JANUARY 24TH 2011
Good to Soft
Introduction
As I parked up in the centre of Wetherby racecourse I sort of hoped the house in the distance was Harewood House and it was where the Dickenson operation emanated from. To me Wetherby is linked to the Dickensons. On my first trip to Wetherby in March 2009 I thought it coincidental that at Cheltenham just three weeks earlier I had seen Michael Dickenson (seen as in ‘oh that’s that fella Dickenson over there isn’t it?’ rather than ‘How the devil are you Mick haven’t seen you in ages?. He was by Arkle chatting away looking very relaxed and in good nick. I remember press articles in the late 1980s, particularly around the time of the Sangster / Manton experiment where a tetchy nervy individual close to the edge was the way I recall the press appeared to like to portray the man. Either Dickenson’s American adventure had eroded these facets of his character or they were never really there. I think we know that the media requires intrigue, as they say why spoil a good story with the facts. Of course Michael Dickenson went on to be one of the most successful trainers of the early 1980s following plenty of wins for his parents in his riding days. The tough sparely made Bregawn led home his ‘famous five’ at Cheltenham in 1983 a feat I doubt will be equalled (sticking my neck out there a bit I know). Michael wasn’t just a great horse trainer but also developed a super string of jockeys. Graham Bradley was one of these but that is another story. The Tony and Monica Dickenson trained horses of the 1970s have a prominent position in my teenage years of staring at the chalkboard listening to the crackling Extel commentary. Bookmakers’ shops in those days were full, almost a bit of a community in themselves. When United were away and me and my mates didn’t have a Vale match to go to, we would while away Saturday afternoons in Ladbrookes following the ITV Seven in the adjacent Red Lion. Its rival was down by the cut and was a shop in a time warp even then. It was called was John Nees (I’m not kidding although if a marketing man had got hold of it I guess the strapline of having everying covered may have featured) . This shop was next to our local The Swan which was a small canalside pub. At John Nees you didn’t get a fancy carbon copy of you bet, you merely got his business card with a reference number stamped on the back. There was no chalkboard just a massive A1 size sheet which had all the day’s runners printed. The results, odds and non-runners were felt-tipped on in a spider’s web of lines and circles. John Nee really dreaded the manager of Ladbrookes popping in. He was a clued up punter who specialised in the big meetings such as Cheltenham. He couldn’t bet at Ladbrookes and when the word went round he had lumped on Outpoint in the Coral’s in 1977 we piled in on the 10/1 shot a mudlark with conditions in his favour.
The trip to West Yorkshire reminded me of one of the toughest technical battles I have had to fight in my career in road-building. We had won supply on a local highway. This job ran from just north of the Ferrybridge power station all the way to the Selby roundabout which is just shy of Wetherby racecourse. Problems existed before our central technical team was called in to look at some of the asphalt breaking up under site traffic. Not totally unusual but an early indication of something not right about the job. However big problems were identified when the road was opened to the general public and by Christmas 2004 we knew there was something to get hold of and quickly. Big depressions emerged in substantial areas of the job. Because we moved fast and employed one of the top consultants we had the high ground. Quickly we took command of the debate and the quality information thus ensuring that the repairs were not at our cost and using one of the company’s specially engineered materials.
The skirmishes caused casualties. A friend of mine lost his business as a consequence through the cash-flow problems a protracted dispute inevitably provides. Yet when it came to arbitration his testimony swung the day from an insurance perspective which helped many organisations. He didn’t recover enough of his investment although our company bought out his business and employed him in a senior capacity. Our managing director at the time ensured that all those involved in the successful outcome of this dispute were treated as some form of protected species. Today’s visit to Yorkshire acted as a memory jog to the previous ones where my colleagues in the fight were South Yorkshiremen. The down to earth nature and loyalty of this part of England are legendary. You think it is a myth until you work with them and then you realise it is true. A difficult admission from someone who lived most of his life on the other side of the hill as they say!
