Asbrittle A Lingfield Lovely!

On very testing ground at Lingfield yesterday, I thought that our conditional jockey Conor O'Farrell gave Ashbrittle a very good ride to win the maiden hurdle.  In a driving finish he took the measure of Charm School by a length with a further 21 lengths back to the third.  Even though aside from the main protagonists it probably wasn't the strongest of races I think the form will prove to be okay - remember Charm School was a November Handicap winner on the flat so is clearly no mug.  Add to that, Ashbrittle was a thorough stayer on the flat and will probably benefit from a longer trip over hurdles in time and he looks sure to win further races.  That is true also of the runner-up, who looks to be a good thing if turned out again on similar ground next time.

We have one runner this afternoon at Bangor in the 2.35pm race, Bathwick Brave who participates in the 2 1/2 mile maiden hurdle.  He has shown a decent level of form and has been running consistently without quite getting his head in front.  The trip should suit him and he will be partnered this afternoon by Johnny Farrelly.

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There are plenty of good young jocekys making the headlines at present, including Brendan Powell Jnr (rode a double at Lingfield yesterday), Henry Brooke and Tom Cannon, although I personally don't think that there are any better than our own Conor O'Farrell (pictured right winning at the 2011 Cheltenham Festival) and it continues to baffle me why he does not get more outside rides.  With a number of the leading jump jockeys in what you would normally consider to be the "advanced" stages of their careers, it is important that there are a good crop of up and coming conditionals about and the current lot look to be well up to scratch.

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I see that Barney Curley is scaling down his racing operations and expecting to spend more time on his charity work in Africa.  I used to enjoy watching Barney prowling along the line of bookies on the racecourses looking for the best prices - that alone would set a buzz around the racecourse and would make for a really exciting atmosphere.  He really knew how to land a gamble and I think that it is a shame that all of the old characters like Barney seem to be leaving racing.  I bet I will miss him more than the bookies will!