Baileys Blog Search

Plus 7 and dry when driving in.

At Wetherby yesterday the sun was shining and although I was not there I was delighted with Minella Warrior’s run in the bumper.

I hate being second but that was a good bumper and he is a good horse. You will not see the best of Minella Warrior until he goes chasing but having said that he will have a good hurdling career next winter.. Certainly one to follow.

One to follow is not poor Mrs B who I took to Cheltenham yesterday afternoon for a MRI scan on her knee.. Cartilage problems and a operation needed.. Not a happy bunny.

David Bass was in this morning we worked  a few and jumped a few too. Paddy Brennan tried to come in but we assumed that was an April Fools joke..

We jumped The Last Samuri, Policy Breach, Such A Legend, Pulling Power, Wanderin Star, Battle Dust, Charbel, Red Spinner and Younevercall.

Anthony and David Dix  were here for a morning on the gallops and breakfast as were Mike and Lynne Jones, Paul and Joan Richards, Jackie Oliver and Peter Tookey who had booked a tour through CD Tours.

Horse racing in London. Yes the BHA announced on February 1st that they had plans to race around the streets of London.. We all looked at the date and thought the BHA were playing an early April Fools joke… No lets face it the BHA don’t do jokes and certainly not one on April 1st.

Then came the news that the Jockey Club were selling off Kempton Racecourse and no not another April Fools joke..

The list is endless..

What’s now coming to light is that The Jockey Club are under extreme pressure to find another all weather racecourse for the Lambourn based and West country based trainers..Rumour has it that they have now put in plans to turn the famous Bowl Grass Gallop in Lambourn into an all weather circuit.

I have to say it would be ideal as the grass gallop is just under a mile round.. many years ago it was a Roman amphitheatre where the locals used to stand on the grass banks looking down on the chariots charging around the picturesque bowl.

Now of course it is a rather under used grass gallop since Jenny Pitman has retired.. She was the last trainer to use this gallop on a regular basis.

The Jockey Club, who own the Lambourn gallops, don't own many racecourse West of London bar Wincanton and Exeter have rightly decided that this would solve the huge problem  (last plans were for an all-weather racecourse in Newmarket) without the huge expense of buying another racecourse like Bath.

Oliver Sherwood who heads the Lambourn Trainers Association is understandably ecstatic about this news and sees a huge future for Lambourn as a racecourse as well as a training centre.

I will see Oliver later but in the mean time we have one runner at Uttoxeter. Grand March runs in the 4.15 not the 1.55 as advertised yesterday as they split the race..for my thoughts please click here.

One of Grand March’s owners Bill Foylan sent this email yesterday… ''Yep you couldn't make it up....that race was 4th preference to divide and then we get put in the later race...£150 down before I start (had to buy new train tickets!)...bloody horse better run well or I'll be seeking compensation from the trainer!!''

James Clarkson is probably still asleep after his epic week of running. He finished at Newton Abbot last night totally exhausted. A great effort and he has raised a huge amount of money for the Injured Jockeys Fund  .. Click here to see..

Happy days and have a great weekend. We have no runners but will be at Cocklebarrow Races tomorrow