18th October
Blackheath has been “roughed-off” for the winter, and will not run again in 2006. The intention is that he stays in training next season. No doubt Dandy will see how he gets on in the Spring. If he is as healthy and enthusiastic as he was this year then there is no reason why he should not have another good season. At 11 years old he will be a true veteran of the sprinting ranks. This season 12-year-old Further Outlook won four races in a row, albeit Claimers, and there has been a trend towards keeping sprinters in training longer. The likes of Repertory, who won a Group race at 10 years old, have led the way. Here’s hoping he has a good winter and comes back in fine shape.

2nd October
No sign of another race yet. David Nicholls stable has gone very quiet. Only four entries this week and nothing at all in at York on Friday. I do not know why apart from it being his normal practice to start to wind down with the handicappers after mid-September. Peace Offering won a Listed race at Tipperary on Sunday and Moss Vale only just failed to get on top of Desert Lord in the Prix L’Abbaye, so the stable still seems in reasonable form. If Blacky does not run at the weekend then I think anything following will be just a token effort.

21th September
Driving back from Pontefract I was trying to come up with a working definition of the Chaos Theory. Try It.

No matter. It is just that some of Blacky’s races seem to owe more to chaos theory than the form book. Today front runner, favourite and sure to lead Blue Maeve lost his footing coming out of his stall and got stuck at the back of the field. Almaty Express went off like a scolded cat and the field chased hard bunching up a furlong out. Blacky broke moderately, soon got stuck in traffic and could never get a run of any sort. He went through the final two furlongs, mainly on the bridle, looking for a gap between weakening horses, finding none and finishing eighth. Paddywack was another sufferer. So much for those prophetic words that there was not much risk of getting cut off or squeezed out early. Shame for sentimental supporters of the old timers that Blacky could not reach 100 in a blaze of glory. 10 years old, 10 wins, 100 runs and £100,000 was not to be. Well not 10 wins anyway. The rest is happily in the record books.

He will not run at Chester.

20th September
Blackheath has his 100th career run at Pontefract tomorrow. Joe Fanning rides and he is drawn 12. The wide draw is not ideal but I don’t think it will make any difference. Blacky has been tanking along front rank lately and he will be able to do that nicely without much risk of getting cut off or squeezed out early. The ground is currently Good, Good/Firm in places, and the weather set fair, which is also good.

This will probably be his last realistic winning chance this season. Dave Nicholls stable typically goes off the boil from mid September, and October onwards sees runs more with next year in mind. ;-) Also Blacky goes up a pound in the handicap to 73, after this.

18th September
As well as Ponte on Thursday, Blacky is entered in a Class 4 5 furlong handicap at Chester on Saturday. Whilst I would love to see him run at Chester, which is one of my favourite punting and watching tracks, it is unlikely to happen on Saturday. There is a large entry and a lot of them would have to drop out to let Blacky in.

15th September
Blacky ran a tremendous race down the favoured stand rail. He was quick enough to hold the rail front rank and gradually pulled clear. A furlong out he looked like holding on nicely, but one came out of the pack to collar him as he tired. That one was “spawn of the devil” Ptarmigan Ridge. From two pounds out of the handicap, an anonymous twelth yesterday, and at a price of 25/1, he won for the first time in over two years. All sprint followers knew it would happen one day, and he chose today. Last night I looked to see how Ptarmigan R had got on in races in quick succession. I knew that he had run twice at this meeting on a number of times in the past. I came away from the form books reassured that his record was nothing special. :-(

The ground turned out to be just on the easy side of Good ( 0.80 secs slower than standard). Blacky was one length in front of the third, Oranmore Castle, so will probably go up a couple of pounds for this run. He is in at Pontefract on Thursday. It is a Class 5 five furlong handicap where he will run off his current rating of 72. I imagine that he will also be entered in anything else that is suitable over the weekend. His next race will be his 100th career start.

15th September
Blackheath runs in the 2.45 at Ayr this afternoon. He seems to have the plum draw, against the stand rail, judged by yesterday’s five furlong sprint won by Ten Shun, from Our Little Secret. Later the runners on the round course came over to the stand rail and stablemate Hypnotic came clear in the seven furlong handicap having veered off at a tangent round the turn and crossed the course to hug the stand rail. Unfortunately it rained all afternoon and by the last race the ground appeared no better than Soft. The times of the last three races were Soft/Heavy times, rather than the official Good/Soft. I assume that the going will be far too soft for Blacky, and that he will tire in the final furlong, if he lasts that long. If the ground on the stand rail is genuinely Good/Soft there is just a chance that most of the field will gravitate to the centre and leave Blacky to have his evil way down the rail?

