Sunny Sunday

The weather is lovely: sunny, warm and ideal for getting out and about. Not too much to report on the blog front. I have The Horses In Training 2012 publication. I will detail some general information after the Cheltenham Festival as it will probably be lost in the melee.


I'm hoping one of our readers will be forwarding analysis for Cheltenham. I really can't do it justice because it isn't my area of speciality.I know more about two-year-old horse racing than most people could ever imagine so there is no weakness in stating your knowledge/lack of it. I don't want to be the Jack of all trades.


I've been updating The Horse Trainer Website Directory. I hope readers take a look at this facility and make use of it. Whether that happens or not only time tell. I feel like taking a backwards step in ways and just pleasing myself. I'm sure plenty of bloggers have felt similar in their efforts. At times blogging can feel a pretty thankless task. I do, however, thank all those who make contributions and loyal readers. The difference between doing my own things and trying to push HCE towards what our readers want is that I don't get frustrated simply following my own path but I get rather bogged down when I put time and energy into projects to help readers and the wider blogging community and feel they are overlooked or disregarded.Perhaps that isn't the truth but that is how I feels at times.


I know for a fact that when the two-year-old season begins that will be my focus. I will be doing my best for myself and the loyal HCE Gold subscribers to make this a profitable season. The number who have joined HCE Gold are quite small. I am not particularly bothered by the lack of support. I'm philosophical. However, I am all about loyalty. At the start of the Flat turf season I am closing the doors to full free subscription. After that point, sign-up will be costly. If people pay that sum, then good, if not, I don't particularly care. Unless something amazing happens I am pretty sure this will be the last year I detail any subscriber tips from this blog. Those HCE Gold subscribers will be the only people who will be given the option to continue. 

Paul Cole Blog Update: Lovely Weather

It is a wonderful morning down here at Whatcombe, dry with a light frost with plenty of sunshine. We had our first work morning today, some went well and some got a little tired. Circumvent pleased and is on target for the Winter Derby which is shaping up to be a competitive race. He was plagued with poor draws last year, his last draw at Lingfield after running a good 2nd in the Listed, had him going wide the whole way.

The two year olds went through upsides today, Carlton Blue, Another Name and the Sakhee's Secret look early. It is a great time of year, it is like being dealt a new hand of cards and the expectation before picking them up. I'm sure all trainers all over the country will be in the same position, eager to get the turf season started after it seems to me even more boring All Weather racing which seems to be deteriorating in prize money and interest and looks like bookmakers fodder. Roll on the grass and the proper racing.

What did the trainer say? 

Another Day Another...

Dollar. No, I'm not talking about that pop vocal duo from the UK, consisting David Van Day and Thereza Bazar. I stole that info from Wikipedia. I doubt anyone remembers the girl because no one can live in Van Day's shadow. It's a cold, cold, cold place. As you can probably imagine, I haven't got a clue where this post is leading. Southwards. Taking a right turn at Cats Bottom. I kind of like travelling destination: Unknown. I'm simply rambling like one of those mountain goats, big, horned and bearded, climbing higher and higher until I either run out of oxygen or freeze to death. Dizzy with altitude sickness I imagine I can see someone on the valley floor. In fact, they look like they're waving.


I spent most of yesterday updating the catchy-named Horse Trainer Website Directory. The Flat category featuring every Flat Trainer Website, Blog and Twitter link you can shake a stick at. Pretty much the whole caboodle. I had a look at the page views this morning and it seems hellishly low. Perhaps I expect miracles (never/joke) but it would be nice to actually see a few people pop along and actually - remarkable as it may seem - realise it is a great source of information, concise and could be of benefit to all those who need the latest ''gems of wisdom'' from the people who actually train Pegasus without wings. I quite like the strange story that old Peg was sired by Poseidon (God of the sea) and foaled by Medusa, a woman who had snakes for hair and could turn you to stone if you caught her gaze. When beheaded, Pegasus sprang from her blood. Few people remember his brother Chrysaor who was a golden-sworded giant. Sounds an intriguing family. Good material for Jeremy Kyle. Far too erudite for him. 


I guess all I seem to do is moan these days. Perhaps I'm suffering from S.A.D. I know, at times, I have been hounded by the common or garden type of smile turned upside down syndrome. It is somewhat frustrating when you spend hours updating things to go unnoticed. I think one day I will just give up writing and keep my knowledge, thoughts and feelings to myself. It somehow seems less disappointing to live in your own little world and simply forget about it all. What a statement, but it's true.


