Baileys Blog
19th March 2024
Plus 10, drizzling and damp when driving in..
I was amazed how many of you got in touch with your thoughts on Cheltenham. Good and not so good.. But on the amusing side thanks Linda Redmond for the 'Cheltenham Festival Statement' as in my photo side of this blog.
Talking on the photos side your will see the difference between the trainers table on both side of the Irish Sea and this was brought about to show Kevin Blake that all is not good in Ireland too..
I accept that Kevin talks a great deal of sense, but giving trainers in England a bit of a ribbing last week was not ideal to read, especially when you see how top heavy the Irish Trainers table is… and looking down the list you wonder where the next generation of trainers are coming from..
Where as in the English trainers table there are trainers doing well and coming through the ranks..
Just look at the number of individual horses run by the top Irish and then the top English trainers… It really does make interesting reading ?
PS on the above.. I would be currently 5th in the Irish trainers table..
I had a meeting in Cheltenham and a hair cut.. You can image which took longer? The grapevine told me that Cornelius Lysaght and Mark Pougatch were in town for lunch..Tried to crash but missed them!
A big blow to Lambourn.. They have had to cancel their annual Open Day
Back to today. We have our usual vet visit and this weeks movers and shakers in the BHA handicap charts were. I Got Stung down 4 to 95 while Chianti Classico goes up 11 to 154
We have one runner today at Exeter. Law Of Supply runs there and for my thoughts please click here
A jockey is talking to the trainer ahead of the race.
“You got to ride him to win,” the trainer says, “because I’ve got a monkey on this horse, and so has my wife.”
“Will there be any room for me?,” the jockey asks.
To finish.. Happy birthday to Simon Sherwood. He will be getting more phone calls than normal today..CoC of Ludlow races.
18th March 2024
Plus 7 and dry when driving in.
I drove to London yesterday morning in torrential rain and the roads were flooded. We had 15mm here in a very short time and the results were not pretty..
Racing TV Studios are in Ealing and the area was very quiet when I arrived bright and early to be on Nick Luck’s ‘Luck On Sunday’ programme. Fellow guests were Megan Nicholls and Neil Channing.. Megan I know and she has ridden for me, but I have never met Neil before.. Enjoyed his company.
It is always an interesting programme to be a guest on and the knowledge of Nick is extraordinary, and his composure is of somebody who is relaxed and totally in control… As you can imagine the hot topic was Cheltenham..
Much chat about the racing and a little about where the Racecourse goes from here.. On the latter I know many were delighted when Julia Harrington announced the BHA statement of intent.. 'We must do more, more quickly'….but in my eyes it was a hollow intent and a repeat of last years.
We don’t need to try and make it more difficult for the Irish to win our races. We want to see the best horses running against each other and the best way to do that is make sure we put our own racing house in order, over the year, not just for Cheltenham.
We need constructive communication with those who work in the coal face of racing and by that I don’t mean the bookmakers. We all know we katow to the bookmakers to try and bring in the funding levy, but all we are doing is dilating our product by having far too much racing.
The programme book needs revising and racecourses should help. We need to see less racing and if the racecourse don’t help, then we will see less racecourses; which in time might just save the sport?
Cheltenham thrives on good horses, and the racing enthusiasts pays to see the best horses run against each other, whether they come from Ireland, France or England.. The racegoers wants to see competitive racing not a series off odds on shots strutting their stuff.
Last week was not short of English success, but we really missed NJH and his merry band which of course included Constitution Hill, Shishkin, Jonbon etc..
More importantly we need to sort the attendance levels.
The Racing punter feels that he or she is being ripped off and social media is really their big read, not the Racing Post, so until we have positive vibes flowing through the channels of Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and X then it will not come round…
What the racecourse needs to understand is that the whole town is affected when the racecourse is not doing its job..
Yes we all know that the hotels double/treble their prices and the fact that people were not coming meant they had empty rooms.. You could even get a table in most of the top restaurants in town last week.. that is something that has never happened before…
The racecourse needs to lead on this and make sure all facets of the town see sense and make next years Festival the first of the new and sensible era moving forward, otherwise there will be even less feet on the ground attending the meeting which would be so sad.. We have the best Jump racing in the world and Cheltenham is our showpiece and it must remain so.