9th September
Blackheath is entered in a Class 4 five furlong handicap at Ayr on Friday 15th September, on Ayr Silver Cup day. The ground is currently Good/Soft. It will be his 99th career race.
 
6th September
Well the race was a disappointment, unless like syndicate member Clive you happened to back the 20/1 winner Paris Bell ???. Blacky went down to the start steadily with Joe Fanning taking no chances. He was fast out of the stalls and accompanied Aahgowangowan across to the rail in a comfortable second place. I was just thinking that he had done the hard part, when the race went pear shaped. Blacky and Joe had a difference of opinion going into the bend. Joe tried to settle him just behind the leader but Blacky wanted to tank-on and he got tightened up on the rail. So he pulled hard and was unbalanced around much of the bend. Into the straight when the leader kicked for home he could not make up any ground. Then the early exertions took their toll and he faded back into 9th place. The horses who filled the first four places were all near the back and on the outside around the bend, and made up plenty of ground in the straight. The exact opposite of what I thought would happen!! That’s racing for you.

It is a bit worrying that Blacky would not settle when asked this time. Some of his better performances were achieved when settled tracking the pace over six furlongs eg the second to Cloud Dancer at York and to CD Flyer at Redcar. He has had a lot of races lately where he has been allowed to bowl along, either in front or at least in plenty of daylight. Maybe he has got too used to that style of racing now. It can work very well, as his last three wins prove, but it is a liability in some circumstances.

The race was run in Course Record time.

I have to admit that racing at Southwell in warm sunshine is a much nicer experience than when I used to go All Weather racing there in mid winter. I recall back then that the bookies overrounds were unbelievable, betting value was virtually unobtainable, the racing was unpredictable and the only solace was the fish and chip shop under the stands.
 
6th September
Quite optimistic about Blackheath today. The ground has dried out and the more I look at the race the more I think he has an each way chance. There are not many speed horses in the race. Many will be outpaced. If he can track Aahgowangowan across to the rail and be in the first three or four he should, at least, stay there. He needs a good break and a good lead, but he got that against Mr Wolf at Catterick and the other day at Beverley, so why not today?

4th September
Blackheath will have his 98th race at Southwell on Wednesday. Southwell is my least favourite track in England. It is in a bleak, featureless part of rural Nottinghamshire, miles from anywhere. The All Weather track is a dour test, with awful kickback, where the finishes usually come down to a war of attrition. Thankfully the turf course is an altogether different proposition. It is a test of speed in which you need to be on, or close, to the pace. A low draw is a big help as there is only a 1 1/2 furlong run before the tight 180 degree bend.

Unfortunately Blacky has had no luck with the draw, 11 of 14. The race has an interesting “shape” though. There are three habitual front runners - Aahgowangowan (needs to dominate, but drawn wide), Steel Blue (appreciates easy ground, drawn 2) and Raymond’s Pride (needs soft). Then there are a number of hold-up runners who seem to have been entered looking for soft ground/testing conditions - Balakiref, Digital, Paris Bell, Sir Nod. Whilst the ground is described as Good/Soft, generally warm drying conditions are forecast. Also the six furlong turf track has not been used since Spring and I think it could be quite fast ground by late afternoon on Wednesday. So Blacky has a chance if Joe Fanning can get him across close to the rail tracking the leaders. Several drawn inside him should be outpaced early and the field quite stretched so maybe he’ll be lucky, with Aahgowangowan giving him a perfect lead across to the rail. He runs off the same handicap mark (72) as at Beverley.

1st September
Blacky is entered in a Class 4 six furlong turf handicap at Southwell on Wednesday 6th September. The going there is currently Good, Good/Soft in places. Southwell will probably have more rain tomorrow after which improving weather is forecast through to Wednesday. Conditions should be OK. The Southwell turf track isn’t used very often. It is situated inside the All-Weather track and therefore has a very tight bend. A low draw is a big advantage in six furlong races.

Daryll Holland returns to race riding tomorrow at Thirsk. It is seven weeks since Blacky dumped him on the way to the start at York.

28th August
Well he ran an excellent race at Beverley yesterday. The ground was genuine Good/Soft, i.e. softer than ideal. There was also a brisk headwind, the combination of the slow ground and wind made conditions quite testing.

