14th September

Something has had a month off since Wolverhampton and is being aimed at the Ayr Silver Cup on Saturday. In three of the last four years a rating of 93 would have been high enough to get in the Ayr Gold Cup, but as he is 46th in the list and the safety limit is 27 it seems unlikely that he will get into the Gold Cup. Normally at this time of year the going would be too soft for him but Ayr is in the middle of a dry spell and the going is gradually getting faster. Currently it is described as Good/Soft (Soft in places) Going Stick 6.0 but with no rain forecast, at least until Friday, the going should be no slower than Good by the weekend.

The bare form of his Wolverhampton run does not look like much but a combination of the bad draw and Adrian’s riding had him in a poor position all the way to the straight. Jaconet has already boosted the form and I expect Prescription to be one of the favourites whether she runs in the Gold or Silver Cup.

15th August

Something is declared for the 3.15 at Wolverhampton on Monday. Unfortunately he has a bad draw in stall 12 of 13 and Adrian is riding.

The only horse with a worse draw is the likely warm favourite, the Mark Prescott trained Prescription. Prescription is a lightly raced 4YO Pivotal filly, who was also a late foal, so every reason to expect her to be improving rapidly. Not that she needs to improve judged on her 3 length plus win at Lingfield. Against that result I put *** Impressive. Likely winner with a penalty.

12th August

Dandy has taken out all three of his from the Phoenix Sprint Stakes, so it looks unlikely that Something will run in Ireland on Saturday. Instead he is entered in the Class 3 Soldiers Charity Handicap at Wolverhampton on Monday where he would be topweight.


10th August

Something put the York stinker behind him and ran well on the Wednesday of Glorious Goodwood. Trying to sneak up the rail, having travelled nicely behind the leaders, he was hampered and pushed onto the rail first by Celtic Sultan and later by
Proclaim. It was a typical Goodwood tale of what might have been. He was 5th, but at a guess I would say that he would have been 3rd without the interference, although it is possible that he could almost have won it.

Surprisingly he has been entered for a six furlong handicap at Dundalk on Saturday 15th. Dundalk has an All Weather Polytrack surface. Only the other day I had a half-hearted look in the Programme Book for suitable 6f and 7f races on Polytrack in
England, so I was obviously not the only person thinking along these lines. Finding him fast going on turf is becoming increasingly difficult in these days of overwatering, but Polytrack only gets faster when the rain falls and he has already won three times on Polytrack. Dandy has three entered in the Phoenix Sprint Stakes at The Curragh on Sunday, so the plan must be for Something to accompany whichever out of Inxile, Masta Plasta and Tax Free goes over for the Group race.

Here is a photo Tim sent me the other day of Something at Dandy’s posing nicely for Kate.



and here are a couple of photos of Something at Goodwood







27th July

He ran a complete stinker in the Sky Bet Dash. Neither Paul Quinn nor Alex Greaves were able to throw any light on the reason why. Having looked to be travelling OK to halfway, tucked away in the main pack three quarters of the way back and following the winner Knot In Wood, Something made limited headway but soon weakened. Paul was very easy on him from there on and he trailed in a tailed off last.

The stable is not dwelling on that and Something is declared on Wednesday for the 5.45 EBF Kennels Classified Stakes over 7f at Goodwood. It is a 0-95 rated race so it is a good choice for Something from that point of view. Whether he will get his ground is another matter. He does go well downhill and has a high draw, which can be important over 7f at Goodwood.

How well will he run? Answers on a postcard please.

23rd July

Something is in the Sky Bet Dash. He is drawn 2 of 20, which is OK particularly as two of Dandy’s who like to front run, Tajneed and Striking Spirit, are in stalls 3 and 4. The other front runners, Valery Borzov and Pusey Street Lady, are drawn 11 and 12. The middle of the track is always the place to race at York and it is easier to get there from a middle to low draw.

Paul Quinn rides, which is good, as he gets on well with Something and is likely to ride patiently. The main worry, as at Epsom, is that he might get too far back.

