7th February 2021

Vado Forte looked like he was going to run a huge race only to flatten out on what can only be described as deep ground, he got unsettled when hammered at the first and making up any ground around Sandown yesterday was always going to be tough work. 

I listened to Tom Kerr, editor of The Racing Post talking about affordability checks on the Whatashout program early yesterday morning. He sounded a worried man, he made reference to a small minority of people yet he is more than happy to publish stories in the Racing Post that too involve the concerns of a small minority of people without any regard of the damage or the picture it paints of our sport. The paper will certainly be on the ropes if affordability checks are implemented, it is nothing more that a gambling rag anyhow. Unless it has changed in the last three or four years since I bought a copy I have no doubt that most of its income comes for the page after page of bookmaker’s advertisements. 

The Dublin Racing festival was like watching horse racing porn. Machine after machine being unleashed from Willie Mullins’s yard. I was certainly feeling like the green eyed monster. Many of you will know Energumene started his racing life here, I bought him as an unraced three-year-old before he won his point to point and was sold to Tony Bloom privately. We always thought he was special and to see him doing what he is doing gives us all huge pride. I hope I can be at Cheltenham to see him in the flesh if he comes there in March. 

The weather looks like it hasn’t done with us yet, this weeks fixtures and runners could be somewhat reduced if the freeze sets in. 

Thank you to those who have continued to support my thoughts page, I sent another £600 to Katharine House Hospice over the weekend.  Thank you. 

Velasco heads to Carlisle tomorrow, to read my thoughts click here.