There's no Gold in Cheltenham on a Saturday

Edward Gillespie has hinted that the blue riband of the Cheltenham Festival, the Gold Cup, could find its way to a Saturday slot in the future.

The Festival has flourished after being extended from three days to four days and Cheltenham's managing director expects 210,000 people to go through the gates later this month.

"We have now had a four-day Festival for enough years to know that the formula is working really, really well," he said.

"This is the first time in the past four years that we haven't added an extra race, so perhaps for next year we'll think about adding an extra race. Our evidence suggests seven races a day is what people feel most comfortable with.

"We wouldn't want to damage the 'Friday factor' and we may prefer to move Thursday's card to the Saturday.

"At the same time we would want to make sure we've still got the climactic effect of Gold Cup day."

At present there are 26 races spread over four days and it works well.

So why change a formula that works? Cheltenham appears to have weathered the economic downturn, although they have yet to sell out either of the four days.

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 10:55:04 +0000

Read full article at Mirror.co.uk and post your comments

There's no Gold in Cheltenham on a Saturday

Edward Gillespie has hinted that the blue riband of the Cheltenham Festival, the Gold Cup, could find its way to a Saturday slot in the future.

The Festival has flourished after being extended from three days to four days and Cheltenham's managing director expects 210,000 people to go through the gates later this month.

"We have now had a four-day Festival for enough years to know that the formula is working really, really well," he said.

"This is the first time in the past four years that we haven't added an extra race, so perhaps for next year we'll think about adding an extra race. Our evidence suggests seven races a day is what people feel most comfortable with.

"We wouldn't want to damage the 'Friday factor' and we may prefer to move Thursday's card to the Saturday.

"At the same time we would want to make sure we've still got the climactic effect of Gold Cup day."

At present there are 26 races spread over four days and it works well.

So why change a formula that works? Cheltenham appears to have weathered the economic downturn, although they have yet to sell out either of the four days.

Sat, 06 Mar 2010 00:00:05 +0000

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Cheltenham Festival looming makes avoiding a ban even more vital

With Cheltenham just over three weeks away, the biggest fears for any jockey are injury and suspension.

The Festival meeting is the biggest four days in the jumping calendar and you would be forgiven for thinking that riders would be taking it easy in the next few weeks.

"That isn't really the case," said Tom Scudamore, the No.1 jockey for trainer David Pipe. "Hopefully your agent will know that you don't want to risk injury and he won't book any rides for you on dodgy jumpers.

"But you can't ride scared. No-one wants to miss the Festival so the biggest worry you have as a jockey is not to do anything silly and end up in the stewards' room.

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:01 +0000

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Why the BHA should sign up Leona Lewis

If the BHA want horseracing to reach a wider audience, they could do worse than snap up the services of singer Leona Lewis, the X Factor winner, to help promote racing.

She showed off a tasteful tattoo in tribute to her favourite animal, the horse, at a charity ball this week.

The tattoo, which runs from the nape of her neck down her back reads: 'Their beauty captures every eye, a gift from God for all mankind, they lend us wings so we may fly, to ride a horse is to ride the sky.'

It is a fair bet that there are more than a few jockeys who would be happy to show her around a racecourse!

Sat, 27 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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Richard Dunwoody: Hunter Chase result at Leicester made me smile

I had a wry smile when I saw the Hunter Chase result at Leicester on Wednesday.

I used to ride against Godfrey Maundrell when I was an aspiring amateur rider and I did manage to beat him once in a point-to-point at Tweseldown, on a horse trained by Henrietta Knight (Godfrey has a great memory!)

Now 61, he is still showing the youngsters how it should be done after booting home Lisadell King to a 29-length success in a Hunter Chase.

Godfrey, who owns and trains Lisadell King, is maturing like a good wine - he rode the first treble of his 40-year career at Larkhill, in Wiltshire, last month.

