The latest in an occasional series of desperate letters from ante-post punters to the Racing Post: Mike Strong’s effort in tomorrow’s paper. If I were a betting man - and I am - I’d take pretty short odds that Mike has backed Sir Gino to some tune for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Nice try, Mike.
December 1, 2025 at 9:23 PM
The latest in an occasional series of desperate letters from ante-post punters to the Racing Post: Mike Strong’s effort in tomorrow’s paper. If I were a betting man - and I am - I’d take pretty short odds that Mike has backed Sir Gino to some tune for the Queen Mother Champion Chase. Nice try, Mike.
Good journalism still exists (part two):
December 1, 2025 at 8:52 AM
Good journalism still exists (part two):
Good journalism still exists (part one):
Latest from me: on the budget, Labour's troubles, & the government's increasingly tense & distant relationship with the UK's squeezed middle www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
The ‘squeezed middle’ is back – and this time it could be Labour’s undoing | John Harris
Last week’s budget left middle-income families anxious and angry. The party is turning its back on voters it can little afford to lose, says Guardian columnist John Harris
www.theguardian.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:49 AM
Good journalism still exists (part one):
Tony Stafford remains in top form. Any mention of Raymond Tooth puts me in mind of Lear Spear, fondly remembered (by me, at least) for his 1998 Cambridgeshire win.
December 1, 2025 at 8:22 AM
Tony Stafford remains in top form. Any mention of Raymond Tooth puts me in mind of Lear Spear, fondly remembered (by me, at least) for his 1998 Cambridgeshire win.
Tremendous horse, aggressively campaigned by his excellent trainer and if he stays sound we get to see a lot more of him in the coming years.
🎉 He did it!! 🎉
#Calandagan breaks the track record to win the Japan Cup in an epic dual with local favourite Masquerade Ball.
He's the first foreign victor since 2005 and only the second French-trained winner. 🟢🔴
#Calandafans
#Calandagan breaks the track record to win the Japan Cup in an epic dual with local favourite Masquerade Ball.
He's the first foreign victor since 2005 and only the second French-trained winner. 🟢🔴
#Calandafans
November 30, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Tremendous horse, aggressively campaigned by his excellent trainer and if he stays sound we get to see a lot more of him in the coming years.
Can’t blame Tizzard at all for thinking in terms of the Champion Hurdle with Alexei, especially after yesterday’s Fighting Fifth only muddied the waters even further. Lightly-raced 5yo, improving fast, strong traveller, effective at Cheltenham, weak division.
November 30, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Can’t blame Tizzard at all for thinking in terms of the Champion Hurdle with Alexei, especially after yesterday’s Fighting Fifth only muddied the waters even further. Lightly-raced 5yo, improving fast, strong traveller, effective at Cheltenham, weak division.
The days when top racehorses made the national news and were household names are long gone but Constitution Hill would become a cause celebre to those who hate racing and would like to ban it if he was to suffer a fatal fall on the track. That doesn’t look a far-fetched scenario now. Retire him.
November 30, 2025 at 8:43 AM
The days when top racehorses made the national news and were household names are long gone but Constitution Hill would become a cause celebre to those who hate racing and would like to ban it if he was to suffer a fatal fall on the track. That doesn’t look a far-fetched scenario now. Retire him.
Relevant re Myretown’s chance at Newbury today is this, from Andrew Mount in this week’s RFO. The stable isn’t in great form at all.
November 29, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Relevant re Myretown’s chance at Newbury today is this, from Andrew Mount in this week’s RFO. The stable isn’t in great form at all.
Perhaps it’s just me but if I was a bitcoin investor I’m not certain I’d be too reassured to attend a conference at which I was taught “how to gnaw [my] way through zip ties”.
November 28, 2025 at 9:53 AM
Perhaps it’s just me but if I was a bitcoin investor I’m not certain I’d be too reassured to attend a conference at which I was taught “how to gnaw [my] way through zip ties”.
I’m sick of hearing from the miserable chisellers if I’m honest.
November 27, 2025 at 1:09 PM
I’m sick of hearing from the miserable chisellers if I’m honest.
Reposted
Given that racing was facing duty harmonisation with gaming/slots just a few months ago, the changes in the #Budget - assuming OBR leak is correct - feel like pretty much the best result anyone could have hoped for. Shows what can be achieved when the various factions co-operate for a change.
November 26, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Given that racing was facing duty harmonisation with gaming/slots just a few months ago, the changes in the #Budget - assuming OBR leak is correct - feel like pretty much the best result anyone could have hoped for. Shows what can be achieved when the various factions co-operate for a change.
Panic Attack won’t “technically” be 3lbs well-in at Newbury because of anything to do with who rides her. She’ll “actually” be 3lbs well-in as her OR’s gone from 135 to 142 since the weights came out but she only has a 4lb penalty. Never ceases to amaze me how trainers/journalists get this wrong.
November 26, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Panic Attack won’t “technically” be 3lbs well-in at Newbury because of anything to do with who rides her. She’ll “actually” be 3lbs well-in as her OR’s gone from 135 to 142 since the weights came out but she only has a 4lb penalty. Never ceases to amaze me how trainers/journalists get this wrong.
www.racingpost.com/news/britain...
Apparently, there are some punters who don’t struggle to get significant bets on. Eye-watering stuff.
Apparently, there are some punters who don’t struggle to get significant bets on. Eye-watering stuff.
Court hears ‘mug-punter’ racehorse owner was ‘lured’ into betting with firm before running up debts of £1.65m
Peter Swann, who also used to own Scunthorpe United, is embroiled in a legal battle with the now defunct Apollo Bookmakers
www.racingpost.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:37 PM
www.racingpost.com/news/britain...
