Baileys Blog

0 degrees and a frost over night, dry when driving in.

A mixed bag yesterday..

Willie Mullins having a winner at Ludlow cheered the locals!

Shantou Express raced too freely and finished 6th.

Faerie Cutlass won best turned out so well done to Aamilah. FC ran a blinder for her come back run to finish third... We will build on her run for the summer racing season

Shady Wadey was very green and inexperiemced and started off by kicking David Bass when he tried to mount him in the paddock..If that was not bad enough..

He then got loose and was being a bit naughty..This meant riding plans were changed and rather than hoping he would be right up there, David decided to tuck him in a try and teach him..

That he did and they were a fast finishing 5th and very much the take out horse of the race..

SW has always been a horse who takes two attempts to learn, if that makes sense.. He is a lovely horse who will probably now have a summer break.. we will see how he takes the race before making any final descision..

I arrived at Taunton in time to watch Mikhailovich bomb out.. Something very amiss with him...

Gerard Mentor we were happy with.. He is a summer horse and that run and probably another will set him up for his sumer season..

I drove home last night forgetting Birdlip Hill was closed.. Annoying mistake!!

We have four runners today at Huntington tonight where Mat will be in charge as I am elsewhere .. El Rio, Halligator, Parc’dAmour and Court In A Storm and for my thoughts on their chances please click here.

My afternoon will be spent at The Cheltenham Tattersalls Sales..

Todays joke..

A police Officer went to Mat's house and asked him where he was between 5 and 6?

He seemed irritated when Mat replied 'Kindergarten!'

Plus 6 and dry when driving in.

David O'Connell, who bred Chianti Classico, called in late yesterday to see and give Chianti Classico a well deserved pat..... David also me a bottle of Jameson's and a bottle of Margaux!. That was my pat!!

When you are having a bad run you wonder when it will all change. John Perriss is having a shocking one and yesterday he added another or rather a new letter to his season tally…F.. I Got Stung was getting back into the race and looked like being placed when falling at the first in the home straight..

Thankfully IGS and Ciaran Gethings were up and fine after.. Annoyed!

Mat was at Southwell and there to take charge.. His Mother lives in Nottingham so it was an excuse to see her on the way home.

Wednesday morning brought in David Bass and Ciaran Gethings.

We have 5 runners today.. Mat heads to Ludlow to saddle Shantou Express, Fairie Cutlass and Shady Wadey while I head to Taunton to saddle Mikhailovich and Gerard Mentor.For my thoughts on their chances please click here.

Before I head down to the West country I will be looking at the horses that sell tomorrow afternoon at the Tattersalls Cheltenham Sales..

Tempting fate probably.. but for the first time since I was 21 I have no points on my driving license!!.. The last ones has just dropped off...Nil points..

A note for Jane Moat..Your email has been scammed..

Hi,Do you have a moment to talk on email? Jane x  Sent from my iPhone

A horse can hear a human heartbeat from at least 4 feet away

They hear intention, they feel vibe- they are the tellers of self and the mirrors of souls..

To finish Happy Birthday to my 'old friend' David Harland.. 74 today!!

David was a share holder in Docklands Express..who won this weekends Whitbread (Now Bet 365).. Somewhat controversially!! Brough Scott's comments

Plus 8 and dry when driving in.

It seemed busy at Kempton last night.. Well the owners and trainers room certainly was.

Interesting watching my two horses as both seemed to be with a huge chance three from home. Bobhopeornohope stopped like he was shot.. Is it his wind? Poor chap suffers badly from wind problems, but was it a case that he has been running on much softer ground and he was waiting for it to cut out? Back in trip possible now as he travelled so well.

Le Cameleon ran well and pleased his owners who were slightly dreading last night as they are the same owners who owned and bred the ill-fated Moonlighter.. It was their first runner since..Le Cameleon is Moonlighter's half brother..

Such an easy drive home, although going there you wonder why Oxford were stupid enough not to put in a dual carriageway when they built their new road.. It is usually grid locked..and will get worse as time goes on..Shocking.

Tuesday morning brings in our usual vet visit and this week’s movers and shakers in the BHA handicap charts were Grand Escaparde down 4 to 70 and Hurlerontheditch down 4 to 112...

We have one runner today at Southwell. I Got Stung runs there and for my thoughts please click here.

Ian Reid again...

Mick, from Dublin, appeared on "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" and towards the end of the program had already won £500,000.

