A success Nationwide Hunt instructor Kim Bailey at the present state of the game and a tribute to a distinct horse
We have now simply witnessed probably the most perfect soar racing noticed right here since final 12 months’s Cheltenham Pageant (see document in Horse & Hound mag, on sale date 1 February, p62). Doncaster and Cheltenham had nice playing cards and Trials Day on the latter no doubt lived as much as its billing.
Now all eyes shall be on the ones 4 days in March and we are hoping that Eire does no longer take too lots of our prizes. Willie Mullins despatched over 4 horses on the weekend; 3 received and the fourth used to be 3rd in the back of one among his winners!
It might be a mouth-watering proposition if handiest Lossiemouth would tackle Charter Hill within the Champion Hurdle, however unfortunately she’s going to most definitely run within the mares’ hurdle at lengthy odds on.
Racing has suffered from an excessive amount of antagonistic exposure over the previous few months and, name me outdated, however I’ve at all times was hoping that our industry paper the Racing Publish would advertise and improve our recreation significantly greater than it does. Extra positivity could be nice.
Everyone knows that the loss of prize cash and runners is a large factor, however we have now an excessive amount of racing for the collection of horses in coaching. Including extra all-weather Flat racing dilutes the racing product, nevertheless it feeds the bookmakers’ wallet and unfortunately they dominate our recreation to such an extent that they are able to virtually call for what we do.
Premier racing on a Sunday night is some other instance of the place we’re going – it sounds as if, it’s the perhaps time that persons are bored and subsequently will wager on racing.
The new whip regulations at the moment are twelve months outdated however we see too many jockeys, who must be capable to depend, fall foul of them. Pronouncing that, I’ve simply completed my 6th velocity consciousness direction and I’ve to carry up my hand to confess I used to be going sooner in my automobile than the signal mentioned I must do. I do know I’m accountable, and I additionally know that if I damage the ones regulations, I can be punished – 60 method 60, no longer 67!
“A cushy spot for First Glide”
All running shoes have cushy spots for positive horses of their backyard, and I’m no other. First Glide has been that horse because the day I noticed him at the Lambourn gallops.
In the beginning purchased on the Tattersalls Derby Gross sales through main Irish tournament rider Karrie Fanshawe as an unbroken three-year-old for €4,500 (£3,800), he used to be nurtured through Karrie and taken on slowly. She requested if I wish to see him paintings in Lambourn. I did, and I requested my strong jockey, David Bass, to experience him. It used to be a bitterly chilly snowy day, however we appreciated what we noticed.
My longest-serving proprietor, Tony Solomons, used to be searching for a horse to switch his excellent horse Harry Topper, so I persuaded him that he must purchase First Glide. Each horses have been bizarre and neither neatly bred, nor truly had the precise to be excellent racehorses, however each confirmed that cussed difficult streak.
I used to be status with Tony when First Glide received his first hurdle race at Lingfield in November 2017, and Tony leaned over and mentioned, “I consider we have now a racehorse.” We did, however what we didn’t know then used to be how excellent he used to be going to be. A few Sundays in the past, First Glide rolled again the years and confirmed the highest-rated 12-year-old within the nation used to be no longer going to be crushed.
David Bass doesn’t put on his middle on his sleeve and may now and again fight to grin after a race, however even he struggled to carry again the emotion that day. First Glide has ears {that a} donkey could be pleased with and from time to time the stubbornness to check, however God he has a middle, and if handiest I may in finding some other like him.
Stars are born and made through the ones round him, and we’ve all been fortunate to have First Glide in our lives.
● Do you accept as true with Kim in regards to the state of the game? Tell us at [email protected], together with your identify, nearest the town and nation, for the risk in your letter to look in a impending factor of the mag
- This unique column may also be to be had to learn in Horse & Hound mag, on sale Thursday 1 February
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