Well, in hindsight, it was a difficult task. 40 runners - one winner. And 100/1 it was. Hopefully we won't let a talented horse like Mon Mome slip through the net again.

Attentions now turn to the flat with the season truly underway at the Craven meeting. The Craven itself, and the Nell Gwyn, I would ignore as trials for the Guineas as it is more the case nowadays that the winner is unlikely to run before the big day. Crowded House is looking good then.

Talking of Delegator and his stablemate 'The House', we come to Jamie Spencer. The cause of much debate, I am pleased to say, is ended here. Let me put it this way; even if I had a pretty naff and run-down bicycle, I wouldn't let him ride it. He is one of the riskiest jockeys to punt on. Why does he have to hold everything up? Not all horses can make up at least 10 lengths in a race. This, my friends is why he has never won an English Classic - you can't give ground away to good horses. Just look at Dancing Brave, not even a great thoroughbred such as him could do the impossible. If Spencer's on board Crowded House, my money will be elsewhere, and a potential triple-crown winner will be wasted.

Beware jockeys, don't become a member of my newly formed 'Bicycle List'!

Doing the Double?

From Cheltenham to Aintree, the National Hunt season rolls to a thrilling climax. The weather is beautiful and when the sun's shining on the Liverpool turf, there ain't no better place to be. Of course, it would be heroic to see the old warriors battle through knee-deep mud to win the Grand National, but that would mean the spectators would have to put up with getting soaking wet as well. I know which option I'd prefer and it wouldn't involve an umbrella.

As long-time followers of this blog may recall, I tipped Comply Or Die to win the big prize last year and, as the history books confirm, he did just that. To do it again would be the stuff of legend. Let the story begin...

This has to be one of the most competitive Nationals in years with a multitude of runners coming into the event with a number one by their name. A lot of connections feel that they can scoop the reward but only one can. And this is it:
1st - Darkness
2nd - Rambling Minster
3rd - Comply Or Die

Controversial, I know. I just feel that the Charlie Egerton trained horse has the right weight and comes into the race in peak form after only three runs this season. Rambling Minster will stay all day but he just lacks the class and turn of foot to win the nation's favorite race. Comply Or Die will be set alive by the atmosphere and will return to form but the extra weight as a result of last years win will scupper the double.
McCoy and Nicholls will have something to say about this prediction (they won't but if they saw it they would) as they both think they can break their National duck this year. The problem with McCoy is that he has such a large choice of rides for the race that he will inevitably get it wrong and not be on the best horse on the day. That and the fact that he suffers from horrendous luck around the course. My Will will be carrying too much weight to win. Full stop.

Then again, that's my opinion. There's a lot of others out there. But did they tip last year's winner?

The REAL reason why Great Leighs failed

Economic climate this, deep recession that...No, I've found the real reason why Great Leighs racecourse is struggling to survive and it may just surprise you.

Whilst reading 'Ghosts of East Anglia' by H. Mills West, I was fascinated to read about the 'Witch of Scrapfaggot Green'. Scrapfaggot Green is situated in Great Leighs.

The story goes like this: towards the end of the War, a landlord recorded a number of disturbances in one of his guestrooms - items placed in the room where either moved or smashed and this came with a disconcerting sound of boots scuffling the floor in an agitated fashion. One morning when the haunted room was opened, the wardrobe was found dismantled, lying neatly in its separate parts.
Despite these activities, business had to continue and when there were no other rooms available, the landlord had to let the haunted room. For these unlucky guests it would be a long and hair raising experience. One young woman who stayed in the room said she fell asleep but woke up shortly after, feeling convinced that there was someone else in the room. As she sat up in her bed, she could see a misty moving shape that menacingly circled the bed and eventually made its way out of the room. Nevertheless, the girl turned the light on and sat at her window all night, not daring to fall asleep.
All these stories drew publicity and one intrepid reporter (me in a few years?) managed to whittle out some valuable information from two elderly women of Great Leighs. They revealed that the event had all started as during the construction of a military base nearby, the builders had heaved a huge (and rare in this part of the country) boulder to make way for a road.
It is believed that this boulder sealed a witch's grave to prevent her from further mischief. In moving the stone, the builders had released the witch's ghost which had taken refuge in the public house. Once realised, a multitude of villagers gathered to heave the tombstone back into place, which they did and rid the village of the ghost.

Now, I haven't managed to locate Scrapfaggot Green exactly on modern maps but I am wondering if it was where Great Leighs racecourse now stands. Did the contractors move this stone to build the course? One cannot be sure but if they did, maybe the course is haunted and the failures of the track are due to our mischievous witch.

They can find all the investors they want, but maybe the survival of Essex's first racecourse is not in human hands...

Done for another year.

