"Oh, that's racing"

The 2m 1f mares only handicap hurdle on yesterday's Sedgefield card may not have had the same profile as the World's Greatest Steeplechase back in '56 that gave rise to the above quote from the Queen Mum, but we experienced the same emotion when Baby Ticker, 6 lengths clear,100 yards from victory, jinked violently right and unseated Callum in the process.

She had run fairly green throughout the race too, being honest, as she was constantly looking about and even first time round had eyed the paddock and stables longingly. Neverthless, cajoled into making good headway down the back straight, Callum encouraged her to take up the running at the top of the hill into the straight. Readily moving on 2 out, she jumped the last in a clear lead but was still wandering left and right, until she spotted the comfort of the racecourse stables to the right, swerved and deposited her jockey.

The yard is not a big stable and we don't have winners to throw away, so whilst she may not have been Devon Loch even 24 hours later it's a hard pill to swallow.

Baby Sister (Garry) in a gallop alongside Dali Mail

Shady runs well in defeat on Saturday

The Trainer may have been the only one of the connections who'd previously visited Uttoxeter, but even before the race all felt that it was an excellent day at the races. A lovely racecourse - excellent viewing, looks better than on TV -  well managed and providing first class treatment of racehorse owners.

Shades of Midnight looked exceptionally well in the paddock, and ran a cracker over a distance a little short of his best. He was chasing the leaders from halfway, and although never able to quite peg back the leading pair, the manner in which he kept on over the last 3 flights was very pleasing, finishing 4th beaten 8 lengths.

Haydock has a couple of 3 mile hurdle races coming up in the next 3 weeks or so, and it may well be one of these is the target.

Shades of Midnight (Pinky)

Ayr today

Big Bad Dream, our unraced Mountain High gelding, runs in the National Hunt Flat race which concludes the card at Ayr today.

With the withdrawal this morning of Better Getahead, there are now only 2 previous winners in the field each showing a good level of form and Notnow Seamus has been placed twice in bumpers. Tom Lacey sends his Storm Nelson up north, with Dickie J booked to ride, and this half brother to a bumper winner from a excellent winning family does catch the eye.

Big Bad Dream will come on for the experience, in what is a fair race for a Monday afternoon in January.

Big Bad Dream (on the right with Garry)