The race went much as expected with Tartatartufata out in front and Blacky, close up in second place, tracking her. She started to tire soon after halfway and Philip Makin decided to pull out from behind her early. Taking the running up two furlongs from home Blackheath was two lengths clear entering the final furlong with a wall of horses chasing him. I was screaming encouragement from the top of the stands, to the annoyance of many no doubt, as he was flat out to keep the pack at bay. But alas Blacky really tired in the final half furlong, two stablemates came out of the pack to catch him and he finished completely knackered in third place. A Dandy Nicholls 1-2-3, with Danzig River getting up on the post to deny Circuit Dancer and Adrian. Vicky Behan had a miraculous run through the pack to bring Danzig home for his first win in three years. It will take Adrian some time at the stables to live down being beaten by Vicky in that way.

You can choose from a combination of the soft ground, headwind, going to the front too early and lack of peak fitness for excuses. I prefer to think of it as a thrilling race in which Blackheath played a major role, and I am as proud as can be of the old fella. Here he is in the Beverley paddock.



26th August
Blacky will take his chance in the 4.40 at Beverley tomorrow. He is drawn 16 of the 20 runners, which is very good. The ground is described as Good/Soft, and Good in places, which is OK. There does not seem to be a great deal of pace in the race. Tartatartufata and Catch The Cat the only natural front runners I can see. Tartatartufata is drawn in stall 18, and if Blacky can track her until she fades that will be ideal. Philip Makin is aboard, as he was for Blacky’s biggest win in the Scottish Stewards Cup. It is three and a half weeks since he last ran which means that fitness is a doubt. Throw The Dice (drawn 14) possibly has the best chance, and there are several lower drawn runners who are better handicapped, eg Bold Marc, but a high draw is a powerful assistance at Beverley.

21st August
Blacky is entered in the 4.40 at Beverley on Sunday 27th August. It is a Class 5 handicap over 5 furlongs. The five furlong course at Beverley is uphill all the way and is therefore suitable for him, in theory. It is however one of the most draw dependant tracks in the country. If you have a low draw and the ground isn’t soft you might as well stay at home. In May 2003 he was drawn 2 of 20 and the horses drawn in stalls 1,3,4 and 5 were all withdrawn on one pretext or another. The chances of getting a high draw and a sound surface are not great at the moment with lots of rain around. At least the race isn’t a claimer.

19th August
It was a huge relief when Blackheath was withdrawn an hour or so before the claimer was run. Apart from the soft ground making a run a waste of effort there seemed a strong possibility that someone would try to claim him. By horrible coincidence Friday’s Racing Post had carried an article about the success of the old sprinters like Further Outlook (four successive wins at 12 years old), Bahamian Pirate (11), Ellens Academy (11), Sharp Hat (12) etc. Blacky might have got a mention if he had been a year or two older or had won another race this season.
Anyway the article concluded by making the point that Diamond Racing had claimed several 9YO+ horses this season and that doing so made business sense for them. A chill ran down my spine when I read that. Hopefully this will be the last flirtation with claimers this season and I will be adding my pennyworth to the debate about this.

More bad news in the Racing Post this morning. Dandy’s stable missed the deadline for Ayr Gold Cup/Silver Cup entries. 26 horses should have been entered including Blackheath. It is hard to believe this happened because for Dandy this is the race of the year. He has won the Ayr Gold Cup four times in the last six years. Most top sprint trainers never manage one win. He will be totally gutted. No sprint in the next month will be safe from him as he tries to compensate. Hopefully this will also spark some suitable entries for Blacky.

17th August
Trinculo is not the only horse with a story in tomorrows claimer. Endless Summer was one of the top sprint “juveniles” in 2000 for Khalid Abdullah (Juddmonte Farms). He won the Group 2 Richmond Stakes and followed up with second places in two Group Ones, the Prix Morny and the Middle Park Stakes. He did not race the next year and was then packed off to the USA. After a couple of races at Hollywood Park he was retired to stud but proved infertile there.

Endless Summer’s foaling date was registered by Juddmonte Farms as the 2nd January 1998. However in 2004, I think in connection with a court case, it was revealed that the foaling date had been falsified by the stud manager. He had actually been foaled on 26th December 1997. This, technically, made him a three year old when he won the Richmond Stakes etc. As a consequence in 2004 he was retrospectively disqualiied from all his “2YO” races and gained a year in age. The horse does not mind, he still runs with credit and he won his last race, a six furlong Haydock handicap, off of a 66 rating. Like Blacky, though, he will find Catterick’s five furlongs on the sharp side.