Never mind, hey. I will leave The Horse Trainer Website Directory online. Who knows it might become popular in a millions years times. 


Well, the Flat season is moving closer. Good. Just about the only thing that puts a smile on my face. 

The Horse Trainer Website Directory

Yes, I know it's a mouthful but The Horse Trainer Website Directory (THTWD) tells the story. It's a portal to hundreds of horse trainer websites, blogs & twitter links. Please be aware that it is under construction but I bet it has more to offer than any similar model you've seen on the net. When finished, it will be a one-stop shop to everything that gallops. 

Click the photo (below) to see what all the fuss is about.  

Amanda Perrett 2yos 2012

The daughter of famous race horse trainer, Guy Harwood, Amanda Perrett and her husband Mark Perrett took over the training licence at Coombelands Racing Stables in 1996. Since then Amanda and the team have trained over 500 winners of races  in  Europe and  have had runners as far afield as Dubai, Hong Kong, Australia and America. The dedicated team of staff working with Amanda Perrett are all passionate about delivering the highest quality of care to the racehorses at Coombelands  Stables to ensure they reach their full potential.

Since 1998, Amanda Perrett and the team have trained horses to win or be placed in the following Group 1 races

·         Emirates Airline Champion Stakes                   Carnival Dancer

·         Rothmans Royal St. Leger Stakes 

·         Sagitta 1000 Guineas Stakes

·         Prix de la Foret                                                     Indian Lodge

·         Juddmonte Lockinge Stakes                              Indian Lodge

·         Emirates Prix de Moulin de Longchamp           Indian Lodge

·         Queen Anne Stakes

·         Queen Elizabeth II Stakes                                  Tillerman

·         Coronation Stakes                                        

·         Prix d'Ispahan                                                      Carnival Dancer

2yos 2012

• • Czech It Out
  • Empiricist
  • Extrasolar
  • Formally Hot
  • Ovatory
  • Pivotal Silence
  • Saucy Minx
  • Danehill Dancer - Showbiz
  • Knight's Parade
  • Hero's Story
  • Ebony Roc
  • Simply Elegant
  • Beat Hollow - Second Of May
  • Arch - Valentine Band
  • Beat Hollow - New Order
  • E Dubai - Shoogle
  • Mizzen Mast - Complex
  • Rail Link - Tricked
  • Rock Of Gibraltar - Petite Nymphe
  • Three Valleys - Tentative
  • Tiger Hill - Dimikya

Recent News:

Bramshill Lass won the Lingfieldpark.co.uk Maiden Stakes at Lingfield this afternoon for her owner Karen Hancock, husband Ron and sister in law Val. Ridden by Jim Crowley she was drawn wide in stall 7 but obtained a good position during the race in third and stayed on well in the straight to beat Cotton Trader a neck with Three Bards a further half a length back in third. 

Karen and Ron Hancock purchased her from Henrietta the Marchioness of Tavistock at the December sales in 2010.  She had finished a promising 3rd on her first start this year on 14th January and had learn't from her experience on that occassion to win her maiden in pleasing fashion. Well done to Krissy who looks after her and Allan who drove her to the races.

I am delighted to have our first winner of 2012 and are very much looking forward to racing our team of 70 horses this season.

Earlier today Barry and Fiona Reilly came to Coombelands to see Mr and Mrs Perry's horses and to deliver a super colt by Dylan Thomas out of five time winning Whirly Bird who was trained at Coombelands.  A good day all round! 

Paul Cole Blog Update: Possible Hurdle Runner

Everybody is back from their holidays and the horses have gone back into full work. They have generally put on the required amount of weight and they are all doing steady canters. It appears more than ever that racing doesn't kick into gear until mid April but the weather has been good this year for trainers to make an early start. We are taking our time and will probably have no serious runners until April. We have bought more precocious individuals this year and they are shaping up well. 

Gifted Girl and Swingland are two fillies knocking on the door to be Listed class, they are both looking and going well.

Strategic Mount is schooling over hurdles at Nicky Hendersons and could run at Huntington over the Cheltenham period subject to working well. He seems to have taken to jumping.

We have three Strategic Prince two year olds this year, the first ones we have trained. He has had a recent Stakes winner in the US, Tones, who was trained by Richard Hannon as a two year old, won a $81,000 stakes race at Santa Anita on Sunday 26th of February.\

Stan Moore's 2yos 2012

Ever since Stan Moore started training racehorses in 1990, out of a converted dairy in Andover, he has enjoyed more than his fair share of success on the racecourse. The fact that he was taught by two of the greats, Paddy Prendergast and Vincent O’Brien, might have something to do with this, although his knack of buying horses whose performances have far outweighed their price tags suggest that he has plenty of natural talent as well.