The going is currently Good (Good/Soft in places)(GS 6.9) with Good/Soft in the last three furlongs of the straight. There will probably be some showers tomorrow, but the ground is steadily drying out and Saturday is forecast to be a fine sunny day. So there is every hope for Good ground for the race. Plenty of the field would prefer it softer than that including Valery Borzov, Biniou, Roker Park, Tajneed, Mullein, Viking Spirit, Kaldoun Kingdom and Damika.

The current market is exceptionally open at 9/1 the field, with Something’s odds at 12/1 with Bet£3.65, Skybet and Stan James.
If it dries up some more and if he runs like he did at Epsom he should stand a good chance.

Something is also due to run at Glorious Goodwood on any of three days. He is entered in The Kennels EBF Classfied Stakes (0-95 Class 2) over 7f on the Wednesday, as well as the Steward’s Cup on the Saturday, and failing that the consolation Steward’s Stakes race on Friday. It could be a busy week.

22nd July

An entry has been made in the Sky Bet Dash to be run at York on Saturday. It is a six furlong Heritage Handicap with a £50,000 prize fund. So half the value of the Steward’s Cup. At present the going at York is Good/Soft and it would need to dry out for Something to have a good chance. The safety limit is 20 and at No.14 he is sure to get in.

A win would result in a 3lb penalty for Goodwood without which it will be a close thing as to whether he gets in the Steward’s Cup or not, just as it was for the Wokingham and Bunbury Cup. At present the 95 rated horses are 33 to 38 on the list but there are a few who now have penalties (eg Biniou, Roker Park, Striking Spirit, Mac Gille Eoin) that push him down the list. If you are in the top 40 at this stage you have a fighting chance of getting in.

I have mixed feelings about the Sky Bet Dash, partly because of the likely going and partly because it could possibly reduce his chance in the Steward’s Cup. But I’d rather have a go at York than in the Consolation Race at Goodwood. Something is 12/1 joint third favourite for the Sky Bet Dash, and also joint third favourite for the Steward’s Cup on 16/1.


28th June at The Curragh

5th in a photo with the 3rd and 4th. A good effort in the conditions. Travelled smoothly tracking the leaders. Adrian got busy too early as usual, with an exaggerated switch to the right. He looked like he might pick up the leaders but two came from behind him to finish first and second. Fingers crossed that the handicapper will leave him where he is.

28th June noon

Something runs in the Scurry Premier Handicap at the Curragh today, at 2.40. It is a 6f 63yd race which seems ideal.
He is drawn in stall 1 up against the stand rail, which is usually the place to be. At around noon he is trading at 9/2 a warm favourite in a 20 runner race worth 45,000 Euros to the winner.

So what am I doing here at home on my computer tapping this out. The plan had been to go over to Ireland for the weekend and we had booked a hotel and checked with the stables that he was a runner. I was about to complete a booking for the car ferry when news about the going came through. The Clerk of the Course had annoyingly been putting on 4mm each day and John Oxx (Sea The Stars) had described the going in the straight as Dead despite the Good/Firm description. Anyway on top of this very iffy going The Curragh had heavy rain on Friday morning amounting to 12mm. Something does not act on Soft ground and in my opinion is very dubious on anything softer than Good. So as far as I am concerned the Clerk of the Course’s watering followed by rain has probably killed Something’s chance of winning. Many punters clearly do not agree.

Anyway this unnecessary watering, made me so angry (bearing in mind last years Steward’s Cup debacle) that going over for the weekend was no longer an attractive proposition. So there you have it. The Curragh is starting to dry out. Yesterday’s races on the straight suggested a going between Good/Soft and Soft. Today the best it will be is on the Good side of Good/Soft.

If he was 20/1 he would be a bet, with that handicap mark, the draw and the ideal distance in his favour. Dandy won this race with Machinist in 2007 and came 2nd with Northern Dare last year so knows what it takes. On the negative side are the going, the often impatient Adrian riding, the travelling and possibly the quick run after Ascot when some believe he is best fresh. I fear he will fade in the ground and haven’t had a penny on him. I only hope that I am wrong. It would be wonderful to win a big race with him whether we are there or not. He is surely capable of that when conditions are right.


