George Baker's Blog

Stephen Hester being portrayed as some sort of pariah figure by Miliband and his cronies......

Hester forced into a corner. And forced into relinquishing his bonus. Clearly a capable man. Clearly an exceptionally bright banking brain. Clearly a diligent, determined and resourceful leader.....

But because Miliband and his like, chips hanging off each shoulder, spy a "soft target", Mr Hester is thrust unfairly into an unfair situation.....

Mr Miliband, have you looked at the bigger picture ? We, the taxpayer, own a massive chunk of RBS. As a shareholder, I am keen that companies that I "invest" in (for choice, or otherwise) are managed by the best. The clearest heads. The wisest minds. Men and women with the skill and acumen of Stephen Hester......

Now what happens ?? Mr Hester, I should imagine, will be out of RBS as soon as he can possibly extricate himself. To head up an organisation where he is appreciated. And where every sentence of his contract is not pored over by politicians and journalists alike. As shareholders, we will lose a good man....

And who on earth will replace him ?? They are not exactly going to be queuing up across the Square Mile for this position. "Mr Banker, your bonus will be X. Unless political pressure deems otherwise. In which case an embarrassing and very public charade will be played out across the media and the back benches...."

Alluring ?? Methinks not. Short termist points scoring from the "chippy" has endangered the long term performance of what, for better or worse, is an asset that we all have a stake in. Short termist. And petty. And typical....

To attract and retain the best people, it is required that the most alluring of salary packages and bonuses are available. Basic business sense. RBS will struggle now. Hester will be gone, a good man lost to the political whims of the left. And many of the other senior executives will probably, as I write, be considering their future......

Tom Bradby, the ITN correspondent, summed it up perfectly via Twitter yesterday. "If the Board sets the pay of leading execs, it's a bank. If politicians do, it's a government department".....

A ridiculous points scoring exercise, without regard or thought for the longer term. But that, I guess, is what politics is so often about. Sad, mad, bad.....

Frozen out there this morning. But clear. A lovely morning for a run. If there can ever be such a thing. A couple of people whose lives have been entwined with the fabric of racing in this country have made an extraordinarily generous sponsorship donation. Which has polarised the mind.......

Not a lot. Not exactly "whiteout Whitsbury". But the first we have seen down here for a while. A bleak and chilly forecast for the week ahead. The betting shop fodder of the allweather likely to be to the fore. How exciting....??!!

The Baker family away to Shropshire for a couple of days over the weekend. A beautiful and stunning part of the country. To stay with David and Angie Loder. To make a plan or two for the summer ahead.....

A walk yesterday morning atop the "Long Mynd" (not sure of the spelling). A little hazy, and bitterly cold, but some inspiring countryside looking east to the Welsh mountains. Clean air. And a remarkable drive down off the top dropping into Church Stretton. This island of ours has some incredible and diverse landscapes. And, mercifully, many of them still very unspoilt, as yet untouched by the wind turbine or the planner's notepad......

An excellent lunch in the Village Pub at Barnsley on the way home. Near Cirencester. The rare roast beef hitting the spot.....

Some weekend of sport. First the ugly. England belittled and humiliated by Pakistan. The bowlers creating a match winning situation. Good to see Monty to the fore. But then the batsmen looking more "village" than Test standard, prodding and poking their way to ignominy. Strauss and Cook prompting the collective attitude by failing to attack the target from the outset. Still the Number One team in the world. But vulnerable, very vulnerable, in the sub-continent .....

QPR losing by a single, soft goal to Chelsea in the FA Cup. "Soft" because the penalty that split the teams should not have been awarded. That may sound like a blinkered and jingoistic remark from a QPR supporter, but this was one call that the referee got badly wrong.....

Manchester United succumbing to a late Dirk Kuyt strike at Anfield. Crawley and Stevenage keeping a little of the "romance" of the Cup alive.......

Melbourne. Some tennis match. One of the greatest ever ?? Just shy of 6 hours. A cliche, I know, but neither Nadal nor Djokovic deserving to leave the court a loser. Sport of the highest intensity and skill.....

And in Abu Dhabi, Robert Rock defying the likes of Tiger and Rory to secure his second European Tour title. Robert, like us, sponsored by BBT Financial services. And great to see the logo carried aboard our horses in a prominent place on "Rocky's" shirt as he received his trophy. Robert admitted to huge nerves early on. But then realised that he could "do this". And do it he did !!!!!

