Usher's News And Views
Such a lot has happened in racing recently both good and bad. It was great to see Sprinter Sacre paraded around Cheltenham on Sunday. It is of course a shame he is retired but he looked fantastic and he will want for nothing in retirement. People flocked to the paddock to applaud him and no one was to know the heartbreak that would come just a few minutes later. Sprinter paraded with his much loved stable mate Simonzig, the beautiful grey gelding who has had a big following in national hunt racing for many years now. He lined up for the Shloer Chase but he fell at the third fence and was fatally injured. He was such a brave horse to come back from numerous issues; he was a hero when he won the Arkle. He didn’t deserve that fate.
On the other side of the scale there was a massive achievement almost overlooked. Up at Musselburgh on Monday Brian Hughes (who would be the leading jump jockey in the north) won five of seven races on the card. This may not seem special but it doesn’t happen often in racing, the odds were 899-1! He also managed to finish close seconds in the other two races which makes it all the more impressive. Just to stay on board seven horses in a row in jump racing is difficult enough! He is a great jockey but we every rarely see him in the south. He isn’t always associated with the best jockeys in the country but he should be.
As for goings on in the yard, I have been posting a few videos of the Mick It Mick geldings progress. I jumped on his back yesterday morning in his stable and I’m pleased to say we are still friends! He seems to understand what we want of him and is very willing. Tomorrow will be his first day ridden around the yard and I hope he will shortly be going out with Dukes Den who is probably going to be more of a hindrance than a help! He is well built and athletic yearling so although he is behind the others, I don’t think he will be for long.