16th August
Blacky is declared to run at Catterick on Friday evening. There are 12 runners. Plenty of rain is forecast for Thursday and stablemate Trinculo may get his conditions. Trinculo is an interesting horse. He was a high class 3YO running in races like the King’s Stand and July Cup and was third, beaten less than a length in soft ground, in the Diadem Stakes (Group 2). For two years he raced in Hong Kong winning a £100,000 handicap along the way. He has won nearly £500,000 in prize money. Dandy bought him for only £10,000 at the 2004 October Sales and a couple of weeks later racing in his own colours Trinculo won a soft ground Catterick claimer for him by eight lengths. Dandy managed to keep him thanks to a successful friendly claim. The last two claimers Trinculo ran in he won by three lengths and six lengths. Trinculo is currently rated 92, following a soft ground win at York in May off a handicap mark of 88.

All sorts of horses can end up in claimers and Dandy often uses them for the older handicappers who in theory are unlikely to be claimed. However 11 year old Atlantic Viking was claimed for £8,000 at Carlisle recently. This makes me very apprehensive about this race at Catterick and the possibility of Blackheath being claimed. With Trinculo in the race and the race being over a sharp five furlongs there seems little to gain and a lot to lose.

13th August
He is entered in a 5 furlong claimer at Catterick on Friday evening. The claiming price is £10,000. Catterick is also quite a sharp track and five furlongs there is probably too quick for Blacky. Why he is in this race with so many suitable six furlong handicaps available I do not know. Also entered is stablemate Trinculo who is a 12 lb. better horse than Blacky on current form and would only give him 6 lb. Trinculo is a fast starting front runner who would find Catterick very much to his liking if the going is on the easy side.

Here are a collection of photos from Blackheaths win at York in June.









4th August
Well it made no sense to run him in yesterdays 5 furlong race, or as it turned out to ride him that way either. He got a good break and was in the front rank of the stand side group to past halfway. But the old boy was not enjoying it. He was always going a bit too fast to be comfortable, edging right, away from the rail throughout. All sprinters who go too fast too early end up the same way. They drop right out. Which is what Blacky did, finishing 16th.

The draw though was not an important factor, the winner and third coming out of the stand side group, and the second and fourth far side. Through the afternoon though there looked to be a fast strip of ground against the far rail, and it may be that the 5 furlong handicappers did not get across to it quickly enough. The high drawn runners in the 5 furlong Group 3 sprint did not even try to get across. Unbelievable !!!

1st August
Rather than run in the Stewards Cup consolation race over 6f on Friday he will run in the 5 furlong handicap on the Thursday. As Goodwood is the second sharpest 5f in the country, after Epsom, this seems a strange decision. He is drawn 1 of the 19 runners, against the stand rail. A Yorkesque situation, but I am not going to say that he cannot win from there, this time.

At Glorious Goodwood they open up fresh ground on the far rail on the Thursday. This ground is always the fastest strip on the track if there has been rain or watering during the course of the meeting. Today the stand rail seemed a good place to be in the two 2YO races run on the straight track. It remains to be seen whether it will stay that way. If it rains on Wednesday the far rail will be the place to be.

A positive is that he should get a good tow down the stand rail from a trio of front runners drawn close to him - Night Prospector, Hello Roberto and Fizzlephut. With the overall amount of pace there is in the race I can see a hold up horse or chaser winning this one.

28th July
Blackheath has been taken out of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint to be run on Sunday. He would have got into the race, but racing from 9 lbs out of the handicap would not have been sensible. The target is now the Stewards Cup consolation race on 4th August, which just happens to be the same day as Pinpoint’s bid for The Golden Mile (Totesport Mile).

There are plenty of small field, fast ground, five and six furlong handicaps at this time of year which take less winning than usual. Rather than enter unfeasibly difficult races like the Hong Kong Sprint it would make sense to aim for some of the softer targets available. For instance there is a £20,000 Class 2 race at Newcastle tomorrow with 10 runners where the top weight is Yorkshire Blue (rated 78) going down to a 54 rated horse. Dandy has no runner in the race though several will have qualified (not Blacky). Yesterday’s seven runner Class 3 Portland Trial at York is another example, which was over the perfect trip of five and a half fulongs.

25th July
Here are a few pictures from the Dandy Nicholls Open Day held on Sunday 23rd July.



