A Lack of Written Attention, not of Genuine Affection...

You may very well be forgiven for thinking that the notable absence on these pages of a meaningful foray into the feast of flat racing, somehow indicates a loss of appetite for the sport over the summer months.

A friend of mine, who has been mentioned on these pages before, even went so far as to say he was insulted by my perceived lack of attention and interest in the code of horse racing that is contested over distances of five furlongs up to around two miles and during which the animals are not encouraged to leap gallantly over bristly obstacles.

Well, while I am always keen to take on board constructive criticism, the insinuation that a withdrawal of words and writings on this website equates to an absence of interest or excitement is wholly inaccurate.

I will acquiesce that this weekend, with the Cheltenham Open Meeting in full flow and with Punchestown delivering knockout blows in the shape of Mullins one-two Champagne Fever and Hurricane Fly, I certainly return to these pages with more vigour.  But I have taken huge pleasure and eked the occasional pot of profit over the period during which my Raymond Weil has been set to British Summer Time.  If anything, I've been enjoying it too much to have found time to write about it!

A few Palphabet highlights of the 2013 flat season:

- JP Murtagh - what a man - although not backing Royal Diamond on British Champions Day after having circled him in the morning's newspaper was a real error.

- Getting on a Producer / Lost in the Moment 4/1 double with a £100 stake the weekend after a visit to the Hannon yard.  Made all the more special by the fact that the double in question took place in Istanbul, was brought to my attention by Richard Snr in a "conversation" I was fortunate enough to share with him (I basically overheard him mentioning it), and required real endeavour to get on - I really savoured the rewards on this one.  Balthazar King's raid on a French cross country course at something ridiculous like 22/1 also provided under-the-radar European entertainment.

- BCD3 - I've not missed one yet! Breton Rock, Olympic Glory and Farhh ensured that although it wasn't a case of "Frankel who?!" on the richest day in British racing, there is life after the Sir Henry Cecil wonder-colt.  Meeting Paul Bittar; James Knight, Simon Clare and the Coral crew; merely seeing Julian Muscat from afar - all these characters ensured a fantastic day out.  Getting so obliterated on red wine that I knocked a table of drinks over some well-dressed ladies was only a small low point of an otherwise perfect day.

- The young Irish apprentice champion - Conor King - caught the eye many times, and none more so than when completing a 14,725/1 quadruple over at Cork.  Spoke very well when interviewed on the telly during some of the more high-profile meetings, he's definitely one to watch.

- Ryan Moore vs Graham Cunningham - this was an enjoyable exchange, with Ryan taking to his Betfair column to very eloquently put the outspoken TV pundit back in his box for a while.  Cunningham was not quite so scathing in his analysis of Moore's Melbourne Cup ride on Dandino, although somewhat ironically the horse's owners decided to boot him off for next month's Hong Kong vase.

- Treve - what a horse.

***

So, yes, I have thoroughly enjoyed the thoroughbreds throughout the warm months, and now I've worn myself out with memories I actually can't think straight about today's National Hunt contests, so I'll just leave you with my selections:

1.15 Cheltenham - White Star Line

1.50 Cheltenham - Goulanes

2.30 Cheltenham - Rajdhani Express (& adding Gift of Dgab to White Star Line for a Bryan Cooper double in anticipation of his new Racing Post Column tomorrow)

3.00 Cheltenham - I think his horses could be undervalued at the moment, and with Harry Derham taking five pounds off Salubrious I just wonder if he's worth an each way bet..

2.00 Lingfield (yes, the flat!) - Bronze Angel

1.00 Punchestown - Champagne Fever - NAP (also pairing him up with the Fly for a Mullins - Ruby Walsh double.. was great to see Ruby back at Cheltenham yesterday giving a great ride to win the last on board Quick Jack)

Let's be Frank: Nothing Comes Close

Sitting by the radio, watching the rotating spools of a TDK 90 minute cassette as they consigned the gig of my lifetime to a strip of magnetically coated plastic, I made myself a promise: I would never miss out on anything ever again.  A difficult pledge to adhere to, but one I strive to uphold.

