(Golden Nugget: Six time champion Steve Davis is a great promoter of snooker)

Racing should look to Snooker for inspiration


Maybe one reason for the lack of spectators and enthusiasts for horse racing today is that it a non-participation sport. This is not entirely true, but if someone did want to participate in horse racing they would need excessively large pockets to fund it. Target readers of the Horse and Hound according to Willings Press Guide from 2008 are those people within society who have 'high disposable incomes'. Ok, the Horse and Hound maybe gear itself up for this class of people, but there is nothing available for the average citizen. The Racing Post enlightens it's readers by going into great form detail, publishing features, stable tours, tipping columns, everything a racing enthusiast would possibly want but it costs. At around £1.60 per day and more at the weekends the paper loses any potential wider audience down to its vast price. Fair enough the daily Racing Post is highly specialist, but it is just this attitude of specialism and uniqueness which pushes people further and further away from this wonderful sport. It is worth mentioning that past comments have referred to horse racing as 'The sport of Kings'. This may be because of the opinions that only a King would ever be capable of affording to participate.


Looking around at other sports you cannot help but notice the BBC's coverage of the World Championship Snooker. The nation got behind The Nugget this week as six time champion 52 year old Steve Davis eliminated the current holder of the title John Higgins. Stories similar to that of Dream Alliance's chances of winning the National were told, the prospect that Steve 'interesting' Davis could be on his way to World Championship Glory were the highlight of the morning back pages. The truth is the 'Grandad' of the snooker circuit was inevitably left embarrassed in defeat at the hands of Australian Neil Robertson. But what is the point of mentioning this on a horse racing blog? The point is that snooker has managed to dominate the daily sports pages this past week, the BBC pushes for young people to get involved and encourages them to play snooker. Steve Davis himself has been know to stop behind during exhibition matches in the past just to tutor his young fans. Fair enough, David will have earned appearance money, but horse racing is also capable of funding such appearances by influential characters in the racing industry.


More should be made of horse racing, snooker takes a firm grasp of the nation at this time of year in a similar way that cricket does when England are beating Australia for the Ashes. Everything is marketed to the wider audience, more average citizens are made aware of the respective sports and people in the public houses, in offices and even children in schools discuss whether or not Freddie Flintoff will beat the Aussies. Flintoff is a good example of how racing can be promoted as he already promotes Dubai Racing. Thanks should also be given to John Parrot who yesterday afternoon spoke during an interval of his favourite race, the Champion Hurdle. The difference with cricket and racing and snooker and racing is that it is easy to pick up a cricket bat, it is easy to pick up a snooker cue, but it is not all that easy to pick up a whip, don the racing colours and ride in a Listed race at Newmarket. This could be the eventual downfall of horse racing, it is a major reason why knowledge of the sport is limited and it is why there will always be this difference in the classes.

(A colourful character: Parrot loves the excitement of a day at the races)

Haydock Park 24.4.10 (Evening)

(Ticket to Ride: The Beatles have a tribute act at Haydock Park races)

Racing goes down like a 'Yellow Submarine'


Saturday night, sunshine and racing at Haydock Park...what more could anyone want? But for a percentage of racegoers at last night's flat racing meeting Saturday night still means "Let's get hammered...just in a different location".


Looking around at the groups of race goers I noticed one major difference. A difference that Racing For Change are going to have to tussle with in all manner of ways. Saturday nights and indeed race meetings in general mean only one thing for a vast portion of the new target audience...drink and general loutedness...and that's just the girls! While groups of suited young men ponder the winner of the next event pretending to understand how everything works as the detail of race form has not been explained coherently for the younger generation the orange glitterati faces of the ladies cackle together, champagne spilling onto the county stand lawn in wild fits of giggles. And all this regardless of the racing which was going on a couple of metres away. Here at Haydock Park last night I discovered the difficulties this wonderful sport has of attracting newer audiences.


The main issue is the drinking culture of this country. Along with an ignorance of the sport through no fault of the target generation and the associations racing has with flat capped pensioners sporting garments of best tweed, horse racing will inevitably struggle to capture the excitement that it can definitely offer.


Last night to promote Haydock Park night racing a special event was planned for after racing...a tribute band to The Beatles. This type of event could be seen as a positive step towards attracting newer audiences with not only racing on the cards but also the opportunity of a good night with a live band. But again issues have failed to be addressed...The Beatles. How do we attract younger generations to our sport if all they have to look forward to as entertainment after the racing is a tribute act to a band from forty years ago? A creditable band however...have no fear there is no danger of disrespect towards Lennon and company but they hardly offer exciting news for would be spectators of the future.