You've done very well so far," said, Chris Tarrant, the show's presenter, "but for £1million you've only got one lifeline left - phone a friend.

Everything is riding on this question......will you go for it?"

"Sure," said Mick. "I'll have a go!"

"Which of the following birds does NOT build its own nest?"

A: Sparrow
B: Thrush
C: Magpie
D: Cuckoo

I haven't got a clue," said Mick, "so I'll use me last lifeline and phone me friend Paddy back home in Dublin". Mick called up his mate, and told him the circumstances and repeated the question to him.

"Fookin hell, Mick!" cried Paddy. "Dat's simple......it's a cuckoo."

"Are you sure?"

"I'm fookin sure."

Mick hung up the phone and told Chris, "I'll go wit Cuckoo as me answer."

"Is that your final answer?" asked Chris

"Dat it is, Sir."

There was a long, long pause, then the presenter screamed, Cuckoo is the correct answer! Mick, you've won £1 million!"

The next night, Mick invited Paddy to their local pub to buy him a drink. "Tell me, Paddy? How in God's name did you know it was da Cuckoo that doesn't build it's own nest? I mean you know pineapple-all about birds."

"For fooks sake!" laughed Paddy. "Everybody knows a cuckoo lives in a Fookin clock.

To finish.. Happy birthday to Martyn Steer-Fowler..

Plus 3 and drizzling when driving in..

Willie Mullins looks like being our Champion Trainer this time next week after having 4 winners at Ayr on Saturday including the prestigious Scottish Grand National.

The last time an Irish horse won the Scottish Grand National was in 1869!.. The last Irish trainer to win the English Jump racing trainer title was Vincent O'Brien in 1954..

On Saturday Bangor got it wrong ground wise, and we took two horses out who wanted better.. Annoying to say the least and the ground was changed from soft, good to soft and drying to soft and heavy .. Unique without any rain..Clerk Of The Course Andrew Tulloch at least rang me to apologise and held up his hand for the mistake… It was close to being the toughest ground this season.. Hurlerontheditch struggled in/on it.

Bangor are the best at looking after owners and their restaurant was full.. It was good to see Ludlow Director Vernon Taylor taking a day off to try out the oppositions owners experience.. I feel he was mightily impressed..

Stratford was busy yesterday with the sun out. Lady Gwen ran as expected and finished 5th..That will set her up for her summer racing campaign.

I might not a huge Football fan but I did feel very sorry for Coventry .. VAR!!

Yesterday my son Harry made his debut as an auctioneer at Inglis where he works in Sydney.. Apparently one of his work mates said he could not possible do it.. he did.. Click here to watch..He sold lot 46 and the following 5 lots..Scroll though to 1min 35..

If you are into pod casts it will be worth your while listening to John Francome talking to Jamie Railton.. I did not know that Jamie did podcasts... On The Coalface. he does, once a month, and this one is well worth sitting down to listen to.. I did while in traffic on Friday to Exeter..

We have 2 runners tonight at Kempton.. Bobhopeornohope and Le Cameleon.. Annoyingly in the saem race but needs muct.. For my thoughts please click here.

Mark Bradstock’s Memorial service is on June 6th at St Michael and all Angles Church in Letcombe Basset at 2.00pm..

Peter Kerr completed the TSC London Marathon in 04:51:43.. Some performance.. Well done Peter..You can still add to his total for Wellchild..

This made me chuckle..

Wish me luck in the London Marathon.

Last year I managed 3 hours, 12 minutes and 9 seconds.

This year I am going to try and beat that but I usually get bored and turn the TV over..

Minus 1 and dry when driving in. I had to scrape the ice off my windscreen..Very chilly overnight.

Exeter last night... It was their last meeting of the season and that is it until the autumn.

Grand Escaparde was having his first run over fences and over a trip too short, it was very much a learning curve for him.. He ran better than he did over hurdles and we have educated him, now we must find a suitable race on a left handed track over further, before he thinks about having a summer holiday.

Dave Jones bemoaned the fact that I was not at Cheltenham this week and rightly that the blog was not up to scratch..Sorry Dave..

Saturday morning brings in David Bass and Ciaran Gethings to ride out.

Sam Blackie, John Dalmedo, Jocelyn and Stephen Foster, Fiona Ross, Delyth Stapley and Jonathon Darlington were all here for a Morning on the gallops and Breakfast as booked through CD Tours

We have 4 runners today at Bangor and one tomorrow at Stratford.

