January 23, 2025 by Mike Madden

I Don’t Like Mondays

Working Nine To Five

News on the job front – Ole has now passed his probation period at Sky and so is allowed to work from home. This is getting quite expensive for us, as at his office he goes to Subway or Greggs for lunch, but at home he goes to the fridge. The same happens on his morning and afternoon breaks. I’m thinking of getting a vending machine installed in the kitchen.

Meanwhile, my Dutch adventure is not going particularly well. Its making a profit, but it is a pain in the arse. So, I am trying to simplify it with a view to maybe ending the whole thing. My first step was to end the appointment of my Dutch director. I am looking for an alternative, but if one cannot be found that will just force me to close the business anyway. All of my contracts expire in March anyway, and although renewals will be offered, this would be an opportune time to step aside.

You’ll Always Find Me In The Kitchen…

The Christmas kitchen has been as busy as ever, with the staple chocolate log making an appearance. This was a little later than normal so that Zac would not eat it all before the big day.

Festive chocolate log

The Creole cake was finished, and Sally added her usual artistic touches. 

Creole Cake 2024

Lasagne was another success, made with turkey mince and lots of cheese, and then there was a new recipe.

Every year we have a panettone, but I can never remember actually eating one. So, I saw Rachel Allen use one on her “Bake” series, basically making it into a pudding filled with ricotta, cocoa and a few other things. I decided to give it a go myself, and the end result of Zucotto di panettone was delicious. It was compared to rum and raisin ice cream, and a giant chocolate eclair. It will definitely be made again, maybe in time for Easter.

Zucotto Di Panettone after 24 hours…

…topped with cocoa…

…sliced and devoured

Away from Christmas I gave home-made fish & chips another outing, although I did not have time to create the mushy peas so common or garden had to do.

 

Home-made chip shop fish

Storm Of The Week

Yet another Storm Of The Century hit Whaley Bridge recently, that’s probably the fifth since the millennium. I still think its a bit early to be calling anything “…Of The Century”, but the weathermen in particular insist. This one brought extensive flooding to the area, quickly followed by heavy snow.

How high’s the water momma?

The BBC and Sky came to the village looking for a news story, the first time the press had descended on Whaley Bridge since the infamous dam incident.

Temperatures dropped, meaning the thaw was delayed. Footpaths were literally ice sheets, and we had a burst pipe in the garage.

Snowy Whaley Bridge

However, this gave plenty of opportunity for crisp winter walks across the frozen fields to Buxworth, and a nice stroll up to Solomon’s Temple with the grandkids to blow away the cobwebs. Well, the grandkids made it all the way to the temple, we stayed at the bottom of the final hill to get our breath back. 

Sending the grandkids to Solomon’s Temple

The storm meant that our planned New Year’s Eve bonfire was a damp squib, but we had one a few days later, and then Sally decided on another in early January. I’m not quite sure she built it properly!

Not quite Bear Grylls

Brothers In Pyjamas

Damage from the storm was widespread, and it destroyed one of our fence panels. We got another delivered, and I painted it with wood preserving stain, but it would still be tricky to get it into place. A branch had grown over the gap since the previous installation, so I had to get a saw and cut that off. It was turning into a project, but help was at hand. Ole and Zac decided that they would finish the job.

To be fair they did complete it. It was upside down and back to front, and I’m not sure health & safety would have approved of their uniforms. The right hand side had a significant gap to the stone frame, and they started knocking it down with a hammer. This would have significantly damaged the panel, so I stepped in and raised the frame. The job was done, but I am now concerned that the next panel along is showing signs of wear and tear!

Driving Home For Christmas

Christmas Eve used to be a stressful time, making sure all of the presents are accounted for and wrapped, but now that the kids are grown up it is a lot more relaxed. Except this year! Ole was playing football in Marple, but his car would not work. That’s unfortunate, finding out that your car won’t start on Christmas Eve, but that was not actually the case. He found out a few days earlier, but decided to do precisely nothing about it. So, Sally had a go at starting his car with jump leads, but to no avail. It was completely dead. He had not left any lights on, or radio blaring. It was a mystery.

Beat The Clock

Fortunately we have RAC cover, so I called them. I picked up Ole from his football, confident that the repair man was on his way. I guess I should have expected a wide variety of possible arrival times, from 2pm to 8pm, then 5pm, 10pm, and so on. This was disturbing as I had a must not miss appointment, at the Drum & Monkey, at 3.30pm.

Eventually the guy turned up just after 3. I thought that it would be a long job, but not so. He connected the battery to his vehicle, and seconds later Ole’s car sprang into life. I told him that Sally and Ole had tried to jump start it earlier, and he simply said that they had not been doing it properly. He also said that Ole had left the lights on which had killed the battery. He refused to sell us a new battery, as the existing one was under warranty and his batteries were too expensive. The mechanic was brilliant, just doing his job and not trying to rip anyone off, all on Christmas Eve. It was a Christmas miracle that enabled me to to get some well deserved me time just 10 minutes later than planned.

I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day

We had a wonderful Christmas. Sally stayed in bed until 7am, which is two hours later than normal, and we fell back into bed much later than previous years, mainly due to something called “Gavin & Stacey”.

The cats also enjoyed their Christmas – with Bo attacking the feather and Thomas taking the more fundamental approach of disabling the base.

Monday Morning Blues

New year came and went, and one morning Sally shot out of bed in a panic. She quickly dressed, and muttered something about a car service. By this time all of the lights were on and I was awake, without my customary early morning coffee.

“What’s up?” I asked.

“I’m late. My car is going in for a service this morning and I’m supposed to have already dropped it off,” she replied.

“Car service? On a Sunday?” I asked.

“Sunday? Its Monday,” she said.

“No it isn’t,” I said, and after clarifying the situation we did indeed agree that it was Sunday. So now she was in the wrong clothes for her normal Sunday activity of horse riding. And guess who’s fault it was.

“Its all your fault,” she said. “You were watching American Football last night and you normally do that on Sundays!”

Road To Nowhere

Zac decided that he was going to the Lake District with some friends. With his health scare fresh in the memory Sally wanted to know exactly where and when he was going, and the locations of all hospitals in the area. Zac either did not know or refused to say, but shortly after he set off she managed to track him on Snapchat. I can’t help thinking that that particular avenue may be closed by Zac in the near future. He did insist on Sally frequently asking him the question “Have you packed….?” using random items. This was so that he did not forget anything.

I Hear You Knocking…

While he was away Sally decided to clean his room, despite his pleas not to. Amongst the debris was a pizza box containing a bowl that had an unknown brown substance in it. The bowl was some sort of pottery, and so noxious was the substance that it had permeated right through to the underside of it.

In one drawer there was a mountain of socks. I paired them for him, and threw away a considerable number of odd ones. The following day another draw was emptied, and in it was another mountain of socks, many of which could have been paired with those already discarded.

Zac was fuming when he returned, and it looked for a while like World War 3 would break out. However, things seem to calm down, and then Zac set about rearranging and tidying his room himself. He did a fantastic job, the question now is “Can he keep it that way?”

Here Comes The Sun

Percy’s Daydream and Star Of Lady M have just resumed training after their winter break. Unfortunately the racing programme has not yet been released beyond the end of March, so it is difficult to plan anything for Percy’s Daydream.

Star Of Lady M’s season should be a lot more predictable, with the Palace House Stakes at Newmarket the initial target. There should then be a race every three or four weeks up until the Nunthorpe at York in August. David O’Meara is happy to send her straight to the Palace House, but he is also not against a prep race if one can be found.

As Easter is late this year that is not particularly easy. The only handicap we could consider is at Musselburgh, but just two weeks before the Newmarket race. The Listed race at Bath has been moved from Friday to Sunday, leaving just a 13 day gap. Our only option might be the Abernant also at Newmarket, which would give us a 16 day gap. It is six furlongs and a tough course, so the ground would have to be on the quick side for us to consider that.

Meanwhile, she has clearly become the face of ITV Racing. Her image has been used against previews of The Opening Show, and on ITVX. I don’t recall agreeing to image rights for those!

I’m Looking For My Wife

August 9, 2024 by Mike Madden

Penelope Pitstop

Fence Follies 

There was a spell of fine weather recently, and with so much upheaval in the kitchen I decided to spend more time in the garden. This turned out to be a job that never ends. I first tackled the uncontrolled growth on the road side of the fence. Bags and bags of foliage were removed.  At this point I discovered that the foliage, mainly Portuguese laurel and ivy, was the only thing holding a section of the fence up. So, I braced it with wood and it might just about survive.

It still needed some TLC, so I got Ole and Zac to secure some of the slats with nails. This did not start well, as Zac rested the open box of nails on top of the fence. Within seconds it had fallen, spilling the contents everywhere. Eventually they started to work as a team, with Zac hammering and Ole acting as nail monkey. Unfortunately there are sections where more than a nail is required.

“You hold it, I’ll hammer it”

My next option was screws, and then more bracing as the lower bars of the fence were completely rotten. It is now serviceable again, and with a lick of paint it could be as good as new. However, I give it 2-3 years before a full replacement is required!

A Throne For M’Lady

Elsewhere, I had several other things to repair. First up was the red bench that I made during lockdown. This needed a strap to strengthen the seat, and I soon discovered that drilling through steel is a lot harder than you might think. Somewhat easier was the repair to a purely decorative wooden chair, that I then painted ready for Christmas decorations. Yes you read that correctly!

A Christmas decoration

There were a pair of cast iron bench ends that had been in the garden since before lockdown. There was also a cast iron chair that was falling apart. I would have done something with them at the same time as the red bench.  However, working with the cast iron, where none of the holes line up, is a bit of a nightmare. So I gave myself just enough time to forget this important fact, and then embarked upon a project to create two garden chairs.

There was a lot of cursing and reworking, but eventually I finished them. I then painted them gold so that Sally could have her very own garden thrones!

Expecting royalty!

Three Steps To Heaven

Finally, I resurrected a path of garden steps. These are not quite finished yet as I need to line them with ferns to hide the membrane. So far I have been up and down them several times without a mishap.

Garden steps holding up remarkably well

Cool For Cats

In the kitchen the builders finished and the bi-fold doors were fitted. When fully open they created a wide expanse, and the cats loved it. Bo bought a bird in to show her appreciation, then she caught another animal. Thomas thought that he would have a piece of it, but Bo whacked him and he soon backed off. However, the entente cordiale soon returned as they were too hot to fight in the sunshine!

Perhaps its all an act, and they are really trying to re-enact a moody boy-band duo from the 1980s.

The peace was shattered when Sally’s friend Julie brought her dachshund puppy round for a visit. Bo, sensibly, made herself scarce. Big brave Thomas puffed himself up to twice his normal size, sniffed at the excitable puppy, and then ran away!

Bo knows how to take herself off

My Kingdom For A Kitchen

Despite the completion of the bi-fold doors, the kitchen was far from finished. There was still the alarm, tiles, kitchen fitter, more electrics, more gas and plumbing, and decorating to do.

The kitchen arrived, and our already cramped space was soon filled. Only another few months….

The pizza oven has been put to good use. Pizzas, naturally, chicken kebabs, steaks, bread and turkey burgers have all come out of the Spanish dome.

Turkey burgers straight from the pizza oven

When we got the oven back I made individual sticky ginger puddings which were a big hit.

Sticky ginger puddings

Horse Treats

With all of our racing exploits terminology can sometimes be confusing. After talking about Gabi, the groom for Star Of Lady M at one of her races, Ole looked puzzled. “Surely you mean the bride?” he asked. Meanwhile, after victory at Thirsk Clive was a little surprised that we were in the Bowling Club just a couple of hours later. “You’ve got down from Scotland a bit quick. Did you fly?” he asked. I had to point out that Thirsk was actually in North Yorkshire.

Haunted House

The race at York was an eventful occasion, particularly after we got back to the hotel and had expensive sandwiches in the historic drawing room. Ole was impressed when I told him that the hotel would make us sandwiches. Less so when I told him the cost! Myself, Greg from the US, Ole and Zac took our seats, and we were the only people there. The sandwiches arrived and we tucked in.

The Lady In Red

I mentioned that when my sister Fiona was there she saw a lady in a flowing red dress in the garden, but when we looked she had gone. Middlethorpe Hall is mentioned in the book “Ghosts Of York” and it looks like the kind of place that could well be haunted. We were about ready to retire for the night, when a door opened and a lady in a red dress walked past us. She went to a table, picked something up, and walked past us again, saying a brief “goodnight” before disappearing.

“Tell me I’m not the only one who saw that,” Zac said, seriously considering that he had seen a ghost.

Ole was a little more cynical. “She’s a paid actor,” he said. “The hotel heard us talking and sent her out for effect.”

I’m not sure he had thought about the logistics of having an actor waiting just in case anyone mentioned the ghosts, and then timing her entrance almost to the second. I prefer the explanation that she was indeed a ghost!

The following morning things took an even more bizarre turn. Zac asked Ole where the toothpaste was, and Ole told him that it was in the bathroom. A short time later Zac emerged from the bathroom, and Ole went in to collect his toiletries.

“Why have you been using my moisturiser?” he asked, and a penny dropped with Zac.

“I thought it tasted a bit funny,” he said, “and when I read the tube I wondered why anyone would want to moisturise their teeth.”

Naughty In Nottingham

At Nottingham the whole day was a bit chaotic. It was Ladies Day, and the racecourse had moved the owners to a small balcony and a separate dining room. They tried to get the day off to a good start, but it backfired with Lady M.

“Prosecco madam?” the waitress asked.

“Prosecco?” Lady M replied with a sneer, “No thanks!” and that was that!

Afterwards, Sally fell foul of the notorious Nottingham one way systems. She drove down one particular street and was supposed to turn right at the roundabout. Unfortunately she missed that sign, and went straight ahead down a road reserved for buses. A bystander waved his arms, so she stopped. The helpful chap said she wasn’t supposed to be on that road. To make matters worse, Nottingham Forest were about to kick off against Chelsea. The place was crawling with police officers.

“What should I do?” asked Sally. “Should I do a u-turn?”

The man considered for a moment, then said “Well there are cameras on every lamppost so you’ve probably been caught anyway. What harm, can a u-turn do?”

Sally duly swung her vehicle round, and, much to the astonishment of several police officers, she drove away. The remarkable thing was that the expected bunch of tickets never actually arrived.

The Racing Line

Sally’s driving came to the fore in a very different way after another trip to York. The drama occurred on Torside, the winding shortcut that leads to the Woodhead Pass, although we were unaware of it at the time.

It was Dale Jones who notified us, as by chance he had been sent a Tik-Tok link. The link showed Sally swing wide to cut the corner of a bend, and the man behind was obviously videoing her. There are many blind bends on that road, but this was not one of them. However, this did not deter the amateur videographer and self-appointed arbiter of driving competence. He made derogatory remarks about middle-aged women and Range Rover drivers, but his smug post backfired on him.

The vast majority of the comments were in favour of Sally, with the highlight being that she must either be a trained police officer, or an advanced driving practitioner. Others stated that she was simply taking the “Racing Line”! I decided against commenting, content in the knowledge that the reason our very own Penelope Pitstop went wide into the bend was because she was playing a game with herself to increase her miles per gallon. If she had hugged the inside she would have had to brake, thereby reducing her mpg. I am sure you will have seen similar on Wacky Races.

Perfectly Poached

A fine poached egg (even if I do say so myself!)

Errant Errwood

Fernilee reservoir can get a bit busy at certain times of the year, so Sally, myself and Helen headed for Errwood. It was a relaxing walk, with some challenging parts, and I’m convinced Sally was only taking pictures and videos in the hope of catching me falling into the river.

What could possibly go wrong?

Motoring With Zac

We’ve had a couple of car related incidents involving Zac, the first of which involved Sally’s car being moved. Its an automatic, and huge compared to Zac’s little runaround. When it was not where she had left it, and she had not moved it, I said I had not moved it, but Zac openly admitted that he had done it. Its a worrying trend as he’s never driven an automatic before, and he is certainly not insured!

On another occasion he was parked in the Walters Wood turning circle. His cousin Jake pulled alongside, so Zac let his window down and said “I’m Zac Madden.”

“I know who you are,” Jake replied.

Zac realised who he was and said, “Sorry, I thought you were the Domino’s driver.”

Growing Pains

Ole returned from a lads weekend in Wales later than expected, because he had to stop several times on the way back to throw up. It is easy to see that he is growing up as he admitted he had alcohol poisoning rather than blaming it on something he ate!

Double Dutch

My UK based business took an odd turn recently when a client offered me lots of contracts if I could set up a Dutch subsidiary. I’ve dealt with the Dutch before, and I know that it is a very difficult language to get to grips with, Fortunately, Google Translate has improved a lot.

I managed to get the company registered with the Dutch chamber of commerce, and it was supposedly automatic that I would receive my VAT number, a crucial element to doing business in The Netherlands. This did not happen, and it was apparently because my activities were not VATable, but no problem, I could change them on the KVK website.

So, I did. Then I had to prove that I was authorised to make the changes. For that I needed a DIGID. This is a Dutch identity card. As I’m not Dutch I do not have one of those, but no problem, I could use my Dutch passport if I am ex pat Dutch. But I’m not! No problem, just print off the form and post it off! Post? In 2024? Anyway, I posted it off and the activities were duly changed, but it turns out that it is nothing to do the activities. As it turns out the fact that I am not Dutch means that I must register as a foreign entrepreneur. This I have now done, but I have very little faith that I have negotiated all of the complex steps to get this done. I will keep you posted!

Bloody Mary? No – Peach!

“Don’t be such a Peach Mary”. That was the latest “insult” aimed by Zac in his mum’s direction. No idea what it means, and I’m not sure he does either. Any clues?

Falling Off

Its been a while – but eventually I got another of those phone calls. “Sally has fallen off Nancy. She’s ok but she’s gone to The Cottage at Buxton to have it checked out.”

I got a lift to Buxton so that I could drive her car home, and she was still at The Cottage. I went in just as she was seeing the doctor, and apparently the length of her wait meant the radiographer had gone home, so no X-Rays were available.

They advised taking her to Stepping Hill, so we drove down there, and with an expected wait of several hours I left her to it. Several hours later I picked her up, with a fractured clavicle and strapping to keep the joint in place. A week or so later it was clear that the joint was not healing, and so shoulder surgery was required. This happened quite quickly, and then it was the long, slow process of recovery and recuperation. After six weeks she has exhausted her brownie points, but I’ve no doubt that they will magically reappear when she needs them!

This included one day when I actually had to muck out the stable. What’s the going rate for that?

Anyway, she’s back on the horse now, cantering rather than galloping. Nancy seems none the worse for the experience.

Back With A Bang

Star Of Lady M went to Thirsk in May, a course where she had run badly the previous year when she was still returning to fitness. Its a lovely course, and we spent a while chatting to Tim Easterby, as well as his son Thomas and travelling head lad Geordie. They were intrigued about the recent murder in the village of Whaley Bridge, but that is not for these pages!

Stable apprentice Mark Winn took the ride, and as we met in the parade ring he told me that David’s instructions were “just do what Mike says”. So, I told him to break well, tuck in behind the early pace, and pounce late. He did exactly that, and came home for an easy victory. He was as excited as anyone as he aims for the champion apprentice trophy.

The presentation was followed by the usual champagne, and then Thirsk took back their memento, a two-handled cup, that they then sent to be engraved with our colours and the race details. When it arrived a few weeks later it was certainly worth the wait.

Mark Winn brings home the victorious Star Of Lady M

Win number 8

The trophy from Thirsk

No To Nottingham

Our next stop was at Nottingham, and I was a little concerned that our filly had only had a break of 7 days since her last race, this one was over an additional furlong, and she carried a huge weight. Mark Winn was once again on board, and he gave the saddle to us to feel how heavy it was. It weighed a ton, and they wisely wanted to keep it off her back until the last possible minute.

The Nottingham experience was disappointing, as it was Ladies Day and the owners’ facility was moved to accommodate the large crowd. This meant that we had a tiny viewing area, which we actually vacated to take up a far from ideal position at the end of the track.

Our fears were realised when she raced steadily but was eased down into last place. She was not beaten far, but the racecourse vet took a look at her, just to confirm that all was ok, and we could certainly learn a few lessons from our trip to the East Midlands course.

Nottingham may have come too soon

Leafy Lingfield

We gave her three and a half weeks off before a trip to Lingfield for a 5f contest. Oisin Murphy took the ride but we were drawn 6 of 6, the worst possible position. Sally could not make the trip as she was recovering from shoulder surgery, but Oisin provided another touch of class by recording a video wishing her a speedy recovery. Star struggled to get any cover in a tightly packed bunch, eventually finished 5th. Oisin was apologetic but there was nothing he could do, and he gave us the confidence that she could win again off her current mark. After the race there were none of the winning connections around, so myself and the connections of 2nd placed Almaty Star were invited in for champagne!

Oisin studying his options at Lingfield

But even he couldn’t overcome the outside draw

Yes To York

After a few considerations our next stop was York for another fillies only handicap over six furlongs. There was still a nagging doubt about her ability to last 6 furlongs, but a bigger concern at York was once again the draw. Drawn 1 of 11, Danny Tudhope had no choice but to drop her out the back. To make it worse the whole field tracked to the stands rail, so we had to cover about ten lengths before the race actually began. She ran on well at the end and finished 5th, nicking a bit of prizemoney and putting recent defeats behind her.

Star Of Lady M looking magnificent at York

I had an American friend over, so together with Sally, Ole and Zac we enjoyed the fine hospitality provided by York Owners restaurant, and had a brilliant day.

Afterwards, Sally retired to recover from her surgery, whilst our driver Terry took the rest of us to the pub to watch Germany destroy Scotland, and we managed to get an Uber back to Middlethorpe for the bargain price of £3.38. What happened next is documented above!

Happy Haydock

It was a quick turnaround, just eight days, to her next run at Haydock. It was a real family affair, as my 3 sisters joined us, as well as Sally, Gabi, and granddaughter Nixie. Mark Winn took the ride, which was great as he had won on her at Thirsk, and the majority of the top riders were at Ascot. It was a fillies only race over 5 furlongs, but we were once again given the worst draw in 1. We could have gone for the Listed Land O’Burns at Ayr, a race in which old rival Pepsi Cat finished 4th, but Haydock was a much more chilled out evening for the Class 4 contest.

As ever we tried to get cover in the early part of the race. Mark did well, but we were quickly out in the open. Miss Attitude won from Love Wars, but we were a very creditable two lengths back in 3rd, well clear of the rest, having raced out wide for the entire time. Afterwards, Haydock invited us for champagne anyway, and Nixie tucked in to the cakes that were on offer.