Blackheath in his stable. From open windows at the back he can watch TV in the caravan next door. :-)




Bahamian Pirate, winner of the Group One Nunthorpe Stakes in 2004, still full of enthusiasm at the age of eleven. Here he is in the lungeing ring. It surprised me the speed at which he galloped round and round and the control and level of obedience he showed. Ears pricked he obviously enjoyed it a lot.



Amongst the highlights of the day were Blackheath, of course. He paraded in the ring, looking a million dollars, and went for a spin up the all weather gallop. He was supposed to gallop with Shot To Fame. This time Blacky behaved himself impeccably but Shot To Fame dumped Victoria Behan at the start of the gallop and charged up riderless leaving Blacky in his wake. Rider and horse were OK.

There was a parade of the top horses - Moss Vale, Gift Horse, Bahamian Pirate, Continent, Tax Free etc, and a parade of the Middleham Park horses - Blackheath, Royal Dignitary, Shot To Fame, Turnkey and an unnamed Observatory two year old.

Jack Berry was master of ceremonies. He did his best to get Dandy’s comments on the horses as they paraded.

Once again it was a joy to see all the dozens of sprinters whose fortunes I have followed over the years.

Apparently Blacky did not run at Hamilton because of Dandy’s concerns that he may be claimed.

19th July
None of Dandy’s four entries at Hamilton will run. Blackheath has not been declared. This is a shame because the race is weak, the track, going and distance are ideal and Blacky would have been 6lb clear onTimeform ratings.

17th July
Daryll Holland broke his wrist in falling off you-know-who at York, which means he misses two or three of the most lucrative weeks of the season. :-(
Meanwhile Blackheath is in for a claiming price of £10,000 at Hamilton. The two best horses in the race, Funfair Wane and Pomfret Lad, carry 5 lb. more due to a claiming price of £15,000. There is a big entry but on these terms Blacky should have every chance.

15th July
Having disgraced himself at York :-) Blackheath is entered for a 6 furlong Claimer at Hamilton on Thursday. This was to have been a 9f race according to the programme book so hopefully the switch to 6 furlongs will catch a few people out and there will not be many entries. It was always the plan to try to win a handicap and then go for claimers. The theory is that a ten year old sprinter towards the end of his racing career is very unlikely to be claimed. So Blacky can be put in claimers at a weight which gives him a good chance of winning with little chance of losing him. I would hate to lose him but I have to support the plan which is the logical way to go.

14th July
Whoops ! I was not at York but as far as I can tell from TV he threw Daryll Holland off on the way to the start. Holland injured his wrist and Blacky had to be withdrawn. This is no great surprise as Blacky usually gets very excitable leaving the paddock and needs expert handling to get him out onto the track and cantering down. Dandy usually leads him out himself but today he would have been at Newmarket for the July Cup with Moss Vale and Gift Horse. The race ended up as a six horse contest with only two horses having a good chance. They finished first and second the winner being dear old, impossible to predict, Malapropism.

14th July
He runs at 5.05 today. There are two interesting points to this race. Firstly there are so many good sprints taking place today that the race has cut up quite badly. It is a 71-90 Class 3 handicap, but the highest rated horses all dropped out leaving a 78 rated horse as top weight. In the 8 runner field there are two 3YOs who are invariably badly handicapped in relation to the older horses, although one of these is progressing well.

The other intriguing point is that Blacky is to be ridden by Daryll Holland, the guy who Dandy normally only uses in top races and who I rate the best sprint and front running jockey in Britain.
Whether that will make any difference to Blacky being able to stay close to the leaders on this sharp 5 furlongs I don’t know but it may well do. He seems to have a good chance of being in the frame all things considered.

12th July
Blackheath will not run at Newmarket. So it looks like being the York race on Friday that is next on the agenda. He ran 6th in the race in 2003 and 4th in 2004. In fast conditions the York 5 furlongs is one of the quickest in the country and he is likely to find things happening too quickly. Personally I would rather he was aimed at 5 furlongs at stiff tracks, or 6 furlongs otherwise.

8th July
He is entered in 5 furlong handicaps at Newmarket on Thursday and York on Friday. Which one he runs in will depend in part on the ground conditions, jockey availability and whether there are other horses on the truck. All the usual things. The races are Class 4 and Class 3 handicaps respectively. York has to be the more likely, though splitting entries north/south is the shrewd way to try to get the fast ground he needs.

One of the plus points with having a sprint handicapper like Blacky is that there are always races which suit him coming along. If the horse is tough, fit and healthy, all big ifs, then he can run regularly. We have been very lucky with Blacky.