Hurricane Fly looking the real deal. Again. Furious with myself for not availing myself of an antepost price before yesterday, as the Champion Hurdle looks like a "penalty kick" now.....

Still quiet on the runners front. But very busy around the yards. The work being cranked up. The turf season on the horizon. Time flying. As ever......

Valerie back to Dubai. Missing out on this morning's snow. I bet she is gutted.....

Belgian Bill running a little flat. Ted Durcan not sure that he handled his first run on the "dirt"......

We will freshen him up. And he will bounce back......

Off to the airport. A long way to come to finish 7th. But racing does not give up it's favours easily...

To get out to Meydan to see Humidor work under Shane Foley before the sun rose. Some sight, this vast Grandstand lit by the floodlights as a red sun appears on the horizon. Several horses working in the half light, but nothing near as busy as an American track at the same hour......

This is the appointed time for the International horses. Joe riding Humidor down the dirt track from the stables, and then through the subway that leads out onto the dirt track. Where Shane was waiting to be legged aboard. Before breezing Humidor, quickening off the home bend and up the straight.....

A fine sight. I took some photos. A couple of which I "tweeted" onto Twitter. It will not be long before I am putting photographs on this blog on a daily basis, which I hope will add a little colour to my turgid prose.....

Clive Cox here to see his horses work. And Brian Meehan. And a few other familiar faces from further afield. Some wise old work riders. Some weather beaten faces. A similar scene played out every day on a number of global racecourses. Very different to back home, but a certain allure to it. I remember from my time on the "backstretch" with Clancy in Saratoga that there is a particular camaraderie that comes with this "job". The shared experience of working at dawn. The opportunity to see how others go about their jobs. The reverential silence as work watchers peer into the gloom to pick out the tell-tale markings of a particular superstar. Selling platers working at the same time as global champions......

As I said, a definite "allure" to the half light of dawn. In a place like this. Great to be involved. A privilege to be involved. To have horses good enough to be here. I just hope that Belgian Bill and Humidor continue to do us proud......

From everybody I meet out here, nothing but the highest praise for the manner in which Valerie has overseen our horses' preparations. No surprise there......

Dinner last night with Kim Smith-Bingham (www.niagaraequissage.com) and Julia Delves Broughton (Christie's International UK). Which sounds a bit like the start of a Bertie Wooster tale. But was great fun. After a drink with several of TLNCK's owners. Who are still your owners, I promise Kim.....

Most of them headed to Meydan tonight. Belgian Bill runs in the 4th. The nerves beginning to kick in. I do get very nervous, whenever we have runners. Be it downtown Dunstall or downtown Dubai. It would be dull if our runners became "just another horserace". Important to be nervous, because I believe that nerves polarise the mind, and ensure that one concentrates on the job in hand. I very rarely watch a horserace with our owners, preferring instead to head to my favoured spot alone (I have one on most courses - a place from where I have shouted home winners...).

Not sure where I will be watching from tonight. Not quite in the Henrietta Knight "Ladies Loo" bracket. But not far off it......

Good luck Bill !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The overnight flight in, a quick stop at my hotel, and then out to "The International Stables" to see Belgian Bill and Humidor. And of course Joe. Who is here for 10 days whilst Valerie reacquaints herself with the English weather......

My taxi driver struggling with the route. Which, I am lead to believe, is par for the course. For a while, I thought we were going to be stranded forever in the vast underground car park at Meydan Racecourse. A car park that is quite easy to disappear down into. Less easy to extricate ourselves from....

When my taxi driver (his English was very limited, and so sign language took over - I think he thinks I am Frankie Dettori....) eventually re-emerged into the light of day, we parked to ask a security guard for directions. A security guard who suddenly turned into a demented chicken, rushing up and down the area where we had parked with arms flailing in all directions......

It transpired that we had parked in a spot where only "His Highness" is allowed to park. It was just a shade of odds against that HRH would want to park outside a deserted racecourse on a Wednesday morning, but our security "friend" was taking no chances. I half expect to be on the front page of tomorrow's local paper......

Eventually, we pulled up outside the International Stables. Which was a relief. And great to see the two horses in such exalted surroundings, and both clearly in rude health....

