Baileys Blog

Plus 8 and dry when driving in.

Mat and John Perriss enjoyed their day at Cartmel.. They said that they were brilliantly looked after and everybody were so friendly.

Cartmel is a very unique racecourse as it is extremely tight and you watch from a big screen in the paddock as you could not possible see anything other wise.

Sadly I Spy A Diva hated the tight turns and the undulations and just struggled to get into a rhythm..It was a bit of an after thought to go there because of their excellent prize money, but it was not to be… their journey home was a long one though..John has now had a runner on every jump course in the country..

David Bass joked on Saturday that he was worried that he might ride a finish too soon when racing over 3 miles at Cartmel and sadly that happened yesterday.. Not to David but to a 3lb claiming jockey Charlotte Jones.. She rode out to win her race a circuit too soon.. Poor girl was hammered on social media.. It happens and she won't make that mistake twice..

Fakenham is the other racecourse that has the same problem.. you need to count your circuits!

My birthday weekend was the best.. Family all weekend. So good to spent time with Harry who is over from Sydney.. and his wife to be India Smith..Archie was injured so could not play cricket so he was here as were Pandora and her little boy Otto.... A total joy.

Tuesday morning and although not a great deal happening in the yard the steam cleaner was out as what horses are left in the yard have been moved to the top barn so that we can clean and sort the bottom one while empty.

Luke and Kevin Cooper were here third lot to visit Thorndale for the first time.

This weeks mover and shaker in the BHA handicap charts was..Faerie Cutlass up 3 to 90..

We also had our usual vet visit.

I am spending the morning in GR.. fingers crossed..

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

Planning a holiday abroad.. stay here as it is raining in Europe!.. You cannot beat the UK when the sun is out.. we have a beautiful country. Head to our beaches to avid the chaos at airports..

Mat and John Perriss will find that today as they drive to Cartmel.. We have one runner there and that is I Spy A Diva and for my thoughts please click here.

The French Open starts today.. Wimbledon just around the corner..

The First Test of the summer starts later this week.. England take on Ireland at Lord's .. Ireland thrashed Essex in the warm up game..The cricket summer is geared to The Ashes.. The big must see series..

This might explain why we all struggle to find staff!!

To finish.. Happy birthday to Marek Kwiatowski..

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

That really was a very good win last night at Worcester with Faerie Cutlass..

Much more than just a winner.. It was Elizabeth Kellar’s first home bred winner and that I can promise you is extra extra special.

I trained FC’s mother Faerie Reel and she was a winner with AP McCoy at Southwell and Ed Cookson at Newcastle and it was always Elizabeth’s plan to breed her own horses when Faerie Reel retired, and frankly as Elizabeth will tell you, it has not been an easy journey, but all that was made up by that win last night..

The beaming smile on Elizabeth's face in the winners enclosure needed capturing and Nigel Kirby the racecourse photographer did just that.. Elizabeth stood there with her horse in the right spot on a racecourse with pride and passion for that wonderful moment..

Paul and Elizabeth have been long and hugely supportive owners and friends for many years.. Last nights meant so much to me as I was able to make a dream come true.

Yes it has been a long journey for Elizabeth and many people have helped along the way from Batsford Stud to Martin Jones and all my team here.. All were smiling after..

You know I just ‘love’ going to Worcester.. But I really could not miss last night’s race. Not only did we hope FC might run well, but if she were to win I would be gutted not to be there to enjoy Elizabeth’s journey..

God help me.. two visits to Worcester and two winners.. Destroytheevidence last week and FC last night..People will start talking!

David Bass who gave FC such a great ride last night was in to ride out one lot this morning.. We have no runners over the weekend and all our attention will be focused on Cartmel on Monday.

Ciaran Gethings was also here this morning..

Not much to ride out but at least there was plenty of banter in the office after..over a cup of 'camel milk' coffee.

Next Saturday is The Derby.. Flat racings big day, but the battle drums are beating as the JC have put an injuntion on Animal Rising who predictably will take this lying down..All good publicity for AR??

Have a great weekend and see you on Monday..

Plus 9 and dry when driving in. A fine bank holiday weekend ahead..

Sad to see the two horse go yesterday. Ed Bailey bought Picks Lad for 25k and Derek O’Connor bought Artic Saint for 9k.

Mrs B and I had a very happy night at The Old Butchers celebrating with Harry and India.. I have not seen either since they announced their engagement last year.. It was also my birthday yesterday, so a double celebration of sorts..

I had an early appointment with the MRI scanner this morning. Monitoring my recovery and I will find out results and more when I head back to the GR on Tuesday to meet the team who were looking after me..Huge fingers crossed that the nasty ‘lady discitis’ has left me..I will be very happy with that divorce!!

The powers at the BHA have spoken and changes on the format of racing will appear in 2024..

300 less jump races.. Premier racing on Saturday and improvements to the quality of racing on Sunday..and a trial late night racing on Sundays..Racing time changes to suit the betting public might not go down well with racecourses who need people not online punters..

