The bookmakers seem to be showing little signs of discernment in their response to the performances of this season’s leading Champion Hurdle contenders. The New One was cut from around 8/1 to 7/2 after beating Rock On Ruby by 10 … Read More »

I have to say that of all the seasons, autumn is probably my favourite. The winters can be long, hard and miserable – I know that all too well, living in the Lake District – but the racing programme in … Read More »

It was good to be racing again at Newmarket after missing the Craven meeting last month. Unfortunately the heavens opened just as the horses were entering the paddock for the 2,000 Guineas, but Sunday was glorious for the most part … Read More »

When trainers of the calibre of Jonjo O’Neill, Willie Mullins, Nigel Twiston-Davies and the vastly experienced Oliver Sherwood say that they have “one of the most promising horses they have ever trained” then it’s time to sit up and take … Read More »

For those of us unable to enjoy the delights of a short break in the West Indies there would, at first sight, appear to be little to sustain our interest from the UK racing programme in the early weeks of … Read More »

The British Horseracing Authority recently published their ‘Fact Book’, which they believe provides ‘an invaluable and informative guide to some of the key numbers behind our great sport.’ The publication reveals that in the period up to the spring of … Read More »

As I write this, on a Friday in mid-October, Carlisle is hosting their first jumps meeting of the season. As you may be aware I am based in the South Lakes, so Carlisle is just an hour up the road … Read More »

Barney Curley is, in my view, by far and away the most intriguing man in racing. What is more, that has been the case for many years and certainly throughout my career. It is not widely known that Barney was … Read More »

Last week I said I would bring to mind a few cases of touches landed by low-profile trainers which, on initial impressions, defied all logical explanation. There are not many examples which fall into this category. More often than not … Read More »

It is generally assumed, especially among betting shop punters who are for the most part a cynical bunch, that if connections land a touch with a horse then there has, at some point, been some skulduggery along the way. This … Read More »