I'll Mark Your Card

Professional Gambler and big mouth Harry Findlay just wants his RESPECT back according to press reports from outside the weighing room at Doncaster on Thursday, where just moments before he could be seen throwing his toys out of his pram in the direction of BHA chief executive Nic Coward. Still fed up with getting punished for breaking the rules of racing, this self obsessed individual also took exception to owner's chief Paul Dixon having an opinion that wasn't the same as his and repectfully had a heated exchange with him too later in the day. So how does Mr Findlay go about gaining back his respect ? Well it seems there's a simple solution, shout at everyone who doesn't think the sun shines out of every opening and call for the head of anyone in racing who feels that when you get caught doing something wrong you should get punished for it. How very respectful ! There is a ray of light to this story though as in the same press conference Mr Findlay boldly stated that "I ...

Well you can’t say you didn’t warn you and a big thank you to all those who backed Workforce in the King George on Betfair !! In my blog of June 7 th I did warn you not to get too carried away with the Workforce and his Derby win in record time. As I wrote then track records do not a superstar make! Workforce beat nothing at Epsom, the subsequent runners from the race have further proved it was a very suspect Derby and to make this 3-y-o odds on Fav at Ascot looked to my eyes ridiculous to say the least. The flock (racing journalists) as usual all bleated to the shame tune, The Morning line panel (all 6 of them) had only one winner on their minds and it seemed as though a certain member of the team couldn’t wait for the cameras to stop rolling so he could ring Barry Dennis who wisely put Workforce up as the lay of the day … by the way congratulations Jim, nice winner today that should have sorted out today’s profit/loss account. Once again as one star dims ...

Another dark cloud hangs over our sport with today’s decision to let the ‘larger than life’ or as I prefer ‘too big for his boots’ Harry Findlay off his self confessed rule breaking. The original ban has been overturned today into a £4500 fine, which is almost certainly a fraction of what he paid Roderick (shaken but not stirred) Moore and the rest of his team to get him off the hook. With such a piddling amount he probably told the panel to keep the change and have a drink on him. Come to think of it former Jockey and present date ‘rent a witness’, Colin Brown may well be included in that round. Like the Nicky Henderson case a few months ago it seems to me that it’s only breaking the rules providing a ‘Big Name’ isn’t in the dock. The defense and the reason why he appears to have been successful in his appeal are although he clearly broke the rules he actually did slightly more within the rules than outside what is ...

It seems to me that the hacks are rather going overboard with the near superstar status given to Workforce after his Derby success. Whilst I agree it was an impressive performance in a track record time, I just wonder what the rest of the season will bring for this colt and for the rest of the field. Track records are not always a reflection of the ability of the horse, after all many track records are held be handicappers. The ground and the pace of the race play a massive part in the time of a race, so when you consider the Derby was run on pretty quick ground with a massively fast pace set by the pacemaker its not really surprising the record went. The 100/1 pacemaker is also a worry, this horse was out on its feet in the final furlong but no other horse apart from the winner had the ability to go past him and when you consider that AT FIRST SIGHT has never been considered good enough for Murtagh to ride in any of his 5 races, his 2nd place is very worrying. The 3rd Rewilding, didn't ...

Cooper v Bugner revisited A less then memorable classic weekend, with both Guineas winners unlikely to rank high amongst the all time greats come the end of their respective racing careers. That’s not to say that from a form pointer both races aren’t worth closer inspection. Behind Makfi in the 2000 Guineas I think both Elusive Pimpernel and St Nicholas Abbey both ran as though middle distances would bring out their true potential. St Nicholas Abbey still looks a live runner if turning up for the Epsom Derby and I’ve just a sneaking suspicion that Elusive Pimpernel could be sent to France for their Derby and if he made the journey I think he’s also have a live chance. As for the 1000 Guineas the way the field split makes it impossible to accurately assess the form and truthfully I’m not going to be watching too many from the race. However unremarkable the form of the 1000 Guineas may turn out to be the race will always live in my memory as another sporting ...

As the turf season starts to hit full stride it was interesting to note the end (official that is) of the jumps season 2009/10 which passed with slightly less coverage than St George’s Day, England’s National Day, although in truth compared with St Patrick’s celebrations you’d think we’re all Irish !! Still life must go on a bit like National Hunt racing which started the new season the very next day. As you’ll be aware by now I’m rather sceptical when it comes to the whole Racing For Change set up and some of their ‘loony tune’ ideas to get people coming and enjoying racing. But I’m prepared to say I during the past 10 days I’ve become a convert to one of their ideas, namely the switch of odds to decimal which was trialled (kind of) at Ascot this week. Up to a few weeks ago I just saw it as a pretty useless and worthless idea, a change for changes sake and little more. As someone who has bet on and off course for over 30 ...

Another week to remember with a terrific Scottish win in their Grand National, with hearty congratulations going out to Mr & Mrs Raymond Anderson Green who like John P McManus are owners in it for the love of the game and despite not being short of a bob or two both deserve all the success they get. Over the years both have been loyal to their trainers and jockeys. Despite lean times as owners they have never sort to shake the reins of disappointment at their jockey, unlike some high profile NH owners who pay over the top for average horses, mop up easy northern races to build up a profile and then look for someone to blame when their horse fall flat on their faces in the races that matter. Still I guess as with life you’ll always get people with more money than sense and it proves the old adage is correct a little knowledge is a dangerously expensive thing! Now I don’t know about you but I got totally the wrong end of the stick when I saw the ‘Flat Pack’ was ...

Well thank God for Aintree, AP and a truly super 3 days and a fairytale National. Its been so long in coming but finally AP managed to crack one out and after 15 years its little wonder that his emotions exploded everywhere ... if only the Racing For Change guys could bottle it. Whilst the new flat season 'yes folks it has started', continues to fire more blanks than Alex ReId. Aintree highlighted once again just how fantastic horseracing can be if done correctly. Whilst I don't totally go alone with 'how fitting and richly deserved' the win for Tony is vibe. After all he doesn't have too rougher time out of the sport unlike many other lower rank jockeys trying to make a living riding rubbish day after day. I do feel it was a totally fitting result for the horses owner JP who is certainly the best thing to happen to Jumps racing for a very long time and is clearly a man in love with the game rather than in love with the fame. He simply lets his horses do the talking ...

As we near the end of another weeks selling class product I keep having to remind myself that the turf (flat) season has started. As usual Doncaster has come and gone, excitement for the new season was titillated, only for it to develop into a slightly embarrassing wet patch by Monday morning. I’ve often wondered why the Jumps season doesn’t end with the Grand National with the flat season kicking off the following week at Doncaster, instead of rather poorly filled sandwich we have to feast upon at present. Bad news on my brainchild of punter/racing personality boxing. Well the bad news is ‘no news’ from the Racing For Change guys’ and I was so sure it would be a runner. I did consider contacting them again but then it dawned on me with all the new revolutionary initiatives about to be rolled out they’re certain to be very busy men (don’t think there are any females on the board). In fact I imagine right now the likes of Stephen Smith, Ian Barlow ...

As promised here are my idea of the first 3 home in this years National GRAND NATIONAL 4.15 No20 SNOWY MORNING (best price 16/1) No 22 BIG FELLA THANKS (best price 11/1) No37 PALYSO DE CREEK (best price 100/1) One thing I do feel is that is likely to be a fast pace on this year and as a result plenty of fallers. Fingers crossed that all come back safely. Don't forget to come back tomorrow for my thoughts on the week in racing. By the way just to confirm the Flat Turf season has started despite nothing doing in that sphere both today and tomorrow!! ST