2.55 Goodwood, Thursday, May 20

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Rayvin Black has progressed into a Grade 2 winning hurdler since last campaigned on the Flat by Mark Tompkins as a three-year-old and appeared to translate at least some of that improvement back to this sphere when staying on strongly to win by 5 lengths over 1 mile 6 furlongs on the course last month. Now with Oliver Sherwood, the Halling gelding steps up in class and distance off an 8lb higher mark, but has won at distances up to 2 miles 1 furlong, on going ranging from good to heavy, so has plenty going for him. The undulations and sharp downhill finish at Goodwood suit his bold, front-running style and he can lead the field a merry dance from the front. Connections will be hoping that the forecast rain arrives in West Sussex but, if it does, Rayvin Black still looks reasonably weighted in the Construction Day Stakes (2.55).

Selection: Goodwood 2.55 Rayvin Black to win

Ancient Horse Racing Rules Discovered

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It’s not just us modern men that like a punt and a trip to a race course every once in a while. In fact far from it as it’s just been discovered that even millenia ago many of us were partial to the occasional flutter, or at least watching horse racing.  Astonishingly, a tablet in central turkey has been found that is 2000 years old and features horse racing rules etched in stone.

The tablet is part of the a Monument within the ruins of an old stadium at Beyşehir, central turkey. It was apparently built in recognition of a jockey name Lukuyanus who died at a young age.

 

Analysis of the tablet has revealed a number of rules, such as that it was viewed as important to ensure a sense of fairness within the sport. Professor Hasan Bahar from Selcuk University revealed that “It says that if a horse comes in first place in a race it cannot participate in other races”. The same rule applied to winning owners suggesting a need for everyone to be given a chance to have their moment of glory! It’s thought to be by far the first detailing of rules to laid out for the sport.

Previous Year’s Grand National Winners

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Below is a list of Grand National winners from 1946 – 2015 . I wouldn’t have minded having a few quid on the winners in 2009, 1967 and 1947 ;).

