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Thanks for that Bimble. I must admit I’m not a regular Racing Post reader (even less after next month’s price rise) and their website drives me mad sometimes!
Interesting move to Shropshire as his stables near Southwell were allegedly a nice set up in a convenient spot for the A1 and nearby courses.
I wish him the best of luck and hope that the ‘Caspar’ days return!
Alan McCabe has had a runner today in a Hunter Chase at Taunton of all places!! I walked in and saw him giving a brief interview pre-race on ATR without any explanation, that I heard, for his absence from the track.
The horse, Hector’s Choice, was quite well fancied but sadly, for Mr McCabe, pulled up. I notice that he has more entries ‘over the sticks’ in the next week, but no A/W ones. It seems strange to have Southwell (or Wolverhampton even) fixtures without McCabe runners.
Cheltenham this year is going to be an absolute farce. There will be so many false starts in the cauldron like atmosphere.
I can just imagine the starter saying to the jockeys "now come on boys walk in slowly and stand at the start before I let you go"! In your dreams!!
If you love AP Mike(Betlarge) fair enough, it’s my personal choice and any sarcastic references to other sportspeople are unbecoming of you.
For what it’s worth I think he is obviously very good without being the best current jockey. He has been fortunate to compete against a lot of, quite honestly, second rate riders. In the golden age of NH in the 60s and 70s he wouldn’t have been ‘champ’ as many times. But again that is my opinion and if yours differs I respect that.
Anything ridden by A P McCoy!! Can’t stand the way that commentators go overboard about the ‘greatest ride ever from the Champ’ when he’s won on a 1/5 shot that anyone could have won on! He is one of the reasons why my interest in jumps racing has waned.
1. Betting on NH racing
2. Betting on A/W racing
3. Following a trainer blindly even though I know they are out of form
My worst racecourse in 2014 would have to be Redcar. It was my first visit and to be fair it was a cold, wet, miserable spring day. It doesn’t lift the mood however, to drive through a graveyard to the car park and the place just seemed run-down. The view of the factories from the stand doesn’t help either.
I was there as part of a syndicate with a runner and the owners and trainers facilities are pretty basic and unwelcoming – the man on the gate told us that we might get a biscuit with our coffee "if we were lucky"! We weren’t lucky!!
I won’t be rushing to go back.
I haven’t been to Warwick for about 8 years. What puts me off in winter is having to drive over the course to park in a bog on the inside of the track and then walk back over to the stands. Years ago I seem to remember plenty of parking on the outside of the track near the entrance.
In any case I won’t be going back now that it’s jumping only!
If Southwell can’t cope with temperatures of -4C I think they’re going lose more meetings this winter. I am sure that the other A/W tracks would race following similar temperatures.
I can add though that the roads in Nottinghamshire have been treacherous over the last few days. I have travelled on main roads in the county since Boxing Day that have seen very little gritting. Safety for all going to the races should always be considered.
I also thought that this post would have been about the walkover. I believe that 2 of the non-runners were because of the going, which was Good. What do trainers want nowadays? To use "going" as a reason for not running has become too easy.
Thanks for your views on the day Nathan. I can’t see any strong fancies for the day and I keep thinking of the old saying "never bet when the going is wet". I could envisage one or two upsets but couldn’t say where from. I think I will wait and see what non-runners there are on the day before deciding.
Nathan, what are your thoughts on Future Champions Day now that the decs have been made?
I have got tickets for the day, but can see a lot of non-runners after today’s rain making some small fields and non-informative races.
Hope I’m wrong!
I think the idea of a boycott is good. The game is rapidly going downhill and something needs to be done to shake up the BHA, the trainers, the press and Channel 4.
I have small shares in a couple of horses and my racing betting is now mainly restricted to "interest" bets on them.
One race today highlights why I hardly ever bet on other races. That was the 5.00 at Hamilton. The winner Baron Run was beaten by Klynch last time by 32 lengths. With a 6lb turnaround in the weights he was entitled to be closer this time. In fact it was a 35 length turnaround, B R beating Klynch by nearly 3 lengths.
I am not talking out of my pocket as I didn’t bet on the race, but results like this go on day in and day out and the stewards do nothing except perhaps "note the trainers explanation".
The fixture list needs major revision, prize money levels need increasing and the handicapping system needs change.
How on earth can we attract new people into the sport let alone retain the interest in those who have followed it for over many years like myself.
The speculation is pointless. I’ve heard that Ann Stokell has been approached and is 99% certain to accept!!
Excuse my ignorance, but if there are several claims for a horse how do they decide who is successful with their claim?
Is it whoever claims first or do they draw lots, or is it a penalty shootout (like to see Mick Easterby v Ann Stokell at that!!)?
Can anyone explain why the going stick reading for Windsor is 8.7 (going described as "Good to Firm, Good in places") leading to 18 non-runners at this stage (17 because of the going), and yet at Ayr the reading is 8.8 ("Good, Good to Soft in places")?
There are "only" 4 non-runners at Ayr from 60 declarations against 71 decs at Windsor.
How does the going stick work to give different descriptions from virtually the same reading?