Looking back at the race at Hamilton on Tuesday I think he ran about 7-10 lbs below form. This could have been all down to the state of the track. At Hamilton they have carried out drainage work and I suspect selective watering over the last two years or so to eliminate the strong high draw bias there used to be. When he last ran there on 7th May there was also a strong low draw bias.

5th July
Blacky was 4th at Hamilton yesterday. He raced near the far rail, chased by Jadan, with the rest of the small field racing down the stand rail. He broke well, possibly led for a furlong, and was level with the stand side until about halfway, when Silvestre started to push him along. In the end he stayed on, but was well beaten by Dizzy In The Head and two others on the stand side. The time shows it was fastish ground despite the rain, though it looked a little loose on top. That would have been OK for him. Perhaps it was slower on the far side, but I am more inclined to accept that racing off his new handicap mark of 73 will make it difficult to win. He was a well backed second favourite at 7/2, suggesting that many punters do not realise that the York win was slightly flukey. He sidesteps another entry at Kempton today.

3rd July
Blacky runs at Hamilton tomorrow. There is a field of only 9 runners, but several are in good form so it will be competitive. They have had a lot of rain up in Scotland and are due some more, while down in the south we are sweltering in a heatwave and the ground is firm for Pinpoint. The rain gods are having a laugh.

29th June
The old fella has been entered in a 5 furlong Class 5 handicap at Hamilton on Tuesday.

Rather more ambitiously, he is also being entered in the Hong Kong Jockey Club Sprint at Ascot on Sunday 30th July and the Stewards Cup at Goodwood on Saturday 5th August. Now this is pushing it a bit. These are two of the richest sprint handicaps in Europe. In 2004, at his peak, he ran a fantastic race off a mark of 90 to be a fast finishing 5th in the Ascot race, and he made the numbers up at Goodwood. It would take a form renaissance of 2004 proportions to get in either race, let alone be in with a chance. In actual fact the plan will be to make the Stewards Cup consolation race on the Friday, which is a race for those balloted out of the Cup itself. That was the race in which Dandy had 12 runners in 2003. Probably an all-time British record?

It is a strange fact that Blacky has never run well for us at Goodwood, though his favourite track in recent years has been Hamilton. At Goodwood his record for us is 5 runs, all unplaced (best was 6th). At Hamilton his record is 5 runs, 2 wins, 1 second and 2 thirds. Why is the contrast strange? Because Hamilton is modelled on Goodwood.

22nd June
Blackheath has gone up 6 lbs in the handicap, to 73, for winning at York. Personally I think that he will do well to get into the frame off this mark but both Timeform and the Racing Post rate the performance comparitively highly, Timeform with a ?. The time was quite good, only 0.5 second slower than Prince Tamino in the William Hill Sprint Trophy.

Here are some more photographs taken at York by Sarah Kirk and her daughters.

Who’s that on the big screen?

18th June
Well how wrong can you be? Blacky won the race. :)
19 of the 20 runners converged down the centre of the course. Blackheath raced in splendid isolation along the stand rail. Silvestre De Sousa rode a very well judged race. He allowed him to bowl along on a long rein, keeping something in reserve. He moved level with the front runners about 2 furlongs out, was soon 2 lengths up, and held on well inside the final furlong.

The only explanation for the success that I can think of is that the overnight watering had got into the worn ground up the centre of the track and that the largely unused ground along the stand rail was slightly faster as a result. I asked Dandy and Ernie Greaves whether Blacky had come down the stand rail because they had found a faster strip from walking the course, but I didn’t get any answers. Dandy was at his most inscrutable.

Knot In Wood who beat Blacky just by a head at Catterick went off the 7/1 second favourite. Blacky was a 22/1 unconsidered outsider thanks to the widely held opinion about the draw advantage on this track. The tables were turned completely around. That is racing for you !!

No matter, the race was thrilling and definitely one of the highlights of Blacky’s career. There was a crowd of 27,000 in attendance for Timeform Charity Day and it was a brilliant day all round. It was Blacky’s 94th race and he has now won over £100,000 in prize money. We hope that he can make it to a double century this year with 100 runs as well.

16th June
Blackheath is drawn 20 of 20. He is not having much luck lately. The best he will manage from that draw is mid div. If he finishes within 4 lengths he will have run very well.

