Kim Bailey: ‘A few of the finest racing we’ve seen since final yr’s Cheltenham Pageant’

Profitable Nationwide Hunt coach Kim Bailey on the present state of the game and a tribute to a particular horse

We’ve got simply witnessed a number of the finest soar racing seen right here since final yr’s Cheltenham Pageant (see report in Horse & Hound journal, on sale date 1 February, p62). Doncaster and Cheltenham had nice playing cards and Trials Day on the latter actually lived as much as its billing.

Now all eyes will likely be on these 4 days in March and we hope that Eire doesn’t take too a lot of our prizes. Willie Mullins despatched over 4 horses on the weekend; three gained and the fourth was third behind one in every of his winners!

It could be a mouth-watering proposition if solely Lossiemouth would tackle Structure Hill within the Champion Hurdle, however sadly she is going to most likely run within the mares’ hurdle at lengthy odds on.

Racing has suffered from an excessive amount of adversarial publicity over the previous couple of months and, name me old style, however I’ve all the time hoped that our commerce paper the Racing Publish would promote and help our sport significantly greater than it does. Extra positivity can be nice.

Everyone knows that the dearth of prize cash and runners is a big situation, however we now have an excessive amount of racing for the variety of horses in coaching. Including extra all-weather Flat racing dilutes the racing product, nevertheless it feeds the bookmakers’ pockets and sadly they dominate our sport to such an extent that they will virtually demand what we do.

Premier racing on a Sunday night is one other instance of the place we’re going – apparently, it’s the most certainly time that persons are bored and due to this fact will wager on racing.

The new whip guidelines are actually 12 months outdated however we see too many jockeys, who ought to have the ability to rely, fall foul of them. Saying that, I’ve simply completed my sixth velocity consciousness course and I’ve to carry up my hand to confess I used to be going sooner in my automobile than the signal mentioned I ought to do. I do know I’m responsible, and I additionally know that if I break these guidelines, I will likely be punished – 60 means 60, not 67!

“A gentle spot for First Stream”

All trainers have gentle spots for sure horses of their yard, and I’m no completely different. First Stream has been that horse because the day I noticed him on the Lambourn gallops.

Initially purchased on the Tattersalls Derby Gross sales by main Irish occasion rider Karrie Fanshawe as an unbroken three-year-old for €4,500 (£3,800), he was nurtured by Karrie and introduced on slowly. She requested if I want to see him work in Lambourn. I did, and I requested my secure jockey, David Bass, to journey him. It was a bitterly chilly snowy day, however we favored what we noticed.

My longest-serving proprietor, Tony Solomons, was on the lookout for a horse to exchange his good horse Harry Topper, so I persuaded him that he can purchase First Stream. Each horses had been odd and neither nicely bred, nor actually had the proper to be good racehorses, however each confirmed that cussed robust streak.

I used to be standing with Tony when First Stream gained his first hurdle race at Lingfield in November 2017, and Tony leaned over and mentioned, “I consider we now have a racehorse.” We did, however what we didn’t know then was how good he was going to be. A few Sundays in the past, First Stream rolled again the years and confirmed the highest-rated 12-year-old within the nation was not going to be crushed.

David Bass doesn’t put on his coronary heart on his sleeve and may often battle to smile after a race, however even he struggled to carry again the emotion that day. First Stream has ears {that a} donkey can be pleased with and at occasions the stubbornness to match, however God he has a coronary heart, and if solely I might discover one other like him.

Stars are born and made by these round him, and we’ve all been fortunate to have First Stream in our lives.

● Do you agree with Kim in regards to the state of the game? Tell us at hhletters@futurenet.com, together with your title, nearest city and nation, for the prospect in your letter to seem in a forthcoming situation of the journal

• This unique column may also be out there to learn in Horse & Hound journal, on sale Thursday 1 February

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