I love Cheltenham and I was brought up on those heady days of great racing.. It can, and will come back, but I just beg those in charge to listen and understand.. We are behind you and need the racecourse to succeed..
Enough said..
Weekend sport.The Six Nations and The Man U game were great viewing..
Land Afar ran a blinder and was second at Huntingdon, 668 since his last run.. He is for sale if anybody is interested..
Monday morning and we have a BHA stable inspection.. An annual visit checking that all is in order..
16th March 2024
Plus 1 and dry when driving in.
Saturday morning and it already feels like the morning after the Lord Mayors show!
But what a show it was.
Cheltenham racing at its best with some of the best finishes seen for ages.
The Gold Cup was an excellent race to watch and standing on the balcony looking over a packed house for the first time during the week was enough to feel the goosebumps in action.
Galopin Des Champs was so brave and now he has back to back Gold Cups.. Yes another for the imperious Willie Mullins..
Last years Grand National winner Corach Rambler was a very gallant third and has set himself up to try and repeat his win at Aintree 12 months ago..The supporting races were good and the Brits did not disgrace themselves, especially Dan Skelton who is now our leading jumps trainer..
The dreaded Prestbury Cup.. 18 Irish wins to 9 English wins.. A thrashing? Well probably, but if you think that Nicky Henderson should have won at least 2 of the big races then it puts it into perspective..Nicky not having a winner was a sad state, but I really feel very sorry for him.. He is a top chap and behaved like one all week..
Social media had a frenzy of complaints..too expensive, shocking car parking and dreadful traffic on Tuesday and Friday.. One of my owners who having spent £20 for a car park place then had to pay another £30 to be towed out when his car got stuck in the quagmire.. When he asked for some dry ground to park on a day later he was told to ‘upgrade his car for next year!!’ I am not sure how I would have handled that slide remark?..
Cheltenham is our best racecourse and the best jumps track in the world, but its parking facilities are a disgrace.. I went in everyday in a 4x4 and if not I too would have been marooned..
The biggest worry is the decline in numbers. Bar yesterday it almost felt busier on New Years day than this years Festival. The knock on for this decline is felt all over the local area. Cheltenham itself was very quiet on Tuesday and Wednesday night and you could get into many restaurants that normally you cannot, even when the Festival is not on.
This email came from Gary Wynne from Australia..
'Not good to see those attendance numbers in decline, however it’s very expensive .
We were shocked at the prices we had to pay, we did do a corporate package prior to COVID, but really the costs V quality, really did not match.
If they carry on at this rate, its going to be owners only!!'
Another email this time from from Paul..'I believe Cheltenham is on the cusp of losing much of its glamour. It will always draw the horsey set, but it seems determined to price out all other punters. They need to be very careful to include everyone to its hallowed grounds'
Enough..
Here at Thorndale we look back on a great victory with Chianti Classic.. A huge win for us and one that will hopefully bring further business or horses?.
As I mentioned before I cannot thank you all for the 100s of emails, texts and WhatsApp messages and one of the best lines came from Charles Atkinson who in his email mentioned that seeing and watching David Bass’s triumphal entry to the winners enclosure was like watching a conquering Roman Emperor entering Rome.... Brilliant!
Back to Saturday and David Bass and Ciaran Getings were in to ride out.
John Benson was here to see his KBRS horses Parc d'Amour, El Rio and Phantom Getaway.
We have no runners today although we do have one tomorrow at Huntingdon. Land Afar runs there and for my thoughts please click here.
Milly Jeory, who looks after Chianti Classico was meant to have her first ride on Inca Rose in a point to point tomorrow but that has been called off.. waterlogged! Frustrating..
If you have not had enough of me this week I am afraid I am a guest on Nick Luck's promgrame Luck On Sunday tomorrow morning..
Have a great weekend and back to normal on Monday!
15th March 2024
Plus 11 and drizzling when driving in. 10mm last night
Kevin Blake needs to get back in his box after his uncalled for remarks. No sooner than he had mouthed off about English trainers than they had five winners yesterday.
