hyland, common-sense, eider and a man of a similar mind & dan skelton c.e.o..

​For a good three-quarters of the big race at Kempton yesterday, I was a worried man. Whether Nico and Nicky were as worried is yet to be established. Hyland usually jumps like a bunny and likes to be at the head of affairs. Yet here he was jumping awkwardly, with, at best, only one horse behind him. The explanation, I decided, was that given Hyland’s novice status and lack of experience in big race fields and with the Grand National in mind, the plan was to drop him out and jump alongside other horses. If that was the plan, I was pretty sure it was not working. Then, of course, one by one he picked off all those in front of him, and on ground he dislikes – Nicky said he was good ground dependent – he finished with some sort of aplomb, though by the time winning began a small possibility, Katate Dori was long gone into the sunset.
Hyland gave Katate Dori a stone and 6lbs and I think in time that will prove a difficult task for any horse. The winner, albeit with a low weight, was impressive and while at halfway I was laughing at my own instincts for tying my Aintree hopes to the Hyland flagstaff, at the finish, given the weight difference, Hyland not liking the ground and the stout way he finished, my belief was restored and the Henderson candle still burnt brightly.
At Fairyhouse, Nick Rockett also became a live hope for Aintree, though in giving him 3Ibs, while he will receive 12Ibs from Nick Rockett at Aintree, my other serious Aintree prospect, Intense Raffles also proved himself well on course for the big race.

Richard Hughes, in today’s Racing Post, highlighted a lack of common-sense on behalf of the B.H.A. With Michael Halford retiring from training, one of his licenced apprentices, Donagh Murphy, decided to come to England in search of better opportunities of proving himself. Richard Hughes is impressed by the young man and had wanted to give him a first ride last week in one of many restricted riders meetings. Yet because of his previous employer no longer having a trainer’s licence, the B.H.A. have rules that mean young Murphy must go to the British Racing School and be tested for his riding ability and fitness and because of this it might be June or July before Hughes will able to use him as an apprentice jockey. Just seems a waste of everybody’s time when the lad has already passed similar tests when granted an Irish licence.

The Eider is one of my favourite races and because it does not have ‘National Trial’ in its title it is great race in its own right. Yesterday’s winner, Knockanore looked impressive and could go in again in something like the Scottish National. On the other hand, the Haydock ‘Grand National Trial’ Chase needs some work doing on the title. It is far from a trial for Aintree and it is unlikely it ever will be again. As Steve Simpson of Preston emphasised in his letter in today’s Racing Post, the winner this year, Famous Bridge, is 80th in line to get into this year’s race, which sums up the hopelessness of the race title. Of course, Royale Pagaille, who has now run two absolute stinkers at his ‘beloved’ Haydock will run at Aintree if his connections decide they want to. ‘Win and you are in races’ is the answer to this particular silliness.

After reading the feature on Dan Skelton in today’s Racing Post, I am firmly of the believe that what British racing needs, and I am not being sarcastic, is for Dan Skelton to become both chair and C.E.O. of British racing, and if he is unavailable to take up the position, the B.H.A. should look for someone of a similar mindset to Dan. He is one of the few people in our sport prepared to put his head above the parapet and float proposals and solutions to the problems that have beset British racing since the B.H.A. became impotent, content to be reactive rather than pro-active. Skelton is right, Aintree should be six-weeks after Cheltenham and be the final meeting of the season. He also right that owners should be treated with the importance their position in the sport demands. In fact, Dan is right on almost every topic he puts up for general debate.