28th June - Buckingham Palace Stakes, Royal Ascot on 19th June

Comments to follow








18th June

A weird situation has arisen. More were withdrawn from the Wokingham than was expected. Something is 30th on the list. Ascot has adopted reserves for the big handicaps, three reserves. So we are second reserve for the Wokingham, provisionally drawn in 11. Reserves do not often get a run. It needs horses to drop out in the next 24 hours I think. The chances of two dropping out are very slim. Dandy has four horses in the race proper - Evens And Odds, Joseph Henry, Striking Spirit and Van Bossed.

17th June

He is safely in the 48 hour decs for the Buckingham Palace Stakes. Drawn 31 of 32 he is right over the far side. the 32 includes three reserves. I have no idea whether being drawn on the far rail is good, bad or indifferent at this point, but he is not drawn far from Celtic Sultan (25) who is a natural front runner so the pace his side should be good. Swift Gift, who won the Victoria Cup from stall 29 of 29 is nearby in 26. Adrian is riding.

An entry has also been made for the Steward’s Cup.

16th June

Despite the fact that he is most unlikely to get in Something’s odds have shortened a touch more. He is now 12/1 third favourite behind High Standing and Jimmy Styles. Royal Ascot started off more or less on Good ground, which is being called Good/Firm.. Some light rain is expected on Wednesday which should stop the CoC from watering. There was no obvious draw bias though a number of horses racing near the stand rail did well including Cesare, Aqlaam, Fleeting Spirit, Anglezark, Fratellino and Di Stefano.

15th June

19 withdrawals from the Wokingham including a dozen of the top 50. However despite being first out of the hat of the 93 rated horses Something is still only 44th in the list with no realistic chance of getting into the final 28. Having calculated my ratings this morning I think that Something would have had a wonderful chance. If only!! High Standing, needs four to come out. There are three at the top of the handicap also in the Golden Jubilee and some others with alternative engagements, so with average luck the favourite should get in.

14th June

An entry has been made in the Buckingham Palace Stakes. Something is 14th on the list with a safety limit of 29.

The five day decs for the Wokingham come out today which will give a clearer picture of whether there is any chance of him getting in it. Usually not more than 10 drop out after that and the number of dropouts last year was very small. Something is currently fourth in the betting with a variation of price from 11/1 Stan James to 16/1 Coral and Totesport. As it is possible three of the four favourites could be eliminated on Thursday the market may be due for a shakeup. So now would be a good time to back one that is sure to get in, if you have one in mind.

9th June

The handicapper raised Baldemar 5lb, Mac Gille Eoin 4lb and Something 2lb which means for rating purposes the Handicapper has assumed that Something would have been closer. He is not in a position to assume that Something would have won, as giving horses that lose more weight than the ones that win would bring massive criticism and cries of unfairness. So he has taken a middle course.

After the race Something’s ante-post odds for the Wokingham contracted from 25/1 into 16/1, fifth favourite. He is still, of course, on a rating of 93 for the Wokingham and equal 55th on the list. 28 get in. The most likely cut-off point is 95 or 96. Stakes on ante-post bets are returned when a horse is balloted out, i.e is declared to run but eliminated on rating/ballot position in the list. If by some freak he got in and the going was Good or faster I think he would probably go off favourite.

Captain Dunne’s rating has gone up to 100.

7th June - Investec Distinctive Stakes, Epsom, Derby Day, June 6th

Something is steadily getting back to the level he was at two years ago when he finished a close third to Assertive and Borderlescott in a Listed race at Windsor, followed by placed efforts in the Wokingham and Bunbury Cup off 102 and 104. Although he was only third in the race yesterday he probably would have won with a clear run, and that following a far from ideal passage through the race. Afterwards David Nicholls reaction was to say that he couldn’t bear to watch the race again.

Epsom is a tricky place to get the tactics right in 6f handicap sprints. Horses rarely make all. The effort required to take the lead and the long straight see to that. The field get spread out down the hill and it is usually difficult for a hold up horse to come from any distance back. The best place to be is tracking the leaders, but any hesitation or trouble early is likely to result in a position too far back. The plan for Something was to hold him up in touch. He was keen early, keener still having got a bump and never really settled. Entering the straight he had six lengths or more to make up. However he did that pretty easily to be tracking the leaders with nowhere to go 2f out. Once or twice it looked like a gap may open but it didn’t and having gone for a gap that closed, between the winner and second, Paul Quinn pulled back and switched, too late to have another chance. If a gap had opened I am sure he would have won. He was travelling powerfully, and better than anything else in the race from 2f out.