You wait all year and it's gone in an instant. There was such a huge build up to this year's Cheltenham Festival and it had a lot to live up to.
To be honest, I was slightly disappointed with the first day's racing; the Supreme Novices' was billed to be a quality renewal and I was left feeling slightly empty. Yes, the roar from the crowd was electrifying as the tapes flew up but what followed was unremarkable. Maybe it was because the first three finishers were relatively unfancied or because the hype horse, Cousin Vinny, didn't perform like we all thought but I got the feeling it's a race we won't be reliving in our minds in years to come.
The Arkle, mind, did perk the palate up slightly with the epic finish between Forpadydeplasterer and Kalahari King. With the large posse of winning connections going mad, you couldn't help but to feel their joy but then you remembered that they're all Sunderland fans. Then, you're jealous. Who knows what Tatenen would have done if he hadn't have fallen but it was too early to say. If you did back the favourite, you can take heart in saying that he would have hacked up and nobody could prove otherwise. However, jumping's the name of the game.
McCoy rode a winner or something, I heard. Oh, an epic one, one of the greatest in recent times, you say. It was pretty impressive but that's McCoy. He probably rides a winner like that at least once a month from Taunton to Kelso. It's only because this one was on a favourite at the festival that everyone takes note. McCoy is where he is because he's the fittest around and never gives up.
Skip to Friday, 3.20pm and we're watching the Gold Cup. Not billed in the same way as last year with Kauto Star v Denman, more Kauto Star 1st and who second? To be fair, Findlay's 'Tank' ran a blinder, a huge improvement on last time at Kempton. A left-handed track clearly suits him better and if he runs again at Aintree, I for one would have a cheeky bet.

Hope you all did well and hear's to next year! (Punjabi is 14/1 for the Champion Hurdle 2010. Massive! He only won it last week!)

PS. a little statistic I heard, following all the runners from the Bumper in their first run over hurdles yields a massive profit. Get on.

On The Tarmac

A little diversion from the horses today as there's not much to say until deeds are done at Cheltenham. Actions speak louder than words.

Cycling, a cracking if under-rated sport, is the topic of today's discussion.
Britain is pretty decent at the sport but that is track cycling. Respect to Chris '28 inch thighs' Hoy and Victoria Pendleton but road racing is what it's all about.
A little note here, I was cycling through a neighbouring village one day and coming towards me was this guy in all the Team GB lycra. I knew who it was instantly because he'd been all over the local news. Ross Edgar, silver medalist to Chris Hoy in the sprint. I shouted 'Well done in Beijing' and to my awestruck surprise, he replied 'Cheers mate.' Two words but they meant a lot.

Anyway. back to the road. Big news this year is Lance Armstrong's comeback after a four year retirement. It's definitely good for the sport with all the extra publicity but I feel Lance is going to struggle; the cycling world has moved on, the opponents are younger and stronger. Armstrong is still talented but so is Carlos Sastre and Alberto Contador.
On his return in the Tour of California, the seven time Tour De France winner looked as fit as ever and proved himself to be just as good as he was at time trialling than last year. Time will tell if he can recapture his French crown. I'm not convinced.

One man to look out for is Frank Schleck. Stamina abound, he made some brave attacks in California and could spring a surprise in the French race. His younger brother, Andy, will be a serious peddler in a few years time.

YouTurf

Cheltenham is in the air and everyone is getting a bit excited and rightly so because there are some major clashes in store which could herald a renaissance in National Hunt racing.

To wet the Prestbury whistle, I thought I'd highlight some classic YouTube videos of heroic performances in the past.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kPtQN0eVMo&feature=related
This is Moscow Flyer's astounding Champion Chase victory in 2005. Would he fall like last year? Every time he landed safely over a fence, the crowd went wild. The Irish loved him, the English loved him. And this was a performance and a half.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P7oJNMgkJlU&feature=PlayList&p=AB965AC571B2A53E&index=0&playnext=1
Mattie Batchelor won the Lester for ride of the year after this performance. Too right. It's hard enough to win at the Festival, never mind to make the running AND lose your irons at the last fence with Paul Carberry breathing down your neck.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcCuIVn6egM&feature=related
One of the most heroic moments in racing: Desert Orchid, so unlucky in previous Gold Cups, the nation's favourite horse, he looks beaten coming to the last, covered in mud, guts prevail. Goosebumps.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anBVvfn06d0&feature=related
Another grey and one of my favourites, One Man wins what wasn't the most classiest of Champion Chases but he won it and you can't do more than that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iC9dRA15F9s&feature=related
Dawn Run. I must admit, it doesn't mean much to me but old people talk of it a lot so I thought it had better go in. Nice finish.