England playing cricket down the road in Abu Dhabi. But nothing on TV. A lot of local football, quite a lot of channels devoted to "chanting", Robert Redford taking on the Viet Cong, and MTV. The only cricket being shown, bizarrely, is a repeat of last summer's Lords Test between England and Sri Lanka. Which seems a little strange. England are 61 for 1 in their 2nd innings, leading by 68. I have no idea what is going on down the road, but I can tell you that Trott and Cook are looking pretty secure last summer.....

4 to Trott. Lead by 72. Quite fun being half a year behind the rest of the world......

To Warwick yesterday. For lunch with Andy Luckhurst of BBT Financial Services, our yard sponsor. Andy and BBT have been massive supporters of ours from the outset. BBT also sponsor PGA Golf Professionals Robert Rock and Paul Broadhurst......

A fun and eclectic gathering. A 2-year-old sold to new owners, and another couple of horses leased to a new syndicate. The Saxon Mill, a favoured haunt in the Moreton Morrell days, providing a fine lunch. As ever.....

No runners here for a day or two. But Belgian Bill an intended runner in Dubai on Thursday. The Emirates Racing website "off piste" first thing this morning, so I have yet to have sight of the opposition or, importantly, the draw. More later. I hope.....

Still undecided as to whether I will head out there tonight. We will see how today goes. But I guess it may be a decent opportunity as we will get busier and busier over the next few weeks.....

A busy morning here. Lady Cobham and Giles and Felicity Irwin here to see their Sakhees Secret filly canter. Jeremy Gompertz to see his Notnowcato filly. And Marcus Locock here with some of the syndicate he has put together for the Bahamian Bounty 2-year-old, Bountybeamadam. Well named.....

Yesterday, we sat down to Christmas lunch. Turkey. With all the "trimmings".......

I cannot stand the word "trimmings". I am not quite sure why I am so anti this inconsequential little word, but it is right up there on my hate list, alongside "moist" and "choice". We all have our little foibles.....

Christmas lunch because Valerie is home from Dubai. Not for long. For ten days or so, before she heads back east to mastermind the campaigns of Humidor and Belgian Bill......

Dan, Adam, John and Keith (a fellow QPR man) with us through the morning yesterday. To see George Baker canter with his 2-year-old full sister. Who is to be named Petite Georgia......

Candida to Wincanton on Saturday. Peter and Jo Earl in attendance to watch Not So Sure Dick run a fantastic race in the 0-130 Badger Ales Handicap Chase. NSSD rated 105, and this had been no more than a tentative entry earlier in the week. But as declaration time on Friday morning approached, it was clear that we would sneak into the bottom of the handicap. A competitive contest, for sure, but no "handicap blots" lurking. And with Trevor Whelan's 7 pound claim, Dick attractively weighted......

A fine effort to chase up the progressive Hunt Ball, the rest of the field floundering in our wake. NSSD's jumping immaculate, which has not always been the case, but, as if with Oscar Close, his confidence is improving with each outing........

The handicapper will have his say tomorrow. I hope he is not too unkind......

A remarkable afternoon on the football pitch yesterday. Between the Turkey and the Christmas pudding, I caught the odd glimpse of some pretty extraordinary action. Defoe's miss consigning Tottenham to being "also ran's" this season, the title now firmly embedded in Manchester soil. Which way will it go ?? City in the driving seat. But United, as ever, refusing to go away. It just could be an epic.........

A quiet week on the runners front. February the lull before the storm of the Flat season kicks into gear. The 2-year-olds continuing their progress. The older horses all back in work. Numerically, our strongest team yet. Which guarantees nothing. But much hope abounds around the place that there might be one or two good enough to follow in the hoofprints of Humidor and Belgian Bill......

Bill a possible runner on Thursday at Meydan. On the allweather. Which we know from his run in Turkey that he will handle. I am half thinking of heading out there. We will at some point. Maybe half-term with Barney and Tallulah in tow as "work riders".........

And finally.........

Kim Bailey. TLNCK...............??????

A couple of guesses. A nose or two mentioned.......

THE LONG NOSED COMEBACK KID..........

A lot of water (in fact, a tsunami or two....) has passed under several bridges (for both of us...) since we sat together, in company with Candida, long into a dark Huntingdon evening. A bottle of whisky to hand.......