Heros De Romay, Hurlerontheditch, Tregele and Shady Wadey all run today while Lady Gwen runs tomorrow.. For my thoughts, please click here.

One for you Dave...

YOU HAVE TO LOVE AN UNDERSTANDING NURSE

A policeman was rushed to the hospital with an inflamed appendix.

The doctors operated and advised him that all was well; however, the policeman kept feeling something pulling at his regenerating pubic hairs.

Worried that it might be a second surgery and the doctors hadn't told him about it, he finally got enough energy to pull his hospital gown up enough so he could look at what was making him so uncomfortable.

Taped firmly across his pubic hair area and private parts were three wide strips of adhesive tape, the kind that doesn't come off easily.

Written on the tape in large black letters were the words, "Get well soon from the nurse in the Land Rover you booked for speeding last week."

Kind of brings tears to your eyes doesn't it..?

Have a great weekend and see you on Monday..

Plus 8 and dry when driving in.

The big Scottish Grand National meeting starts today.. Two days of fun and Willie Mullins is over!

Talking fun.. Peter Kerr, my ever-dependable syndicate manager, is heading to London on Sunday to join a cast of thousands to run in this years TCS London Marathon.. Yes, all for charity and he like many would love your help..

Please click here to sponsor Peter.. You might have already done so, but you can always donate again..

Peter is raising money for WellChild.. But...Please do not scroll down his Just giving page as you might have a shock!

Did you watch this? I highly recommend..It is all about Showtime Mahomes

We have one runner tonight at Exeter. Grand Escaparde heads there and my thoughts please click here.

You know when you're getting older when entering your birth year online and you have to spin that thing like you're on the wheel of fortune!

Minus 1 and dry when driving in. Frost last night.. Hardly spring weather..

Racing headlines. Paddy Brennan retired after riding a winner at Cheltenham yesterday.. He has cetainly had a long and illustrious career..

I take my hat off to Charlie and Francessca Poste. They have been producing point to pointers for some years now and have done well with their sales and progeny, but yesterday they ventured into the 2 year breeze up sales in Newmarket and their first 2 year old filly (Lot 132) made £100k and then an hour later their 2 year old colt (lot 147) made £800k.. A huge return from the £78K they paid for the colt last September

I wandered around the fields down at Owdeswell Manor last night. We turn our horses out there during the summer. Still too cold to turn horses out and the grass is not quite there yet. It is coming but it will be another week.. we need some warmer weather.

Plus 3 and dry when driving in.

David Bass was in this morning to ride out.. we jumped a few..

Two-day Cheltenham meeting starts today, and they are watering to maintain good ground. My word how at this time of year conditions change.

Ed Hawkings called in on his way to the races..

Ian Reid’s turn to amuse us…

In a French hospital, a clerical gentleman had made several attempts to get into the men's restroom, but it had always been occupied. A nurse noticed his predicament.

Sir, she said "You may use the ladies room if you promise not to touch any of the buttons on the wall."

He did what he needed to, and as he sat there he noticed the buttons he had promised not to touch.

Each button was identified by letters: WW, WA, PP, and a red one labeled ATR.

Who would know if he touched them?

He couldn't resist.. He pushed WW. warm water was sprayed gently upon his bottom.

What a nice feeling, he thought. Men restrooms don't have nice things like this.

Anticipating greater pleasure, he pushed the WA button. Warm air replaced the warm water, gently drying his underside.

When this stopped, he pushed the PP button. A large powder puff caressed his bottom adding a fragile scent

of spring flower to this unbelievable pleasure.. The ladies restroom was more than a restroom, it is tender loving pleasure.

When the powder puff completed its pleasure, he couldn't wait to push the ATR button which he knew would be supreme ecstasy.

Next thing he knew he opened his eyes, he was in a hospital bed, and a nurse was staring down at him.

"What happened?" he exclaimed. The last thing I remember was pushing the ATR button.

"The button ATR is an Automatic Tampon Remover. Your penis is under your pillow."

"MEN NEVER LISTEN"

Plus 7 and drizzling when driving in. Heavy April showers yesterday. 7mm..

After such a wet winter some racecourses have started watering, while others are being abandonned!

