It was said in today's Racing Post that in winning at Down Royal yesterday, Haiti Coulours was winning for the first time at the highest level. I would contend that yesterday's race may have been a Grade 1 steeplechase but it was not of the 'highest level'. He was an impressive winner and I am in no way detracting from his victory but for the phrase 'highest level' to mean anything meaningful it should only be applied to races stacked with Grade 1 proven horses. If Heart Wood had run, at least there would have been two Grade 1 winning chasers in the field. As it was, only Banbridge represented that calibre of horse. The Down Royal Champion Chase represented Haiti Coulours first Grade 1 success, and I remain committed to my argument that there is a world of difference between a genuine Grade I packed with Grade 1 winners and...

I have to feed a neighbour's cat tonight and again on Sunday morning. To give me, and the cat, of course, the best chance of remembering this simple task, I will stick a note to the television, leave the door key next to the kettle and tie a knot in my handkerchief. No, I do not have a mobile phone, neither ancient or modern. When it comes to watching re-runs of Ghosts or programmes from the nineties or noughtie or books I have read more once in the past, a poor memory can be a blessing. Other than in those specialised instances a poor memory can cause stress and embarrassment. Yesterday evening, as proof, perhaps, that my interest in the Breeders Cup can be measured to be lower than Hollie Doyle's comeback rides at Southwell tonight or indeed any jumps fixture in Britain and Ireland this weekend, I completely forgot that...

There is nothing more pleasing in life than to be proved right, not that it happens too often in my case, so forgive me starting with a gloat. Not that the P.J.A. are happy; they are quite cross, though pleased that the B.H.A. have stepped in and quashed the guilty verdict hanging around Jack Garrity's neck since the Leicester stewards accused him of not-trying on the ten-year-old Red Derek. Garrity was found guilty on the basis of sectional timing, not that the Leicester stewards allowed Garrity access to that information, which makes the Leicester inquiry look more and more like a kangaroo court. Quite rightly, the P.J.A. now  want the B.H.A. to stop the use of sectional timing in stewards' inquiries. If I had a say in this matter, if I had the ear of both the P.J.A. and the B.H.A., I would be pressing for sanctions against the Leicester stewards,...

One of the lesser mysteries in the world, at least to me, is when a jockey has to go abroad to prove to his fellow natives how good he or she is. Rachel King could barely get a ride in her home country, yet after relocating to Australia she is noted as being one of the best of a very high quality crop of jockeys. And so it is the same with Felix de Giles and James Reveley, journeyman jockeys at best at home, yet based in France both have become champion jockeys, with the latter often recruited by British trainers for high-profile rides. At 39, James Reveley is to call time on his career at the end of the year to take up training on a dual licence with Marine Pineda, described in The Racing Post today as 'his partner', whether that is business or romantic is left unclear. One...

Amongst the entries for the Coral (old Hennessey) Gold Cup are Grey Dawning, Haiti Couleurs and Caldwall Potter. If these three face the starter at Newbury, which I doubt, the Coral Gold Cup will finally look like the race when it was sponsored by the French brandy-makers. This 3-mile 2-furlong handicap is a race of legend and though not as diminished as the old Whitbread, since Hennessey withdraw their sponsorship, the race has become quite ordinary in comparison to the days of Arkle and Mill House, which is perhaps not surprising given the former went on to become the greatest racehorse of all-time and the latter, at the time, was expected to take the throne as the best since Golden Miller. I suspect I view the old Hennessey through rose-coloured spectacles, remembering the days when Spanish Steps and Burrough Hill Boy won the race and leaving to rest in the torn-up...

The Racing Post, no doubt to be helpful to Nicky Henderson, has published today all the races around the world that he could consider for Constitution Hill's next outing. Surprisingly, there are at least seven or eight to come under Nicky's consideration, including the Grade 2 10-furlong Man O War Stakes at Belmont on November 28th. I hope Nicky will put a line through that particular race before considering options closer to home. My idea of a plan, not that I believe Nicky Henderson would give any credence to my advice, would be to go next to Toulouse on November 29th for the 12-furlong Group 3 Prix Max Sicard, followed by the 12-furlong Prix Arcangues at Deauville on December 23rd. I remain convinced that running in the September Stakes at Kempton was a mistake as it limited options going forward for Constitution Hill by boosting his official rating, ruling out handicaps....