Apparently, there are some punters who don’t struggle to get significant bets on. Eye-watering stuff.
Apparently, there are some punters who don’t struggle to get significant bets on. Eye-watering stuff.
www.attheraces.com/news/2025/No...
Having pooh-poohed the “is this the race of the season?” rhetoric in the build-up, I have to acknowledge it was a terrific spectacle yesterday. Gaelic Warrior is now fav for the King George but if he does go there I’m not sure this would be the ideal preparation.
Having pooh-poohed the “is this the race of the season?” rhetoric in the build-up, I have to acknowledge it was a terrific spectacle yesterday. Gaelic Warrior is now fav for the King George but if he does go there I’m not sure this would be the ideal preparation.
Gaelic Warrior triumphs in thrilling John Durkan duel | At The Races
Willie Mullins’ runner edges out stable companion Fact To File on the line at Punchestown.
www.attheraces.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:56 AM
www.attheraces.com/news/2025/No...
Having pooh-poohed the “is this the race of the season?” rhetoric in the build-up, I have to acknowledge it was a terrific spectacle yesterday. Gaelic Warrior is now fav for the King George but if he does go there I’m not sure this would be the ideal preparation.
Having pooh-poohed the “is this the race of the season?” rhetoric in the build-up, I have to acknowledge it was a terrific spectacle yesterday. Gaelic Warrior is now fav for the King George but if he does go there I’m not sure this would be the ideal preparation.
There was nothing to dislike about the horse’s attitude yesterday.
Keith Melrose in tomorrow’s Racing Post: “The jury is still out on Jango Baie’s attitude, in my view.” Where on earth has that come from? He doesn’t advance anything in support. I’ve never seen any suggestion anywhere that the horse might be ungenuine. Bizarre.
November 23, 2025 at 11:04 AM
There was nothing to dislike about the horse’s attitude yesterday.
‘Her amazing smile was undimmed, and I would try anything to summon it’ | The Observer
observer.co.uk
November 23, 2025 at 10:54 AM
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/winter-watch...
Top content from Adam Houghton in @thetdn.bsky.social The Winter Watch column is essential reading over the next few months for Flat fans. High-class horses for next season will be appearing on the AW at regular intervals, as the article demonstrates.
Top content from Adam Houghton in @thetdn.bsky.social The Winter Watch column is essential reading over the next few months for Flat fans. High-class horses for next season will be appearing on the AW at regular intervals, as the article demonstrates.
Winter Watch: Zeus Olympios Tops the Class of 2025
The Joel Stakes winner Zeus Olympios stars in the latest instalment of Winter Watch, having graduated from the all-weather last winter.
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:48 PM
www.thoroughbreddailynews.com/winter-watch...
Top content from Adam Houghton in @thetdn.bsky.social The Winter Watch column is essential reading over the next few months for Flat fans. High-class horses for next season will be appearing on the AW at regular intervals, as the article demonstrates.
Top content from Adam Houghton in @thetdn.bsky.social The Winter Watch column is essential reading over the next few months for Flat fans. High-class horses for next season will be appearing on the AW at regular intervals, as the article demonstrates.
Keith Melrose in tomorrow’s Racing Post: “The jury is still out on Jango Baie’s attitude, in my view.” Where on earth has that come from? He doesn’t advance anything in support. I’ve never seen any suggestion anywhere that the horse might be ungenuine. Bizarre.
November 21, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Keith Melrose in tomorrow’s Racing Post: “The jury is still out on Jango Baie’s attitude, in my view.” Where on earth has that come from? He doesn’t advance anything in support. I’ve never seen any suggestion anywhere that the horse might be ungenuine. Bizarre.
Reposted
WHAT A PICTURE
November 21, 2025 at 8:35 AM
WHAT A PICTURE
Early stages of Saturday’s 1965 Chase at Ascot will be interesting. Both Il Est Francais and Pic d’Orhy are likely to be aggressively ridden with Gidleigh Park probably prominent as well. Might be the ideal scenario for Jango Baie (well-backed since final decs) to bide his time and pick them off.
November 20, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Early stages of Saturday’s 1965 Chase at Ascot will be interesting. Both Il Est Francais and Pic d’Orhy are likely to be aggressively ridden with Gidleigh Park probably prominent as well. Might be the ideal scenario for Jango Baie (well-backed since final decs) to bide his time and pick them off.
Pandemic back in the news today. Cheltenham Festival going ahead sure to be mentioned. This is from my blog on 11/03/20. Dorries was (incredibly) a Gov Minister at the time and had just announced she had Covid. If you’re thinking to yourself “I never read his blog “, you’re not alone. Nobody did.
November 20, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Pandemic back in the news today. Cheltenham Festival going ahead sure to be mentioned. This is from my blog on 11/03/20. Dorries was (incredibly) a Gov Minister at the time and had just announced she had Covid. If you’re thinking to yourself “I never read his blog “, you’re not alone. Nobody did.
Unfortunately, Mullins makes no effort whatsoever to inform racing fans and punters (who, along with owners, keep the whole show on the road) regarding running plans. Along with the Gosdens on the Flat, he’s one of the very worst culprits.
A few early words on the Morgiana in here after Anzadam wasn't confirmed this morning; tips.akbets.co.uk/tony-calvin-...
TONY CALVIN: SATURDAY’s ITV details for Haydock, Ascot and Punchestown
tips.akbets.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Unfortunately, Mullins makes no effort whatsoever to inform racing fans and punters (who, along with owners, keep the whole show on the road) regarding running plans. Along with the Gosdens on the Flat, he’s one of the very worst culprits.