He rode in his first point at Hackwood Park in 1971, and said: "I only had 37 rides in my 20s. That's why I'm going on so long, to make up for all those missed rides earlier on.
"But I don't think I'll go on much longer. I read that Harry Beasley was 83 when he rode his last race (in 1935) and I certainly don't have any aspirations to go on that long. It was a thrill winning at Leicester but horses win races, it is jockeys that lose them. I think my career will be coming to an end soon, but I'll keep going for a little while in point-to-points."
Godfrey is a spring chicken compared to Victor Morley Lawson, who rode his first winner at Kempton in 1973 at the age of 67.

Pal Kallai, who won the Hungarian Derby in 2000 at the age of 67, was 73 when he died just weeks after riding his last winner in September 2006. Lester Piggott was 65 when he rode in a Legends race at Flemington Park, Australia, and until last season 73-year-old Frank Amonte was still riding at East Coast tracks in the States.

Age is not always a barrier, but I fully understand why people can be uneasy with veterans riding competitively.

I remember riding against the likes of John Carden and John Thorne.

Carden, a Cheshire solicitor and millionaire, rode in the Grand National five times, the furthest he got was the Canal Turn aboard Huperade in 1974. Tragically, he broke his neck in a fall at the age of 56 and has reportedly remained bed-ridden for the last 17 years, his breathing supported by an iron lung.

Thorne was 54 when he rode Spartan Missile to finish second to Bob Champion and Aldaniti at Aintree in 1981. But just 11 months later he was killed in a point-to-point at Mollington.

I didn't ride against Trevor Radford, one of the oldest jockeys to have ridden in Britain. He died in hospital in October 2000, two months after he suffered serious head injuries in a fall in an televised amateurs' race at Goodwood.

Radford, 64, who had retired from his job as a motor mechanic two weeks before his accident, had been intending to retire from the saddle after the race.

Having had my share of falls, they don't get easier to deal with.

You can keep yourself fit to race-ride well into your fifties, but the older you are, the less supple you become. You don't fall quite as well.

The element of speed will always mean tragedy is just around the corner and while implementing various safety measures since I first started riding - such as the use of plastic wings on fences, hitech helmets, travelling physios, paramedics, doctors and softer fences - there are things we can still improve upon.

For example, I have seen some serious spinal injuries caused by rigid back protectors.
You have to be flexible when falling, particularly if a horse suffers a rotational fall, where the rider usually is thrown out of the saddle, goes over the jump before the horse and in a worst-case scenario, the horse can land on the rider.

So while on the one-hand I want to applaud Godfrey Maundrell and all veteran riders, I hope that when they retire from the saddle, it will be on their own terms.

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 09:44:31 +0000

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Price so right but he paid for his Schweppes

Today's totesport Trophy may not have the prestige it had in the Sixties and Seventies, but it is still undoubtedly one of the biggest handicap hurdles of the season.

The inaugural Schweppes Gold Trophy was more valuable than the Champion Hurdle when it was first run at Aintree's Grand National meeting in 1963, and it was a race dominated by Ryan Price.

The five-time champion trainer won four of the first five runnings and two of his winners, Rosyth and Hill House, were hugely controversial.

In fact, Price was banned for four months after Rosyth's second victory in the race when it was transferred to Newbury in 1964.

Rosyth had failed to win in five races over hurdles since his victory in it the previous year, yet he scored by two lengths under Josh Gifford.

The dramatic improvement saw the Newbury stewards refer Price to the National Hunt Committee, who rejected his claim that the horse broke blood vessels which made training him difficult and that, as an entire, he didn't thrive until the spring. They suspended Gifford until the end of March and took away Price's licence for the rest of the season, which ended in mid-June.

A few years ago, my old boss, the late David Nicholson, recounted a classic betting coup in the race in 1965.

He said that John Sutcliffe ran Elan five times in handicaps in the run-up to the Schweppes with a different jockey on board each time, and the horse was never closer than fourth.