Even at face value this was still a useful performance. Baldemar, the winner, raced from 82, 2lb below his last winning mark (highest career mark 90), and Mac Gille Eoin on 90 (highest career mark 100) was 3lb below his last winning mark. Both must have come back to their best. Mutamared in fifth place and Aye Aye Digby who was held in and would have been a couple of lengths closer were probably not far off their recent successful form, and they finished 4 1/2 lengths behind the winner. Also the time was good. The handicapper is unlikely to rate Something at the level that the performance is really worth and I expect Baldemar to go up about 5lb, Mac Gille Eoin 4lb and Something just 1lb. He may even leave Something on his present mark.

There are perhaps three options for the next run. The Wokingham, which he is most unlikely to get in, which is Saturday week. The other Royal Ascot option, the Buckingham Palace Stakes on Friday week. The third option now being considered is the Scurry Stakes, a 6f 63yd Premier (Heritage) Handicap run at The Curragh on Irish Derby day, Sunday 28th June. This is a race worth around £45,000 to the winner in which Dandy had success with Machinist in 2007, followed by a 2nd with Northern Dare in 2008. The main worry with this idea is the possibility of soft going in Ireland.

Below some photos of Something on Derby Day.

With six horses to saddle the team had their work cut out. Alex saddles Something.



I dislike the plaited mane and tail look but there is no doubt he is a big powerful horse who takes the eye in the paddock



Coming back after the race



Something is not fussed at all after a fairly easy race from his point of view. For four years he was trained at Epsom.
I wonder if he recognised the old place?



Lastly a word for Captain Dunne who thrilled the Derby Day crowd with his exceptional speed in the Dash only to be caught close home by Indian Trail. I have a feeling that The Captain is going to be Middleham Park’s best ever horse and in the next year or two he will have left handicap company behind. Further success looks assured particularly when the mud is flying.


4th June

Something is declared to run at Epsom. Although I haven’t seen the decs yet I expect to see Mac Gille Eoin installed as a warm favourite. He won it last year off 93, and appears to have been trained for a repeat win this year off a favourable mark of 90. MacGille Eoin goes particularly well at downhill tracks like Goodwood and Epsom. Recent runs at Newmarket have probably just been teeing him up for this. Nevertheless I expect to see Something quite well supported in the betting. He has good form around Lingfield All Weather which has similar gradients and bends to Epsom. The weather could be a factor. Current forecasts show at least some showers on Friday but possibily more persistent rain thereafter.

2nd June

Things have been a bit quiet because Something developed a rash. But it could soon get much busier. Firstly he is in the Wokingham Handicap at Royal Ascot on Saturday 20th. On a rating of 93 he is unlikely to get in. Last year a record high rating of 98, 99 to be certain, was required. The year before the cut off was 95, 96 to be certain. It is hard to see the cut-off being any lower unless the going went very soft, in which case he would not have a hope anyway.

So Plan B for Royal Ascot is the Buckingham Palace Stakes. This is the 7f 0-105 Heritage handicap which completes the card on Friday. David Nicholls won it last year with Regal Parade, with Middleham Park’s Dhaular Dhar second.

But before all that Something is entered at Epsom on Derby Day. This is in the 6f 0-100 handicap that traditionally brings Derby Day to a finish. Dandy has a good record in the race winning it four years running from 2002 to 2005 with Onlytime Will Tell, Loyal Tycoon, Native Title and Gift Horse. He usually has several runners in the race (9 of the 28 entries this year) but his best have only finished third in the last three years. In 2004 both Blackheath and Banjo Bay ran in this race and for me it has always been a bit of a sprint highlight.

7th May

It is not to be the Victoria Cup either. Personally I prefer the plan outlined below on the 1st May.

6th May

The betting for the Victoria Cup has settled down with Evens And Odds favourite at 8/1, Prescription 10/1, and last year’s winner Zaahid at 11/1. Something is 14/1.