She ran a fine race from a bad draw at Haydock

Challenging At Chelmsford

Full of optimism, we considered entries at Epsom, Beverley and Doncaster. Epsom was a bit of a surprise, but then Oisin Murphy was jocked up so we would be happy to go there. Doncaster looked the next best option, but instead I suggested we added a race at Chelmsford. Skipping Doncaster could have been a mistake as there were only 8 runners, and on the day three of these were non-runners leaving just 5. However, in racing you have to learn to have no regrets, and we decided that Chelmsford was our best option.

There were just 11 entries for the Class 3 5f event, and several of these looked like they might go elsewhere. As it turned out only One Night Stand did not declare, so there were ten of us in the stalls including Night On Earth who finished 4th just two days earlier.

Third Time Lucky

Danny Tudhope took  the ride, and we were given the best draw in 1. That was the 3rd stall 1 on the bounce, but for once it was in our favour.

Danny broke well, but he was forced a little wide when he came to make a move at the top of the straight. She finished well but could not quite get to the winner The Thames Boatman. Second place was a brilliant result, and she won more for that than she would have got for winning at Doncaster. This surprised David who didn’t seem to be aware that it was a £25,000 race.

Star Of Lady M loved a scratch after her Chelmsford second

It was a great afternoon at the Essex course, where I was joined by my sister and brother-in-law, as well as Sally’s cousin from Kent and his wife and daughter. The good thing about racing regularly in the south is that you get to see lots of familiar faces. The owners of Almaty Star were there (they finished 3rd), as was Michelle Fernandes who we last met at a rainy Chelmsford last December. We met the owners of Stenton Glider who had travelled down from our neck of the woods, and it was a very relaxed atmosphere despite the occasional heavy showers.

Number One At Newmarket

Her run of not getting her head in front was growing, but she was still in great form. Her next entry was a bit of a surprise, another fillies only contest over six furlongs at Newmarket. There were other options, and after previous doubts about whether she would actually stay six, to try her on the stiff finish of the Newmarket July course seemed ambitious. Oisin Murphy was on Andrew Balding’s horse, and Danny Tudhope was riding at Newbury, so we would have to find a jockey.

When it came to declarations David was easy and he left it to me. Star would be going up 2lbs in the weights the following day after our gallant second at Chelmsford, and there was nothing else before Goodwood, so I said we might as well go for it. We got ex champion jockey Jim Crowley and we were drawn 5 of 10, right in the middle so cover should not be a problem.

You can read the previous edition here

A Measured Response

May 14, 2024 by Mike Madden

A Measured Response

A Welcome Return

After two weeks of work the demolition of our old kitchen finished. There was still a lot to do, and it would be many months before completion, but at least we got our cooker back.

Unfortunately this was not in time for St Patrick’s Day, but I did manage to make a St Patrick’s Day cake in the slow cooker, as well as Dublin coddle and soda bread.

The cake was a rather odd shape as the slow cooker is oval.

However, I managed to keep it exceptionally moist (probably due to the Guinness).

And it didn’t last very long!

Back To Basics

The Dublin Coddle required sausages, and it was quite satisfying cooking these on an open fire in the garden.

I think the soda bread could have been better – it was a bit crumbly, but not bad given the circumstances. All finished off with a pint of the black stuff in the Drum & Monkey.

I also made barbeque chicken and potatoes in the slow cooker, a throwback to the days of cooking for the services when the dam threatened the village.

Mmm…Cookbooks

Once I got my oven back there seemed to be a burst of cooking. There were old favourites such as enchiladas…

Sticky toffee pudding…

And turkey slices…

There were also a few new creations such as flatbreads stuffed with feta, sun dried tomatoes, mozzarella and chorizo.

These have gone down particularly well, with several variations.

I also bought some ramekins, and these have been instrumental in dishes both sweet and savoury.

Little lemon puddings (an inventive name given by Nigella) are lemon puddings that are quite small! They make use of lashings of lemon curd.

Whilst chocolate lava cakes were a more traditional creation.

Chicken rogan josh pie might seem unusual, but it is a classic mix of the British love of pies and Indian food. It also gave me the chance to try some side dishes, in this case cabbage with cinnamon (note – use ground cinnamon – sticks are a nightmare), and aloo ki bhaji.

Its Only One Out!

Meanwhile, back in the kitchen and we were all set to have the decorative stone laid above the new bi-fold doors, and then the doors themselves could be fitted. Not the end of the project by any means, but it would add some normality to the kitchen area. Unfortunately, when the time came it was discovered that the gap in the wall was 3.8 metres, but the meticulously measured stone was only 2.8 metres. The options were to laugh, cry, or wait for a new piece of stone.

No further progress!

Unfortunately the stonemason was about to go on holiday and the door fitter could only fit us in that week. A number of phone calls later and the delay was shortened somewhat, as the builders procured new stone and fitted it just 3 days later than originally anticipated. The door could then be fitted after the weekend, meaning an overall delay of around 6 days. In the grand scheme of things I will take that!

Night Shift

Sally decided to help out with the removal of some tiles from the wall using a hammer. For some inexplicable reason she decided to do this at 3.30am. When I went down to remonstrate with her she dissolved into uncontrollable giggles that didn’t subside when she made her way to bed!

In the daytime the builders returned and continued the incessant banging. I told Sally that I might have to set up an office in Whaley Bridge so that I could concentrate. She suggested that I might struggle with the commute to make a 9am meeting. She’s clearly going to have to be taken down a peg or two!

The latest estimate is that the kitchen might be ready for July, and there would be a lot of decorating to do afterwards.

Watching Me Watching You

Thomas is starting to get a little braver, spending whole nights outside. However, he still does like to be in close proximity to myself. So, I should not have been surprised when I decided to take a bath, and he opted for something similar in the sink!

Amazon Addiction

On the way to Bath racecourse the radio provided some entertainment. There was a phone-in about online shopping, and the way that it seems to have got out of control. It is considered an addiction, and has even cost people their friendships and marriages. Apparently the process involves three separate dopamine hits. The first when the product is ordered, the second when it arrives and the third when it is unboxed. One caller suggested that there was a fourth, and Sally wholeheartedly agreed. That happens when the item is resold on Vinted! The struggle is real.

Battle Of The Birds

The garden continues to attract a variety of birds. Unfortunately the crows, magpies and squirrels are still a nuisance, emptying all manner of feeders often within minutes of them being filled.

I moved the feeders amongst the branches of some trees rather than have them in an exposed position beneath the cherry tree. This certainly helped but the nuisance persists. Watch this space for an update on my cunning deterrents.

Football Firsts

It was a very successful football season for Ole, as his Hayfield team scooped the league and cup double, culminating with the final at a very cold Silverlands in Buxton. They won’t find it so easy next season with promotion to the Premier division.

In other news Ole completed his Level 3 Personal Trainer qualification, so expect to seem in a gym in the near future!

Unexpected Cleaning

Ole and Zac cleaned the pool room without being asked, which was highly suspicious. It turned out they wanted to use the pool room, Zac for a poker night and Ole for a drinks party. Of course, it did not take long for the room to become a tip again, However, this gave me the opportunity to brush, hoover and iron the pool table, for the first time in around ten years!

AI?

For those of you wondering what this AI is all about, I have engaged with the University of Derby to create an AI Toolkit. Hopefully this will also include some real world examples of the implementation of AI.

Tales Of The Turf

In the horseracing world there have been some dramatic ups and downs.

Finals day at Lingfield was looming but Star Of Lady M was not quite high enough in the ratings to guarantee our place. We headed to Newcastle, passing the Angel Of The North in both directions, and had an easy stroll to the course from our hotel. She finished a very close second to multiple winner Bonito Cavalo. That meant we had to go up, hopefully by the four or five pounds necessary. Our walk back to the hotel, in the dark, was a lot more problematic, particularly as the rain had made our path somewhat muddy!

The Angel Of The North

Ready to race at Newcastle

There was an anxious wait, and it was a disappointment that we only went up two pounds, as did the winner. I consoled myself that most of the leading jockeys would either be at the Dubai World Cup or the grand final at Newcastle, so we certainly would not get Oisin Murphy or Danny Tudhope.

Every Cloud…

It was soon confirmed that we did not make finals day, but we did not let that deter us. A few days later Star Of Lady M came out at Lingfield again. This time Danny Tudhope rode her, and she was second favourite. I travelled down on the train, once again taking advantage of my senior railcard, and I arrived in good time. Danny broke slowly, but this was always a part of the plan.

Danny took the ride at Lingfield

Catch Me If You Can

The outsider kicked for home, going two, three, four lengths clear and not stopping. Danny went after the leader, and he clinched victory on the line in the most dramatic fashion, making up five lengths in the final furlong. It was just a £9,500 race, a far cry from the £65,000 that we could have been competing for, but it was her seventh career win, the most by any progeny of Havana Grey.

Seventh Heaven at Lingfield

She also recorded her highest ever RPR of 93 and TS of 86. You will have to do your own research if you want to understand that!

The Grass Is Always Greener

The end of the all weather season was upon us, and I put it to David O’Meara that Star Of Lady M might qualify for a lower turf rating than all weather. He suggested that I email the handicapper and ask the question, so I did. I got a very polite response saying that as she had not raced on turf since October, and she had previously won on turf off 86, we had no chance.

Bath Bombs

So, we planned our next outing. Beverley was abandoned, and there was a lot of heavy ground. The one race that stood out was the Listed race at Bath, at a meeting sponsored by Whitsbury Manor. This was Star Of Lady M’s birthplace, and where her parents still live.

It was a long drive, and in such exalted company Star was an outsider. We caught up with some friends before the race, including Sam Hoskins of Hot To Trot, and Ed Harper from Whitsbury Manor. Ed was keen to get Star to Whitsbury to mate before she went off to Mount Coote, but that would be a discussion for another day.

Wondering what all of the fuss is about

It was good to have Jason Watson back in the saddle, he was the last jockey to win on her on turf at Musselburgh. The race was eventful, with Star Of Lady M getting bumped at the start and then squeezed. At some point she lost a shoe, and it was no surprise that she finished 10th of 13. However, she showed enough to encourage us to go for another Listed race later in the season.

Jason Watson back on board at Bath

There was some good news a couple of days later, as the handicapper finally decided that Star Of Lady M deserved a revised turf rating, and she was dropped 4lbs to 82.

The Daydream

Back at Willow Farm, Percy’s Daydream was the subject of another stable visit. Seven of us watched her canter up the gallops, and although she still has some growing to do, she remains on course for a June or July debut.

Although shares in Percy’s Daydream have sold out, we may look to do something similar for the 2025 season.

Percy’s Daydream ready to canter

Percy’s Daydream at home

You can read the previous edition here…

Whoa! We’re Going To Barbados

 

 

January 8, 2024 by Mike Madden

Thud! Cake

“Bruce, Bruce, Bruce!”

There are times when I shake my head in disbelief, and when Sally decided to recreate her (in)famous Bogtrotter Cake this was another such instance. The occasion was Archie’s school play. The production was Matilda, and Archie was to play Bruce Bogtrotter. Bruce is famous for eating an entire chocolate cake, and Sally decided that her Bogtrotter cake was just what he needed. So, I retrieved my large mixing bowl from the cookhouse. Normally this would be used to bake copious amounts of Ciabatta, but on this occasion it would serve to hold the batter for Sally’s cake.

She started off in what looked like a scene from Fantasia, with Mickey Mouse orchestrating various kitchen objects, and ended more like The Cat In The Hat and the Kupcake-inator. However, this cake would definitely not fit in a cup. The science of baking went out of the window as flour, eggs, sugar, butter, cocoa and maybe a few other ingredients were mixed in the rapidly filling bowl. Too runny? Add more flour. Too stiff? Add more eggs. What could possibly go wrong?

Let Them Eat Cake

Eventually, two cake tins were lined and filled with the dark brown batter, and into the oven they went. The batter did not end there. Sally went on to make a dozen cupcakes with the remainder. I did consider telling her that proportions for cupcakes are usually different to those for large cakes, but as the thought of using a measuring implement had never crossed her mind I decided to stay quiet.

An undetermined time later the cakes were removed, and they looked magnificent. A bit like a volcano just before it blows, or the calm sea before a Tsunami hits. Sally was so pleased with her creation that she posted to all of the doubters on social media. After the cakes had cooled she constructed the final Bogtrotter version with chocolate buttercream, and it was left to sit, revelling in its magnificence until the show four days later.

Metamorphosis

Four days can be a long time in the life of a cake, particularly one which could be said to be “scientifically unstable”. It was packaged up (not in cake dome or box, it was too big for that), and off it went for the post-show celebrations. Ole and Zac accompanied Sally, and it was good that they did. The cake was almost a two-man job as it was lifted and transported into the hall.

Things That Go Thud In The Night

I have independent witnesses who all used the exact same word when describing what happened next. The cake was lowered onto a table with a Thud! The “Thud” was so loud that it silenced the room as everyone turned to see what had happened. Many suspected an accident, or perhaps something had fallen from a great height. No, this was the Bogtrotter Cake.

At this point it could still be called “magnificent”, at least by Sally, and as the wrapping was removed the weight was still the only cause for alarm. However, when it came to cutting into the cake there was another problem. The icing, and indeed much of the cake itself, had solidified. A simple kitchen knife would simply not do, and at one point the gathered throng considered contacting the woodwork department for a saw.

Holes beginning to appear

Finally, the outer layer was breached, and further problems became evident. The cake was so heavy that large parts of it had sunk. Internal holes were visible, surrounded by heavily concentrated and obviously dry concrete-like structures of chocolate cake. A few brave souls munched on it, but the majority of the cake returned home. Even the self-confessed chocolate cake fiend Zac would not touch it.

Collapsing under its own weight

Like birthday cards and Christmas trees I gave it a few days before consigning it to the bin, despite protests from Sally that she might have wanted to give it to the birds! I almost rang the RSPCA, I was already a little worried that it might do some damage to Waterswallows. I took the opportunity to get rid of the cupcakes too. As the cocoa dust settled I made sure that I had some photos “lest we forget”!

Kitchen Creations

I seem to have been very busy in the kitchen, starting with one of my favourites, Festival Gateau. I can remember having this as a child, and until recently Morrisons used to sell them. However, apart from having to be careful with the construction they are actually quite easy to make.

Festival gateau – layers of cream, custard and sponge surrounded by a marzipan dome

Festival gateau uses a lot of egg yolks in the custard, so I needed something that would use the egg whites. Raspberry Pavlova did the trick.

Raspberry Pavlova

I tried my hand at corn dogs. These just seemed like an unhealthy way to eat sausages even though they were baked rather than deep fried. The kids enjoyed them – but I’m not sure I will make them again.

Corn dogs

Rice dishes are always popular with the boys, and paella is a common creation. To add some variety I made biryani with chicken which went down well, but there was a clear favourite. Taken from Mmm…No1…Cookbook, Jambalaya is not only a great song its a great dish too! Tesco in Whaley Bridge now sell all manner of sausages, so I opted for chorizo, a spiced salami and Catalan fuet. It was so good I made it twice! I also used a similar combination to make a meaty and spicy paella.

Spicy paella

Breaking Bread

As you know I retrieved my giant mixing bowl for the Thud! cake, and whilst it was out I made use of it. Ciabatta is very satisfying to make, especially if the bread is properly aerated with a crusty exterior. I made individual buns rather than larger loaves, and they disappeared in no time.

Ciabatta

Its Beginning To Look A Lot Like…

Despite the success of the savoury dishes, its the sweet treats that are undoubtedly the most popular. I repeated my success with Pastel De Nata, and a pre-Christmas chocolate log has now become tradition. Two batches of gingerbread men, Christmas trees, hearts, etc were almost gone before they could be decorated.

Run, run, as fast as you can

However, I decided that I would make my own gingerbread house instead of buying an inedible kit. It went quite well, although the construction was somewhat tricky. The roof was a significant challenge, but cola strips and matchmakers seemed to do the trick. As with all things Christmassy, a sprinkle of icing sugar can hide a multitude of sins.

11 Walters Wood

In the past we have had issues with burglars in Whaley Bridge, particularly at this time of year. My gingerbread house was not immune from this, and the path started to disappear as soon as it was finished!

Happy Thanksgiving

To celebrate Thanksgiving I tried my hand at Mississippi Mud Pie. Very sticky and sweet – another that may not get a second try!

Mississippi Mud Pie

Nutella Dodgers

Chocolate digestives never last very long, although with Ole being away I thought I had a chance. Not so, and the second batch, with a chocolate base, is almost down to crumbs.

Another biscuit I decided to try was Nutella shortbread sandwich, using my pastry cutters to make them look pretty! Zac is not a fan of shortbread, but Ole is!

Nutella Shortbread Sandwiches

Festive Food

The run up to Christmas is always busy, but perhaps the most important job is to put the final dose of Cointreau into the Creole Cake!

A couple of days later it was time to cover the cake with home made almond paste before baking it again in the oven.

Once ALL of the cooking is out of the way I can leave it to Sally to add the finishing decorative touches.

Although Zac would maintain that the Christmas Log is the most important festive creation.

Christmas pudding has become a spectacular part of the festive season – and this year I got Zac to film the final flaming event!

Birthday Balloons

You might think that 20 is too old to have balloons on your birthday, but Sally decided that Zac’s 20th would be celebrated in the traditional way. So, on her way out of the supermarket she suddenly remembered “balloons”, and grabbed a couple of packets. On the eve of the big day I was tasked with blowing them up, and I was a little surprised to see “21 Today” emblazoned across the surface. Undeterred, I still had the second packet to fall back on. Unfortunately, the 8th birthday message was even less appropriate!

Cat Capers

Bo seems increasingly used to having Thomas around the place. There is a lot of play fighting between them, and Thomas does occasionally get quite brave. However, Bo will always have the last swipe just to let him know who is boss.

The ears are a bit of a giveaway

With it being close to Christmas there are a lot of boxes that the pair of them use for hiding, sleeping or playing in. Thomas has also discovered that there is a bowl on the kitchen windowsill that is just his size.

He’s also been outside exploring – but he had to be rescued from this predicament.

Can you get me down please?

Bo has also been using the boxes to avoid her new friend.

But Thomas can be determined.

Though really they are best buddies!

Thomas has been having his injections and check ups, and when I mentioned to Ole that I had taken him to the vet in Chapel he was a little confused. “I didn’t even know there was a vet in Chapel,” he said, “or did you just take him to the doctors?”

A Christmas Special

There were more creatures involved when Ole’s long awaited appearance in the Christmas Special of All Creatures Great And Small was finally aired. There was a concern that many of his scenes might have been cut but this was not the case. He appeared several times, and was second only to James Herriott in the credits! We look forward to a busy 2024.

Another Sunday Lunch

We managed to fit in another Sunday lunch in October, to celebrate our wedding anniversary. We had heard good reports of the Old Hall in Chinley, so we decided to give it a try. With lifts there and back we could enjoy the atmosphere and a bottle of wine before our meal. The food was good, one of the better Sunday lunches in the area. Perhaps not quite at the Royal Oak, Hurdlow or the Barrel standard, but certainly not far behind. We will be trying it again!

Where There’s Muck…

Fiona lost her phone, and with the wizardry of modern technology she located it at Fern Farm in Buxton, where she and Sally keep their horses. They narrowed it down further, unfortunately to the muck pile. So, they set off to try to retrieve the missing phone. There was further bad news to come, as the muck pile had been scooped up and moved to Chelmorton Farm, where it no doubt joined a lot of other muck piles. Undeterred, Louise, Fiona and Sally went to the wilds of Chelmorton.

Louise and Fiona dived straight in to the muck pile, shovelling sh*t in the vain hope of retrieving the phone. However, it was Sally who proved to be most effective, praying to St Anthony as the others threw manure here and there. Lo and behold, the prayers were answered and the phone was found!

Watching The Detectives

And speaking of Sally and Fiona, they certainly dressed for the part on their recent trip to London. That is as long as the “part” was that of two lady detectives specialising in murder in country villages. Watch out for future episodes of Murder Mystery with Lady M And Baroness H. Its an intriguing series that shows what Cagney and Lacey would have been like if it was set in the Peak District. In the 1940s!

I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

I got an emergency call a few days before Christmas. Santa was double booked! So, I agreed to stand in for the Pony Stars. There were a couple of dodgy moments, including when a young boy told me he’d seen me at his grandad’s pub the previous day, but overall it went well. I am NOT available for panto!

Guess who?

Happy New Year

Finally in this section, as the New Year rolls in it is always good to get out and about. Today I took in one of the many spectacular views of the Peak District.

Horses, Horses, Everywhere

I went to the sales at Tattersalls on 12th October, with a view to buying a yearling for our new syndicate MMM Racing. I was a little more successful than previously, in terms of picking horses that were also on Luke Lillingston’s list. Luke is our friend and experienced bloodstock agent. I also met Mike Curtis, a friend from Twitter and a syndicate member. By the end of the day we had looked at a lot, earmarked a few, and bid on not many at all as we were priced out of most of the lots. Undeterred, we had another day to go, but I would have to leave that to Luke as I would be at York races.

Pick Of The Parade

Towards the end of that first day we saw a chestnut filly by Sir Percy (or is it ‘chesnut’?) and Luke was blown away by her. He thought she would be out of our price range, and not a particularly precocious type, so maybe not one for the syndicate. We studied her pedigree, and although Sir Percy won the Derby as a three-year-old, he also won over six furlongs in the May of his juvenile season. So, perhaps she might race earlier than originally thought. I drove home and did not think much more about it until the following morning. Luke had four or five that we were interested in, but it would be the Sir Percy filly who was first into the sales ring.

Bring The Hammer Down

Luke asked if we wanted to bid on her, and I said ‘yes’, but without much hope. We led the bidding at 18,000 guineas, but we were approaching our budget of 20,000. There was another problem, as whilst the horse was in the ring we were travelling to York, and about to hit the notorious signal blackspot at Woodhead. The bidding reached 20k, at which point I was willing to pull out, as we had several other prospects. “Do you want to try one more?” Luke asked as the phone signal faded. “Yes,” Sally shouted from the driver’s seat. So we went to 21k, and that was that. No further bids came in, and we had our filly.

Luke would make all of the necessary arrangements, and she would be at David O’Meara’s the following morning. That would give us the opportunity to visit her on our way back from York.

There was great excitement at the O’Meara yard, with David confirming that he thought she would be a six or seven furlong type to begin with, rather than the more traditional five. That was not a problem, as she could still potentially hit the track in May.

I messaged the syndicate so that they could start to think of a name for our new purchase, but for the immediate future we had a race at Musselburgh to attend.