The 'Duke' said: "John rang my father two weeks before the race to ask if I could ride, and shrewdly suggested that he recommend an ante-post bet on Elan to the senior steward, General Sir Randle Fielden, who was one of our owners, on the ground that Elan would be wearing blinkers for the first time.

"We won, beating Rosyth by a length and a half. Of course there was an inquiry, but John had his answers ready before the stewards thought of the questions - first-time blinkers, the new jockey and so on. It was a very clever bit of training."

Sat, 13 Feb 2010 11:24:49 +0000

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Barry Geraghty's choice of Punjabi or Zaynar as tough as Kauto Star v Denman

Who will ride Denman in the Gold Cup if, as expected, Ruby Walsh partners Kauto Star - that's a hot topic for you!

The decision will be in the hands of trainer Paul Nicholls and co-owners Paul Barber and Harry Findlay. They are in no rush to make it. And nor should they.

A lot can happen between now and the Cheltenham Festival meeting.

Barry Geraghty is also seemingly on the verge of making what will be a difficult choice: Who should he ride in the Champion Hurdle? Will he desert last year's winner Punjabi to ride current favourite Zaynar?

Punjabi, who was third in the race two years ago, is out to 16-1 after suffering his third successive defeat at Haydock behind Supreme Novices' Hurdle runner-up Medermit.

Like Punjabi, Zaynar is trained by Nicky Henderson, who also has Binocular and Afsoun in his care.

Tony Stafford, racing manager to Punjabi's owner Raymond Tooth, believes that even if Punjabi comes through his final trial in the Kingwell Hurdle at Wincanton with flying colours, Geraghty is likely to side with fiveyear-old Zaynar.

Stafford said: "Punjabi might not have had ideal preparations to his two races so far, given his own requirement for excessive work at home, and the snow before his Haydock run behind Medermit.

"But the timing of those races may have helped him more than some of his rivals. The Kingwell Hurdle should ensure he gets to his main objective fully prepared. Barry Geraghty thinks that he is more of a grinder now, so you'll see him at his best at Cheltenham.

"Zaynar is unbeaten and he must be on Barry's mind. He's a horse with great potential but the question in my mind is that like so many other established stars, he, too may be a run short of what may be required."

At the age of 30, Geraghty has become one of the most complete jockeys riding today. A good horseman, his strike rate in Britain is unsurpassed and he is one of the strongest in a finish.

But whatever decisions jockeys have to make about their choice of rides, they should not make them too hastily.

I remember when the Duke (David Nicholson) got me to commit to ride Waterloo Boy in the Champion Chase immediately after we'd won the Game Spirit at Newbury in 1992.

I could hardly turn him down because I would probably have never ridden for him again. I had to go with it and we ended up being beaten four and a half lengths by one of my other usual rides, Remittance Man, who was evens favourite and trained by Nicky Henderson.

At times it was almost impossible to choose when the two master trainers both had horses running in the big races.

Politics can also come into play. It is not quite as simple as being a kid in a sweet shop and picking the horse you like.

Some decisions were based on loyalty and it cost me on the odd occasion.

When Flown won the 1992 Supreme Novices' Hurdle under Jamie Osborne, I was on the Henderson-trained stablemate and 4-1 favourite New York Rainbow.

We finished fourth. I'd heard that Flown was in great form at home but had stayed loyal to owner Michael Buckley, who had been very good to me and instrumental in getting me the job at Nicky's.

On the other hand, your timing has to be right. At one stage my name was in the frame for Stan Clarke's Lord Gyllene in 1997 but I could not commit, so Tony Dobbin got the winning National ride.

Having a choice of rides is not easy when you are in demand like Geraghty so rightly is. Keep your fingers crossed he makes the right one when the time comes.

I can't say I'd envy him, there is nothing worse than have a horse you could have ridden wing past you at the last.

