Feeling Sorry For Will!

It's another cold start to the morning (as you can see from the picture of the gallops) and it looks like being a quite day with the stable having no runners this afternoon.

I thought that the stable's runners performed creditably in the main at the weekend without quite getting their heads in front.  The trouble is a few of them look to be in the grip of the handicapper - not least the likeable mare Dream Esteem who keeps going up in the weights for finishing in the frame - she finished a close third at Kempton on Saturday and no doubt will face another hike.  It does seem a little harsh - the horses certainly creep up the ratings a lot quicker than they drop down them and if you are fortunate enough to pinch one, trainers are often forced to run again quickly under a penalty for fear of what the handicapper will do to them.

It's another cold start to the morning (as you can see from the picture of the gallops) and it looks like being a quite day with the stable having no runners this afternoon.

I thought that the stable's runners performed creditably in the main at the weekend without quite getting their heads in front.  The trouble is a few of them look to be in the grip of the handicapper - not least the likeable mare Dream Esteem who keeps going up in the weights for finishing in the frame - she finished a close third at Kempton on Saturday and no doubt will face another hike.  It does seem a little harsh - the horses certainly creep up the ratings a lot quicker than they drop down them and if you are fortunate enough to pinch one, trainers are often forced to run again quickly under a penalty for fear of what the handicapper will do to them.

*****

I have to say that I do feel sorry for jockey Will Kennedy who won the big race on Saturday, the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton aboard Swincombe Flame only to receive a ban and lose his share of the prize money for hitting his mount twice more than permitted.  With the best will in the world (pardon the pun!), Will is a journeyman jockey and these big weekend successes are not a regular occurrence.  If he had not hit the horse, it would not have won - so according to the letter of the law, he cheated...what other sports can you think of where you get into trouble for trying too hard?!  If the governing body are going to go down this line then I think they should keep the owner's prize money as well and place the horse last - that would certainly put the cat among the pigeons!  I cannot imagine the owners standing for it and I truly believe that it is time for owners, jockeys and punters to stand up and be counted, I don't think the BHA would be so willing to take them all on!  There will be plenty of bans at the upcoming Cheltenham and Aintree Festival's - in a driving finish for the Gold Cup do you believe that a jockey is not going to go for the persuader and break these terrible rules?

*****

It would seem that Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies have a totally normal father-son relationship - they argue a lot!  Sam says of his father, "Nige will never admit that he is wrong, this is the man who thinks Towcester is flat".  Obviously Nigel has never walked the last three furlongs at Towcester - it is like climbing Everest (and I don't mean the glazing company)!

*****

True to form, the Arsenal manager had plenty of excuses after Arsenal lost 3-2 to Swansea at the weekend.  Before they even set foot on the pitch, he was complaining as the ground is also used for rugby.  After they were beaten it was the referees fault - the only person I have never heard him blame is himself...afterall, who buys and picks the team?  It really would be a refreshing change for him to turn around and say, "the best team won"!