The 1969 win by Persian War I could hardly forget, it was the day my daughter was born. Tried to fit in something Persian when we were deciding on her name, but my better-half was not co-operative. Such is life. One thing I do remember from distant days, and I mean distant, were the two best lightweight jockeys around then. They were Doug and Eph Smith. Doug could actually ride at 7-8, but it was brother Eph I really watched-out for. Eph could do 7-11, lowest riding weight, and I got quite a few winners when he was on a horse carying a similar light impost. Eph was amazing as he rode with the added handicap of being stone-deaf! Didn't make a scrap of difference, he was a brilliant jockey.
Time flies too fast at my age. It doesn't seem long ago when On the Blind Side won 3 from 3, including a maiden and 2 G2 novice hurdles. Was never the same after and never made it in the chasing sphere. I spotted him today (12 years old) lumping 12stone top weight in a handicap hurdle, having pulled up in 50% of his last 8 races and just one win in 13 (at 50/1)
I used to look at those minimum riding weights and Doug Smith riding at 7stone 8lb was always a "must bet"
Another thing that must say something about the state of racing today. Ignoring this post and the thread header, and bearing in mind this is a Saturday, there are 23 posts: 1 wrong thread 3 re meetings on or off 1 re Sunday racing 5 about actual racing today (ie concerning runners today) 13 down memory lane
The (15:50) at Newbury, a Class-3 Handicap Chase over an extended 2m7f on heavy ground, is an interesting affair despite havong only 5-runners. Hopeful the bottom-weight, Makin'yourmindup, (Sire: Kayf Tara) will run a good race here. Seems an improving type. Harrry Cobden on board for the Paul Nichollls yard. 3/1 best price, in nearly all places on the ATR site, at time of writing.
Good win for Emitom, hopefully won’t go up too much and that will put him spot on for the Pertemps Final (same applies for the second)
That one mistake down the back knocked the stuffing out of him. Wouldn't give up on him yet. Emitom as low as 16/1 for the Pertemps Final now
Interesting that Protektorat runs again - his performance against Shishkin will give us an idea of L'Homme Presse's chances in the Gold Cup
Gold Cup is a different matter all together...for today though if he jumped off he was 3s on chance so too big a price today to miss.
