They seem to race a lot at Doncaster. It’s not just my imagination. Summer and winter, afternoons and evenings, fixtures on Derby day and fixtures during Cheltenham; Jonjo O’Neill was recently anticipating a routine task on Town Moor until Willie … Read More »

On and on he gallops in the fading Chepstow light. He is called Lightonthewing but reminds me of Jim’s Tavern at Plumpton all those years ago in a race broadcast, for some long-forgotten reason, on Southern Television in midweek. Plumpton … Read More »

Life is hard enough without choices like this: whether to watch Dan Burn going through the motions with little to do at the back as Newcastle dismantle Southampton or Jim Old’s Spirits Bay, ridden purely for the place money, running … Read More »

Well now, we can probably all agree that the Load of Mischief should be a pub and, if so, our sort of place. In fact, these days it’s a private house in Blewbury, its pub days a thing of the … Read More »

As the goals rained down on Southampton the other evening there was no great surprise around the ground. After 13 minutes, with Tottenham three-nil up, the manager was bound to be sacked and it was just a question of playing … Read More »

I’m not sure how many books remain unread, how many films unseen but we’re well into three figures. And yet, I found time the other day to watch The Third Man again and finally nodded off well after midnight, just … Read More »

Where possible, I try to correct mistakes. I don’t mean factual errors so much as mood or overall background. The other day, troubled by a recently fractured right arm, I was caught somewhere between the sporting years 1964 and 1982 … Read More »

W Six Times, Bertie Bassett and Three Nuns tobacco.   Not long ago, and for the first time in a while, I stayed awake in the small hours, listening to Radio 3 and thinking about Bill Chapman, Carnforth and the Today … Read More »

George IV paid his last visit to the Royal Pavilion in Brighton in 1827. He loved the town and he loved his Oriental pleasure palace even more. His successor William IV was also very fond of Brighthelmstone, as it was … Read More »

I always thought there had to be another Bellamy’s and, of course, there is. It’s on Bruton Street, W1 and looks a rather expensive restaurant. Anywhere with a separate oyster bar will need careful consideration, yes? Bellamy’s takes its name … Read More »