Stan first moved to the Lambourn Valley in 1995 and every year since has increased the number of horses under his care. Barathea Dreams’ wins in the 2004 Esher Cup and 2005 Spring Mile showed that Stan’s early high-profile successes with the likes of Patsy Grimes, Oh So Rosie and Mydante were no fluke. He has since trained winners in Dubai at the International Racing Carnival, being leading European trainer there in 2007. Also in 2007 Stan won the richest 2 year old race, The totescoop6 Two-Year-Old Trophy at Redcar with Dubai Dynamo and he repeated that success with Total Gallery in 2008.

Following two years at the historic yard at Uplands, Stan purchased and moved to Berkeley House Stables in July 2008 and has quickly up-graded and improved the facilities on offer at the yard. We currently have 47 stables and have plans in place to expand the capacity of the yard in the near future.

2009 has seen Stan's greatest achievement to date, training his first Group 1 winner at Longchamp with Total Gallery's success in the Prix de L'Abbaye. This win followed a near miss the previous week with Lady Darshaan (Total Gallery's half sister) getting narrowly beaten in the Meon Valley Fillies Mile at Ascot.

Stan is one of life’s characters. His Irish charm and warm sense of humour make him great fun to be with both on and off the course. He has the ability to make racehorse ownership a very enjoyable experience - win, lose or draw.

William Jarvis 2yos 2012

ARGENT KNIGHT (GB)  2 grc  Sir PercyTussah  Dr Jim Walker
ARTORIUS CASTUS (GB)  2 chcDutch Art  Miss Madame  The Round Table Partnership
LAUDATION (GB)  2 bc  Royal Applause  Calamanco  The Laudation Partnership
NIGHT'S WATCH (GB)  2 bc  Authorized  Nachtigall  Dr Jim Walker
RASKOVA (USA)  2 bf  Henrythenavigator  Diamond Necklace  Mr Kevin Hickman
UN-NAMED (IRE)  2 bc  Authorized  Umthoulah  Darren Brooks & Friends
UN-NAMED (GB)  2 chf  Bahamian Bounty  Persian Lass  Michael Swinburn
UN-NAMED (GB)  2 brc  Kheleyf  First Approva  lDavid Milne
UN-NAMED (IRE) 2 bc  Oratorio  Always Attractive  A Partnership
UN-NAMED (GB)  2 bf  Sakhee's Secret  Bolsena  James Bowditch & Partners 

Froch admits to 'deliberately prolonging fight'

Froch conceded he could have finished his 2005 Commonwealth title defence against Ruben Groenewald earlier than he did, but decided to keep the fight going for the purposes of bets placed by his family.

The Nottingham boxer admitted he could have finished the fight in the fourth round, but deliberately avoided doing so due to a number of bets made on it ending in the fifth.

First Foals For Vale Of York

Vale Of York didn’t hang about when it came to proving himself to be a high-class juvenile and his first foals aren’t wasting any time either with five already on the ground.

First to arrive was a filly for the Listed Ascot winner Alha Wasahl, who was herself a very smart two-year-old, having finished third in the G2 Cherry Hinton Stakes at Newmarket. This was the first foal for the daughter of Dubai Destination, who is booked to visit New Approach this season.

The first colt to be born was out of Ciara Doyle’s Xaar mare Queen Of Fools, the dam of last season’s four-time juvenile winner Powerful Wind and a half-sister to Hunan, who won the G3 Prix de Cabourg for Aidan O’Brien.

Peter and Jackie Grimes own the smartly-bred Paris Glory, a half-sister to Elusive Quality’s G1-winning two-year-old Elusive City, who produced a filly by Vale Of York on January 29.

Sans Reserve, already a black-type producer for Helen Smith, is another with a foal at foot by the young stallion, having foaled a filly on January 24.

Distorted Humor’s young mare Jumeirah Palm, a close relation to last seasons Racing Post Trophy runner-up Zip Top, has the most recent foal, a colt born on February 8.

It’s no surprise that Vale Of York was well supported during his first season at stud: as a crack two-year-old from a sireline with a brilliant track record in the first-season sires’ title, he offered breeders an excellent chance, both in the sales ring and on the racecourse, and for a very reasonable stud fee.

