“Good morning Richard, Becky seems fine this morning, and ate up last night. On reflection of the race, it could only have been the holding ground that was to our disadvantage….She didn`t travel or jump as well as she has in the past. Lets get her freshened up and find a suitable race for her in February.” The above message came to me from Micky Hammond the day after Beckys somewhat disappointing effort at Wetherby last Saturday 13th Jan. I totally agree with his comments. Becky is much better than that, and Micky Hammond would go along with that. The “going” in the middle of the Owners and Trainers parade ring was also “heavy”…and would have been a true reflection of what it was like for the horses on the course. In the O & T car park, similar conditions were experienced by all, but especially by my Honourable member Andrew from Wilsden who needed a tractor to get him out of the place upon his departure. Not a lot to say then, other than we will go along with Mickys comments and suggestions above, with a view to finding a race which ticks all the right boxes, both for
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Delusionofgrandeur was entered to run at Catterick in the North Yorkshire Grand National on Thursday 11th of Jan. It was touch and go as to whether or not we declared him, and so the final decision was left to Sue and her head lad Ryan, who opted for him NOT to run. Fast forward now to after the race, and the dust had settled, when, in my opinion, it became clear the right decision was made. Why? because had Delusionofgrandeur lined up, Sues other horse in the race, I Just Know, would have been carrying only 11st 3lbs compared to our 12st. I Just Know won the race carrying 11st 10lbs, and was mightily impressive the way he did it. The horse jumped brilliantly throughout in the hands of the excellent Sean Quinlan, and never looked like getting beaten. Its now hypothetical as to what the result would have been with DoG participating, but whatever the answer may be, it would, in my opinion, have been a very hard task for our fella, and far too tough an assignment for him so soon after his extremely hard race in the Rowland Meyrick Chase at Wetherby on Boxing Day. My conclusion
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Haydock Saturday 23rd December 2017 It was alarm clocks set at crack o dawn for members as the off time for Beckys latest chosen race at Haydock was 11-55am…the first race on the card. We were all cautiously optimistic of another big run, but there were obvious doubts over the extra distance on such heavy ground. Both turned out to be the determining factors in her finishing 4th, nevertheless, she ran an honest race which will help our future efforts to enable us to tick all the right boxes in order for her to win more races, which Becky is more than capable of doing. This latest was more of a tactical race with the heavy ground causing six jockeys to play a cat and mouse game, waiting for someone to make a move. The move came as the horses were about to turn into the straight, where our jockey ended up losing his place, and although Becky stayed on ok, the extra distance went against her, as did the sticky ground. Becky was fine after the race, and our good friend the handicapper has dropped her 1lb down to 130 for that performance, so there will be plenty of
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I have to start by saying that after yesterdays Rowland Meyrick Chase, my emotions were so extremely raw, that part of me didn`t want to be the gentleman and sportsman in congratulating winning connections of the race. Indeed it was like having an evil twin brother…in other words, the dark side of me, which comes to the surface at times like this, and in suffering defeat, cannot appreciate that yesterday NH Racing was seen at its very best in the running of the 2017 Rowland Meyrick Chase in front of an enormous crowd at Wetherby. Instead he wants to be the bad tempered, grumpy old sod who dwells on the “if only” or “what might have been” scenarios……..the bad loser that nobody has time for. However, after a strict telling off from the wife, plus a good nights sleep induced by a couple of large whiskeys, the evil twin brother syndrome has now gone, and for me its back to the season of good will to all men, including Dan Skelton !!! The Rowland Meyrick was a superb example of NH Racing at its very best, and Delusionofgrandeur was very much a major player in a race in which the
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Due to frustrating WiFi problems involved with the installation of a new faster speed BT hub into my office, I have been unable, until now, to communicate updates on t`internet. Both BT and Sky struggled to resolve the problem, both blaming each other, but thanks to an intervention from a 3rd party, all is now well. My wife insists the world should be told who this third party person was, the one who suggested we try the old SKY cure for everything when a problem occurs, namely switch off power at mains for 30 seconds…switch back on and usually all`s back to normal…..as indeed it was in this case. The third party was, as I`m sure you`ve guessed , Mrs Longley, my beautiful, modest wife !! Back to business then, and what a week its been for members of McGoldrick Racing. It began with an excellent victory for Delusionofgrandeur at Catterick Friday 24th Nov in the Class 3 3ml 1f , Go Racing in Yorkshire Hcp Qualifier at odds of 6-4. Then yesterday Wed 29th Nov at Wetherby, in the class 4 2ml 3f + hcp hurdle, members were ecstatic as Becky the Thatcher, carrying a welter burden of 12
Read more →Spoke to Becky the other day, and she, like me is proper p****d off with flat racing, so we`ve agreed to concentrate on her burgeoning hurdling career. Not surprising really, as she is rated a lowly 51 on the flat and 122 over hurdles, though I can understand Micky Hammonds logic in trying for a flat win off such a lowly mark, and even now, he still has one of those 2ml 2f flat races at Pontefract in mind for her at some point in the future. But for now, I`m delighted to say we have TWO options in mind for Becky. Plan A is at Market Rasen on Thursday 23rd Nov in a Mares only 2ml 5f hcp hurdle 0 – 120 for which we`ll get in off top weight of 12 st 3lbs which may just be enough to put us off, but it isn`t the strongest looking race, so will leave to Micky to decide whether its Market Rasen or Plan B which is a 2ml 4f hcp hurdle 0 – 120 at Wetherby the week after on Wednesday 29th Nov, which again, if we get a run, Becky would be off top weight. Watch this space.
Read more →After a gutsy performance in the Sedgefield Durham National, Delusionofgrandeur is heading back to Catterick for his next race over a course and distance which he is still unbeaten both over fences and hurdles…3 from 3 to be precise. He stayed the trip nicely at Sedgefield which gives us all sorts of options in races over extreme distances, but he does seem to love it round Catterick, and Sue has found a nice option for him in this 0 – 135 hcp with decent prize money on offer on Friday 24th November. DoG has had a nice three week break since his Sedgefield run, and is in good shape I`m told, so with rain forecast early in the week, the going could well be good to soft on race day which will do nicely thank you very much. Fifteen entered which on inspection will mean we will be off 11st 12lbs, the same weight with which he dealt well enough at Sedgefield, so a big run is expected.
Read more →Apologies to my member for the late arrival of this post relating to Beckys latest run at Redcar. I suppose the most important factor was that she ran well and showed no ill effects from the soft palate operation she underwent after her last race. She will now go hurdling. As far as this latest race at Redcar though, having watched the replay numerous times, I don`t think Andrew Mullen will end up being in line for the ride of the season award. The race was run at a dawdle for well over a mile until it turned into a 3 furlong “sprint” in the home straight. Therefore, for a hurdling prospect like Becky, who we believe will stay 2ml 4f, why on earth did the jockey hold her up in the rear until the sprint began. Sprinting is not her game !! She made up some ground and was not stopping at the end, and she ended up being beaten some 7/8 lengths. But surely, with the engine we know she possesses, why on earth did the jockey not to try and make more use of her by making the race a stamina test. It was a
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Sadly, our filly Starboard Watch has turned out to be a disappointment for members, producing only moderate performances at best, therefore, inevitably, the decision has been made to terminate our lease, and arrangements will be made for her to return to her owner. We wish her well.
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