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Don won the race after Jellaby unseating; Jellaby's owner Essa Alkhalifa the first of the Arab generation to own a Group winning horse if memory recalls. Who would have thought he would not be the last ? Walked Beverley racecourse Easter week 1988 when seeing practice in Market Weighton, my...

Pity really as the horse has not too many miles up. However, we must respect those who know him better; a top horse.

Two great horses whose stellar careers were overshadowed by one or two slightly better. Think Moscow Flyer and Brave Inca. That Hardy and Harchi died within a few months of each other is poetic also. That Harchi was beaten in a County Hurdle carrying just 10 stone remains a mystery; I imagine...

To be fair to Inkerman, he was a close fourth , beaten just over a length in Irish Derby and later won $1,000,000 in USA. Point taken though; interesting Irish Angle last week on journalist's first interview with APOB post Ballydoyle move. The gist was he spent a few minutes explaining a poor...

Imagine that happening a smaller stable though. I remember a small Curragh based trainer about 30 years ago winning the two year old maiden Irish Derby weekend with a debutant that never made it to the winner's enclosure.

Surely. Lost more ground than she was beaten by. Winner's granddam a full sister to sire of Galopin de Champs .

A thought about the winner. He traces to Welsh Garden, near champion juvenile filly in Ireland 1975. Trained by Mick Connolly and ridden by his apprentice son Robbie (since died of MND), Welsh Garden had an aversion to starting stalls so ran only at tracks with a tape start. Her main win was the...

You must wonder how the lads feel now about keeping Auguste Rodin in training to send 100 plus mares to Justify instead. Fifty years on from Apalachee these things do happen. Keep trying , just when you think you have this racing game cracked your teeth get kicked in.

Found A fifty and Slade Steel nominators share the fifty Euro prize. Say 20 Euro each Euronymous , Ep and Granger. Send on details so I can dispatch same by way of betting vouchers. Thanks to all for your efforts.

Second guessing WPM is like telling God your plans; amusing for the subject ...

Samcro retired after Hunter's Chase Punchestown. Out in one piece, thankfully.

Pat Gallagher bought a 25% share in Try My Best in the spring of 1978, chartering a plane to take 80 Business associates and property journalists to the 2000 Gns at Newmarket. After the race while MVOB tried to explain to the press what went wrong Pat took Vincent by the arm and said " Come on...

My racing buddy Paddy had occasion to meet John Magnier the day One Cool Cat won a Curragh Sprint as a 3yo. For something to say, Paddy mentioned the sprinting prospect One Cool Cat would be for the following year, an exciting future for John as an owner. " That is not our plan " Mr Magnier...

Shishkin was truly a top class racehorse and will be missed by all racing fans.

There will be one less WPM trained horse in every race this week owing to his overseas duties. That said , plenty of horses to go around. Rumours abound that Rachel may call it a day this week to start a family and appear on Dancing With The Stars. Whatever happens, it is a week to enjoy and...

Labaik trained by John Hammond, Espartano began life with Jamie Osborne, owned by Harry Findley before burn out brought him eventually to Tom Hogan.

His uncle Pat Healy was as good and stylish a p2p jockey as I have seen. Of slight build, he had a flat jockey's style riding over fences and was hugely successful . Paul rode a winner for us as an apprentice on Espartano at Leopardstown, shooting up the inside when everyone else came wide...

Thanks Simon. Bryan a member of my family tree, 3 or 4 generations removed, so good to see him

Olivier Peslier retires today after an amazing career. 4 Arc victories, Breeders Cups, Japan Cups All the major European Derbys ; he was a class act. Best wishes to him.

Far too kind gents. Am probably boring the pants off the silent majority here, but important to remember those who lit the flame for us .