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Making Allowances
Chapter 16 Part 1
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It was a cold and murky late Autumn day as I made my way to Newbury for the Hennessy meeting. Ellie had been feeling rather tired that week and said that she would feel more comfortable at home, watching the big race on TV. I took Dad and Tim with me, and would meet Clare and Mark at the course. I wasn’t feeling particularly nervous, more excited than anything. This was a prestigious race, and we were certain to be plunged into the real focus of National Hunt racing that afternoon.
Dad studied the race form in one of the papers as we travelled along the M4.
“Going to be a great race,” he declared, “some really good horses in this field; Poor Yorick, Waxworks, Little Matter and your stable companion, Scheduled Stop.”
“Yeah,” I agreed, “Of course, it was a blow not having Kellett riding for us, but I expected him to take Scheduled Stop.”
“Well, Declan Flynn’s a good pilot,” reflected Dad, “they all are. They don’t get this far without being good.”
“Or lucky?” I smiled, remembering that I was talking to one of the best.
“Or lucky” he agreed with a shrug of his shoulders.
“What made you go for this race?” asked Dad.
“Why do you ask?”
“Well, I’m not sure he gets this trip. All of his good form has been over two and a quarter, two and a half miles. Big step up this, to three and a quarter, at his age.”
He was right, and I knew that my reply would seem whimsical to him.
“I just thought, he jumps well, and if it turns into a test of attrition, I would back him to do well.”
“There are no slouches in this field,” Dad pointed out.
“Well, we’ll see,” I retorted, “he’s got plenty of character and guts. The truth is, we really don’t know, we won’t ever know, unless someone tries it. He didn’t disgrace himself at Sandown.”
“Did you watch the preview on TV this morning?” I asked him, “Did you hear me getting a mention?”
“Yeah,” Dad replied with a chuckle, “How does it feel to be an elite owner?”
“I was more interested in what they said about him,” I said, “they were of the same opinion as you, basically, they didn’t think that he’d get the trip. But they all love him, don’t they?”
“He’s been a great little horse”, Dad commented, “he’s given you a lot of fun already, from just one race, you’ve had your money’s worth.”
“Oh yeah, yeah,” I agreed, “with interest, I’d say.”
“What do you reckon, boss?” asked Mark, Clare’s fiance, when I met him in the Members Bar, “Is he worth a flutter?”
“Hmm, not today mate,” I replied, advisedly. I echoed the TV pundits’ and Dad’s reservations, that he might not get the trip.
“Why are you runnin’ him then?” he asked.
Of all the people, it had to be a non-Racing man who asked the most logical, and difficult to answer question. I tried to be honest.
“Well, he sort of ‘needs’ this run. I wanted to see how he’d go over a longer distance. It’s a bit of an experiment.”
Mark looked at me, as if to coax something more substantial as way of an answer.
“Let’s see how we get on today,” I said, hoping that this would satisfy him for now.
“If I were you, I’d have a few bob on Scheduled Stop. He will start as favourite, but he is the class act of the field.”
“Unless I look at some longer odds to beat him,” considered Mark. I left him at this point to ponder over his options.
I did not see Mark or Clare again until they met us in the parade ring. I smiled at Mark as he surveyed the area, looking for the TV cameras.
“So I did get on Grandstand after all,” he laughed, “I always thought it’d be playing Rugby League for Leeds, not as a racehorse owner!!”
Dennis, meanwhile, was doing his best to split his time between Scheduled Stop’s entourage and our small family group. He looked harassed.
“Everything OK lad?” he asked.
“No problems Dennis,” I replied, “don’t worry about us, I can see you’re busy.”
“I’m sorry I can’t stop,” he apologised. “Trouble with my novice hurdler who won the opener, got kicked by another horse over by the stables.”
“The problems never stop, even when you’ve won”, I thought to myself, as Dennis scuttled off.
I encountered Tony and Jane Broadbent, the owners of Scheduled Stop as we departed from the parade ring and made for the grandstand. I had met them several times on flying visits to Dennis’s yard.
“Good to see you,” he smiled as we shook hands. “I see you’ve already chalked up your first win. I spoke to Mitchell the other day, he was thrilled.”
“Might be harder today though,” I replied.
“Well I hope so,” he said, “but mine hasn’t run yet this season and he might need this trip. Little Matter could be the surprise package today. That’s the whisper.”
The jockeys had reported that the ground was heavier than expected. This, I decided, was not good for our own prospects. I had thought that, despite the rain, the track was lightly raced and the going would still be on the good side, even though the official going was rated as good to soft. However, Flynn confirmed earlier reports from the jockeys that the going had become sticky. Clare announced that she had bet fifty pounds to win on Lad, which she thought was great value, given his course price of 8-1. I felt a small sinking sensation.
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If you would like to contact Richie, please email him at: richie@baylands.fsnet.co.uk
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