Another good 'un gone
Uncle Gerry died on Saturday. Another good ‘un gone. Gerry, Dublin born and bred, loved his racing, as I found out on a family holiday to Ireland a few years ago. My mate Bacchy had been put on to this horse called Down To The Woods. One of the best two-year-olds in Mark Johnston's Middleham yard at the time. We had won on the colt more than once already. So, come late August, I'm telling Uncle Gerry about this in his local bar in Raheny, a decent enough suburb in north Dublin. “Oh yes, it's running at Doncaster tomorrow.” “Is that so, now?” “It's already won there, so it should go well.” I've had a Guinness or two so the bullshit is beginning to flow quite nicely. “As long as the ground doesn't come up too soft it's a real contender.” You would really think I knew what I was talking about. I frighten myself sometimes. “D'ye hear this, Michael? We have a tip for the races tomorrow.” The landlord leans over and po...