Twelve To Follow
The turf
Usually in May I am still casting an enviously nostalgic eye backwards to Aintree and Cheltenham, reluctant yet to pack…
The turf
In the absence on her Platinum Jubilee of Her Majesty, such an avid Derby attender in the past, and following…
The turf
‘Some of our players can hardly write their names,’ moaned one leading football manager. ‘But you should see them add…
The turf
Combing through race recordings to try to find some fun horses for Spectator readers this summer, I have been struck…
The turf
First the company report. Readers who invested a tenner on the nose each time our Twelve to Follow for the…
The turf
It wasn’t so much a Derby victory this year as an act of grand larceny. Aidan O’Brien isn’t just a…
Farewell to the greatest jump jockey of all time
So the Silver Fox has called it a day. We will never see Ruby Walsh, the man whom even Sir…
My hot tips for the coming season
Trainer Dan Skelton and his jockey brother Harry have 100 winners on the board already but for most of us…
My hot tips for the Flat season to come
In his days as a novice jockey in the West Country, Bob Davies, who was to ride more than 900…
My hot tips for the jump season
Richard Johnson may already have 100 winners in the bag, and Paul Nicholls may already have banked £750,000 worth of…
The turf
Having spent three quarters of my life covering politics and the other quarter following racing, I am often asked what…
Twelve to follow
It has been a little like scraping from the plate as slowly as possible the last traces of Mrs Oakley’s…
Triumphant Twelve
Three personalities dominated the Flat season: Gosden, Dettori and Golden Horn. Victories for the trio in the Derby, the Irish…
Ones to watch
Back on political duty with CNN in election week, I came across a dead rat in Downing Street. It had…
Going for Gold
Irish racing guru Ted Walsh was asked at the start of Gold Cup day if retiring champion jockey Tony McCoy…
Best of Luck
Never mind David Cameron. Are you participating in the Great Debate about an event of national significance that stirs the…
The resurrection man
‘I’m going for Al Ferof,’ said a suit in front of me in the Totepool queue at Ascot on Saturday…
The turf
November has never been my favourite month, not since the time when as a Rugby-playing student my face was rearranged…
Hennessy Day highlights
You don’t realise how much your pleasures mean until you are denied them. It was wonderful to get back on…