If we had all had the chance to see 5 or 6 years ahead to the present, I reckon we would both more than have settled for where we find ourselves today......

Kim away from his depressing Preston Capes base, to a renaissance at Andoversford. Us to Whitsbury. That would have been a pretty long priced double, that gloomy night at Huntingdon....

TLNCK. Far too polite............!!

Is a very long way from here. Another day in the car, but actually a much easier drive than many of the journeys we undertake. And once you drive off the M5, one heads through some stunning country. Some great views away to Wales and beyond.........

And always a warm welcome (and a plate of stunning rare beef) when you get there. The Chairman of the course, Willie Jenks, a good friend. And epitomising what the role of Chairman should entail. Free of all petty pomposities, Willie is a welcoming and congenial host. Far removed from several Racecourse Board Directors who, upon appointment, evolve into arrogance personified.......

Lunch with Paul and Diane Hennessey, awaiting the arrival of Wayne from training at Molineux. Barney with me. Not well at school the previous day. A bit of bracing Shropshire air putting the colour back in his cheeks (a sentence which, when re-read, sounds a little Victorian......?!). Wayne arriving in the paddock for Oscar Close's race. A decent gathering to greet Trevor Whelan, bolstered by the presence of David and Angie Loder. David has been to four racecourses since he gave up training - Meydan, Ascot, Ludlow, and I forget the 4th (maybe Aintree...). Ludlow a little "off piste" for him.....!!

Oscar running a fine race, under a welter weight. The handicapper forced our hand, but Oscar in no way disgraced in 4th place. In fact, I am thrilled with the horse. His jumping was exemplary, and he attacked his fences with real zest. Hopefully, the mental stains of his Ffos Las fall now a distant memory. Unlucky not to be second yesterday, as he was squeezed up after the last, and his career firmly back on track after a blip or two. He will be freshened up now before we go to war off his new mark (115).

Wayne interviewed at every turn. Signing many an autograph. The walk from the unsaddling enclosure to the Director's Room taking an age. But once inside, Wayne "interviewed" again by Wolves supporters Willie Jenks and David Minton. Nicky Henderson producing the comment of the day, tongue firmly in cheek. "Blimey - you are tall enough to be a Goalkeeper....."

Down at Lingfield, Candida with Adrian Coleman and Toby Wand. The comeback of Good Old Paul. A comeback that did not exactly "pull up trees". But at least he is back on the course after a career threatening injury. He has the form in the book from his pointing days, and now we will get stuck into him on the gallops to ensure that there is a massive step forward from this "effort".....

Barney and I stopping off at Warwick School on the way home. For him to catch up with a few old classmates. Guy Canning, the Junior School Headmaster, is a keen racing man. When we first went to Warwick to meet Guy, it boded well that his office wall was covered not with dull diplomas but with photos of Arkle and other legends. A good start !!

Back to Ludlow. My good friend Kim Bailey in attendance. Candida and I do not have a huge number of friends within racing (always easier in all walks of life to keep business and pleasure apart, I have always found....), but Kim and Cookie Bailey are good mates. As mentioned previously, Kim refers to me as TNDGB. I have been struggling to come up with a suitable "moniker" for Kim. TLNCK will do. Any guesses............??????

Kim told me that he described me on RUK as "a good trainer". The old boy must be mellowing in his old age........

A sign I saw far too many times yesterday. Motorway mayhem. Obviously much worse for those actually involved in the "Accident. Please Slow Down" scenario. Thankfully, none of yesterday's "Accident. Please Slow Down's" was anything more than a slight bump, or a puncture in the fast lane....

But the result was a motorway system in gridlock. A couple of times, I dived "off piste" in search of clear road. Only to bump into yet another "Accident, Please Slow Down".....

For reasons too trivial and mundane to be worthy of comment here, I had to be in Bromley at 10.00 O'Clock yesterday morning. I left Whitsbury at 6. Giving me ample time. Or so I thought. 3 hours and 55 minutes later, I reached my appointment. On time. Just.......

From Bromley to Lingfield. A pretty smooth and simple journey. "Test Match Special" keeping me sane. Aggers, Blowers, CMJ, Sir Geoffrey all helping to calm me against the vagaries of the dread M25.....

