Barney's Blog

If at first you don't succeed...

Evening all. Barney McGrew here again. I'm an equine legend who’s even older than Joe Biden but a lot sharper.

Well, I have to start this week’s blog by paying tribute to my old mate Langholm – or Langy as I like to call him.

I’m always chuffed when the yard has a winner but I was especially pleased to see him win at Thirsk earlier today in the colours of the Dods Racing Club.

He's been second five times this year alone and runner-up 13 times in his career. Looking at his form figures, you might think he’s not genuine, but nothing could be further from the truth. He’s game and consistent, and always runs his race, but he's been unfortunate to keep finding one too good.

This time, with the Connor human taking the race by the scruff of the neck, Langy never looked like being beaten and did it comfortably.

Well done, Langy lad – I told you it was only a matter of time.

BY the way, if you’re looking for a present for someone interested in racing, the Dods Racing Club is a cracking, cost-effective way of being involved in the sport. Find out more here: https://www.michaeldodsracing.co.uk/dods-racing-club/

NOW, as you may know, Langholm is by Dark Angel, the sire of my old pal, Mecca’s Angel, who won consecutive runnings of the Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York back in 2015 and 2016.

Mecca’s Angel is at stud in Ireland now and it was so exciting to see one of her offspring, Bedtime Story, winning the listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot by an astonishing nine-and-a-half lengths for the Aidan O’Brien human.

Her dad is the mighty Frankel, who was nearly as good as me, so the breeding isn’t half bad.

I can’t wait to see how her career progresses. In the meantime, I’ve sent Mecca’s Angel a postcard to offer my congratulations. I got a nice reply, simply saying: “Miss you, Barney.”

How sweet.

I thought Mecca's Angel's owner, the David Metcalfe human, might have felt inclined to drop me off a bag of carrots but there's been no sign of him so far. I live in hope.

ALSO, since my last blog, we’ve had Azure Blue – or Bluey as I like to call her – bounce back to form in the listed Land O'Burns Fillies' Stakes at Ayr, where she was ridden by that nice Paul Mulrennan human.

She had a few niggly problems last season, and one or two so-called experts were beginning to doubt her, but I knew she’d come good again.

She finished like a train to dead-heat with Beautiful Diamond, trained by the Karl Burke human, and would have won outright in another stride.

Well done Bluey – I’m proud of you. Chuck us a carrot, will ya?

MEANWHILE, on other matters, I’m bloody glad that election malarkey is nearly out of the way, aren’t you? I thought it was going to go on forever.

I’ve never been a political animal, but they’d do a lot worse than make me Prime Minister. My manifesto would have four main points:

• Free carrots for all horses
• A swift hoof up the arse for all shirkers
• Neigh more bullshit
• A ban on vets putting up their fees.
• If they do, have the buggers gelded.

BY the way, I bet you didn’t know that there was a horse called Manifesto who was one of the greatest Grand National legends of all time.

He ran in the great Aintree race a record eight times between 1895 and 1904, and still holds the joint record for winning whilst carrying the heaviest weight - 12 st 7lbs.

He won twice (1897, 1899), was third three times (1900, 1902, 1903), and fourth once (1904). 

What a bloody horse!

FINALLY, back to Azure Blue. As you know, she goes like lightning on the gallops – one of the quickest I’ve ever seen – and I’ve noticed she’s very popular with the colts.

I saw Inspiring Speeches chatting her up the other day and I thought to myself: “Hey up, he’s trying to pull a fast one!”

That’s all from me folks, all the best, bring carrots, Barney.