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

We have our usual Tuesday vet visit and this week’s movers and shakers in the BHA handicap charts were..Chianti Classico down 2 to 152 and The Edgar Wallace went down 1 to 135

Derek Underwood, England’s leading Test wicket-taking spinner of all time, has died at the age of 78.

Underwood made 86 Test appearances for England and is sixth in the country’s all-time list of leading wicket-takers. He was a one club man, playing all of his career at Kent and taking 2,523 wickets across three decades with his unique style of bowling — although classified as a slow-left armer, he bowled at more medium-pace, coming around the wicket, and was particularly noted for his ability to trap batsmen leg-before.

Affectionately known as “Deadly”, Underwood claimed 297 wickets in Test cricket and another 32 in one-day internationals and was appointed an MBE in 1981.

Derek was sixth in the overall leading English wicket taking list headed by Jimmy Anderson 700, Stuart Broad 604, Ian Botham 383, Bob Willis 325, Fred Trueman 307 and then Derek Underwood on 297....Watch him bowl

Christopher Marriot again..

There is a pileup on the M25, three very wealthy men driving their Rolls-Royces are killed, each with his daughter.

On arrival at the pearly gates, St. Peter talks to them all in turn:

To the first man: Hmmm. I see you were somewhat over fond of money in life - you even christened your daughter Penny. I’m afraid you’re going to have to spend a couple of years in purgatory before you can enter heaven.

To the second man: And you were too keen on alcohol - you named your daughter Sherry. 18 months in purgatory for you.

The third man turns to his daughter and says: OK, that’s it. We’re not hanging around to be insulted. Come on Fanny, we’re out of here.

Plus 8 windy and damp when driving in.

The highs and lows of racing were very evident here at Thorndale on Saturday..

Moonlighter took a fall at Chepstow and sadly another horse was brought down by him and the combination was tragic as Moonlighter suffered a life threatening injury which meant that he had to be euthanised.

I cannot tell you how shocked we all were. Poor Huw and Richard Davies was distraught as they bred 'Mooney' and just adored him..Saturday was probably going to be his last race before retirement..

Huw and Richard plus all their friends (Caroline Davies and Susie Davies, Mary Davies, Mike and Sue Dukin, Michael Sweeney, James Morton and Paul Johnson and Pamela Steveson) had a wonderful journey with 'Mooney' and it was just so sad that it all ended on such a tragic note.

It is never easy and however long I have been training it is the hardest moment you can have on any racecourse, or even at home when these things happen.

Poor young Tesni who looked after 'Mooney' adored him, but as always in these situations it is those who walk past the empty stable that it really hits home to.

'Mooney' was a much loved character in the yard. He was always smiling and made life fun.. he would have been a good human being ..Ciaran Gethings who had won the big race the day before at Aintree also enjoyed riding him. Ciaran enjoyed the challenge that Moonlighter set him..

I must add that the vets and Lindsay Knox the General Manager at Chepstow racecourse were excellent, as was Leigh my travelling head girl. Louise Daly took Huw and his family off for a quiet moment and looked after them. Yes, it is all very sad but there are some great memories.

Saturdays Grand National was one of the most exciting Grand National’s I have ever watched.

I know many will decry the change of the course and the different conditions of the race, but the end product was so good to watch. It is now a really top-class handicap with Gold Cup type horses competing in a handicap and that on Saturday produced a spectacular race to watch..

Could you guess who was going to win at the second last or even the last for that matter?

It was frantic and fun to watch, all of what last years race was not. The drama was still there when last years winner Corach Rambler unseated at the first, but away from that the camera angles made for a wonderfully exciting race to watch.

Welcome to the modern Grand National and for all its tinkering at last they seem to have got it right.

What a different meeting Aintree is to Cheltenham.. They are poles apart when it comes to enjoyment and racing. There is not the hype and pressure around Aintree like there is for Cheltenham.

Cheltenham is a beast, and it kicks you, while Aintree is just sheer fun, and the quality of the racing is just as good, if not better..

Don’t get me wrong but it still more important as a trainer and owner to have a winner at the Cheltenham Festival, but those attending both meetings will probably prefer Aintree as it is just so much fun.

Willie Mullins take a bow.. you are a bloody genius and now he looks like he might be our Champion Trainer!

The last two weeks of the season will make good viewing as the trainers table is tight and there are a couple of big important races on the horizon..

Monday morning.

Happy birthdays to Julie Martin, Cathy Twiston-Davies and Alan Halsall..