I have since seen Oasis play at Finsbury Park, The City of Manchester and Wembley Stadia, and had a whale of a time in the process.  But that 1996 Knebworth Park performance was the peak of their power and the pinnacle of a Britpop era that punctuated my puberty.  Everything after that, being brazenly and brutally honest, was watching the group in decline.

I openly admit that I enjoy the longevity of following horses that jump over fences and hurdles in the National Hunt arena year after year, but sometimes their demise can also be protracted.  Whilst the flat may not always lavish upon us the same depth of character that its winter/spring counterpart delivers, it is difficult to argue against the pure, unabated qualities of the Classic generation. 

So, not to miss out, I went to Doncaster a few weeks ago hoping to see history being rewritten before my eyes as Camelot seized the triple-crown.   I wasn’t convinced though, and layed the Coolmore colt to the tune of about £200 [I’m aware it should probably be spelt “laid” but I prefer my way when it comes to betting].   Yes, I can say “I was there”, but this experience didn’t fill the bon viveur void that I’ve been searching for since 1996.

It mattered not.  Seeing Frankel in the flesh at Ascot last year was my Knebworth.

See if you can you spot me in the winner's enclosure with Frankel et al

 

Heading back to Berkshire tomorrow to bid him farewell, I have read, listened and watched as journalists, pundits and enthusiasts discuss the issues.  The sub-plots are enchanting:  Will the ground be a problem for him?  Is Cirrus des Aigles the toughest opponent he is yet to encounter?  Isn’t it fitting that Nathaniel, whom Frankel met in his first race at Newmarket in 2010, should bookend his old foe’s career at a track where he has had much success himself?  What will St Nicholas Abbey be making of it all?  Has Excelebration become so accustomed to being whipped by Frankel that, rather than celebrating his Queen Elizabeth II Stakes victory tomorrow, he’ll be found back in his box, miserably leafing through a copy of 50 Shades of Grey to satisfy some kind of equine sadomasochism?

Most readers of this blog will be familiar with most of that already.  So, with only four competitors lining up alongside “The Freak”, discounting stable mate and pacemaker Bullet Train, this is how I see the result panning out tomorrow:

1.      Frankel – I can’t bear the thought of him & Queally flopping.  He will win.

2.      Nathaniel – I love Buick and have fond memories of his King George win here, after which Gosden’s words to the media in the wake of Rewilding’s death provided a particularly poignant moment.  I think Nathaniel can bounce back from enforced absence at Longchamp and overturn the rivalry with Cirrus des Aigles, with whom I expect him to be jousting for the runner-up spot.

3.      Cirrus des Aigles – I was hoping Christophe Soumillon would come over to exorcise his Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe demons, but maybe he is still bitter about his huge fine in this race last year... although probably not.   Olivier Peslier clearly knows how to guide “Cloud of the Eagles” to victory but I’m sure he will settle for a win on board exciting sprinter Wizz Kid instead.

4.      Pastorius – Tipped up at 10-1 (without Frankel) in the Weekender by Paul Kealy, he’s had three wins and a place in his last four outings back home in Germany.  16 years ago his jockey, Frankie Dettori, "did a Hughsie" at Ascot (1996 certainly was an eventful year) and many will rightly see his partnership with this course-specialist rider as a real positive.  All my sentiment and emotion has already been used up for this race though, so I’m sticking with the above Trifecta.

5.      Master of Hounds – Figures of 3181 coming into this and only catches the eye as he’s in the hands of Ryan Moore.

6.      Bullet Train – One of the best pacemakers out there, but that’s it for now.  Behind every great golfer is a clued-up caddy, and Bullet Train pulls out the correct club for Frankel every time.  

Even on testing, boggy ground coming round Swinley Bottom, I expect Tom Queally to be characteristically calm and composed on the back of Frankel, with whom he has developed a beautifully harmonious rhythm.   I’m looking forward to Queally opening up the son of Galileo in front of the packed grandstands and winning by a decent margin.  Five lengths or more is trading at 2.62 (about 13/8) on Betfair at the moment and I think that’s a fair price for a 2pt+ stake. 

