Laughed myself silly reading this just now - hope he doesn't mind me reproducing it here, for some reason the Racing Post website is not hyperlink friendly. January The £20,000 Betfred Handicap marks the resumption of racing at the renamed Chelmsford City, where no mentions are made of the track's difficult and muddy past. At Ascot Nicky Henderson is seen to age at least ten years during the much-anticipated comeback of Sprinter Sacre, who wins the Clarence House Chase on the bridle, while in London Paul Bittar and Steve Harman are pictured in a warm and sincere embrace as the organisation's outgoing chief executive takes his leave of High Holborn. Cheltenham's festival trials day is blighted by the weather on a dank and drizzly afternoon. The first two handicap chases take place without six of their fences being jumped after jockeys complain of low cloud, while the water jump is omitted on both circuits of the Cotswold Chase after the riders point out it is a low fence. February Jolly's Cracked It wins the Betfair Hurdle for Harry Fry, Captain Chris wins a second Ascot Chase for Philip Hobbs and the word ‘compress' gets used a lot at the Crabbie's Grand National weights lunch. Cheltenham unveils a series of major new commercial partnerships. Qatar is to take over as sponsor of the Foxhunter Chase, Qipco becomes the latest backer of the Festival Plate and Al Shaqab gives its name to what was last year the Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Chase. In an innovative arrangement Bathwick Tyres is named as the first sponsor of Simon Claisse. On Eider Chase day Arc calls off plans to replace Newcastle's Flat turf course with an all-weather track and will instead use the money to book Sir Tom Jones for one of the track's summer evening meetings. March At a memorable Cheltenham Festival Silviniaco Conti finally wins the Gold Cup, Faugheen makes all in the Champion Hurdle, Activial storms home in the Coral Cup and Simonsig delights connections in a racecourse gallop. John Ferguson enjoys a magnificent meeting, sending out the winners of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Parlour Games), the JCB Triumph Hurdle (Arabian Revolution) and the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, which former Dubai World Cup winner Arabian Story collects having made his jumping debut only in February. It is subsequently announced Ferguson's jumpers will in future race in the Godolphin blue under James Doyle, William Buick or, if neither is available, Mickael Barzalona. Cheltenham confirms the festival's charity race has been run for the final time, making way for a seventh event on the Thursday. A veteran mares' bumper is thought to be the most likely option. April Having first considered then rejected Jeremy Kyle, Jeremy Paxman and Vernon Kay, Channel 4 bosses Jay Hunt and Ed Harvard come to by far the most sensible conclusion and appoint Nick Luck to present coverage of the Grand National. Luck, who spent the opening months of the year going up and down the nation introducing himself to as many potential viewers of the race as possible, is joined at Liverpool by the similarly excellent Gok Wan after Hunt and Harvard realise their own fashion favourite provides all the stardust they need. Wan, who forms part of the Channel 4 team for all three Aintree afternoons, describes interviewing Liverpool's lasses on ladies' day as by far the most enjoyable experience of his life. Shortly after Balthazar King's Grand National triumph, Willie Carson appears alongside Clare Balding on the BBC's coverage of the Boat Race. After taking Carson's inspired advice Cambridge emerges victorious, crucially going wide up the Thames and hugging the riverbank in search of better water. Wetherby stages its first ever Flat fixture with the history-making card highlighted by a long-distance handicap named somewhat grandly by the track as the West Yorkshire Cesarewitch. The race is run over six furlongs. May Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes complete a Guineas double at Newmarket with Ivawood and Tiggy Wiggy who, it turns out, stays better than anyone imagined and is promptly targeted at the Ladbrokes St Leger. After stunning the sport with his views on whip usage Sir Mark Prescott makes an even more surprising announcement on the day of the general election when revealing he has just voted Liberal Democrat. June The sport celebrates a massively popular result when the Investec Derby returns to Kingsclere thanks to the victory of Elm Park, who captures the Epsom Classic after beating Ballydoyle opponents into second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Nick Luck interviews a tearful Andrew Balding, a tearful Ian Balding and then a tearful Clare Balding. Aidan O'Brien notes he has only ever won the Oaks with fillies who had one-word names. He saddles Found, Easter and Words but all three are defeated by stablemate Fluff. July In an extremely unfortunate twist the first £1 million running of the Qatar Sussex Stakes is scrapped by the BHA after just four horses are declared at the 48-hour stage. "It is most regrettable but the four horses affected