It was great day for the Brits yesterday and the best was saved to nearly the last when Jeremy Scott won the mares novice hurdle.
The Cheltenham crowds was pleased to be able to applaud their great victories.
The Tattersalls Sales last night were out of my reach. Twice underbidder but that is life.. I tried.. It poured with rain during the sale which meant the casual viewer was soon off so at least we could dee what we were bidding for!
Peter Kerr, Mat and Maya said their lunch party at Thorndale yesterday was a resounding success.. something we will probably do again.
Back today for the last of the 4 days. And it will be the biggest. In fact it needs to be as the crowds seemed to have been down so far.
This morning we had several visitors..
Phil Andrews, Stuart Ballantyne and Andy Addison. (Mr Grey Sky, Party Fuzz, The Edgar Wallace, Mikhailovich, Campaign Trail, Fair Frontieres, Magical Escape, The Kemble Brewery and Isle Of Gold)
John and Mandy Battershall and John White and Sue Fairhurst to see General Hubble
Joe Goldring was here to see Lets Go Amigo.
Mats selections.. Storm Heart, King Of Kingsfield, Reading Tommy, Corach Rambler, It On The Line, Dino Blue and Better Days ahead.
My selections..Nurburgring, Absurbe, Gidleigh Park, L'Homme Presse, Premier Magic, Brides Hill and Ocastle Des Mottes
14th March 2024
Plus 9 and dry when driving in.
The next horse that we train to win at Cheltenham needs to be called Margaux as too much Chianti Classico on Tuesday night was not great for my head yesterday morning!
Yesterday was a day to relax and enjoy the moment..We saw plenty of mates at Cheltenham and had a great day.. feeling very happy.
Cheltenham yesterday felt very quiet compared to other Festival days.. There seemed far fewer people there and the atmosphere certainly needed a bit of livening up.. More competition and more English winners needed. English punters need to be cheering in English trained winners..
I know DS had two, but it was still lacking something… Yes NJH runners..
You have to feel sorry for Nicky.. We all have problems with our horses, but to have something like he has at the moment really is not good for him or for racing.. we needed his big horses..
He must be having a torrid time, but again you have to take your hat off to him as he has not shirked the issue and could not have been more open to the public..
Forgetting all the hastles one man stands out from the crowd.. Willie Mullins 100 not out.... winning the Bumper with his son Patrick.. incredible..
I headed back into Cheltenham early this morning to view the horses that are selling tonight after racing.. Tattersalls sales
Please get in touch if you fancy joining our happy team..
Robert and Nicola Baillie were here third lot to see their KBRS horses Mikhailovich, Magical Escape and Isle Of Gold.
John Benson called in to see his KBRS horses Parc d’Amour and El Rio.. John stayed here for lunch and race viewing.
Peter, Mat and Maya are hosting an afternoons racing in Thorndale's office.. Booze and food supplied .. Fun to be had.. A first venture that might happen again next year if it proves to be a resounding success.
Mats selctions. Facile Vega, Cuthbert Dibble, Envoi Allen, Teahupoo, Saint Felician, Brighter Days Ahead and Inthewayyourthinking..
My selections..Ginny's Destiny, Icare Allen, Ahoy Senor, Crambo, Shaken Up'Arry, Dysart Enos and Whacker Clan
13th March 2024
Plus 10 and drizzling when driving in.
Firstly Trelawne seems ok.. understandably bruised and stiff ..
What an emotional day. A fabulous win with Chianti Classico for his owners Francis Brooke and Richard Pilkington. David Bass brilliant and the celebrations exhausting!
I watched with horror when the ‘apple of my eye’ Trelawne fell at the second..It was all too quick for him and he was not able to get into a rhythm.
He fell and I watched in horror as I thought he had done some awful damage to a hind leg. I have to say that I did not watch the first circuit as I was watching Trelawne.
Harry Cobden and Leigh Pollard, my travelling head girl, were brilliant and had him up and off the course quickly .. Trelawne must have hit a nerve as he came sound, and then I was happier, and able to watch the rest of the race in awe of what CC was doing.. CC was just brilliant and won so easily.. he did give us all a fright when he pecked at the last..