There was a fundamental theme last night. Around the parade ring stood mostly older people taking their entertainment from the horses and pre-race preparations. Around the grandstands swayed younger people who took their entertainment from the champagne bar. Here is the problem and with it comes the issue of how to change this for the better.

(Pre-race preparations in the parade ring at Haydock Park)

Irish Racing Coverage

(Pleased as Punch: AP wins at the Punchestown Festival)

Great Racing in Punchestown out of bounds for terrestrial viewers.

McCain and Jason Maguire are obviously the in form partnership at the moment, Maguire having secured 100 winners for the season and today showing he is on fire after claiming three more winners at Uttoxeter. The in form jockey cannot be ignored at present as he is dominating proceedings at courses like Uttoxeter


Meanwhile over in Ireland Tony McCoy's mount Captain Cee Bee after a disappointing outing at Cheltenham last month prevailed over other rivals in the Ryanair Novice Chase securing a 4 length victory ahead of Let Yourself Go guided by Paul Carberry. Drama in the race a few fences from home saw a pile up involving solid favourite Riverside Theatre and Barry Geraghty while the fancied Psycho went even earlier.


Willie Mullins picked up the winning trainer's trophy in the Ladbrokes.com World Series Hurdle after much hype about Quevega early in the day. Partnered by P.Townsend the six year old went off 5/2 favourite and scored a 3 length success over Bensalem for Robert Thornton and Alan King. McCoy's ride Karabak started 4/1 second favourite but failed to meet the stamina requirements to see out the 3 three mile event and eventually finished 8th of 13.


Unfortunately though the thrills of the Punchestown Festival are kept quiet by British television. Attheraces channel covers the meeting but the festival is such a major event potential supporters of horse racing should be allowed to watch some races via terrestrial television.


It is difficult to attract new supporters and expect them to understand racing when huge chunks of it are made unavailable. The BBC and Channel 4 should be broadcasting from Punchestown even if it just to cover the main race of the day...maybe this is a time for ITV to get involved in horse racing and cover the major Irish meetings.

(In it to win it: Maybe ITV should consider covering some racing)

Padydeplasterer second again in Ireland

(One two many: Connections of ForPadyDePlasterer suffer with seconditus)

Not another second ForPadyDePlasterer...


Connections of Forpadydeplasterer once again had to settle for second best on the opening day of the Punchestown Festival 11 days after recording second place at Aintree behind Albertas Run after registering second to Big Zeb before this at the Cheltenham Festival. In fact the bay has now come 2nd in all of his last six runnings. Trainer Thomas Cooper must be wondering what it will take for the 8 year old to win a race, the horse just does not seem to want to win and is suffering from a rather long dose of seconditus.


Today Golden Silver took the prize money from under the nose of Forpadydeplasterer beating him 2 1/2 lengths in the Boylesports.com Champion Chase ridden by Barry Geraghty.


But maybe the owners Goat Racing Syndicate have just been unlucky, just take a look at what Forpadydeplasterer has been beaten by... Albertas Run under a thrilling Tony McCoy ride, Big Zeb, Cooldine, Twist Magic, none of these are mugs all having registered big wins respectively.


But Forpadydeplasterer did beat Arkle Chase winner Sizing Europe for second by a decent 4 1/2 lengths proving Cheltenham form does not always support itself in Ireland who in turn beat old rival of Forpadydeplasterer Kalahari King ridden into fourth by Davy Russell.

Scottish National Result

(Feeling Merri: Timmy Murphy winner of the 2010 Scottish Grand National)

Timmy's Merigo-round


Timmy Murphy landed the Scottish Grand National this weekend on 18/1 chance Merigo. Trained by Andrew Parker the nine year old won easily with a 9 length success over nearest rival Gone To Lunch under Barry Geraghty.


The locally owned Merigo crossed the winning line looking as though he was capable of running the whole race again. The gruelling four mile event did not seem to have been a problem for the horse as Timmy Murphy celebrated in the Ayrshire sunshine.


Murphy said after the race "He jumped fantastically, stayed and travelled well. I'd like to congratulate Ray [winning owner] as this race is close to his heart".