Sat, 06 Feb 2010 00:00:00 +0000

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Steaming: Dubai's Meydan racecourse is mesmerising, but at what cost

Meydan, or as one internet blogger - who really should be on the payroll of the Dubai Tourist Board, put it 'mesmerising Meydan', staged its first fixture on Thursday.

This fact won't have passed you by - the glittering new racecourse got plenty of exposure, both in print and on the small screen.

Words like 'splendour' and 'magnificence' have been in regular use - and nobody can deny the whole thing makes for a pretty impressive spectacle.

For the next eight weeks, Meydan will play host to some top-class horseracing, and, unlike in Britain, nobody will be bleating about meagre prize-money.

It will do so in a breathtaking man-made setting, as Dubai strives to promote itself as the premier centre for business and tourism.

So, by all means, marvel at the whole bejewelled shooting match, but don't waste your breath asking yourself why something like Meydan can't happen here.

Because there's a huge elephant in the room that many journalists and broadcasters are refusing to acknowledge.

Among all the talk that accompanied Meydan's first meeting - and its official opening on Dubai World Cup night in March is unlikely to be an understated affair - the one word you won't have heard very often is 'debt'.

The precise extent to which the emirate state is in the red is hard to pin down - but it's well on the way to $100billion - and it may well be a good bit more.

The cost of Meydan, with its one-kilometre grandstand, five-star hotel (only five?) and IMAX cinema, was a 'mere' $2billion.

But it's money Dubai hasn't got.

Now that we're all - trainers, owners, riders, racecourses, journalists, etc - pulling in the same direction to preach racing's gospel, a memo to jockeys' chiefs.

Please have a word with your members about their conduct at the start of races.

Last week claimer Steven Gagan received a seven-day ban for striking Sacrilege, who was mulish at the start at Ascot, refusing to race.

Gagan struck his mount 11 times and now has February 6 to 12 to cool off and consider his actions.

As somebody who believes the whip has a legitimate place in horseracing - as long as restrictions are in place - I think the punishment fits the crime.

But the top brass at the Professional Jockeys Association could do well to remind their members that, while a horse is on the track, the cameras are on them at all times.

Racing has never been more conscious of the need to project a positive image to the eyes of the world, so it needs a storm of publicity over a jockey whacking his mount before a race has even begun like it needs a hole in the head.

Count to 10, boys. FINALLY, to a man who I can't imagine has ever lost his temper - Gold Cupwinning trainer Peter Beaumont who saddled the final runner of his career at Sedgefield on Tuesday.

I will never forget, in my days as a Press Association reporter, standing in 1993 Gold Cup hero Jodami's box while conducting an interview with his handler, accommodating as ever.

Happy retirement, Peter. If only they were all like you.

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:18:17 +0000

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Today's trials may not mean much in March

Cheltenham's clerk of the course Simon Claisse whipped those famous frost covers out pretty smartly on Thursday.

Rightly, he and his staff will get a welldeserved pat on the back if today's important Festival Trials meeting goes ahead.

Unfortunately, there are not as many big names involved in the five Graded races on the card as anticipated to allow it to live up to its billing as the Festival Trials.

While outstanding 2008 Gold Cup winner Denman will be re-routed to Newbury's Aon Chase in a fortnight, the paucity of Gold Cup clues on offer in the Grade 2 Argento Chase is still a little surprising.

Carruthers does line up. He is a fastimproving chaser who ran a blinder when leading the field in the RSA Chase here before tiring after a mistake at the top of the hill fading to finish fourth to Cooldine.

After winning a Graduation Chase with ease at Newbury last month, Mark Bradstock's runner has an official rating of 155.

That means he would have 27lb to find with Denman. He is joint-fifth in the Gold Cup betting market at around 25-1, which just underlines the dominance of Kauto Star and Denman, who are best-priced 11-8 and 9-4 respectively.

Carruthers, part-owned by Lord Oaksey, is only seven and he may be waited with another year before tackling the Gold Cup, whatever the outcome today.

