Barney's Blog

Ayr we go, Ayr we go, Ayr we go...

Evening all, the name’s McGrew. Barney McGrew.

Well, it’s a big weekend for the yard with the Ayr Gold Cup on Saturday. And, in the words of Phil Collins, I can feel it coming in the Ayr tonight!

It’s a race The Gaffer’s always wanted to win and I came bloody close for him in 2009. I remember it well – I was flying at the finish and only got beat a head by a horse called Jimmy Styles.

I was ridden that day by that nice Tom Eaves human and we got touched off by that Frankie human who never stops talking with a funny accent. I was carrying three pounds more than the winner, and that’s worth around a length, so I was bloody unlucky.

My old mucker Commanche Falls was also second in 2022. He looked all over the winner but Summerghand swooped late and won by a length. Commy was giving his old rival seven pounds that day, so it was a cracking run.

I’m hoping this’ll be the year for The Gaffer. He’s knocked on the door and maybe it’ll open for him this time round.

Commanche’s entered again but the current favourite is the young pretender from our yard, Northern Ticker. Owned by that lovely Charlie Hill human from The Sekura Group, he won at York’s Ebor Festival last time, beating Commy by a head (see picture below),

I can see them both running well in the Gold Cup. Anyone who writes Commy off is a fool but I’m siding with Ticker. It’s a big ask for a three-year-old to win such a hot race but he’s a horse on the up.

I’ve already got my headline written if he wins. TICKER-TY-BOO AS DODS STRIKES GOLD.

We can all dream, can’t we?

BY the way, we’ve also got Woven and Bosh entered in the Ayr Bronze Cup tomorrow, so don't forget them. My carrots are on Woven. He’s been a great servant to the yard and I really like his owners, the John Sagar and Ian Bennett humans.

Wouldn’t that be a fantastic double – Gold and Bronze! Someone else can have the silver – I couldn’t give a toss.

AS you know, I like this blog to be educational, so here’s a few Ayr Gold Cup facts for you:

• It was first run in 1804 – the year our Travelling Head Lad, the Kenny Wiliams human was born.
• It was originally held at Ayr's former racecourse at Belleisle.
• To start with, it was restricted to horses bred and trained in Scotland.
• It was originally a two-mile race but became a mile race in 1870.
• Belleisle closed in 1907 and the race was cut to six furlongs the following year.
• The heaviest winning weight was 10st when Roman Warrior won in 1975.

You also know, I don’t like to be political, but I can’t let the week pass without mentioning the State visit by that Donald Trump human. He’s a strange chestnut colour with a blonde mane, so I guess he’s the nearest humans get to being a Palamino.

Did you see that bloody state banquet at Windsor Castle? There must have been four furlongs between one end of the table and the other.

I also don’t like the way they call that Melania human “the first lady”. My Carole’s the first lady. Always has been, always will be. As long as she brings carrots.

Anyway, I’m told Donald’s wig has a seat of its own on the presidential jet. That’s why it’s called Hair Force One.

FINALLY, another bit of news about the Kenny Williams human. He pretends he doesn’t like being mentioned in my blog, but I know he does really.

Anyway, he was lying in bed the other night, trying to get to sleep.

Just as he as nodding off, his missus whispered: “You used to hold my hand when we were courting.”

Wearily, Kenny reached across, held her hand for a second, and tried to get back to sleep.

A few moments later she whispered: “Then you used to kiss me.”

He reached across, gave her a peck on the cheek, and settled down to sleep.

Thirty seconds later she whispered: “Then you used to nibble my neck”

Angrily, Kenny threw back the bedclothes and got out of bed.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“To get my teeth,” he replied.

ANYWAY folks, that’s all from me for another week. Send carrots. Lots of love,