Star Heads North

Star Of Lady M had won at Musselburgh previously, so we were reasonably confident as we made the long journey the day before the race. Despite hitting traffic going through Manchester we made reasonable time, but we were too late for food when we reached the magnificent Carberry Tower. Thanks to Hotels.Com we were upgraded to the Bowes-Lyons suite, a room where Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret had told stories to their children many years ago.

The following morning we went to the beach as the early autumn weather was glorious. It was starting to get a bit chilly as we reached the course, and although the ground appeared to be quite firm the rain had obviously softened it in places.

Danny Tudhope was on board, but it made no difference as Star battled to a disappointing 5th of 10. She ran ok, better than her £244 prize money deserved, but I began to wonder if she should be put away for the winter. Maybe we should consider sending her to stud, as there had definitely been more bad days than good during the season.

Star at Musselburgh

Danny was a little more optimistic, suggesting that she might benefit from a visor. David agreed, and suggested we try the all weather courses. There were several reasons for this, including the fact that her mum had won on the all weather, and there were significant bonuses to be had.

Opportunities For The Queen

Elsewhere, Storm Babet curtailed many racing fixtures. Southwell, a likely destination for Canaria Queen, was actually under water due to the local river bursting its banks. She was declared at Redcar, but Tim decided that she needed something easier so we waited.

Meanwhile, we decided that Emerald Duchess would not recover from her broken bone, and so she would be sold as a broodmare. She was entered into the December mares sale at Tattersalls.

Star Heads South

With meetings being abandoned and other meetings scheduled at short notice, race planning became a bit of a challenge. However, we found an opportunity for Star Of Lady M at Lingfield. Danny Tudhope was again on board, but Sally did not fancy the long trip south. I stayed at the Marriott which is actually on the course, so I was close by for the following day.

Lingfield had done really well to get the fixture on at short notice, and everyone was very friendly though the crowd was sparse. Star looked well in the paddock and Danny was confident. It was her first time in a visor, first time on the all weather, and her first time around a bend since the infamous Lily Agnes at Chester, but on the positive side there were only 7 runners.

The Best Laid Plans…

She broke well and tried to track Skallywag Bay, but Skallywag’s jockey took a pull and we lost momentum on the bend. She recovered in the straight, finishing fastest of all, but could only manage third. It was a pleasing run, and one that filled us with renewed optimism. Maybe an all weather campaign was just what she needed. I thought that the bends were still a bit of a problem, but David said that would improve with experience. I set off on the long journey home and wondered how anyone could ever consider the M25 as a commuter route. Luke shared my racing optimism, and we looked forward to her next outing.

Star glad to get the visor off at Lingfield

She was dropping down the weights, and we decided to give her an entry on a cold Friday evening at Newcastle.

She’s A Red Hot Momma (Or Maybe Not)

The vote for the name of our Sir Percy filly was tense, but Red Hot Momma prevailed. David O’Meara recorded a video announcement that I shared with the syndicate, and it was well received. I sent the name to Weatherbys for approval, but there was a problem. Red Hot Momma was too phonetically similar to the broodmare Red Hot Mama and so we would have to think again.

F..F..Friday Night

Sally was away and so could not make the long trip to Newcastle, so I went alone and made it in good time. Unfortunately I missed the turn for the course and ended up on a dual carriageway. I did a u-turn at the first roundabout, coming back on the other side. I was a little alarmed that my speedo said 50mph but my satnav was telling me the limit was 20mph, so I slammed on the brakes and ignored the possibility of a ticket. The course was busy, with a funfair and fireworks planned, so there was very little time to catch up with Star before or after the race.

The temperature had dropped significantly by the time of the 8th race. David Nolan was our jockey, and he was a little concerned about our position on the far side of the course. My research told me that there should not be a particular draw bias, but on a cold night such as this there were other factors. She started as co-favourite of 3, but drifted to 7/1. Perhaps someone knew something!

David Nolan on Star Of Lady M at Newcastle

Out On Her Own

David broke well, then tried to get Star covered up. No one would let him in, and by the time he did tuck in it was too late. Our girl ran ok to dead heat for 4th, but David explained afterwards that she burnt herself out running into a strong headwind. Being drawn on the near side and being able to get behind a wall of horses would have been much better, which is exactly what the winner did. It was a reason for optimism as she picked up more prizemoney, and it made me realise just how many different factors came into play before a race could be won.

The journey home was uneventful, but as expected I got a letter through the post. Fortunately it was not a speeding ticket, instead it was a £30 charge for not paying the Tyne Tunnel toll. I consider that a win!

A Horse With No Name

The following week I went to the stable to see our Sir Percy filly. She still had no name – but she looked magnificent.

We also saw Star Of Lady M who looked like she was ready to race again.

Dancing At Wolves

We made another entry for Newcastle, but decided against it. Instead we had options at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton over six furlongs. The prospect of six was intriguing, and we opted for that. She got a good draw in 4, and David Probert, who rides the track well, was on board.

Wolverhampton was a really nice experience, with a dedicated place in the stands just outside the restaurant for viewing. We met Twitter and Facebook friend Will Cemis, and he seemed to have great luck throughout the evening.

David Probert on Star Of Lady M

We were in the last of 8 races, but it was worth the wait. Star tucked in behind the pace and made her run up the straight. Starsong was leading on the rail, and we just managed to get the better of that rival. Sadly, Sixties Chic just pipped us on the line in a three way photo.

Desperately close at Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton is actually 6 furlongs and 20 yards, so perhaps that additional 20 yards was her undoing.

It did show us that six furlongs was a genuine option, and we looked forward to a win in the not too distant future.

The All Weather bonus for October / November was out of reach, but we had accumulated 9 points towards the overall prize.

Daydream Believer

Our Sir Percy filly still needed a name, and after another tense vote there was a tie. The Red Baroness and Percy’s Daydream received equal numbers of votes. So, in a supplementary vote Percy’s Daydream triumphed. I once again sent the name to Weatherbys, and this time it was approved.

Meanwhile, the Great British Bonus people could not get away from Star Of Lady M, featuring her in their latest set of adverts.

“Be more Star Of Lady M”, but what I really wanted was for Star to return to the winners enclosure where she had been four times in the previous season.

Something For The Weekend

The end of November brought about a very busy weekend. Canaria Queen was declared at Southwell on Friday evening, and Star Of Lady M at Lingfield the following afternoon. It was all too much for Sally, so I set off alone for the Nottinghamshire course.

This was the first time Southwell had been open since the floods, and there were no spectators allowed. Owners and Annual members had their own areas, and it had quite a busy feel to it. Tom Denham was sat at a table with several other Tim Easterby owners, so I joined them and chatted about horses and syndicates. I was not overly confident about the chances of Canaria Queen, but I was excited about Star Of Lady M once again trying 6 furlongs at Lingfield the following day. We had even secured the services of champion jockey Oisin Murphy for the ride.

There The Cold Winds Blow

Southwell had done a great job getting the course ready, but I suspect that the jockeys were not too impressed with the temporary weighing room. This was a marquee, and with biting winds all around they were freezing.

Duran Fentiman was on board Canaria Queen, and he was happy to see how the race panned out. As it happened, she broke well enough, got a bit lost as the pace quickened, and finished 7th of 11. Hopefully now she would drop a few pounds to a more realistic mark. I spoke to Tim and we agreed that perhaps she should revert to six furlongs to give her a chance to settle better.

Canaria Queen at Southwell

I left the course and headed south, but the traffic was against me. The A46 was closed and the M1 was down to a single lane. By the time I arrived at the on course hotel at Lingfield the bar was shut!

The following morning it was a two minute drive out of the car park to the next car park which was for Owners and Trainers. Once again Lingfield was friendly, and for this Saturday afternoon meeting there was quite a crowd. I sat with some other owners, and met Sally’s friend and fellow owner Christine who was there to watch Master Zoffany.

Murphy’s Law

We were again in the last race on the card, and so it was a long wait. There was good news from Oisin as he rode the winner of the first race. David O’Meara called to discuss tactics, but the basic message was that Oisin was the right man for the job. In the parade ring he oozed confidence. He had watched her unlucky run at Wolverhampton, and thought he could ease her into the straight before pushing the button. He then took the trouble to record a good luck video for one of our friends, Daisy, who is heading to the racing school.

Oisin Murphy on Star Of Lady M at Lingfield

Oisin In Charge

He was very impressive all round, and I was feeling confident as I went to the stands. Star broke well, and raced behind the early leader. Coming into the straight she ranged alongside and went on. It looked as though she might have hit the front too soon, then Oisin flicked a switch and away she went. She comfortably beat her 10 rivals by almost 3 lengths, and it was both a thrill and a relief to see her in the winners enclosure once more. Oisin ensured everyone was in line for the pictures, and I went to the viewing room for a replay and a glass of champagne.

The winners enclosure at Lingfield

I was almost the last to leave the course, but the journey home seemed to fly by. I took calls from Luke and David as we planned what would be next. David thought that the easy six at Lingfield really suited her, but that her best distance was still five.

The following Tuesday Canaria Queen had been dropped 3lbs, but Star Of Lady M had been raised 7lbs. That meant she was still considerably lower than at the start of the season, so perhaps there was more to come.

The Only Way Is Essex

Our next plans involved Wolverhampton or Newcastle. The Wolverhampton race was for restricted riders so we drew a line through that. Chelmsford was an option, and we could have had Oisin on board. Unfortunately Oisin decided to go to Wincanton hurdling, a meeting that was subsequently abandoned! We entered a Class 3 race at Wolverhampton, but again decided to give it a miss despite there only being 4 runners.

Chelmsford was still on, and we got Hector Crouch as our jockey. Hector had ridden Star into 3rd at Windsor back in July.

On our way to Chelmsford we called at Newmarket where Emerald Duchess was in the mares sale. Sadly, she did not sell, but we have subsequently sent her to Kate Tibbits where she should be rehomed to enjoy an alternative career,

We said “goodbye” to Emerald Duchess

We stayed at a local inn in Chelmsford, and met my sister Lisa and her husband Stewart, as well as Sally’s cousin Jamie and his wife Sharon. It was a shocking night of torrential rain, and there was a further shock when we were asked for ID on entry to the course. The owners area was crowded, and the racecourse itself was a bit weird as the start of most races is behind the spectators. As it turned out we did not get the run of the race, with Hector getting caught out wide and Star Of Lady M pulling very hard.

She finished 7th of 8, unfortunately not enough to get her handicap reduced!

Star Of Lady M wasn’t happy at Chelmsford

A Turkey At Wolves

That could have been it for the year, but we actually ran twice more. The first of these was at Wolverhampton a few days before Christmas. The owners restaurant provided our first Christmas dinner of the season, and with Danny Tudhope back on board we were hopeful.

Danny Tudhope back on board at Wolverhampton

She got blocked early in the race, but finished well to grab third, a reasonable result that confirmed that Chelmsford was just a bad day.

Star Of Lady M seems to enjoy Wolverhampton

Auld Lang Syne

Next up it was New Year’s Eve at Lingfield. We could have gone to Wolverhampton the day before, but Sally was visiting friends in London, who she hadn’t seen for 35 years. So she went with my sister, and then they travelled onwards to Lingfield. I drove down and we were hopeful for the following day. I had reservations because she had had a long, hard season. Perhaps she needed a break? We would soon know.

David Probert was on board, and he had ridden her into third at Wolverhampton previously. Jason Kelly said it was the right race for her, so although we had an average draw in 6 there was some confidence. We made new friends on the large, shared tables in the Owners lounge, and we joined David O’Meara’s representative Sarah in the parade ring for the previous race as Zarabanda’s owners were not in attendance.

A Rough Ride

Finally it was time for our race and Star looked very relaxed in the parade ring. David rang and said he had given the jockey no set instructions. David Probert had ridden a winner earlier in the day, so my instruction was to ride exactly the same race. It never panned out that way, as Star got bumped, blocked and bumped again. She was eased down to finish last of 10, but she was beaten less than 5 lengths. David thought it was just the tactics that were wrong, as she saw too much daylight and ran “with the choke out”. I thought that she might indeed need a rest. David was not of the same opinion, but as we were about to go on holiday he thought she could have an easy week or two.

Discussing tactics at Lingfield

So that was that for Star Of Lady M in 2023. She did not have it as easy as her two-year-old season, but I am told that is typical. Three-year-old fillies struggle to compete with the colts and geldings, but they come back stronger as four-year-olds. We will see what 2024 brings.

You can read the previous edition here…

Sal Qaeda And The Mole

October 24, 2023 by Mike Madden

Sal Qaeda And The Mole

I start this edition with what could have been some disturbing news! Sally went away for a few days with some friends, and as most of them sat down for refreshments at 4 o clock on a Wednesday morning at Manchester Airport, Sally headed off to duty free. With sunglasses on and boarding pass in hand she spent some time browsing the perfumes. She took a particular interest in the Chanel counter. Eventually she returned to her merry band, where it was immediately clear that something was amiss.

Fiona asked with concern, “Sally, where is your bag?”. Sally looked around. She realised that in the euphoria of holiday mode she must have left it at one of the shops. She located it at the aforementioned Chanel counter, but retrieving it was not that simple. The lady at the counter had noticed the unattended luggage and immediately called security. Having admitted that she owned the bag, she was taken into a room. Both Sally and her bag were swabbed. She was eventually allowed to return to her friends. Although she insisted that they kept the story quiet, it did not take long for the mole to reveal the truth!

Kitchen Kalamaties

The kitchen has been especially busy, and not always successfully. I begin with blackberries that were much earlier than in previous years. I have still got plenty of jam from last year, so I decided to make a blackberry and apple loaf and a blackberry bakewell. These are both useful and tasty ways of using up the free fruit. However, the favourite was undoubtedly blackberry and fig crumble cake.

I also decided to try my hand at pastel de nata, the small custard-filled Portuguese pastries. I used pre-rolled pastry for which I make no apology, but the custard was home-made. They were delicious, and could become a staple.

Pastel De Nata

I also baked a lot of shortbread biscuits. These are surprisingly easy, and very moreish despite their somewhat unhealthy constitution.

Shortbread

Scary After Dark…

Zac has become a bit of a night owl, and he frequently uses the oven after work, or when he comes in from his mate’s house in the middle of the night. Inevitably, this would lead to disaster. These are chips, or so I am reliably informed.

Oh no!

…And In The Daylight

Regular readers will know that Sally is not to be outdone when it comes to kitchen disasters. I marinated some chicken for her which she duly placed into the oven. After a while I asked if she could smell burning, and was her chicken alright? “Should be,” she replied, but then she took a look. A disappointed “Oh” was all that she said.

Oh no, no, no!

King Creole

Of course, October means Creole Cake, and the first two stages are now complete. It will soon be time for the repeated infusion of alcohol.

Creole Cake ready for the oven

Cat Calls

Quite a lot of cat news to report. Firstly, Sally spotted a black and white cat outside Fernilee church. She thought it could have been Lucky, the one that ran away a month or so earlier. It was not Lucky, nothing like him actually, but it was very friendly and very hungry. I drove up a short time later and it was still there, so I left some food. The people at the church were a little scared that it might get run over, so it went to the vet in Whaley. Not heard anything since, and Lucky is still missing!

Doubting Thomas

In August I thought it might be a good idea to get a kitten as a companion for Bo. She is naturally aggressive except with me. I thought she might suffer from separation anxiety when we went away. So, I got a little boy from the cat sanctuary in Dove Holes. Sally christened him “Thomas”, and that seems to have stuck. His first night was eventful to say the least.

Thomas – butter wouldn’t melt

He had a cat cage, complete with food, bedding and cat litter, so he should have been fine. The following morning the cage was empty and there was a quiet miaowing from somewhere unseen. He had gone into a kitchen cupboard and found a gap that had remained undetected for 24 years. The gap led to a space under the cupboards that ran the length of the kitchen. He had wandered along to a dead end.

I hammered at one of the base boards and dislodged it, but he was still out of reach. He would also probably be terrified at the noise. So, I removed another and another until I got to the end. Finally, I lured him out with some food on a very long spoon. The base boards are irreparably damaged, but Sally is not too put out. She thinks it will accelerate the arrival of her new kitchen.

Naughty Thomas

Thomas has also taken a dislike to referees.

That was never a penalty

The Cold War

Over the next few days Bo was a lot more relaxed. She encountered Thomas and there was a series of Mexican stand offs that then developed into a cold war. They have eaten side by side, but Thomas thinks its a good idea to attack her when she least suspects. This is guaranteed to keep the cold war going for much longer.

A thawing

A Book For Christmas

From Tattersalls To Triumphs is still selling well, and the hardback edition is also now available. The Amazon process to create and proof the hardback was quite tedious. However, the finished article is well worth paying an extra few pounds for.

From Tattersalls To Triumphs

Ponies Without Prosecco

Summer holidays are an excuse for mum and dad to dump the kids on the grandparents. Gabi is no exception to this! We had Nixie and Miles for a few days, though Nixie had the distraction of Pony Club. She had a wonderful time, collecting several rosettes at the end of the week. With Miles we were happy when he ate everything put in front of him (small victories are important). At the end of the week we reminded ourselves why it is good that they are not here more often, as exhaustion kicked in.

Thespian News

Its been a busy time for Ole.  He filmed All Creatures Great And Small and he then landed a small part in the next season of Brassic. He has also auditioned for the period drama Hardacres, and a fantasy wizards and demons series. His next request was for the part of a murder victim in Ridley, and then for a living person in the same series. Hopefully these roles will all come together to provide him a starring role.

A Nice Surprise

The Whaley Bridge Cricket Club Trip landed in Montenegro this year. The details might be a little gory for this publication, but I can report that the country itself was a very pleasant surprise. We flew to Podgorica, and although it is a capital city the airport was small and efficient. Hotel Podgorica was modern and well equipped, and the city was full of parks and statues. Restaurants and bars lined the streets, and were very reasonably priced. The beach was about an hour away in Budva, which also has a traditional Old Town and a marina. Ryanair fly on Friday afternoon, returning on Sunday evening, so it is ideal for a weekend break.

Budva Old Town, Montenegro

Stone The Crows

I had limited success with a bamboo cage in the garden. Now, I have made a much sturdier one to keep the crows and magpies away. I have already had several tits munching on the nuts and seeds, and the squirrels love it. This is presumably because they can have their fill of the small birds’ food without having to worry about their noisier and bigger cousins.

Now Get Out Of That

My Kingdom For A Horse

Summer has been a busy time at the track. Star Of Lady M made her way to Windsor for a Monday night fixture. Hector Crouch was our jockey, with a new face, Clive, meeting and greeting us from the yard. We booked into a hotel at nearby Slough and made our way to the course in a taxi.

Windsor is a friendly course, and we did not mind when two American chaps left their stuff on our table whilst they went to eat. We were in an early race. So, when they returned we asked them to look after our things whilst we were gone, and they agreed. Star was on edge in the parade ring, with a strong wind swirling around the course. Sally decided to calm her by joining the groom on the outside, so that she essentially had two handlers. With several horses getting nervy Star seemed to have settled, but then Sally’s hat blew off. This could have been catastrophic as she chased after it, but no harm was done. On the plus side, the tv camera seemed to zoom in on the exact moment that it left her head.

Close But No Cigar

A lot of people had backed Star each way at big prices, and we were hopeful of a good showing. She broke well, and settled in behind a ferocious pace. One of our regular jockeys, Jason Watson, moved off the fence on his mount. This was the cue for Hector to steer Star to the inside. She burst through and finished very strongly, but too late to catch the first and second favourites. A gallant third was a brilliant result, and with a clearer run she could have won. David was delighted, and we debated whether we should aim her at a sharp six or stiff five furlongs. Luke was also thrilled, and we made plans to meet up to discuss her potential future career as a broodmare.

Star Of Lady M at the start at Windsor

Meanwhile, Sally caught up with Matt Chapman and decided to interview him rather than the other way round, and to be fair he was a good sport. The Americans were sitting with reams of betting slips back at our table. The mobile Tote guy was selling them Tim’s Terrific Trifecta, which entails picking the first three in a race. That is very difficult to do, but when perming multiple choices you have a much better choice. They were extremely successful, and so Sally decided to copy their bets with great success.

Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover

The Americans were an odd couple, an older chap who was rather scruffily dressed, accompanied by a younger guy who looked like he had come straight from Royal Ascot minus the hat and coat. As it turned out they had come from Royal Ascot, after which they had sold some mares to Coolmore. They were flying back to the US the following day, and thought what better way to spend a Monday night in England than at Windsor racecourse. They were a father and son team, with a fascinating background. Their company, Kentucky West Racing, owned and bred Classic Causeway in the hope of winning the Kentucky Derby. Unfortunately they had to settle for the almost as prestigious Belmont two months later! I am sure that our paths will cross again.

Lady D Returns

Elsewhere, Lady Dandylion was given a rating of 53, so she would be eligible for a nursery. This was perhaps a little too high, but it was a consequence of contesting a Class 2 race rather than sticking to Class 4 or 5.

It threatened to be a busy time, with Lady Dandylion entered at Catterick and Star Of Lady M entered at Carlisle the following day. We made plans to travel on to Carlisle after Catterick and stay over, but the ground was against us and Star was a non-runner. Lady Dandylion was one of 17 entered into the nursery at Catterick, along with old rivals Patasola and Bazball.

A Sad End

Sadly it was not to be. She was not even close to being competitive, and David Allan gave her a frank and honest assessment afterwards. She simply could not gallop and did not know what to do when the pace quickened. It was clear that she was not cut out to be a racehorse, so we quickly put an end to her racing career and made plans to rehome her. She would hopefully make someone a lovely dressage or event horse. At that stage we were encouraged that Emerald Duchess might be able to return to training within the next couple of weeks.

It seemed that we had found somewhere suitable for Lady Dandylion, and quite local too, but circumstances meant that they had to withdraw. We had another option, a contact provided by Richard Kent, and we were cautiously optimistic of a successful outcome.

Lady Dandylion ready for a new life

Star’s Next Move

There were a number of options for Star Of Lady M. After considering Windsor, Doncaster, Musselburgh and Sandown, we opted for the Friday night fixture at York over five furlongs and a crucial 89 yards. This was for three-year-olds only, giving it an advantage over the other handicaps. It was at the end of the music showcase evening, and Sally and myself had booked into the Parade Ring restaurant already. Sally’s brother Simon was also going to be there with Ben and Beth in the grandstand. We invited Ole and Zac to join us, and they jumped at the chance, swanking into the owners restaurant beforehand. I got an extra owners badge for Beth, but Simon and Ben were not for dressing up.

Star Of Lady M at York

It was a competitive race, with Star ranging in price from 7/1 to 14/1, eventually going off at 12/1.