Gone To Lunch the 15/2 favourite showed no impression of catching up with the winner and a further 19 lengths behind was No Panic ridden by B Hughes who beat the Twiston-Davies family for third. Seven pound claimer Sam Twiston-Davies once again showed great ability in a major race aboard Razor Royale trained by his father Nigel.


Sam Twiston Davies also showed signs of a champion in waiting when he claimed fifth place on Hello Bud in the English Grand National again trained by his father.

(Father figure: Nigel Twiston Davies has faith in his son Sam's increasing ability)

(Attractive: Presenter Emma Spencer is attempting to attract a younger horse racing audience)

Channel 4's horse racing programme The Morning Line loses out to Saturday lie - ins...


Yesterday in the Racing Post as article was written about the need to use television to promote racing more. The article discussed the need for exciting new presenters and commentators to call home races with new techniques and ideas across the programme.


This is a great idea, Racing For Change would agree that racing as an event needs to become more exciting, it needs to be made more of a deal of. Speaking recently with Nick Attenborough at Racing For Change he said one thing he noticed while at the races recently with debut race goer a point was raised about the lack of excitement and anticipation at the start of a race. This is true enough, in jumps racing the race just seems to start in a very relaxed manner without much of a build up. The Grand National does have this excitement, and in lots of ways so does the Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but this issue could easily be addressed by racecourses across the country.


According to statistics the average age of viewer watching The Morning Line was 55. This is an incredible statistic and is reason to suggest that horse racing as a sport needs to draw the attention of a younger audience, and it needs to do it now.


The likes of John Francombe and Derek Thompson are obviously great people to present the programme but they just do not appeal to the younger audience. Shows need to advertise the likes of Frankie Dettori, Ruby Walsh and Tony McCoy as guests on the show and they need to advertise this days before airing the show during prime time viewing.


The often offensive JohnMcCririck is also not entirely a favourite with the younger generation, is he even a favourite with any generation? The man is rude and arrogant and it just is not a gimmick anymore. Viewers do not want to hear the man and he caused more of a humiliation to the racing industry and pushes potential spectators away rather than attracting new ones.


The 1000 Guineas at Newmarket is set for May 1st and broadcasters should spend time now advertising the event. Maybe the introduction of a weekly programme looking forward to the racing weekend is needed, to be aired midweek, Wednesday or Thursday when people are more likely to be tuning their TV sets rather than 9.00am on a Saturday morning when the very people Racing For Change are attempting to target are probably having a lie in!

(All Smiles: Frankie Dettori as a guest would interest more people)

Scottish Grand National Weekend

(Focused: Fallon is hoping to become Champion Flat Jockey 2010)

Fallon looks for a Lady In The Desert

This weekend there is great horse racing from Ayr, Doncaster, Newbury, Nottingham, Thirsk and Bangor as well as the two fixtures in Ireland - Naas and Tramore.


Ayr sees the annual Scottish Welsh National run a little over 4 miles, a marathon stamina test with the top jump jockeys all competing. Unfortunately after the injury Ruby Walsh received on Grand National Day last weekend he looks to be out until June so he will not be present. News earlier this week that Denman, long time rival of Kauto Star will also miss Ayr opting instead to travel to the Punchestown Festival will be a blow for supporters of the Paul Nicholls trained Gold Cup winner.


Newbury best race of the day is the Dubai Duty Free Stakes at 3.05pm. Keiran Fallon hoping to once again become champion jockey this year rides Lady Of The Desert, a beaten favourite last time it ran. Trained by B.J. Meehan Fallon will be looking to outclass Misheer for jockey Neil Callon and trainer Clive Brittain in the 7 furlong sprint.



All focus lies on the 202nd running of the 2000 Guineas on May 1st. The 2000 Guineas is the first 'Classic' of the Flat racing calendar and is a 1 mile held at Newmarket racecourse. St Nicholas Abbey, Canford Cliffs and Awzaan are the first three in the ante-post betting market at 2/1, 5/1 and 8/1 respectively but there is still a long list of potential horses that are yet to be

(Hello Bud: Gold Cup winners Twiston Davies and Paddy Brennan won the Scottish National in 2009 on Hello Bud)

More people need to go racing

(A Grand Day Out: The National should be a selling point to potential race-goers)

Come Racing For Free


Not enough people go racing.