Successful on his debut in a seven-furlong York maiden, the son of Invincible Spirit became a Listed winner on only his third start before finishing placed in both the G2 Royal Lodge Stakes and the G1 Gran Criterium. But of course his best performance came with the Californian sunshine on his back when defeating no fewer than five G1 winners including the subsequent Preakness Stakes and Haskell Invitational winner Lookin At Lucky in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. You can click here to be reminded of Vale Of York's finishing speed and exceptional determination when winning the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

Now about to embark on his second season at Kildangan Stud, Vale Of York has been given every chance to shine in his stallion career too. Come the foal sales, pinhookers will doubtless be scrutinising his progeny, and with 114 mares in his first book, he has an excellent chance of making his mark when his first runners reach the track in 2014.

Darley’s 2,000 Guineas winner Refuse To Bend dies at Haras du Logis

Refuse To Bend, who was standing at Haras du Logis in France for the first time this season, died of a heart attack on Friday, February 10.

Bred by Moyglare Stud Farm and a half-brother to Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle, the beautifully-bred son of Sadler's Wells was trained as a juvenile by Dermot Weld to win the G1 National Stakes, before taking the 2,000 Guineas on only his fourth start.

After contesting Europe and North America’s top races he was purchased privately by Sheikh Mohammed and transferred to Saeed Bin Suroor for his four-year-old campaign, and landed a brace of G1’s in the space of a month including the Queen Anne Stakes and the Eclipse Stakes for Godolphin.

He was retired to Kildangan Stud in 2005 and with only four crops of racing age so far, he has sired one of the finest fillies of our time, Champion three-year-old filly Sarafina, who won the G1 Prix de Diane, Prix Saint-Alary and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. In total he has sired 15 Stakes winners and 23 Stakes horses from his stud careers in Europe and Australia.

Darley’s director of stallions, Sam Bullard, said, “Refuse To Bend’s death will be a significant loss for breeders, Haras du Logis and to Darley. He was a superb racehorse and he had it all ahead of him as a stallion. Refuse To Bend’s progeny had a wonderful 2010 and 2011 and as a result he was proving very popular in France this year.”

Source: Darley

Richard Fahey 2YO 2012

Bayan Kasirga & Pip

(2yo filly by Aussie Rules)

10th Jan 2012

(Click photo to see all 2yo for stable)


All this information & more can be found at HCE's Trainer Website Directory

Paul Cole Blog Update: Chilly start to February

As per usual, the horses started cantering on February the 1st. The two year olds have done particularly well during the winter. We have bought a more precocious bunch this year with more two year old types. Our only All Weather runner at present is Circumvent, whose target is the Winter Derby. Although he won last year, he was permanently badly drawn, including last time at Lingfield. We are slightly down on numbers this year, we will have 40-50 in training.

Swingland & Gifted Girl have done well during the winter. Both are knocking on the door to be good fillies this year. One of our nicest three year olds, Stormbound, who did not run last year for various reasons is in great form and one to keep an eye on, he may run in the Wood Ditton.

Sovereign Power is shaping up well, he is half brother to Overpowered (one of our nicest two year olds last year) there is a 50% share remaining in him.

It has been as low as -15 degrees here, I was riding out the other day after my holiday and it was -13 degrees, big drop from 34 degrees! But there is nothing better in life than riding out on a sunny, crisp morning and looking forward to the season ahead.

First Season Sires for 2012

If you enjoy your two-year-old horse racing, then you may well have heard of British 2yo Racing website. It is absolutely jam packed with data. Of particular importance to all those breeding fans are the first season sires for 2012. As a taster here is a favourite of mine.

Raven's Pass

Ran four times as a juvenile for three wins. Withdrawn from his intended Newbury debut because of fractious behaviour. Made his race debut after that in a 7f maiden at Yarmouth in July as the 20/1 stable third string ridden by his regular work rider, who rarely rode in races. Won a 7f Listed event later that month and the 7f Group 3 Solario Stakes in September. Final run that year when third in the Dewhurst Stakes behind New Approach.

To learn about the best of this year's first season sires click the British 2yo Racing icon

It's All Change...

HCE has always been a busy blog compared to many in our community. Always trying new themes, topics & our sprinkling of humour. However, as the start of the new Flat season draws closer you will notice a few changes. We are following the maxim: less is more. Our format will be much simpler with a view to highlighting:

• Daily Race Comment
• The Evening HCE Regular Tip Selection 
• The Saturday Tipping Competition
• The Horse Trainer Website Directory
• Following The Dream: Wildcard Racing 2yo Somethingboutmary
• British 2yo Racing
• Win Big With HCE Accumulator
• HCE Free Horse Racing Tips: Regular/Gold
• Our Best Blog Supporters
• Advertising

HCE: Dedicated to two-year-old horse racing.