My nerves would normally have been shredded by the time of the race, but we had enough beers to settle them before we headed to the parade ring. We bumped into William and Thomas Easterby, but there was no sign of Tim. There were lots of other familiar faces, and Sally had a good chat with Mick and Peter Easterby. I backed the winner of the race prior to ours, but as nerves finally began to kick in I forgot to collect the winnings. I asked Rory about the gamble on Northcliff, and he denied all knowledge of it.

Kissing Cousins

A Close Shave

Danny Tudhope was back on board, and we all agreed that he should drop her in and not chase what promised to be a very strong pace. She was quite a distance from the lead at half way, but Danny began to pick his way through. Entering the final furlong she put on a spurt up the stands rail, but the winner had flown. She finished a brilliant second, two lengths off the winner, but two and a quarter lengths clear of the third. It was a worthwhile evening, with around £5,000 in prize money, and as an added bonus our hosts at York invited us for champagne as placed connections.

Let me explain about horse racing

This was especially nice as Di Jackson was in attendance, but when I said we should wait for Sally I was told that she was already in the champagne room. Fortunately there was no dress code in there, so Simon, Ben and Beth were all able to join us. It was quite some time before we made our way out, and the music showcase headliners Human League were well into their set. We went back to the Parade Ring restaurant to settle our bill, and the couple on the next table insisted on buying us another drink as they had backed out horse. “Don’t You Want Me” blasted out from the stage as we headed for a belated meeting with our driver Terry, who happily took us back to our hotel.

In the drawing room we were ready for a quiet night, but another group arrived, and when they found out that we were the owners of Star Of Lady M more drinks followed. It was well into the night when we finally retired to bed.

A Date At Doncaster

As the dust settled we made plans, and David again came up with a three-year-old only race, this time over five furlongs at Doncaster. It would be one of her last opportunities at that level as the handicapper would surely want a long, hard look at her rating.

Enter The Queen

At the time we were still working to find a forever home for Lady Dandylion, and Tim generously offered to lease a horse to us. This was a three-year-old filly named Canaria Queen, and she had finished third last time out. She was lightly raced, having not seen the racecourse as a two year-old, and Tim offered us tickets to watch her at Leicester the following day before making a decision. It was a bit short notice, but we tuned in to the race and were very impressed.

Canaria Queen – the latest recruit for the emerald green silks with black stars

Canaria Queen ran on well to go clear in the final furlong, but she was just caught on the line to finish second. It did not take the syndicate long to decide that we would like to lease her for the rest of the season, or at least until Emerald Duchess came back to fitness. I broke the good news to Tim, and we agreed to split any GBB bonuses 50-50.

Do You Want To Know A Secret

Early August meant a trip to Glorious Goodwood. We enjoyed it so much with Star Of Lady M last summer that we decided to head down there again, this time in the Secret Garden restaurant.

The door to the Secret Garden

The weather was horrendous, and we were glad to pull into the grounds of the rather grand but somewhat tired Avisford Park hotel. I had called the hotel the previous week to book a taxi to the races, but they assured me that would not be a problem. However, a few phone calls later proved that it certainly would be a problem. After half an hour I had managed to secure a ride to the course, but not back to the hotel. Taxis were in short supply, and even our driver from last year could not help.

A La Carte

We sat in the bar and studied the menu, and then Sally gave me her order. “I want a fillet steak with salad instead of chips, and I am not paying for the salad.” “That’s not what the menu says,” I argued, realising that after a fruitless search for a cab Lady M was in no mood to compromise. “A menu is just to provide ideas,” she said, and repeated her order. To be fair the hotel obliged, and after a splendid meal we remained in the bar and chatted to a few of the other diners.

By this stage, at least a bottle of red wine into the evening, Sally was in full flow. She regaled the other guests with tales of racing, and the value of Star Of Lady M went up by a quarter of a million pounds in a matter of a couple of sentences. Some were also off to the races, and they had either already booked their rides, or were in the same predicament as ourselves. We decided to leave it until the following morning and retired to bed.

Taxi?

As the sun rose we enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, and Sally enquired if any of the young bar staff might want to earn a few quid. The answer came back negative, but she was not to be deterred. The grounds of the hotel contained a golf course, and we strolled towards it. I waited outside as Sally went into the club house, and after a few minutes, with the rain coming down again, I joined her inside. She was again deep in conversation about horses, and we met a chap who rode out for Major Dick Hern back in the day.

Then Sally cut to the chase. She wanted to know if there was anyone at the club who wanted to earn an extra few quid. The barman suggested Jamie, but when Sally asked where he was it transpired that he was cutting the 15th green. We waited a few minutes, and a youngish lad walked in, no doubt wondering why everyone was staring at him.

“Are you Jamie?” Sally asked. The young lad nodded and then the deal was sealed. “I am going to give you a hundred pounds, and you are going to take us to the races and pick us up afterwards. How does that sound?” “Great,” he replied, but I’ll have to ask my boss for the time off.” His boss was stood at the end of the bar, and in the face of Sally’s confident approach, and the sight of rain pouring down outside, he could think of no good reason to deny the request. So, Jamie would be our driver, and we went off to get changed.

An English Summer

An hour later we were at the course, and the rain was relentless. A gale howled around the course, and we had to literally hang on to our hats as we made our way to the oasis that is The Secret Garden. This was a fabulous setting. As the rain bounced down outside we were sat in an indoor English country garden sipping English sparkling wine, before the obligatory champagne arrived. The food was excellent, and the table layout meant that we could not avoid making new friends.

As the rain eased we ventured out to watch Paddington. Aidan O’Brien gave us a nod, perhaps to acknowledge the indomitable spirit of the English in summer, no matter what the weather brings! I met Facebook friend and tipping competition organiser Will Cemis, and then we spent a fabulous hour with Luke Lillingston. Sam Hoskins finally got to meet Lady M, and I am sure he was thrilled by that! We bade farewell, and I agreed with Luke that we would meet up at the Doncaster sales to discuss Star Of Lady M’s future as a broodmare.

Back at the table I heard a familiar voice. I turned around to see Tim, of Tim’s Terrific Trifecta fame. He remembered us from Windsor, and reminded me of the spectacular bet.

I managed to back David O’Meara’s Rhoscolyn who won the last race, and our lift back with Jamie turned out to be just perfect.

Back To The Track

It was a long drive home ,and when we arrived I discovered that we had actually been declared for Doncaster on the Saturday. David had notched four winners the previous Saturday and so was in good form. Redcar had been abandoned the previous day, and with the possibility of heavy ground at Ripon,  Doncaster in south Yorkshire looked a good alternative.

As we prepared to head to Doncaster the news came through from Tim that Canaria Queen had got spots. This was nothing too serious, but it would put her back a couple of weeks. The 1891 Group’s luck continued to be almost exclusively bad!

The Best Laid Plans…

The rain started to pour down at Doncaster, and so we declared at Ripon as well just in case. At first Jason Watson was on board, then this changed to Danny Tudhope. We set off for Doncaster not knowing whether we would even race or not.

We were installed as the 2/1 favourite as the rain started to ease. David Nolan was our jockey, and although we drifted out to 5/2 it was clear that we would take our chance. We were in the second race, and the opener certainly seemed to churn up some ground. David was knowledgeable about our filly, and he gave us confidence as he headed to the start, just as the heavens opened once more. Clive was again in attendance, and he pushed us towards the cameras as our jockey was being interviewed.

Star Of Lady M at Doncaster

We watched the race from the parade ring, which runs alongside the course. Star broke well, but it was clear that she struggled in the ground. It was certainly on the heavy side, and she did well to run on into fourth place. That at least gained us some prize money, and we agreed that the ground description should at least have the word “good” in it on her future runs.

Meeting David Nolan

Another Festival?

Elsewhere David O’Meara was on television talking about his Stewards Cup win with Aberama Gold. His success continued even if ours did not.

Star Of Lady M was in good form, despite the setback at Doncaster. She was entered at Ripon, Carlisle and Newmarket, and I also mentioned to Jason Kelly that there was a somewhat ambitious race for fillies only at the Ebor festival at York. However, although it was Class 2, as opposed to Class 4, it was historically good for three-year-olds, and particularly those rated in the 70s. So ,we entered that too.

The Ripon race was heavily oversubscribed with 33 entries, whereas the Newmarket race had a £30k prize pot, only 20 entries, and it was just for grey horses. That significantly reduced the pool of eligible horses, and we were favouring that.

Lady D Departs

Kate Tibbits, a friend of Richard Kent’s, agreed to collect Lady Dandylion from the Easterby yard, and Canaria Queen was back cantering after having a bout of ringworm, so we could expect to see her in the next few weeks. Emerald Duchess was making good progress and would be reassessed in six weeks.

Lady Dandylion happy in a field at her new home

Aim High

The best laid plans are easily thwarted by horses and races, and when sixteen were declared for the Newmarkey greys race David thought that we should skip it. It was 10lbs higher than the races she should be contesting, but as there were no clear alternatives we declared anyway and were quoted at 12/1. I warned everyone that we were far from certain to run, and sure enough, later that morning David confirmed our entry into the York race, a contest that was an even higher standard than the Newmarket race. However, it had the advantage of being fillies only, it was on her doorstep, and there were only 18 entries.

The handicap system meant that we would need a very light jockey, but even then we would be carrying 3lbs more than our rating stipulated, so we were certainly up against it.

We withdrew from the Greys race and focused on York. It was the first day of the Ebor festival, meaning that Star would have raced at Royal Ascot, Glorious Goodwood and the Ebor before her three-year-old career was over, just the Derby and Newmarket to complete the set!

Festival Fever

It was certainly a thrill to have a runner at the Ebor, as for me it tops the list ahead of any of the other English racing festivals. We booked the very experienced Joe Fanning to ride at the featherweight of 8st 2lbs, and it was no surprise to be priced at 25/1.

Talking tactics with Joe Fanning and David O’Meara at the Ebor

We arrived at the course before midday, despite the traffic from Leeds Festival. After picking up a few compliments in the car park we headed inside. Maureen and Mick Doyle, two owners that we met earlier in the season, were in attendance, as were Middleham Park owners Vinny and Kenny. Local trainer Adrian Keatley was also there, this time without his children.

The Owners restaurant was very busy, and York came up with an innovative solution to ease the congestion. Rather than sit down at a table they provided the option of a couple of carvery rolls complete with roast potatoes and a pot of gravy, and these could be eaten in the bar. Sally had her own problems, as the enormous hat that she had chosen for the occasion was too large to fit through most of the doors.

Star Of Lady M looked magnificent at another festival

Passing The Time

As race time approached my nerves went into overdrive, and I was pacing about trying to drink lots of water. In the pre-parade ring I sat on the lawn, to the concern of Jason Kelly and David’s team. Hugh Lillingston, Luke’s son, introduced himself, and a few minutes with him and Jason distracted me for a while.

In the parade ring Joe Fanning appeared, and we talked tactics. I pointed out that there was no pace on our side so perhaps Joe would need to tuck in towards the middle. David stressed that we should be closer to the pace, and to avoid the far rail where the ground seemed dead.

Fractions!

A short time later Joe mounted and they were off to the start. We took up our customary place in front of the giant screen in the parade ring, and they were off. She got bumped at the start, and suddenly we were ten lengths behind. Joe took her to the far rail, breaking our two golden rules in the first half of the race. She started to run on, and was closest at the finish. Her final position of 7th did not do justice to her, and Joe was very apologetic afterwards. However, he was making split second decisions at 40mph, and sometimes those decisions go wrong, That’s racing!

Star Is Back

She was beaten just 2 lengths in the Class 2 contest, just inches and eight hundredths of a second from 4th, which boded well for the rest of her season.

Joe apologises but he was not to blame

Everyone complimented us on what a fantastic race she ran, though Sally was more concerned about my nerves. She wanted me to get a watch so that she could monitor my vital signs!

We made our way home, mentally exhausted after ticking off another major festival. Meanwhile, the O’Meara team, and many others within the Yorkshire racing fraternity, were off to a party hosted by the owner of major racing supporter Clipper Logistics. It was anything but a low key affair, with Bryan Adams providing the music.

The following morning we were pleased to hear that Star Of Lady M had come out of the race just fine, and we could plan ahead.

There And Back Again

It was a busy week, and Friday morning we were once again on our way to York for the third day of the Ebor meeting. As we pulled into our hotel we were greeted by several staff members with umbrellas, Terry, our driver, and Frankie Dettori who was just about to head to the racecourse. Sally spoke to him in Italian, and he somehow managed to understand her. He was more than happy to pose for a photo, and Lady M was even gracious enough to crouch down so that the diminutive jockey was the taller of the two!

Lady M and Frankie

At the course we were booked into the Parade Ring restaurant, and they had certainly dressed it up for the Ebor. Rather than the usual prosecco on arrival, we were greeted with champagne, and the chairs were adorned with white cloth that made them seem quite regal.

It was a splendid afternoon, and we managed to catch up with some of The 1891 Group syndicate, as well as Luke Lilllingston, as we shared a jug or two of Pimms. We met William and Sarah Easterby who were both a little the worse for wear after the Clipper party, as were David O’Meara and Char-lee. I also noted that Andrew Balding was pacing up and down before the Lonsdale Cup that was eventually won by his horse, Coltrane. Apparently he is renowned for pre-race nerves – so its not just me!

A New Best Friend

Sally was circulating as ever, and she got on famously with Stacy Keatley. She then met Charlie Hills and praised his children for their Tweets highlighting Charlie’s recent racing achievements.

Terry picked us up after racing, and when we got back to Middlethorpe he showed us a picture of himself and Frankie that was clearly his pride and joy. Charlie Hills’ children were waiting for dad on the doorstep, and after discussing Tottenham Hotspur with them we went inside. In the drawing room there were other owners who had travelled up from Norfolk just to experience the Ebor festival. He was not particularly interested in racing, but she was passionate, and she admitted that she too gets very nervous before race time.

We retired early and got on the road straight after breakfast the next morning. Unfortunately, the news regarding Lady Dandylion was not good. She was covered in sarcoids. With that ailment it was unlikely anyone would take her, and they can be expensive to treat. However, we had faith in Kate, and sure enough a few days later she was seen on Twitter enjoying herself in a field in what will hopefully be her forever home.

The Queen Is Waiting

Canaria Queen was finally ready to see a racecourse again, and although it would be a long journey there was a race at Bath that should have been within her ability. However, Tim had other ideas, and put her into a hot contest at Carlisle. Tim thought that we would need to win to justify going to Bath and Andrew Balding had the hot favourite. At Carlisle, the race was possibly not as deep as it looked, and we could pick up some decent prizemoney.

It was a pleasant run up to the Cumbrian course, and we were given a warm welcome. The complimentary food was as good as it gets, but the race was predictable. She had proved to be a little on her toes at the stalls, so travelling head lad Geordie went to the start to calm her down. This meant that the only person from the stable that could give us information was Duran Fentiman, our jockey. She showed great professionalism going into the stalls, but once the race began she was quickly under pressure. Trailing some way behind the principals, she finished 9th of 11. We did not look forward to the return part of our five hour round trip. Hindsight always knows best, and at Bath the favourite as a non runner. We would certainly have been in with a favourite’s chance.

Canaria Queen at Carlisle

Out Of Her Depth

Duran was a little more optimistic. He was not quite sure why was in such a hot race, but at a lower level and with some cut in the ground, he thought that she could get her head in front.

The following day the Tim messaged to say that she ran too freely and would be dropped to 5 furlongs for future races. In addition, she was disadvantaged by being drawn out wide. I was not convinced and thought she should be dropped significantly in class.

Someone obviously thought otherwise, as she was entered into a Class 3 contest that also looked likely to feature Star Of Lady M. I gave Tim a call and he agreed that she should set her sights a little lower.

She was entered into races at Leicester and Catterick which were much more suitable. Unfortunately the ground was against her so she was not declared for either. That was just before the heavens opened and there were swathes of non-runners due to the soft ground, Who would be a trainer?

What The Future Might Hold

I ventured to Doncaster again, this time to meet Luke at the Goffs sale. It was a busy arena, though I caught up with Tim Easterby and David O’Meara. David was keen to explore future options for Star Of Lady M. However, the meeting with Luke was all about the future for Star Of Lady M once her racing career is over. He was delighted that we would consider sending her over to his Mount Coote Stud, and he explained how a deal might be structured. This included the possibility that one day we may even race one of her foals.

The End Of A Chapter

The news was not so good from Tim, as he finally conceded defeat with Emerald Duchess. He did not believe that she would recover sufficiently from her injury to be able to race again, and so we would send her to the Tattersalls Mares sale in December. In the meantime, we had to hope that her full sister, Granny Budgie, continued to win more races. As it turned out, her full brother was sold at Goffs, though not for as much as we had hoped. Richard Kent admitted that the colt was still a bit backward but should come good in time.

York Once More

Star Of Lady M was entered into the apprentice handicap for three-year-olds only at York, and as it was their family fun day their somewhat stringent dress code was relaxed. I was feeling ill before we even got there, so when the nerves kicked in it was worse than ever. Mark Winn was our jockey, and he was confident of a good showing.

Meeting Mark Winn before the apprentice race at York

However, we were drawn away from the pace, and when the race settled down we were ten lengths or more behind. She found nothing, and afterwards Mark admitted that he was at a loss. That was not her true running as he eased her down to 16th of 17. David had no explanation either, suggesting that her draw had done her no favours. It was also possible that the ground had gone against her, as it had started raining just before the race. 

Perhaps she was in season, perhaps she was just under the weather. It was another one that we had to put down to experience and move on.

The Queen Of Scotland

Grannie Budge finished 3rd in a competitive nursery, confirming her promise and the potential uplift to the value of Emerald Duchess. Elsewhere, Canaria Queen was entered at Musselburgh, Thirsk and Redcar, and it seemed that the first of these was the preferred destination. It was a GBB race, and there were just seven runners, but as the course is near Edinburgh there were certain logistical issues.

The night before was the end of season cricket celebration, and that went on until late into the night. In addition, the girls trip to Majorca would see them return after midnight as well.

Fiona offered to drive, but there were just two other travellers, myself and Jake. Jake had to ride in the back because of his hangover, and he was very relieved when we stopped close to Penrith for coffee and Greggs.

Last Minute Jitters

We carried on, making good time, and eventually pulled into the course a good hour before the first race. Canaria Queen was on her toes in the parade ring, but Geordie was confident that she would be fine at the stalls. There were originally six runners, but the favourite was withdrawn. The new favourite was long odds on, but we were feeling reasonably confident. At the start Canaria Queen was not happy. She reared up, backed away, and for a while it looked like she might not even enter the stalls. That would have been one heck of a waste of a nine hour round trip. Eventually, though, the shrugged off all but one of the stalls handlers and moved into her gate swiftly and smoothly.

Canaria Queen at Musselburgh

First!

David Allan said that he hoped the favourite would give him a lead, and that proved to be the case. Two furlongs out he made his move, and it was decisive. It was difficult to hear the commentary with Fiona screaming at the top of her voice, but that did not matter. It was clear that she would win from a long way out. The performance was supremely confident from all concerned, and after almost 18 months The 1891 Group had finally had their first winner.

The winner – Canaria Queen wanted the limelight to herself

There was a brief presentation, but no pictures of the winning owners with the winning horse as she was still full of herself. We received a bottle of Edinburgh gin and four presentation glasses, and then we went to the winners lounge to watch the race over and over again. We were given a USB stick containing the race, and a picture of Canaria Queen crossing the winning line. As ever after a win, the rest of the racing became a distraction and we headed for home. The following morning the syndicate were still excited, all wanting to know where she would be off to next. I had Redcar on 27th September earmarked, but with Tim it was difficult to be confident.

The 1891 Group finally come out on top

Here Comes The Rain Again

Star Of Lady M had an entry at Beverley, but we were concerned about the weather. Danny Tudhope was on May Blossom, possibly because of the doubt about our participation, and even on the morning of the race we thought we might give it a miss. David called at 11am, and we were off to Beverley! As we approached the east Yorkshire course the day was clear and sunny, but that concealed the deluge that was about to occur.

Star Of Lady M in the rain at Beverley

At race time the parade ring was empty and under water, and the incessant rain continued as they went to post. We had figured that Star did not like the heavy going, and so it proved. She did her best, but finished 8th of 9 in ground that could be described as bottomless. We would definitely need to consider that for future races.

Reacquainted with Jason Watson

The Queen Is High

We saw Will and Rory from Tim’s yard, and they confirmed that they were waiting for the handicapper to reassess Canaria Queen before further entries. As it turned out she was raised 5lbs, which seemed a little harsh for winning a small novice race. Despite that, she should still be able to hold her own in a low grade handicap.

Unfortunately Tim thought it best to enter her into a higher grade again, this time at Ripon. I was away for the weekend, but the syndicate was well represented. Canaria Queen was slowly away, and never really challenged. This could have been expected, but the disappointing thing was that the handicapper saw fit to leave her on her elevated mark of 69 rather than drop her a few pounds.

Canaria Queen at Ripon

She was entered into a contest at Southwell, but was not declared as the ground looked like riding too fast, whilst Star Of Lady M was also going to contest that but for an administrative oversight.

A Battle Royal?

Next up for Canaria Queen could well be a contest at Musselburgh that might also feature Star Of Lady M. Star could well go to Windsor instead and Canaria Queen might sensibly end up at Redcar, but it is an intriguing prospect.

You can view the previous edition here

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July 1, 2023 by Mike Madden

losemyiphone findmyiphone

A Star And A Dandylion

The racing season is now well under way, and although Star Of Lady M faded to 12th place at Thirsk, there was a clear explanation that she was not yet fit enough to compete. Whereas most horses had had some downtime, our girl had undergone several months of inactivity recovering from her injury. It was obviously going to take her longer to get up to speed. Despite the result we had a splendid day, discussing wedding plans with Tim Easterby, and David O’Meara’s dislocated shoulder, an injury that I had also suffered many years ago (no surprise there).

Star Of Lady M at Thirsk

Meanwhile, Lady Dandylion was doing well on the grass gallops, and she was to make her debut at Ripon. The Owners & Trainers facilities were cramped as there was a big crowd and a lot of runners. However, the Ripon method of handing out vouchers to be used almost anywhere on the course was a good one. So, we ordered fish & chips and handed over our vouchers. Strangely, we were told that the addition of curry sauce had to be settled in cash! Quite bizarre and certainly a quirk that we were not expecting.

Lady Dandylion at Ripon

Qualification

Lady Dandylion got bumped coming out of the stalls, and she took a while to get balanced. When she did start to run her race the winner had already flown. She ran on into 5th place gaining some prizemoney in the process. She also qualified for the fillies EBF final at Goodwood in September. We were full of optimism afterwards, with future races of at least six furlongs being the target.

