Barney's Blog
- 31-Aug-2025: Latest News from Denton Hall Stables the home of Michael Dods Racing
- 23-Aug-2025: Northern Ticker beats Commanche Falls by a head in thrilling finish at York Festival
- 20-Aug-2025: Count Palatine strikes under Sean Kirrane to make it a Carlisle double
- 20-Aug-2025: Taylormade Lad wins his first race at Carlisle for Tg Racing
- 20-Aug-2025: Sanbona gets off the mark for owner Davi Metcalfe at Wolverhampton
- 05-Aug-2025: Langholm scores all-the-way victory at Catterick for Dods Racing Club
- 29-Jul-2025: A dozen winners in July as Homeland strikes at Ripon under Connor Beasley
- 28-Jul-2025: Boy Douglas makes it a double for Connor Beasley and owner Frank Lowe at Ayr
- 28-Jul-2025: Stable's 10th winner in July as Mighty Magnus strikes at Ayr
- 26-Jul-2025: Novamay defies 21lbs rise in the handicap to make it three on the bounce with victory at Windsor
- 21-Jul-2025: Boy Douglas wins for the third time at Ayr
- 19-Jul-2025: King's Crown makes it four for 2025 under Rhys Elliott ride at Doncaster
Reflections on Royal Ascot
Morning everyone. Happy Sunday.
I’ve had a nice quiet week, watching the racing on telly, and enjoying having a bit of sun on my back on Saturday.
Royal Ascot seems to have gone well, albeit behind closed doors, and no sign of Her Majesty. Nice to see her have a winner though. That was on Wednesday with a horse called Tactical in the Windsor Castle Stakes. Bit of a coincidence because she owns that gaffe, doesn’t she? Fancy having a race named after your house!
Must have been a relief for her. She could probably do with the prize money, what with the tourism industry being so badly affected by this virus business. It’ll help keep those short-legged dogs of hers in Pedigree Chum and Bonios for a bit longer.
Quick shout out for my former rider – the Philip Makin human. His horse, Muker, was a cracking third in that race and he seems to be making a good start as a trainer. Nice lad – we always got on well, me and him.
I was pleased to see the north having some winners as well – I always like to see us get one over on the south, so well done to Mark Johnston, Karl Burke and Kevin Ryan for flying the flag.
That said, you can’t take it away from the Frankie Dettori human – champion jockey at the meeting again – and what a performance on Stradivarius to win a third Ascot Gold Cup. Brilliant!
Mind you, he’s a bit flash isn’t he? I’m not keen on this flying dismount malarkey. He’d get a quick buck from me – that’d give him a flying dismount alright!
I notice they’ve put up a statue of the Frankie human at Ascot, because he once rode seven winners there. Have you seen it? It looks nowt like him. Waste of good metal, if you ask me.
Thinking about it, how come there isn’t a statue of me at Denton Hall? I won nine times, and I'm the only horse I know with his own blog, so surely I’ve earned it. The Carole human needs to start a petition - she's my biggest fan, and she's got the gaffer wrapped round her little finger.
Anyway, hope you have a good week. See you soon, lots of love,
