A WEEK on and I’m still in Kelso!

Growing up with a father who is Clerk of the Course for the Ward Union point-to-point for every year I’ve been alive, I’ve learned about ground, rail alignments and how to watch the weather so last Saturday all of my knowledge was absolutely pointless because 24mm of rain fell overnight that wasn’t forecast and washed out the day’s racing!

It wasn’t a total loss however, as travelling Unioniste for Paul Nicholls was his pupil assistant and fellow The Irish Field columnist, Andrew Doyle whom I know from riding against and also I’ve called him home in front a few times from my time as a commentator.

Kelso racecourse very kindly treated all overnighters to a meal out in the Queens Head Pub and I took this chance to catch up with Andrew and pick his brains about the what-to-dos and how-to-dos from Ditcheat. Lisa Kozak from Oliver Sherwood’s yard joined us and I find these conversations so beneficial as every yard that is successful will be quite different with their theories and methods.

In other walks of business there are training days, talks, “experts” giving seminars but yet training has none of these per say, so that is why I rely on Dad from his experiences, along with Stuart Crawford who has come to training from international three-day eventing. Listening to him talk about ground work, core fitness and watching him exercise his string I’ve found to be of huge benefit.

However, over a Sainsburys breakfast (yes, racing is glamorous), Andrew and myself rang Anthea Morshead the Clerk of the Course and sowed the seed of rescheduling the lost meeting to this weekend with the promise of returning with Unioniste and Maggio if they could.

Oliver Sherwood very quickly rowed in as well with Many Clouds and we’re all back for round two in the Queens Head.

You may wonder why we travelled to Kelso for his National prep and there are three reasons.

Firstly, his track record is four from eight with three seconds and one UR. The timeframe of the race was ideal with five weeks to go as the alternatives in Ireland were too close to Aintree.

Secondly, it’s a valuable pot even for being placed. Our two most recent runners have picked up over €16,000 in win and place money alone in similar raids.

Finally, in relation to the horse, as he hasn’t run for nearly four months, the fact he’s 11 years old means he’s getting a bit cute, so the travelling will bring him on as much as the run will.

Our great white hope, Portrait King has been cantering all week and went to Donabate strand before I left yesterday to begin building back up.

He’s had a recent run so getting him to Fairyhouse is about getting him there more fresh than galloped. He does thrive on graft though so it’s a balance. I did spend my time on the boat last week productively by preparing for the Cheltenham preview that I was MC at in Ratoath GAA on Monday.

To summarise from the panel, Closutton will win three races Tuesday and one every other day but no one knows the definite runners yet, Tony Martin backed All Yours as his charity bet and J.P. will be in the winner’s enclosure after a handicap but with which hat no one has worked out yet!

The mitigating reason for going to Kelso is that Maggio’s owners Douglas Pryde and Jim Beaumont can attend. Douglas is from near Kelso and Jim is based in Edinburgh. They combined to win the National in 2013 with Auroras Encore so to have a set of winning colours in our yard has brought some National coverage.

Jim is like the Pope at the races because he can’t go 10 paces without someone wanting to shake his hand. At the weights lunch, because of who owns Maggio, I did three radio interviews so it is nice to have a connection to Aintree, albeit somewhat distant.

They are not our only British-based clients from our small pool as, in fact, we only have two Irish owners and even one of those lives in South Africa most of the year. It is through campaigning the horses in Britain that we have attracted the likes of Cardiff-based Mike Deren and Scottish Borders farmer Robert Claydon.

Robert is a former master of the Duke of Buccleuch Foxhounds so we hope that his new horse is good enough to carry his silks in the Aintree Foxhunters next season. It’s all about long term plans!

BEST JOCKEYS

I ride in all of the fast work and school everything but we have a policy of using the best jockeys available. Brian Hughes has first call on all of our British runners and rides at roughly 30% win to rides for us.

Jonathan Burke and Adrian Heskin are the two that we try to use in Ireland and they also have ridden work for us. It’s the feedback they give that is invaluable.

Last Saturday Anthony Fox was back in action in Tyrella. Anthony did quite a bit of work on Portrait King before the Eider and has just turned back amateur. He, along with Colm Hand, ride out here when we’re schooling, riding work or I’m away racing. Colm has been making a splash at some recent Cheltenham preview nights!

Dad still rides out (most of the winners I must admit) but he prefers to watch us as he says he “doesn’t want to show us up too much”. He’s more Martin Molony than Paul Moloney but it works.

Adam Short, who is conditional jockey with Stuart Crawford, was in on his Sunday off to school, so the list of rides I owe people is getting longer, I just need a few more horses!

Cheltenham week is now upon us but for our yard that just means Easter Monday and April 9th are getting closer. We are realistic about our task this afternoon off these weights but if returning to his favourite track has the desired effect, he won’t be disgraced and should be on the podium but it’s all about bringing our National hopes one step closer.

Twitter:- @jaggriffin