at Doncaster on Sunday bolstered still further … Read More »

It becomes increasingly difficult to revisit old haunts. Bringing up a granddaughter for the past four years – Matilda leaves with our son James (her father) for Taiwan, where he has a teaching post, in July – means additional driving … Read More »

And so the great meeting is nearly upon us. With some relief I attend on the first two days as an observer and occasional player, whereas in previous years I’ve worked pretty hard  –  not that I’m going to bore … Read More »

Until Manchester United’s late winner on Saturday it looked like being a very good week. Of course, you have to keep 60,000 people happy and, as I set off for a walk at 2-2, unable to bear the tension and … Read More »

For a few years I concentrated on one race at the Cheltenham festival – the Stayers’ or World Hurdle, as it was called for a while. I decided to take short prices about Inglis Drever and Big Buck’s in their … Read More »

I was wandering down Burgess Road in Southampton the other day, thinking about the long, hard winter of 1962-63. Racing was off for several weeks in the big freeze and one of the first winners when it resumed was Severn … Read More »

I am not an obsessive reader of obituaries, although every now and then they inevitably touch on events from my past. Like a lot of people, I glance at the bottom of the article to see how long the subject … Read More »