I am so please for all here. Mat, Charly, Leigh, Milly and all including Alex who placed his very expense shoes on his feet.. A top team, and it is a team..well deserved by all.. Huge thanks to you all..
To finish..Thank you all for the hundreds of texts, WhatsApp’s and emails.. I will reply.. I promise.. All too exciting and just a huge win..
Yesterday is why we all get up at sparrows fart every day and all those bad days when all seems against you and horses don’t do what they are meant to are quickly forgotten on these big days..
Cheltenham is an animal for the emotions and can almost over awe people's perspectives..Hey, but what fun it is when you have a winner..
Enjoy the moment.. All at Thorndale and our support team of owners and friends will..
Sorry, but a short blog as my head is not at its best!! Love you all!!
Mat's selections Ballyburn, Stay Away Fay, Longer Dan, El Fabiolo, Minella Indo, Saint Roi and Cantico
My selections Handstands, Fact to File, Build By Ballymore, Jonbon, Galvin, Madara and Junta Marvel..
12th March 2024
Plus 5 and raining when driving in. Rain around. 6mm overnight. Soft, heavy in places at Cheltenham
Talking rain around, we had 15 mm on Sunday while Cheltenham had 4mm.. we are 5 miles apart!
Yesterday the Cheltenham Gold Cup Legends.. yes there were many.. Peter Easterby, Jenny Pitman, Sirrell Griffiths, Arthur Barrow and Francois Doumen to name a few.. All the jockeys who rode were there too.. It was a magnificent turn out for what was a huge occasion.
I thought the racecourse missed a trick by only asking the jockeys to pose in a group for a photo.. we trainers felt we should have had that opportunity too.. I would have loved to have had a photos for my office wall.. (Mat could have asked me who they all were?).. Seriously it was shame as it will never happen again..it was special day..
'Interesting' lunch, but good to sit next to Norman Williamson and opposite the legend Francois Doumen..
Mat's day was not so special as I Got Stung rather lived up to his name..
Tuesday morning and the first day of The Cheltenham Festival.
Lasse Dalgaard Michael Svensson were here to see Lasse's KBRS horse Fair Frontiers.. Lasse who lives in Denmark has Galante De Romay and Starvoski as broodmares at home and sadly both mares aborted their foals due to a virus..
We have our usual Tusday vet visit and this weeks movers and shaker in the BHA handicap charts were Brendas Asking down 2 to 102, Percy Veering down 1 tyo 98, Killigarth down 1 to 86 and Bobhopeornohope has a rating of 130 over hurdles.
We have two runners today at Cheltenham. Chianti Classico and Trelawne and for my thoughts please click here.
Mat and I always offer a way of losing money over the next 4 days and here are our thoughts on how to do so!
Mats selections are..
Tulkyhill, Hunters Yarn, Meetingofthewaters, Sate Man, Lossiemouth, Milano Tino and Embassy Gardens.
My Selectons are..
Firefox, JPR One, Famous Bridge, Not So Sleepy (place), Lossiemouth, Liari and Mr Vango would be the most popular winner of the week.
Don't you all want to have a mention in Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Click here and scroll down to Master Oats and his 1995 Gold Cup year and the click on my name....Who?
To finish.. Happy birthday to Panda Christie..
11th March 2024
Plus 6 and drizzling when driving in. A good bit of rain yesterday.. 15mm
Into Rugby or not but that game at Twickenham on Saturday was the most enthralling I have watched for ages. England beat Ireland 23/22in the last minute with a drop goal... Brilliant determination by England was something that has been lacking in the last Test in India..
I was a wonderful weekend of sport which included Italy beating Scotland and France beating Wales.. Now we are about to have another week of excellent sport from The Cheltenham Festival.. An exhausting and exhilarating week like no other.
El Presente won an Open point to point at Holderness yesterday..
Our weeks starts with Lunch at Cheltenham today.. The Gold Cup 100 Legends lunch and those still alive who have won the coverted Cheltenham Gold Cup have been invited for this once in a lifetime lunch.. Thankfully I have been invited courtesy of Master Oats winning it..
