doncaster today and tomorrow.

​First, I must apologise for what is to come.
To a degree, and by now only to a degree, I appreciate, sympathize and understand the predicament that is belabouring the B.H.A., racecourses and all human-life in general. Even though statistics do not corroborate the necessity for the extreme measures imposed on racing and racecourses, no one, at least publicly, at the B.H.A. are seemingly engaging government in any sort of skirmish and are rather just accepting the tiger-traps and hoop-la as inevitable in the circumstances. This ‘pandemic’, this Covid-crisis, has thus far produced less related deaths than the seasonal flu-outbreak of 2017/18, a virus that was not politized and was contained without ruining the economy, making millions unemployed, did not cut-off treatment and diagnosis of heart, kidney and cancer sufferers and did not cause the abandonment of the Grand National, muzzled jockeys in masks and separated spectators from racecourses, football grounds and all sporting arenas. 
From the outset of the ‘little big reset’ – I would explain that particular reference but it would take-up too many words but believe me in time ‘The Big Reset’ will enter your consciousness – horse racing has been used by government for propaganda purposes and for the betting duty it so desperately needs to help refill the empty state coffers. If I was head honcho at the B.H.A., to get a bit of leverage off the government, I would threaten to suspend racing for a week unless spectators, perhaps in half and quarter doses, were allowed back into racecourses.
I am an aging male, getting older and more fraught by the day, seemingly watching the sport I love being led to hell in a handcart. Masks were to be worn to slow the spread – well, if you believe the ‘case’ numbers that ain’t happening. What is happening is that ‘the tests’ are catching dead viruses that have lingered in bodies affected in the past by one of the seasonal flu outbreaks or from the common cold. The test is not to detect Covid but the coronavirus and most flu strains and the common cold are all part of the coronavirus family.
I detect, especially after the Doncaster ‘trial’ was pulled at the last minute, a tactic used for Goodwood, if you remember, that even the mild-mannered, state asset, that is Ed Chamberlain is getting peeved by it all. I even denote a weakening of resolve to stay on song by Racing Post columnists and the Daily Telegraph is more and more questioning the inconsistent direction our government is taking.
Will someone just pop their heads over the parapet and take a lead? Our sport is in jeopardy, as are most sports, and yet in typically British style we are allowing Boris and his boys to lead us by the nose to the cliff-face. The situation as it stands holds the likelihood of being the situation come Christmas, come Easter. It is a chilling prospect.

When Hukum won the Geoffrey Freer at Newbury, my instinct told me I had just seen the St. Leger winner. But then I was impressed by Pyledriver’s win at York, and he certainly beat better horses than Hukum. There is no doubt I want Pyledriver to win and if he turns up in the same form and frame of mind as he did at Ascot and York there is no reason why he shouldn’t give William Muir his first classic winner.
Do I think it is a two-horse race? No. There is English King to consider. What goes against him is that his rider Tom Marquand is attempting to break the record for the most second-places in a week. This past 7-days it has seemed as if Tom was making charitable donations to Oisin Murphy’s championship challenge. The girlfriend rides eight-winners in a weekend and the boyfriend counters with as many runners-up spots.
Bad runs change, though, and there is a big day coming for Tom Marquand. Too little, too late, to put the frighteners on Murphy but mark my words Marquand is due a good day or three and English King might be the centrepiece.
For once, and this a dangerous thing to say, I do not fear any of the O’Brien runners, including Galileo Chrome for the number one son. I will stick with my instinct and go with Hukum to win as I think he is the big improver in the race but expect English King to bustle him up. But my heart wants Pyledriver to win, not only for his trainer and jockey but when owners turn down offers of a million-quid or more they deserve to come out on top.