Lady Dandylion’s connections at Ripon

David Allan on board Lady Dandylion

Lady Dandylion in action

York At Last

Elsewhere, Star Of Lady M was entered at Goodwood as we strived to get her fit for a date at York. We wisely decided to skip it as the weather forecast promised torrential rain. The rain duly arrived, and our avoidance of the race proved to be a good decision. The contest was barely visible in the mist and mud.
The Listed Westow stakes at York came a bit too soon for Star Of Lady M, but we entered a handicap the day after at the same track. She was up against Simon Chappell’s Rose King. Luke’s Kennet Valley Thoroughbreds also had an entry, though that one was later scratched.

Star Of Lady M at York

A Day In The Sun

We swapped hospitality for the Owners suite at York. It was a wonderful experience having our first runner at the course. Sally met William Derby, the Chief Executive at the course, and we chatted to Mick Doyle who owned Killybegs Warrior. He made his living in the fishing industry, and had recently sold horses to Sheikh Mohammed.

Friends Reunited

However, the most pleasing sight was Di Jackson who was officiating in the parade ring. She was still on her road to recovery after her horrific accident last summer. We drank champagne with friends beforehand, and then Simon Chappell wished us good luck. His horse had been withdrawn as it was lame that morning. We joined David O’Meara’s mum Dympna in the parade ring to watch the race, which was soon under way. Star Of Lady M travelled well for around three furlongs, then her fitness told again and she faded.

Look To The Future

She was now dropping down the handicap. From 88 at the start of the season she was at 82 after the York race. David was convinced that she would come good, and she was getting fitter with every outing. Our next choice was either Epsom on Derby Day in the new three-year-old dash, or Beverley for a Sunday Series handicap. Epsom would have been a great day out. However, it was a long way to travel given that she was still not fit, so we opted for Beverley. With that decision made we could relax for an extra week.

Dandylion Goes Again

Lady Dandylion was following in the footsteps of Emerald Duchess with an engagement at Haydock. It was good to see that Haydock had completed their renovations, and we dined alfresco waiting for our race on a sun-drenched afternoon. We were optimistic in the parade ring, as we met our jockey J P Sullivan for the first time.

Lady Dandylion at Haydock

They’re Off

Lady Dandylion travelled well, and then she moved to her inside to find a gap. However, she continued to move sideways towards the rail, and faded quite badly. Afterwards the jockey said she didn’t feel strong enough to go through the gap. He thought that perhaps she was intimidated by the opposition. Fortunately she came out of the race well. Afterwards, Tim wanted to give her some time as she was a little quiet at home. I asked about entries at Carlisle, Beverley, Nottingham and elsewhere, but nothing came back.

Star Returns

As the days passed waiting for the Beverley race, Star Of Lady M was entered for a contest at Yarmouth. This was a bit of a surprise, but the trainer thought it might be a good alternative with a small field. As it turned out, it proved to be very competitive. We bypassed the opportunity, even though there were only four actually declared to run in the race.

Star Of Lady M at Beverley

No Champagne

We arrived in good time for the Beverley race, an hour before the first. Last season we were greeted with champagne, but this time it was nowhere to be seen. “Perhaps thats just for the Hilary Needler day?” Sally thought. No, the welcome email stated it would be available. So, Lady M asked at reception, and they said they had run out. She was shocked, and passed on her thoughts that “that’s not very good”. The response that “you’ll have to come early next time” was like a red rag to a bull. She remained calm as she advised the lady at reception that “we might not come here again”.

All Over The Socials

On Twitter Beverley Racecourse welcomed back Star Of Lady M as the Hilary Needler winner. Lady M was still perturbed but Ole and Zac told her to let it drop (neither of them like champagne!) We met Will Easterby, and he saddled Tim’s first two-year-old winner of the season. Hopefully signs of better things to come for Lady Dandylion.

When it was time for our race we quickly went to the parade ring. Here, the Beverley social media manager greeted us and thanked me for my support in promoting the racecourse. Definitely a good job that Lady M did not rise to the bait by retweeting earlier in the day! Chris Dixon from Racing TV also gave us his best wishes, and it was great to see Danny Tudhope back with us. He was calm and confident as he mounted, and David thought she was in with a chance.

Danny Tudhope back on board

Small Steps

She wore cheekpieces to help her concentrate coming out of the stalls, and it certainly worked. She led along the rail, and was still in front as they entered the final furlong. Once again fitness told, and while she could have finished as high as third, she was eased down into seventh. That was just outside the prize money, but with hindsight it also meant that she would carry two pounds less in her next race.

Everyone was thrilled with the outcome. In particular, David O’Meara said that she was now ready to win again. Chris Dixon gave us the thumbs up, and Danny confirmed that she just ran out of steam. It has been a long way back from the injury at Ripon. After several months box rest, hopefully she was now ready to put all of that behind her.

Connections at Beverley

Next Steps

She was entered into a race at Ripon ten days later. This was a six furlong contest but the yard thought it would cut up to a small field. I was a bit dubious and reminded them of the contests at Goodwood and Redcar later in the week. Entries were made, and we decided against Ripon as the declarations steadily increased until they reached ten. We also received an unexpected entry for Haydock on the Saturday evening. This was for a fillies only race that was also open to older horses. It was the first time she was entered against horses other than her own age group, which showed the growing confidence that the yard had in her ability and progress.

Then, out of the blue, Lady Dandylion was entered into the Sunday Series novice race at Pontefract. There were twenty other two-year-olds also entered. It looked a hot race, restricted to Bands B, C and D, rather than one that is more to her liking, ie just Band D. As it was her third run, perhaps this would lead to a lenient handicap mark. When she made her debut she was beaten by Hala Emaraaty, who had just been sold for £150,000. She was clearly moving in good company.

I Declare

As the dust settled we opted for Redcar on Saturday afternoon for Star Of Lady M. We turned our back on a Friday night in Goodwood because of the distance. We also snubbed a Saturday night in Haydock with Craig David because of the likely field size. The Redcar race had eight runners, and we had Jason Watson on board. Drawn seven of eight towards the outside was not ideal, but it should have ensured a clear run. With prizemoney down to fifth we should be able to get some reward. The opening salvo from the bookies disagreed as they had us at 10/1 and seventh in the betting. However, shortly afterwards she came in to 8/1 sixth favourite.

Next, Lady Dandylion had an inexplicable entry in a five furlong maiden at Carlisle the following Wednesday, casting some doubt about her participation at Pontefract. A little insight into the thoughts of the trainer would have been helpful, and perhaps we would get something from him at Redcar on Saturday.

On Friday the declarations for Pontefract came through at a trickle. With 75 minutes to go there were none, then one, two, three. With 15 minutes left there were five and Tim called to discuss. We agreed to enter. She needed another race to get a handicap mark, and he didn’t want to chance Nottingham as it was previously abandoned due to unsafe ground. So it promised to be a busy weekend, with Star Of Lady M on Saturday, Lady Dandylion on Sunday, and on Monday we would head to Newmarket for a presentation to the Injured Jockeys Fund, followed by the Thoroughbred Breeders Association conference on Tuesday.

Whirlwind Weekend

Well 2 runners in 2 days sounds very exciting, but when they only beat one horse between them that’s racing! The good news is they are both fit and well after their exertions. We arrived early at Redcar, though we had a long wait until the fifth race. We met Will Easterby who confirmed that his dad was not in attendance, and David O’Meara messaged to say that he was still at Royal Ascot with his hope Summerghand.

Lakota Blue was a non-runner, leaving just seven to compete for the prizemoney. Two races before ours, Jazz Samba broke free and decided on a leisurely jog around the course. By the time the horse was caught half an hour had elapsed, delaying the rest of the afternoon.

Star Of Lady M looked better than ever in the parade ring, though Sarah from the yard admitted that she did not know what the plan was. Jason Watson told us that he would try to ride her up with the pace, and go forward with a furlong or so to go. As we headed for the stands to watch the race, the Redcar social media manager came across and thanked us for the support that we have given them, ever since Star Of Lady M won there on debut more than fourteen months ago.

Star Of Lady M looking well at Redcar

The Best Laid Plans…

Star Of lady M got carried to her right coming out of the stalls and covered a lot of ground to get into contention. Approaching the two furlong pole Jason was hard at work, and it was clear that she was not going to win. She battled gamely but finished sixth, with only Zuffolo, the horse that had carried her right, behind. Jason thought that she needed to drop a few pounds, but I was not sure. That was nowhere near the level of her Beverley run, and we wondered if something was amiss. We decided to head home, very disappointed with the run.

David called on his way back from Ascot, but he had not seen the race properly yet and he promised to call us again when he had.

Dandylion On The Clock

Lady Dandylion was in the first race at Pontefract the following day, and we arrived at the course to catch the end of the whippet racing. We sat near to trainer Adrian Keatley who had Mummy Peas in our race, but he was preoccupied with his group of owners and his wandering children. In the parade ring we caught up with Will Easterby, as his dad was again not in attendance. Will explained that we would learn a lot more today, and she would hopefully put her Haydock run behind her. David Allan was optimistic, but also stressed that it was very much a learning curve.

We said a quick hello to David O’Meara who saddled a newcomer in our race, and headed through the stands to the owners’ viewing area. Lady Dandylion was restrained by her jockey as the gates opened, and she settled in behind. With two furlongs to go she was struggling, and David gave her an easy ride to finish last, eleven lengths behind the sixth placed horse and a full twenty one lengths behind the fifth. It could have been worse, as Mummy Peas broke out of the stalls and was withdrawn from the race before it even began.

The Inquest

Will was a little lost for words, but David was more positive. The stiff six at Pontefract was way beyond her capabilities, and he reiterated the point that he had made at Ripon, that five was her trip. He also advised that she would benefit from some cut in the ground.

We watched the rest of the races with interest, but were still disappointed with our filly’s run. I tried to get an update on Emerald Duchess, and although Will said she was doing well it seemed like it was time for another visit to the yard.

If It’s Monday It Must Be Newmarket 

Monday morning saw us make the three hour journey to Newmarket, calling first at Peter O’Sullevan House, home of the Injured Jockeys Fund (IJF). We were there to present a cheque for £1,000, their share of the proceeds so far of From Tattersalls To Triumphs. The ceremony was brief, and they presented us with a book detailing the history of the IJF which is approaching its 60th year.

Incidentally, From Tattersalls To Triumphs is now available in a splendid hardback edition. All proceeds still go to the IJF and Retraining Of Racehorses charities.

A Piece Of History

Our next port of call was the historic Jockey Club Rooms where we were to spend the night. The Rooms are historic, a little old-fashioned, but absolutely marvellous. Walls are adorned with racing-related artwork, and tables are filled with memorabilia. It is worth a visit for this alone, and our room itself was spacious, comfortable, and with a huge bathroom. Breakfast the following morning was excellent. Freshly prepared and delicious. The dining room was also filled with artwork, and had a feel comparable to our favourite Middlethorpe Hall.

Some of the fabulous artwork at the Jockey Club Rooms

The legendary Hyperion

The breakfast of jockeys

We checked out, and with time to kill before the conference we headed up the legendary Warren Hill to watch the horses. Several strings of thoroughbreds galloped past us, but I was distracted by a phone call. It was David O’Meara and he wanted to discuss Saturday’s race and possible next steps.

Working on Warren Hill

A Trainer’s Insight

David said that the ground on the rail was several lengths better than that out wide so he put our performance down to track position. We spent twenty minutes going through the race in fine detail, as well as considering future plans.  I asked whether Star Of Lady M needed a break, but David was confident that she was just about to come to the boil. She had been dropped three pounds to 77, which meant that she qualified for handicaps capped at 75.

There was just such a contest at Windsor the following Monday. Although it was a long way to go she should be more than capable of winning that race. There was another option at Haydock on the Thursday, but that was apprentice only and his star apprentice, Mark Winn, was over-qualified for it. The other option was Friday at Beverley, but that would also include older horses. He cautioned that we might not run up to the form of last summer, as some of the horses that we beat are perhaps not that good, but against that was the Ripon contest over 6 furlongs in which she beat the 107-rated Al Karrar.

It was a welcome call, and it showed that he cared about us as owners, and our horse. He wanted to give her the best chance of winning, and although his stable is out of form at the moment, we are convinced that this will turn itself around eventually.

Post Match Analysis

Afterwards I went through the race to satisfy myself about the track position debate. Sure enough, Paddy’s Day, that was drawn outside of us, switched across to the inside rail and ran on into second. In the next race there were five runners. Four crossed to the rail and the other came last.

So, we could plan for Windsor. For Lady Dandylion I emailed Tim with the suggestion of Catterick on 12th July where there was a fillies only band C and D maiden, as well as a 0-60 nursery. Windsor has just eleven entries, which would normally equate to seven or eight runners, a good option for Star Of Lady M. Tim responded that Catterick looked like a good option for Lady Dandylion.

Thoroughbred Breeders Association

We left Warren Hill and headed to Tattersalls, where the first ever TBA conference was being held. Star Of Lady M will at some point become a broodmare, and we were keen to get some insight as to what that entailed. Lydia Hislop was the presenter, and she did a fantastic job, introducing a wide variety of speakers. The highlight was undoubtedly Sir Mark Prescott, as well as lunch! We did not quite manage to stay until the end, as after almost four days of horseracing-related activities we decided to try to beat the traffic and head for home.

The Future Is Bright

Later in the week, the oddly named Granny Budgie gave us a lift. She is the full sister to Emerald Duchess, and she made an impressive winning debut at Nottingham. This gives us hope if Emerald Duchess does ever race again. However, if she is retired to stud her pedigree page has received a significant improvement.

Pizza Perfect

It has been a very busy time in the kitchen, including the pizza oven. I made a huge pile of pizzas, having promised some to the girls down the road. However, they were out for the evening and so I thought that they would miss out. Not so, as I got a knock on the door at 8am the following morning. It was the girls collecting a box of cold pizza that was apparently still delicious.

Dough balls

Into the oven

Out of the oven

Let Them Eat Cake

It always concerns me that there is a lot of wasted heat as the oven cools down, and in the past I have used at least some of it to cook steak and chicken. This time I decided on a chocolate cake. The starting heat was clearly a little too much as the top quickly charred, but an hour later the rest of it was perfect. Zac gave it 10 out of 10, and he decided that it was a cake that should be eaten in rather large squares instead of slices.

Rhubarb And ….

Inside the house turkey slices are still the most popular dish of the week. There has also been a plethora of rhubarb appearing from various sources. So, I made rhubarb and custard cake that disappeared in no time at all, and I have just finished baking a rhubarb and strawberry crumble cake, though a problem with my new scales meant that it is somewhat bigger than expected! I also experimented with steamed sticky toffee pudding, and this was very popular. A little lighter than the baked version, though still very sweet and sticky.

Turkey slices

Rhubarb & Custard Cake

Rhubarb & Strawberry Crumble Cake

Chilli Or Not?

Meanwhile, I went through the weekly ritual of asking Sally what she wanted to do with the chilli that she had made, the majority of which was still festering in the fridge. She has developed a habit for making a pan that could loosely be called chilli, but with no noticeable heat and with a strange texture given to it by the addition of sweet potatoes. She usually has a small bowl when it is first made, and the rest goes into the fridge.

Ole knows better than to get involved with it, frequently asking who was responsible for it before deciding whether to chance it. Inevitably, the faux chilli remains untouched for days and sometimes weeks. Then the sad day arrives when it is chucked out, Sally gets some more mince and sweet potatoes, and the whole sorry cycle starts again. When asked about it she put on a brave face and said, “I’m trying!”

Beef In Buxton

Of course, we don’t cook every day, and one Sunday afternoon we ventured to Baileys in Buxton, having been a fan of the place when it was situated in Whaley Bridge. Although the service was a bit chaotic, mixing up drinks and making us wait quite some time despite it being fairly empty, the food was fabulous when it arrived. The highlight was definitely the roast beef, but the Yorkshire pudding, vegetables and gravy were certainly not just there for show. We would definitely return.

Nothing To Crow About

The garden is proving to be a challenging place! Our good friend Helen made us several wicker cage-like structures. These were to prevent large birds and squirrels from stealing all of the nuts and seeds meant for the smaller birds. They did not work, and several crows combined to shake the food to the ground. Next, I built a cage from bamboo and string. This worked for a limited time, though the squirrels immediately found a way to break in. However, the squirrels could only get small amounts of food at a time, which was fine. It took a couple of days for the crows to figure out that bamboo and string is no match for a crow’s beak, and they forced their way in. I am currently working on plans for a sturdier cage, so watch this space.

Fight Night

Elsewhere, I decided to see if the hedgehogs were still around, so I put out some hydrated cat food and positioned my camera. The result was the nearest thing hedgehogs ever get to a fight!

In other garden news I took my mum to Dunham Park and it was great to see the rabbits and deer enjoying the sunshine.

Thomas’s New Cart

Working in the garden can be an arduous task, and there is always stuff to be carried from one end to the other. Sally has made this an infinitely easier task by purchasing a little cart for herself. This is a cage on wheels with a handle to pull it, and it looks like something off the island of Sodor. If you see it trundling along don’t be surprised if it is accompanied by the theme tune to Thomas The Tank Engine.

Chatsworth Challenge

Continuing the outdoor theme, we went to the horse trials at Chatsworth. So much nearer than Badminton or Hickstead, this international show is right on our doorstep. However, it would not be British without a bit of eccentricity, and this was highlighted in the side-saddle event. Only in England could this be classed as a sporting contest. The showjumping was somewhat disappointing, with the clatter of falling fences being a constant throughout. Sixteen faults seemed like the absolute minimum for any of the riders. Even more disappointingly, no one fell off at the water on the cross-country course.

Sporting competitors at Chatsworth

Everyone’s Favourite

Ole has been busy chasing his thespian dreams, starting with a day for the release of the Cubic Motion software used by Epic Games. This was followed by a part in All Creatures Great And Small, the popular vet series, which seems to be everyone’s favourite. He plays an air force cadet. He went to London for a day to get fitted for his costume, and then it was off to York for three days of filming. His biggest ordeal was on day one, when he had to get his hair cut in the style of a 1940s air force cadet! The series will be shown from September, and he will be in the final episode. Of course, its not just about the filming, and he went for dinner with the director of photography and James Herriot after the shoot had finished.

A Stupid Game

I recently resurrected my golfing career after not playing since my last major operation in 2015. I quickly remembered what a horrible sport it is. My first round total of 18 points was ok, but then scores fluctuated between the high of 22 and the low of 12. Some might say it will get better over time, I am not so sure. However, my step count has gone through the roof, with somewhere around 16,000 steps per round. At least that’s what I recorded when I remembered to put my phone in my pocket rather than leaving it with my clubs in the buggy.

Missing Moggy

We recently took in my mum’s cat who was originally from Dove cat sanctuary. We tried to take him back there but he was sad and pining for affection. So, we took him home and after a couple of days he was purring away and happy to see us. He lived in the garage, away from Bo, though they did have a couple of stand-offs as part of their acclimatisation.

Have you seen me?

Just when we were getting confident with him, he decided to take himself off, and he has not been seen since. If you see him please let me know. He will probably hiss at you, but he means you no harm!

Bo not looking too hard for Lucky

Money, Money Money

Zac was thrilled with his Coronation Day shift at Tesco, gloating over Ole as they paid him £25 per hour. That soon changed when Ole earned several hundred £s for a day’s work with Cubic Motion, with the added bonus of thousands more if his footage is actually used.

Where Did You Lose It?

The garage is often used by the boys as a hangout, with lots of musical equipment, pool table, dart board, pinball machine, etc. After a while it gets into a bit of a mess, and the boys are forced into cleaning it armed with mops and bin bags. Last month Zac lost his phone, and the strong suspicion was that it had been included with the rubbish that was now in the external bin awaiting collection. It would be a messy job rummaging through that to find it, but Zac had a better idea.

He actually has two phones, and they are linked by findmyiphone so in theory he should be able to locate the missing phone. However, findmyiphone can be out by a few yards, so he had to narrow it down a bit. He established that the phone was within the vicinity of the garden, and to further pinpoint it he decided to take the bin for a walk and watch whether the location changed. He got to the end of the road and the location of the phone had not moved. Therefore, the bin could be ruled out. That left the problem of the real location, and it was down to supermum who found it where he had left it, just lying around in the garden. 

Driving Dilemma

Car insurance can be an expensive purchase, and Zac thought he had a good deal with BeWiser that included a black box. However, after a few weeks he got an email stating that he had recorded 30 days of bad driving and so his insurance would be cancelled. Zac thought this was harsh, as some of the bad scores were down to driving at night. I guess that the insurance companies are suspicious of all night time driving, but in this case Zac had a genuine case as he regularly had to drive home after midnight when he finished his shift at Tesco.

Of course, having an insurance policy cancelled has to be declared, and would count against him when he bought his next policy. Zac being Zac, he had a solution to this. He called his insurer and told them he wanted to cancel the policy before they did, and they helpfully enabled him to do this. So, no black mark on his record, and he received a significant refund for his unused insurance. He has since taken out a policy with Tesco, and with his staff discount it is about half the price of BeWiser anyway!

SoEnergy Saga

SoEnergy finally came back to complete the smart meter installation that began last September. To date they had been out twice, but on both occasions they had only done one of the meters and not the other. So, we finally have two meters, one for electricity and one for gas. Unfortunately, the meters could not transmit data and so are still not in operation. We have a date set for next week to complete the process, but this has since been cancelled!

A Question

Finally, a question from Sally. Of all of the things that could be troubling her at the moment, this came to the forefront. “When you fall and hurt your knee as an adult, why don’t you cry like you did when you were a child?” Answers directly to Sally please!

You can see the previous edition here

Horace Comes Home

January 17, 2023 by Mike Madden

Evri Cloud…

Leaves On The Lawn

The dark days of winter are not helped by the thankless task of clearing up leaves. I gathered up 40 bags of the perennial nuisance and deposited them at the tip. I am fairly sure that’s a record – and one that I won’t hope to beat next year!

Evri Cloud Has A Silver Lining

The World Cup certainly added a bright spot to winter. I decided that I should purchase a Brazil shirt for the tournament, as is traditional. Kitbag seemed to be the best option, so I placed an order that was duly dispatched. A few days later I got notified that the item was with their chosen courier Evri, and that’s when problems began. Evri updated the tracking to state that they had the parcel. However, they had no idea when it would reach me, so I contacted Kitbag for a refund. By now the group stages were well under way. Kitbag said that they would need to get confirmation from Evri that the parcel was lost. I pointed out that this was their problem and not mine. I also mentioned that any company with reasonable customer service would look at the Evri tracking and issue a refund forthwith.