Day one tomorrow and there are 93 runners of which 51 are Irish, 41 English and 1 from France..only 4 English trainers have two runners in the same race. NT-D, VM, NJH, GM and KCB.. There are multiple trainer entries from Ireland in most races.. We run Trelawne and Chianti Classico in the Ultima.....David Bass had to make a tricky descision..
Talking runners we have one today at Taunton I Got Stung heads there and for my thoughts please click here.
David and Jenny Hill, who are staying in the Barn here, joined us for a walk up the gallops first lot.
John and Mandy Battershall were here to see their KBRS General Hubble.
Mark and Rachel Burt called in late morning to see their KBRS horse Isle Of Gold.
Ron Wadey called in late afternoon to see his horse Shady Wadey
Archie heads off later today to South Africa with his Gloucestershire team mates for a pre season cricket tour.. 32 degrees out there at the moment!
Cheltenham and Three Counties Racing....their Festival magazine
Charlie and his girlfriend were travelling North to meet his parents, when she got a flat tyre
Charlie called his parents and said ''Sorry Mum, we are going to be late, 'My girlfriend's got a puncture'
'Oh' she sighed, 'I thought you had a real one this time!'
Owner of the month.. Peter Kerr.. a great read Peter
9th March 2024
Plus 5 and drizzling when driving in.
It was chilly at Exeter where Killigarth finished 4th. Percy Veering finished 3rd at Leicetser. No shocks and no surprises.
Ther were plenty of shocks in the cricket yesterday. England really not doing well.. Today things are better.. Not!
Jimmy Anderson becomes the first pace bowler to reach 700 wickets..Incredible
David Bass and Ciaran Gethings were in this morning to ride out..We have no runners over the weekend..
We jumped Inca Rose and Grand Escaparde..Forgot to put a chip in my camera!
A usual busy Saturday morning at Thorndale...
We had Lee Hilson and Julie Robinson here for breakfast and a morning on the gallops after booking through CD Tours. We also hosted Paul Smith and David Edwards for a morning on the gallops.
Joe Golding was her to see his KBRS horse Lets Go Amigo..
Callum Carter and Vanessa Jones popped up to see their KBRS horse Isle of Gold.
Derek and Shan Eaton also called in to see his KBRS horse Campaign Trail.
Luke and Sharon Copper were then here 3rd lot to see their KBRS horse Jack Hope.
Six Nations this weekend. Italy play Scotland and England play Ireland this afternoon.. Tomorrow France take on Wales
Rugby players are usually a resilient bunch, unlike those prima donnas in football, but at a City lunch, the former Ireland wing Shane Horgan admitted they had their pain thresholds.
One team-mate yelped as the doctor forced his dislocated shoulder back into place on the touchline.
“I helped a woman to give birth this morning and she didn’t complain as much,” the doctor told him.
To which the injured prop replied: “Well, I’d have liked to hear how much screaming she would have done if you tried to pop it back in again.”
On that happy note have a great weekend and don't forget if you have a Mother, it is Mothers day tomorrow!
To finish..Happy birthday to Mirella Salamone.. 21 tomorrow!!
8th March 2024
Plus 5, windy and dry when driving in.
Mat was very late surfacing this morning.. A late night in Newcastle pontificating racing for the Imperial Racing Cheltenham Preview… He will be training it back later today.. First class judging by the price of his ticket..
I on the other hand surfaced bright and early as usual after what can only be described as an interesting Cheltenham preview evening in Chipping Norton..
The Living room cinema was a very cosy venue. Richard Phillips was an excellent host/compare and plenty of lively chat with fellow panelist Charlie Longsdon, Jamie Snowden, Ciaran Woods, Richie McLernon and Charlie St Quinton.
The cricket was not great yesterday and today India are very much on top this morning..
Russell Fields were here third lot to see their KBRS horse Jack Hope.
We have a couple of runners today. Percy Veering heads to Leicester while Killigarth heads to Exeter. For my thoughts please click here.
A quick English lesson.
Tsunami…..T is silent
Honest…….H is Silent
Psychology…..P is silent
Knife…..K is silent
Wife… Husband is silent
To finish.. Happy birthday to Anabel Murphy..