Likewise, Madison Du Berlais and Taranis have Gold Cup entries, but they have plenty to find to become serious contenders and David Pipe has expressed fears that his King George runner-up is not as good on undulating tracks as he is at Aintree, Kempton and the like.

With the World Hurdle market dominated by Big Buck's, it is similarly unlikely that the result of the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle will have much impact on the ante-post books.

Lie Forrit, at around 20-1 for the staying hurdler's crown, is one of the main protagonists for the three-mile event . Hawick trainer Willie Amos has been held up more than most by with the snow, but I'm keen to see how he runs, as he looks a horse with plenty of potential.

With former Champion Hurdler Katchit, Mr Thriller, Tidal Bay and Time For Rupert in the line-up, this makes it the strongest-looking trial of the day.

There may not be much of a change in the Triumph -Hurdle market this evening.

The opening Finesse Juvenile Novices' Hurdle sees ante-post second favourite Pistolet Noir bidding to record back-to-back Grade 2 victories - having gained the first here in November for Nick Williams, before make a bigmoney transfer to the Paul Nicholls yard.

It will also be interesting to see how Investissement goes on his debut for Evan Williams.

A few dogs have been barking about the ex-French Singspiel colt.

The trial for the Neptune Novices' Hurdle, won last year by Diamond Harry, looks above average though, with Royal Charm, General Miller and Restless Harry in the field, plus another 'talking horse' in the shape of Fiulin.

He was rated as high as 106 on the Flat when with Marco Botti. This will be his first run over hurdles and he could be worth noting.

Even though he doesn't run today, at present I'm siding with unbeaten Peddlers Cross to take all the beating in whatever race he contests at the big Cheltenham bonanza.

Donald McCain is in no rush to make plans for him after a 16-length demolition of Scriptwriter in a Grade 2 at Haydock.

He's not a horse who takes a lot of getting ready and looks to me to be a bit of ante-post value at 16-1 (William Hill) for the 2m 5f Grade 1 race at the Festival on March 17.

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:18:17 +0000

Read full article at Mirror.co.uk and post your comments

Steaming: Dubai's Meydan racecourse is mesmerising, but at what cost

Meydan, or as one internet blogger - who really should be on the payroll of the Dubai Tourist Board, put it 'mesmerising Meydan', staged its first fixture on Thursday.

This fact won't have passed you by - the glittering new racecourse got plenty of exposure, both in print and on the small screen.

Words like 'splendour' and 'magnificence' have been in regular use - and nobody can deny the whole thing makes for a pretty impressive spectacle.

For the next eight weeks, Meydan will play host to some top-class horseracing, and, unlike in Britain, nobody will be bleating about meagre prize-money.

It will do so in a breathtaking man-made setting, as Dubai strives to promote itself as the premier centre for business and tourism.

So, by all means, marvel at the whole bejewelled shooting match, but don't waste your breath asking yourself why something like Meydan can't happen here.

Because there's a huge elephant in the room that many journalists and broadcasters are refusing to acknowledge.

Among all the talk that accompanied Meydan's first meeting - and its official opening on Dubai World Cup night in March is unlikely to be an understated affair - the one word you won't have heard very often is 'debt'.

The precise extent to which the emirate state is in the red is hard to pin down - but it's well on the way to $100billion - and it may well be a good bit more.

The cost of Meydan, with its one-kilometre grandstand, five-star hotel (only five?) and IMAX cinema, was a 'mere' $2billion.

But it's money Dubai hasn't got.

Now that we're all - trainers, owners, riders, racecourses, journalists, etc - pulling in the same direction to preach racing's gospel, a memo to jockeys' chiefs.

Please have a word with your members about their conduct at the start of races.

Last week claimer Steven Gagan received a seven-day ban for striking Sacrilege, who was mulish at the start at Ascot, refusing to race.

Gagan struck his mount 11 times and now has February 6 to 12 to cool off and consider his actions.

As somebody who believes the whip has a legitimate place in horseracing - as long as restrictions are in place - I think the punishment fits the crime.

