Punting Low 1: Zaarito. Again. I think I have now backed Zaarito more often than he has run. It was all going swimmingly, he settled well, he jumped really well, he moved through his field well, he moved easily up just behind long-time leader Citizen Vic going to the last, looking by far the most likely winner, hold your breath. (We know how this one ends, it is a Punting Low after all.) Down. Of course, when a horse falls it is easy to look back at the tape and point out something that the jockey might have done differently. Davy Condon allowed him go in and pop, obviously happy that all he had to do was land on the far side of the fence upright, he didn’t have to make ground at the obstacle, the rider went for the safe option, but he just got in a little tight. If Davy had asked him for a long one, he might have made it, who knows? I got a text from a friend after the race: What price did he trade in-running?Read the rest of this entry »

With Denman sitting at home in his box on Saturday, anxious about the volume of sales of his new scarf (dark green with a white chevron and chequered ends) and disconsolate at the fact that it is not as tastefully designed as that of his next door neighbour Kauto Star (green with yellow spots, purple trimmings), Cheltenham Festival Trials Day at (strangely) Cheltenham went ahead without him, in grave danger of wresting the Most Outlandish Claim Of The Year So Far title from the guy at Irish Life and Permanent who said that they really had the best interests of their customers at heart.Read the rest of this entry »

A frog was swimming merrily along in his favourite stream one fine summer’s day. The sun was shining, a cool breeze was blowing, and everything was good in the world.

Suddenly, the frog heard a voice behind him.

“Good day to you, Mr Frog.”Read the rest of this entry »