Miinnehoma Memories

It's not very often that I get my picture on the front page of the Racing Post, but sure enough there's a picture of yours truly leading in our 1994 Grand National winner Miinnehoma.  As you will most likely know by now, Miinnehoma sadly passed away over the weekend - he was 29 years old and lived out his retirement at the yard.  He was the oldest living Grand National winner and although like me, he was going a bit grey in the end, he was a popular regular visitor to Aintree for the parade of former winners.

Above: Left, Miinnehoma parades with Comply Or Die after his 2008 National success

It's not very often that I get my picture on the front page of the Racing Post, but sure enough there's a picture of yours truly leading in our 1994 Grand National winner Miinnehoma.  As you will most likely know by now, Miinnehoma sadly passed away over the weekend - he was 29 years old and lived out his retirement at the yard.  He was the oldest living Grand National winner and although like me, he was going a bit grey in the end, he was a popular regular visitor to Aintree for the parade of former winners.

He was a real character to have in the yard and I remember back during his racing days his rider would need legging up in the sand ring as he could buck and kick.  Brave as always, I would always give him a wide birth around the yard!  Even so, I have a big picture of him on the wall of my house and I will miss him.

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There are four meetings taking place this afternoon with three of them on the flat at Pontefract, Wolverhampton and Southwell.  Somehow Uttoxeter's jumping card has been given the go ahead, although I bet the clerk of the course will be keeping one eye anxiously on the skies as they will not be wanting too much rain during the day.

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I see that there is a new drug called Dermorphin that has been found in positive tests in America.  Apparently it is a performance enhancing pain suppressant that is supposed to be forty times as potent as morphine.  It is drawn from the skin of the South American Waxy Monkey Tree Frog...I suppose it could make them jump better, boom boom!  According to an American professor the animal "wouldn't feel pain, and it would have feelings of excitation and euphoria" - I could do with some of that myself!

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A major gamble went astray yesterday afternoon on the Richard Fahey trained Bountiful Girl as she was backed from 20/1 down to 11/4 at Ayr, only to finish fifth.  She must have been showing up quite well at home and is certainly worth a second look next time to see if she can recoup losses.

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Even if you cost £35,000,000 you are not guaranteed to get a game for Liverpool.  It seems that the reds new manager wants to put England International Andy Carroll out on loan.  I hope he doesn't upset too many of the senior players at Liverpool - look what happened at Chelsea...the players certainly seem to be empowered these days.