What A Nice Boy!

We don't have any runners this afternoon but we have plenty of entries over the coming few days.  While I was on the gallops I was able to capture a couple of those on camera - Shaking Hands, who has entries at Exeter and Ffos Las, and Teshali who is in at Ludlow on Monday.  Shaking Hands worked in company with the evergreen Lough Derg, while eshali was upsides Consigliere.

Above left: (l-r) Lough Derg and Shaking Hands, and right: (l-r) Consigliere and Teshali

There is an interesting article in today's Racing Post about former trainer Mercy Rimell.  I certainly wouldn't want to get into an argument with her, but she does stress just how good today's trainers are and goes on to say what "a very nice young man" David Pipe is...she is clearly thinking of someone else!

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I see that Paul Nicholls nephew Harry Derham has turned professional after winning the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham on Sunday aboard Brampour.  He has only had thirteen rides under rules and the young lad has gained most of his experience in pony racing.  I understand that his early career will be "managed" and he will be kept away from those dodgy novice chasers.  The lad is lucky that his uncle is champion trainer - he should at least be guaranteed some nice safe rides.

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I was watching the racing from Hexham on the television yesterday and the ground was officially given as heavy, soft in places.  To be honest, it didn't look that heavy, despite the last couple of furlongs of each race looking like it was being shown in slow motion!  I could almost hear the jockeys counting the number of times they had hit their horses!  I would like to see them having to ride on bottomless ground without whips - would there be any finishers?...I don't think so, then maybe there will be an end to this ridiculous new set of whip regulations.