This is a fact and is something a new organisation called Racing For Change is attempting to change. Alongside the British Horse Racing Authority the two organisations are looking at marketing strategies and promotions in order to attract a new generation to the races. Unfortunately I believe they may be going about it the wrong way.


By all means, market the races as much as you can, we want to see posters, flyers, television advertising etc but there is still not enough being done. Thankfully a campaign running at the end of April for two weeks sees the ability for anyone to go racing for free with a number of race courses offering free entry to the meetings. I have personally signed up for the Doncaster meeting on the 30th and it won't cost me a penny.


The problem is that racing has a label attached, it has a stigma which is that of old men, seedy betting shops, and boring monotonous commentators (no offence intended to those excellent racing commentators). In order to attract new audiences officials need to appeal to younger generations, they need to believe that going racing is cool. At the moment it is expensive, difficult to get to as it is in various locations all over the country every day, the average person does not know the importance of handicaps,listed racing, graded, maidens, sellers, hurdles, fences, national hunt, flat, bumpers, novices etc. This needs to be addressed first in order for people to understand what exactly it is that is being marketed to them.


Think how a younger member of society would think, do not rely on racing to attract drunks and stag and hen parties. Of course these groups should attend and have every right of attending but the consequence of this clientele provides potential race-goers with a picture of the type of people who go to the races and the purposes of their being there. Appeal to people who love the sport and do this by informing them how it works.

Bookmakers are another reason why people are put off, it's all well and good talking about decimal systems which will attract younger audiences instead of traditional fractional odds, but what difference will this make. Children at school are still taught fractions as well as decimals, and even the younger generation has an element of maintaining tradition about them. They understand how to separate fractions, of course after this it may become a little more complicated and a case remains for the introduction of a decimal system which will be ideal and provide absolutely no use for the prospect of mathematics while enjoying the deliberation over which bookmaker has the best price. But it is not only this which puts people off, already the price of travelling and entry has swayed people away from the races, but when they see on course bookmakers with £5 minimum bet signs and even £2 minimums the average person who has a family with them and it already suffering after the recession is not going to risk even a fiver to place on horse. These rules should be changed to make people want to put 50p each way on as part of the enjoyment of a day at the races, it should not cost the fortune it does, and that is why people will not go and diminishing numbers are being recorded.


Racing For Change and the British Horse Racing Authority need to address the problems they have with addressing the younger generations who we will eventually rely on if this sport is going to exist.

13th April 2010

Ruby broken, but not broke





So Ruby Walsh will be out of action until June following the broken arm he suffered after a nasty fall. Ruby was due to ride favourite for the Grand National Big Fella Thanks this past Saturday but after suffering a fall in a previous race on Celestial Halo he was kicked in the arm by Won In The Dark forcing stewards to put screens up around the jockey. Walsh headed back to Ireland on Saturday evening following the Aintree meeting and his trip to the local hospital.



It brings to notice just how dangerous life as a jockey can be, many jockeys have been forced to give up their career's because of injury, many amateurs don't make the big time because they are harmed. Last week at Aintree we saw a few painful looking falls, notably when Aiden Coleman was stepped on after he became unseated from his ride on Thursday.



The injured jockey fund was set partly because of this, to help re-establish careers and pay bills for jockeys who have dedicated their lives to the sport before having their careers cut short because of one really bad fall.


Obviously it is the horses that we mustn't forget about, those that make this sport a turn off for many would be viewers. The deaths of some animals during a race does not make for peasant reading. Is the sport cruel to animals? Some would say yes, but the sport does everything to protect them from cruelty. Race horses are athletes and they are treated as precious objects by trainers and owners. They are treated to massage baths when they have pulled muscles for instance, that is more than I get. And horses do want to race, if they didn't they would act like King John's Castle did at the start of the National and blankly refuse to go anywhere. Who could blame him some might say, it was a nice day and he did that last year, I'd probably have second thoughts about running four and a half miles on a nice spring day when you could just refuse and be a spectator instead.


If a horse does not want to race, it will not, but the truth is they love it because it is in their blood. Like the jockeys who go out there every day risking life and limb, true they do it because they love it and of course it also pays if you happen to be good enough.


Sympathies go to Ruby Walsh after missing the Grand National but I'm sure he won't mind his friend Tony McCoy claiming a first victory in the race.

(Good Friends: Walsh and McCoy leave the weighing room together)

Monday 12th April 2010

(Pay up: Bookies hand over cash after a crushing punters victory)

After Aintree the racing starts to look a little flat.