Is this sport becoming more interested in punters money than ever before I wonder?..

Sunday night viewing of Countryfile or Antiques roadshow might quake in their boots when it is announced that all weather racing from Newcastle/Kempton is on the other channel..

I feel sorry for the flat trainers, who probably like all trainers are struggling to keep staff happy.. Staff hate Sunday racing and it is one of the big areas why retention in this sport is so difficult..

We will see, but I am sure there will be many hours of discussion to come and tree loads of paper used up too…

Talking late racing.. We have a runner in the 8.10 at Worcester.. Faerie Cutlass heads there and for my thoughts please click here.

Tina Turner .. RIP.

Plus 10 and dry when driving in..

Another record day at Goffs yesterday

There is never a good day to say goodbye to horses.. Today we say goodbye to Picks Lad and Artic Saint.. Both are selling at Doncaster Goffs sales later today.. Two kind, friendly horses who deserve a good new home… I am sure both will have one by tonight..

It really is the sale season and everyday there seems to be yet another catalogue pop through the letter box..

Yesterday it was the turn of the Arkle Sale at Goffs Ire and earlier in the week it was Tattersalls Derby Sale..

These two sales are probably the best of the best when it come to looking at and buying 3 unbroken jump bred 3 year olds..I bought the impressive bumper winner The Kemble Brewery at last years Landrover Sale..(now renamed The Arkle Sale).

Sad to read that Tina Turner has died.. I so remember seeing her at Woburn some years ago.. A wonderful performer and an unbelievable singer.

Son Harry arrives tonight for the weekend.. A family one beckons..

'If you were alive when Neil Armstrong stepped onto the moon, you grew up in a great era....'

Ronald Reagan ..

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

Imperial Admiral ran better at Huntingdon yesterday, but there is still room for improvement..

Day two of the Goffs Sales at Doncaster produced another record breaking day.. The top price horse was bought to go point to pointing in Ireland and then for re sale after winning!!

Today it is the horses in training and Irish point to pointer section..

We are selling two horse tomorrow.. Picks Lad and Artic Saint.. Both horses are sound..Please ring me or see Mat at the sales tomorrow if you would like any further information..

David Bass and Ciaran Gethings were in this morning to ride out..

Andy who is currently rebuilding the stone wall (fell down during the snow)  is a keen blog reader and also a part time comedian..

This is one of his start up jokes..

A few years back, a planning application for a mobile phone transmitter divided my local village

Some residents, against the issue, would say to me, we don’t want a giant metal tower ruining our landscape, our house prices dropping, and all the health risks from those dangerous rays going through our bodies. Oh, I agree, I replied.

Others, who wanted it, said to me, so good to have a mobile signal in the valley, the emergency services won’t get lost and our house prices will rise due to the strong mobile signal. Oh, I agree, I replied

This upset some, wanting me to be more decisive and argue at least one way or the other.

What people didn’t know, is that I did have a strong view over the issue, it’s just that I didn’t want to discuss it. And why was that?

My father had always warned me about the dangers of too much mast debating.

Plus 8 and dry when driving in.

The form book will tell you that Halligator did not get the trip at Ffos Las yesterday...Hmmm.

Interesting first day of the 4 day Goffs Sales. Records broken although median down..

This week movers and shakers in the BHA handicap charts were..Ajero down 2 on the flat to 96 and Gerard Mentor minus 2 109 over hurdles..

These two articles make interesting reading..One.. And Two

While waiting for my weekly blood tests to be taken in GR yesterday, I spent over an hour on the phone to Sky to upgrade my sky system at home, which incidentally is well over 20 years old.. It is currently on the blink and drives those watching it mad.. mice are either chewing the wires or the system is failing, although a couple of years ago we found the main sky box was hosting swan of wasps!

I am not great at dealing with Sky, so asking for an upgraded system we finally agreed that what they were offering was a good idea.. My last comment after agreeing was to say I will look forward to watching the two racing channels, to which this chap on the end of the phone told me that Racing UK does not work on their system…. What? So I cancelled..

I told Mat the story last night and he said it did and I said it did not.. apparently I was upgrading to Sky Glass or whatever that is and that does not.. Now I have to go back on the phone to sort all over again for Sky Q.. God help me!!

We have one runner at Huntingdon today. Imperial Admiral heads there and for my thoughts please click here.

Old fashioned humour...

Plus 7 and dry when driving in. It looks like a dry week ahead.. and according to the long range forecast, which we all know is always right, we have 6 weeks of warm weather coming our way from Africa..

Uttoxeter on Saturday night was busy and we were delighted with the way Espoir De Romay ran. He finished 3^rd in what was a competitive handicap hurdle and at 10/1 he was very good value for a placing. It was good to see him enjoying his racing and jumping and he will now have a summer break.