But the top brass at the Professional Jockeys Association could do well to remind their members that, while a horse is on the track, the cameras are on them at all times.

Racing has never been more conscious of the need to project a positive image to the eyes of the world, so it needs a storm of publicity over a jockey whacking his mount before a race has even begun like it needs a hole in the head.

Count to 10, boys. FINALLY, to a man who I can't imagine has ever lost his temper - Gold Cupwinning trainer Peter Beaumont who saddled the final runner of his career at Sedgefield on Tuesday.

I will never forget, in my days as a Press Association reporter, standing in 1993 Gold Cup hero Jodami's box while conducting an interview with his handler, accommodating as ever.

Happy retirement, Peter. If only they were all like you.

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 15:18:17 +0000

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Richard Johnson is one of the greats

Unless AP McCoy is sidelined for a long period, or retires prematurely, Richard Johnson may never be champion jockey, particularly since he shares the same agent.

Yet that does not detract from my admiration that 'Dickie' has managed to achieve an incredible feat of riding 2,000 winners.

He is only the second man to reach that milestone.

I have received plenty of stick regarding my comments made in my new book, Method In My Madness, over Richard's loyalty to Dave Roberts. I still find it extraordinary that he has been content to be represented by him for the last 14 years and is happy to remain in AP's shadow.

Adrian Maguire says I am "talking a load of tripe". That has been one of the milder insults. But does Adrian really believe that if we'd have had the same agent, I would have been fortunate enough to have beaten him to the title?

I've got nothing against Dave, either. He is undisputedly the best jockeys' agent operating today, but common sense dictates that conflicts of interest must inevitably arise, so all the time that AP remains fit and healthy, he will always be the top dog.

Richard is one hell of a jockey. There will be two sides to the argument of who is the finest jockey never to be champion, but on balance I'd give the honour to Richard for his consistency and longevity over the years.

He has been criticised in some quarters about his ability to see a stride at a fence, but that is unwarranted. In my opinion he has always been very effective over fences and brilliant over hurdles.

Richard is a very dedicated jockey and a hugely likeable guy. Like AP, he is a true professional in everything he does and prides himself on his fitness. He is polite with owners, honest to a fault and a superb horseman.

His colleagues will never have a bad word to say about him and he has the time for everyone.

Richard will remain one of the top riders of his generation. He is simply unfortunate that he has been around at the same time as AP.

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 11:48:26 +0000

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The Tingle of excitement at Sandown

As thetapes go up at Sandown at around 2.25pm for one of the most popular races of the jumps season, Steve Smith Eccles will raise a glass to the horse that bears the name of the 2m chase. Naturally it will contain scotch.

Tingle Creek was the horse that helped put 'Ecc' on the map.

Trained by Harry Thomson Jones (always known as Tom) Tingle Creek was a strapping, white-faced chestnut, known for his exuberant jumping.

"He appeared on the scene in the mid-seventies and was a big, leggy, flashy, wishy-washy chestnut with four white socks," said Smith Eccles, who rode 868 winners in England.

Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:00:00 +0000

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Go big on Paddy Merrigan

Paddy Merrigan certainly has his quirks, but he's a talented claimer who should bag a winner on a big stage at Ascot with NOAKARAD DE VERZEE.

Back from a summer break, this former point-to-pointer ran a stormer on his comeback at Chepstow when running subsequent winner Peut Etre Sivola to a length and looks very well treated here from a mark only 2lb higher.

Up at Haydock, our old mate KAYF ARAMIS will take some pegging back on a track that is sure to suit ideally in the big Fixed Brush Hurdle.

The Nicky Henderson (above) string is flying and ZARINSKI looked a sure future winner when missing out to a more experienced rival at Sandown. Compensation awaits at Huntingdon.

The big Aintree fences get an airing tomorrow and Jim Goldie's CRAIGLANDS has the sniff about him of a horse who has been laid out for the Grand Sefton - a race the great scot has won for the past two years.