Meanwhile, I ordered a replacement from JD Sports. Unfortunately, I then got the dreaded notification, “Your parcel is now with Evri”. I crossed everything and hoped for the best, but to no avail. The second parcel went missing, and whereas Kitbag had to undertake a full investigation, JD Sports accepted liability and issued an immediate refund. I received a notification that the item had been received back at JD Sports, and the refund appeared against my card almost immediately.

Third time lucky? As the knockout stages approached I ordered the same item from Nike, and I was dismayed to find that they too use Evri as their courier. However, I was delighted when the item arrived a full five days before it was due. Coincidentally, this was on the same day that Kitbag finally processed a refund.

London Buses

The saga did not end there. Evri then continued to update me on the status of my Nike parcel, even though it had already arrived. Then, just as the semi finals were due to start, the JD Sports order mysteriously arrived. There was no tracking or notification, just a delivery. A few days later, just in time for the final, the Kitbag item arrived. Unfortunately, I had already completed the incessant surveys that these retailers send out, including somewhat colourful answers to the questions, “Would you recommend Kitbag to your friends and family?” and “What could Kitbag do better to improve your experience?”

If the Brazilians run out of shirts – I’ve got plenty!

Sherry Shortage

Zac managed to get himself a temporary job at Tesco for November and December, but it did not start well. He was stacking shelves in the booze aisle when a full case of sherry toppled from his cage. Every single one of the twelve bottles smashed, and he became an instant folk hero. No one had managed to smash a full case before. He followed this up with a bottle of wine that bit the dust, and then some mustard that was particularly pungent, but after that all went well. He is hoping to be recalled in the New Year, as he needs funds to pay for his next jaunt, to India!

Christmas, Creole & Coffee

The run up to Christmas is always busy in the kitchen, but this year seemed more hectic than usual. I made a large batch of gingerbread “Christmas biscuits”, but Ole got wind of them. They disappeared long before December, and so I had to make a second batch.

Whodunnit?

A similar thing happened with the chocolate digestives. I delayed the mini cheesecakes, but they did not last long either. I made a number of chocolate logs, though Zac’s slices just seemed to get bigger and bigger. Since his return from Thailand, Zac has started to eat some more cosmopolitan food, with Madras being a particular favourite, so there has been no shortage of curries.

Brownies came and went, both naked and covered in cream, whilst the perennial favourite coffee and walnut cake, made using Camp coffee and chicory essence of course, is always a hit with the older generation.

The Creole cake was a big success, particularly after Sally had applied her artistic touch, and the Christmas pudding shimmered with flame. This was possibly my favourite food of the festive season.

Creole Cake 2022

You’re Fired

Speaking of flames, we replaced the floors in two rooms on the run up to Christmas, and so we had a lot of old wood and board that needed burning. I built a huge bonfire, and although it was too wet to burn on the traditional New Year’s Eve, it stayed alight for 4-5 hours on New Year’s Day.

   

I’m Making A List…

Christmas is over all too quickly, and its a good time to reassess your excesses. We discovered a new game, Herd Mentality, where there are no wrong answers. The aim is to try to answer the same as everyone else, and you quickly realise that after alcohol you have no chance! I made a note to order more parsnips next year, as well as much less chocolate and to make much, much less stuffing. We had enough to sink two Titanics. I will no doubt lose my list by next year, and we will have more or less the same problems.

What Goes Down Must Go Up

On Boxing Day Sally went to join the traditional hunt from Bakewell. Its not a real hunt, so I’m told, but if its not a real hunt I’m not sure why they take hounds with them (you’re not allowed to call them dogs). Anyway, I took Ole and Zac with me for some fresh air and to see her off. We parked near Lady Manners school, and as we descended the rather sharp hill to the streets of the town, Zac stumbled across a stark realisation.

“We could have parked a lot closer – we are going to have to walk all the way back up here.” He was right!

Its all downhill until you have to go back again

Lady M and Nancy

Sally’s Stew

Some of you may think that Sally gets a bad rap when it comes to the kitchen, and to be fair she excels around the festive season. Christmas Eve sees her create a traditional and mouthwatering cheese & onion pie with home made beetroot chutney, and the following day she makes a wonderful Christmas Dinner. She also promised me a New Year full English breakfast, but she went out so I had to make my own. However, there are still times when I shake my head and wonder what will happen next. A week or so before Christmas she went out to ride her horse. An hour or so later, we got a message at home.

“Can someone check the stew I’ve left on?”

From Tattersalls To Triumphs

As reported in the previous edition we launched From Tattersalls To Triumphs, with all proceeds going to the Injured Jockeys Fund and Retraining Of Racehorses charities. Sales started well, but then hit a bit of a slump, I did an interview with Frankie Foster at Ascot which seemed to have a positive effect, and then on the back of that Sun Racing contacted me for their own interview. Finally, I went to the mares sale at Tattersalls, where Gina Bryce asked me all about the past year in horseracing.

You can follow the press here! 

From Tattersalls To Triumphs in The Sun

Interview with Gina Bryce on Tattersalls TV

Of course, you can still buy the book here…

From Tattersalls To Triumphs on Amazon

…or if you have already purchased please consider leaving a review.

Hopeful Horses

Meanwhile, Emerald Duchess is not yet back in training, whilst Star Of Lady M is fully recovered from her injury. Unfortunately, she got a little too boisterous in her paddock and managed to injure her shoulder on a fence post, but it was nothing too serious and it should be all systems go for April.

Our two-year-olds are now officially three-year-olds, as all racehorses have a birthday on 1st January. Although flat racing happens year round, the official flat season begins with the Brocklesby at Doncaster on April 1st. The countdown is officially on as we hope that both Star Of Lady M and Emerald Duchess will race in April. Unfortunately, our trainer, David O’Meara, is aiming Star Of Lady M for a May start, which hopefully means he has a couple of specific targets for her.

Back in November the BHA website published the fixtures for April, and so I have mapped out all possibilities for both horses, and the advantages / disadvantages of each potential race, based on previous renewals going back to 2016. So, it seems likely that Emerald Duchess will race at Redcar followed by Pontefract and / or Wetherby. Star Of Lady M could have a somewhat ambitious journey that takes in Bath, Newmarket and York.

In the interim, I am booked in to do a presentation on racehorse ownership at the High Peak Business Club on 17th March.

If you are interested the event costs £25 and includes breakfast pastries and bacon sandwiches.

High Peak Business Club

Cat Calling

We had a new wood burning fire installed, and it is a great success, blasting out heat at significantly less cost than using the radiators. Bo, in particular, is a big fan, and she now waits expectantly whenever she wants it to be lit.

Bridge Over Troubled Whaley

Whaley Bridge is a bit of a contradiction at the moment. It is about to become either chaotic or a ghost town depending on where you live. Network Rail are kindly shutting the road for SIX weeks whilst they replace the rusted and creaking, but crucially “Listed” bridge across Buxton Road. This has caused a lot of consternation, and it could be quite an inconvenience. It seems that Whaley Bridge will become a cross between Stephen King’s Under The Dome and John Wyndham’s Midwich Cuckoos. We’ve already been known as Village Of The Damned after the Todbrook incident!

I think I will just continue to walk to Tesco to collect small loads rather than doing a Big Shop! We are also fortunate that Frydays Cod & Cake opened last week, and it was very popular on opening night. We sent Ole and Zac to bring back samples, but we were very disappointed on their return. It wasn’t long before they had to admit that the queue was too large in Cod & Cake, and so they sourced the fish and chips from elsewhere. Definitely not up to standard. We hope to get genuine Cod & Cake fish and chips in the near future.

Somewhere Old, Somewhere New…

Elsewhere in Whaley, the White Hart is yet again temporarily closed. I am not sure how temporary the closure is based on its appearance. The building has had huge unsightly boards erected, a lovely site for visitors to the village. Other places seem to be thriving, with a Mediterranean steak restaurant, the Istanbul Grill, and the revamped Sunday roast at the Cock all on the list of places to dine out. I am particularly interested to see what happens with the Cock, as there are rumours that they are clearing the huge piece of land at the back of the pub to create an even more extensive beer garden. Top of my list to try in the village is Grill 13, the burger place at Horwich End. They were reported to have had a few teething troubles. However, all is well now and they have an ever expanding menu.

We revisited the Royal Oak at Hurdlow for Sunday lunch a few weeks ago. Once again, it certainly lived up to expectations. It is one of the top 5 in the area, along with the Barrel at Bretton that we are booked in to early next month.

Anyway, there’s no getting away from the fact that we live in one of the most beautiful places on earth. With the road about to be closed I’m glad I live on this side!

You can view the previous edition here

What the hell is that?

November 15, 2022 by Mike Madden

What the hell is that?

Thai Diet

I’ll start this edition with Zac, and a sequence of events that are both unbelievable, and quite predictable at the same time. He settled in to hostel life in Thailand, and then he went to the wilder parts of the country. Although he was in the wilderness, he found a 7/11 that sold cheese and ham toasties, and that became his staple diet. I asked him what he had eaten previously, and he was not quite sure. He knew that there were noodles, as well as curry and rice, but these were often accompanies by “mystery meats”. I can imagine ham and cheese toasties being heaven after that assault on his palate.

He progressed to Chiang Mai where he visited the elephant orphanage, and then onto the party city of Pai. Unfortunately, his repetitive diet caught up with him and he was ill for a few days. This gave him a chance to catch up with his sleep, and figure out just what he wanted to do next.

Driving Home For Christmas

When he started his adventure he sent me his details on FindMyIphone, so I could track him through Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Pai, and so on. Occasionally it could not find him, but that was usually because his phone had died.

Last Monday it looked like the tracking system had broken as it pinpointed him in Stockport. I thought about deleting and reinstalling the app, but as I watched I noticed his location progressing along the A6. The penny dropped. He had decided to come home, and he planned to arrive Sunday night, two days before his birthday. Air France conspired against him, delaying his flight so that he had to be put up in Paris Airport. It was not all bad news, as his delay would probably gain him around £550. Eventually, he made his way along Walters Wood, and much to his mum’s and his brother’s surprise, he walked into the house just as if it was any other Monday.

Plan B

He had had enough for now, but planned to go back out after Christmas. This meant that he could enjoy his birthday and the festive season, and the compensation from Air France meant that it had cost him very little. I always knew he was not completely daft!

Kitchen Traditions

I have been quite busy in the kitchen, with cornflake tart, sticky toffee pudding, and of course, pumpkin pie. However, Sally has also tried her hand at a few things.

What’s In A Name?

One dish in particular was quite remarkable. I think that it started off as some kind of sweet potato chilli, but it was not readily identifiable as that. When I asked Sally what it was, she admitted that she was not quite sure. It maybe had the texture of corned beef hash! One of her friends, however, was a little more blunt, or you could say that she had given it a new name. “What the hell is that?” seems quite catchy. It remained virtually untouched for a couple of says, before Sally admitted, “It’s got some hard bits in it and I don’t really like it,” and it was consigned to the bin.

What the hell is that?

Ole refused to eat it, and a couple of weeks later, with the pan of “what the hell is that?” still fresh in the memory, he found a pan of turkey chilli on the stove. The text exchange went like this.

Cornflake tart

Its Autumn, so there is always the Creole Cake to get under way. It seems to have baked particularly well this year.

Star Souvenirs

Star Of Lady M has finished for the year, but our involvement with her certainly has not. We decided to go to the excellent Headmasters in New Mills, where we ordered embroidered gilets and bobble hats. Not sure what we are going to do with them yet!

We went to see her after the traditional October finale at York, and she was already on the walker, showing great progress in her recuperation. Sally decided to try her with some Polo mints, but to be honest I don’t really think Star knew what to do with them. All of the stable were confident that she would make a full recovery, and we look forward to seeing her on a racecourse in April 2023.

Magnificent Middlethorpe

The York finale presented us with the opportunity to stay at Middlethorpe Hall once again, giving us the 10th anniversary of our first stay there. I highly recommend this hotel if you are ever at York races.

The Duchess Delivers (almost)

Emerald Duchess returned to Leicester, scene of her gallant third place from early September. Many of those in The 1891 Group syndicate thought that she had grown since they last saw her. Duran Fentiman was our jockey, and he was supremely confident in the parade ring. “Just go out there and win” was his instruction.

She broke very well, and travelled down the course looking as good as she ever had. The syndicate were ecstatic as she took the lead. There were screams, squeals and cheers as we thought she might win. She eventually finished second, as the favourite went past her on the wide outside. It was a great performance, giving us renewed optimism for her future. Her TopSpeed rating of 22 was bizarrely low, and her RPR of 54 was much more indicative of her improved showing. She was raised 2lbs to 52 by the official handicapper.

Return To Redcar

She ran again at Redcar at the start of November, but she hated the ground and got bumped into a couple of furlongs from home. She finished fifth, and although we were disappointed, it really showed that our expectations had increased. A TopSpeed of 13 and RPR of 33 were fully expected, but she was only dropped 1lb to 51. We look forward to her getting her head in front in the early part of next season. Shares of her are still available at the cost of £3,750 that includes 10% full ownership and one year’s training fees.

The Redcar day out was interesting for a couple of reasons. Firstly, the lady at the gate recognised us from Star Of Lady M’s race in April. Secondly, we went into the stand and tried to remember where we were stood when Star Of Lady M won. Neither Sally nor myself could remember exactly, but a lady came up to us, pointed, and said, “You were there”. She remembered us from that day back in April, as she had never seen anyone so excited when their horse had won.

A Stocking Filler

Finally, from the horseracing world, my latest book, From Tattersalls To Triumphs, is now available to purchase on Amazon. The book details our first year of racehorse ownership, and all proceeds will be donated to the Injured Jockeys Fund and Retraining Of Racehorses charities.

       

From Tattersalls To Triumphs

As part of the promotion I have done interviews on RacingTV and Tattersalls TV, and I was featured in the Owner Breeder magazine for October. This was particularly useful, as the cover featured Queen Elizabeth II.

   

Owner Breeder magazine

Tattersalls TV

The Tattersalls interview was recorded at the Book 3 sale, and although we did not purchase this year, there were many well-wishers, including Luke, David O’Meara and Jason Kelly, Tim and William Easterby, Richard Kent, and the team from Cheveley Park. Looking forward to going back there at the end of November for the mare sale.

The Absurdity Of Queues

The NFL did not disappoint once again, as myself and Ole went down to London to watch the Packers take on the Jets at the Tottenham Stadium. With Zac in Thailand we took family friend Bruce Glover with us, and it was a straightforward journey from Macclesfield to Seven Sisters via Euston. It was quite a walk from there, but the weather was fine and there were some colourful sights.

As we approached the stadium we encountered our first queue of the day. It snaked around the concourse, stretching for several hundred yards, and we were thankful that it was not our entry queue. Instead, it was the queue for the merchandise shop, and it must have been at least an hour from joining the queue to actually making a purchase. Fortunately, we sidestepped this melee, and quickly rose to the VIP area. Ole and Bruce were very impressed as they tucked into smoked salmon, roast lamb, and unlimited Amstel.

Nachogate

The game itself was a close one, but at half time we returned to our table for nachos. It seemed that they had not given us enough nachos, so we asked for more. The head waiter came out with quite possibly the most ridiculous comment I have ever heard in a restaurant. Apparently, the chef knows how many people there were on each table and therefore he filled each bowl of nachos according to their destination. We had three on our table, and therefore we would have had a bowl for three. The waiters and waitresses had no idea which table each bowl went to until someone stuck their hand up, debunking the waiter’s crazy notion. Eventually, the manager came over and she admitted it was nonsense, they had simply run out!

The game continued into the second half, and we realised that there was one thing missing – cheerleaders! I know it is cold in Green Bay, but they still have cheerleaders – has the PC World gone mad?

Queuing For The Sake Of It

After the game we returned to our seats for hot dogs and more Amstel as we waited for the crowds to disperse. Eventually, we headed back to Seven Sisters where it was clear that there were still thousands heading our way. Just beyond the stadium there was a ridiculous queue to enter a grassed area. The only facility inside the grassed area was a burger van, and despite the presence of many more food outlets, including rival burger vans, in the immediate vicinity, these particular burgers must have been good enough to persuade people to queue for half an hour or more. We continued on towards our destination. The police clearly wanted to steer everyone through one entrance at Seven Sisters, and the queue began several hundred yards from the tube station. We tried two other tube station entrances, but they were blocked off.

More Than One Way To Skin A Cat

We tried Uber, but they wanted upwards of £50, then we hatched a cunning plan. Around the corner, just a few hundred yards away, was the entrance to the Seven Sisters overground station. So we headed for that. The overground station shares an entrance with the underground, but it would appear that no one told the police or the rest of the queue. We got straight onto a train and arrived at Euston in time for a pint before our return to Macclesfield!

Once Upon A Time…

Fern Farm has taken delivery of three little pigs. Dave has built them a house of metal, so I guess he has read the fairytale! They love apples and my jeans. Will hopefully get some videos in the near future.

   

Toadstools

Have you noticed the proliferation of fungi this year? There has been plenty in the garden, but on a walk around Fernilee there were a lot of very bright toadstools. Certainly would not recommend them for a salad.

Eating Out

We had a recommendation to visit the Barrel Inn at Bretton several years ago, but Covid got in the way. A couple of weeks ago we decided to try it out, and we were not disappointed. Fabulous roast dinner, very friendly service, and stunning views across the valley. Well worth the journey which is around 25 minutes from Whaley Bridge.

Previous Edition

Black Type And Blackberries

July 5, 2022 by Mike Madden

Fairytale Of Newmarket To Ascot

The Star Of The Fairytale

The fairytale that began at Newmarket last October reached new heights as we ventured to Royal Ascot. Our story was headlined by our own princess, Star Of Lady M. She was entered into the Windsor Castle, a Listed race open to colts and fillies, and we were drawn 1 of 24 runners. That was not great. However, the favourite was drawn in 2 so perhaps we could tuck in behind and make our move late.

Not Favourite

The betting had us at 20/1 up to 33/1, but our ratings told a different story. The Racing Post Rating (RPR) had us at joint third best, and TopSpeed had us as joint first. I originally thought we would enter the Queen Mary, so that is what I registered our ownership as. Now that the switch was confirmed, I contacted Royal Ascot Owners & Trainers to switch us from the Queen Mary to the Windsor Castle. At most courses this would not matter, she was still entered in a race on the same day. Royal Ascot is different, as the parade ring passes are issued on a race by race basis. They assured me that if I had emailed they would certainly deal with it.

The day before our trip was quite a busy one. I had to go into Manchester to pick up my suit. Years ago I used to work in Manchester, and I got used to the sights and the sounds of the streets. Now, the buskers seem to delight in blasting out backing tracks, possibility to drown out their own mediocre voices. Perhaps the city should impose an “acoustic only” rule!

Its All About The Fashion

Back at home Sally, Fiona and Gabi discussed outfits and accessories with the weather turning almost tropical. It was also the first day of the Royal meeting, so we scoured the television to get a sense of the different enclosures and the styles being worn.

Everyone Has An Opinion

The pundits were optimistic about the chances of Star Of Lady M. They ranged from “Clearly wasn’t 100% at Chester and unbeaten aside from that, finding plenty for third win in the Hilary Needler at Beverley 18 days ago. Well worth a shot at this level.” to “Didn’t take to Chester in the Lily Agnes on her penultimate start but has won her other three outings, including a valuable conditions event at Beverley last time. Needs more but she looks a tough sort and cannot be dismissed easily”.

 

Chopper Squad

A telephone call from the helicopter company caused a bit of a panic. They said that they had not received landing permission for our trip to Ascot. Fortunately, they were only concerned about the Whaley Bridge Cricket Club end of the journey, which was easily resolved! I had also not heard back from Ascot Owners & Trainers with regard to my request to switch Star Of Lady M from the Queen Mary to the Windsor Castle, despite two emails and a number of fruitless phone calls. That would have to be a job for the following morning.

Twitter was very kind to us, with lots more follows and good wishes. For now we were the pride of Yorkshire, ironic given my cricketing and footballing allegiance to Old Trafford.

Lucky Number 22

We were to carry number 22 in the race. I was clutching at straws when I discovered that the number 22 represents your angel’s way of telling you that you’re on the right track and that your dreams are about to become a reality. You will have probably gathered that I was doing just about anything to pass the time!

Bradsell won the first two year old race at Royal Ascot, a 12,000 guineas purchase as a yearling. He was drawn in stall 2, although he did track over to the other side of the course. However, it did give me renewed confidence. He proved that a horse could win from anywhere if it was good enough and got the run of the race.

The Big Day Arrives

On the morning of the our race I decided to embrace the luck of the Irish. A small glass of Irish whiskey was the order of the day and it seemed to work. I finally got through to Ascot to confirm that race switch. Shortly afterwards the helicopter pilot rang me to say they were all on time and expected to land at 9.30am. I said we were booked for 9.40am but that did not seem to bother him, it all seemed very relaxed.

I also received a picture message from David O’Meara showing Star Of Lady M in her Ascot stable. She had her head over the door looking to see what was going on. She was seemingly unconcerned about the drama that was about to unfold.

It was already hot. As we stood for photographs I could feel the heat through my double breasted waistcoat, and beneath my top hat.

We took the short but bumpy ride up to Whaley Bridge Cricket Club. As we pulled into the gate the unmistakeable sound of helicopter rotors could be heard overhead. The first one came into view, and then the other. They landed on the immaculately mowed outfield, and then we waited for the rotors to completely stop. The smaller of the two was almost entirely black, whilst the larger machine had emerald green livery on its black exterior. Its registration, starting ONTV, indicated it was one of the helicopters that had been used on Anneka Rice’s Treasure Hunt.

Those Magnificent Men…

We split into two groups. Sally accompanied the boys in the smaller helicopter, based very roughly on weight. Myself, Fiona and Gabi went into the larger beast. There were more photos and videos, and even at that early stage the girls were concerned about their phone batteries. There was a brief safety demonstration, and we were away. Our pilot took the lead, given that he was easily the more experienced of the two. Within minutes we had cleared the two reservoirs of Fernilee and Errwood. He was ultra professional, and I thought it best not to tell him that when we returned there would actually be a cricket match in progress on the cricket pitch!

Our average flying altitude was around 1200 feet, and so everything on the ground was crystal clear. However, with nothing else to do I found myself looking down for far too much of the journey. This resulted in quite a stiff neck! We crossed over Alton Towers, and then headed for the M40. Bicester, Oxford and Henley-On-Thames could all be clearly seen from the air. Our pilot gave us the lowdown on things that he had to avoid, such as microlight aircraft, gliders and parachutists.

