A view from the stable yard by our man of the turf, Winterbourne Longjohns.
The Blog is fortunate to have secured the services of the first class racing tipster, Winterbourne Longjohns. His maiden column is timely, for today is a Wincanton race day. Our tipster has been a lifelong reader of the Horsington Blog, but he brings an altogether new style, a welcome relief from the stark, functional prose of your editor.
Over to you, Winterbourne. . .
On this auspicious date I thought that you should be the first to know that owing to my strained financial situation I have now reluctantly decided to come out from a long and hard earned retirement and once again take up the rigours and shackles of employment.
I have no doubt that this will come as some considerable shock to you but as from today’s date I will be working as the National Hunt correspondent of the Horsington Blog covering the jump racing scene under the pseudonym Winterbourne Longjohns ,while my alter ego Swinley Bottom will from time to time advise the Blog’s readers and subscribers on flat racing prospects.
It may interest you to learn that Swinley’s first 2014 selection Orienteering, an Andre Fabre trained Juddmont home bred three year old from whom all expect a great deal, will be running at St Cloud later today. Incidentally Swinley Bottom’s European counterpart Captain Krumpnick can be reached c/o The Hayloft . L’ Ecurie des Nags, Chantilly , France and we very much hope that he will be able to provide us with profitable overseas information from time to time.
The thought has occured to me that with such world class information at my finger tips my syndicated services might be of interest to such other magazines as Prospect, The Fortean Times and Horse and Hound and I will be pursuing this possibility in due course of time. Hoping that this statement of intent proves as exciting to you as it does to me.
My Wincanton selections are all Harry Fry horses, viz 2.45pm Presenting Arms. 4.15pm Henryville. 4,45 pm Oscars Lad . 5.15pm Jolly Allan. (looks like he’s going for a Yankee –Ed). Then I am going very strongly on Actival in the 2.oopm at Aintree, and Rock on Ruby in the 3.o5pm the following day.
My Grand National (which will be shown in the Half Moon during the Music and Craft Festival on Saturday) selections are Tea for Two (Surely Teaforthree? –Ed) and Shakalakaboomboom.
Well, there you are. We wish everyone the best of luck. Can’t wait for your next dispatch, Winterbourne.
Winterbourne . . . Really!
In future, Winterbourne, it would be helpful if you could select horses that are actually running. 2 non-runners (Presenting Arms and Oscar’s Lad) out of 4 is not a great debut. We shall be watching you -Ed