- This topic has 61 replies, 20 voices, and was last updated 15 years, 5 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
Rob,
If it helps, Scally’s disdain for lower-grade racing is expanded upon to an extent in the "Same Old" thread of a week or two ago (http://www.theracingforum.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?t=76920).
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
An interesting thread you referred us to Graysoncolumn and I found some comfort in your ‘humanistic’ approach.
Was then tempted to have a peak at your blog and surprise, surprise to see your profile and AGE. Isn’t it strange how we create a picture of someone, merely from a name? I’ve always imagined that Graysoncolumn was a 6’6" countrified chap, mid-sixties, trilby and binoculars, decked-out in your typical National Hunt gentleman’s attire. I’m wrong about the age but am I close with the rest, please?
Cheers
KenOh, Seabird Colin, you do disappoint me. There was I thinking we had an Old Etonian Hooray Henry character bringing a touch of class to the forum.
Now I’m devastated knowing that all this time I’ve been communicating with the rag, tag and bobtails of the racing forum world. Life can’t get much worse.- Total Posts 17716
hat is good news
I’m going back a long way but I remember she was apparantly behind John Wilson’s successes many years ago around the time Harry Hastings won at Cheltenham? In fact my understanding was she got John into racing rather than the other way round like is in the racing history books. She may even have been his girlfriend at the time I don’t really remember but she was the one who pulled the strings in the yard. At least that was my undrstanding of it
John was the son of the Wilson side of Taggarts and Wilson and was a nice guy but a but a bit nutty. Had an evening meal with him the day Harry Hastings won at a restaurant in on the M6 at Gretna and got to hold the trophy
Bloody huge silver thing was nearly up to my waste up to my and I think it was the last time they did a cup before making their own out of Waterford Crystal. I can tell you from my heart if she wasn’t there John wouldn’t have had a clue where to start. That boy talked some nonsense.Sorry about the rant.
It’s a tough old game for any Scottish Trainer but there have been many good ones. Harry Bell wasn’t a nice guy but he could train a horse. Rhona Oliver was a real lady and as good a trainer as anyone and won many any good races from Hazledean. Others like Tommy Craig and John Leadbetter were chancers, Donal Nolan coulnd’t train a pig to be dirty but they all still had winners. Peter Monteith is a gentleman’s gentleman and a wonderful trainer. If he moved south he would mix it with the best. Peter lives and breathes horses and never stops working and that has kept him going all these years.
Linda has a past that proves she is as good as any but if you don’t have the backing what can you do? Glad she has another chance and I’m sure with support she’ll do well
Harry Bell wasn’t a nice guy but he could train a horse.
Hellcatmudwrestler and Weewumpawud? Or were those Henry Bell?
Donal Nolan coulnd’t train a pig to be dirty
LMAO!! Favourite quote on here for quite some time.
Peter Monteith is a gentleman’s gentleman and a wonderful trainer. If he moved south he would mix it with the best. Peter lives and breathes horses and never stops working and that has kept him going all these years.
Agreed, and a great help so far in the nascent career of the useful Ryan Mania.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
Fist, I found your summary of selected Scottish trainers from the last 30 years or so (!) very interesting. This shared my own thoughts on a couple from the 70s & 80s, and got me pondering.
What do you think of the current group, the’re mostly NH trainers, with a few dual purpose? I’d be interested on your (or anyone else’s) opinion on :
Len Lungo, Lucinda Russell, the Normiles, Ewart, Goldie, both Whillans, Willie Amos (you’ve already covered Peter Monteith & Semple), etc.Jeremy is sometimes known as ‘The Man in BLACK!’.
Colin
But not quite in the Milk Tray mould
Donal Nolan coulnd’t train a pig to be dirty …
True, but he bags plenty of best turned out prizes!
I’ve always imagined that Graysoncolumn was a 6’6" countrified chap, mid-sixties, trilby and binoculars, decked-out in your typical National Hunt gentleman’s attire. I’m wrong about the age but am I close with the rest, please?
Pffffftttt!!!
At the moment I look like the end product of some unholy union between Robert Smith and Harry Potter, reared on a diet of nothing but KFC dinners for 34 years.
I do own some binoculars, though.
gc
Adoptive father of two. The patron saint of lower-grade fare. A gently critical friend of point-to-pointing. Kindness is a political act.
I think C.H. (Harry) Bell packed in training in the early 70s but I could be wrong.
If one of his was backed, it won…………….much like Les Hall who was around at much the same time.
Colin
- Total Posts 17716
Harry Bell wasn’t a nice guy but he could train a horse.
Hellcatmudwrestler and Weewumpawud? Or were those Henry Bell?
Donal Nolan coulnd’t train a pig to be dirty
LMAO!! Favourite quote on here for quite some time.
Peter Monteith is a gentleman’s gentleman and a wonderful trainer. If he moved south he would mix it with the best. Peter lives and breathes horses and never stops working and that has kept him going all these years.
Agreed, and a great help so far in the nascent career of the useful Ryan Mania.
gc
Weewumpawud, very hard name to forget Jeremy but I am pretty sure it wasn’t one of Harry’s I think he was owner trained. When I was riding out there Rubstic was there before Harry had a fight with the owner and he went to John Leadbetters. One of the stable stars was a roan called Bel Canto that Donal rode a few winners on.
There was another horse who’s name I simply can’t remember at the moment for some reason. I went to a meeting at your favourite track `Cartmel with Donal and Margaret Bell specifically to back the horse and I am sure it won. Hopefully someone will have records and can come up with the name as it was the same day that Gay Future won.
Quick Reply who won at Cheltenham when Rag Trade fell at the last was one of his best and of course Sebastian V and Astral Charmer who ran away with young John Goulding and stole the Scottiah Grand National.- Total Posts 17716
Donal Nolan coulnd’t train a pig to be dirty …
True, but he bags plenty of best turned out prizes!
Never knew that but it doesn’t surprise me. Donal was always grafter and the guy has a heart of gold. It doesn’t give me any pleasure watching him struggle as he was a real good mate to me. The fact he’s absolutly nuts and you should never argue with him when there’s a shotgun handy doesn’t help him attract good owners
There was another horse who’s name I simply can’t remember at the moment for some reason. I went to a meeting at your favourite track `Cartmel
with Donal and Margaret Bell specifically to back the horse and I am sure it won. Hopefully someone will have records and can come up with the name as it was the same day that Gay Future won.Tychee was the horse in question.
I remember the tail end of Donal Nolan’s career in the saddle when riding horses such as Beldine and Run Pet Run for Peter Monteith. The latter was originally permit trained by his owner, Jim Beck who was based at Lasswade, a mile or two from Monteith’s base at Rosewell. He also trained that mare for a season before she retired to the paddocks. He also managed to get a hatful of wins out of Lord Advocate.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.