do have other imminent opportunities available to them," says a BHA spokesman, pointing out that both the Prix Jacques le Marois and Prix du Moulin take place in the coming weeks. Keen not to waste the Qatar cash, Goodwood puts the money to good use and on the Friday of the fixture stages what at £500,000 becomes the most valuable nursery held anywhere in the world. Only two riders fall off at the end of the Magnolia Cup. August Somewhere in Europe a horse wins a Group 2 contest over 1m4f, 1m5f, 1m6f or 1m7f and is bought soon after by new Australian owners to be aimed at the Melbourne Cup. (See November). Another superb Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York once again highlights no racecourse does better brass band background music. September After a night of long knives at the BHA Steve Harman announces a series of new appointments to the governing body's board, one of its new members being Gok Wan. "This is excellent news for racing," says Harman, adding: "Gok might not as yet have the solution to the sport's future funding question but he will provide a sense of style that has been sadly lacking." October Following a disappointing summer in which she suffered from persistently sore gums and tender withers, Treve returns to her magnificent best and wins the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the third time. After an autumn of almost unprecedented dry weather Ascot stages Qipco British Champions Day on ground that is firm in places, prompting cries of "disgrace" and "farce" from some owners and trainers, who call for the meeting to be put back in future to its natural home of early November. November A horse bought by Australian owners after winning a European Group race somewhere in August takes the Melbourne Cup, very probably ridden by Ryan Moore. Red Cadeaux finishes second. Qatar is unveiled as the next sponsor of the Dubai World Cup. December Cue Card has another go at the William Hill King George VI Chase and is once again backed by those of us who keep backing him. Racing-mad viewers of BBC's Sports Personality of the Year bombard social media after Tony McCoy finishes only second and the sport fails to account for 50 per cent of the programme. Gok Wan takes out a permit and saddles three winners from his first three runners at the Chaddesley Corbett point-to-point.
Testing link Testing copy and paste please log in to view this image Gok Wan: could have a big role to play in British racing in 2015 PICTURE: Edward Whitaker (racingpost.com/photos) Gok Wan and Luck to present National coverage GIVEN there is still a fair chunk of 2015 to go, here are my predictions for the year - some serious, some not. If you can tell the difference, do feel free to invest accordingly. January The £20,000 Betfred Handicap marks the resumption of racing at the renamed Chelmsford City, where no mentions are made of the track's difficult and muddy past. At Ascot Nicky Henderson is seen to age at least ten years during the much-anticipated comeback of Sprinter Sacre, who wins the Clarence House Chase on the bridle, while in London Paul Bittar and Steve Harman are pictured in a warm and sincere embrace as the organisation's outgoing chief executive takes his leave of High Holborn. Cheltenham's festival trials day is blighted by the weather on a dank and drizzly afternoon. The first two handicap chases take place without six of their fences being jumped after jockeys complain of low cloud, while the water jump is omitted on both circuits of the Cotswold Chase after the riders point out it is a low fence. February Jolly's Cracked It wins the Betfair Hurdle for Harry Fry, Captain Chris wins a second Ascot Chase for Philip Hobbs and the word ‘compress' gets used a lot at the Crabbie's Grand National weights lunch. Cheltenham unveils a series of major new commercial partnerships. Qatar is to take over as sponsor of the Foxhunter Chase, Qipco becomes the latest backer of the Festival Plate and Al Shaqab gives its name to what was last year the Baylis & Harding Affordable Luxury Chase. In an innovative arrangement Bathwick Tyres is named as the first sponsor of Simon Claisse. On Eider Chase day Arc calls off plans to replace Newcastle's Flat turf course with an all-weather track and will instead use the money to book Sir Tom Jones for one of the track's summer evening meetings. March At a memorable Cheltenham Festival Silviniaco Conti finally wins the Gold Cup, Faugheen makes all in the Champion Hurdle, Activial storms home in the Coral Cup and Simonsig delights connections in a racecourse gallop. John Ferguson enjoys a magnificent meeting, sending out the winners of the Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Parlour Games), the JCB Triumph Hurdle (Arabian Revolution) and the Vincent O'Brien County Hurdle, which former Dubai World Cup winner Arabian Story collects having made his jumping debut only in February. It is subsequently announced Ferguson's jumpers will in future race in the Godolphin blue under James Doyle, William Buick or, if neither is available, Mickael Barzalona. Cheltenham confirms the festival's charity race has been run for the