| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| IanStevenson |
Posted - 30/12/2011 : 19:40:11
Due to make his debut in last race at Warwick tomorrow. Has moved to my closest trainer (Ian Williams) since he was last mentioned on here. Couple of regally bred horses in opposition but hopefully he can show a little promise for the future. |
| 23 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| steve |
Posted - 17/05/2012 : 01:06:44
I wonder how Whispering Bob would fare in the Blaydon Races.
Could it be that Carol Malia is making fun of the real deal?
See if you agree by taking a look at tonight's edition of Look North, at 20 minutes into the show. Keep watching for the next 30 seconds or so.
The URL is below. It's time sensitive of course, being a daily show.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01hps93/Look_North_(North_East_and_Cumbria)_16_05_2012/ |
| Isobelj |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 10:55:30
Great account of his day out
It sounds as if he is going to have a wonderful summer in culinary terms.
Isobel |
| ken |
Posted - 14/05/2012 : 10:55:07
quote:
Originally posted by IanStevenson
Definitely echo what Bob said as much of the sport is shrouded in mystery even to those who follow it
That was always the joy of the sport, the whole learning process. Learning that you could take the fractions and ask for £100 to £8 when backing a 12/1 chance, or £100 to £6 when backing a 16/1 chance, as long as you gave the bookie the right money. Compujterised tickets and decimal odds will kill that if it hasn't already.
Learning trainers habits, and which races they favoured. Nowadays if a trainer says "he's going for the Betfred" next, that could mean one of any number of races and you're clueless as to what it means. If he said "he's going for the Aston Park Stakes next" you knew exactly when and where the horse would be going next (well you did once you'd learned them). I hate the way they're losing traditional racenames to sponsors' names. They shouldn't have given in to George Ward all those years ago IMO.
Cheers
Ken |
| Greg Bone |
Posted - 13/05/2012 : 14:51:48
Cheers Ian.
Gainsay was his Festival winner if I recall correctly, though he had a few nice horses with Jenny.
No music connection for me at all alas (just a dyed-in-the-wool OGWT fan). Just loved the sport from a young age and, when fortunate enough to be able to own one, became an owner with Jenny in the mid-90s. She picked young Bob out at the sales for us a couple of years ago and adores him. I suspect she has his "stew and dumplings" on the stove already! |
| IanStevenson |
Posted - 13/05/2012 : 12:52:52
Definitely echo what Bob said as much of the sport is shrouded in mystery even to those who follow it so it is great to have an insight from the horses mouth so to speak.
Just to touch on a musical note I wondered if you association with Mrs P had anything to do with the horse she trained for Errol Brown that was successful at the Cheltenham Festival?
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| Greg Bone |
Posted - 13/05/2012 : 11:12:23
Cheers Bob. Sorry about the e-mail problems. I got yours yesterday, hope you got my reply. We use the same provider and I think my account has got the gremlins aswell. Be in touch one way or another soon. |
| bobharris |
Posted - 12/05/2012 : 23:16:59
Thank you for your fabulous report Greg. Really informative and much appreciated.
Bob. |
| Greg Bone |
Posted - 12/05/2012 : 17:34:11
Harry Skelton, who rode him at Warwick, was away so, of those available, I just felt very comfortable that Choc would give him a nice education. Ian and I both thought he gave him a lovely ride but I am sure Dougie would have done likewise, as indeed he did in the last.
I was a bit concerned with that one chucking himself about early, especially having got bumped about a fair bit at Warwick, but no damage done and all good experience in the end. Took it all in his stride around the last bend when the favourite was running green aswell, which was pleasing.
Yes that is it for this season. Job done. We will get him ready for his hols at a place not too far from Ian where there is very nice grass (the grass in May and June is the most nutricious for them, so we will get him on that asap). He does need to fill out physically, so making sure he has the right grub during the months that they do most of their growing and before he goes back into training in August is really important. Lucky to have Jenny Pitman as a good friend and she will make sure he gets the horse equivalent of Michelin-star dining.
Ian has schooled him over small obstacles and he has done it nicely so, though hurdling is just the next stage of his education (he will definitely not be running in a Festival hurdle race, that is for sure!), over a longer trip hopefully he will have a good chance to get his nose in front and provide a nice photo of Bob Snr and Jnr receiving a trophy.....and if he eventually turns out half as good as Topsham Bay we will certainly all be delighted - one Whitbread (as was) would do very nicely indeed!
Cheers. |
| IanStevenson |
Posted - 12/05/2012 : 13:37:17
Thanks Greg, I had a small each-way bet and like you was pretty hopeful before he flattened out in the straight. As you said you must have been very happy with the way he settled early on although for a nasty moment I thought the Bowen runner might cause an accident. Was it your choice of jockey as I noticed Choc didn't ride the other bumper runner who ran very well in the last?
Long way to go, but hopefully he will take after one of my old favourites, Topsham Bay, who didn't show a great deal before winning at the Cheltenham Festival.
I assume from what you say he will have a break now rather than another run on quicker ground - has he already schooled over hurdles? |
| Greg Bone |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 23:54:05
quote:
Originally posted by IanStevenson
Interesting to see what Greg makes of today's performance as it looked as if he would finish in the first three before he again stopped very quickly. Hopefully, the horse hasn't got a physical problem which is preventing him finishing off his races because he certainly looks the part.
Hi Ian,
Have to confess I was getting a tad excited around the home bend as he was going so well (I had had a nibble at the silly price he had drifted out to on the Xchanges) and it was a shame he could not go with them but we are pretty happy with the outing. It is all an education for him at the moment - and it will be the same next season when hopefully he will go over hurdles.