Lingfield providing the high spot of an otherwise pretty dire day. Final Delivery disappointing, but it transpires that he got a large chunk of kickback lodged in his throat. Which explains his run. The "high spot" being lunch with Danny Baker, and twins Adam and Dan Wain. The Lingfield Owners carvery putting several higher profile tracks to shame. And providing "safe haven" from the huge crowds that descend on "Leafy" (there must have been nearly 200 there yesterday) to watch the betting shop fodder on show......

Danny Baker with a fun tale. Andrew Baker drives for a few jockeys. Two years ago he had a son. And named him George. Not after me (obviously) or the jockey (less obviously), but after the horse !! Like us, he had to endure watching this horse perform moderately at a moderate level for too long. Like us, he now has a better tale to tell. Young George must come down to Whitsbury.......

Away from Lingfield. And more meltdown. On the M25. Then the A3 around Guildford. Then around Portsmouth on the M27. 3 hours to get home from Lingfield. Which is far too long......

An hour with my Personal Trainer to release a little of the pent-up anger. Yes, I did just write "an hour with my Personal Trainer". I am running the Marathon for Racing Welfare. Or, more pertinently, hoping to complete the Marathon. My 8th London Marathon, but first for a while. And first since I swore that I would never hear the start gun at Blackheath again. A fantastic cause. The hard yards start now.....

Ludlow for me today. Oscar Close. The handicapper forcing our hand by putting him up 16 pounds (!!) for winning at Huntingdon last week. Today's race a "no brainer" in that respect, but still competitive enough.....

Candida to Lingfield with Toby Wand and Adrian Coleman, the owners of Good Old Paul. A fine, big horse. Who has been off forever. And who will benefit massively from seeing the racecourse again. I am looking forward very much to seeing him back on track....

It has taken until the middle of January for us to have a rock hard frost. A mild, mild winter. Our weather patterns becoming impossible to double guess. After the major disruption of living amidst the permafrost last year, the stark contrast of the calm of this winter. So far. A sting in the tail.......??

Perhaps. Maybe February will be brutal. Or even March. I will never forget the surreal Cheltenham Gold Cup run against the backdrop of deep snow on Cleeve Hill. The runners had headed to post in heavy snow. And then been sent back to the paddock as the snow was "balling" in their feet......

But as dusk approached, the snow relented. And The Thinker stormed past Cybrandian, who had lead at the last, to win for Willie Stephenson. And the card was completed, Half Free winning the Cathcart Chase in near darkness to bring the curtain down on a remarkable day. If there had not been so much snow on Cleeve Hill, producing an eerie "half light", they would not have run The Cathcart. For sure. And in this day and age of heightened and intense Health and Safety, I am sure racing would not have continued.......

Maybe we will get away without any snow this winter. And it's disruptive effect to our sport in particular. Maybe.....

Warneford running all right yesterday. Kieren Fallon telling us that the horse had given him a very proper feel. I am sure there is plenty more to come. Over a hurdle......??

A work morning ahead. Ned Sangster here to ride out. Ginny Clark here second lot to watch her Bahamian Bounty 2-year-old filly canter. Probably named "Bountybeamadam"......

No runners. A plan or two to be made for later in the week. Under both codes....

Meanwhile, England stuttering in Dubai. 39-2, Cook and Trott back in the hutch. An empty stadium. Which must be a little strange. Spinners bowling from the outset. A different type of cricket. Can England adapt ?? They should have the necessary nous.....

Over the weekend. And just the one today. Warneford heading up to Downtown Dunstall. Having his first run for us, with Mr Fallon on board. This horse has his quirks, but appears in decent order at home. We will learn more about him today.....

Frustratingly, Final Delivery, our other intended runner, will not be making the trip. He got "cast" in his stable overnight on Saturday, and was just a little distressed and sore yesterday morning. Nothing dramatic, but enough to preclude him from running today. He may well head to Lingfield on Wednesday now, provided he is sound when ridden later today.....

Saturday afternoon was spent watching Barney Baker and his teammates eke out a 1-0 victory away at Hazelgrove School. Hockey. Never my favourite sport at school. And a sport that has never grasped my attention, except for the odd fleeting moment when the England team are battling for Olympic Gold. Effing cold on the touchline on saturday. And that strange school tea, infused with soap at source, to warm us up afterwards......

