Barney's Blog

Bah(rain) humbug!

HELLO everyone, it’s Barney McGrew here again, bursting magnificently out of the starting stalls with my first blog of 2026.

I hate to start the New Year with a moan but have you seen that Northern Express and Commanche Falls have been flown out to Bahrain for a few months to run around in the bloody sunshine?

Jammy buggers. Don’t get me wrong – Northy and Commy are very good pals of mine, but how come I’ve been left to shiver back in County Durham? I haven’t got any nuts but, if I did, they’d be frozen solid.

Apparently, it’s a nice 20 degrees out there in Bahrain, whereas the forecasters are predicting snow over here before the New Year's very old.

Commy’s never very good at staying in touch but I got a nice Christmas card from Northy, saying they’re having fun, with that nice Chloe human looking after them at a place called the Rashid Equestrian and Horseracing Club.

Chloe’s been telling everyone it’s hard work out there but we all know it’s a cushy number. That said, it’ll be good experience for her, experiencing racing in a different environment.

As for the two horses, they’re both going to be having a few runs over in the Middle East between now and March so, hopefully, they’ll bag some decent prize money, which all helps keep me in carrot supplies.

The yard has never had any runners in Bahrain but we have had a few in Dubai. In fact, you may remember that I had a few runs at Meydan myself back in the day. The last time I ran there, in February 2011, I finished a cracking third at 20-1 under that Ryan Moore human – what a great each-way bet that was!

Anyway, here’s wishing our two horses a successful trip and a safe journey home. (That's them, pictured below, strolling around in the sunshine.)

As for Chloe, get back here and do some proper work. What do you think it is? A holiday camp?

ONTO some sad news. As you may have read yesterday, one of our loveliest owners passed away just before Christmas.

I’m not usually a fan of humans, but Peter Blackett was one of the best. He often told me he had a chuckle at my blog, so I'm sure he'd be smiling to know I'm paying my respects.

Peter, who owned King of Fury and had shares in Lord Abama and Primo Domina, has been described by The Gaffer as a ‘true gentleman’ and I couldn’t agree more.

If there’d been a best turned-out competition for humans, he’d have won it every time. Always impeccably dressed – he wore tweed with distinction – and had faultless manners. He’s someone we will all miss greatly.

Rest In Peace, Peter.

LIFE goes on, and a few followers of the blog have written to ask if I’ve got any New Year resolutions.

Well, I'm 23 this year, so my main target is just to go on scoffing carrots for as long as possible. Polos too – they’re mint!

As far as New Year wishes go, I want to see Northern Ticker prove himself to be a really good horse as a four-year-old.

The Gaffer has always wanted to win the Ayr Gold Cup and he ran a cracker to be sixth last year despite still being very immature and having a tough draw.

He’s a big horse who was always going to improve with age, so fingers crossed he fulfils his potential in 2026 and beyond.

BY the way, if anyone’s been checking the ‘horses in training’ section of the website lately, you may have noticed a recent addition from the Michael Bell yard at Newmarket.

In case you were wondering why there isn’t a photo of him yet – it’s cos he’s Camera Shy!

God, I’m funny.

TALKING of funny, a bloke came into the yard the other day and told us to back a horse called Landfill but it came last of 10 at Southwell.

Turns out it was a rubbish tip.

OH, and did you hear about the Kenny Williams human being sent to ASDA the other day?

The horse wagons are in need of a New Year clean, so he asked a young fella in a supermarket uniform: “Can you recommend something to get rid of grime and stains?”

"Ammonia Cleaner!" replied the young lad.

"Oh, sorry,” said Kenny. “I thought you worked here!”

(As we all know, he’s not the brightest candle, our Kenny. Lovely fella though.)

ANYWAY, that’s all folks. Have a great New Year. All the very best. Bring carrots. And Polos. Lots of love.