The fracas in Yorkshire taught me more than anything else that business is war. If you do not spot when war breaks out, have not devised a clear strategy and tactics you are at a significant disadvantage. You need a clear command structure. Ensure there is a small team who know specifically what their individual roles are. Collect, assess and disseminate all useful intelligence. Unless you do all these things prepare to fail.
COURSE
I don’t know whether the Brinks-Mat robbery was planned in the AI bar at Wetherby or not but the security in handling your money made you consider before entering the course to secrete your money in orifices that no self respecting Artful Dodger would contemplate invading. First you have to have the correct £12.50 in change. There is a man in a shed whose job it is to dole out these monies. Next you give the wedge to the lady behind the turnstile who then pushes the notes and coins through a slot and into a box. I use the word box in a way that does it no justice. It is constructed out of three eighth gauge mild steel fabricated by the fourth year metalwork class with the emphasis on utilitarian crudity rather than with any effete southern finesse. I estimate it weighs about the same as a reasonably well nourished whippet bitch. You don’t even get a badge or a receipt. Wetherby is too near the motorway to have a country track feel. In a way the motorway dominates the skyline you see from the stands. You can also see what I think is Drax power station churning out steam into the air as a mark of the historic importance of Yorkshire coal and access to water from the Calder. There is what looks like a fancy stately home. I hope it is Harewood House although it probably isn’t. Wetherby as a track is really well set out and it is difficult to envisage anywhere having a poor view of the action. Great value view is from top of the grand old building called the Gallery Stand, although a sharp north westerly hits you in this exposed eyrie. Plenty of money spent on the new facilities elsewhere, such as the smart new premium stand, very impressive weighing room and the oddest pre-parade ring I think I have seen, almost zoolike. All under cover, wire mesh to stop any iffy behaviour like a carrot with a bit of dope on it which could be swiftly shoved into the mouth of the favourite by a thin moustachioed trenchcoat wearing villain last seen scuttling off to somewhere with wi-fi so he can lay the beast on Betfair no doubt. The facilities in the centre of the track look like they were built in the 1950s and that’s probably because they were. There isn’t much to buy from the catering other than beer, tea and crisp in the middle in contrast to plenty of variety in the main enclosure. With regards to the new stands, all steel slag white cement, my gripe is that the crush barriers are at an annoy height in that you can’t lean on them in a slothful gait and added to this is that the gap from the barrier to the back of the step makes it uncomfortable to stand next. This is contrary that used to prevail at Football grounds. There is a fair racecard which sells at £2.50. Which seems a bit steep really even if it is par for the course these days. In it you get a glimpse of racing’s marketing team in action. Every track has to have Caribbean Night and not to be outdone Wetherby has a Calypso package. Of course a ladies’ day is essential and it must have some clothes for the girls to buy, heaven forbid you forget this piece of advice as the racing will never hold the attention of these feckless dear-hearts. You cannot possibly miss out on the Irish Day which is sometime within six weeks of St Patrick’s day with the essential ingredients of Guiness, Guiness gravy and craic. Just a bit of a guess here as to the definition of craic, but do you reckon there might be a bit of Division 3 Riverdancing going on to the accompaniment of the ubiquitous fiddle plus tinwhistle band stashed away within the confines of the course? Perhaps in the giant and probably empty barn of a building whose only clue to what happens within is a substantial ‘Toilets’ sign above it. Surely the advert is a pisstake; three ginger bearded, green floppy hat wearing fellas having the time of their lives. The Rubberbandits must be beside themselves. This Olde Oirland thing is past its sell-by date. It’s now a modern hard angry place ready to take its medicine but out for blood having learnt its lesson.