Brian Meehan's 2yo For 2012 Season

Brian set a benchmark for others in the profession to aspire to in years to come when bookending his first season at Manton by winning two of the world’s most valuable races, the Dubai Duty Free in the Middle East and Breeders’ Cup Turf in the USA, the double yielding staggering prizemoney of £2,777,688 It was an achievement recognised with the coveted ‘International Trainer of the Year’.

In between that magnificent twin triumph, he registered a fine season on the domestic front, highlighted by David Junior’s win in the Group 1 Coral Eclipse at Sandown in mid-summer.

Even before the move at the beginning of 2006 to the Sangster family’s legendary estate on the Wiltshire Downs near Marlborough, Brian was widely acknowledged as a trainer going places.

When he set up his own training business in Lambourn in 1992, the son of a Limerick orthopadic surgeon had eight horses, one of them owned by his ever supportive close friend Richard Hannon, to whom he had been assistant trainer for six years.

Brian’s progress since those fledgling days has been admirably consistent, and, apart from those already mentioned, his Group 1 wins include the Champion Stakes, Prix Morny, Prix de la Foret, Cheveley Park, Grosser Dallmayr Preis, The Gazelle and most recently the Man O’War stakes with Red Rocks.

It therefore came as no surprise that after John Gosden left Manton, the Sangster family headhunted Brian to take over at what few will argue is the outstanding training establishment in Britain.

With a new three year contract agreed in the spring of 2008, Brian will be aiming to add to the Group 1 winners sent out from there. When the deal was signed, he said:”This is the most wonderful place to train and I’m delighted we’ll be here for at least another three years, possibly longer. We’ve a great relationship with the Sangster family. I believe one of the key elements of our success over the years, both in Lambourn and now here at Manton, is the first class team of staff that we’ve put together; they all work very hard to make certain the job gets done as it should be done.”

To learn more about Brian Meehan's two-year-olds for the 2012 season, please click on the banner (below).

Charlie Hills Blog Update

We started 2012 in style when our first runner, Basseterre, won readily at Lingfield on Saturday. He could potentially be a nice horse and we will take our time with him now. He came out of the race well and has tightened up for it.

This we we'll have quite a few runners. On Monday Red Soles goes at Wolverhampton. She didn't run last year as she never really showed anything at home. A spell schooling seems to have perked her up, but she has been off an awfully long time and we are not that confident. She will almost certainly visit Dark Angel this year so this may be her only run. One Wednesday a nice filly, Piece Of Cake, runs at Lingfield. She had her fair share of problems which kept her off the track last year, so she will almost certainly need the run. On Thursday Red Trump, a Red Clubs half brother to Moss Vale, and Evelyn May are in Kempton. They are both going nicely at home. Never Satisfied and Hey Fiddle Fiddle are entered at Lingfield on Friday, and Margate is in at Wolverhampton. Never Satisfied, who has done well over the winter, and Margate, who is a nice big filly, are the most likely to run. Hey Fiddle Fiddle is also in at  Lingfield on Saturday.

Looking ahead we have purchased a horse privately to run at St Moritz on 19th February. He is the sprinter Desert Strike who ran at Lingfield on Saturday. He's a big bull of a horse who should hopefully handle the conditions out there.

Charlie Hills Blog

Paul Cole Blog Update

The weather seems to have turned cold again this week but all the horses are continuing to do well, the two year olds look great and are still trotting. Swingland, Pearls From Sydney & Joy To The World are back in work here after having a winter holiday at Kirtlington & Stratford Place respectively. Circumvent and Strategic Mount are both cantering. We are planning for Circumvent to run in the Winter Derby at Lingfield at the end of March. 

I didn't catch up with Putin or Berlusconi (rumour) but I did catch up with Pete Towshend who is working over here at the moment. Willie Carson leaves on Thursday and Chris Wright & Martin Myers arrive at the weekend (Racing Update!)

UnMotivated...

Page views are a little down today. Probably just one of those days with racing being pretty low grade. 


I am struggling to find the motivation to write posts at times. Not so much writing material but just trying to understand what people want. Need the two-year-old racing to start to give me some focus. The best writing comes from that burning passion which beats within your heart. See, always knew I was being pulled towards Mills & Boon. 


