Hero To Zero!

I must admit that I felt sorry for young Tom Flint at Stratford yesterday afternoon.  It looked as though the young lad was about to ride his first winner under rules for his dad, John.  His mount had been well supported and was about fifteen lengths clear as he approached the last.  Unfortunately what happened next he is likely to want to forget - thehorse ran down the hurdle and lost his legs and the pair were parted.  To make matters worse, John was giving his boy a right good tongue lashing and did not realise that Attheraces had their cameras trained firmly upon them in close-up!  I did feel for the lad...it just shows that you can go from hero to zero in this game in a split second.

I learnt my lesson about arguing in public a long time ago.  Peter Scudamore had just been beaten aboard High Knowl and I was none to pleased about it.  I had a go at Scu while he was still aboard the horse - Scu said to me, "If we are going to fight, let's do it behind the stables!".  You shouldn't fall out with people in the public eye - I now know what he means, and have to concede that he was right.

We were all saddened to hear of the passing of Paddy Mullins at the age of 91.  He was a lovely man and a training legend, and no-one will ever forget the Champion Hurdle, Gold Cup double that he pulled off with his great mare Dawn Run.  He will be sorely missed by every involved in racing and our thoughts are with his wife Maureen and the rest of his family.

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I was amused to read about Rolling Stone Ronnie Woods in the Wit and Wisdom column of the Racing Post.  The rocker said, "I like a bet, but I always seem to break even.  One minute I am up two grand and the next I am two grand down!"  They say that a Rolling Stone gathers no moss...it seems that this one gathers no winnings either!

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I have a couple of nice pictures from my most recent trip to the gallops, including of Cheltenham Festival winner Great Endeavour, as well as Mr Thriller and Sure Josie Sure.

  
Above Left: Great Endeavour, and Right: (l-r) Mr Thriller and Sure Josie Sure on the gallops