Archive for December, 2006

Diary: January 1 2007

Sunday, December 31st, 2006

I hope there are some readers out there and you are not all out celebrating!  If you are thinking of making merry tonight you are likely to get wet on the outside as well as the inside.   With all the rain we’ve had heavy ground was very much the ...

Diary: December 30 & 31 2006

Friday, December 29th, 2006

It was a miserable afternoon for most of the runners from the list to follow one or two running real stinkers and only Arrive Sir Clive managing to get his head in front.    One race that I was looking forward to today was the handicap chase at Newbury named after ...

Diary: December 29 2006

Thursday, December 28th, 2006

On what was a pretty desperate day for some of the horses on my list at least The Listener and Beef or Salmon were first two home in the big race in Ireland.    Not many British trained horses make the crossing to Ireland for the Lexus Chase and even fewer ...

Diary: December 28 2006

Wednesday, December 27th, 2006

Well Kauto Star made it 4 out of 4 in the King George.  His critics are quick to point out that the challengers he will face at Cheltenham from across the Irish Sea were absent and that his jumping at 4 out and at the last was not very pretty.  ...

Diary: December 27 2006

Tuesday, December 26th, 2006

                I will concentrate on a preview of Tomorrow’s racing here.  I will have a look back at today’s action tomorrow night.    Starting at Chepstow Sue Smith’s Bougoure represents the list to follow in the opener at 12.20.  Bougoure won at Catterick and Market Rasen over hurdles and has ...

Journey of the Magi

Monday, December 25th, 2006

Journey of the Magi 'A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The ways deep and the weather sharp, The very dead of winter.' And the camels galled, sorefooted, refractory, Lying down in the melting snow. There were times we regretted The summer palaces on ...

Review of the flat 2006

Monday, December 25th, 2006

Review of the flat season 2006 Another flat season – another look back, mainly at the fortunes of the horses on my list to follow. Lincoln, board games and a Knight Did you know that the Lincolnshire Handicap used to be run at Lincoln? The race was won by a horse called Mighty ...

Diary: Boxing Day

Sunday, December 24th, 2006

There is a real air of anticipation about the King George this season. Is Kauto Star really as good as some pundits are saying?  Timeform know a thing or two when it come to ratings and they have him down as the 6th highest rated chaser of all time – ...

The Oxen

Saturday, December 23rd, 2006

The Oxen Christmas Eve, and twelve of the clock, "Now they are all on their knees," And elder said as we sat in a flock By the embers in hearthside ease. We pictured the meek mild creatures where They dwelt in their strawy pen, Nor did it occur to one of us there To doubt they were ...

Diary: December 23 2006

Friday, December 22nd, 2006

Saturday’s racing has an odd look about it with the 3 jumps meeting at the “gaffs.”     Secret Ploy won 3 times in bumpers at top tracks and although he didn’t win over hurdles he was placed in top class company.  He will need to overcome an absence of 647 ...