4th May

Another plan. He is entered for the Victoria Cup to be run at Ascot on Saturday at 2.15 pm. It is a 7 furlong Heritage Handicap with a prize fund of £85,000. Something is 17th in the weights so guaranteed a run. Pinpoint was 4th in the Victoria Cup in 2006. The race should suit Something if he is settled as at Kempton. Dandy also has Evens And Odds entered. He was impressive yesterday at Newmarket and would be several lbs well in carrying a penalty.

1st May

The Wokingham Handicap closes on 19th May. Something’s current mark is now 93. Last year you needed to be on 98 or higher to get into the Wokingham. Winners after 23rd May carry a 5lb penalty. So that could be a plan. A win after 23rd. There is a 6f Class 2 Handicap at Newmarket on the 24th. There is also an All Weather Conditions Stakes switched from Great Leighs to Lingfield on the 27th.

20th April

No. He is not running at Kempton on Wednesday.

16th April

It is possible that Something will quickly return to the scene of his recent triumph. He is entered in the Digibet Handicap, a Class 3 seven furlong race to be run at Kempton at 8.50 on Wednesday 22nd April.

15th April

Something has been raised 5lb for winning, putting him on 93.

12th April - Oddschecker.com Casino and Poker Room Handicap at Kempton on Saturday 11th April

Something had fallen off the radar of most of the punters who have been stalking him for the last season and a half. 33/1 was available in the morning, but with his good record fresh and with two wins from two runs over seven furlongs on Polytrack there was more than an outside chance that Something would be a contender. Particularly as he was now 17lb below the 105 high mark which followed his narrow defeat in the 2007 Bunbury Cup. Neither the jockey booking of journeyman Paul Quinn nor stall 5 seemed reasons for particular optimism. Though Paul had been riding Something at home, which was a plus.

In the race Something was a bit keen early but Paul settled him into second last place on the rail with the minimum of fuss. The pace was strong and he travelled nicely through the race. Halfway through the final turn Paul started looking for a chance to pull off the rail. There wasn’t one so he opted for a dash up the inside as the rail cut back 2f from home. Something picked up well and was soon passing the favourite Flowing Cape. Whilst he got a dream run he did make up ground quickly getting to the front 1f out. He then stayed on well pressed by Benandonner and a flick of the ears at one point suggested that he was not flat out.

So joy that Something has got a win for us on the board. The time was good, and the form probably a little better than the winning distances and bare numbers suggest. Paul Quinn did an excellent job, and he and Dandy both thought that Something would improve for the run. The plan is likely to be the Wokingham, though to get in that race takes a handicap mark in the high 90s these days.

Some photos of the day -








6th April

Something is entered in the Oddschecker.com Casino and Poker Room Handicap a Class 2 7 furlong All Weather race scheduled for 3.45 on Easter Saturday. It is a strong card which includes two listed races and two Class 2 handicaps. 22 entries have been made. 16 are above Something in the handicap, but as 16 can run he is virtually certain to get in. Two stablemates Fathsta and Joseph Henry are also down to run. We could do with a high draw.

27th March

Unfortunately he missed getting into the race by one !! Two of the horses alloted the same weight are in. It is a pity because there will not be another Class 2 or 3 6f handicap for older horses for about three weeks. And the Good/Firm going would have suited him. Much better in fact than the other Middleham Park horse, Turnkey, that did get in. Curses.

23rd March

Something is entered in the Williamhill.com-Play Betlive TV Handicap, Class 3, 6f, at Doncaster on Sunday 29th March. There are 42 entries, 30 above him in the handicap and a safety limit of 20. So he is by no means guaranteed to get in the race, but I expect he will, if left in. Dandy has eight other entries in the race, and is obviously seeking to start the turf season with a bang after having five winners on the All-Weather in the last three days.

1st March

Apparently Something’s preparation for the new season is going well. There is a possibility that he will be out at Doncaster at the end of the month. That depends on whether he gets any serious work over the next three weeks. If he makes Doncaster he will probably need the run, as is typical of Dandy’s runners. Mind you, there are always exceptions and I well remember getting a shock when Proud Native won at Donnie first time out in 1998.