It is always a sadness for me when I read of the death of a formerly popular horse, especially when they die early into their retirement. Eve Johnson Houghton has reported the death of Accidental Agent, the Group 1 winner who famously refused to come out of the stalls on one occasion. He was only 12-years old. Apparently he was found lame in his paddock, with the injury proving so severe that it was recommended by the vet that on humane grounds the horse should be euthanised. Johnson Houghton said that her mother, who bred Accidental Agent, is greatly upset by this out-of-the-blue turn of events. On the similar theme of racehorses in retirement. I have on many occasions given thought as to why the Irish National Stud had living legends living out their retirement and yet the British National Stud did not have a similar living legends attraction. How long...

On reading this you may already be aware of the fate of today's racing. As I write, I do not. Given all four meetings in Britain and Ireland are subject to inspections, and with Storm Beolo unlikely to go away, it is possible that I.T.V. will be faced with just one race to televise, and that is Constitution Hill's jolly out in Italy.  It is just our luck that after waiting since Royal Ascot for a deluge of rain to refill the rivers and reservoirs, the much-appreciated rainfall is likely to scupper the most competitive Old Roan Chase since its inception. Always be wary of what you wish for, as they say. Now, I realise this is not as easy as A. B.C. but if Aintree and Market Rasen are unable to race today, given that the only jumps meeting tomorrow is at Hereford, why can't either one or both of...

As much as I admire Aidan O'Brien, and not by how much I get annoyed by the lack of substance that falls from his mouth when interviewed, I have my fingers crossed that Andrew Balding pulls it out of the fire and manages to win the trainers title race for no other reason than the Balding family have played a large part in my enjoyment of horse racing over my sixty + years of my small involvement in the sport. O'Brien can win the title next year or the year after, this might be Balding's one and only opportunity. His father was only champion once, in the year of Mill Reef's Derby and Arc success and it might be the same for the son, and this might yet be that year. In a Racing T.V. podcast, the five panelists, Ruby, Lydia, Nick, Jane and the young buck Josh, all had a...

With Newbury today called-off due to waterlogging and with tomorrow's meeting likely to go the same way, Nicky Henderson has made the right decision to take Constitution Hill to Italy rather than staying local and running in the St. Simon Stakes. For all his phaffing and puffing, Nicky Henderson is usually right when it comes to tough calls and I will have my figures crossed that the adventure allows him to train what I believe will be his first winner in Italy. When I suggested the St. Simon would be the the better of the two options, it had not entered my calculations that Newbury would succumb to the weather. Their previous meeting had been run on firm ground; what a difference a few weeks can make. I will also be keeping my fingers crossed that I.T.V. might be able to add live coverage of the Premio del Jockey Club along...

The first past the post in the novice handicap hurdle at Fontwell yesterday was disqualified due to an objection from the clerk of the scales in that the jockey, Freddie Mitchell, weighed-in 5Ibs light. In the stewards' enquiry the fault was placed on trainer Max Comley's travelling head lad for saddling I Love You Sivola incorrectly by not putting on the weight cloth. No one can argue with the verdict of the stewards, though we must have some sympathy for the travelling head lad who doubtless will be feeling this morning that his world has been tipped upside down. During our lives, all of us will make at least one silly mistake that wreaks havoc with our pride and dignity. As a man of 72 and a half, I embarrass myself on a daily basis. The problem I am having with this case is not the disqualification but that the whole...

I do not have a biography of Fred Archer in my small racing library. It is an omission I shall have to put right. Anyway, returning to the pony steeplechase I mentioned a few days ago. Fred Archer's first winner was in a pony steeplechase at Bangor. He weighed 4st 11Ibs at the time. He won his first flat race at Chesterfield. At 17, he won his first jockeys' championship. He weighed 5st 7Ibs. He had his first-ever ride in the Newmarket Town Plate, quite possibly the most famous person ever to ride in the race. When I awoke at midnight, it was raining heavily. When I awoke again (bathroom breaks, you understand) it was still raining heavily and blowing a hooly. When I started my day at a few minutes past 4 am, it was still raining, still blowing a hooly. At 6.31, as I write, it is only now...

The Racing Post have finally acknowledged Wayne Lordan's six-timer at Leopardstown on Saturday. And it seems I was right when I suggested it was an achievement worth heralding as Lordan is the first jockey, flat or jumping, in the history of British and Irish racing, to win six races for the same trainer at a single meeting. It is a record he will keep for a very long time, I predict. In today's Racing Post, Louisa Allen, this years winner of the Leadership Award at the Thoroughbred Industry Employees Awards, is featured. There is no doubt she was a worthy recipient of the award. Personally, when I read about the people who receive these awards, I cannot but help tearing-up a little, envious of their positions in the sport, wishing I could have a similar work background. If only government knew about the love and passion involved in horse racing. How...