Short Story: Charlie Smirke

Those of you with an iPod in your pocket and a Beanie on your head have probably never heard of him. Arguably you older readers may recall his existence but not his significance. It’s a shame really. His life is one of those common occurrences of time - a forgotten gem. You see, the story of Charlie Smirke is quite remarkable.
By Derby day 1958, Smirke had experienced a turbulent life. Born in London in 1906, he soon developed a passion for horses as he admired the giant Suffolk Punches and dock tailed hackneys which passed his house everyday, in a world before cars, and it was not long until the boy was atop of a horse himself, delivering fresh fruit and fish for his father.
People could see the lad had a natural talent with horses but he was also becoming a renowned fighter in the boxing ring and thus the decision was made which would shape the rest of little Charlie’s life.
Luckily for racing, on a Sunday in the early summer of 1920, Smirke senior signed the Articles of Apprenticeship which would practically sell his son to the renowned racehorse trainer Stanley Wooton.
Not long after, the pint-sized Londoner became a sensation, winning one of France’s most prestigious races as an apprentice. By 20 years old, Smirke says himself, ‘I was one of the top and most sought after jockeys in England’.
The wheels were in motion.
Two years later, the wheels abruptly fell off.
Riding a temperamental odds on favourite at Gatwick racecourse, the pair were slow to start and finished unplaced with the added insult of being greeted into the unsaddling enclosure with blasphemies from disgruntled punters. The stewards were not impressed either. Despite the jockey’s plea of innocence, he was found guilty of deliberately losing and was banned from racing indefinitely.
The weeks turned into months and months into years. Still no reprise from The Jockey Club.
As money ran low, Smirke was forced to take up a job working in Brighton - cleaning beach huts. At night he would lay in his bed under the town’s pier wrapped in a tarpaulin and ask himself ‘Why?’
As winter drew in and prospects of work dwindled, Smirke was forced to pawn his coat just to buy a meal. He was broke.
However, after five long years, the authorities had a change of heart and allowed the once promising jockey to ride again, providing he stayed out of trouble.
There was no warm welcome on his return, no offers to ride talented racehorses. He had to start from the bottom rung of the ladder again.
As Smirke rode any horse, anywhere, people began to notice him and let him ride their horses. The winners were soon flooding in like they had done years before.
A wet, cold December day in 1934 dawned silver and beautiful for Charles James William Smirke. The great rolling wheel of his life had spun an upward curve again as he was given the leg up on a tall, bay colt: Windsor Lad.
This was the start of a lucrative partnership which climaxed with an easy success in the Derby, finishing a generous length clear of his nearest pursuer. And so the good fortune continued…
Three marriages, two Derby victories and one World War later, Smirke was a different man.
He had served for his country as a driver of staff-cars (where one reminiscing soldier remembered him as ‘a really excellent driver’), had his house destroyed by Hitler and had put on a stone in weight.
On his return to race riding at 39 years old, many considered him an ‘old timer’ who would probably never get his weight down let alone win a valuable race again. How little did they know.
The collaboration of Hard Ridden and Smirke was a comic one. The horse, a giant 17 hands high bay and the dwarf like figure who rode him were quite a contrast. But when united, they were a powerful force. No one could stop them as they powered to an impressive victory in the Irish 2000 Guineas and headed to the 1958 Derby unbeaten as a partnership.
Cantering to the start of the big race, many fans wished good luck to Smirke who had endeared himself to the public with his outspoken opinions most memorably portrayed after winning the 1952 Derby on long shot Tulyar when he said ‘What did I Tul yar?’ Indeed, he was so famous that he was immortalised in cockney slang with the word ‘charlie’ which meant a ‘Berk’.
Walking around at the start of the race, Smirke focussed his piercing black eyes on the rivals: the American horse, Bald Eagle, looked too weak; Guersillus would probably not stay the distance and Amerigo appeared to lack the courage needed to win a Derby. The remainder of the field were useless. In his own mind, Smirke had won the race before it had even started.
As the tapes flew up and the contest began, two forlorn hopes dashed off in front soon to tire and finish out the back. Smirke took his time, after all, he had ridden in over 20 Derbys and knew what it took to win one.
With half a mile to go as the field swung round Tattenham Corner, Hard Ridden’s jockey was in disbelief. As all his rivals were pushing and whipping their mounts, there he was still with the reins hard held in both fists! With so much in hand, he crouched lower in the saddle and asked the horse for all his effort and the race was over within a matter of strides. Hard Ridden passed the winning post five lengths clear.
Although happy, Smirke did not feel the same about this Derby victory as the ones before. During the walk back to the jockey’s room, he was not filled with the elation which was usually felt after such a big win. He knew what this meant - it was time to retire.
And so, soon after the 1958 Derby, Charlie Smirke, the self assured and supremely confident rider, announced his retirement. Even nowadays, he is generally considered one of the most successful jockeys never to become champion.
The jockey, beach man, pauper and soldier had had enough of the hours spent in the sauna to lose weight, the physical exertion on his aging body and with it racing said goodbye to a legend.