A busy saturday morning. Frosty. But bright and clear. A beautiful morning to watch the horses work. Up the "Long" allweather. And several of the two-year-olds now well into stride. Cantering every day. Progressing....

Wayne Hennessey has been unbelievably patient and understanding. Oscar Close has always been geared towards jumping a fence, but this particular plan was "holed in the water" by his Ffos Las fall back in November. On that occasion a novicey mistake put paid to a promising effort, and on his subsequent run at Bangor he showed that slithering along the Welsh countryside on his nose had done nothing for his confidence......

Back to the drawing board. A board at which racehorse trainers spend a lot of their lives. Plenty of schooling. On the horse's terms. Plenty of work on his back....

And so to Huntingdon yesterday. A bit of an "acid test". Which is a test that racehorse trainers spend a lot of time taking. Oscar "ballooning" the first few fences. But then settling into a rhythmn under another highly competent ride from Trevor Whelan, who remains great value for his 7 pound claim. And who helped reduce an otherwise prohibitive weight that Oscar would have had to carry....

A 20 length winner. "Hacking up", to coin a phrase. Not a great horserace. But a huge relief to see Oscar back on track. Like so many horses, he thrives on confidence, and yesterday's dismissal of the opposition will have done him so much good. He got an extra carrot, and a special hug from Tallulah last night.....

I was at Lingfield. Thrilled with Beggars Banquet on debut. A fine stamp of a horse, he was given a lovely ride by Chris Catlin. BB will come on a ton for this, and remains a fine prospect for the months ahead. And Thundering Home not really getting the run of the race when squeezed off the home bend. Running a little "flat". We will freshen him up.....

"In other news".........

Candida will be riding at The Cheltenham Festival. A sentence I never expected to type !! A huge honour to be selected from an application of hundreds to ride in the Charity race that concludes Thursday's card. 61 days to go. Discussions aplenty already about a suitable mount for the 1 mile 5 furlong contest. A nervous, but very excited, Mrs Baker......

Utterly thrilled by Belgian Bill's first run at Meydan last night. Second, beaten three quarters of a length. A respectable distance back to the rest....

If I could bottle that split second just before the furlong pole when Ted Durcan kicked Bill into the lead, I would be a very rich man. For that moment in time, it looked as if our wildest dreams would be realised. But then Songcraft and Silvestre de Sousa came cruising by, winning well in the end.....

Ted very pleased with Bill, who will tighten up for the run. Not a bad start to our Dubai adventure, Bill's second placing now added to Humidor's respectable, and unlucky, third placing last week. Onwards....

Huge credit, again, to Valerie. Thrust into the Dubai role at the last minute. We are all immensely proud of how she has done out there, and with the promise of more to come. This little venture has only just begun...

To celebrate, I came off the "substitute's bench" for The Cartwheel darts team. Away at Downton Club. Not quite as surreal as Breamore Club. More "dated 70's" than "pre-war Breamore". We came second. Not by far. A podium finish. In a two horse race.....

Loved being away for a short break. But always good to be back. To reintroduce ourselves to Barney and Tallulah. Who are both in great form.......

A lesson learnt on the flight home. The opportunity to upgrade to Virgin's Premier Economy. Which we took. But the lesson learnt was that if you are upgrading, you should go the whole hog. As opposed to a half hog. When hogging, hog all the way. Because half hogging is really not worth it. We were lucky, because we had the emergency exit seats. But that aside, the experience was pretty grim. My seat at a strange angle, requiring the posture of a contortionist to get comfortable. The food inedible. The white wine prompting that tell tale thickening of the head. After a sip or two......

Four runners today. Oscar Close attempting to get his season back on track at Huntingdon. His confidence affected by his Ffos Las fall, which showed at Bangor. But he appears to be a happy horse at home. Everything firmly crossed....

And three at Lingfield. Beggars Banquet - a fine looking son of Dubawi, who will benefit from his first taste of racecourse experience. Aqua Ardens - who will benefit from the step up in trip. And Thundering Home - looking to build on his recent Wolverhampton success.......

If pressed for a "nap of the day", I would go for Thundering Home....

Which is always the worst part of being away. Homeward bound. After a few days of R and R in the Caribbean sun. Antigua. Some spot. The batteries recharged.....