Usually, given it is such a rare event, about as often as a named comet appearing in the sky, when a jockey rides six-winners at one meeting, it is granted a fanfare, heralded as the achievement it is, with headlines in The Racing Post. Yet Wayne Lordan's six-timer at Leopardstown on Saturday received little or no coverage in our trade newspaper. Even if all six winners were on horses trained by Aidan O'Brien, it was still an achievement worthy of celebration. Lordan is top-class, obviously, he would not be riding the best of the Ballydoyle horses if he were only average, yet he is very much second-jockey at Ballydoyle, perhaps even third given how many times Christophe Soumillon is given preference over him, yet we hear not one modicum of dissent from him. When Ryan Moore retires, Lordan will not be favourite to obtain the top job and will doubtless remain...

If Andrew Balding pulls his title bid out of the fire, a toast should be drunk to Mount Atlas for his admirable effort in winning the Long Distance Cup at Ascot yesterday. From his bemused expression after the race, I think the result even shocked the trainer, perhaps mostly because for the first time the idea that he might become champion trainer had, perhaps, become a possible reality to him. Obviously Minnie Hauk soon deflated that ide to a degree, with Aidan's still to have his big guns running for him. Yet, on the drive home with his wife, I would not be surprised if the two discussed the possibility of winning the trainers' title and what, if anything, they had for the Futurity at Doncaster this coming weekend. It is not that Balding must win the Futurity, simply that for him to be champion trainer come January 31st, Aiden must...

For me, the most interesting race today at Ascot is the Champions Long Distance Cup. As with the Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, could they have come-up with a more imaginative title for the race? Sems not. Did they ever consider naming it after one of the great Ascot Gold Cup winner of history or simply named it the Ascot Cup or The Ascot Trophy. Anyway, that is today'smain moan out of the way, let's proceed with due reverence for the event. Highwayman is the horse I am most looking forward to. Now with Dylan Browne-Mcmonagle on board, it will be interesting to see if a further step up in trip will eke-out even more improvement in him, which will be needed as this race is a stone better than the St. Leger that has immortalised him. It is also a more competitive race without Scandanavia, as he would have...

If you want to find champion jockeys all in the same place and on the same day, the best place to look would be George Boughey's Saffron Place Stables on the Hamilton Road in Newmarket. Not only is the new champion flat jockey Billy Loughnane the retained rider but you might also see Jack Callan, the champion apprentice for this season and Henry Callan, the new champion amateur. I do not know if one stable has produced the champion of all three divisions in one season and in my ignorance I will suggest that Boughey must be the first. A small feather in his cap, in comparison to winning the 2,000-guineas, may be, but a featherof note nonetheless. I do wonder if Boughey worries that one of the bigger operations might lure Loughnane away or if he is resigned to losing him in the next couple of years. Loughnane is perhaps...

Once more I quote from 'Men and HorsesI Have Known', a book, you might be pleased to know, I finished reading yesterday morning.  'Racing for a short time was stopped by the War. The reason for this was simple; a certain amount of sentimentalists, a few politicians in high places, who were supremely ignorant on racing matters, combined with the Anti-Gambling League and those few people who are against sport, got up a cry against the continuation of racing.' George Lambton was writing about the 1st World War, 112-years-ago, yet still politicians are 'supremely ignorant' about horse racing and the industry that it encompasses, and still there is an anti-gambling league with influence amongst the Labour Party.  Lambton continued. 'The stewards of the Jockey Club were in a very unpleasant position, as any strong move on their part savoured of unpatriotism and although they remonstrated with the Government there was nothing...

I have waited until I have witnessed a good number of races before commenting on the new starting procedures for National Hunt races. Of course, single-digit fields at Hereford or Stratford cannot be the litmus test for the new procedure, that will come if there are a large number of runners in a single race at Cheltenham's first meeting of the new season, and even then it will still be fingers-crossed when the National Hunt Festival comes around. This latest stab at simplifying what should be the simple task of starting a horse race is a fusing of views from jockeys, trainers and starters, I believe, though the main contribution must have been by Cheltenham racecourse agreeing to realign the course so that no race is started on a bend, which was, at Cheltenham, one of the main causes for false starts. My biggest bug-bear on the old starting procedure was...

I think it is fair to say that Potters Charm would be the classiest horse to be seen so far this jumps season and though he did not win by far yesterday at Worcester, I liked the way he raced with his ears forward, as if he was enjoying his day out. If he won despite being of being short on fitness, his trainer said he was only 80% fit, I think he would be worth having on your side in the coming weeks, and again at the back end. I doubt he is one for deep ground, if we should be so lucky to achieve soft ground this season. I suppose I should have started with Final Demand failing a dope test at the Cheltenham Festival last season. Yes, a Willie Mullins horse in dope shock! Apparently, and I cannot remember any announcement at the time, Final Demand had received...