The first quarter of the flat season seems to have dragged on forever this year and the wait for Royal Ascot has been excruciating and expensive.
A culmination of a once in a life time stag do, poor choices and very little luck has certainly put me on the back foot going into the middle of the summer as you are about to find out.
A mate of mine that I have known since school has enjoyed and still is enjoying a successful career in the world of rugby. Due to get married in the off season, his best man, knowing he loves racing, decided to book a lavish trip to a box at Epsom races on Derby day. A truly incredible experience which we all looked forward to.
Me, being the horse racing ‘expert’, carried a fair burden on my back as the whole party of 17 men were expecting me to provide high quality tips. I have plenty of confidence in my own ability and have enjoyed plenty of success in the past so with this in mind I would have laid you very long odds at the start of the weekend that I wouldn’t have had a single winner throughout the twoday Epsom meet. If only I had a fiver on that.
It all started in the Woodcote Stakes where Balon D’or (£20 win) was denied by a fast finishing Bobsleigh which led to me receiving an icy reception from all the lads as we arrived in to London.
A pattern started to develop as Orbaan (£10 e/w) could only plug on for fourth in the mile handicap next up and some members of the stag party probably lost an interest in my tipping at this point but some poor souls continued to stick with me for the remainder of the weekend.
Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
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Denne historien er fra July 2023-utgaven av Racing Ahead.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Tragedy Hits Racing Family - Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters
Nick Townsend reels from shock attack on John Hunt's wife and daughters. I will be far from alone in recent days in being overcome by emotions ranging from utter disbelief to revulsion upon hearing of the unspeakable acts perpetrated upon John Hunt's family, resulting in the death of his wife Carol and daughters, Hannah and Louise.
AUDIENCE IS ERUPTING
John Anthony reveals the latest top speedsters after another Glorious Goodwood
HORSE OF A LIFETIME
Graham Buddry pays fresh tribute to track legend Sea The Stars - surely one of the greatest ever
IT'S TIME TO TAKE STOCK
Paul Jacobs looks forward to seeing some big on-track questions answered
PLAYING TO THE WHISTLE
lan Heitman flies about to keep pace with a rush of two-year-old Flat action
WINNING JOY ON A BUDGET
Richard Eagle takes a trip to Windsor to check out peoples' route into the port of kings
GIFT HORSES AND FRENCH LESSONS
Robert Cooper finds 'retirement' is keeping him busy
FEUD GETS THE PARTY ROLLING
Karl Hedley savours the Galway Festival action and picks out the summer highlights at Ballybrit
ROCKING THE MONEY BAGS
Simon Nott reveals his recent experiences from trips to Brighton and Ascot
FLYING EVE'S BORN TO WIN
Nick Townsend talks to in-form trainer Eve Johnson Houghton