Year Winner Age Handicap Trainer Jockey SP
2015 Many Clouds 8 11-09 Oliver Sherwood Leighton Aspell 25/1
2014 Pineau De Re 11 10-06 Dr Richard Newland Leighton Aspell 25/1
2013 Auroras Encore 11 10-03 Mrs S Smith Ryan Mania 66/1
2012 Neptune Collonges 11 11-06 P Nicholls D Jacob 33/1
2011 Ballabriggs 10 11-00 D McCain J Maguire 14/1
2010 Don’t Push It 10 11-05 J O’Neill AP McCoy 10/1JF
2009 Mon Mome 9 11-00 Miss V Williams L Treadwell 100/1
2008 Comply Or Die 9 10-09 D E Pipe T Murphy 7/1JF
2007 Silver Birch 10 10-06 G Elliott R M Power 33/1
2006 Numbersixvalverde 10 10-08 M Brassil N P Madden 11/1
2005 Hedgehunter 9 11-01 W P Mullins R Walsh 7/1F
2004 Amberleigh House 12 10-10 D McCain G Lee 16/1
2003 Monty´s Pass 10 10-07 JJ Mangan B J Geraghty 16/1
2002 Bindaree 8 10-04 N A Twiston-Davies J Culloty 20/1
2001 Red Marauder 11 10-11 N B Mason Richard Guest 33/1
2000 Papillon 9 10-12 T M Walsh R Walsh 10/1
1999 Bobbyjo 9 10-00 T Carberry P Carberry 10/1
1998 Earth Summit 10 10-05 N A Twiston-Davies C Llewellyn 7/1F
1997 Lord Gyllene 9 10-00 S A Brookshaw A Dobbin 14/1
1996 Rough Quest 10 10-07 T Casey M A Fitzgerald 7/1F
1995 Royal Athlete 12 10-06 Mrs J Pitman J F Titley 40/1
1994 Miinnehoma 11 10-08 M C Pipe R Dunwoody 16/1
1992 Party Politics 8 10-07 N A Gaselee C Llewellyn 14/1
1991 Seagram 11 10-06 D H Barons N Hawke 12/1
1990 Mr Frisk 11 10-06 K C Bailey Mr M Armytage 16/1
1989 Little Polveir 12 10-03 G B Balding J Frost 28/1
1988 Rhyme ´N´ Reason 9 11-00 D R C Elsworth B Powell 10/1
1987 Maori Venture 11 10-13 A Turnell S Knight 28/1
1986 West Tip 9 10-11 M Oliver R Dunwoody 15/2
1985 Last Suspect 11 10-05 T Forster H Davies 50/1
1984 Hallo Dandy 10 10-02 G Richards N Doughty 13/1
1983 Corbiere 8 11-04 Mrs J Pitman B de Haan 13/1
1982 Grittar 9 11-05 F Gilman Mr R Saunders 7/1F
1981 Aldaniti 11 10-13 J Gifford R Champion 10/1
1980 Ben Nevis 12 10-12 T Forster Mr C Fenwick 40/1
1979 Rubstic 10 10-00 S J Leadbetter M Barnes 25/1
1978 Lucius 9 10-09 G W Richards B R Davies 14/1
1977 Red Rum 12 11-08 D McCain T Stack 9/1
1976 Rag Trade 10 10-12 T F Rimell J Burke 14/1
1975 L’Escargot 12 11-03 D Moore T Carberry 13/2
1974 Red Rum 9 12-00 D McCain B Fletcher 11/1
1973 Red Rum 8 10-05 D McCain B Fletcher 9/1
1972 Well To Do 9 10-01 Capt. T A Forster G Thorner 14/1
1971 Specify 9 10-13 J Sutcliffe J Cook 28/1
1970 Gay Trip 8 11-05 T F Rimell P Taaffe 15/1
1969 Highland Wedding 12 10-04 T Balding E Harty 100/9
1968 Red Alligator 9 10-0 D Smith B Fletcher 100/7
1967 Foinavon 9 10-0 J Kempton J Buckingham 100/1
1966 Anglo 8 10-0 F Winter T Norman 50/1
1965 Jay Trump 8 11-05 F Winter T Smith 100/6
1964 Team Spirit 12 10-03 F Walwyn W Robinson 18/1
1963 Ayala 9 10-00 K Piggott P Buckley 66/1
1962 Kilmore 12 10-04 R Price F Winter 28/1
1961 Nicolaus Silver 9 10-01 F Rimell B Beasley 28/1
1960 Merryman II 9 10-12 N Crump G Scott 13/2F
1959 Oxo 8 10-13 M Scudamore W Stephenson 8/1
1958 Mr. What 8 10-06 T Taaffe, Sr. A Freeman 18/1
1957 Sundew 11 11-07 F Hudson F Winter 20/1
1956 ESB 10 11-03 F Rimell D Dick 100/7
1955 Quare Times 9 11-00 V O’Brien P Taaffe 100/9
1954 Royal Tan 10 11-07 V O’Brien B Marshall 8/1
1953 Early Mist 8 11-02 V O’Brien B Marshall 20/1
1952 Teal 10 10-12 N Crump A Thompson 100/7
1951 Nickel Coin 9 10-01 J O’Donoghue J Bullock 40/1
1950 Freebooter 9 11-11 B Renton J Power 40/1
1949 Russian Hero 9 10-08 G Owen L McMorrow 66/1
1948 Sheila’s Cottage 9 10-07 N Crump A Thompson 50/1
1947 Caughoo 8 10-00 H McDowell E Dempsey 100/1
1946 Lovely Cottage 9 10-08 T Rayson B Petre 25/1

Marble Racing

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I often think that my interest in horse racing has a direct link to the great days of marble racing my brothers and I had decades back. We still have the marbles now as reminders, the wooden track though, goodness knows where that is.

Some of the marbles were my well rounded (literally!) and had a rather attractive gem-like appearance, others were sorry looking milky marbles which would bounce around wildly as the others flew down the track like you wouldn’t believe. There were some epic match-ups. This sand marble racing video and the enthusiasm of the commentator reminds me of those days.

I believe ITV is set to replace Channel 4 as the free to air horse racing broadcaster from next year. Perhaps Channel 4 should become the marble racing broadcaster :-D.