It's fashionable these days to complain about "too much racing", a trend which I personally find annoying and upsetting. Can you name one other sport so lacking in self-esteem that officials, players and so-called fans commonly argue for fewer fixtures?
Is there too much football? Too much golf? Some would say yes, but I doubt if they'd be the people with the welfare of those games most at heart.
Any sport lives or dies by its general popularity. For racing to say there's too much of itself, that it should be cut back at once, seems self-destructive -- an ashamed confession that it has taken up too much of the public's attention and will now withdraw. Does that sound like the starting point for a brighter future?
How many of the jaded "too much racing" types will be congratulating the BHA on "just the right amount of racing" today, when we have only two meetings? Oh well, at least it gives us a chance to savour each of the 14 races.
There's nothing wrong with a good seller and I like the look of Pairumani Pat (3.00), who started his career in such an event last month and lines up for another at Catterick. He was unfancied when a running-on sixth at Windsor and can do better today, with the extra three furlongs likely to suit. He's been well supported on Betfair and is now down to 3-1 favourite.
Ralph Beckett's yard is flying and he can welcome back another winner when It's Toast (2.45) returns in triumph from Chepstow. Five furlongs with some cut should allow her to lose her maiden tag in a weak-looking affair.
Poppets Sweetlove (4.15) has made a modest start to the season but she gets her best chance since last year in the fillies' handicap later on the card. You can still get 11-2.
2.55pm It's Toast gets out of a jam
I thought our first tip of the day was in trouble for a long way but George Baker brought her through to win tidily in the end. She may well be of interest in a handicap after this, as she was value for more than the winning margin. Sadly, she was backed down to 5-6 in the end, so retirement is no nearer for followers of Talking Horses.
3.15pm Gnawing my hand off in frustration
Pairumani Pat was a fast-finishing second in the two-mile seller. I guess he needs further, or maybe weaker company. I can't blame the jockey, Jimmy Quinn, who was pushing and scrubbing from a long way out, but the horse was never able to get a handy position. Tactical speed is not to be expected in a two-mile seller.
The 80-1 winner, Spiders Star, was making its Flat debut, having shown no worthwhile form in three bumpers and a maiden hurdle. As far as I can make out, this is a first success on the level for trainer Kate Milligan. Anyone who backed it is hereby awarded today's Johnny The Guesser prize for pinsticking.
4pm Stylish Slattery? Sadly not
As Royal Island weaved through the field at Chepstow just now, looking like a Group horse in a seller, I thought to myself what a stylish performance this was from journeyman jockey Vince Slattery. Alas. As the horses pulled up and the camera zoomed in, it was Jamie Spencer's face under all that Welsh mud aboard the winner. Poor old Slattery had been jocked off at the last minute.
You feel for any rider when that happens but Slattery has never been the most fashionable rider and hasn't had a winner since June. The way Royal Island hosed up, you'd have to think he could have won on it. Hell, I could have won on it.
4.25pm Poppets puggled
Despite having some form on ground with some cut, Poppets Sweetlove looked very uncomfortable on the rain-softened surface at Chepstow and faded rapidly in the last two furlongs, making this an unproductive day for Talking Horses.
5.30pm One to avoid
I don't think I'm breaking any news when I say that the standard of riding ability is often extremely variable in races confined to lady amateur riders. Even so, the effort by Miss K Margarson on Mick Is Back at Chepstow just now was particularly pathetic. I concede that this was only her eighth ride in public but you'd think she'd be capable of a bit more than just sitting stock-still throughout. Mick Is Back finished seventh after being put under no pressure at all and is capable of a lot better than this.
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