It's all quiet after the excitement of the 2010 Grand National. The finale of the jumps racing season was tonic for punters following heavy financial losses at the Cheltenham Festival 10 days before. And after last year's Mom Mome victory returned at 100/1 Don't Push It returning a 10/1 joint favourite has cost bookmakers millions.


Tony McCoy, the nations favourite jump jockey held aloft the Grand National trophy for the first time after 15 attempts to add the race to a CV that can only be only be matched in honours by the likes of Manchester United's Ryan Giggs. The most celebrated jockey having dominated the jumps racing world from 1995 showed his emotion on Saturday and showed no intention of holding back, even Clare Balding sounded choked as she announced the arrival of Don't Push It into the winners enclosure. And now everyone is looking at AP as the Sports Personality of the Year. "It would be an injustice if he didn't win it now" said Balding. And rightly so, McCoy has been the ultimate servant for racing, recording over 3000 winners and well on his way to the 4000 mark. McCoy still has some season left in him but will there be as much urgency in his step now that the race which eluded him for so long finally gave in?


McCoy would not be McCoy without fighting for every single winner he has, of course he will be determined, he will want to win the National again, he will want to be champion jockey again and probably Sports Personality too.


But for now attention is turned to the Flat Racing Season, already having the opening Lincoln at Doncaster out of the way we can look towards what seems to be a thrilling season with Frankie Dettori already voicing his intent to fight for the Champion Flat Jockey. Keiran Fallon registered another win on Saturday with a win on Red Cadeaux for trainer Ed Dunlop who will also be pushing for top jockey alongside reigning champion Ryan Moore.

(Fallon Factor: Keiran want to be top jockey)

Aintree John Smiths Grand National Day 2010

(Do Push It: McCoy drives out Don't Push It in the 2010 Grand National)

McCoy pushes Don't Push It to claim his first victory in the Grand National at the 15th attempt

Don't Push It was pushed home by an adamant AP McCoy yesterday in the John Smiths Grand National in a successful 15th attempt at the race for the champion jockey.

AP took the ride after preferring the horse to Can't Buy Time. Talking after the race an emotional McCoy said "It's great for my Mum and Dad who will be watching at home. The trainer put me on the right one, he swayed me very much. I asked him to toss a coin in the week between this and The Package and I think he tossed it until he got Don't Push It. I couldn't pick between them, but he was very adamant". McCoy was all smiles as he fulfilled his life-long ambition of riding a Grand National winner.

"It's brilliant, fantastic, I thought it would never happen to me, I'm delighted" said winning trainer Jonjo O'Neill in the winners enclosure. O'Neil had also failed in his quest to win the Grand National up until yesterday. "I didn't believe it was going to happen until he'd past the post, I always thought something was going to happen".

Celebrating alongside O'Neil celebrating a first win in the race was winning owner of Don't Push It JP McManus who said "Full marks to Jonjo and the team, he's been a difficult horse all season, he can get hot and excited before a race but it was a great effort by Jonjo and AP"

Don't Push It again looked a concern for supporters before the start. The horse was dripping in sweat but McCoy managed to keep him calm, relaxing on his back with feet out of the stirrups to calm the horse. Backed down after ferocious betting activity the early morning 20/1 chance eventually went off joint favourite with Big Fella Thanks, originally the mount of Ruby Walsh who unfortunately broke his arm in a previous race allowing Barry Geraghty to take over. The winner returned at a odds of 10/1 leaving punters ecstatic and bookies reeling.

For a while it looked like McCoy would not get enough out of Don't Push It to go on and claim the victory after Black Apalachi tidden by Denis O Regan led until the final fence. After Don't Push It jumped ahead McCoy took control with Big Fella Thanks looking like a real danger a length behind. Apalachi looked like he didn't want to be beaten until AP under a typical ride managed to find a little more in the tank driving the horse all the way to the finish to register a five length success.

Second was Black Apalachi at 14/1 who ran an excellent race after being an unlucky faller in last year's race. The heavily supported State of Play at 16/1 ridden by Paul Maloney took third place with the fourth placed horse the mount of Barry Geraghty and 10/1 joint favourite Big Fella Thanks.