Picture Perfect

After around 75 minutes Ascot came into view, and we flew over the home straight. This proved to be another great photo opportunity. We swung around and landed in a large field, and we were then accompanied to the reception area by the ground staff. Our pilots would park up and be taken to the golf course to be fed and watered for the day. They would be rested and refreshed for our return journey later.

Flowing Fizz

The reception area was a rather grand marquee. There was a check in desk at one end where they issued us with the details for our return flight. At the other end there was a bar. The complimentary champagne flowed rather freely, whilst I opted for a grapefruit juice followed by a bottle of Peroni. Zac took the opportunity to open his study book as he had an A Level exam the following day. I think that that was the last time his book saw the light of day.

     

Pastries were offered, and there was a supply of Royal Ascot racecards. I picked one up, it was different to any other racecard, with a decidedly antique feel inferring its quality and value. It was a proud moment to see Star Of Lady M listed in the sixth race. I was anxious to get to the course, collect our badges and go inside so that we could relax, but the girls wanted more of the complimentary champagne.

Road To Nowhere

Eventually we boarded a Mercedes people carrier and set off to cover the short distance to the course. The driver followed the signs to Car Park 8, but I knew that our badges were at Car Park 2. The roads were already getting busy with raceday traffic. I was thankful that we were not paying the standard £45 to park our car in a field. We reached Car Park 8 and the driver described the pick up situation. There would be cars about marked with the heliport. We would just have to locate one and then all would be taken care of. I was not convinced, and then I insisted that he took us to Car Park 2.

We soon discovered that Car Park 2 was on the other side of the course. Walking to there in that heat would have been a disaster. As it turned out it might have been quicker, as we got stuck in traffic on Ascot high street. My nerves were starting to shred, with still around five hours until race time. We then discovered at least part of the cause for the delay. The Royal family were heading in the opposite direction, in preparation for the Royal procession.

Royal Rumble

So, we waited, inched forward, stopped, and waited some more. Around 45 minutes later we passed the entrance to Car Park 2. The instructions said that the Owners & Trainers facility was at the west end of Car Park 2, but the signs simply stated L and R. We gambled, and it paid off, as we walked in right by the aforementioned facility. Five minutes later we had our individually named Owners badges, as well as parade ring passes for race 6.

The entrance was on the other side of a busy road that we were herded across by an efficient steward. We underwent a thorough bag check before stepping across the threshold onto the hallowed grounds of Royal Ascot.

Show Me A Sign

The signs inside were about as good as those outside. We wandered aimlessly for a while, taking in the grandeur of the grandstand, the bustling throngs, and the decorated Queen Anne enclosure. The Royal enclosure had its own rules, and these extended until after the Royal procession, which seemed rather odd. I found an information desk to ask for directions to the Owners bar. A surprised lady said that she did not think that there was one. She then unfolded a map from the centre of one of the racecards, and she pointed us to the Bustino and Grundy lawn area that we had just walked past.

Pimms O’Clock

It was now approaching 1pm so we settled ourselves at an Owners bar. A jug of Pimms and more Peroni disappeared rather quickly. The temperature must have been approaching 30 degrees out on the manicured lawns where every table had already been reserved. I would not normally eat before Star Of Lady M has raced due to frayed nerves. In this case, with still four and a half hours to go, we all agreed that we should dine as soon as possible.

Fiona went in search of a restaurant, and she came back a short time later having achieved her goal. We followed her lead. She meandered through corridors and another bar before finally arriving at a crowded restaurant. We were seated at the far end, and quite coincidentally our table was number 22. This was the same number as Star Of Lady M in the Windsor Castle. It was an omen! I laughingly suggested that we would finish 22^nd, but that was quickly dismissed.

The buffet style lunch was excellent. After several cold meats with rice, pasta and various other side dishes, I attacked the chocolate pudding, strawberries and clotted cream with gusto. Two glasses of wine washed it all down, and then we once again braved the heat outside.

A Popular Distraction

We took up our position in the Owners viewing area to watch the Royal procession. The Prince Of Wales and the Duchess Of Cornwall, otherwise known as Charles and Camilla, took the lead as the carriages made their way down the course. This kind of spectacle is what makes Royal Ascot so special to so many people. To be honest I just wanted to get on with the racing.

We met Luke Lillingston and his wife Tabitha. They were as excited as we were at the prospect of Star Of Lady M running at Royal Ascot. We went our separate ways, aiming to meet up in time for our race, and then we settled in for the racing. Temperatures continued to soar, and I opted for water to stave off dehydration.

     

They’re Off

The first race was the Queen Mary, and of course on a different day that might have been our race. As it turned out our regular jockey Danny Tudhope rode the winner, and I had backed him. Zac had bet £10 each way rather than £5 by mistake, and so his betting reserves were already seriously depleted. Gabi had never been to a race meeting before, and she quickly burnt through her funds as well. I backed the third winner at good odds, and then we decided to try to find somewhere out of the stifling heat.

   

The Big Heat

The bar was now full, making it even hotter than before. Eventually we settled for a table with two chairs at one end of the lawn. This was just away from the pre parade ring. A waitress took our order, and I opted for a vodka as well as my usual water, just to calm my nerves. A combination of heat and nerves is not good, and I was starting to suffer. It was around 4.45pm, and the Royal Hunt Cup was just 15 minutes away.

I went for a walk, and noticed some of the horses for the Windsor Castle coming into the pre parade ring. My nerves ratcheted up to another level, and I went to sit back down. My hat was off, my jacket was off, and now I unbuttoned my waistcoat. This felt like being released from a straitjacket, but as time ticked on I was honestly not sure whether I would be able to make the race, and particularly the preliminaries.

Race Time

My phone buzzed. It was Luke beckoning us to the pre parade. I galvanised myself and, accompanied by concerned and excited family, we went to meet him. Star Of Lady M was nowhere to be seen, they were clearly keeping her out of the heat. I met Jason Kelly and Char-Lee Heard, and they were busy but relaxed. We found Luke and Tabitha, and we also met John O’Kelly who was the auctioneer when we bought Star Of Lady M. I suggested that he might have brought the hammer down just a little quicker, and that raised a smile. I was over the effects of the heat, but my nerves were dreadful.

Star Of Lady M finally emerged from her stable and went straight to the parade ring. She looked magnificent, and her appearance was made even more special by the Royal Ascot saddle cloth with gold numbers and lettering.

The Lady Is Not To Be Rushed

As we made our way there, other runners were already heading out onto the course. We were very late, but I think this was a deliberate ploy to keep her away from the hullabaloo for as long as possible. The pre parade ring had been busy, but the parade ring was far worse. It was impossible to see anyone. Luke spotted our trainer David O’Meara, and we followed Jason through a small gap where David was giving last minute instructions to our jockey Colin Keane.

Sally appeared a short time later, just in time to see David give Colin a leg up. They both looked relaxed, and we made our way to the packed grandstand with reserved optimism. Gabi grabbed me another water along the way, and as we peered towards the start. Star Of Lady M walked calmly into stall 1, the first horse to be loaded. My stomach was churning as I waited for the other 23 to go in!

Under Starters Orders

After what seemed like an eternity they were off. Star Of Lady M got out better than she had in any of her previous four starts, then Little Big Bear was driven to pass her. It was going well until the field tacked across to the centre. Colin Keane tried to straighten her but she fought against him. She changed her legs and then seemed to get bumped. It was clear that she was not going to win, so Colin eased her through the second half of the race with hands and heels. There was no reason to give her a hard race, particularly in the burning heat, and she trailed in towards the back. Little Big Bear won the race, and Star Of Lady M was, well we might have guessed, 22^nd!

Relief!

My nerves had disappeared completely and a swathe of relief washed over me as we realised that her race was run. We rushed down to the unsaddling area, where Colin had already dismounted. I wondered if she had sustained an injury, maybe sore shins, but Colin was fine with her. He said that she is uncomplicated with good speed, but the ground was plenty fast enough for her. David confirmed that there was nothing wrong with her, and we stood debating the outcome for quite some time. We all agreed that with a middle draw it could have been different, but that’s racing. It was not our day, but everyone was convinced that she would bounce back.

Thinking Ahead

Our next target would be a Listed race to try to get black type, which would increase her value as a broodmare. The options were either the Dragon Stakes at Sandown, or the Yacowlef at Deauville in France which was a more likely destination. David had to go off to saddle a runner in the last race and he said that he would be in touch in the next few days. Tabitha introduced us to her mum, and Sally immediately spotted that her name badge read “Lady Ross”, although she preferred Susie. The conversation inevitably turned to horses, and in particular an occasion earlier in the year.

Sally had picked up Luke and Tabitha’s daughter Lara from Bakewell after her Duke Of Edinburgh event, and she reported back that as soon as she saw that Sally’s car was full of bridles, saddles and other tack she knew that she was alright, and Susie concurred! Susie owned a piece of Mehmar who had finished a few places in front of us in the Windsor Castle. It was probably the most relaxed twenty minutes of the whole day, but we had to move on so we said our goodbyes.

And Now The End Is Near

We somehow ended up in the Royal enclosure for the final race of the day, but I was certainly not bothered about having another bet. Once the racing was done I had made a profit, while Gabi and Zac had not had a single winner. The most memorable result came when Ole’s horse beat Sally’s in a photo finish. Fiona continued her obsession with Danny Tudhope by backing his winner in the first. However, it was the majesty of Royal Ascot that left the biggest impression.

We were fortunate to find a steward who pointed us in exactly the right direction for the helicopter. We had to walk down the course, around a marquee, and then across the track. Our original driver just happened to be waiting for us on the other side. Less than ten minutes later we were back at the helicopter reception with the girls making the most of the champagne that was still on offer. I had more water and grapefruit juice, and just before 7pm our pilots were ready to take us back to Whaley Bridge.

Helicopter Stops Play

Our route replicated the outward journey, including another birds eye view of Alton Towers. As we approached our destination I messaged the club to ensure that the pitch was clear for our arrival. It took us around 75 minutes again, and as we touched down the assembled crowd took photos and videos from their elevated positions along the banking. I decided we should look our best, so I donned my top hat and tails again and stepped out to a round of applause!

Some friends had arranged a champagne reception for our arrival, but I settled for an ice cold Vimto. We returned home, and as is tradition I headed for the Drum & Monkey. I was exhausted, but felt that I had to make the trip, and I was joined by Fiona, as well as her son Jake and his fiancée Aimee. One pint later we headed back home where Gabi, Sally and the boys were tucking in to a takeaway. I had a few chips but could not face any more.

Memories Are Made Of This

It had been a marvellous day, and the helicopters certainly surprised the village. Even in 2022, when someone hears those thudding rotors they always look up, point and shout “Helicopter”. I am not sure I would like to travel much further in a helicopter, 75 minutes was just about my limit. The blistering heat is also something that I need to manage better, as are my nerves. One thing is for certain though, for the six of us that made the trip, our day at Royal Ascot is one that we will never forget.

The Morning After

After a good night’s sleep I watched the race back, and everything that we had discussed afterwards was reiterated. She had not had a hard race, but the journey and the heat would have taken plenty out of her. Perhaps she would be ready in time for the Dragon at Sandown which was just fifteen days away, or perhaps it would be better to wait for Deauville on 10^th July regardless. In my mind I had decided on Deauville, which also meant that the next countdown could begin. We were twenty four days away from her next race.

We had an anxious wait until the message came through from Gina that Star Of Lady M had returned safe and sound, and none the worse for her experience. I spoke to Richard Kent and he was fully in support of heading for a Listed event in France. He had a filly that had unfortunately finished fourth when he tried it the previous year.

Star Of Lady M’s Fan Club

On social media I thanked everyone for their help and support, and I was touched by the responses that were unanimous. Everyone was so pleased that Star Of Lady M had made it to Royal Ascot, even though most of them had lost money on her on this particular occasion. They wanted to know that she was safe and well, and they looked forward to her next outing.

I made special mention of David O’Meara and his team who managed the whole process of travel and pre and post race activities so well, and also to Colin Keane who gave her the best possible race in the circumstances. I would certainly love to have him on board again whenever Danny Tudhope is unavailable. Finally, without Luke and Tabitha we would not have had the same experience. Tabitha was such a calming voice amid the chaos, whilst Luke pushed on and cleared any obstacles in our way. As ever his post race assessment was spot on, and I looked forward to my next conversation with him.

Ooh La La

I decided to check my Weatherbys bank account to see what our day at Ascot had cost from a racing perspective, and I made some interesting discoveries. Our jockey, Colin Keane, did not have VAT attached to his fee, and our share of the sponsorship, for having a saddle cloth embellished with both Royal Ascot and Longines insignia, was just £20.24. We did not even get any appearance money as we had at Chester.

However, much more interesting than this were the additional payments. There was a £10 debit for the Foreign Racing Handling Charge, and there was a debit of £18.59 for Star Of Lady M to be registered with France-Galop, the administrators of racing in France. These had actually been processed a month or so earlier. It must have taken that amount of time to complete the process, but it was certainly auspicious less than twenty four hours after the Ascot race.

Where Exactly Is Deauville?

So, we were definitely off to France, or so it seemed. The next few hours were spent researching trains, planes and automobiles to get to Deauville for a Sunday afternoon meeting. Flying to Paris would be the obvious one, but with the chaos at most airports at the moment this would be so stressful. It is also probably three and a half hours from Paris airport to Deauville, making the door to door time somewhere close to ten hours. Driving would be quicker, but then there are rules about your car and adaptations that would need to be made. In addition, although the journey time could be under nine hours, it could also end up being closer to twenty hours given the UK roads.

A ferry from Portsmouth would take us close to Deauville, but the crossing could take eight hours or so, and then there was Eurostar. My sister is a seasoned traveller, and she said that she would not consider any other way. Business class to Paris Gare Du Nord is the way to go, and that would include free food and drink as well as lounge access at both ends.

French Connection

That more or less settled it, travelling Saturday morning and returning Sunday evening. Unfortunately, Sally is unavailable that weekend, so I asked my nephew Jake, and Neil Woolley, both of whom own a share in Emerald Duchess. Neil was a definite almost immediately, and Jake would be except for one small problem, he did not have a passport. He applied for a new one two weeks ago, but the wait time at the moment can be up to ten weeks. Fortunately this arrived a few days later, and we were all keen to know whether we would be off on a trip to Normandy.

Our nearest major train station is Macclesfield, and on Sunday evenings the last train back from London Euston to there is 9.30. That would be a close shave to connect from the Eurostar, so I looked at Derby which is about an hour away. That is a much better connection, with the added advantage that the train from Derby goes directly into St Pancras where the Eurostar departs from. So that was decided. We would go from Derby to St Pancras, then Eurostar to Paris, followed by an onward train to Deauville. With twenty three days left until the race it was all sorted!

Emerald Emerges

Meanwhile, we went to watch Emerald Duchess at Thirsk. Thirsk is another very friendly and hospitable Yorkshire course, and we had a lovely day up there.

We were a little puzzled at Emerald Duchess’s performance, though to be fair our trainer Tim Easterby explained that the main goal of the race was to get our handicap mark. Maybe some of the bookies knew this!

It was a gentle race for our filly who is still learning the game, even when she came to challenge. She came in 10th but not beaten very far at all. It is also clear that Tim is very sweet on her, and he mischievously suggested that Star Of Lady M might not be the best racehorse that we own. Our jockey, apprentice Sean Kirrane, said she was still quite green, and there are still some things to work on, but now that she has qualified for an official rating we should see her dramatically improve.

   

It also looks like she will be tried over seven furlongs, which means that it is unlikely that she and Star Of Lady M will ever meet on a racecourse.

Fathers Day Down Memory Lane

Fathers Day saw lunch at the Church at Chelmorton which is always good quality. Zac won’t have a roast dinner, but he will have sausages with all the trimmings, and I called in advance to ensure this was an option. Of course, Zac is now grown up so we let him order all by himself, but on this occasion he was totally flummoxed with no idea what to ask for. It got painful to listen to, so I intervened and all was well! We were glad that we opted for the Church, as over the hill in Kettleshulme the Swan ran out of Yorkshire Puddings. I am not quite sure how that happens, as they are clearly not difficult to make, but so be it. At the Church we had two each!

Fathers Day can be a bit of a damp squib. I don’t expect gifts or anything really, lunch was quite enough. The boys bought me a bottle of Proper 12 Irish whiskey which I will savour over the next few weeks. Gabi was little more creative. Or rather, she expects me to be a little more creative. She remembers her childhood when a rather expensive toy version of Thunderbirds’ Tracey Island went on sale. Blue Peter thought that it would be a good idea for people to make their own, so they created a full set of plans. Imagine my surprise when I opened the package and found, those very same plans. Apparently Nixie is really looking forward to making it with me. I think I may have to resort to the Blue Peter tactic of “Here’s one I prepared earlier!”

Travellin’ Man

Meanwhile, Zac has now finished his exams and has decided to go off travelling. Obviously his mum is fretting about this already, particularly when he said that his first destination would be Thailand. From there, apparently, it is easy to get to Balti, which I always thought was a curry. It is! He meant that it was easy to get to Bali, and our confidence in his ability to navigate the globe took another step backward! Ole is far more sensible, opting for a trip to Alicante with his girlfriend. Originally he asked me to book it, then he plucked up the courage to book it himself. He just wanted me to pay for it, though to be fair he has since reimbursed me.

Zac has been applying for various roles to fund his potential travelling, including one with Aldi. He got through the first two stages, and the third was an automated video interview. In this, he would be given a question, then he would have 30 seconds to prepare before the robot started to record his answer. He wondered where he should be for the recording, and Sally suggested that it should not be in his room, as he would not want Aldi knowing how messy he is. He agreed!

Not Quite Dead

Its prime hunting season for cats, and Bo is no exception. She has deposited three dead birds and several mice in places where they are quite difficult to find, as well as presenting others as gifts. On one occasion she dropped a mouse in front of Sally, who said, “well at least it is dead.” Bo stuck out a playful paw, and the supposedly dead mouse shot under the settee hotly pursued by Bo. Sally was not amused.

When Is A 3 Not A 3?

Finally, Ole has been having trouble with our oven. He was grilling bacon and he was cursing as it did not seem to be cooking very well. I asked him which setting he had it on. “3,” he replied, and I asked him, “which 3?”. This baffled him so I explained that if you turn the dial to the left the whole grill comes on, but if you turn it to the right only half of the grill comes on. Its more economic that way. He struggled to see why you would have the same number setting for two completely different things, and he went further. “The fridge doesn’t work that way. I don’t put something in the fridge and find out that it is not cold because only half of the fridge is cooling stuff.” I guess he has a point.

Previous Edition

You can read the previous edition here

A Star Is Bo

 

June 11, 2022 by Mike Madden

A Star Is Bo

The Catwalk

I know a lot of you will be reading this hoping for racing updates, and they will come! However, first I have to mention the new social media star in our family. Regular readers will recall the picture of Bo next to a giant bag of cat food from the previous edition. Well, Amazon liked it so much that they started asking questions about her on Twitter. She seemed like such a fun loving cat. I told them that she loved drumstick lollies, or any hard lollies that had a white stick. Maybe she thinks that is a tail? So, after this

brief exchange they said they would send her some treats. A few days later she received a whole bag of drumsticks, plus several catnip toys. There was a box of shiny balls, and a variety box of Dreamies. Ironically the original order was not even from Amazon, but we certainly thanked them for their interest.

Her favourite was probably the box!

The Return Of The Duchess

Emerald Duchess hit the racetrack again at Haydock, and we had an almost full complement of The 1891 Group there to see her. She was not well fancied after her Nottingham debut.

We pulled in to the Owners & Trainers car park at Haydock, and found our way to the Owners reception. We proceeded to the Owners bar and we were told that the whole of the Owners area was under refurbishment. I did consider that for a supposedly prestigious course that had gone through Covid and a sparse winter jumping season, perhaps they could have refurbished in plenty of time for the flat. Regardless, we had some very decent draught Guinness and Pravha. We then watched Fittleton Ferry finish a disappointing 12th of 13 at Bath. Her RPR of 10 was about as low as I have ever seen, down from 53 in her previous race. Afterwards, Nikki Evans said that it could have been the ground, or she could perhaps have been in season.

Lady M Puts Her Foot Down

The bar area at Haydock had a huge entrance that was wide open and the place was cold. So, we moved next door to the dining area. There was a dining room, and an ante room that contained several high tables close to the bar. These did not look like they were for diners, so we sat there. The dining room organiser said that our tables might be needed if the dining room filled up. We said that if that happened we would relinquish them, and ordered drinks from a waiter. Lady M was certainly not for moving.

It was a somewhat frosty reception, and the waiter made it worse. He said that he could not serve us draught beer which was only available at the official Owners bar. The official Owners bar was some twenty feet away. I guess that Haydock could learn a thing or two about customer service.

Charles Ledigo said “Hello”, his Glorious Angel had shortened as favourite for Emerald Duchess’s race. I then received an odd email. It said that Emerald Duchess had been entered into a race at Ripon the following Thursday. The entries for the race included Carmela, Breege and Lady Bullet. These were all operating at well above the standard set so far by Emerald Duchess. By chance, Will Easterby walked in at about the same time, so I asked him about the entry. He had no idea, so we dismissed it and prepared for that afternoon’s race.

Looking Good

Emerald Duchess looked very well in the paddock, as did Lady M resplendent in matching colours. Our jockey for the day was again Duran Fentiman. Both Will and Duran were managing our expectations, looking for a clear progression. We hoped that she would pass a few more runners with a late surge. As it turned out quite the opposite happened. We made our way to the viewing area, where the winning line was at a surprising angle. By the end of the race this did not really bother us.

The Duchess Dwells

She missed the break, though not as badly as at Nottingham. This was followed by an effortless burst to move into a challenging position. By half way she was amongst the leaders, but she then faded quite dramatically. When we spoke to Duran afterwards he said that this might be due to missing some work with sore shins, but also that the ground was on the firm side again and she was fighting against it. However, he was impressed with her early speed that saw her overcome a slow break, even suggesting that she might revert back to five furlongs.

She finished eighth of the ten runners, well in touch with the few in front of her, and it was not too much of a disappointment. Her RPR of 47 was an improvement from her previous mark of 41, though her TopSpeed went down from 39 to 37. However, I have yet to find anyone who understands what TopSpeed is or takes much notice of it. Charles Ledigo was a little subdued after Glorious Angel could only finish fourth.

     

There’s Always The Bar

Will bought us drinks in the bar, and we had a good chat about Maryland, where he had ridden in the Maryland Hunt Cup, and other parts of the US, as well as cricket. Emerald Duchess got a mention, but we all knew she needed a bit more time. She had already run twice before the end of May, which is way beyond expectations, especially when you consider that her sire Massaat did not run until July in his two year old year, and he only ran three times in that season overall.