But my main advice for the race, clichéd as it may be, is to savour the final outing of a living legend performing at the zenith of his abilities.  Sing along when he holds the microphone in your direction, hold your lighters aloft and say “I was there”.  And if you were not actually there, don’t fret – my mum told me in 1996 that I’d get another chance... I did, and you will.  It might just take a few years, so Roll With It.

Memories of the National Hunt 2011-12 Season..

As the 2011-12 National Hunt season had the curtain brought down through sheets of rain at Sandown Park on Saturday, the damp weather did not dampen my spirits.  The heavy ground was not reflected in my anything-but-heavy heart and the grey clouds could not displace the sunshine glow in my soul.  For, dear reader, I have memories of the 2011-12 jumps season that will live on for a few furlongs yet and whilst some occasions have caused me to mourn, shed a tear or descend into borderline depression, there aren’t many things I would have changed.  So, without getting too bogged down in detail, and really only focusing on moments that I personally had the opportunity to enjoy, let us (well, me) reminisce...

October

A year had passed since I went from being a casual observer of horse racing to an aspiring writer, broadcaster and semi-pro punter on the sport.  Having really only hooked on it watching Denman carrying top weight at Newbury in the 2010 Hennessy Gold Cup, I was busy organising my 30^th birthday party for the same meeting in 2011. 

The flat season came to a joyous end at Ascot’s Champions’ Day (http://palphabet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/from-newmarket-nightmare-to-freaky.html), which provided an almighty emotional and financial fillip following a dreadful day’s betting at Newmarket a week earlier, where we celebrated my grandmother’s entry into the octogenarian club: http://palphabet.blogspot.co.uk/2011/10/enjoyment-is-eternal.html

The traditional curtain raiser is the Cheltenham Open meeting in November, but in October Albertas Run gave AP McCoy and Jonjo O’Neill a win in the Ascot Old Roan Chase.  These two racing legends would sadly end the season in the headlines for more sombre reasons.

Pricewise (back when he was tipping winners) tipped up Weird Al in Wetherby’s Charlie Hall chase and I was on at a decent price – that night led myself and a few Palphabet pals to a West Bromwich Albion pub in Hackney, where the night descended into intoxicated chaos!  It was also that night that I started hearing positive whispers about a horse from the Mullins yard named Soll.

I love this photograph from October, and have a mind to enter it into the IJF’s photo competition for their 2013 calendar http://www.injuredjockeys.co.uk/

November

The aforementioned 30^th birthday trip to Newbury was quality.  Big Buck’s duly returned at about 1-5 (I had a £5er on him for a laugh), Rock on Ruby landed the shorter-distance hurdle race, and Caruthers brought an air of significance to the sponsor’s Gold Cup.  But for me, backing the Philip Hobbs trained Chance du Roy at 10-1 and subsequently adding him to my ATR Tracker list gave me most pleasure on the day.  Chance du delivered profit on a couple of other occasions as the season rumbled along, posting impressive figures of 125412 from Newbury to Aintree’s Topham Chase.

On the same day, up in Newcastle’s Fighting Fifth hurdle, laying Binocular proved the right decision.  Screaming “screw you Binocular!” at the TV screens from the Newbury bar was a less-measured judgement as Jason Maguire powered Overturn home.

The week before this, at Haydock, I had backed Kauto Star at 7-1 to win the Betfair Chase – the three cheers for Kauto, Ruby’s beaming smile and the sight of Paul Nicholls blanking Nicky Henderson in glorious Channel 4 HD gave a real thrill, and a premonition towards what just might be on Boxing Day at Kempton Park.