(It's O-Kay: Peter Kay celebrates with Tony McCoy, Jonjo O'Neill and JP McManus)

Aintree National Meeting Day 2

(Albertas Run and Tony McCoy win the Melling Chase yesterday)

Two each for Geraghty and McCoy in bid to land top jockey at Aintree

Both Tony McCoy and Barry Geraghty registered two wins each yesterday for trainers Jonjo O'Neil and Nicky Henderson as the race for top Aintree jockey continued. Geraghty kicked day 2 with victory in the John Smiths Novice Hurdle for in form trainer Nicky Henderson partnering General Miller, a faller in last months Cheltenham Festival to a win over Menorah.

McCoy took rode Albertas Run to a 3 1/4 length success on the Melling Chase in the feature race of the day beating Forpadydeplasterer to return the horse at an SP of 8/1. Jonjo O'Neil said after the race "He came out of the race at Cheltenham very well. You can never be sure but AP gave him a great ride, he jumped well and the ground came right. Everything came right at the right time".

McCoy was also successful later in the afternoon with Ringaroses, another for Jonjo O'Neill making a double on the day for the pairing. While Barry Geraghty also took the honours for Race Two with a win on Burton Port in the Mildmay Novice Chase.

The ground seems to be drying out for Saturday's Grand National with official prediction of good to soft as the official going. Big Fella Thanks leads the market at a best priced 10/1 available while Mon Mome last years winner can be found priced around 14/1 at best.


Ruby Walsh will be looking for third win on Saturday in the biggest race of the year while Tony McCoy who has unfortunately never been able to win the race will be vying for victory on Don't Push It after taking preference for the horse over Can't Buy Time.

(AP or Ruby? Walsh has two Grand Nationals to his name while McCoy has yet to claim one)

Aintree National Meeting Day 1

(What good Friends: Nicholls, Ferguson and Walsh collect the Totesport Bowl on Day 1)

Commander won't make Friend's with other courses


Imperial Commander failed to re-enact winning ways yesterday as his Cheltenham form disappeared on the first day of the Aintree Grand National meet. Early morning support for What A Friend partnered by Ruby Walsh amidst growing concern over whether the Gold Cup winner could repeat success so soon in the Totesport Bowl forced the market to re-consider just how much faith lay in Imperial Commander.

Ruby Walsh took the race eventually on What A Friend, Imperial Commander having fallen earlier in the race after a series of blunders. It remains to be said that the horse just cannot win away from Cheltenham, anywhere else he remains a liability for his supporters. Not that the layers minded as they sent Imperial off a 5/4 drifting favourite. However Ruby's mount, the Paul Nicholls trained What A Friend dominated pre-race betting activity and the the knowledge that Nicholls removed the horse from Cheltenham especially to prepare for the Totesport Bowl allowed punters a rare opportunity to back the Nicholls/Walsh partnership at decent odds to land a double on the day after Big Buck's obliged in the opener. Paul Nicholls speaking after the race said "We decided to sit out the Gold Cup and it's worked out in the end. He could be in the mix for the Gold Cup next year but he's only seven and I think he's still improving".

Alex Ferguson was also celebrating as he shares ownership of What a Friend. The Manchester United manager was all smiles in the winners enclosure after the previous nights failings in the Champions League seemed a million miles away in the glorious Liverpool sunshine. Fergie said "Racing is a great relief from the stress of the day job and I'm delighted with this win".

The Foxhunters once again wreaked havoc on horses and jockeys as the gruelling test left few runners at the finish with favourite Baby Run, another Twiston Davies horse with his son Sam on board unseated the rider at the half way stage. Silver Adonis won the event at a hefty 50/1 ridden by Tom Weston.

Timmy Murphy took a crashing fall in the Red Rum Handicap Chase and it looked worrying for a while as he lay sprawled on the ground with stewards already re-directing the remaining runners, but after a short spell the jockey returned to his feet to the relief of spectators.

The opening day of this year's Grand National meeting lived up to expectations with the sun beating down on the racecourse, the party atmosphere and local finery on Liverpool Day. A double for Walsh and Nicholls and victory for Alex Ferguson in Liverpool was the story of day one but surely the locals who were shouting home the United Manager's horse had no knowledge it was his. Ricky Tomlinson however leading the famous Liverpool celebrities down into the parade ring provided the most daunting image of the day as he opened proceedings dressed in jockey's silks. Not what you would call a sight for sore eyes.

(Racing my arse: Ricky Tomlinson leads a cast of famous Scousers)