The ground was clearly against her once more, and it was no surprise to find that the following day she again had a sore shin, but she was well in herself.

This Is The End – Or Is It?

The day after Haydock I was called up at the last minute to play cricket for the firsts at Stalybridge. Injuries have certainly got the better of me recently, but the firsts are going well, so I was hopeful of having minimal involvement. How wrong I was! After the game I took the decision to officially retire, and I sent a message to the club.

Man Of Letters

This message is probably long overdue, but after yesterday I have decided that enough is enough and I am retiring from cricket.

I took to the field with a seriously damaged knee, and after running three twos in the first over my glute, hamstring and calf were coming out in sympathy. However, all leg pains were quickly forgotten whilst fielding as I dived (some might say fell) on the ball and seriously bruised a couple of ribs. Struggling to breathe I eventually got to my feet praying that the ball came nowhere near me for the rest of the innings.

On the way back to the Sheps I had to pull over due to violent leg cramps, and I already knew that the end had arrived.

I can look back on a career that saw me rack up 3 centuries, including 162 not out against Offerton which remains the highest individual score recorded for Whaley Bridge seconds. I only scored 1 first team 50, and there should have been more, particularly in more recent years when opening the batting with Luke Dogg and Dr Dec. As second team captain I played with more juniors than Prince Andrew, and for those that were at High Lane there will always be “The Catch”.

https://whaleybridgecc.co.uk/archives/328

Its been a blast, and all I can say is Dougie, make sure you have a good scorer when you turn out for the seconds today!

Every Cloud…

As days went by the pain was strong in both my side and stomach, which was a concern. The dangers of Google came to the fore as it suggested I may have “popped a rib out”, so I called 111 and they were absolutely useless. It seemed that their sole aim was to cover their own arses. So, I went to the GP who gave me a rather odd diagnosis. She thought that Ibuprofen might be upsetting my stomach so she gave me some antacid, despite my request for stronger painkillers. I went to the chemist to collect the prescription, and to my surprise I found out that as I was now 60 my prescriptions are free. This may lead to me getting something new every week!

I took two of the antacids, stopped taking Ibuprofen, but still the pain continued. Some cricketing friends consoled me by telling of their own experiences with a similar injury. Turns out it could take four to five weeks to heal.

The Star Shines Again

Star Of Lady M was entered into the Hilary Needler at Beverley, and at the entries stage it looked to be a very hot race. By the time of the declarations some of the potential favourites had dropped out, but there were still five previous winners in the line-up, including ourselves.

David O’Meara also ran the debutant Your Spirit, but we had secured the services of Danny Tudhope. Sporting Life initially priced us up at 8/1, but I doubted whether that price would hold with the actual bookmakers.

The day before the race there appeared to be money for Richard Hannon’s Distinguished Lady. Although still a maiden she was challenging Absolutelyflawless, who had beaten us at Chester, for favouritism. The same analyst who wrote “judged on breeding others are more appealing” about Star Of Lady M before her debut at Redcar, now suggested “disappointing when taken on for the lead in the Lily Agnes 24 days ago”. She was clearly not fancied, but there were some crumbs of comfort on Twitter. Avid two year old student Mike Curtiz wrote “Happy to put a line through Star Of Lady M run at Chester, I think she’s the best in here and she can reverse the 4 1/2 lengths (from the Lily Agnes).

If You Can’t Say Anything Nice…

The most disappointing comment I heard came in a podcast. Trainer Darryll Holland, whose Primrose Ridge had finished second to Star Of Lady M back at Redcar, said that the Redcar defeat was purely down to the ground, and Star Of Lady M would never beat his filly again. I thought that it was a little disrespectful towards our girl, but I guess he was being interviewed and had to think of something to say.

Distinguished Lady was clear favourite overnight, whilst we were around 8/1. As the morning progressed Absolutelyflawless came back in to head the market, and we shortened to 7/1. Our two sons, Ole and Zachary, got into a panic trying to find shirts, shoes and ties that were only purchased in February. As well as Ole and Zachary, we also had Ole’s girlfriend Abbie as the fifth member of our party. We drove to Beverley, taking the scenic route to Sheffield before hitting three motorways. It was uneventful until someone decided that the M62 would be better as a single lane rather than three, and that delayed us for around half an hour.

A Very British Beverley

We parked up next to Mick Fitzgerald who was busy studying form, and then we went to the Owners & Trainers reception to collect our badges. We were greeted with a glass of champagne, and our badges were adorned with a union jack in honour of the Very British Racing Day. This was coincidentally appropriate as I wore my red, white and blue striped blazer! The Owners and Trainers section was quite spacious, with a nice terrace outside that was unfortunately too cold to sit at.

Zac, Ole and Abbie casting a knowledgeable eye over the first race runners

The boys had been to Galway races previously, but that was seated at a table overlooking the winning line and betting exclusively on the Tote. They had also been to Southwell many years before, but they could not even remember that. I showed them around the betting ring, the parade ring and the viewing area, and they decided to use the Tote for convenience. After a brief pause whilst they retrieved their IDs to prove their ages, they had a bet in the first and we went into the stands. Zac backed the first winner at 6/1 and had the second each way at 80/1, whilst Ole backed the second each way. So they were both off to a good start, but now it was time for Star Of Lady M.

It is always good to see some familiar faces at the racetrack, and we were pleased to bump in to Will Easterby who wished us good luck.

Be Prepared

In no time at all our filly was in the pre parade ring. She was a little on her toes, but nowhere near as bad as at Chester. She made her way to the parade ring, and I followed her in along with Sally. I beckoned to the other three and Ole joined us, but Zac and Abbie seemed a little intimidated by the prospect of crossing the path that the horses were walking around on.

David O’Meara was in attendance along with Char-lee Heard, and they were very relaxed. David introduced us to the owners of his second horse in the race, and then Danny came out resplendent in the emerald green silks with the bold black stars. I asked him about tactics but he was not giving anything away. “We’ll just see how the race pans out” was about as detailed as he got, and in my mind I wondered whether this was confidence or nerves.

Star now had a groom on her inside as well as her outside, and this calmed her down significantly. Danny mounted, and they were off to the start. We went into the grandstand where we could see the big screen opposite as well as having a great view down the course. The nerves really began to churn. My throat was dry as I considered what a good result would be after the disaster of Chester. First six would guarantee a prize. Second or third would mean a conversation about Royal Ascot. A win would be out of this world, and would include a third GBB bonus.

The Hilary Needler

She went into stall four very calmly, despite the newcomer Your Spirit playing up at the post. Eventually they were all in, and they were off. She dived left at the start, but showed good pace to fall in just behind Mark Johnston’s Fragrance. Primrose Ridge came from the outside at a blistering pace and soon took the lead. We passed Fragrance and tracked the leader, and after a couple of furlongs it was clear that she was a very different filly to the one at Chester.

With two and a half to go Primrose Ridge was going further clear, but we were holding second. The rest of the field were struggling as we passed the two furlong pole, and the thought of finishing second, that had seemed so appealing before the race, was now possibly a disappointment.

A furlong and a half out we were probably two lengths down, but Jack Mitchell on board the leader had gone for his whip. Passing the furlong pole there was still clear daylight between the two, but Danny then urged our girl for an effort. She responded, cutting into the lead, but she was still a length down with half a furlong left to race. He drove her harder, and she picked up. She was gaining. Would the post come too soon?

Flying Finish

She was flying, and in the split second it took me to switch my eyes from the screen to the live action she had gained half a length. Beverley is a stiff uphill track, and the finish can be gruelling after a hard race, but Star was loving it. Her ears were pricked as the commentator called “Primrose Ridge being mowed down by Star Of Lady M”. She put her head in front, then effortlessly eased to victory by three quarters of a length, the same distance that we beat the same rival at Redcar.

The last 100 yards was all heart, and the deficit from ¾ down to ¾ up was in the blink of an eye. She won going away from Primrose Ridge, with the rest a few lengths back. Sally’s hat went up into the air, the boys and Abbie were buzzing, and then they announced that they had all backed her. I rushed to the parade ring where Danny was about to be interviewed. “Put a line through Chester and she’s unbeaten,” he said, and followed this up with, “she deserves her chance at Royal Ascot.” David suggested, “the owners might want to go to Royal Ascot,” and he was also quick to dismiss the Chester race. Mick Fitzgerald had a quick word with us and then it was time for the presentation.

A Trophy – And A Demand

We received our trophy from a relative of the original Hilary Needler, and we were then asked several questions about what went wrong at Chester and whether we would go to Royal Ascot. Sally said that if we were going there she would need a helicopter!

David received a trainer’s trophy, and then Danny received a bag as the winning jockey. Beverley are quite rightly proud of their race, the Hilary Needler is synonymous with the course. It is a Class 2 race, but it used to be Listed, and I am sure that they would love to see the Listed status restored.

There’s Only One Destination

We were led away to a presentation room, where a large television was already showing reruns of the race. There were so many people in there that I thought they must be connections of all of the other horses! We spoke to the Chairman of the course and various other dignitaries, and they were all urging us to head not just for Royal Ascot but for the Group 2 Queen Mary. They were genuinely wishing us well, but there was also the slightly hidden agenda that if our horse did well at Royal Ascot it would go some way to proving that the Hilary Needler once again deserves to be Listed. Very shortly afterwards, Beverley Racecourse followed me on Twitter!

Lady M gives her namesake warm congratulations

Good News Travels Fast

I had to be careful with the champagne due to having a long drive home, so we said our thanks and headed back to the Owners & Trainers area. As ever, my phone had exploded with messages. I got through them, and then the phone calls began. First up it was Luke, and he was thrilled with her performance. He did throw a bit of a curved ball at us by suggesting that rather than heading for Royal Ascot we could go to France and pick up a Listed race with very decent prize money, as these tended to be weaker than over here.

There was also a message from Whitsbury Manor suggesting that the Empress stakes at Newmarket would be a good option, but that was six furlongs and David had confirmed that for now she would stick to five. They also advised against Royal Ascot as it can ruin a horse, and we did not want another Chester on our hands!

Talk Of The Town

Back down to earth we realised that the debate about whether she would be rated 75 or 95 had been settled in our favour. We had also won the £20,000 prize as well as the £20,000 GBB bonus. Congratulations came from all angles, with many of the locals keen to share their memories of the Hilary Needler. It really was a proud moment to now be a part of that history. I chatted to people too numerous to mention, and I think that our appeal was that we were not one of the big players, we were just ordinary people enjoying the thrill of owning our first racehorse.

The Gamblers

The boys were almost in shock. Ole, like me, thought that with a furlong to go she was not going to win, and that burst of acceleration was really something. They got back to betting, but several races went by without me taking much notice of them.

The general consensus was that we had to go to Royal Ascot, We might never get the chance again, but that decision would have to wait. Will Easterby passed on his congratulations, and then we returned to our table where Sally had a full bottle of champagne waiting for her.

When Everyone Wants To Know Your Name

We had had another thrilling day, perhaps the best yet, and we headed for home. The journey back was mercifully quick, and we walked down to the Drum & Monkey for our traditional post race celebration. We went to Whaley Bridge Bowling Club which was in the midst of the Champions League final, but well wishers came from everywhere. Most of them had backed her again, some had won more than others, and some were just happy for us. If our local bookie was still around he would definitely have gone bust after our win.

I returned home around 1am and of course turned the television on, retrieved the USB, and watched the race several more times. I then watched the ITV coverage that I had recorded, where Jason Weaver was the only one who gave Star Of Lady M a chance, before finally falling into bed.

Follow The Leader

The next day I concentrated on all of the Twitter messages, including an interesting follow from Jamie Osborne who we had outbid at Tattersalls for our filly. I wondered if he was regretting missing out on the purchase, or whether he had forgotten all about it and was just genuinely interested.

I had a call with Richard Kent who urged me to take our filly to Royal Ascot. He asked me if I had any intention of selling her at the London sale, and as I had never heard of the London sale, and I had no intention of selling her, I said “No!” He also suggested that a reasonable figure for insurance purposes would be around £150,000, so that was added to my “To Do” list.

Jason messaged me to tell me that Star Of Lady M had come out of the race absolutely fine, and we would have a call the following day to discuss options.

I passed the time by creating a new ringtone, so now when anyone calls I will hear “Primrose Ridge being Mowed down by Star Of Lady M. Star Of Lady M’s won the Hilary Needler.”

Rising Star

The TopSpeed rating of 66 from the Beverley race was a little disappointing, especially as she had reached 80 at Ripon. However, as I have said before no one really understands what that is, so I did not let it worry me. Her RPR improved to 88, up five points on Ripon, but still not quite at the levels of the favourites for the races at Ascot.

The following morning I had had the chance to mull over the past 48 hours, and what it actually meant. I was almost certain that whenever Star Of Lady M races she will carry the distinctive emerald green with black stars. Even when she reaches the broodmare stage we may decide to keep the foal, though that would be far less certain.

Waiting…

Jason let me know that we could agree race plans around 2pm, after he had sorted the weekend entries. That was then delayed until 3pm to give him a chance to analyse the options. In particular he wanted to check the results of Hilary Needler winners at the royal meeting. It seemed like a very long wait. It was actually around 3.20pm when we got to chat, and Jason explained our options very clearly and concisely.

The Norfolk Stakes would probably be a step too far in terms of quality. We also agreed that there was no sense in increasing her distance to six furlongs just yet. That left the Queen Mary and the Windsor Castle. The Queen Mary is a Group 2 race for fillies only. It also has the advantage of being the first race on the card.

The Windsor Castle is a Listed race open to colts and fillies, and takes place more than three hours later. Would my nerves be able to stand that wait? Wesley Ward, the famous American trainer, had what he considered the best horse he had ever sent to Royal Ascot entered in the Queen Mary. This could put off a lot of potential challengers. On the other hand, the very best fillies would go for the Queen Mary. Therefore we might have a better chance in the Windsor Castle.

What Will The Future Hold?

I almost had to pinch myself during the conversation. There were no other options, just the two races on the same day at Royal Ascot. So, we were definitely going! In the end we decided to enter both races and see how they panned out at the declarations stage. That was perhaps a little extravagant in terms of entry fees. However, we thought that she had earned the right to have the options. We were really using the Royal Ascot entry as an experience, as opposed to a genuine chance of winning. As long as Star Of Lady M was happy and came away none the worse for her experience, I was OK with that.

We also discussed what might happen afterwards, and it was black type all the way. The Dragon at Sandown was a possibility. There were races at Newmarket and Newbury before the Julia Graves Roses at York. We agreed that there would be time to discuss that in more detail afterwards.

Royal Ascot Here We Come

I then started to let everyone know, and the social media world erupted. After thanking Richard for his advice, I spoke to Luke who was as excited as anyone about the decision. I mentioned the Wesley Ward hotpot. Luke dismissed that with, “he claims to have one of those every year.” I invited him to join us at Ascot, but he had a prior lunch engagement with the Queen’s racing adviser. He assured me that he and Tabitha would join us in the parade ring. Incredible, unbelievable, staggering, the superlatives kept on coming. We were heading for Royal Ascot, and we might even be the cheapest horse there. We were both delighted for each other!

Let The Countdown Begin

The next few hours were spent researching the dress code for the Queen Anne enclosure. I also had to find quotes for helicopter prices. We could not simply turn up to Royal Ascot in a taxi.

I asked Russell Wild, the chairman of Whaley Bridge Cricket Club, if we could land on the cricket pitch. He not only agreed, he insisted, and stated that our return would involve a reception party.

Helicopter prices ranged from £3,000 to more than £13,000, and I am not entirely sure of the reasons behind the differences. I decided to leave it to the following day, and I went to bed with the countdown firmly in progress. There were sixteen days until our big day.

I decided that £100,000 would be sufficient for insurance. If she did well at Royal Ascot we would have to change it again anyway! Our insurance man, James Denley, had taken a keen interest in the career of Star Of Lady M, and he was happy to increase the coverage. I then contacted the yard to get a veterinary certificate.

Two Helicopters Or One? You Do The Maths

Meanwhile, the helicopter responses continued to vary wildly. Our best quote came in at just over £4,000, but there was a problem. The six seater helicopter had a maximum passenger capacity of 450 kilos. We weighed in at approximately 530 kilos. Now, I do not think that 530 kilos is excessive for six grown adults, at less than 90 kilos each, but the helicopter clearly did. The helicopter company asked if we could double check the weights. Although there might have been scope to lose a kilo here and there, to bring it down by 80 full kilos would take something as drastic as amputation. They did have a bigger six seater helicopter, but that came in at more than £12,000.

I figured that two smaller ones would be cheaper than one large one, so we came to a compromise. For £7,500 we could get two helicopters that would accommodate all six of us between them. There was myself and Sally, of course, as well as Ole, Zachary and Gabi. Finally, there was my sister Fiona, and we were all very excited.

Dressed To Impress

I went into Manchester to order some smart navy tails with a stone waistcoat. The girls thumbed through endless options for suitable attire. The boys decided that they would use their existing suits as they could not be bothered with the rigmarole of formal dress. Fortunately we were in the Queen Anne enclosure, where the dress code is not as strict as the Royal enclosure.

I received notification that Fittleton Ferry was due to race again, this time at Chepstow the following Saturday. Another five furlong Class 6 race, for which she was around 16/1. I made a mental note to watch out for that, but I had other things to think about. Simon Chappell messaged me as he had a gazebo within the Royal enclosure. He advised that the majority of men in the Owners & Trainers would be in top hat and tails. I decided that my tails would definitely need to be finished off with a topper.

We agreed that we should meet up, though I wondered if Royal Ascot was similar to other racecourses. Would we be able to venture into any enclosure up to the status of our ticket? That would mean that he would be able to come to the Queen Anne enclosure but we would not be able to enter the Royal enclosure.

The Race Is On

By Wednesday, with two weeks to go until the big day, several people were asking the question about which race we would be in. The BHA racing administration site was updated with entries into the Queen Mary and Windsor Castle. This was another confirmation that it was really happening. The bookmakers responded by adding Star Of Lady M to their lists. Most of them quoted her at 20/1 or 25/1 for the Queen Mary, with Paddy Power being the exception at 40/1. Wesley Ward’s Love Reigns was the hot favourite, as short as 9/4 in some places. The Windsor Castle was almost ignored, with only Unibet listing her at 20/1.

Massaat Off The Mark

The following day there was welcome news related to Emerald Duchess when her sire Massaat had his first winner. Mascapone, who had finished fourth in the Brocklesby, won at Chelmsford. The Brocklesby form was certainly working out well, and Star Of Lady M had already beaten three of the runners.

Have You Heard The News?

That weekend it was the Jubilee celebration, and Whaley Bridge Cricket Club hosted a major event for the village. As is tradition I spent most of my time in the bar, serving rather than drinking. In doing so I met a great many people. Everyone was interested in our horse, including some people that I had never met. The legend of Star Of Lady M was growing almost daily. The helicopter ride to and from Royal Ascot would only add to that legend, regardless of the result.

It was also the weekend of the Oaks and the Derby, and I managed to pick the wrong horse in both races. Fittleton Ferry finished a disappointing 7th at Chepstow. The explanation came that perhaps she needs further and a stronger ride from her jockey. It seemed that the trainer may be going down a previously trodden path. Perhaps the horse is simply not cut out to be a racehorse.

Driving To Deauville

For the first time in many weeks the next step for Star Of Lady M was clearly defined. It was also very unlikely to change. We still had to decide on which race she would run in, but we knew we were going to be at Royal Ascot on the Wednesday. There was little to speculate on, but I did put my mind to where she might go after Ascot. I was very familiar with the options in the UK. However, Luke and David were both thinking that France might be a better option to pick up some black type. She could achieve this with a top three finish at Ascot, but it is always good to have a back up plan.

Deauville seemed to be the most likely destination on 10th July, but it is not an easy place to get to. A flight to Paris seemed an obvious starting point. Unfortunately, with the turmoil at most airports, and in particular Manchester, that was a daunting option. The train was a possibility. We could go from Macclesfield to Euston, followed by a short hop across London to the Eurostar bound for Paris. Another train to Deauville would take the journey time to around nine hours. The final choice seemed to be to drive. Although it involved using the channel tunnel, the time taken would be less than eight hours. It was not a particularly appealing prospect, but it was certainly the quickest door to door. Perhaps we should just pin our hopes on winning the Queen Mary and then we could remain in the UK!

The Whaley Bridge Grand National

With a week to go the next milestone would be the entries for the Coventry Stakes. This was the only two year old race on the first day of the Royal meeting. They would not be published until 12 noon, so I took the opportunity to go to Tesco. It was relatively quiet, but then I bumped into an old friend who asked about Star Of Lady M. One of the shop assistants overheard us. She knew Sally, and she wanted to know all about our racehorse, having heard about it through another friend. She said that she did not normally have a bet, but she would be putting some money on her at Royal Ascot.

As I stood by the mangoes a few more people were showing an interest. My five minute shopping trip approached half an hour! One woman said, “I will have to get my son to put a bet on as I don’t know how to do it.” It seemed that we had created our own version of the Grand National, with Star Of Lady M carrying the weight of many small bets on her big day. I urged caution, and emphasised that there would be many other opportunities. I sensed that this was not what people wanted to hear. Eventually I got to continue my shopping, check out and return home. As it turned out I had forgotten the mangoes!

Back at home I looked at the BHA website. The Coventry Stakes had 22 entries, and several of them were the leading fancies for the Windsor Castle. It was another level of intrigue that would develop as the entries for subsequent days were released.

Lady M Lights It Up

As I mentioned we have had a Jubilee weekend, and the weather forecast told us that it would be a good one. However, Sally was not convinced. Her conspiracy theory was that all of the weather agencies had been told to forecast good weather so that everyone went ahead with their Jubilee plans. In the end we had sunshine and warm weather across both days.

That was not the only contribution that Sally made. She was invited to perform the ceremonial lighting of the beacon. This was by special request of the council, and they also wanted her to introduce the events across the celebration. As the saying goes, there’s no show without punch…

If You Want To Get To Dublin I Wouldn’t Start From Here

Finally, a recommendation. If you get chance go and watch The Dublin Legends. I did this last week at the Lowry in Manchester. These four Irishmen are essentially what is left of The Dubliners. Despite their ages they perform Irish ballads and folk songs for almost two hours. They also find time to engage with the audience, and one of them told a story about a friend named Barney who had recently passed away.

Barney left the pub and was driving home, but his car was all over the road. The Garda stopped him and asked if he had been drinking. “Yes,” he replied, so the officer asked how much he had consumed. “About 12 pints,” was the response, so the officer asked him to blow into the breathalyser. Barney said, “Why, don’t you believe me.”

You can view the previous edition here

Down With The Duchess