With so little feedback from readers it is difficult to appreciate whether new topics work or not. Hi, My Name Is John, is one new theme I feel has merit. He is a funny character and someone you will be hearing much more about in the near future. Well, if he ticks your box, that is. No point writing if it falls upon deaf ears or people flick past. I know John has little to do with racing in ways (apart from his eachway Trixie) but that may not be a bad thing as it can be good to have a distraction from gambling at times.


The Yankeeyou is okay but as I don't have any strong opinion on horse racing beyond the two-year-olds it has some limitation.


I must say I am disappointed with the numbers joining HCE Gold Tips. I know it's not the best time to for people to join - being out of season etc - so we will have to see how things pan out. I would like to thank Mark of Patient Speculation for his recommendation on his blog. It is much appreciated. All subscribers will be given the most professional service and I will be pulling out all the stops to make this season profitable. If HCE Gold isn't in profit by the end of the 2012 season then I will be amazed. In fact, if it doesn't go well then I will not give any tips in future. In truth, it doesn't make a blind difference whether people subscribe or not because this is simply a promotion for bigger and brighter opportunities but if people want to be part of something I feel have potential then you are welcome. I would like to thank all those who have subscribed. You will not be disappointed - just impressed.


Thanks for all those who read HCE on a regular basis. 


(I want to apologise for being Mr Grumpy Head. I will upload a motivational post and stare at it for an hour or two :-)

A Quiet Day, Mr Fahey

I have been struggling to write posts these last few days. I'm relying on the Daily Beach Babes and Yankeeyou to fill this space. 


Sure they have their fans, those girls.


I would like to thank the regular supporters of the Yankeeyou who forward their tips. In truth, it is a thankless task. If the selections win, the world and his wife want more but if they lose then Mr & Mrs from Cats Bottom convince themselves they could do much better following their olds aunt's method of reading the tea leaves. I sometime wonder if I would be better to revert to more stealthy tactics and bet behind my cloak and dagger. Perhaps turn into Mr Random. Who knows, one day I may just disappear from blogging as quick as I arrived. As with most things in life, it is probably best to please yourself and let the rest of the world come and go as they wish.


This two-year-old black hole doesn't make for inspiring prose. Always waiting for the new season to begin. I had intended to write a few HCE Snippets, taken from trainer blogs with regard to their juveniles, how they are progressing etc. The Brocklesby is a word two-year-old fans listen out for. It's like a whisper which grows to a shout as the race day comes galloping into sight. It's akin to a Chinese whisper. That tiny promise builds momentum, playing Mind Games with those who dare dream...


The problem with many trainer websites is that their blogs are lacking in regular content. George Baker, Ann Duffield & Roger Charlton are the exception to that rule because they are avid bloggers and very insightful, humerous and honest souls. The Horse Trainer Website Directory, which can be found on HCE, took many hours to develop but it's bordering on a waste of time for the few who use it. Well, it is there if needed. I always take a look at what the trainers have to say, especially if I am considering a wager. It only takes a moment or two and it is often the difference between betting an not. True, some never have a bad horse, while others are so secretive they never say a word. I noticed a couple of times last year that Richard Fahey and owners Middleham Park Racing had a slight conflict in where their juveniles raced. In general, the owners opinion took preference although Fahey was at least honest enough to note publicly that he would have rather followed a different path. He wasn't always right. It struck me with last year's Brocklesby runner, Our Boy Jack, who went off 10/3. Fahey didn't seem to fancy its chances at all. I can't remember his reasoning but the colt done nothing that day although won a small race later in the season. If you learn about a trainer's opinion - his traits - you can appreciate whether he is open or not... too optimistic...or just trying to throw you a wide ball. I think there is a thin line between being cunning and trying to pull the wool over people's eyes. David Evans is a fantastic trainer of two-year-old horse but the antics surrounding Redair on debut at Kempton last season could have been taken two ways with the withdrawal of the stable's more fancied Seven Year Itch (owned by Evans) and the switching of Cathy Gannon to the, later, substantially gambled Redair, who won. If that was pure coincidence, then I'm backing the next black cat which crosses my path. Paul Cole's blog is as honest as they come. The information is there if you dig a little. Trainers often surprise, too. I sent an email to Rae Guest a couple of weeks ago about one of his debutantes because I was intrigued by the owners and if they were related to a breeder he once trained for. He was kind enough to reply. I always think that says a lot about a person.     


As the start of the new Flat season draws closer there will be much news and excitement about this year's crop of two year olds