Never a perfect time to sneak away, particularly as we have runners all year around. Under all codes. And, with Belgian Bill and Humidor in Dubai, in different countries....

But we all need a break. And this one was much needed. Here in a fabulous house overlooking Falmouth Harbour. Daniel and Paola Jefferies (Belgian Bill, Boomshackerlacker, Jacks Revenge, Relentless Harry etc....) the consummate hosts. Generous beyond generous. "Generous". Whose Trainer Paul Cole we dined with a night or two ago. In company with Chris Wright and his family....

But this island in no way "Newmarket On Sea". As is Barbados, just across the seas from here. Which is a relief.....

Patrick holding the fort back home. Brilliantly, as ever. Despite the encumberance of a broken ankle in plaster. Valerie doing a magnificent job in Dubai, where Belgian Bill runs tomorrow. The team, as ever, stepping up to the plate......

And we will back in their midst shortly, refreshed and ready to go. Every year a big year in this sport, but for us in particular I feel that 2012 is supremely important. The quality of horse, and people for whom we train, has improved markedly since the move to Whitsbury. Now we need the results on the bigger stages......

Talking of "big stages", The Sir Vivian Richards Ground here is one of them. I went alone to watch the Windward Islands beat Trinidad and Tobago in a 20/20 the other night. A great atmosphere under floodlights. Steel bands, rythmic dancers, plenty of attitude and opinion from the stands, the smell of barbecues wafting through the heavy night air. Good fun....

Now back to the real world......

Irons On Fire. An extraordinary horserace at Lingfield yesterday. A blanket covering the first four home. Or perhaps a large duvet.....

The photo finish going our way. A short head. "Irons" trading at 1000/1 in running on Betfair having been headed. Only to £1. But still, 1000/1 !! "Palpable error"??. To coin a Betfair phrase......

I was one of the people who happened to take advantage of the Voler le Vadette "28/1 in-running" glitch. Betfair in meltdown. And losing an enormous amount of credibility with their limp explanations. Betfair is one of the great success stories of the past decade. But is clearly an organisation that remains scarily fallible. The money traded daily comparable to several global Stock Exchanges. No margin for error. Yet error there still is.....

Back to Irons. Headed at the furlong pole. Game over. But Frankie MacDonald in inspired form. A hugely underrated jockey. Like so many "journeymen", dreaming of bumping into the good horse. I hope it happens. A good man. With an impish grin whenever our paths cross.....

Frankie struck up a good relationship with Maddy in Year One of this mad adventure. Maddy was not very good. But Frankie got on well with her. He listened. He got the job done. More than once.....

Our last two runners have been ridden by a "Frankie". One marginally more high profile than the other. Hopefully the marginally less famous Frankie will find his good horse one day....

Always good to get the first winner of the New Year. Onwards.....

Our first runner in Dubai, Humidor, filling that position yesterday......

Frankie telling us that the horse is right back to his best after a disappointing effort at San Siro on his latest run. A long journey by road to Italy not ideal. And creating concern that the trip to Dubai may not be ideal for this particular horse....

But those worries now consigned to the dustbin. Frankie convinced that Humidor would have won with a clear run. A good start to this particular adventure. Belgian Bill due to run on the 12th. A thrill to have horses good enough to play on this stage. And a thrill to see Humidor justify the Khan brothers' call to send him East....

Huge credit to Valerie who headed to Dubai at very short notice after Patrick's accident. Away from home and her family for Christmas. But, as ever, stepping up to the plate. Overseeing both horses with great care and expertise. And huge skill. God, I am lucky to have such an exceptional team around me...

Both horses in Dubai until March. Yesterday an exciting start. And very much a sign of the year ahead, when we will be travelling our horses a lot. Primarily to France. But other foreign sorties in the pipeline. Plans hatched by necessity. Because of the ludicrous prize money situation at home, and the apparent lack of effort from our "administrators" to do anything about it....

"Have horse, will travel".

At Huntingdon. Over the past couple of years. But a disappointing day yesterday. Dinner Guest, a fine sort, still too weak to do himself justice. He will be fine. In time....

And Klebb better than his finishing position in the bumper. Still a big baby. And a bit of a goon. More to come....

