FLYING ACE, FOR EXAMPLE, ROYALE PAGAILLE & THE TWEAKS OF DAVID JENNINGS.

On this website there is a list of possible names owners might want to avail themselves of if they are having difficulty naming a horse. It is a long list, now in alphabetical order, but it is no longer an ever-extending list, partly because I have forgotten the instructions I was given on how to upload to the page. But that is good, even if I continue to scribble potential names on to bits of paper and the back of my note-book, as what was originally simply a point-proving exercise had become an obsession, which remains an obsession, though no longer in the public domain.

I was annoyed by someone - his name was Khan - at the B.H.A. claiming it was difficult to name a horse without occasionally resorting to famous names of the past. I disagreed, pointing out the large number of languages in the world, with famous names easily translated into a foreign language, for instance, and with the English language alone running into many hundreds of thousands individual words, a combination of which would allow for a million or more names to be available to be applied to racehorses.

There is an example of what pulls at my chain in the 5-22 at Navan today. How many of you will be familiar with a horse from the past called Flying Ace, I cannot say. In his own sphere of influence Flying Ace was a superstar. He won 59-races, 23 Hunter Chases and 36 point-to-points. I think I am right in suggesting he was ridden on every occasion by Doreen Calder and if I were to re-read 'Flying Ace: The Story of a Racing Legend' by Neil Clark I could recite much more about the life of this legend of the point-to-point world.

I accept his name does not appear on any list of Cheltenham or Aintree winners, yet I will contest that a horse that wins 59-races should be honoured with having its name die with him. It is a cheap accolade after all.

Another horse who should be similarly honoured is Royale Pagaille. His Betfair Chase victories will not be enough for him to have his name die with him and as he has only just been retired - he is to be retired to Dorset and be kept active hunting - it should be ten-years before his name will become available for use again. My point is this: by not allowing famous names to be seen on a racecourse after the retirement or death of the horse that has carried that name to glorious victores and public affection, it would be a sort of long-service medal or perhaps a medal for bravery and courage beyond the terms of service. Those on the outside of our sport should be made aware that horses are not just beasts of burden to us but partners, loyal and loved partners in a sport where horse and man are equals.

In his column today, the ever-excellent David Jennings suggests ten-tweaks to improve further the greatness of the Cheltenham Festival. Changing the race schedule makes no difference, Mr.Jennings. Experience is all the evidence needed to fell that suggestion. Pre-race information for racegoers should be a given, and easily supplied if the interviews by either the I.T.V. or whichever satellite channel is involved is aired over the public address system. Not that anyone will learn anything new. The stupid question 'How is he?' to a trainer or owner is hardly going to be answered with 'Bad, Hasn't eaten in days, working slower than a donkey. Don't know what we are doing here'.

Francesca and Vanessa on their 'Running Loose' Podcast have complained about the big screens being too small and too far away, so David must be right with this particular tweak. Irish Handicap marks and the B.H.A. website is beyond my remit. Old Course, New Course, not enough hurdles too little hurdles, too sharp a bend - consult John Pullin. To my mind, life would be fairer for all if the meetng started on alternative course, Old Course one year, New the next. Cost is always too costly and David's suggestion for a loyalty scheme to make it cheaper for regular attendees is worthy of consideration. And his complaint about the Triumph Hurdle being unfair to punters as the last two winners started at 100/1 and 50/1 holds no water. Personally, I would make a condition of the race that a horse must have run at least twice over hurdles in Ireland or Britain and finished in the first four on at least one occasion.

David Jennings is always a good read, so I suggest you go read him or buy him a pint of Guinness if you should bump into him at the races. Say hello to him from me while you are about it and tell him I thought he should have won the best racing journalist award and not his esteemed colleague Lee Mottershead.