He travelled nicely again and was more mature mentally than on his debut - no pulling this time and stuck to the task when it got a little close and personal around the home bend. Choc said he did not like the soft patches in the dips (not an excuse because it was perfect ground for him today but confirms that he does want it good) and is physically still a bit weak, which we knew.
I totally understand your thinking but we are all happy that there is no physical problem. It is just physical immaturity.
It would be great to win a bumper but he is a 3 mile chaser by breeding and frame but he needs to grow into it, so a good summer at grass now should hopefully see him develop further physically. He has schooled well at home so, if we can avoid the dreaded niggles and injuries, I am certain that Bob will have the chance to lead him in as a winner at some point.
Much appreciate your good wishes.
Cheers.
Greg |
| IanStevenson |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 17:35:39
Interesting to see what Greg makes of today's performance as it looked as if he would finish in the first three before he again stopped very quickly. Hopefully, the horse hasn't got a physical problem which is preventing him finishing off his races because he certainly looks the part. |
| tincanman2010 |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 12:44:11
From summary on email alert to this post I thought for a minute Bob was getting called up to the Leveson enquiry. Today's timeline has been filled with horse references due to Rebecca Brooks testifying. I shouldn't multitask.
Tincanland music blog
http://tincanland.wordpress.com/
Follow me @tincanman2010 for new post alerts |
| IanStevenson |
Posted - 11/05/2012 : 12:36:00
Perils of working only just noticed he is running again. Probably not as good a race as debut but not bad for the time of year. Hopefully, the ground is more good than good to soft. See he is attracting a bit of support again - perhaps we should know if Bob is ready to lead him in?
Good luck today. |
| ken |
Posted - 04/01/2012 : 08:44:06
Although if your horse is a front runner it does have the advantage that you can always see him more easily at the front of the field, which all helps when your binoculars are shaking so much as a result of nerves that you're struggling to see anything at all through them! :-)
Cheers
Ken |
| Isobelj |
Posted - 03/01/2012 : 17:54:48
Love that description of his day at the races, complete with the blue bucket incident
It sounds as if he had a great time for a youngster, probably all a bit overwhelming. When he gets a bit older he will learn that wise racehorses don't go on an all out sprint in the first stage of the race, but hold their own while keeping back a bit to use their greatest stamina to take the lead at the end. I don't think many have the strength to keep up the momentum for the whole race if they start off at too great a speed.
Isobel |
| bobharris |
Posted - 01/01/2012 : 18:45:18
I'll be there alright!
Bob. |
| Greg Bone |
Posted - 01/01/2012 : 14:08:50
Thanks Ian. His pedigree, though obviously no match for that of Jonjo's horse, probably stood out to some extent. He also looked a picture in the paddock and moves beautifully so I am not altogether surprised he was 8/1 on the course though I doubt there was very much money behind him (he was a lot bigger on Betfair, at least in the morning). He wasn't carrying any of mine simply because we didn't know what to expect from his first run (and from previous experiences, I am very superstitious anyway).
Thisthatandtother was a year older than our lad for his first outing and Thetotherone even older but, despite being very green, we thought it would be positive for his development to give him his first taste of a racetrack. It was important that it was a positive experience for him though.
He was taking everything in yesterday (he even skirted very wide of a blue bucket sitting under the rail of the parade ring that aroused his curiosity). He'd shown a skittish side at home (just baby-stuff) so we set out to be very cautious and even saddled him in Ian's lorry to minimise the risk of him getting wound up in the pre-parade ring.
Of course Harry Skelton would have to have ridden him to try to win if he hadn't emptied as they entered the home straight but he was under instructions to look after him and he certainly did so. He's fine this morning and ate up, so mission accomplished.
Jenny Pitman, who is a good friend and was Ian's first boss, was with us at the track. She loves our lad and was delighted with the day's work and I am certainly not going to argue with her! He will improve a lot for yesterday and if he can stay free of injuries and niggles I have no doubt he will oblige, may not be next time but sometime in the not distant future. Hopefully Whispering Bob OBE will be there to lead him in!
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| IanStevenson |
Posted - 01/01/2012 : 10:32:09
Greg, given what you said previously were you surprised that he was 8/1 in a what might have been a decent race. Obviously, someone was expecting something and turning in a place looked a possibility. It was a shame he appeared to go from travelling to empty in a few strides. Certainly some promise and hopefully he can see his race out next time. If he can do that there must be a good chance of a win because there will be easier opportunities than yesterday. |
| The Lew |
Posted - 31/12/2011 : 23:48:03
9th but That'll Do Me. Looks like he was just running for Luke's Benefit and he wasn't holding All The Aces. Hope it'll be Sorted in the New Year and he'll Come To The Party without too much of a Hurraboru  |
| Greg Bone |
Posted - 31/12/2011 : 22:26:24
Well...9th doesn't sound great but we're very happy with his run today, which was all about giving him experience and having no mishaps. Having pulled hard at the start, he travelled nicely to the start of the home straight but ran out of gas and the jockey eased him home. He's still a baby and a bit weak (the family seem to be latish developers) so we'll let him absorb his experience today and probably wait for the spring for his next run. Another summer on good grass will be a big help.
Many thanks for the good wishes. Here's hoping he does the great man justice in due course.
Once again, all the best for 2012. |
| Isobelj |
Posted - 31/12/2011 : 12:56:18
Good luck to him I was wondering not long ago how he was getting on, it being the season for racing.
Hope it helps him to get into his stride for forthcoming races.
Isobel |
| Greg Bone |
Posted - 31/12/2011 : 09:44:10
Thanks Ian. Modest expectations today as the ground's on the soft side for him but we're keen to give some experience before the real winter weather arrives. Bob can't be there unfortunately but sent his best and hopefully will make his next outing.
Happy New Year to all.
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| The Lew |
Posted - 30/12/2011 : 21:57:59
Thanks Ian, I'd have probably missed it. |