The Racing
First race on the card was a juvenile maiden hurdle over 2m4. The odds on favourite was Tigre D’Aron (magnificently pronounced by Stewart Machin who rarely missed the chance to use that sort of phlegm coated moan from the back of the throat which is the mark of the true French ‘r’ aficionado) trained by course leading winner Howard Johnson.The gelding had a bit of French form and jumped fine making most but either dossed a bit approaching the last or didn’t fully stay. Either way he only just held on. Second home was High Ransom who was bought cheap based on being exposed on the flat but with enough good jumping relatives to provide hope of a future in the game. As this was her first time over hurdles it was a good run and you would expect that she will pick up a race before long. The rest were well behind so it is difficult to be too bullish for the remainder’s future hopes although I felt White Diamond, a usefulish filly on the flat over middle distances, ran a promising hurdle debut to finish fourth. Whilst Grammes And Ounces improved a bit on debut running to finish distant third.
The Class 5 2m4 handicap chase was a seller in all bar name. Only Allanard jumped with a bit of consistency and here at Wetherby that is of high value. As a consequence he came home easily ahead of the senior competitor and out of sorts Panthers Run who was very one paced. Of the rest Qbuster weakened coming into the straight, Carraduff (quietly fancied) was never running with any enthusiasm and Go On Be A Lady stayed on strongly to claim third (she could be better over 3m but is a bit of a ponderous jumper to say the least).
The top hurdle of the day was the class 4 handicap over 3m1. There was a lively market and the Johnson trained Monogram was a touch weak favourite as significant money came for the Michael Easterby trained Borero. Monogram was up with the pace throughout and seemed to jump fine. However gave best at the last to finish 11 lengths third and looked like he was a little short on stamina, may need to drop back to 2m4 again. The winner was very well ridden by Jake Greenall a conditional jockey. Scrubbed along a long way from home and appearing to have a fair bit to do coming into the straight he got after him and pushed clear from the last to land the gamble. Looks a tricky ride, will probably get a fair chunk of lead for this win, and an enquiry after the race merely accepted that PPP0P0 form figures were part and parcel of stinging the bookies and in any case the horse had lost confidence over fences, needed to have a return to hurdles and was completely flummoxed last time out when some fool forgot to put the obstacles out. Of the rest regular Wetherbyite Terenzium ran so badly suggesting he’s now bored of the place, Arctic Echo gained from having a strap fitted for the first time finishing a respectable second having always being there or there abouts but needing plenty of rousting from halfway. Double Eagle was prominent till 3 out and pieces didn’t do a lot. Mtpockets up from Devon was soon beaten and Emperor Charles ran promising race without being knocked about and is one to keep an eye on over this trip.
The best race on the card was the 2m4 novice chase. There were three pretty good horses in this race. The most experienced and a course / distance winner was Knockavilla who ran his best race to date today jumping well in the main. This distance suits well but he is a bit below the top of the novice charts. If he keeps his 125 OR he must have a good chance in a handicap. The most recently successful in the field was Glenwood Knight who I had seen win a Uttoxeter event earlier in the year. However that race was plenty weaker than this one. He jumped pretty well today but put in a short stride at the sixth and fell heavily. Luckily he wasn’t badly injured although looked to be a bit stiff in the off hind. I doubt we will see him out for a while. Sir Tantallus Hawk was hopelessly outclassed as such a stupid name would merit. The winner was the hugely promising Alfi Sherrin. He was a very progressive hurdler last season and ended up favourite for a hot festival handicap. He started a bit carefully at his fences but soon got into a nice rhythm and jumping well for his debut. Pulled clear coming to the last and won very cosily. This 2m4 looks right up his street and I would like to see him get a handicap mark and have a go at the Jewson.
