In the Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap (1.30) at Southwell on Tuesday, Black Salt steps back up into 0-80 company, but won a 0-65 affair over course and distance two starts ago, on his Fibresand debut, so convincingly that he may be capable of defying a 6lb rise in the weights even in this higher grade. David Barron’s four-year-old has since run respectably in defeat, off today’s revised…

Joseph Mercer, popularly known as “Smokin’ Joe” because of his trademark pipe, rode 2,810 winners in Britain in a career spanning nearly 40 years, but is probably best known for his association with two horses, Brigadier Gerard and Bustino.   Brigadier Gerard, who was ridden exclusively by Mercer throughout his career, was beaten just once in 18 races between 1970 and 1972. His successes included the Prince of…

In the Christmas at the Heath Court Handicap (2.15) at Newmarket on Friday, Kasbaan appeared to have benefited from wind surgery earlier in the year when returning from a 159-day absence to readily account for odds-on favourite Welsh Lord in a novice stakes at Lingfield last month. The Dansili colt starts life in handicap company on a stiff enough mark, but remains open to further significant improve on…

“He’s coming up to the line to win it like a fresh horse in great style. It’s hats off and a tremendous reception – you’ve never heard one like it at Liverpool. Red Rum wins the National.” Those were the words of the erstwhile ‘Voice of Racing’, Sir Peter O’Sullevan, as the 12-year-old Red Rum, trained by the late Donald ‘Ginger’ McCain and ridden by Tommy Stack, galloped…

The term “nap” is derived from the 19th century British card game Napoleon, or “Nap” for short. Napoleon is a simple bidding and trick-taking game, similar to whist, in which each player is dealt five cards from a standard 52-card deck. Players take it in turns to make one bid, naming the number of tricks to be won. By bidding “five”, or “nap”, a player undertakes to win…