13th June
The disappointment of Friday passes and he is entered at York on Saturday. It is a race in which he came second in 2004. York suits his long extravagant action and the usual fast pace will not go amiss. He is not certain to get in the race, but if he does he will not be far off winning given a centre draw. A high draw close to the stand rail at York is hopeless, as the sprints are invariably fought out down the centre. This is known in racing as a pace bias. It is a phenomena which seems to have most pundits baffled, but has won me a lot of money over the years. Assuming 20 runners anything from draw 3 to 13 will do nicely. The ground is likely to stay fast despite spells of showers sweeping the country.

10th June
Well Blacky ran well on Friday without things going his way. Fergal Lynch the rider of Mr Wolf rode a canny race, waiting in front. Nothing challenged him for the lead and when Joe eventually did so there was only 2 1/2 furlongs to run. Blacky got to about a neck but Fergal had saved enough to make sure we did not get passed. Just to make certain he tried to intimidate Blacky with his whip and probably hit him two or three times on the head or neck. This is a disqualifying offence in some countries, but not here unless it is blatant. Anyway Blacky just weakened in the last 50 yds and let Circuit Dancer and another by. He was only beaten 3/4 length in total, but only fourth. Shame for Dandy and for Sarah’s parents..

8th June
Blacky has a plum draw in stall 2 tomorrow. Inside him in stall 1 is Mr Wolf, who is a fast starter and an habitual speedy front runner. So there is more than a fair chance that Blacky will get an ideal tow through the race, always assuming that he gets a reasonable start, which is not guaranteed. Hopefully Mr Wolf will not make all. :( Circuit Dancer is in stall 4 with Adrian aboard. Let’s hope he keeps out of our way! Joe Fanning is aboard Blacky. Joe is a high class, ‘sympathetic’ jockey, who is ideal for Blacky. Joe rode him when he won the Be Friendly Handicap at Haydock and was just touched off by Native Title in the Ayr Silver Cup.

4th June
Blacky is an intended runner at Catterick on Friday. He is entered in a Class 5 Five furlong handicap, but the more likely race for him is the Sarah Lunn Memorial Stakes, a Class 4 Six furlong handicap. Sarah was an important and popular member of David Nicholls team until tragically killed in a road accident, three years ago. Amongst many other things she looked after the owners at the races. Always full of fun she was a happy smiling face at the track whenever Blacky ran. When I first got involved with Blackheath, she was the one that took me around the stables and introduced me to the dozens of well known sprinters housed in every corner of Tall Trees Farm.
In 2004, the first year her race was run, it was won by Pax. A horse she had bought herself at the sales. Last year Blacky, Pax and Sir Don could not repeat the success. This year a powerful team, Blacky, Circuit Dancer and Native Title, try to keep the race ‘at home’. You can be sure that no effort will be spared to do just that..
 
26th May
He had an entry for Haydock tomorrow, but thankfully he will not be running. The ground is much too soft for him. Opportunities on fast ground will be few and far between for a week or more.

13st May
The old fella ran another excellent race. Unfortunately rain is following him around at the moment and the ground had changed to Good/Soft bordering on Soft at Thirsk. Nevertheless I thought that he was going to win a furlong out. He tracked one of the front runners, Riquewihr, who went into the overall lead with Blacky in her slipstream. When he pulled out approaching the final furlong it looked like he would probably get passed her. Anyway Blacky just weakened in the ground and they were both beaten by the favourite, who came from miles off the pace. The winner Zidane is an interesting horse. He is half brother to Frizzante, winner of the July Cup in 2004. I saw him at Windsor on 11th April, where he looked fantastic in the parade ring; at least two classes better than anything else in that particular race. I expect him to be running in the top sprint handicaps before the season is out. Look out for him and the horse that beat him at Leicester, Swinbrook, especially when there is ease in the ground.
As for Blacky, it is only a matter of time before he gets the ground and draw he needs to chalk up another win. Stablemate Circuit Dancer travelled nicely through the race but was continually blocked by weakening horses. Adrian eased him with over a furlong to go when it became obvious that he was not going to get into contention. He is another horse to follow.

12th May
Blacky runs in the 8.15 at Thirsk tomorrow, Saturday. He has a high draw and the ground is currently Good/Firm which is ideal. There is a lot of rain expected in Yorkshire overnight and tomorrow. By the evening conditions could have gone against him. If the ground does not go softer than Good/Soft he should run a good race. There are two or three who probably have a better chance, stablemate Circuit Dancer for one.

9th May
He is entered at Thirsk on Saturday evening in a 6f handicap. With a high draw, suitable jockey and good, or faster, ground he will have every chance. Though there are a lot of entries and he is not certain to get in the race.