His representative this time ran a race full of promise over the Mildmay Course last month, being hampered before finishing eight lengths off Frankie Figg.

He's 8lb better today and the longer trip will play to his strengths. SELECTIONS: Today Ascot 12.55 Noakarad De Verzee. Haydock 2.20 Kayf Aramis. Huntingdon 1.05 Zarinski.

Tomorrow Aintree 12.35 Craiglands. Musselburgh 12.50 All For The Cause. Horses to follow: Ashkazar, Bagsy's Bridge, Brackenmoss, Cast Cada, Dee Ee Williams, Disco Jack, Doeslessthanme, General Kutuzov, I'm Delilah, Medermit, Patman Du Charmil, Russian Trigger, Sahrati, Skippers Brig, Stormy Weather, The Gossmoor Yank

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:05:19 +0000

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Derby not a 'Crown Jewel' .. nonsense!

It wasn't underlined in black and white, but the message was clear enough: Racing needs to change and become a more dynamic sport in the eyes of the man in the street.

The wake-up call came with the news that the Derby, the most prestigious of the British classics, has been dropped from the list of special events which must be screened on terrestrial TV free to viewers.

What next? Should we be forced to say a grovelling 'thank you' that the Grand National is still among sport's 'Crown Jewels' - events with a 'special resonance' along with the FA Cup Final and Ashes matches played in England?

Oddly enough, there are plenty in the world of cricket who don't want terrestrial TV to get their hands on the game again, because they receive far more money than they ever did under the old terrestrial TV contracts.

Having a sport on the protected list restricts the commercial viability of some events and limits the money that can be reinvested in the sport.

That can't be said for racing, which pays terrestrial broadcaster Channel 4 to cover the sport. It also has two dedicated satellite channels in ATR and RUK.

But I don't agree with the recommendations from an independent panel set up by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, which deemed that the Derby was not important enough to be on the list of major national sporting events and should be dropped.

For a start, it has higher TV audiences than many other sports events and more people attend the race itself than they do the FA Cup final.

The Derby is guaranteed to be free-to-air until 2012 as it is licensed to the BBC until then, but not after that. I'm not convinced Sky will pay for the rights to the Derby as a one-off event, though it is possible they may consider a package of races.

The Derby remains an event of national resonance, no matter what that panel believes. But it is alarming that such a prestigious occasion in the national sporting calendar is deemed not worthy of being broadcast by the BBC.

It is a massive kick up the backside and it is further evidence that racing needs to change. The mindset is the barrier to change. I would like to see more lessons learned from the success of cricket and rugby, and its innovations and new ideas such as Twenty20.

Those behind the BHA's Racing For Change initiative have a good idea of what will and won't work and their proposals can't come soon enough.

Fundamentally, attitudes have to change. Some oldschool racing people are not comfortable with pop concerts and weddings taking place on the hallowed turf, but it all adds up to increased levels of income and exposure that were not even considered 20 years ago.

The TV landscape is going to alter with the digital switchover in 2012, but our feature races simply must remain in the forefront of the public's consciousness.

Some say that Kauto Star will be vulnerable on his seasonal debut in Haydock's Betfair Chase this afternoon.

He heads back to the Merseyside course looking for a third victory in the race on ground that may be too soft for him.

I can't wait to see him. Though not one to get overly sentimental about horses, who wouldn't want to ride him?

While age may be about to catch up with the dual Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, who will turn 10 on January 1, he is still the best three-mile chaser in the business and I think he's great value at odds against to win.

Timeform agree, making him 14lb superior to his main rival today, Madison Du Berlais. They also rate him 3lb inferior to Desert Orchid.

When Kauto Star wins a fourth King George VI Chase at Kempton on Boxing Day, will he be rated on a par with Dessie, or will he be rated higher? I'm sure I'll have something to say about it when it happens!