December

The Becher chase was hosed up by Alan King’s West End Rocker and I immediately backed him antepost for the Grand National, thinking the trial alone was evidence of his undoubted supremacy over the formidable Aintree fences.  Hmmm.  It also kick-started my penchant for "Wayne-King" -   http://palphabet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/02/wayne-king-is-good-for-you.html

Sportingbet’s generous offer for the Tingle Creek Chase at Sandown refunded punters’ money if Sizing Europe proved victorious.  Henry de Bromhead’s 2010 Arkle and 2011 Champion Chase winner did the business, and my stake of £50 on Wishfull Thinking was immediately reinvested on Kauto Star to regain the Christmas crown: an unimaginable fifth King George VI Chase at 4-1 before the race, with a 6pt top-up at 11/4 on the day.

Denman retired, I appeared on 5Live – Kauto bounced back and paid for the yuletide season, sending shivers down spines & leaving very few dry eyes in the packed tattersall stands.   

Happy New Year to all! 

***

January - April will be posted next week (as I'm off on a stag-do tomorrow!).. along with my 10 to Follow for the flat season... which includes my 2000 Guineas tip of Born to Sea and an antepost stab from last year, Trumpet Major, on whom I have had speculative stakes at an average of 55.5 on Betfair for Saturday's first Classic of 2012...

From Newmarket Nightmare to Freaky Frankel Fightback

As predicted, the Nan at Newmarket ninth decade celebration (http://palphabet.blogspot.com/2011/10/enjoyment-is-eternal.html) ended in despair as I chased losses and ended up around £600 down, backing short-priced favourites with reckless beer-blinded abandon, throwing all strategic research out the window.

I have to say, HQ premier enclosure disappointed somewhat: bar staff who didn't seem to know the difference between a pint of Guinness and a gin & tonic; security staff who wouldn't let my grandparents out onto the viewing gallery until they had necked their drinks (not an easy feat, even for my relatives, when you're more used to sipping than supping); staff in general who may have been drafted in for a particularly busy day but who really didn't represent the Cambs / Suffolk border in the way one would have expected. 

Ascot's Champions' Day, on the other hand, did not disappoint.  Some staff passes afforded entry into otherwise prohibited parts of the track, and at no point anywhere did men in orange vests attempt to curtail our enjoyment by demanding we take drinks inside.  Neither did any barmen or women need me to explain how to pour a drink.

The previous week's losses of a Monkey and a bag of hooves were more or less replenished thanks to hefty performances from Deacon Blues, Opinion Poll (TBP), hefty stakes on horse-of-a-generation Frankel, and hefty tipping from Mr Tom Segal, who we all followed in on the final handicap of the day, netting a 28-1 winner and a 17-1 place (Edinburgh Knight and Castles in the Air respectively) and returning just shy of 300 quid.

I'll let some pictures tell the rest of the story - we had a great day and I'd also like to recommend you check out beatboxing supremos Duke (@dukeofficial), who rounded off the ceremonies with a fantastic array of lip & tongue techniques not seen put to such good use since Emmanuelle IV.

You can see the look of love - and they both have the same smile :)

Trainer and owner soul-shake

Two Princes

Queeny and Queally share a moment

Ronnie Wood meets someone with fuller lips than Mick Jagger

Characters

The Irony

After years of stalking, I meet Brazil

YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!

I'm going to start making more than just mental notes of referees' names and their disconcertingly frequent penchant for ignoring the laws of Association Football, particularly whilst in charge of the proceedings on-pitch at Leyton Orient's Brisbane Road.  

Coote: Cunte

I got 2 right, didn't I?  No.

Two have stuck out in recent weeks: David Coote (left) officiating in the middle of our Tuesday night defeat to AFC Bournemouth a few weeks ago; and Oliver Langford (right) who was so so awful yesterday that home and away fans alike joined vocally together to berate him with a round of "YDKWYD" after he gave us a goal kick when it was clearly a Sheffield United corner, ignoring his assistant referee who was vigorously waving his flag to indicate that the ball had deflected at least 20 degrees off of a red-socked lower-leg.

If you have any rogue refs to add to the gallery, let me know.  I will try to report more comprehensively on the inadequacy of lower-league officials as the rest of the season unfolds - they really do seem to want to ruin it for everyone. 

DP