8th May
He ran an excellent race at Hamilton yesterday. Being drawn low turned out to be no disadvantage at all, on the contrary! Eleven of the 16 runners headed for the far rail but the first five home all stayed stand side. Blacky tracked the winner, George The Best, a little way off the stand rail. When that horse kicked 2f out Blacky could not find the pace to go with him, but he stayed on well for 2nd place. A good performance on ground which was on the easy side of good, and not ideal.

Hopefully the apparent draw bias and consequently dubious form will persuade the handicapper not to raise him in the handicap.

He will not race at Catterick tomorrow.
 
5th May
He is in the 6f handicap at Hamilton on Sunday. Unfortunately he has a low draw. It is usually best to be drawn high at Hamilton, and often vital. If the ground stays fast it may be OK. Rain is forecast.
He is also entered in a 5f handicap at Catterick on Tuesday. He may run in both but I would doubt it.

1st May
Entries in a Class 4 5f handicap at Thirsk on Saturday and a Class 5 6f handicap at Hamilton on Sunday. The Hamilton race looks the more likely of the two.

30th April
He ran a fair race at Ripon. Quick out of the stall but pecked a bit. He was front rank briefly, but Adrian took him back, Blacky pulling for his head. 10 of the 17 runners went far side, but the best pace was stand side. Soon Blacky had only three behind him overall, 5 lengths off of the lead, which was no good at all. He made some ground midrace, but could not make up more than 2 or 3 lengths. He finished fourth of the far side group, perhaps eighth overall.

Blacky does not have the pace for these tactics on a sharp track. His only hope was to go from the stalls, grab the far rail and hope to steal a length or two.

He will probably go down another 2 lb in the handicap.

28th April
Blacky runs at Ripon tomorrow, Saturday, in the 5.10. The ground is Good, Good to Firm in places which is fine. He has a good draw in 19, one off of the far rail. He could possibly make the pace on that side. He did so when 5th in the 2003 Great St. Wilfred. He has never gone close in 9 runs for Adrian, which is perhaps the main negative.

24th April
Blacky is entered for two 5f handicaps. At Ripon on Saturday and at Brighton on Sunday. Ripon is drying out and the ground is almost certain to be fast at Brighton. I always think he is at his very best on smooth flat or uphill tracks. Ripon has the ripples, which are not ideal, and Brighton is like a big dipper. Both are tracks where the draw can be important. I would not really fancy him at Brighton.

21st April
He ran better than I expected yesterday. From the times recorded over the sprint track the ground was not as soft as the official description would lead you to believe.

The inexperienced apprentice lost Blacky his chance at the start. It is a tricky enough job for experienced jockeys to take the blindfold off at exactly the right moment, an instant before the stalls open. Blacky gets excited in the stalls and a blindfold is usually required. He went in last and Victoria Behan did not get organised quickly enough. She was grabbing for the blind as the stalls opened and Blacky did what any sensible horse would, he declined to shoot out of the stall blind. He actually reared and lost 4 or 5 lengths. He caught up the ground very quickly but of course he had no chance in the later stages finishing 9th of 18. Again this was encouraging and he will probably drop another 2lb in the handicap, which would put him on 68. He won off 67 last year.

19th April
Blacky is in the field for the Ripon race at 5.35 tomorrow, Thursday. The ground is now Good to Soft but with more rain expected today and tomorrow. He is drawn 3 which would be good on a fast surface. As it is the ground and draw are against him.

16th April
Entered in a 5f Apprentice Handicap at Ripon on Thursday. He is likely to run although the ground is currently described as Soft and Heavy in places. This would not suit him so it will have to dry up a lot for him to have a chance. As ever at Ripon a draw near either rail is essential and assuming the ground will be on the easy side the far rail (high numbers) will probably be best, if there is a large field for the race. Banjo Bay is also entered.

Late March
There are not many opportunities for him on suitable ground.

17th March
Blacky starts his 2006 season in a 6f Class 4 handicap at Lingfield on the Polytrack. It is his 88th career start but his first on an All Weather surface. He is very keen early, but slots in to track stablemate Handsome Cross. On the home turn he gets a nice gap, as a few run wide, and looks a danger approaching the final furlong. Lack of peak fitness then tells and he comes home a promising 6th beaten three lengths by the winner Saviours Spirit.
Beforehand Dandy said that he thinks he has plenty of life in him yet. You begin to worry that he will not be able to keep going at the age of 10. I leave the track happy that he still seems competitive and can have another good season.