Our first runner in Dubai later. Humidor. In the 5 furlong sprint. The type of race that you run eight times and get eight different winners. Valerie's updates have been positive. Great to be involved at the Dubai Carnival. And if is not to be today, there are plenty of options down the line for Humidor. And Belgian Bill who will hopefully run next week, or soon after....

I hope to get out to Dubai. At some point. Valerie coping brilliantly. Despite her navigational "skills" which have lead to the occasional car journey taking a little longer than should be the case.....

So says Steven Keates, a Met Office forecaster, on the front page of today's newspapers. And Steven appears to have got this one spot on.......

Wild winds out there right now. Roaring through the tops of the trees like an out of control locomotive. Not an easy morning to be astride a fresh racehorse. Still pitch black out there. We will see how the weather progresses over the next hour before launching ourselves at it's mercy......

Not a good day to be at sea. Unless you are completely barking mad, and enjoy being tossed from wave to trough at alarming speeds. Which seems to be what experienced sailors thrive upon. My one, thoroughly ignominious, Cowes yacht race last summer took place in a howling gale. In the pub the night before, with the forecast to hand, salty old sea dogs proclaimed that the following day's racing "would be brutal". But they said it with a smile across their faces. Because this is what they want. To be tested by the elements. To press the "gamble button". To press the "gamble button" hard.......

I spent yesterday in the company of Mike Slade, amongst others, who sails very seriously. And told some remarkable tales of "collapsing rigs" and other dramas. And told the tales with relish. "Chacun", as they say......

A quiet start to the new year in terms of runners. But plenty going on in the yard. Last year's 2-year-olds (now all 3-yr-olds) back in training. Well, most of them. Some who ran on through October and November will have a week or two or more of holiday time.....

And the yearlings pretty much "broken in". And beginning to take the step of their education by heading out to the gallops. Not long until The Brocklesby......??!!

What a remarkable set of results on the Premier League football pitches over the past few days. Beyond unpredictable. Bizarre. Plenty more to come. Some season already.....

And finally. Some sad news just ahead of the New Year. The death of Barrie Cope, one of the characters of the racecourse. In times gone by, Barrie's excellent seafood pitches were spread far and wide across the southern courses. Quieter in recent years as racecourses pulled their catering "in house", Barrie could still be found in the Grandstand at Brighton, and at Plumpton. His prawn curry with thick, crusty bread a particular favourite. For many years, his pitches a first port of call for myself and many others.....

Never exactly a bargain. But always high quality. And fresh. Times have changed, as ever, but I bet there are several on the "southern circuit" who still miss the Barrie Cope seafood pitches and bars. Especially as, in many instances, they have been replaced by over-priced, in-house dross.......

And a belated Happy Birthday to all racehorses for yesterday. All the horses a year older. Which means I need to concentrate a little harder on the race conditions.....

Irons On Fire ensuring that 2011 ended on a winning note. Kieren Fallon giving him a fine, positive ride. Just to clarify, there was talk in the media of this horse having suffered a "tendon" injury on his previous run. What in fact happened was that he sustained a nasty cut close to his tendon which did cause some concern for a day or three. But as the swelling subsided, it became clear, thankfully, that the tendon itself had not been injured. A reasonably deep but clean cut, excellently treated by Daigo and the team, and Irons came sound again pretty quickly.....

Candida at Warwick. Not So Sure Dick running a highly creditable second in the two and a half mile handicap chase. An excellent ride from Trevor Whelan, getting the horse to jump with fluency and confidence. Three miles is where we have always been headed with this horse.......

And our two in the bumper will have learnt plenty from the whole experience......

Barney and I at a different sporting event to the rest of the team. The Emirates Stadium. Barney an avid Arsenal fan. My team QPR the opponents. Through the extreme generosity of Dean Atkins, who was one of our earliest owners, Barney and I spent the afternoon in The Diamond Club. "If Carlsberg did football matches....."

You get the drift. Very spoiling. The result going Barney's way. But not by the landslide he predicted. But QPR getting into a survival dogfight......

New Year's Eve at the excellent Master Builder's Hotel at Bucklers Hard, close by Beaulieu. Barney and Tallulah seeing the New Year in, and showing no signs of flagging as their father slipped away to bed. A sign of times to come......

May all your New Year resolutions be realistic. And attainable. I have one wish, and that is that there is less talk and more action concerning the pitiful prize money issue. A pivotal year ahead, methinks, in many respects......