final time, making way for a seventh event on the Thursday. A veteran mares' bumper is thought to be the most likely option. April Having first considered then rejected Jeremy Kyle, Jeremy Paxman and Vernon Kay, Channel 4 bosses Jay Hunt and Ed Harvard come to by far the most sensible conclusion and appoint Nick Luck to present coverage of the Grand National. Luck, who spent the opening months of the year going up and down the nation introducing himself to as many potential viewers of the race as possible, is joined at Liverpool by the similarly excellent Gok Wan after Hunt and Harvard realise their own fashion favourite provides all the stardust they need. Wan, who forms part of the Channel 4 team for all three Aintree afternoons, describes interviewing Liverpool's lasses on ladies' day as by far the most enjoyable experience of his life. Shortly after Balthazar King's Grand National triumph, Willie Carson appears alongside Clare Balding on the BBC's coverage of the Boat Race. After taking Carson's inspired advice Cambridge emerges victorious, crucially going wide up the Thames and hugging the riverbank in search of better water. Wetherby stages its first ever Flat fixture with the history-making card highlighted by a long-distance handicap named somewhat grandly by the track as the West Yorkshire Cesarewitch. The race is run over six furlongs. May Richard Hannon and Richard Hughes complete a Guineas double at Newmarket with Ivawood and Tiggy Wiggy who, it turns out, stays better than anyone imagined and is promptly targeted at the Ladbrokes St Leger. After stunning the sport with his views on whip usage Sir Mark Prescott makes an even more surprising announcement on the day of the general election when revealing he has just voted Liberal Democrat. June The sport celebrates a massively popular result when the Investec Derby returns to Kingsclere thanks to the victory of Elm Park, who captures the Epsom Classic after beating Ballydoyle opponents into second, third, fourth, fifth and sixth. Nick Luck interviews a tearful Andrew Balding, a tearful Ian Balding and then a tearful Clare Balding. Aidan O'Brien notes he has only ever won the Oaks with fillies who had one-word names. He saddles Found, Easter and Words but all three are defeated by stablemate Fluff. July In an extremely unfortunate twist the first £1 million running of the Qatar Sussex Stakes is scrapped by the BHA after just four horses are declared at the 48-hour stage. "It is most regrettable but the four horses affected do have other imminent opportunities available to them," says a BHA spokesman, pointing out that both the Prix Jacques le Marois and Prix du Moulin take place in the coming weeks. Keen not to waste the Qatar cash, Goodwood puts the money to good use and on the Friday of the fixture stages what at £500,000 becomes the most valuable nursery held anywhere in the world. Only two riders fall off at the end of the Magnolia Cup. August Somewhere in Europe a horse wins a Group 2 contest over 1m4f, 1m5f, 1m6f or 1m7f and is bought soon after by new Australian owners to be aimed at the Melbourne Cup. (See November). Another superb Welcome to Yorkshire Ebor Festival at York once again highlights no racecourse does better brass band background music. September After a night of long knives at the BHA Steve Harman announces a series of new appointments to the governing body's board, one of its new members being Gok Wan. "This is excellent news for racing," says Harman, adding: "Gok might not as yet have the solution to the sport's future funding question but he will provide a sense of style that has been sadly lacking." October Following a disappointing summer in which she suffered from persistently sore gums and tender withers, Treve returns to her magnificent best and wins the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe for the third time. After an autumn of almost unprecedented dry weather Ascot stages Qipco British Champions Day on ground that is firm in places, prompting cries of "disgrace" and "farce" from some owners and trainers, who call for the meeting to be put back in future to its natural home of early November. November A horse bought by Australian owners after winning a European Group race somewhere in August takes the Melbourne Cup, very probably ridden by Ryan Moore. Red Cadeaux finishes second. Qatar is unveiled as the next sponsor of the Dubai World Cup. December Cue Card has another go at the William Hill King George VI Chase and is once again backed by those of us who keep backing him. Racing-mad viewers of BBC's Sports Personality of the Year bombard social media after Tony McCoy finishes only second and the sport fails to account for 50 per cent of the programme. Gok Wan takes out a permit and saddles three winners from his first three runners at the Chaddesley Corbett point-to-point.
Hmm I only got http://www.racingpost.com/news/live.sd I assume I have to go the the archive section to paste the link?
I clicked on the Read more to get the full article and selected that Oddy. For the copy and paste I just selected the article then standard copy and paste. Bloody neat that is.