Uttoxeter surprised us with how good the ground was.. They have a fairly new clerk of the course and it takes time for them to bed in with trainers… On Saturday’s evidence Richard Fothergill will do well.. BUT as we all know that trust can be broken as we have seen from others who started well and then fell in line with the idea that racecourses need runners and it is easier to say it is good ground when it is not!

Mat is still making me look unbelievably sound.. He hobbled around like an old man yesterday.. You would have thought at his age he would be able to take a game of football.. especially when he runs most nights. He has twice been seen in the local garage buying ibuprofen tablets..

It has been a good weekend for me as I was able to drink my first can of larger.. while watching EDR at Uttoxeter..

Flat no fizzy drinks have been just about bearable, but after a week off antibiotics my taste buds are slowly returning.. not on the wine yet, but it is only a matter of time?... Interestingly my face recognition on my phone for some reason won’t...

Moving on.. Phil Andrews's Dandy Dan won a point to point in Wales and Inca Rose was third.. Both ridden by Lauren Keen Hawkins..

We have one runner today at Ffos Las.. Hope the ground there will be as forecasted!!.. Anyway Halligator runs there and for my thoughts please click here.

I was sent a joke on Saturday night that was probably never going to make the blog.. Anyway yesterday the sender of the joke said sorry.. you should never try typing a joke when you have had too much to drink... It was not so funny on Sunday morning when you re read!

Talking jokes.. Have you ever tried to avoid a speeding fine??

Plus 6 and dry when driving in.

Interesting trade yesterday at Tattersalls Cheltenham Sales as it was all rather quite..

It is the big Spring Goffs Sales at Doncaster next week and it was odd that this sale suddenly appeared the week before?.. Are the sales companies trying to poach horses from one venue to the other..

Anyway Aiden Murphy and I bought two horses.. Two point to pointers, one England and One Irish..

Strangely enough I could struggled pronouncing the Irish one without a drink, let alone let alone when I am able to have two!.. Lot 9 Reallynthruthfully and lot 29 Zmiinyi.. You need to watch his video to get some sort of idea how the Irish pronounce his name

Snake Island..  Both horses are for sale. Please ring Peter Kerr on 07901 763643 for further details. 

Tattersalls announced after the sale that they have had a record year at Cheltenham..

Saturday morning..

David Bass hobbled in and Ciaran Gethings arrived with a smile..

Mat and David played football last night and helped raise much needs money for Birmingham Children Hospital. Lee Hughes and Peter Odemwingie were admiring the game and over 25k was raised.. Some going Shep..

First morning using the new refurbished round gallop.. Sand surface of Andrews Bowen

We have one runner today at Uttoxeter.. Espoir De Romay heads there an for my thoughts please click here.

There is some great jump racing from Auteuil this afternoon..Loads of interesting runners

A shocker for the weekend..

A blonde went out to her mail box and looked in, closed the door and went back in the house. A few minutes later she went out and looked in the mail box again.

She did this several times and her neighbour that was watching her said: "You must be expecting a very important letter today the way you keep looking into your mail box."

The blonde answered, "No, I am working on my computer and it keeps telling me that I have mail."

Have a good one and see you on Monday..

Plus 10 and dry when driving in..

The round gallop has been finished.. Today we harrowed it in preperation for use..

It was really rather warm yesterday looking at the horses that are selling today..John Perriss who was with me looking at his two youngsters being broken in by Martin Jones joined me for a hour of window shopping on his way home.

Yes Tattersalls Cheltenham sales start on 1.pm

We have our usual Friday vet visit.

It is not only horse racing they want to stop..

Mat and David Bass play in their annual football match for charity. Richard Sheppard (Part owner of Picks Lad and Espoir De Romay) organises this event for the Birminghams Childrens Hospital..The game is payed at The Hawthorns.. Ciaran escaped the game by riding at Aintree.... Mat and David will be sore tomorrow!!

A lady goes to her parish priest one day and tells him, "Father, I have a problem. I have two female parrots but they only know how to say one thing."

"What do they say?" the priest inquired.

"They say, 'Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?'" the woman said embarrassingly.

"That's obscene!" the priest exclaimed, "I can see why you are embarrassed." He thought a minute and then said, "You know, I may have a solution to this problem. I have two male parrots whom I have taught to pray and read the Bible. Bring your two parrots over to my house and we will put them in the cage with Francis and Job. My parrots can teach your parrots to praise and worship. I'm sure your parrots will stop saying that...that phrase in no time."

"Thank you," the lady responded, "this may very well be the solution."

The next day, she brought her female parrots to the priest's house. As he ushered her in, she saw his two male parrots were inside their cage, holding their rosary beads and praying. Impressed, she walked over and placed her parrots in with them. After just a couple of seconds, the female parrots exclaimed out in unison, "Hi, we're prostitutes. Do you want to have some fun?"

There was a stunned silence. Finally, one male parrot looked over at the other male parrot and said, "Put the beads away, Francis, our prayers have been answered!"