Cheltenham Anti-post Preview Part Deux

As I write this today, with snow covering most of the country and bringing the nation to a pathetic halt, it has crossed my mind that a nice little anti-post bet would be for a day of the festival to be abandoned due to the weather. Titter you may, but it happened last year. I couldn't seem to find any advertised odds for this event but any bookie willing to price it up would have a difficult decision.

Ryanair Chase
This is a tough one to call - no-one knows who will run. Most will go for the Gold Cup and the one who could win this is Exotic Dancer but he always runs in the same race as Kauto Star just so connections know he won't win and will no doubt do the same this year. Tidal Bay would have been my winner at the start of the season but something appears to have gone amiss with him recently. That just leaves a field of old dogs really. The biggest may prevail - Mister McGoldrick.

World Hurdle
No doubt the coverage of this race will centre around the absence of the horse who owned it - Ingles Drever. There will be a void this year without him but it couldn't last forever and his retirement could open the way for a new multiple champion. The tea leaves say Kasbah Bliss.

Triumph Hurdle
To be honest, I don't have a clue on this one. Zaynar and Starluck both look decent but there may be others who could improve on the day. First Avenue could run into a place at a big price.

Gold Cup
The best 'til last. Denman has to be taken on. Reports come to me saying that he hasn't been lighting up the gallops and since he has not made an appearance this season, it has to be asked whether he will even run. The imperious Kauto Star will take the opportunity to land his second Cup, chased home by the brave Joe Lively who in turn will beat War of Attrition. There you have it, the 1-2-3. You can thank me later. A cheque will do.

Cheltenham anti-post special Part One

Those of you with too much money and a slightly deranged view on betting may decide to get poor value by having an anti-post bet. And why not? Nutters may get a kick out of wondering how they will lose their money: will the horse not even run and the bookies keep your stake, will the hype horse be shown to be a moderate nag a week before the big race or maybe you'll just get beaten fair and square on the day. Anyway, here's probably the best advice you'll find on losing a bit of dough.

Supreme Novices' Hurdle
The first race of the meeting and it's more likely that there will be a bomb scare at the course than you picking the winner. I don't like the Irish but they'll probably win it like usual. Anyway, Mad Max can be the best of the British.

The Arkle
More novices, more uncertainties. What's the point in betting anti-post when so much depends on the weather? Panjo Bere wins if it's soft, Tatenen if it's firm. Easy.

Champion Hurdle
This is what it's all about - quality horses, lots of them. Why have a bet? Just enjoy the spectacle of one of the most competitive renditions of the race this century. Oh, I see, you have a gambling addiction. Binocular then.

Ballymore Properties Novices' Hurdle
It must be devastating for the horses in this race. They'll have to get to Cheltenham a week earlier than usually and begin this race on about the Monday and still live with the disappointment of knowing that Diamond Harry will start on the Wednesday at 2.05 and still storm past them up the hill, Timmy Murphy putting on all the style.

Royal and SunAlliance Chase
If anyone tells you they know what's going to win this race, their lying. I wouldn't ever trust them again. How do they know? You might as well put all the names in a hat, drop them from the roof of the largest building in your area and hold a Henry hoover up to the sky and see which name is sucked in. Like I just did. Carruthers, if your wondering.

Champion Chase
Paddy Power's the man isn't he? He's already paid out on Master Minded winning this. Good decision. Saves a lot of anti-post worrying and means you can have a bit of cash to spend on important things like fancy dress outfits and Special Brew... just me then?

Tune in for the thrilling second installment of this award winning (it's the my best at least) preview.

Missed Great-Leigh

I found it saddening this week to learn that Great Leighs has had its racecourse licence taken away. I'm not one to question whether it was because of poor financial management by John Holmes and his team or if building a racecourse in this time of economic uncertainty was a bad idea, but it would be a shame to let this exciting new project go to waste.
Admittedly, the course was not complete when it opened last year and there is still a fair bit of work to be done even now but I liked the place. Everyone was catered for well: owners are the people who fuel racing and these were looked after with a free buffet and comfortable bar; stable workers all got a free meal and there always seems to be a good crowd so they must be happy. Not many tracks can boast these qualities. The Newmarket July course is one which lets owners and trainers down catering wise.
My only quim on the place would be the grandstand. It is not a permenant solution that's for sure. Viewing is poor and the facilities inside it are pretty basic but money is obviously tight at the track so we'll have to do with it for now.
Although it has its haters, Great Leighs should be the future of all weather racing. It was starting to attract good horses and the prize money was decent as well. Alastair Down has sworn that he will 'never go to Great Leighs or bet on virtual horses.' But he had a bet at Steepledowns just the other day. And he liked it.
If Great Leighs is re-opened I think he should go. He'll like it.

Look out for my Cheltenham anti-post feature coming sooooon.