Hilarious, I like this bloke Incidentally, I now live just 30 mins away from Great Leighs - sorry Chelmsford City - and although I never went there in it's previous life, it's looking quite good from what I can see driving past! Hadn't realised that the Betfred owned track was opening this month - might have to make an effort to get there. A bit like supporting your local football team, even when they are crap
Bloody glad I live a long way from my team at the moment, Reebs. Bloody hell, it gets worser and worser as Erroll Garner once said!
January Having decided not to retire, Jamie Spencer decides to switch codes to National Hunt because everything he rides seems to come up just short at Kempton and he is greeted with a chorus of boos. February Almost all racing is abandoned due to the winter elements. They could have raced at Kempton if the roads were not all under six feet of snow meaning nobody could get there. The bookmakers are forced to show racing from Cagnes Sur Mer, Philadelphia Park and St Moritz. March The highlight of the Cheltenham Festival is a fantastic finish to the Cheltenham Gold Cup. After Mad Moose is bought by Al Shaqab and Jamie Spencer is confirmed as the jockey, the BHA allows him to take part. Left twenty lengths at the start, Spencer finally gets the beast to give chase with a tazer. As they approach the last, Silviniaco Conti has the lead and looks sure to collect but Mad Moose is galvanised up the hill and nails the favourite on the line. April Mad Moose lines up as favourite for the Grand National with Jamie Spencer’s Gold Cup whip ban rescinded by the BHA after a brown envelope was handed to the new Chief Executive, Jeremy Kyle, containing money and a guarantee that Spencer would appear on his next TV show for paternity tests with several female jockeys and women from the Aintree crowd. At the Scottish Grand National meeting, Alex Salmond has his leg broken and the vet decides that, in the interests of Scotland, he should be put down. May Astonishingly neither of the first two Classics features a runner for Coolmore or Godolphin. Richard Hannon’s Craven Stakes winner is the only horse in either race that has won over a mile before so the betting is wide open. The 2000 Guineas is won by Philippe Sogorb’s maiden race winner for France whilst Clive Brittain’s 33/1 shot maiden makes all in the 1000 Guineas on her seasonal debut. John Gosden’s 2000 Guineas runner-up is immediately installed as St Leger favourite. June As the field enters the stalls for the Derby, Simon Holt is seen consulting the man from Specsavers about better binoculars as the seven Coolmore runners and five Godolphin runners are only distinguishable by the colours of their caps. In the resulting photo finish, the judge is forced to call a triple dead heat as all three are chestnuts and he cannot distinguish their noses on the colour image. At Royal Ascot, yet another Australian visitor wins the King’s Stand Stakes whilst Wesley Ward completes a hat-trick with wins in the Queen Mary Stakes, the Norfolk Stakes and, amazingly, the Coventry Stakes (far too far for a quarter horse). July The Newmarket July Meeting is plagued by the British summer weather and the bookmakers clean up as all the favourites are overturned on the heavy ground. Talk of Treve participating in the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes turns out to be nothing more than rumour as the ground dries up and she stays at home for a four-runner affair at watered St Cloud. August The Ebor Meeting at York is overshadowed by controversy as the BHA announces an investigation into allegations that Mad Moose was the chief ingredient of the new Fortnum and Mason Lasagne after his failure to win the Qatar Grand National. Jamie Spencer is too busy shagging his ex-missus to make any comment. September The first three in the betting for the St Leger are all from Coolmore and Ryan Moore wins on next year’s Ascot Gold Cup favourite, beating the two John Gosden runners after Sir Michael Stoute’s runner leads with two furlongs to go but fails to last home. October Champions’ Day once again turns out to be a good day for horses with feet like dinner plates and most of the races fall to second-tier performers because the best horses went to Longchamp a couple of weeks before as they knew it was going to be soft but the Qatari prize money is better there. With the Racing Post Trophy just eight days after the Dewhurst Stakes, nobody tries to take in both races and the bottomless ground on Town Moor sees another donkey spread-eagle the field and jump to the top of the 2016 Derby betting. November The Breeders’ Cup meeting sees a large European contingent going to post for the turf races that they normally dominate; however, only Andre Fabre and Freddie Head are able to win anything as the Coolmore and Godolphin runners fail to gain a place between them. Saeed bin Suroor is beheaded for his failure. December As the NH season gets into full swing, a number of French imports owned by Al Shaqab and trained by Nicky Henderson collect the early season big prizes: the Long Walk Hurdle, the King George VI, the Future Champions’ Finale Juvenile Hurdle and the Challow Novices’ Hurdle. The 2016 Cheltenham Festival betting is thrown into turmoil – is Jamie Spencer the new Messiah or just a naughty boy?