Either way, Paul Nicholls and the team at Ditcheat have done a tremendous job to keep bringing him back at his peak year after year. That fact shouldn't be forgotten - it is one of the major reasons why he is a champion trainer.

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:05:19 +0000

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All's Well that ends well with your favourite

You don't win many races by living in the past and I've got a hell of a lot to look forward to over the next few days.

But it wouldn't be right for me to start off this week in any other way than to give you all an up to date report on good old Well Chief, following his Cheltenham win of last Sunday.

We all know the horse has a big fan club and that was evident by the welcome he was given when he returned to the winner's enclosure.

Then there were the many people who took the trouble to email to pass on their congratulations and to ask how he was.

Most were concerned about the cut he sustained on a leg. Fortunately it was nothing, and hopefully he will be back at Sandown for another crack at Master Minded at the beginning of December.

It's been an exciting week as we picked up three new horses at the Auteuil Sales - one threeyear-old and two four-year-olds.

They are all ready to go, reasonably priced horses, and are all for sale so if you and your mates fancy getting a partnership together, look up our contact details on our website and get in touch.

Anyway, on to today and I'm really looking forward to running MR THRILLER at Haydock (1.15) following his brilliant comeback run at Chepstow.

As he needs the mud, the recent storms won't do his chances any harm and dropping back from two and a half miles isn't a problem as we intend to make it a serious stamina test.

Timmy Murphy rides Starluck, so we know he will sit on our tail and look to come at us with that horses finishing kick at the last. But our horse stays well and we will certainly find out if the grey really gets a trip today.

Madison Du Berlais takes in the Betfair Chase (2.20) rather than trying for a second Hennessy and I'm happy with him ahead of today, although you do need to remember his first time out record is not great.

The ground will be in his favour and I can tell you we are going to make this a real test for Kauto Star ahead of the King George. We will meet him again there and this will let him know we are around.

Sure Josie Sure won well over course and distance earlier in the month and a decisive win in the 1.45 will give us the alternative of running once more in a bumper - a Listed one - rather than going over hurdles.

She's a half-brother to the top class stayed Geordieland and I'm glad she's inherited some of his ability. She's on to keep on the right side of.

Buena Vista (2.20) is our other runner at Haydock and I cannot pretend he's our best chance of a weekend winner as he would prefer better ground. Still, there is plenty of prize money on offer and it's worth trying to grab some of it.

As Tom Scudamore is trying to earn some dosh to pay the builders off - Charlotte's mum has apparently been up to the flat to check up on them - Richard Johnson takes over on LOUGH DERG (2.35) at Ascot.

He's obviously the right style of rider for 'Douglas' who is certainly up against it, against younger rivals over a trip short of his best. Still, he's amazed us here before and am sure he's going to go well in a race that will bring him to an absolute peak.

I wouldn't rule PURE GENIUS out of the 12.55 on her debut over fences. She's one of those mares you dream about having, as she's got a great attitude to work at home and on the track.

The decent ground is going to be to her advantage and she's been doing plenty of schooling.

We've never has the success at the November meeting at Aintree that we've enjoyed at the spring meeting and only have the one runner there tomorrow, FOURTY ACERS in the 2.20.

He ran really well there over hurdles at the last meeting and the track suits as he will either be forcing the pace or sitting just off it if Danny Cook finds himself in a truly run race.

He makes mistakes, but has won three of his 11 chases so is one to keep on the right side of.

I run three at Towcester, beginning with a recent arrival in the shape of BRANDY BUTTER(1.00). He's schooled fine since he arrived and we are starting him off in the right grade.

Master Overseer wouldn't be the quickest in the world, but he does gallop all the way to the line and that's just what you need at the toughest track in the country.

As a former point-to-pointer, he jumps well as you would expect and I'm looking for a decent effort in the 1.35.

Finally we come to MAYEUL (3.20) who ran well on comeback at Chepstow and won't mind either the ground or course.

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:05:19 +0000

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