The novice hurdle over 2m1 looked a bit low in quality and very sparse in experience. The bit of knowledge that A Bridge Too Far had was when runner up in a Ludlow bumper and he put it to good effect winning this event pretty well. Of the rest the other joint favourite Omokoroa went out tamely, Johnson’s Northern Cross was midfield for much, Sweet Sugar was backed a bit but was never better than midfield and Ubi Ace stayed on in promising style for his debut to finish 3 length second, suggesting that he may be able to win a small novice somewhere small. The other Devonian upstart to run at today’s meeting was the Salto Des Mottes who raced in midfield and never threatened. This made it difficult to see which of the two was the van-filler. I blame Channel Four myself. A couple of weeks ago Neil Mulholland had his leg pulled about his horses needing passports to get out of the West County where he has been very successful. Now he finds himself with two moderate runs and a long journey back to Tiverton. Bet he wished he hadn’t bothered still he has a good one for this year’s Gold Cup in Midnight Chase.
The 3m1 handicap chase was a class 4 affair. It was an interesting race. The favourite was the apparently progressive Canal Bank ridden by AP McCoy (who had a double here today), two horses who had raced against each other when I visited Doncaster 12 days ago in La Pantera Rosa and Work Boy (who impressed and was on the to follow list), a couple of out of form greys and a CD oldstsager in Shrewd Investor. The race was ruined to an extent by poor jumping. First Canal Bank went flying before halfway, then we had the grey Blazing Diva jumping poorly and getting detached (PU in the end) finally La Pantera Rosa fell down the backstraight final time when beginning to force the pace. The winner was Work Boy who is a big strong individual. He pulled clear from the old man of the party approaching the last. This was despite wandering a bit and getting in the way of Shrewd Investor there was no interference which would merit changing the result. The other grey, Sieze, trotted in for an unpromising third. I think only Canal Bank (with the exception of my to follow Work Boy from Doncaster) would be likely to win any time soon from this lot. But obviously only if his jumping was to improve.
The last race on the card was for conditional jockeys and was one of those hands and heels events. This one was a class 5 2m4 hurdle. Looking at how this race panned out you would have to say why do jockeys need whips? This mob of new boys positioned and jumped their horses fine and rode out finishes in a sound manner. In fact the three who contested the finish of the race all produced nice jumps at the last without a quick crack to remind the fella of the big lump of hedge he is in danger of hitting if the jockey hadn’t just given him a swift flick to keep his mind on the job in hand, more sound than bite but what a sound. Anyway the best jump conjured up was by another of those Carberrys this time it was Peter. He rode a good race on King Benny who finished strong. Others worth a mention are the mare Cute N You Know It (that’s enough stupid names please, I am sure it means something at a dinner party or something but it looks infantile in a racecard) who was given a grand ride by very useful youngster Tom Kelly to finish a plugging on second (might need 3m) just picking up Rhyton who is ex Michael Stout no less. Some Catch, who had her supporters today, was a respectable third. We saw little of uneasy but still strong favourite Sambelucky.
How did they do next three runs to a £10 stake
High Ransom up £4
1(11/8)0
Won first time but then out of depth in classy novice.
Tigre Daron (N) up £20
40
Not up to shouldering a penalty
White Diamond up £25
031 7/2
Fair third at Catterick highlighted preference for tight tracks. Then went flat racing but didn't bother backing as indications were that weighted too high. Cpeices applied last run on flat and that was by far best run for sometime when sixth over too far. Reappeared over hurdles in nov hcap at Faxenham and won well 1st race with the cp on. Can go on now we know what she needs.
Monogram Down £30
232
Blinkers first time nearly did the trick plus a 109 rate when 2nd on last run. However a return to 114 lessens optimism and he is now best left.
Arctic Echo up £110
001(12/1)
No sign of the old boy since he won 1st time with the tonguestrap in place. best left alone now
Knockavilla down £10
P
Hardly the most auspicious of reappearances and I would bin him on that basis
Alfie Sherrin down £20
3P
I thought he looked a good prospect on the wetherby win and some good efforts over hurdles but poor jumping led to defeat and a pulled up so was binned form the to follow list
Cutenyouknowit up £20
1(4/1)U0
Won next time in a minor event. Failed next twice and is now binned